Chapter 28: Old Friends
Chapter 28: Old Friends
Dan was gone in the blink of an eye.
Her movements in the forest were swift and graceful, her speed awe-inspiring. In just a few breaths, she vanished without a trace under the cover of the snowy forest, leaving only Linsey and Ju behind, facing the corpses and the cold ground beneath their feet.
"She's really... just gone?" Linsey couldn't quite believe it.
The first thought that crossed his mind was whether Dan's departure was part of some test for this winter hunt.
Otherwise, it made no sense for a senior hunter to leave them alone during a hunting training session.
Especially when they were so close to town.
Even though they were both Awakened, they had only awakened this year and were beginners without any mastered techniques.
Perhaps Linsey was different, but Dan didn't know that he had secretly acquired a technique, did she?
Linsey's heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he couldn't understand the female hunter's actions at all.
After spending the day together, he knew that her personality was indeed lively and playful, but she wasn't the type to be irresponsible.
At that moment, Linsey felt his clothes being tugged.
He turned to see Ju holding onto the hem of his clothes, his expression tense.
"Linsey?"
"Mom, Mom, she..."
"Don't worry. Dan must have had a good reason to leave like this. We just need to wait here patiently."
Linsey offered a few words of comfort, but he could still see the tension in the child.
To calm Ju down, Linsey started a conversation with him. They chatted about their daily lives, Dan's personality and habits, and some hunting party stories, which helped ease Ju's anxiety.
Ju even told Linsey that his happiest memory was when he was seven years old. His father and mother had hunted a wild boar in the forest, and everyone had come to congratulate them, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Linsey asked casually, "By the way, I didn't see your father last night."
"Father... he..." Ju's eyes betrayed a hint of sadness, but he quickly replied, "Father also wanted to overcome the obstacles of Black Mountain, so he went to a very distant place."
"..."
Linsey immediately realized he had said something wrong and quickly apologized.
"Sorry, I didn't know..."
But Ju shook his head, his eyes now filled with admiration and longing.
"It's okay. I'm proud of him."
"Dad told me many stories. He and Mom have been to many worlds and seen many landscapes that ordinary people haven't. He also told me that staying confined to the remote frontier is not an option."
As they continued talking, Linsey learned more about the situation.
Dan, the female hunter from the remote frontier, had been married to a young adventurer named Fortnix. They had heard about the Hidden Frontier and the tales of the great explorer, Polo Will, who had once expanded the world's borders here.
Filled with excitement, they embarked on an adventure journey, which happened to be ten years ago.
They became the last group to enter the Hidden Frontier.
Originally, Dan's husband was learning a technique called 'Star', which Ju was now studying. Dan, on the other hand, was preparing to become an Explorer.
However, due to the sudden independence of the Hidden Frontier, the special circumstances led to an immediate shortage of various supplies.
Becoming a mother, Dan changed her initial decision and became a hunter in the frontier town..."
In the quiet of the forest, Linsey and Ju conversed in hushed tones.
Their relationship gradually grew closer through this conversation.
It was through this exchange that Linsey understood the female hunter's actions.
Dan chose to stay in the frontier town as a hunter to care for her child.
Her husband, however, didn't want their child to be confined to this remote corner forever, so he ventured out, attempting to break through Black Mountain.
Unfortunately, just like everyone else, he has been missing without a trace, his fate unknown.
Today, in the forest, I saw another townsfolk who met a tragic end for the same reason.
The responsibility to protect the town, as well as the overlapping emotions in my heart, how could I possibly let these monsters get away with their crimes?
"Ah—"
Lin Sai sighed and began to dig through the snow around the corpse.
"We need to transport this gentleman's body back to the town. Let's clear it out first."
Ju also nodded, and the two of them worked together, quickly digging the corpse out from under the snow and leaning it against the birch tree behind them.
"Now, we just need to wait for Dan to return..."
Lin Sai was about to call Ju to rest.
But at that moment, he heard sparse sounds coming from the surrounding forest, and the sounds were getting closer, quite quickly.
There might be danger—and it was approaching them!
Since there were also sounds of something coming from the direction of the town, they didn't even have the chance to run back directly!
"What is it?"
Lin Sai's eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings.
The distant bushes were swaying, and the forest was a blanket of white, with only the tree trunks offering any contrast, making it nearly impossible to discern anything.
But the sounds were becoming more urgent and closer!
Lin Sai realized the situation was dire.
But before he could think about how to save himself, his body acted first. He shoved the stunned Ju into the space between the corpse and the birch tree and quickly scooped up some snow to create a cover.
"Ju, hide behind there, don't move at all, understand?"
Ju still looked bewildered.
But seeing Lin Sai's serious expression, he obediently nodded.
"I understand."
After settling Ju, Lin Sai took out the shortbow from his back and checked the small dagger at his waist, confirming it was ready to be drawn at any moment.
These were all the items the female hunter had prepared before they set out.
The dagger was a small skinning knife, and he only had five arrows, which he hadn't even expected to use, but now they were proving useful.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, an ice spike shot from the distant bushes, aiming straight for Lin Sai.
Lin Sai dodged it quickly.
He also realized he was facing an old enemy—ice boars again!
But unlike when they first arrived at the Hidden Frontier, this time there were not just one but three ice boars, surrounding them from three directions!
"Phew—"
Lin Sai took a deep breath and focused his gaze.
He instantly clarified his goals.
First, to draw the attention of these ice boars away from Ju, who was hiding behind the corpse.
Second, to survive.
Whether waiting for Dan to return and rescue them or finding a way to kill these monsters, he had to succeed, no failures allowed!
In the next second, Lin Sai nocked an arrow and shot.
The first arrow immediately aimed at the first ice boar that leaped out of the bushes.
The arrowhead hit the ground next to the ice boar's feet, bounced twice, and fell to the ground.
This arrow predictably missed.
After last night's crash course, his archery skills were still at the (Beginner) level. Hitting the target was already a significant achievement; hitting it every time was impossible.
But this arrow achieved Lin Sai's purpose.
The bow shot immediately triggered the beasts' aggression, and the other two ice boars also leaped out, immediately chasing after Lin Sai.
Perfect.
These mindless beasts didn't notice Ju hiding under the corpse.
Without hesitation, Lin Sai turned and ran, heading straight for the frozen river!
【I'm feeling unwell, sorry for the inconvenience. I'll try to keep updating over the next few days, but there might be more errors. Thank you all for your support and corrections.】
(End of Chapter)
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