159 Taking the Cave Tunnel

“Let me tell you, why is Sif in such a hurry to return to the Elven Forest? The Elves have a parliamentary system. The Elven King is similar to our current City Lord. He doesn’t have any actual power. The true power lies in the Elven Supreme Council. The Elven Queen is the highest leader of the parliament.

The current Elven Queen, Azshara, was already old. Her two daughters were about to take over and become the new Elven Queen and the highest leader of the Elven Council. They were the first princess, Sif, and the second princess, Rachel. Sif was a conservative and advocated an alliance with us Humans to eliminate the Undead together. The second princess, Rachel, was a radical and opposed an alliance. She should actively seek resources from outsiders to nurture war…”

“Wait, wait! Aren’t you talking too much? I didn’t say I wanted to hear it! And this isn’t called history, is it?”

“Scream then. It happened decades ago. Why isn’t it called history anymore?”

!!
“Decades ago? Did you say Sif?”

“How old do you think she is? Elves live longer than us humans.”

“Fine.”

However, Fang Ping was not interested in listening to him anymore. When it came to historical matters, Gran was very interested and could not stop once he starts.

Especially his eyes. Usually, he was unknown, but when it came to history, his eyes lit up and he was in high spirits.

His achievements as a scholar would definitely be higher than now.

“It’s about time. I’m going to bed. It’s your turn. There’s no moon today. Watch carefully.”

“Alright, I’ll continue the story when I have the chance next time.”

In the dim night, Gran waved goodbye to Fang Ping.

He spent the night peacefully, without any beasts disturbing him.

Early in the morning, the team set off. Fang Ping asked Andre for a bag of Tranquil Sun Ginseng Water. This was really Fang Ping’s life-prolonging artifact.

But in fact, Andre himself did not drink it often.

The difference in physical fitness was still very big.

When dawn broke, Fang Ping looked ahead. The Demonic Flame Chimera flapped its wings and flew high into the sky, disappearing behind the mountain peak.

Moving forward, Fang Ping saw the cave Gran had mentioned.

A huge cave that was four to five meters tall and ten meters wide appeared on the side of the mountain peak.

A few figures were standing beside the cave, waiting for Fang Ping’s team to approach.

Fang Ping stood at the back of the team and could not see the situation in front of him clearly. He only knew that the team had stopped. When he heard Elsa say “salute”, he quickly stopped and bowed as well.

He stood on tiptoes and stuck his head out. Only then did he see that there were a few Elves in front. And standing in the middle was Sif.

Facing Fang Ping’s team, Sif lifted the hem of her skirt and gave an Elven curtsy. “It’s too boring to be with them. It’s more fun to be with people of the same age.”

Fang Ping, who stuck his head out from behind, did not know what she had said.

Of course, these words were not meant for Fang Ping. They were meant for William, White Snow, Chen Long, and the others in the front row.

Fang Ping only saw Sif bowing in front of him before the team continued moving forward. He did not know what had happened. He only knew that it had nothing to do with him.

Outside the cave, it was white. The world was covered in white snow. In the cave, other than a little snow at the entrance, there was a clean grayish-black dirt road.

With the Lord’s Guards and carriages leading the way, the rocks and other things were moved to the side. The cave was very spacious and had air circulation. The temperature was also much higher than outside. It was indeed more comfortable to walk.

After walking a distance into the cave, the light from the cave entrance could not enter, and the cave darkened.

The people in front lit torches, and the strong smell of kerosene filled the cave.

The dull fire lit the cave. The tongues of flame flickered in the wind, but no one lit a second one.

The smell was too strong.

The in-service training student was more capable. He dripped some perfume on the handkerchief, tied a rope around it, and hung it over his mouth and nose. A simple mask was made.

It didn’t matter to working students. They just had to get used to it.

Fang Ping looked at the cave as he walked. Both sides and the top were relatively flat. The entire cave seemed to have been formed by a very large semicircular piece of wood that had been forcefully thrust in.

This did not look like a natural product. It looked more like it was dug out by some intelligent creature.

…

“Sif, does that mean your capture isn’t that simple?”

“Yes, not many people know about my trip to the Dark Forest. Moreover, I was on my way out of the Dark Forest and was about to return to the Elven Forest when Claude personally led his personal guards to stop me. Where did he find out about my whereabouts? I haven’t been able to figure it out.”

“Could it be the traitor Mendez?”

“The traitor Mendes? Who is it? You’re talking about the Chief Ranger Mendes, right? I’ve interacted with him before. He really wants me to recommend him to the Elven Forest. However, his identity is rather special. I have to ask the Elven Council first. I believe it’s not him.”

Andre, who was also at the front of the team, interjected, “Not letting you go back is not in line with Mendes’ interests. Only those with the highest interests are worthy of suspicion. For example, the people around you who are not valued.”

“Who are you talking about!”

“Sheng Yun, be quiet. I trust them. They’ve been with me for many years. They won’t betray me.”

“What’s there to be proud of, defeated foe? If you have the ability, let’s fight again.”

Sif went on: “I can’t shake the feeling that there’s someone pulling the strings, that there’s been so much going on lately.

“I even suspect that from the beginning, the Elves of the Dark Forest invited me to join forces with Claude to trick me into coming here.”

“Impossible.” Chen Long shook his head. “Claude hates Elves. It’s impossible for him to join forces with them.”

“If he really hated the Elves, I would already be dead. After he invited me to the Fire Dragon Border Fortress, he didn’t do anything and even spread the news that he was waiting for you to arrive before committing suicide? What’s the meaning of his actions?

In addition, why did the high-grade Gnomes and Trolls outside Fire Dragon City come? Why did they choose to guard the main road of the fortress during the Snow Moon? Coincidentally, the internal strife of the Elves happened. They could predict a month or two in advance and wanted to trap me in Fire Dragon City?

Now that we had chosen to take a detour around the Snowy Mountains, the Dragons that had disappeared for many years had reappeared, leaving us with no choice but to take the cave tunnel.

“These things are so coincidental that they scare me. If this is just a coincidence, of course it’s best. But if these are all premeditated, what does the hands behind all this want to achieve?”

Andre looked ahead. There was only deep darkness in the distance where the firelight could not illuminate. “If it’s as you say, then the person who planned this is indeed very powerful. And it’s not meaningless for him to force us into the cave tunnel, right?”

As soon as Andre finished speaking, the cave shook, and rustling sand fell from above.

Squeak squeak squeak!

The screeching of bats came from the cave ahead.

…

“Everyone, be on guard. Fang Ping will take command.”

Fang Ping had just regained his footing and was blocking the rocks that were falling from his head when he heard Elsa’s voice. He sighed and was about to give instructions again.