Chapter 1249 - 614: Sweeping Away All Obstacles

Xia Nan:

If you can see this letter, it means you have arrived at Saltrock Harbor.

I regret not being able to meet you at the previously agreed location, if there’s a chance, I will apologize to you in person.

This was not my intention.

The news from the north is much more urgent than anticipated, I will depart at dawn tomorrow and can’t stay here any longer.

The destination of this journey is "Bloodcast Fortress" located on the northeastern border of the Sevia Kingdom. You can inquire from the innkeeper of the Pickled Fish Tavern for related information, I’ve paid him enough Gold Coins for half a year’s room fee to retain this letter and offer appropriate help.

The troubles outside the border are much deeper than expected, I might stay at Bloodcast Fortress for several months until late autumn.

This means if you see this letter within the agreed time, no need to rush, handle your matters well, bring what you need, and set off after thoroughly replenishing supplies at Saltrock Harbor, it’s perfectly timely.

Regarding the guide for a professional path mentioned in the previous letter, it’s still valid, if needed, I will wait for you at Bloodcast Fortress.

Fugang

P.S. The seaweed wine at the Pickled Fish Tavern is rather ordinary, not recommended.

...

Xia Nan put down the letter in his hand.

He glanced up at the counter in front of him, at the cup just placed by the waiter, under the lamp it glimmered a greenish hue, faintly showing seaweed-like objects floating up and down in the liquid.

Defiantly grasping the handle of the cup, he took a sip.

His eyebrows slightly furrowed.

He placed the cup back on the table and pushed it forward.

"Another cup of water."

He called to the innkeeper behind the bar.

The contents of Barbarian Fugang’s letter were very straightforward.

Simply put, the other party encountered some unforeseen urgency and had to leave Saltrock Harbor earlier than planned, unable to continue waiting for him in the tavern.

Moreover, the final destination was pointed out in the letter, a border town named "Bloodcast Fortress".

Thoughts intertwined in his mind as Xia Nan pondered internally.

What reason could make Barbarian Fugang, who was supposed to wait in the tavern as agreed, need to set off ahead of schedule?

Could it be being pursued by a more powerful entity?

Unlikely.

After all, if that were the true situation, the other party probably wouldn’t stay in a fixed town for a long time as previously agreed in the letter, nor disguise himself or expose his identity to the tavern owner.

Moreover, knowing Fugang’s character, if he really encountered such a crisis, it’s absolutely impossible for him to involve Xia Nan, who Fugang assumes might not even have reached Professional Level, in this matter.

So... Did he discover a fleeting clue necessitating an early departure?

Involuntarily, he recalled the explosion at Kalanfor Town and the mushrooms spreading in corners.

Could it be the Wild Swamp Druid?

Or perhaps related to the border Recruitment Order he just heard in the tavern?

Too many possibilities, with only the current clues, it’s impossible to deduce why Barbarian Fugang left early.

Thus, Xia Nan proceeded to inquire with the innkeeper about related information.

"Why leave early?" Showing great respect to the two consecutive senior adventurers arriving at the rare Saltrock Harbor, the innkeeper responded candidly to Xia Nan’s inquiry, "I’m truly sorry, Mr. Xia Nan, Lord Fugang left only this letter and mentioned a visiting adventurer named ’Xia Nan’ to whom I should hand the letter."

"Apart from this, I know nothing about the lord’s departure or the reason behind it."

Nodding in understanding, Xia Nan contemplated and then asked:

"When did he leave the tavern?"

"Five days ago in the morning, Sir."

Then it certainly was too late.

If it had been a difference of just one or two days, he might have managed to push with [Teeth Hunting] and tried to catch up.

But if it’s five days, considering the speed and endurance of an Extraordinary Level strongman’s movement, even if he exerted himself beyond energy consumption, the chances of catching up are slim.

Fortunately, through the letter’s content, he’s clearly aware of Fugang’s destination, which is Bloodcast Fortress at the border, and will stay there until late autumn.

Xia Nan has ample time for rest and travel.

"How long does it take to travel from Saltrock Harbor to Bloodcast Fortress?"

The innkeeper’s answer was as expected.

The former is the nearest port town to the kingdom’s eastern border, while the latter is a major border town in the northeast.

The distance between these locations isn’t very large.

If an ordinary person walks or rides a mule cart, it takes roughly a month.

For a caravan familiar with the route, a round trip in twenty days is more than sufficient.

Whereas for someone like Xia Nan with a certain level of strength, unconcerned about encountering certain dangerous demons along the way, capable of crossing most terrain as a senior adventurer.

Going from Saltrock Harbor to Bloodcast Fortress could even shorten the travel time to ten days.

Got some understanding about the upcoming journey.

Xia Nan thought it over, still somewhat intrigued by the border recruitment information he heard from adventurers earlier, he inquired further from the innkeeper in front.

After all, in his experience, proprietors of such establishments, especially those often frequented by adventurers, tend to have well-informed sources.