Chapter 249 - 157: Ride On, My Dear Centaur! To Save My Guild Member

Chapter 249: Chapter 157: Ride On, My Dear Centaur! To Save My Guild Member

"Not even a Demigod can escape?"

Su Xuan asked Lucia, "If someone enters the Forest Birdcage, is there any way to leave?"

Lucia shook her head and replied, "I’m not too sure about that. We might have to ask the Races that guard the forest."

Hearing this, a shadow fell over Su Xuan’s face.

’If it’s really as Lucia said, and that girl Viora has already hidden in the Forest Birdcage, then how am I supposed to rescue her?’

’But since the quest is to save that Adventurer, there must be a way to get her out of the Forest Birdcage.’

Su Xuan decided to check out the situation at the Forest Birdcage first. He said to the others, "Let’s head toward the Forest Birdcage to assess the situation, then we’ll come up with a plan."

"Okay."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

...

In the depths of the forest, a group of Centaur Race Warriors blocked the path of a human army.

"Humans! Entry is forbidden!"

At the very front stood a well-built Centaur Female Warrior. The long spear in her hand made a grating sound as she dragged it across the ground, her gaze fixed firmly on the human army before her.

If Su Xuan were here, he would have definitely recognized this Centaur Female Warrior—Azkman.

Facing a human army several hundred strong, the Centaurs’ numbers seemed insignificant, with only twenty or thirty of them.

But their imposing figures and powerful aura struck a sliver of fear into the human soldiers. This was especially true for Azkman at the front; the formidable presence she exuded was bone-chilling.

"Centaur Female Warrior, we are here under orders from Prince Tedes. We hope you can be accommodating," a Knight said.

"No!" The Centaurs’ stance was firm.

Just then, a middle-aged Knight without a helmet stepped forward. He spat out a cigarette butt, a slight smile on his face. "Our mission is to capture that Centaur. She stole something from the Prince. We hope you won’t stand in our way. Otherwise, it will be difficult to maintain the peace between the Star Kingdom and the Centaur Tribe."

Azkman’s brow furrowed when she heard Prince Tedes’s name.

As the younger brother of the King of the Star Kingdom, Prince Tedes had the authority to command hundreds of thousands of troops. If the Star Kingdom’s army truly decided to invade the forest, her branch of the Centaur Tribe would be powerless to resist.

But after a moment’s thought, Azkman said resolutely, "These are the rules of the forest. Not even that Prince can defy them. If you dare take one more step, you will face the wrath of the forest!"

"It seems we can’t reach a consensus through words." The middle-aged Knight shrugged with a bitter smile, then drew the sword at his waist. Pointing it at Azkman, he sneered, "But that’s fine. I’ve never tasted Centaur meat before. Today, I’ll just..."

However, before he could finish his sentence, a colossal body plummeted from the sky, crushing him into a paste.

"Ew, I stepped on a little ant! How disgusting!"

Mare Rhine spoke in a disgusted tone, simultaneously using her Dragon Breath to disinfect her Dragon Claw. Even though her claw was protected by thick Dragon Scales, she detested the scent of humans.

When the human soldiers saw Mare Rhine appear, their faces instantly turned pale with fright.

"G-Giant Dragon!"

"It crushed the Knight Captain to death!"

"That Giant Dragon is a hundred meters long! We’re no match for it! Run!"

"Oh my god! It’s my first time seeing a Giant Dragon in person! So cool!"

"Forget cool, let’s get out of here!"

"..."

The human army instantly broke and fled in disarray.

From his position on the dragon’s back, Su Xuan noticed what seemed to be the figures of Players among the troops.

His thoughts momentarily wandering, he then turned his gaze to the group of Centaurs below.

Even the Centaur Warriors showed obvious fear in the face of a Giant Dragon.

Of course, Su Xuan had Mare Rhine land here mainly because he had spotted Azkman.

’Perhaps I can get some valuable information from this Centaur.’

"Azkman!"

Su Xuan called out to her, then leaped down from the dragon’s back and landed in front of her.

"Su Xuan?"

The moment she saw Su Xuan, Azkman’s expression was one of surprise. But the first thing she did was tell her kinsmen, "It’s all right. He’s a friend of mine."

Only then did the Centaurs lower their weapons.

"What are you doing here?"

Azkman trotted over to Su Xuan and asked, puzzled.

"I have a quest here. What was that just now...?" Su Xuan asked Azkman. He had only overheard parts of the conversation and didn’t fully understand the conflict.

"Those humans wanted to enter the depths of the forest," Azkman explained. "But according to the rules of the forest, no army is permitted to enter its depths! Everyone must abide by this rule!"

"Only armies are forbidden? Then a small group like us should be fine, right?" Su Xuan asked.

"You few can enter, but you must also follow the forest’s rules and not harm any living creature inside." As Azkman spoke, she glanced at Mare Rhine. The other Centaurs also turned their gazes toward her.

Luckily, she had landed in a clearing. Otherwise, with her massive Dragon body, she would have caused severe damage to the forest’s trees.

"Change back to your human form," Su Xuan said to Mare Rhine.

"Why should I listen to you, you presumptuous human!" Mare Rhine said, swinging her dragon tail in dissatisfaction.

Her body, however, was quite honest, and she immediately transformed back into her human form.

This was because Mare Rhine knew perfectly well that as long as she was human, Su Xuan wouldn’t be able to ride her anymore.

"Was that human army trying to capture a Centaur just now?" Su Xuan turned his gaze to Azkman and asked.

"Mm."

Azkman nodded, her tone heavy. "They entered the forest for one of our kinsmen, but that person has already been exiled from the Centaur Race. She..."

As she said this, Azkman’s brow furrowed slightly, clearly dissatisfied with her people’s decision.

Azkman’s words reminded Su Xuan of the story Liu Xue had told him about that female Centaur Warrior.

A member of the Centaur Race had been exiled for not being of pure Centaur blood.

This information caught Su Xuan’s attention.

He observed the Centaurs around him. There were both males and females, but all of them had the standard Centaur physique. In a tribe like this, the appearance of a Half-human Deer would indeed be jarring. ’But to exile her from the tribe... isn’t that punishment too severe?’

’However, this is an internal affair of the Centaur Race. I have no power to make them change their decision.’

’But since the Centaur Race doesn’t want her, I’ll take her in myself!’

"But something about this is strange."

Azkman continued, "That kinsman was just exiled from the tribe, and the Star Kingdom’s army immediately entered the forest to capture her. I’m afraid..."

As she spoke, Azkman’s gaze shifted to the other tribesmen beside her.

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Su Xuan understood what she meant. ’There’s a traitor in the tribe!’

"Azkman, it’s time for us to patrol the next area," a Centaur Warrior said, walking up to her.

"You all go on ahead. I need to supervise them to make sure they don’t harm any of the creatures in the forest," Azkman said to her kin.

Su Xuan was a bit surprised. Azkman could lie without batting an eye.

"Understood."

The Centaur Warriors nodded and turned to leave.

"Then we’ll be on our way."

"Azkman, be careful. Humans are cunning and shameless. More than one of their armies has entered the forest. If you run into them, be sure to notify us."

"Mm, I know." Azkman nodded, watching her tribesmen leave.

She turned back to Su Xuan and said, "Let’s talk as we walk."

"Okay." Su Xuan nodded in agreement.

"It’s strange. A few of the tribes are especially hostile toward that kinsman," Azkman said to Su Xuan as they walked. "At first, I thought they wanted to nominate someone from their own tribe to become the Clan Leader of the Centaur Race, but after investigating for the past few days, that doesn’t seem to be the case."

Azkman’s words made Su Xuan’s brow furrow slightly.

’Prince Tedes isn’t just cultivating creatures like Soul-Devouring Insects, he also wants to capture a member of the Centaur Race. What exactly is he planning?’

’But one thing is for sure—it’s definitely related to the upcoming Star Ceremony.’

’Edith said that besides the Second Princess she supports and Princess Vivian, two Princes and one other Prince were also vying for the throne.’

’That other Prince must be Prince Tedes. Only he would be qualified to contend for the throne.’

"I heard that kinsman of yours is a natural-born Saint. A being like that should have been able to bring great change to your tribe, so why..." Su Xuan continued to ask.

"Her identity is too sensitive." Azkman sighed. "If she were just an ordinary Centaur, perhaps things wouldn’t have escalated to this point. But she doesn’t have a single Centaur characteristic. Instead, she has antlers, making her look more like the descendant of another Race."

Su Xuan was lost in thought after hearing this.

’That’s the real crux of the issue. She isn’t of pure Centaur blood, yet she was born into the Centaur Race.’

’It’s like if a child with a tail appeared in human society. Such a being would naturally be seen as a monster.’

"Azkman, what’s your take on this matter?" Su Xuan asked for her opinion.

"Me?" Azkman froze for a moment, then answered, "I strongly resent the kinsmen who exiled her. Their decision cost our tribe a natural-born Saint and created a rift among our people! But they don’t consider any of that. They only care about getting money and resources from those humans. Compared to the future of the tribe, they value their own interests more!"

"..."

Hearing Azkman’s answer, Su Xuan understood the current situation of the Centaur Race.

The leaders of the Centaur Race believed that the benefits from humans were more valuable than a natural-born Saint.

"By the way, what’s your quest? Do you need my help?" Azkman suddenly asked Su Xuan.

"My quest is to take that kinsman of yours with me. She’s already a member of my Guild now," Su Xuan replied.

"Really? That’s wonderful! I was still worried about how that child would survive in the forest, but if she can join your Guild, she’ll definitely be much happier than she was living with the tribe!" Hearing Su Xuan’s purpose, Azkman broke into a brilliant smile.

Her personality was somewhat similar to Hong Lian’s—forthright and bold, but with a certain subtlety that Hong Lian lacked.

"However, we’ve run into a problem."

Su Xuan suddenly frowned and looked at Azkman.

"What problem?"

"She’s entered the Forest Birdcage!"

"The Forest Birdcage!?"

Hearing this news, Azkman’s expression immediately grew heavy.

That was an area forbidden even to Centaurs. ’How could Viora have gone in there?’

"I want to get her out, but..."

Before Su Xuan could finish, Azkman shouted at him urgently, "Quick! Get on my back!"

"Huh?"

"Even though it’s a forbidden place, I have a way to save that child." Azkman smiled confidently. "However, it might be a bit risky. It all depends on whether you have the courage to go with me."

"Let’s go!"