Fang Hong glanced at the people and then followed them.
The Tree People Elder walked ahead, neither hurried nor slow, but its strides were large, and the others needed to quicken their pace to keep up with it in the forest.
Accompanying him, besides Mei, were the invited Gita and the Big Cat People, and the uninvited Alice. The Lion Paladin was not particularly concerned about matters like these; he preferred to smoke his pipe alone. However, according to the Big Cat People, he was here to watch over their young Lord Captain. His exact words were:
"As a captain, you need a guardian, whether it's Gita, Tianlan, your Miss Ship's Officer, or our Miss Physician, none of them are suitable. This concerns the Seven Seas Traveler's dignity, so I must reluctantly take on the role."
"But aren't there still the Papalarians?"
"He reacts to Miss Mei like a mouse to a cat, would you really want him to go?"
"Then he might as well remain in confinement."
