Chapter 348: 123. Regaining Strength
The next morning, after a night of frost and snow, the huge rock above their camp was covered with a thick white coat. As the sky began to brighten, the group of Snow Fox Tribe members stretched and walked out of their tents. The clan leader Dar, with his hands behind his back, surveyed the camp. Valentina and her companions had not yet left their tent, but he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, revealing a hint of confusion.
“Is it just my illusion, or has the smell of fear decreased?”
“Chief, should we wake them? I took a look, and the weather seems nice today; I estimate someone might catch up with us.”
“Yes, wake them up. Let them discuss how to arrange things from here on.”
“Understood.”
Clan leader Dar shook his head and turned around to tidy up his own tent a little so they could set off quickly later. The Snow Fox Tribe member who was about to wake Valentina and her group had not yet moved when two people walked out of their tents: Heidi Lin, who was tying her hair, and Fisher, with Emhart perched on his shoulder.
They exchanged a glance, Emhart yawned, and Fisher greeted Heidi Lin with a “good morning.” Heidi Lin gently avoided Fisher’s gaze, fixed her green hair crown, and, without responding to Fisher, headed towards Valentina’s tent while chatting with a few members of the Snow Fox Tribe.
Emhart, who had slept in Fisher’s arms all night, was still a bit bleary-eyed. He squinted and looked at Heidi Lin, who was silently walking into Valentina’s tent, and queried,
“Strange, wasn’t her relationship with you fine before? Although her expressions weren’t great, I could feel she had a good impression of you. Why is she not speaking to you this morning?”
Fisher did not respond to Emhart’s question but turned and walked in the opposite direction of Heidi Lin to wake up Filius, Selti, and Balzak, who were sleeping in the other two tents.
He somewhat understood the reason. There had indeed been some ambiguity between him and Heidi Lin, and she had some fondness for him. However, ever since he saved Valentina from the brink of self-destruction the night before, their conversation in the tent, no matter how quiet, hadn’t escaped her ears. For the sake of the young lady, she had to draw a clear line with him to avoid making her feel uncomfortable.
There was no denying that Heidi Lin had deep feelings for Valentina, which was evident from past events.
“Get up.”
“Ugh.”
Filius and Selti were sharing a tent. Fisher didn’t intend to go inside, but after calling out once, a small whimper came from inside. He paused for a second and then opened the tent flap, only to see that Filius, sprawled out on the narrow bed prepared for them, was still asleep, with one of her feet having kicked Selti in the face, leaving her to experience a precarious night.
Moreover, Filius was prone to talking in her sleep, making corresponding movements along with her unintelligible murmurs. Throughout the night, Selti, who was sleeping next to her, had become a punching bag for her. If it weren’t for the extreme cold outside, she would have rushed to sleep elsewhere.
At this moment, seeing Fisher pull back the flap, Selti, curled up in a corner of the bed, couldn’t hold back and began to cry. However, before she could start, the foot planted on her face suddenly kicked her off the bed. Filius, who had been sleeping comfortably, stretched and sat up; she was wearing only light underwear but showed no shyness upon seeing Fisher standing at the tent entrance. Instead, she appeared surprised and rubbed the back of her head.
“Wow, I slept so well! Wait, where’s that coward Selti? She didn’t sneak away while we were sleeping, did she? No way, though; with her small stature, where could she run off to? Fisher, did you see her?”
“Hurry up and get up.”
Fisher had no desire to respond, simply letting the flap fall again and heading towards Balzak’s tent. A few seconds later, several surprised exclamations from Filius came from behind.
“Ah, so you were here! You scared me by not saying anything earlier; I thought you had run away.”
“Run away? You didn’t sleep properly last night; you know it was freezing because of you, right?!”
“Ah ha.”
Fisher opened Balzak’s tent but found he was already awake, leaning against the bed and deep in thought. After a quick glance, Fisher said “wake up” and left his tent.
Despite their small stature, the Snow Fox Tribe members worked efficiently. It didn’t take long for all the tents they were inhabiting to be organized. Valentina, sitting in her wheelchair, was assisted out by Heidi Lin. As she stepped out, she instinctively looked for Fisher. When she saw him approaching, she smiled and waved, the magical ring on her ring finger sparkling prominently.
Seeing this, Emhart on Fisher’s shoulder playfully bumped Fisher’s head and reminded him, “Hey, what about that bird pendant she gave you last night? Take it out and show it off!”
Meanwhile, Heidi Lin, standing behind Valentina, noticed this scene and subtly sighed. However, seeing the smile on her young lady’s face, she also revealed a faint smile. In the distance, a few of her subordinates were gradually exiting their tents, unconsciously moving closer upon seeing Valentina in her wheelchair.
Selti was feeling a bit shy to look at Valentina because of her overly assertive remarks on the carriage yesterday. Although Balzak had lost an arm, he maintained a thoughtful expression. Filius, however, squatted beside the snow, watching as the tiny Snow Fox Tribe members moved tents and equipment. Heidi Lin remained silent with her eyes closed behind Valentina.
Observing her hired subordinates gathering together again, Valentina first scanned them and then gently pinched the ring on her ring finger, calmly speaking,
“Good morning, everyone. However, as I mentioned earlier, this may be the last time I greet you all this way. My employment of you ended when I severed ties with the Turan Family. I am no longer your boss, but I trust that after a night of reflection, you understand the situation we are facing. To ensure your safety, I will provide some suggestions for what comes next. Whether to follow them is entirely up to you.”
“First, we are still in the outskirts of Miya city. This means we have not escaped the family’s pursuit. My plan is to follow you, the members of the Snow Fox Tribe, back to your tribe, where the population is sparse and the surrounding area is populated with many Subhuman tribes, which will aid all of you in escaping. After reaching the Snow Fox Tribe, Heidi Lin and Filius, you both will be responsible for leading Balzak and Selti to hide in other tribes and wait until it is safe to leave the snow mountain and Miya.”
Selti lifted her head and glanced at Valentina calmly issuing orders from her wheelchair. She had no objections. However, Balzak suddenly interjected,
“So, what about you, boss? The Turan Family is after you. While we are safe once we separate from you, what are your plans?”
Valentina looked at Balzak and noticed his bandaged arm, the bloodstains still striking despite being wrapped up.
“I have already ended the employment relationship with you; you should not consider me your boss anymore. Just call me Valentina from now on. As for my plans, I will continue climbing Sema Snow Mountain with Fisher to seek out the legendary Frost Parasol Tree. Don’t worry; I will leave clear markers while departing the Snow Fox Tribe so that the family will only be pursuing us.”
Balzak frowned, disbelief etched across his face as he asked,
“Going to the Parasol Tree with just the two of you? How is that going to work?”
But the next moment, when he caught sight of Fisher, who was quietly standing with his arms crossed and saying nothing, the rest of his question died in his throat.
Well, even he had to admit, Fisher indeed had some skill; perhaps he really could lead Valentina to the snow mountain.
At that moment, Filius, who had been dazing off, suddenly turned her head and pointed at Valentina in the wheelchair, speaking,
“I think it might be a bit difficult for just the two of you to ascend the mountain. Although Fisher is impressive, the terrain of the snow mountain is treacherous; without Selti’s machinery, he would have to carry the boss the whole way. If they had to confront an enemy, let alone the boss’s family, it would be problematic if they encountered a curse. You saw how he fights like a cannonball; I’m afraid he could take out all the enemies, but this frail body of yours wouldn’t be able to handle it, right?”
Valentina tensed her lips nervously as her heart raced for a moment. She indeed had considered this issue; if they truly encountered the pursuing soldiers behind them, they would inevitably face a direct conflict.
“If it really comes to that, will it be viable for him to place me somewhere and then continue on like that?”
Filius only stared at Valentina. After a long time, she sighed and stood up, looking towards Balzak as she spoke,
“So, boss, you’ve always been considering based on our need to leave. In fact, I want to stick with you to continue climbing Sema Snow Mountain; let me carry you! Although Balzak here has lost an arm, his brain is still intact, and he’s very familiar with the situation on Sema Snow Mountain. Even if he can’t go up the mountain with you two, he can plan routes ahead of time. As for Selti, she truly can’t be of help; the machinery she painstakingly built was seized by your family. It would be fine for her, Heidi Lin, and Balzak to stay at the mountain bottom.”
“Although I am a Subhuman from the Southern Continent and have a bit of a love for money, I’m not a beast without feelings. Boss, you’re from the Northern Region and shouldn’t be prejudiced against me like those from the Western Continent, right? You’ve been pretty tolerant with me throughout this journey, so let me walk alongside you for this last stretch. Old Ba, express your stance; don’t just stand there looking silly. Losing an arm shouldn’t leave you mute, right?”
As she spoke, Filius lightly kicked Balzak’s leg, causing him to glare at her but not retaliate. The next moment, he also turned to Valentina and said,
“Filius is right. I’ve memorized the map and characteristics of Sema Snow Mountain. I’ll draw out the route to the ‘Parasol Tree Entrance’ for you on the carriage later so you can understand what to expect on the journey to avoid any panic. When we reach the snow mountain, with Filius watching over you, Fisher can also take it easier.”
Only Selti, sandwiched between Filius and Balzak, felt awkward and opened her mouth, making her seem a bit out of place, even though Filius had just extended her a way out. This sense of discomfort wasn’t due to anyone else’s gaze but from her own.
Thus, she irritably clicked her tongue and stood up, pulling out a warm lightweight firearm from her breast pocket and handing it to Valentina. This weapon was so light that even a minor could handle it. Feeling embarrassed to look Valentina in the eye, after all, she had said some hurtful things yesterday, she simply stated dryly,
“This is a mini cannon I designed and made myself. It has great power and can only be used twice. Even if Filius, that lion, took one shot, it would seriously injure her. Keep this for your protection. I can’t be of help with anything else. I’m sorry.”
Valentina glanced down at the lightweight firearm in her hand. Although Selti referred to it as a “cannon,” it did appear a bit too tiny.
However, she didn’t complain. She lifted her gaze to the subordinates standing beside her, suddenly feeling warmth in her heart. Looking at the embarrassed Selti, she merely smiled and said to her and her companions behind her,
“Thank you. It’s a privilege to be traveling with you this time.”
Filius felt a bit shy from Valentina’s heartfelt expression. She scratched the back of her head, mumbling,
“It’s nothing; we’ve gained a lot along the way. I’ve earned a fortune and spent a lot, and I’ve also seen the sights of the Northern Region. Not bad at all. This guy Selti sent money home as tuition after her first payday, and now she has a hefty sum saved up in the Cardu account. As for Old Ba, isn’t he trying to achieve some academic results? But I think that’s rather unlikely, so he might as well settle down abroad as a rich man with a wife and kids.”
Balzak’s anger flared up in an instant, but he had already lost to Filius before, not to mention now.
“You blind, ignorant lion! It’s all about money, money, money! Will you just die in your pursuit of wealth?!”
“Ha ha ha~”
“You!”
Valentina continued to fiddle with the ring on her hand, watching as the camp became more lively. The gloom from the previous night’s storm had finally disappeared a little, lifting her spirits as well. First, she glanced at Fisher beside her, then at Heidi Lin, who had been standing behind her.
Noticing Valentina’s gaze, Heidi Lin thought she was going to instruct her to do something and quickly moved closer.
“Miss?”
“Heidi Lin, thank you for always taking care of me. Please take care of yourself as well, okay?”
Heidi Lin was momentarily taken aback, her eyes turning slightly red. But in the end, she closed her eyes, holding back the urge to cry, and just nodded her head in response, “Yes, my lady.”
Meanwhile, the Snow Fox Tribe members had been busying themselves, packing up all their belongings. Clan leader Dar returned, his nose slightly twitching, first catching the whiff of the abundant pink aura that Valentina exuded when looking at Fisher. He sneezed and then looked around at the orange and golden atmosphere permeating the room—that was the scent of “harmony and confidence.”
Having just caught this scent, a smile broke out on Dar’s fox-like face. He didn’t ask whether Valentina and the others had made arrangements; he just pointed to the already-prepared carriage behind him and called out to the “search for the Parasol Tree team” that had regained its strength,
“Everyone, the carriage is ready. Please get in!”
Valentina released Fisher’s hand, allowing Heidi Lin to push her alongside him.
“Alright, everyone, let’s set off.”
