Chapter 83: Chapter 79: Teardrop
Although the Earth Bear had almost no strength left to fight back, the beast had a tenacious life force and wouldn’t die so easily.
While it was still breathing, Lin Mo didn’t withdraw his Sword. Instead, he delivered a final Cross Slash deep in its throat.
The Earth Bear’s windpipe was instantly severed by the Sword Qi, and its internal organs ruptured. Blood gushed out, and it soon breathed its last.
Cross Slash Skill Level +10
Sure enough, this Earth Bear gave two more Skill Level points than the last Elite Level Demon they had encountered.
Lin Mo pulled out the Wolf Bone Sword, flicked the blood from its blade, and let out a long sigh. He then plopped onto the ground.
That was a tough fight.
’If I didn’t have teammates, I probably couldn’t have done it on my own.’
It wasn’t that Lin Mo couldn’t have won. In fact, he had dealt most of the damage to the Earth Bear. But without his teammates to run interference, the pressure on him would have been much greater, and the battle would have dragged on for several times as long.
In that scenario, the drain on his Physical Strength and the risk of injury would become major factors he’d have to consider.
Getting injured while adventuring alone was an extremely dangerous and troublesome affair. Even a Life Potion couldn’t guarantee a perfect solution. With no one to look after or protect you, you might just be done for if you ran into another troublesome Demon on the way back.
That’s why most Adventurers chose to form parties. The rewards might be smaller, but at least it was safer.
"Are you alright, Lin Mo?"
Alton hurried over from behind to check on Lin Mo’s condition.
Lin Mo waved his hand and slowly got to his feet. "Don’t worry, I’m not hurt... What about Ali? How is she?"
Alton himself was quite strong, and Solan was a ranged fighter. Carson and Rick were mostly just a distraction, their main purpose being to draw the beast’s attention.
In that battle, the only one who was actually injured was Ali.
"She’s fine. It’s just a minor wound, she’ll be alright with a little rest..."
Alton replied, a peculiar look on his face.
He was now more or less certain that Lin Mo did indeed have a peculiar taste.
Rick, Solan, and Carson came over and began to carve up the Earth Bear’s carcass.
There was nothing to be done about the damaged sections of the hide, but for the intact parts, they followed the quest’s instructions, peeling the bearskin off as carefully as possible.
The process was not easy. Even in death, the Earth Bear’s body remained incredibly tough, requiring repeated, forceful cuts.
Once Alton and Lin Mo had recovered some of their Physical Strength, they joined in to help, making the work much easier.
By the time they finished, the sky was already growing dark. With their spoils in hand, the group didn’t rush to leave the area, instead setting up camp not far from the spot.
Even though the Earth Bear was dead, the scent markings it had left behind wouldn’t fade so quickly. This meant that, under normal circumstances, no other Demons would enter the area for the time being, allowing them to spend a relatively peaceful night.
With the mission complete, a great weight was lifted from everyone’s shoulders. The members of the small party gathered together, chatting away enthusiastically.
There was another reason for their high spirits—they were having a feast tonight.
Most of an Earth Bear’s meat was tough, but the paws and a small cut from the loin were incredibly delicious—a renowned delicacy among Adventurers.
Alton used several branches to prop up the severed bear paw, setting it to roast by the campfire.
The cut from the belly, weighing only about ten pounds, was carefully portioned out by Carson with his dagger.
Quite unexpectedly, this usually quiet Assassin possessed some rather impressive cooking skills.
Rumor had it that he once worked at a tavern in Lania City. Unable to bear his boss’s exploitation, he had come to Roland Town and changed professions to become an Adventurer.
Lin Mo recalled something Lena had said to him back at the Association.
"The harder the times, the more Adventurers you’ll find."
’In the end, if people could live a peaceful and stable life, who would willingly risk their neck just to survive?’
’Many Adventurers are just poor souls who couldn’t make a living any other way...’
The bear paw was certainly fragrant and had a gelatinous texture that felt strange to eat. Lin Mo wasn’t a huge fan.
In comparison, he found the meat Carson had grilled to be excellent. It was tender and juicy, a bit like top-grade wagyu beef, but even more delicious and not nearly as rich.
Lin Mo chatted with the others for a while, but feeling tired, he took a plate of meat and went off to the side to rest by himself.
Ali, who had been watching him the whole time, twitched her ears. After a long internal struggle, she finally gave in to temptation and tiptoed over, as if she were a thief.
"Want some?"
Lin Mo offered her the plate of meat.
Ali shook her head. "Carson already gave me plenty. I’m full."
She said, rubbing her still-flat stomach.
She had taken off her Armor earlier when they were checking her wounds.
Thanks to years of training, she had a fine, healthy-looking figure with pleasing curves.
The curve of her chest wasn’t as exaggerated as that of the purple-robed Mage he’d seen the other day, but she was certainly more well-endowed than Lena.
Lin Mo’s gaze then fell to her wrist. A small circle of soft fur, about two inches long, grew there. He hadn’t seen anything like that on Lena, which suggested the Beastman blood in Ali’s veins was purer than Lena’s.
Ali noticed his stare and grew tense, immediately hiding her wrist behind her back.
"I’m sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
Lin Mo asked, confused.
"I..."
Ali opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words, so she could only repeat, "I’m sorry..."
Lin Mo shook his head and looked up at the vast night sky.
The sky was clear tonight. A full moon hung high, and the stars shone brilliantly.
A gentle evening breeze caressed his face, bringing with it a pleasant sense of comfort.
"I’m probably a rather strange person, by this world’s standards."
Ali didn’t understand what he meant and tilted her head in confusion.
"I don’t know a lot of the common knowledge everyone else seems to have. I don’t like ale, I’ve never heard the stories of the Minstrels, and I don’t particularly yearn for those famous Legendary and Epic tales..."
He turned his head to the still-confused girl. "What I’m trying to say is, maybe not everyone in this world thinks the same way. There will always be people who see things differently, who can appreciate all the different colors out there."
"At least, I personally don’t have any prejudice against Half-Beastmen as a race. A few different features like that won’t change my opinion of a person."
To say he *liked* it would have been too abrupt, and she probably wouldn’t have believed or accepted it. So, Lin Mo chose his words carefully, hoping to ease the anxiety in her heart.
Ali stared at him, dazed. A long moment passed before she snapped out of it.
His words seemed to strike the most Fragile nerve deep within her soul. All the emotions she had suppressed for so long—resentment, bitterness, helplessness, and indignation—erupted all at once.
Under the moonlight, Lin Mo saw the glistening teardrops in the girl’s eyes. After a long Condensation, they finally slid down her cheeks...
