One-Eyed Monster

Stan Sol didn't spend much time pondering Hustace's question. The color of night was gradually shrouding Dawn Peak. Before long, the moon would climb atop the mountain, and the cold night would only inflict more pain on the pitiable Hustace; a little carelessness could result in the noble young master catching a cold. Stan Sol, being a sensible man, didn't want to risk this. Therefore, he selected a spot on the mountainside, sheltered from the wind, for them to spend the night. Luck wasn't always on their side; they couldn't find a cave every time.

"What're we eating tonight?" Igor unexpectedly brought up an unusual topic. "Too bad there are no birds or beasts on this mountain. Otherwise, with two Hunters here, we could definitely feast on roasted game tonight."

Seeing Igor's hopeful eyes, Baharo couldn't help but grin. "HEHEHE, little brother, you're practically drooling on the ground."

"Will he share with the captives?" Hustace asked. Although physically weak, he seemed full of vitality when he posed this question, as if his entire being was filled with strength.

"The food you ate earlier was all shared by him," Igor said with a smile. In his eyes, Stan Sol wasn't a bad person, so he subconsciously found himself always defending this ancient, stammering Hunter.

Indeed, Stan Sol didn't let Igor's defense be in vain. This ancient Hunter, through his actions, alleviated Hustace's concerns. He took out a square, wooden block-like object from his robe, then started a fire and used the utensils he carried to boil water.

Igor's eyes lit up; a sense of admiration for Stan Sol gradually bloomed within him. This ancient Hunter is always bringing different kinds of surprises: grass that tastes like meat, flames that move like wild animals, a rope that coils like a snake… Now, this ancient Hunter took out something that looked like tree leaves. With a casual roll, it became a bowl that held boiling water without leaking a single drop.

"Do you know what this is?" Igor asked, turning to Baharo.

"HEHEHE, even though I'm a Hunter, this is the first time I've seen anything like it," Baharo replied. He only showed humility in the presence of a powerful being; at that moment, he hardly dared to call himself a High-Rank Hunter.

"This is… Rubber Tree Leaf. Vero Realm, Maolin River."

Stan Sol's answer was as concise as ever. However, conciseness didn't mean simplicity; his few words were loaded with information.

Igor and the others all knew about the Rubber Tree from the Vero Realm, a treasure of that realm. Legend had it that the fruit of the Rubber Tree could endow a person with an unexpected power. This power could connect two unrelated people, allowing them to be aware of each other's every word and action, even when separated by great distances.

The fruit of the Rubber Tree was priceless and its value was no secret. However, the fact that the leaves of the Rubber Tree also had such an effect was a real eye-opener for Igor and the others.

The Rubber Tree grows by the Maolin River, a hotly contested territory in the Vero Realm. Even the dominant Wensi Empire, regardless of whether the cunning Vero People or the whimsical Tree Spirits were in power, could not conquer that river. For ages, this river has been under the control of another ancient species of the Yowein Continent: the Water Spirits. The underwater world is their domain. The crisscrossing rivers of the Vero Realm are perfect habitats for Water Spirits, and the Maolin River, in particular, is where this ancient species chose to gather. Legend says the king of the Water Spirits resides in this river, so any creature approaching it would be attacked by them without provocation. Water Spirits are phantom-like in the water, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Even the Wensi Empire, possessing the most powerful navy on the continent, couldn't withstand their assaults.

The Water Spirits are the rulers of the water, guarding every little thing around the river…

Therefore, if one wanted to pluck fruit from the Rubber Tree, they had to be prepared to match wits and courage against the Water Spirits.

To Baharo, Stan Sol's use of Rubber Tree Leaves as a bowl was a silent threat. Imagine the kind of strength and determination needed for someone capable of plucking leaves and fruit from the Rubber Tree by the Maolin River...

Fortunately for Baharo, he understood that absolute strength meant overwhelming power. Even if a hundred rebellious thoughts stirred in his heart, he wouldn't be foolish enough to throw an egg against a rock. In front of an absolute powerhouse, he would act as docile as a lamb.

Right now, Baharo, this docile lamb, was just like Igor and the others, his heart filled with anticipation for the imminent food.

Stan Sol was seen breaking the solid blocks into pieces and placing them in the "bowl" filled with hot water. The pieces rapidly expanded in the warm water, gradually occupying the entire bowl made from Rubber Tree Leaves.

"I recognize this! This is Thorny Root from the Lange Desert. It tastes similar to an egg," Baharo finally managed to show off a bit in front of Igor. The Lange Desert is located in the Ghost Realm. The roots there have strong water-absorbing capabilities and can store a considerable amount of water.

In the Mantai Empire, located in the Ghost Realm, Thorny Roots are mainly used as a water reservoir; their use as food is comparatively rare. When venturing deep into the mountains or deserts, the Mantai People rely heavily on these roots for water storage. After being sun-dried, a piece of Thorny Root is only palm-sized. However, if placed in a tank of water, it can absorb every last drop in less than half an hour. What's even more incredible is that after absorbing all the water, the Thorny Root only enlarges to about twice its dry size.

The piece of Thorny Root Stan Sol had didn't seem to have stored any water. After he broke it and soaked it in warm water, this water-storing marvel seemed to lose its usual magic, rapidly swelling and becoming soft and spongy.

The Thorny Root soaked in warm water indeed tasted similar to an egg. Igor and the others ate their fill, sweating profusely. (Unfortunately, everyone's hands were tied, so Stan Sol had to feed them one by one, holding the Rubber Leaf Bowl.) In no time at all, they all felt warm and satiated. It seemed the Thorny Root, like the Rubber Tree, was full of hidden wonders.

This hidden magic must only be known by ancient Hunters, Baharo couldn't help but marvel. Unlike Igor and the others, Baharo still had an unresolved issue weighing on his mind.

This issue stemmed from Young Master Hustace. With his Invisibility Cloak, the young man had escaped Baharo's pursuit, causing him to lose face in front of his new employer.

Baharo wasn't the type to refuse to accept defeat. He could accept it if the other party's strength was superior to his own; he would accept defeat willingly, just as he had in the fight against Stan Sol. He had become a captive without a single complaint and had even chatted cheerfully with Igor along the way. But Young Master Hustace, whose power was nowhere near his own, had managed to evade his pursuit. That was intolerable. Baharo was determined to find out how this intolerable event had occurred.

The Invisibility Cloak… that's the root of it. Stan Sol was able to find Hustace, meaning he wasn't affected by this Wizard's tool. It seems there's indeed a vast difference between ancient Hunters and ordinary ones.

Baharo chuckled to himself. It seems I'll need this ancient Hunter's help to resolve this, he thought.