Chapter 365: Rainfall Encounters
Chapter 365: Rainfall Encounters
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.
Lin Sai walked forward, stepping through the shallow water.
Although the heavy rain in the forest had slowed, the accumulated water on the stone-paved streets did not drain immediately. With each step, water splashed from the gaps in the road.
People hurried along the streets, many whispering to each other.
The further north he went, the more common this scene became.
Some even wore tense expressions.
The adventurers in the inn talked about the events happening in the northern part of town as if it were a casual topic, but those who treated it as a serious issue and came to investigate didn't find it so lighthearted.
Lin Sai continued his journey towards the north of the town.
Through the gaps between the low houses, he glanced at the mountains on both sides, catching a glimpse of the peaks surrounding the entire town.
Echo Valley Town was located in Echo Valley, built alongside the river.
On the dark gray cliff walls, countless pits and holes were scattered, reflecting a unique buzzing sound during the rain.
Before Lin Sai entered the town, the rain was torrential.
The sound reflected from the Echo Valley peaks was especially noticeable.
Now that the rain had weakened, the sound had also diminished, and experiencing it up close was quite interesting.
According to the locals, the echo pits varied in size and shape, each with a complex internal structure, and they were interconnected.
Ordinary people who ventured in would be disoriented by the echoes and further confused by the intricate terrain.
It was easy to get completely lost, and death would likely be the only way out.
Only a small number of adventurers who came here claimed to have reached the very bottom of Echo Cavern.
"Echo Valley..."
"They say this place is a naturally formed tourist attraction."
"But in the distant past, could it have been artificially created, just like the glaciers in Black Mountain?"
Lin Sai continued walking through the puddles, his thoughts drifting.
The town's roads occasionally ran alongside the river, and every time he saw the raging river, Lin Sai couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
During these heavy rains, he had also tried fishing.
Unfortunately, the fish he caught were mostly local species, only satisfying his hunger.
"Apart from the storm that caused the flood, even a simple heavy rain isn't considered a special environment."
Lin Sai didn't want to reveal his exaggerated physical qualities.
So, from the southern part of the town to the north, it took him about half an hour.
He then tried to open the map, wanting to confirm the location of the incident, but the town was marked with numerous pins.
Judging by the number of people, pinpointing the location was nearly impossible.
"I'll have to ask someone."
Lin Sai scanned his surroundings.
Even during the heavy rain, adventurers were walking on the streets, let alone now that the rain had lessened. But apart from these outsiders, the locals also began to move around.
The main industry in Echo Valley Town was tourism.
Some locals also needed to venture into the jungle to gather resources to sustain their livelihoods.
The month-long lockdown had worsened their living conditions, and their faces were filled with hope and lingering resentment.
Even though the forest had calmed down and could be entered again, their eyes held not only renewed hope but also a layer of unshakable resentment.
"Hey, what are you doing, kid!"
Bang!
On the street, a young boy was suddenly pushed to the ground by an adventurer.
He fell into the puddle on the street, looking flustered.
The adventurer glared down at him and raised his foot to kick him again.
"Running so fast, you don't have eyes? Can't you see I'm in a hurry..."
Smack! The adventurer's kick was halted in mid-air.
Or, just as the kick was about to land on the boy, Lin Sai stepped forward, placing his left leg in front of the adventurer.
The adventurer kicked out, but it felt like he had struck a sturdy iron pillar. The pain shooting up his shin made him curse, "Where did you come from, trying to show off..."
Smack! Lindsey's right hand landed squarely on the adventurer's shoulder.
In that instant, the adventurer's previously arrogant voice fell silent.
"..."
The adventurer's face was filled with terror.
He hadn't even seen Lindsey's movements; he only caught a glimpse of a residual image before feeling the weight of Lindsey's hand on his shoulder.
The force that followed almost crushed his bones!
He couldn't even muster the strength to struggle.
A warrior?
At least a Phase III Awakened?
"Friend, he's just a kid. No need to be so hasty," Lindsey spoke up.
He released the adventurer, pushing him away. The adventurer stumbled back a few steps, almost falling into the water.
He didn't dare utter another harsh word.
Turning, he fled in the opposite direction, not daring to look back, and quickly disappeared into the rain.
Only then did Lindsey extend his hand to the child who had fallen:
"Are you okay?"
"..."
The boy glanced at Lindsey's hand but ultimately didn't dare take it. He pulled himself up from the water.
He lowered his head, not daring to meet Lindsey's gaze:
"Thank you, sir."
The boy knew what had just happened.
The adventurer who had pushed him down was an Awakened.
Lindsey, who had stopped him and scared him off so easily, was undoubtedly even stronger.
The boy felt some gratitude but was mostly terrified.
"..."
Seeing the boy's reaction, Lindsey guessed his feelings.
Comforting or friendly gestures would only intensify his fear, so Lindsey got straight to the point:
"Forlz, I want to know about a guy named Forlz, a companion of the one who went missing the other night. Can you tell me?"
The boy hesitantly asked, "You mean the guy who disappeared with his friend the other night?"
Lindsey nodded, "Yes."
The boy immediately pointed to a distant wooden house, partially visible through the rain:
"He's over there, at Aunt Hela's house."
Lindsey wanted to ask more questions, gather more information.
But as soon as the boy answered, he turned and left, clearly showing his wariness of Awakened individuals.
"..."
"Looks like there are quite a few troublemakers around here."
Lindsey shook his head.
He had been searching for someone to gather information when he stumbled upon this scene and decided to intervene.
But now, it seemed the situation in town might not be as positive as the adventurers portrayed.
A large number of outsiders had been in this small town for over a month, and there had even been a war during that time.
When considering all these factors, it was clear that nothing good could come from this situation.
If it were just one or two isolated incidents, Lindsey wouldn't have minded stepping in to stop the bullying and oppression.
But if it involved the entire town or the status of Awakened individuals in society, he knew he couldn't do much.
Facing the grim news and the gloomy weather, Lindsey's mood sank.
He followed the direction the boy had pointed out and, as he parted the rain, he saw the building clearly.
It was a two-story cottage, not much different from the other structures on the street. But before Lindsey could even knock on the door, he heard a furious roar from inside, several meters away:
"What are you doing? Get out of here!"
(End of Chapter)
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