Chapter 38: Human Traffickers?

“Other methods? Serving plates for others? Hauling goods? Just a waste of time. Master, don’t overthink it. Gathering this material is also to give Master a chance to practice making spirit ink.”

A faint smile appeared on Mo Xiao’s face. She knew it was impossible for devouring spirits to appear outside.

It was probably some other danger that the city people had exaggerated through rumor until it became devouring spirits appearing. But no matter which danger it was, she was confident she could face it.

“We don’t need to be in such a hurry. Making spirit ink isn’t something that can succeed in a short time anyway. Why don’t we wait a while before going out of the city?”

Bai Yuan was silent for a moment, then continued to hold her back.

“Master really hasn’t noticed that the atmosphere in the city has already changed? Will City will soon be thrown into turmoil. If we don’t go out now, there won’t be a chance later. And Master’s situation is quite bad, you know~

The spirit materials at home are only enough for two bottles of spirit ink. At most I can rise to rank two. To protect Master, that level of strength isn’t enough.”

Mo Xiao knew very well what her master was thinking, but they didn’t have that much time.

If she remembered correctly, after the Spirit Works Conference ended, a chaotic struggle among the three great families would break out in Will City.

Many spirit material shops wouldn’t be open then. At that time, they’d only be able to buy from the three great families’ spirit material shops, which was a huge loss.

And there was another major event. The people of the Spirit Destruction Cult would take advantage of the chaos to sneak in then. Blue Micro Academy would also be raided, with heavy casualties.

“But going out of the city really is very dangerous. At least we should prepare, right? Like buying some protective gear?”

Bai Yuan pursed her lips, feeling that what Mo Xiao said made a lot of sense.

Today Will City was filled with oppression everywhere. Street thugs were all over the place, and many pedestrians walked carefully and cautiously.

The debt-collection incident they’d encountered earlier had happened more than once. The city really was very chaotic. The three great noble families could start fighting at any time.

“Yeah, Master’s right too. My lousy master does need some equipment, just in case.”

Mo Xiao didn’t refuse. Although she could protect Bai Yuan, not buying anything wouldn’t let Bai Yuan feel at ease leaving the city.

“I meant buying them for you… wait, don’t be in such a hurry.”

Before Bai Yuan could finish, she was dragged by Mo Xiao to a protective gear shop they’d passed earlier.

Equipment shops didn’t do very well these days. Book spirits actually didn’t need equipment. Humans did.

But spirit authors rarely fought, so demand for equipment was very low, and naturally prices couldn’t be very high either.

By the time Bai Yuan came out after spending a hundred feather coins inside, she was fully armed, and Mo Xiao’s little face was red from holding back laughter.

“Haha! My lousy master looks so silly, and she can’t even lift a sword.”

On the way to the city gate, she still didn’t forget to mock Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan, wearing a set of light armor, was already starting to regret it. This was pure torture.

It felt like carrying ten kilograms on her body. Even walking felt extremely slow.

They’d bought a set of light armor and a crossbow. Using them to defend against some wild beast attacks would be no problem.

“Mo Xiao, are we really going out? I’m a bit scared.”

Bai Yuan reached the city gate and began hesitating again, a vague sense of foreboding in her heart.

“Don’t be afraid. In the wilderness there are just some wild beasts. The more dangerous ones are humans. Devouring spirits won’t appear outside. That’s just a rumor.”

Mo Xiao held her master’s little hand and comforted her in her heart. It was normal for her master, just starting out, to be scared. She’d get used to it.

In her previous life, Bai Yuan had actually been quite strong-willed on the run, and she’d adapted very quickly.

“What if there really are some? Mo Xiao, you’ll get eaten!”

“There won’t be.”

Mo Xiao didn’t say more. She took her master’s hand and stepped out of the city gate.

“Huh? Did two people just leave the city?”

“You must have seen wrong. They definitely came into the city. Who would leave the city now? It’s so dangerous outside.”

“Well, there are still some. The merchant guild people go out. But I haven’t seen just two people alone, that’s true.”

The guards on the city wall chatted idly. They were already planning to quit.

The city lord had delayed their wages for three months. Whoever wanted this job could have it.

Outside the city, Mo Xiao led Bai Yuan onto a small path with clear purpose. They were heading to a forest east of the city called the Green Spirit Forest.

All the spirit ink materials existed there. No need to run around everywhere.

Spirit ink materials included flower spirit water, ink spirit glue, and ancient slippery powder. These three main materials needed to be gathered, while other secondary materials were sold everywhere.

“Master, did you memorize the patterns on the board just now? Do you know which ones to gather?”

Mo Xiao was as relaxed as if on an outing, a smile on her little face, practically ready to run wild in the wilderness.

As a dragon, she didn’t like overly cramped places by nature. The outdoor air seemed to suit her better.

“Be careful, okay? We might run into danger. I memorized all of what was on there just now.”

Bai Yuan was a bit slow, not truly stupid. She had looked at the board the owner brought out and knew what she needed to gather.

“That’s fine then. This dragon is very impressive, you know. I’ll show Master what precise searching looks like.”

Mo Xiao knew the white spirit flowers were not far to the left of the Green Spirit Forest’s outer perimeter. No need to go too deep. There should still be some left there. After all, not many people had left the city recently.

The two petite figures gradually walked farther into the wilderness. Neither noticed a gaze fixed on them from behind the whole time.

“Wait! Master, don’t move yet.”

Mo Xiao’s small ears twitched slightly. She’d heard human voices.

Earlier, hardly anyone had left the city, but now that they were near the Green Spirit Forest, they’d encountered humans.

“What?”

Bai Yuan, pulled into hiding behind a small hill, was still confused. She hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Their journey had actually been quite safe. They’d run into some little rabbits and field mice, but not a single fierce beast.

“Shh~ Someone’s coming from the other side. And there’s the sound of wheels.”

Mo Xiao extended a finger and touched the small hill. With a soft pop, she poked a small hole through it.

“Hiss~”

Bai Yuan gasped, her lively eyes widening in disbelief. This small hill had to be at least ten meters in diameter. How could Mo Xiao pierce through it as easily as poking through a sheet of white paper!?

Mo Xiao ignored her adorably clueless master. She looked toward the opposite path, where several figures gradually emerged.

Those people wore armor and held long spears. They should be ordinary humans.

Behind them were several carriages. If she wasn’t mistaken, it’d be more accurate to call them prison carts.

She even saw familiar figures on them. The little boy she’d seen before and his father were also locked inside the carriages.

“Master, did we run into human traffickers? Should we hide? There are two spirit authors in total. I can cut them down.”

Mo Xiao pulled the dazed Bai Yuan beside her. Whether to save them or not was entirely up to her master.

“What!? Let me see.”

Bai Yuan did see the opposite convoy through the small hole, but how did Mo Xiao know there were only two spirit authors?

“Are they strong? Maybe we should forget it. I feel like you might not be a match, Mo Xiao.”

She furrowed her brows, somewhat hesitant. They were in the wilderness now. If Mo Xiao could win, she did somewhat want to save them.

But her Mo Xiao had only been born recently. Her strength wasn’t very great. Although she’d already shown the ability to fight above her level before, Bai Yuan had no idea just how strong she really was.

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