Chapter 46: The Five-Ring Magus
After waiting for a while, there was no sign of the Seven-Colored Flower opening.
Regardless of what magical effects were happening inside, it seemed like it wouldn't be ending anytime soon.
Hua Mi hadn't forgotten the primary task for today.
While it was still early in the day, he needed to set out as soon as possible to find the Unicorn.
Xiao Orange, serving as his guide and translator, accompanied him on this journey.
Even though this trip had a diplomatic purpose, Hua Mi didn't forget to bring along his swarm of bees, his compound bow, and the Wind Spirit Arrow in his quiver.
Better to be prepared.
Guided by Xiao Orange, they made their way to the destination.
As the Ice Age approached, not only had the Chirping Birds gone silent, but some large wild beasts had also gone into hibernation.
The ground was covered with fallen leaves, making it quite challenging to walk on.
But over the past two months, Hua Mi had reconnected with nature, and his physical strength had improved significantly.
Combined with his familiarity with the terrain, his ability to move through the forest had greatly improved, so he made decent progress despite the conditions.
Even so, it was only midday when they had covered about half of the journey.
His Bee Whisperer's cabin and the Black Castle Ruins where the Unicorn resided were too far apart.
"I probably won't be able to return tonight... I just hope this trip won't be in vain," Hua Mi thought, preparing himself for an overnight stay in the wilderness.
"Let's take a break."
Hua Mi signaled for Xiao Orange to stop, took out some food, and leaned against a big tree, preparing to have lunch.
When traveling outdoors, they brought fast food like bread and sandwiches.
Of course, honey was a must. It could be used for both drinking and adding flavor to the food, providing a quick energy boost in the wilderness.
"What kind of place is the Black Castle Ruins where the Unicorn resides? From the name, it used to be a castle, but was it abandoned?" Hua Mi asked while having his meal.
"Yes," Xiao Orange replied after swallowing a mouthful of honey. "It used to be a vampire's castle. The stones in the castle were all pitch black, hence the name Black Castle."
"What happened later? Was the vampire killed by adventurers?"
"Indeed, many adventurers came to defeat the vampire, but they all failed, and many lost their lives, some even turned into vampire spawn. But one day, the Unicorn appeared and defeated the vampire."
"I see... But vampires are cursed, evil, undead creatures, and their physical bodies are usually hard to destroy completely. At most, they can be sealed. So, the vampire hasn't actually been destroyed; it's just sealed somewhere within the ruins?"
Hua Mi stored this information in his mind. Knowing more about it in advance might come in handy during the upcoming negotiations. Whether it's negotiation or combat, the importance of information cannot be underestimated. Relying solely on strength is the mark of a brute.
Just as Hua Mi was about to ask further questions, Xiao Orange suddenly became alert. Her two sharp ears twitched, and she looked in a particular direction.
Without waiting for Hua Mi to say anything, she quickly swallowed the honey cake in front of her, slid into the sleeves of his black robe, and perched on his shoulder. She whispered in his ear, "Someone's approaching."
Hua Mi immediately became vigilant.
He stood up and opened his magic box on the ground, releasing a group of Bees of Agony and a squad of Circular Slice Bees. These bees went into his robe sleeves and waited for his command.
With just a thought, these two bee teams could launch an attack.
Then he put away the magic box and returned to his spot, continuing to eat his meal, waiting for the unexpected visitors.
After about a minute, several figures appeared from the direction Xiao Orange had pointed.
"There are five in total," Hua Mi observed without moving.
They varied in height and build, and it seemed not all of them were human.
They were heading straight toward Hua Mi.
The leader appeared to be a human, an elderly man dressed in a gray robe. He had neatly combed gray and white hair and a face with wrinkles etched by time, but his eyes exuded a sense of wisdom. He held a staff with a hollowed-out section at the top, and a pale light emanated from it.
"Good afternoon," the old man smiled and greeted him, his voice sounding soothing and warm, instantly putting one at ease.
"Afternoon," Hua Mi replied in a low voice.
While they were talking, Hua Mi took the opportunity to assess the other four individuals.
Accompanying the old man on his left was a young girl with medium-length hair, radiant in her youthful beauty. She was also dressed in a gray robe, albeit a bit oversized, and she held a staff, though a plain wooden one.
On the right was a dwarf, about a meter tall, with scruffy facial features, a barrel-like body, disheveled hair resembling a lion's mane, and a filthy beard tied with a piece of rope. The end of the beard almost touched the ground, and he held a spiked hammer. He stared at Hua Mi with a hostile look, clearly harboring ill intentions.
Then there was a small human figure standing behind, scrutinizing Hua Mi from the corner of their eye. It was difficult to determine their gender or even if they were human, as their entire body was hidden beneath a gray robe and bandages. Nothing of their appearance was visible.
"Excuse us for our rudeness. My mentor, a Five-Ring Magus, took the initiative to greet you, and you didn't even stand up," the young girl said, her tone filled with dissatisfaction.
A Five-Ring Magus! What did that mean? Although Hua Mi didn't understand, he glanced at the old man with a look of newfound respect.
The old man seemed pleased with Hua Mi's reaction, and his smile deepened. "It's all right. We've intruded on your space. You don't need to stand up. Your lunch looks delicious."
Hua Mi hadn't intended to stand up anyway. Meanwhile, the bees hidden in his sleeves were prepared to attack at a moment's notice. He replied casually, "Would you like to join us for lunch?"
After all, he had been in business for several years and knew how to maintain a calm exterior, even when there were hidden knives in his sleeves.
"If you want to treat us, you might not have brought enough food," the old man jokingly replied. He paused for a moment and then continued, "Magic resources in the Black Forest are quite scarce. After the star ratings fell, there are very few adventurers exploring this area. It's rare to see someone here, so we came to say hello. May I ask, where is your destination? Perhaps we can accompany you."
Hua Mi took a sip of water and calmly replied, "I appreciate the offer, but I prefer to travel alone."
The young girl frowned, ready to say something, but the old man gave her a quick glance, silencing her.
"In that case, we won't disturb you any longer. Please continue to enjoy your delicious lunch."
Saying this, the old man turned and led the others away.
Hua Mi noted the direction they headed—it wasn't toward the Black Castle Ruins.
After walking a certain distance, the dwarf still occasionally looked back, glaring at Hua Mi as if they held a deep grudge against him.
It wasn't until the five figures disappeared deep into the forest that Hua Mi could finally ease his tension.
Being far from home meant he couldn't open a wormhole for a quick escape. Caution was the best course of action.
A slight itch arose in his chest.
Xiao Orange poked her head out from under his collar.
"What is a Five-Ring Magus?" she asked.
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