Morning, Tutu and I acted normal, pretending her awkward suggestion never happened. Checking packed gear, we girls left the house and fifteen minutes later reached Clear Sky agency, where we'd meet Ling Ling.
The girl was waiting at one of the many tables, laptop in front showing our route, I suspect.
"Right on time. I love punctuality," Ling Ling greeted in her style and turned the laptop to us. Today she wore a business suit and decorative glasses. Pretending to be our agent? Kinda cute.
"Mu Bai sent his terrain wishes for training, and I factored them in. Behold, our stay spot for next two months – Dunghui Forest," she pointed its location on the laptop map. BTW, even in my past life, I'd never been there. What's it like?
As if reading my mind, the girl explained:
"Dunghui Forest isn't known for strong beast species. No one stronger than Warlord either. Why China hasn't taken it? It's a buffer between our country and far deadlier Dremot forest, home to several strong Warlords specializing in poison. Plus, it's remote. Nearest settlement is tiny Hantu city, too weak to claim it," she explained knowingly.
"Anyway, perfect for your training. Plus, I took a mission there. Long-term: scout beast numbers and strength. Hantu's mayor wants assurance his city's safe, no beast waves soon," Ling Ling finished the briefing.
"Then to the military base? We'll fly to Hantu in style!" I suggested.
"Sigh, damn rich kid. Mission pay covers five such flights one-way," Ling Ling shook her head disapprovingly.
"Relax, I'll pay out of pocket. I became a Hunter for training and cool places, not money. And helping people, sure," I added at end. Her look got weird when I listed Hunter reasons.
"No need to backpedal. I expected stuff like 'bag a rich Hunter babe to protect me.' Whatever. I called a cab. Since you're paying, to the base," Ling Ling sighed and waved it off.
The base trip was quick. Chatting with the familiar duty officer, we booked our air taxi. Like last time, all girls flew only White Eagles, piloted by women.
I took a man so as not to offend Ai Tutu. Though after her offer yesterday, I'm even starting to think she wouldn't mind at all, even if I flew with a girl.
This time we flew for about two hours, and my companion turned out to be unusually taciturn, so the flight was boring. Two stars for service; he didn't even turn on any music.
Upon arrival, we quickly said goodbye to the pilots and left Hantu City to meet our adventures. There's not much to say about the city itself; it was almost no different from Bo City. Just as small and gray, nothing interesting.
"The forest itself doesn't have any rare or powerful monster species, but its fauna is very diverse. From Grass Mice to Shock Deer. Perfect for training against different opponents, just as Mu Bai requested. Right now, we're heading toward the habitat of Wind Snakes. They're weakly venomous, but they have an elongated blade at the tip of their tail, which they can sharpen and enlarge using wind—hence the name. Weak spots..." Lin Lin began her lecture on the local inhabitants.
This is exactly why I brought her along. When information is needed or a solution has to be devised in an emergency, she's irreplaceable. I still can't get enough of her joining us.
Soon we encountered several Servant-level Wind Snakes. More precisely, they dove at us from the surrounding trees, accelerating their fall with wind. They were green with the characteristic glowing blue eye of their kind. You can't mistake them for anything else.
But Ai Tutu and Mu Nujiao were no longer green rookies and managed to dodge, then quickly dispatch the attackers.
Attracted by the fresh scent of blood, Stone Boars burst from the forest undergrowth—fortunately also Servant-level. We're still just on the edge of the forest. They looked like regular boars, only bigger and covered in a layer of stone.
While the girls tried various methods to neutralize these walking tanks with their tough defenses without using Mid-level magic, Lin Lin turned to me:
"You're not going to help them?" She directed her curious gaze at me. Apparently, the prospect of not going to her boring school for a whole year is working wonders on her sociability.
"No, my time to fight will come when they encounter someone stronger than a Junior Pack Leader. Until then, they'll handle it themselves. After all, the best teacher is personal practical experience." I proclaimed my wisdom, realized back in my previous life.
After all, the books I read in Bo City's library didn't help much during the catastrophe against real monsters. But my first solo escape from a One-Eyed Wolf really cleared my head of unnecessary thoughts.
So let the two girls gain practical experience first, and in the evenings Lin Lin can teach them theory. They'll sleep right through such an effective lullaby.
Joke. But information really sinks in better at night—personally tested on similar lectures from our escort in my previous life.
Finally, Ai Tutu snapped and punched one of the Stone Boars, sending it on a short flight and shattering its armor. Well, not the tactics I expected from them, but it works. Let Ai Tutu get acquainted with her new strength, and I'll cover her.
That's how our two-month training in Dunghui Forest continued. The girls handled all creatures at Junior Pack Leader level and below, while I took on the stronger ones.
Once we missed some distinguishing signs and nearly entered Supreme Commander territory. Luckily, its gatekeeper was a Shock Deer, a Peak Pack Leader. After defeating it, Lin Lin realized we'd gone too deep.
Who knows what power the Supreme Commander there possesses. If it's Junior-level, I can handle it with my official strength, but if stronger, I'll have to reveal my aces. Against a Peak one, I'd have to run. With my current power, I couldn't even breach its defenses, let alone kill it.
Alongside monster battles, Lin Lin and I taught Ai Tutu and Mu Nujiao to read tracks on the ground and gauge a territory's monster species and approximate numbers from indirect signs. The girls absorbed the knowledge eagerly. Plus, we're completing the quest—two birds with one spell.
We have one more month of practice in this forest. Then we'll turn in the quest and head back to Shanghai for a short rest with a clear conscience. I'll also pick up the artifacts from Master Pin that he's finished by then.
Not all of them, of course—just what he manages.
And don't forget the main thing—the Three-Step Tower. Our three-month resistance cooldown to magical flow has just passed. Need to decide which elements to breakthrough in.