Chapter 14: The Maiden’s Tale and a Skirted Surprise

“I…” Qi Lin began, his lips parting slightly. After a moment of thought, he explained, “When the mayor and Aali ran back to your treehouse, I remained behind. But after waiting several minutes and seeing no sign of your return, my curiosity compelled me to follow the direction they had fled, leading me here.”

He pointed towards the armed elves who had called out earlier, his eyes still brimming with tears, and met Elder Sylph’s gaze with earnest sincerity.

Hearing this, Elder Sylph fell silent for a moment before nodding.

“I see.” Elder Sylph mused, pinching her chin as she surveyed her surroundings, then fixed her gaze on Qi Lin. “So, what happened here? Did you witness how they… er, came to be like this?”

Observing Elder Sylph indicate the corpses on the ground, Qi Lin wiped away the tears he had conjured with a touch of magic, then declared, “I know!”

“It was a golden-haired Maiden with bat wings!”

Before Elder Sylph could even ask, Qi Lin hastily supplied the answer.

“Bat… wings? A golden-haired Maiden?”

Standing nearby, Aali murmured in confusion, her thoughts swirling: ‘A Maiden with bat wings? What kind of race is that?’

Qi Lin, whose hearing was sharp, caught Aali’s whisper but offered no comment.

“Do you remember what she looked like?” Elder Sylph inquired again.

“No, I don’t. She was masked at the time.”

“Then how do you know it was a female?”

“Her voice! It could have been a disguised voice, of course, but what I heard at the time was distinctly female.” Qi Lin answered Elder Sylph ambiguously.

“Alright, I understand. Since things have come to this, let’s head back!”

Concluding that no more information could be gleaned, Elder Sylph commanded everyone to gather, preparing to return to the town.

Just as they were about to depart, Elder Sylph noticed Qi Lin still lingering in the tall grass and not emerging, prompting her to ask with a hint of confusion, “We’re heading back. Why are you still in the bushes?”

Hearing this, Qi Lin’s face flushed slightly, and he spoke with a touch of embarrassment, “Um… my clothes were torn to shreds. I’m… not wearing anything right now.”

Elder Sylph and the others grew even more bewildered upon hearing Qi Lin’s explanation.

“What happened?” Aali questioned.

“When that golden-haired Maiden annihilated those… er, giant turtles, I was splashed by the green liquid. She then tried to strip my clothes to wipe it off, and when I resisted, my… my clothes were ripped.”

Qi Lin, having clearly rehearsed his story, explained without a trace of panic.

“See, there are still remnants of my clothes over there.”

Following Qi Lin’s outstretched finger, they indeed spotted faint traces of fabric amidst a charred, fragmented crater.

With a sigh, Elder Sylph commanded everyone to return to the town.

“Hold on a moment, we’ll be right back,” Manrot called out to Qi Lin before rejoining the group.

Watching the others depart, Qi Lin hunched his body, burying himself entirely within the tall grass.

Several minutes later, Aali returned, carrying a green package.

Bored and restless, Qi Lin soon noticed Aali approaching from a distance.

“Where are the others?”

“They’re preparing for a meeting and didn’t have time to come back and bring you clothes, so they sent me!” Aali smiled knowingly at the silver-haired head that popped out of the grass, then handed over the package she held.

Extending a hand to take the package, Qi Lin asked with a puzzled frown, “A meeting? About what? Also, are these the clothes for me?”

“Yes, they’re clothes. As for what the meeting is about, you’ll find out once you come back with me.” Aali answered the latter question, pointedly ignoring the former.

Observing the somewhat troubled Aali, Qi Lin furrowed his brow but said nothing more, instead unwrapping the package.

‘No wonder this package felt strange,’ Qi Lin mused, rubbing the unwrapped bundle of leaves in his hands. ‘It’s made of leaves!’

Tossing the leaves aside, Qi Lin retreated into the tall grass with the wrapped contents. He had to admit, the space within the bushes was surprisingly generous.

Spreading out the clothes in his hands, Qi Lin shook them, then examined them with a somewhat serious expression.

“…Aali…”

Hearing Qi Lin’s voice, Aali looked up, her expression still tinged with worry, and asked, “What is it?”

“It’s just… why does this outfit have a skirt?!” Qi Lin exclaimed, holding up a corner of the garment, utterly dumbfounded.

“Oh? You don’t like it?”

‘How could I possibly like this? This is women’s clothing, isn’t it?’ Qi Lin thought, but held back the words, knowing it was a kind gesture from someone else.

“Then… should I go back and get another set?” Aali tentatively offered, receiving no immediate reply from Qi Lin.

“No, it’s fine! I’ll just make do with this for now!”

Pushing aside the grass, Qi Lin, now dressed, emerged with a series of exasperated sighs.

Seeing Qi Lin clad in a jasmine-white spaghetti-strap mini-dress, Aali’s eyes lit up. “Wow! This outfit really suits you!”

Praised in such a manner, Qi Lin found himself speechless, unsure how to articulate his exasperation, especially since he was currently wearing a woman’s dress.

“…Aali, what were you thinking? And also, I’m a man!” Qi Lin exclaimed, his face burning with shame as he tugged at the hem of the skirt to barely cover his thighs, on the verge of tears.

“Oh, well, you’re still wearing shorts underneath anyway.” Aali walked over to Qi Lin, playfully ruffling his white hair, the worry that had previously clouded her face now completely vanished.

“…The way you say that, I’m starting to think you did this on purpose…” A sudden realization struck Qi Lin, his eyes widening in shock.

“How could that be? Am I really that kind of person?” Aali retorted, subtly ruffling Qi Lin’s short hair, which had indeed grown a little longer, before darting off towards Manda Town.

Watching Aali quickly disappear into the distance, Qi Lin inwardly declared that someone who, after knowing him for less than a day, would make him wear clothes he disliked, was certainly not a good person—or, perhaps, a good elf?!

“I’ll just have to make do!” Glancing at the large sun in the sky, Qi Lin slowly made his way towards Manda Town.

As for why he wasn’t running back… Qi Lin admitted he was afraid of an accidental exposure.

After walking for nearly ten minutes, Qi Lin reunited with Aali, whose face had once again taken on a troubled expression, and they arrived at Manda Town.

The moment he stepped into the town, Qi Lin sensed that something was amiss.

Glancing at Aali, who had become quiet and withdrawn since returning to town, Qi Lin remained silent.

A few more minutes of walking brought them to Elder Sylph’s treehouse.

The treehouse was now completely surrounded.

Qi Lin roughly estimated the crowd, noting dozens of people and over a thousand elves.

‘Why does it feel like a war is about to break out?’ Qi Lin thought, pressing his lips together.

After a brief wait, Elder Sylph emerged from the treehouse.

“Everyone, I regret to inform you that those fiendish beasts have returned!” Elder Sylph announced, her gaze sweeping over the assembled elves.

‘Fiendish beasts? Those giant turtles?’ Qi Lin wondered, standing silently with Aali among the elves, listening intently.

“What?!” a Burly Guard among the elves exclaimed in shock.

“Those things are back again?” a Maiden elf questioned, her voice laced with confusion.

“Why? We’ve only just managed to settle down!” a Youth elf burst out irritably.

“Are we going to migrate again?” a young elf child asked their parents nearby, bewildered.

“Why?!”

Standing amidst the crowd of elves, Qi Lin silently analyzed the sounds reaching his ears.

“My apologies, everyone!” Elder Sylph declared, thumping her right fist against her chest and bowing deeply to the clamoring elves.

“Elder, this is not your fault!” the nearest elf said comfortingly.

“That’s right!” “Exactly!”

Several elves voiced their agreement with the speaking elf, then echoed their sentiments to Elder Sylph.

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