Chapter 211 Settlement
It was a cluster of blue light, intermittently visible in the grey fog.
After a moment’s hesitation, Li Wen slowed her steps and cautiously approached the light.
As the distance closed, the light gradually became clearer—it was a peculiarly shaped lantern, its shade made of some translucent bone, within which a cold blue flame flickered. The lantern was held by a hand like a withered branch, the arm extending upwards, connecting to a tall, thin figure.
A Lantern Sprite.
Li Wen had seen records of them in some obscure ancient texts. They were an extremely rare species of sprite, resembling withered trees with towering forms. Legend had it they guided lost souls to the underworld. The Lantern Sprite before her was over two meters tall, its bark-like skin covered in cracks, from which a faint blue light seeped. It had no facial features; its head bore only a horizontal fissure, as if split by a sharp blade.
The Lantern Sprite seemed to sense Li Wen’s presence. It turned slowly, its lantern swaying, the blue light etching a winding path through the mist. Without a word, it began to walk, moving in a certain direction.
Li Wen hesitated for a moment, deciding to follow. Although the Giant’s Dusk Bell had warned her, the metallic clanging that had driven away the unknown presence earlier seemed to have come from this Lantern Sprite, and in legends, Lantern Sprites were friendly and trustworthy sprites.
She maintained a safe distance, following the Lantern Sprite through the thick fog. Shadows occasionally flitted through the grey mist; some resembled human forms, while others were completely unrecognizable. They eagerly avoided the Lantern Sprite’s light, as if the blue flame could scorch souls.
After about fifteen minutes, the grey fog suddenly thinned. Li Wen squinted, and in the distance, a large expanse of light vaguely appeared, like a swarm of fireflies emerging in the darkness. As the distance closed, the points of light gradually merged, outlining the silhouette of a ruin.
It was a complex of buildings constructed from black stones, similar in style to the inner city of Amber City, but more dilapidated and decadent. The surfaces of the buildings were covered with glowing vines that pulsed like veins, emitting a soft yellow-green light that illuminated the entire ruin as if it were a dream.
The Lantern Sprite stopped at the edge of the ruin. It raised its withered, branch-like arm, pointing towards the most concentrated area of light. Then, its form gradually faded, eventually disappearing into the fog along with the lantern.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Wen entered the ruin alone. The glowing vines trembled slightly as she passed, their light flickering as if conveying some message. The ground was paved with shattered black stone bricks, and tiny luminescent mushrooms grew in the cracks, scattering fine light spots when stepped upon.
“Look what I found, a living person!”
A sharp, high-pitched voice suddenly came from her feet. Li Wen looked down and saw a giant guinea pig, the size of a dog, staring up at her. The guinea pig was pure white, but its eyes were an eerie purple. A faded red silk scarf was tied around its neck. It stood upright, covering its mouth with its front paws in an exaggerated gesture of shock, its whiskers trembling.
“How rare! It’s been three hundred and twenty-seven years since any intelligent race has been here!” The guinea pig circled Li Wen, its nose twitching, making clicking sounds. “And a human, too. You surface dwellers, you actually…”
Li Wen’s eyes narrowed, and she grabbed the guinea pig’s scarf, lifting it up.
“You speak Terran?”
The guinea pig kicked its short legs in mid-air, the scarf tightening around its neck, making its eyes roll back. “Cough… cough… Show some respect! I am a Sir of the Kingdom of Lafatia! Of course, I speak Terran…”
Li Wen released her grip, and the guinea pig landed on the ground with a thud, rolling a couple of times before steadying itself. It huffily straightened its scarf, its purple eyes darting around. “Rude! Utterly rude! I knew it would be no good encountering you surface dwellers—”
“Lafatia?” Li Wen interrupted its complaint. “The city-state of the subterranean Dwarves?”
“Show some respect, you should call it the great and noble Grey Mountain Kingdom of Lafatia!” The guinea pig muttered something in a fringe language, presumably some curse words. “I am the Kingdom’s Senior Scholar, Adventurer, and Bard. Please address me as ‘Respected Sir Grendel’.”
Sir… a giant talking guinea pig?
Li Wen’s expression remained unchanged as she scanned her surroundings. The glowing vines swayed slightly with her gaze. “Do you know what this place is?”
“Of course, this is the Grey Fog Settlement,” Sir Grendel puffed out his chest. “The place where everyone who accidentally trespasses into the end of the world eventually arrives. Well… brave and fearless great explorers like myself naturally come here voluntarily.”
Grey Fog Settlement? The end of the world?
There was no relevant information in her memory. Li Wen frowned. Wasn’t this area part of Amber City’s outer district? Or perhaps, the so-called outer district referred to this place?
“Tell me, did you come here through Amber City?”
“Amber City… What is that place?” The guinea pig shook its chubby little head. “I accidentally… cough, cough, I stumbled upon a mysterious entrance while exploring ancient imperial ruins. Out of respect for the spirit of adventure, I resolutely rushed into that unknown and mysterious entrance, and then I came here. You’re from the Mortal Realm, aren’t you? Do you know what’s happening outside?”
Li Wen ignored it and pressed on. “How many living people are here? Or rather, how many beings like you who can communicate?”
Sir Grendel’s whiskers twitched, and his purple eyes darted around. “Living people? Haha, my dear surface friend, your question has stumped me—”
He spread his short, stubby front paws in an exaggerated gesture. “You must understand, here… in the Grey Fog Settlement, the very concept of ‘living’ is debatable.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that once you accidentally enter this place, you will never encounter death… this is not an idle threat.” Sir Grendel suddenly lowered his voice and leaned in mysteriously. “Here, you might encounter unimaginable dangers and fears, you might be torn apart, devoured, or tortured beyond recognition, but… you simply won’t die.”
“So, everyone in the settlement is…”
“They are all unlucky fellows!” Sir Grendel suddenly waved his front paws excitedly. “Few adventurers come here voluntarily like me. Most are unfortunate souls swept in by the grey fog. Some have been here for hundreds of years, some even longer…”
“Then, is there someone named ‘Short Needle’ among them?”
“Short Needle?” Sir Grendel’s whiskers twitched slightly, and his pupil-sized eyes narrowed. “I’ve never heard of such a person. If you are really curious, you can ask the Headless Army. They are always responsive—as long as you are willing to pay the price.”
