NOVEL WEB Chapter 32: The Choice
"Hua Mi, gather honey from the flowers."
"Beekeepers are always busy here and there."
"The bees follow the beekeeper."
"Working tirelessly without rest."
...
Seven Pseudo-Flower Spirits exchanged playful words, singing their self-composed tunes, filling the air above the witch with a sense of spirituality.
From a distance, they appeared as seven different shades, like a living rainbow.
"It's so leisurely; these carefree little beings," Hua Mi mused as he watched them from the riverbank.
Today, the sunlight was lovely, and he sat by the riverbank in his black robe and hood, holding a titanium alloy fishing rod. He had been fishing all morning with a complete set of fishing gear by his side.
But so far, his efforts had yielded nothing. His bucket contained nothing but water, not even a tiny fish.
Fishing required patience, luck, and skill, making it quite challenging. So having no catch was normal.
The primary goal was to pass the time. He had no intention of eating any fish he caught; instead, he planned to rear them. If he ever needed aquatic nectar-producing plants, he could release the fish fry into the pond, creating a small ecosystem to aid in plant growth.
The buzzing of the bee swarm circled around him, as if they were providing an accompaniment for the seven little spirits.
Hua Mi noticed the significant difference between these ethereal creatures and other species. These spirits lacked greed, didn't enjoy conflict, knew how to savor life, and could live a vibrant, colorful life without boredom.
It made him, a purebred human, quite envious. "Thinking about it, the songs they're composing have some deep meaning. Why do we humans run around our whole lives and stay busy... Oh, I've got a bite!"
Just as he was contemplating the meaning of life, his fishing rod suddenly twitched, pulling him out of his contemplation.
Hua Mi stood up with a quick "whoosh," one hand holding the rod, and the other reeling in the line. The float on the water's surface swayed vigorously and moved irregularly.
"It's a strong pull; a big one!" Hua Mi recalled the fishing techniques he had learned in the past, managing the struggle with the creature underwater.
The goal was to maintain tension on the line without letting it snap. The theory was one thing, but practice was a different beast entirely. Challenges encountered in practice always outnumbered those in ideal conditions. This fish was not only strong but also incredibly stubborn.
After a lengthy struggle, Hua Mi's hands ached, and he hadn't made any progress. In fact, the fish was moving further away from the bank.
"Seeing your strong will to survive, I'll let you go," he said, about to give up when something unexpected happened. The water in the vicinity of the fishhook suddenly bulged, growing higher and higher. Eventually, a water sphere emerged, floating gently in the air, refracting the sunlight and shimmering with rainbow colors.
A large fish, over thirty centimeters long, was enclosed within the water sphere. The fish's scales had a faint greenish sheen, sparkling as it moved.
A faint trail extended from the water sphere to the shore. Hua Mi followed it and spotted a burly figure squatting there.
Recognizing the figure, Hua Mi's heart sank. A thin wire of tension immediately stretched in his mind, and he focused, connecting his consciousness to the Iron Armor Swift Bees and the Circle Cut Bees.
He was ready for offense or defense.
Despite his leisurely fishing, he had been vigilant all along. Watching wilderness survival shows had taught him some essential survival knowledge, and he was aware that lakesides weren't necessarily safe, as wild animals could come to drink.
The same principle applied to riverbanks. He had been prepared all along, with combat bee swarms at the ready to respond immediately if needed.
But he didn't expect the threat to come from a beast but from an entirely different species. Furthermore, this creature was an expert in stealth, and he hadn't noticed her until she reached the bank.
With her ostentatious muscles and fiery-red skin, she was unmistakably the wanted criminal the elf had shown him earlier—a creature born for war, a Berserker Elf.
"I thought this forest was so vast that the chances of meeting one would be slim. Who would've thought I'd encounter one... I guess I shouldn't make predictions in the future."
The water sphere hung in the air for a moment before flying towards Hua Mi. He quickly commanded his Iron Armor Swift Bees to form a protective shield in front of him. But the expected impact never came. The water sphere slowed down and landed in the bucket with a splashing sound, drenching Hua Mi in the process.
Staring at the struggling fish in the bucket, Hua Mi was momentarily stunned. He opened a gap in the bee shield and looked towards the Berserker Elf.
She was kneeling by the shore, her fiery red face wearing a somewhat mocking smile, like a fierce warrior taunting her timid foe.
Hua Mi felt a bit annoyed. While the result of her actions was a gift, her intentions weren't entirely benevolent.
The Berserker Elf paid no further attention to him, extending her arm into the lake to rinse her other arm and then taking a few sips of lake water, seemingly unconcerned about cleanliness.
Upon closer inspection, Hua Mi realized that she appeared injured, with her armor displaying multiple damages and a bleeding wound on her arm. However, her skin was naturally red, so the injury was not immediately noticeable.
Was she injured by the traditional elf he had encountered earlier?
"At least she's not a bloodthirsty lunatic," Hua Mi thought. When encountering a new and intimidating species, it was natural to initially exaggerate their malevolence, especially after the introduction by the traditional elf. It seemed that she meant no harm.
As long as she didn't initiate hostilities, they could coexist peacefully.
Hua Mi removed the hook from the fish's mouth, re-baited it, and resumed his position on the small stool. However, he kept a watchful eye on the Berserker Elf. His combat bee swarms remained on standby.
The Berserker Elf, having cleaned her face, suddenly seemed to realize something. She turned and glanced at Hua Mi, then plunged her hands into the water.
As if by some invisible force, the lake water swiftly climbed her arms until it formed a water membrane encasing her completely. Then, she slid into the water as if she were merging with it, without creating any splashes or ripples.
At the same time, another figure emerged from the forest. Tall and slender, with flowing silver hair, she was equally distinctive. The elf held a bow and approached the lake.
Her gaze shifted from the seven Pseudo-Flower Spirits to the bee swarm and finally settled on Hua Mi, who was sitting by the lake fishing.
The elf lady wasn't sure if she recognized him, so she approached him, took out the wanted poster, and showed it to him again. "Have you seen her?"
Hua Mi hesitated. While the Berserker Elf had helped him by providing the fish, he had mixed feelings. Revealing her location would undoubtedly incur her wrath, and he didn't want to turn this place into a battlefield. Even if the traditional elf subdued her, there was no guarantee she wouldn't seek revenge later.
He didn't want to attract any unnecessary hostility. "Listen, the person I'm tracking is an extremely dangerous criminal. If you can provide information that helps me catch her, you'll receive friendship and rewards from the Emerald Court."