Chapter 35: Lin Fan’s Discovery

“A protective talisman?” Hearing the fatty’s words, Lin Fan was somewhat baffled.

“There’s such a thing?”

Although there were thousands upon thousands of treasures on the continent, something like a protective talisman sounded somewhat unreliable.

“Of course there is!”

The fatty said with full conviction, “And, according to a reliable source—this protective talisman can withstand a full-power strike from a Great Ascension Realm expert!”

“Pfft—”

Hearing the fatty’s words, Lin Fan felt like he was going to spit blood.

He had thought that these people, mobilizing such a large force, were searching for some incredible treasure. But in the end…

This was it?

This was what they called a treasure?

“Senior, let me tell you. This protective talisman…” The fatty leaned in close to Lin Fan, chattering incessantly.

“Alright, alright,” Lin Fan waved his hand impatiently. “Change the topic.”

“Oh… okay.” Seeing Lin Fan’s displeased expression, Fatty Wang sensibly shut his mouth.

“Let me ask you—have you encountered any relatively young girls around here?”

“Relatively young girls?” Fatty Wang tilted his head up, pondering as he gazed at the red mist in the sky. “I don’t think… we have.”

“None?” Hearing the fatty’s words, Lin Fan couldn’t help but be greatly disappointed. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!” Fatty Wang nodded, his eyes firm. “Although we stayed with a few families, we never met any young girls.”

‘Sigh!’

Hearing this, Lin Fan couldn’t help but sigh. ‘As expected, I can’t count on this guy at all!’

[The trail has gone cold. What are you going to do next?]

The System asked with a hint of regret.

“No…” Lin Fan slowly shook his head. “It hasn’t gone cold.”

The reason Lin Fan had come here was entirely due to the guidance of the red mist. In other words, as long as the mist was here, there was hope.

‘It’s just that, this place is a bit big…’

Looking at the vast forest and the faint glow emanating from the Guiding Stone, Lin Fan felt a headache coming on.

If he kept searching aimlessly like this, how long would it take?

“Senior, I’ve answered your questions. Can you take me out of here now?” Gazing at Lin Fan’s solemn expression, the fatty asked tentatively in a small voice.

Lin Fan didn’t respond, merely shaking his head slowly.

“N-No?” Seeing Lin Fan shake his head, the fatty instantly panicked. “Senior, I’m begging you—please save me… I don’t want to die yet…”

The fatty cried, wiping his snot vigorously with his sleeve.

“Alright, alright!” Lin Fan waved his hand impatiently, then conjured a ball of blue flame. “Follow this, and you’ll be able to find your companions!”

“Th-Thank you, Senior!”

Seeing Lin Fan take action, the fatty was overjoyed. After cupping his fists in respect toward Lin Fan, he hurriedly followed the flame and departed.

[I have to say, you really are a little different now…]

Gazing at the fatty’s retreating back, the System couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

“Different?” Lin Fan was baffled. “What’s different?”

[You didn’t actually have to help him. After all, he’s of no more use to you. And…]

[You could have easily used your pressure to kill him, but you didn’t do that.]

“That’s because…” Lin Fan started to say, but then stopped.

[Whatever the reason, it’s definitely not because of me.]

The System said with utter certainty.

[After all, if you truly wanted to use your pressure to kill someone, I wouldn’t be able to stop you.]

“Let’s not talk about this for now,” Lin Fan changed the subject. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed—something strange?”

[Something strange?]

Hearing Lin Fan’s words, the System was completely confused.

[What strange thing?]

“Look—”

Lin Fan raised his hand, pointing toward a distant hill. “That area, I remember there was no mist there at the beginning.”

“And the area behind us, which was initially filled with red mist, is now clear.”

[You mean…]

The System was still scratching its head in confusion.

“I mean, the area covered by the red mist is fixed. Which is to say… this red mist is mobile.”

[So that’s how it is!]

Hearing Lin Fan’s words, the System had a sudden realization.

[In that case, we just need to find the center of the red mist!]

Lin Fan smiled calmly. “That is precisely what I mean.”

Inside the cave.

“Do you guys think…” The skinny young man lifted his head, gazing worriedly at the thick fog outside the cave. “The Boss has been gone for so long, could it be…”

“Pah, pah, pah!”

Before the youth could finish, the bald man shot up and berated him, “If you don’t know how to talk, then shut up! No one will think you’re a mute!”

Just as the bald man’s voice fell, a weary figure appeared at the cave entrance.

“I… I’m back…”

“Boss!” Recognizing the person, the bald man shouted and quickly ran forward to support him.

“Boss—” Seeing their leader return, the team members all gathered around. “How was it? Did you find Fatty Wang?”

“Sigh!”

The middle-aged man didn’t speak, only letting out a heavy sigh.

“It’s over…”

Seeing this, the skinny youth’s eyes instantly dimmed. “It seems we’re destined to die here…”

“You f*cking—” The bald man could no longer hold back, kicking out towards the skinny youth. “Since you want to die so badly, I’ll grant your wish today!”

“Ah—”

After a few hard punches, the skinny youth howled in pain.

“Stop hitting him!” A team member saw this and quickly ran over to mediate. “The top priority right now is to solve the problem of water and food.”

“That’s right, that’s right!” The other team members chimed in. “This isn’t the time for infighting!”

“Hah!”

The bald man sighed resentfully, then slowly unclenched his fists.

You couldn’t really blame the bald man for his explosive temper.

They didn’t know when the great fog would end, yet their food had already run out. In this situation, no matter who it was, they would feel somewhat unhappy.

“Big Brother, this is bad! Second Brother has fainted!”

“What did you say?!”

Hearing the shout, the middle-aged man rushed to the long-haired man’s side.

“Second Brother! What’s wrong with you? Wake up, Second Brother!” Looking at the long-haired man’s pale face, the middle-aged man’s heart was wrenched with pain.

“Big Brother…” a team member by his side said with his head down, his voice choked with emotion, “Second Brother hasn’t eaten for two days and two nights. If this continues, I’m afraid…”

“How could this be…”

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man’s legs gave way, and he slumped weakly to the ground.

“When it comes down to it, it’s all the fatty’s fault,” a team member in the corner suddenly spoke up.

“That’s right!” a nearby member agreed. “If it weren’t for him, how would we have ended up in such a state!”

“When we find that fatty, we have to teach him a good lesson!”

Outside the cave.

Staring at the pitch-black cave entrance, the fatty was overcome with excitement.

The flame had extinguished here, which meant—his teammates were inside the cave right now.

‘It hasn’t been easy…’

The fatty sighed with emotion, then slung the bag over his back and strode into the cave with his head held high. “Brothers, I, Fatty Wang, have returned!”