Chapter 60

"Mike, hurry up, you're slowing us down again!" Lucius's voice came from ahead, tinged with a quiver after reflecting off the leaves. Zhao Mai grunted, exerted force with his shoulders, and lifted his backpack higher, striving to follow the footprints in front of him.

His physical condition was still somewhat poor, due to long hours of sitting and writing books or driving, lacking exercise. Fortunately, after coming to this world, he had consciously strengthened his physical fitness, at least recovering to the level of his college days, and perhaps even slightly surpassing it. However, his foundation was truly inadequate, unable to compare with those who had lived in the wild from a young age.

Moreover, he had made ample preparations for this patrol. He wore a leather armor, carried a shield, a giant-toothed beast musket, a slingshot, and a pile of stones, as well as various ropes and traps, three candles, a large piece of versatile canvas, and even a needle and thread, and a pot. All these items had to be secured with cloth straps to avoid colliding and making noise that would reveal their position.

These were all skills that druids didn't need. In the natural environment, their survival skills were outstanding; even without any equipment, they could live as if on vacation. Lucius had this confidence; he only wore leather armor, carrying a bow and a spear, completely light and leading the way. Aphra carried a backpack, which seemed to contain some bottles and jars, possibly some homemade ointments. Ziyue carried two curved swords, but her true weapon was the blowpipe at her waist.

Zhao Mai's load was the heaviest, and he also had to take care of the reserve food. Although the puppy ran faster than Zhao Mai, it often couldn't climb over thick tree roots or rugged rocks. It had to be said that in this aspect, Lucius's feline companion was much stronger. The cheetah leaped quickly between branches, making almost no sound.

Aphra's animal companion was a gibbon, which had no problem moving through the forest. Ziyue's companion was an owl, which seemed to sleep all day, mostly perched on Ziyue's shoulder. However, Zhao Mai noticed that whenever someone approached, the owl would always open its eyes and stare intently.

"Mr. Daler said to rest a bit ahead. Mike, hurry up, don't dawdle!" Lucius's voice floated from ahead, like a curse in his ears.

It couldn't be said that his voice was completely useless; at least Zhao Mai could always use it to determine the direction of his companions. This was a patrol, essentially a basic reconnaissance mission. Apart from following Daler the druid to check the Ashen Lake, there was no certainty about what else they would do. Zhao Mai had long understood that this wasn't a forced march; the druids wouldn't let the team lose control, so there was no need to push his physical limits. Reserving some strength to deal with emergencies was the prudent approach.

Panting heavily, he tried to adjust his breathing, taking three quick breaths followed by one slow exhale, which could improve the body's oxygen utilization. Zhao Mai bent down again to pick up the reserve food, carefully choosing his path and quickly swinging his legs to bypass a thicket. If he let the reserve food walk on its own, it would definitely end up with more scratches.

Daler had arranged the other three people by the lake and then turned back, just in time to see this scene: "Mike, have you learned the forest step?"

"I haven't formally learned it, Mr. Daler. But I've seen Ranger Karl use it, so I tried to imitate it."

"Oh, Karl, he's an old friend of mine." Daler smiled slightly: "He learned the forest step from me, but he also taught me how to use a crossbow for sniping."

"Uh, you know each other?" Zhao Mai held the reserve food in both hands, "Look, this is Dogmeat's child, given to me by Mr. Karl."

"In that case, he must really value you." Daler reached out to help Zhao Mai regain his balance and walked alongside him. "I met him fifteen years ago, when his Dogmeat was about the same size as your puppy. It's been so many years, I wonder how old he is now."

"Fifteen years ago?" Zhao Mai sized up Daler the druid and sighed, "Ah, once a druid has the Thousand Faces, it's impossible to tell their age. I thought you were quite young."

"I'm not that old, by human standards, I'm only about thirty." Daler explained: "I have some air elemental blood, so my lifespan is a bit longer."

"No wonder you like living in such a high place. If it were me, I'd be too worried about falling and dying to sleep at all."

The two walked and talked, their shared ranger friend clearly bringing them closer. After leaving the forest, they walked side by side to the river, where the other three had already gathered some firewood and set up a camp for the night.

Druids love the natural environment, but that doesn't mean they don't use natural resources. Even without cutting down trees, gathering dead branches for a fire was no problem. Zhao Mai put down his backpack and took out the small pot. Although Lucius didn't say it, he knew that this pot greatly improved their living conditions.

They were by the Greasy River, where the water always had a strange layer of blackish-gray grease, making it taste revolting. It was said that this was due to the environment of the Stowar Plateau and Raven Plain upstream. In ancient times, that land was ruled by powerful arcanists, who later fell and caused its destruction. Beasts and wilderness ruled for a long time until civilization gradually reclaimed some territory in the past few hundred years.

Huge alchemical factories and countless clay creatures still polluted the Greasy River. Fortunately, the water was just unpleasant to drink and not toxic, and it could be used for irrigation. Otherwise, the entire Raven Plain would have no vegetation, let alone any villages.

"Across the river is the Raven Plain. You'll head south until you reach near Wolf Ear Town, then you can turn back," the druid said to the four apprentices. "I'll watch over you on the way, but I won't accompany you. Following this river, you won't get lost. But if you do, you can seek help in Wolf Ear Town—just accept the failure of the patrol mission."

Following the river meant no worries about water or food, and no risk of getting lost, making it the simplest wilderness survival task. Zhao Mai scooped a pot of water and cast a purification spell on it, greatly reducing the original revolting taste. Ziyue's owl flew out and soon returned with a snake. She clapped happily, but Zhao Mai scratched his head, unsure if owls had this ability.

Everyone knew that this was the last meal Daler would share with them, so they put extra effort into it. Aphra caught a catfish, and Lucius's cheetah brought back two mountain chickens. Zhao Mai didn't have the energy to catch prey, but he secretly added more salt to the soup.

The druid praised the meal endlessly.