Chapter 326: Campfire and Songs by the River
Chapter 326: Campfire and Songs by the River
"Rayze?"
"Why are there so many more people in the camp?"
Lindsey walked straight towards the explorer.
The man was directing the camp setup, and camping outdoors at night was certainly not an ideal choice.
Upon seeing the hunters returning, Rayze heaved a sigh of relief:
"It's the crew from the ships behind us."
"They had a hard time finding a suitable place to dock, and when they followed the Echo Valley River and saw us here, they wanted to camp with us."
"I understand," Lindsey acknowledged and turned to leave.
But Rayze stopped him, a hint of curiosity in his voice:
"Drake, aren't you worried they might bring danger upon us?"
"In times like these, everyone should be more cautious, right?"
"..."
—Because I've already seen it on the map.
Of course, Lindsey didn't respond with that, instead offering a more polite explanation:
"In times like these, helping each other is more beneficial for survival."
"..."
Rayze's gaze held a hint of complexity.
The next moment, he extended an unexpected invitation to Lindsey:
"Drake, are you interested in joining my expedition team?"
"Our team can adapt to wilderness survival, but we don't have professionals like hunters. Moreover, expeditions require someone like you who understands the situation."
Lindsey shook his head in refusal:
"Sorry, I have important matters to attend to and not much time."
Rayze didn't force the issue and shook hands with Lindsey, offering his blessings:
"Well, in that case, I can only wish you good luck."
"..."
The hunters who ventured into the forest returned, bringing back a considerable number of prey, instantly improving the atmosphere in the camp.
Lindsey then got to know the crew members who had just arrived.
They were a team from the Merchant Guild, and their members were paid to accompany the expedition. Therefore, there were more of them than Rayze's crew.
Compared to Lindsey's group, this crew had sailed on the river for an entire day.
This was in the midst of the chaotic forest.
They not only faced monster attacks but also had a ship entangled by river plants, eventually capsizing.
They had indeed experienced many dangers.
Now, being accepted by another team, they cherished the opportunity and behaved very honestly, working diligently to show their appreciation.
Lindsey returned to the spot he had left before. Even in the wilderness, the Awakened were still respected.
He had built a shelter with wood before leaving, and the campfire was still burning, with enough firewood stacked in a triangular shape to last for about a day.
Wicknar was nearby, helping to transport the chopped wood.
Seeing Lindsey return, the young man ran over with a bundle of wood in his arms, his excitement evident:
"Mr. Drake, how's the situation outside?"
Lindsey shook his head:
"Not bad, not good either."
"We didn't encounter any unexpected dangers, but we also don't see any signs of the forest's anomaly subsiding."
Perhaps it was because the camp had more people now.
And they had also cleared a considerable area.
Wicknar looked much better than when Lindsey had left, and at this moment, he even made a joke:
"I heard that some remote towns in the Forest Courtyard were established because people got lost in the forest and couldn't find their way out."
"Do you think we'll end up like that?"
Lindsey corrected him:
"We came here for adventure, so it's unlikely we'll stay here."
Wicknar smiled awkwardly.
He leaned in, took out a small paper packet from the nearby woodpile, and pointed to the newcomers:
"When these people arrived, they distributed some supplies to show goodwill.
"I've left some for you too."
Lindsey opened it and found three gold coins.
Bribing people with money was nothing unusual.
After examining them, Lindsey took two for himself and tossed one to Wicknar, who was sitting nearby.
Wicknar's expression changed, but before he could speak, Lindsey said, "Don't refuse it."
"I might be going out hunting these days. You stay here and keep an eye on things. Let me know of any notable changes."
Hearing this, Wicknar accepted the coin.
Lindsey crawled into the shelter, taking a rest while also spreading out the map to help keep watch for everyone.
That night, a brand new campsite was set up.
Although the surrounding trees were swaying wildly like haunting shadows, there were over a dozen Awakened individuals ensuring no one got hurt.
Explorer Lezer clearly understood the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.
He directed his companions to light a campfire in the center of the camp and invited everyone to gather around, singing and dancing to uplift the mood, quickly dispelling many worries.
Lindsey sat beside the fire, quietly observing the scene unfolding in the night.
Lezer led the singing in the Common Tongue:
"Oh, explorer of centuries past, who will you be?
I cannot send you a wave from the silent valley or a warm breeze from the clouds of the sky islands.
...
Look ahead!
As we traverse the unknown, we dance amidst the ocean's waves, never parting from the splendor of centuries past.
This thrill, we challenge together!
May you, on your journey, enjoy the blessings from centuries ago..."
The song's content was simple, with an upbeat and positive melody praising adventure.
But as people joined in, Lindsey's mood lifted, and he even quietly hummed along, his voice too low for others to hear.
Dancing and singing in the face of crisis was definitely better than huddling together in fear.
As the song continued, Lindsey's gaze once again shifted to the map.
"Hmm?"
His relaxed expression instantly turned serious.
He stood up and shouted towards Lezer by the campfire, "Lezer, something is approaching from the east, it might be dangerous!"
Whoosh!
The Awakened individuals in the camp responded almost instantly.
The dancing and singing abruptly stopped, and bowstrings were drawn tight, sword blades unsheathed.
Everyone in the camp drew their weapons, and the power of Essence flowed amidst the campfire's glow.
Everyone held their breath, ready for battle.
Countless eyes stared towards the east.
"..."
Time slipped by with each breath.
In times of crisis, one's perception of time becomes more acute.
In less than two minutes, the atmosphere in the camp turned uneasy. Someone was breathing heavily.
They still hadn't spotted any danger approaching from the forest.
But the rustling trees, swaying and flapping, amplified the doubts in everyone's minds and their desire to deny the danger.
Soon, questioning glances were directed at Lindsey.
His expression became a mix of emotions.
"..."
Lindsey said nothing.
He handed a dagger to Wicknar, who was beside him, still maintaining a defensive stance.
As more questioning glances were thrown his way, Explorer Lezer's ears twitched. His skill had activated!
Although there was no sound or movement, his powerful sixth sense allowed him to foresee the impending danger!
Lezer roared, "Don't let your guard down!"
"Drake's message is correct. There's something approaching from the east. Prepare for battle!"
(End of Chapter)
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