Chapter 1700 - 763: Returning at Last

Chapter 1700: Chapter 763: Returning at Last

During the chaos at Sui Chong Pass, Fang Yu and the others were racing back as they finally broke through the treacherous land of Northern Cold Lake.

Since they didn’t encounter the Bone-Scraping Wind, the journey back was relatively safe.

The only thing that caught Fang Yu’s attention was when they passed the ice-bound surface of Northern Cold Lake...

Fang Yu saw a giant shadow swim beneath the ice-bound lake!

Because the giant shadow was fleeting, Fang Yu almost thought he imagined it.

It wasn’t until he noticed Luo Jianqing’s body stiffen suddenly, his expression turning extremely grim, that Fang Yu confirmed he wasn’t seeing things. Something really swam beneath the ice lake.

"What was that just now..."

Fang Yu asked. Luo Jianqing glanced at Fang Yu coldly, without a word, and quickened his pace to pass through the area quickly.

Beneath the lake, huh...

Fang Yu gazed at the thick, exaggerated lake surface, lost in thought.

However, right now the most urgent task was to hurry back to Sui Chong Pass. It’s best not to provoke such unknown mysterious places.

Along the way, with Luo Jianqing, they dealt with a few Ice Earth Demons, and Fang Yu successfully exited the range of Northern Cold Lake.

The cold wind vanished, sunlight spilled, and warmth returned.

"Diao Deyi..."

Guan Anxuan seemed to want to say something, suddenly accelerating her horse to catch up with Fang Yu’s side.

Her head, disproportionate with one side larger than the other, showed its ugly appearance even though long hair covered it.

Luo Jianqing continued onward by himself, while Fang Yu slightly slowed his horse to look back at her.

Although Fang Yu’s gaze was clear and purely puzzled, Guan Anxuan still covered her face with her hand, awkwardly adjusting her bangs as if trying to cover her unnatural facial puffiness.

"What is it? Did you discover signs of demons?"

Fang Yu asked in confusion.

Although the team believed he had exceptional perception abilities, stronger than Luo Jianqing, and was responsible for the team’s vigilance, Fang Yu knew he could ’see’ rather than have strong perception abilities.

Therefore, he would also ask Guan Anxuan and the others for help in watching the surroundings.

As Guan Anxuan approached to ask, Fang Yu assumed there might be demons appearing or tracking them that they hadn’t noticed.

After all, he and Luo Jianqing were leading at the front, like two giants walking side by side as pathfinders, not paying much attention to the sides and rear.

But Guan Anxuan seemed to mean something else. She opened her mouth, hesitated, then smiled and shook her head.

"Nothing, no sign of demons."

Fang Yu looked at her suspiciously and said, "If there are any suspicious signs or unusual movements, you can tell me."

Preventing ahead of time is good; even if there’s nothing, it’s always better to be prepared.

Yet Guan Anxuan still shook her head, seemingly having noticed nothing.

Fang Yu looked puzzled and, seeing she truly had nothing to discuss, told her to be careful and caught up with Luo Jianqing, who was slightly ahead, to continue breaking the path.

Though keenly titled as pathfinders, they mingled damage and scrambled for Experience Points.

Despite the limited experience gained this way, they compensated with a large quantity, encountering demons and collecting experience on the way.

After Fang Yu left, Guan Anxuan sighed.

Sui Chong Pass was getting closer, meaning their team was about to disband.

Guan Anxuan clearly understood what held their team together.

She also knew once the mission was accomplished, everyone would go their separate ways.

Even she had unresolved matters.

With the reward from Sui Chong Pass, she had a task to accomplish.

If successful, perhaps she’d reunite with someone; if not, she might die there...

Thus, right now might be the last time she could stay with someone.

Guan Anxuan felt conflicted and subconsciously fell behind the group.

Neither Dongfang Aotian nor Yan Wenxi felt anything for her.

This was the typical state of a team, temporarily assembled to complete a task.

Even Yan Wenxi, who was rescued, remained cautious of these strangers.

As the team progressed, due to the swift pace of the Black-footed Horses, coupled with being more familiar on the return trip, they arrived at the entrance of Qiu Ni Forest faster than their first journey.

"Give me the bell."

Luo Jianqing straightforwardly stopped the team at Qiu Ni Forest’s entrance, reaching out to Yan Wenxi for the item.

Initially under their rescue, Yan Wenxi lacked clarity and was in a daze, largely following the team’s arrangements without her own thoughts.

After all, she was unfamiliar with the situation.

But now, she vaguely grasped the general state of the team and began...having her own thoughts.

"I know how to use it."

She had ventured into Qiu Ni Forest before, more precisely, she’d followed the road into the Melted Heart Cave.

So she knew the situation of Qiu Ni Forest well and naturally understood the bell’s purpose.

Handing it over was an option, but it meant placing her fate in someone else’s hands.

Without a similar bell artifact, leaving the labyrinthine Qiu Ni Forest was nearly impossible.