Chapter 845: Chapter 422: Just as When We Arrived (Part 2)

Upon hearing this, Steven’s originally gloomy expression softened slightly. He nodded towards the middle-aged man with dark skin in front of him, feeling that the other person made some sense.

"I hope so."

In truth, Gregory was far from as calm inside as he appeared on the surface.

Having sailed for many years, he was incredibly experienced in all aspects, having encountered countless demons.

With such experience, even though he hadn’t achieved a professional level and wasn’t considered an adventurer, he could roughly estimate the level of danger posed by various demons.

When he heard a loud noise in the village and rushed to the scene, he carefully examined the traces left on the ground from the battle between the demon and the half orc Bone Card.

This usually reckless half orc professional was clearly at a disadvantage in the clash with the demon. In just a few dozen seconds, when the demon took him away, he was probably already seriously injured.

This also meant that the actual combat strength of this demon far exceeded what an ordinary professional could handle.

Even with three adventurers, including that half orc, would they really be able to firmly take down the demon, especially when Xia Nan, the strongest among them, disappeared on his own?

Gregory wasn’t sure either.

As if he thought of something, he glanced at the cliff wall in front of him, seeing no movement, and once again turned his gaze to the village chief, Steven, beside him.

Slightly hesitating, he slowly spoke:

"After this is over, if that demon... is not dealt with."

"I suggest you all leave here first, wait for the adventurers commissioned by the Association to deal with it, and then come back. Otherwise, it’s too dangerous."

In cases where the known demon’s danger level is extremely high, and ordinary civilians are difficult to deal with.

Not long ago, the demon was only testing attacks on isolated villagers, but today it was bold enough to intrude into village houses.

This meant it gradually realized that the villagers could not pose a threat to it.

If their group had arrived a few days later, the entire village might have been devoured by the increasingly aggressive demon.

Therefore, it would be wise to stay away until the demon is eradicated.

Steven had previously considered similar things, but the villagers had lived on Cliff Island for generations, suddenly moving to a completely unfamiliar environment. How would the elderly in the village adapt?

And if they really needed to relocate, with so many villagers, where could they settle? Suo Yu Bay?

His thoughts became increasingly tangled and unclear in his mind.

Suddenly, footsteps that were not hidden approached from behind the cliff in front.

"Be alert!"

Beside him, Gregory growled, and the villagers and crew members instantly tensed up, raising their weapons and preparing for combat.

With their attention highly focused, even their breathing became slow and silent, not daring to make a sound.

Pairs of eyes were fixed on the distant narrow pass, leaving only the roar of waves and sea wind in the air.

"Tap, tap."

The footsteps grew closer, yet were much lighter than expected.

Before anyone could think more deeply, a pair of finely crafted high-top leather boots embroidered with a clover pattern, stained with fresh blood, stepped out from the corner behind the cliff face.

With a lute slung on his back, Alton walked briskly, humming a tune, carrying a small basket in his arm with some yellow-brown mushrooms visible inside.

Seeing Gregory and others in the distance, the small figure smiled broadly, waving to them with a skip.

"Come, come!"

"Hurry and help move things!"

Steven instinctively called the villagers forward, but couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief inside.

Although he didn’t know where the other adventurers had gone, seeing the half orc so relaxed, it was clear that things had gone smoothly, and the demon...

Captain Gregory moved faster than Steven, quickly stepping forward as Alton called out.

"How is it, any trouble?"

"Where are the others?"

"Do we need to withdraw early?"

Even before getting close, the questions poured in.

Alton deliberately did not answer.

Instead, he turned halfway, extending his right hand, and with a smile, pointed behind him.

In the next second, as Gregory’s gaze followed the half orc’s finger direction.

"Rumble..."

A grinding, heavy sound abruptly rang out, like the noise of something heavy being dragged along the ground.

The blood-splattered, twisted, and dented silver-gray armor covered with hemp ropes, with bulging muscles beneath the torn clothes, revealed distinct outlines.

A young adventurer with black hair and eyes emerged from behind the cliff. The thick rough hemp rope around his shoulders was pulled taut behind him, as if dragging something heavy.

But his steps were very steady, each step firm and sure.

One step, two steps...

The taut hemp rope gradually extended into view, followed by a rudimentary wooden raft coming into sight.

Three broken bodies were stacked together. The half orc’s unfocused eyes stared at the sky, Captain Nick’s arm hung outside, soaked with muddy spots, and the half elf’s broken skirt armor gently swayed in the wind, revealing a bloody mess underneath.

Then came the colossal, mountain-like, ferocious blue-gray figure.

The shark’s head, shattered by Force Field Energy, was retrieved from the ground and haphazardly pieced back together, resembling a smashed watermelon placed on the belly of the corpse.

Colin, still at the rear of the group, was drenched in sweat, assisting with pushing the raft while panting heavily.

Halting, and slightly loosening the rope on his shoulder, long-term use of [Gravity Control] had exhausted Xia Nan’s spiritual power. He instinctively raised a hand to rub his temple lightly.

Then he turned his head, and his dark eyes looked at the group frozen in place ahead.

He motioned with a tug on the hemp rope in his hand:

"Why are you all just watching? Come help out."

...

Qiao Yan Village held a grand feast for Xia Nan and his team.

Of course, calling it "grand" was a bit exaggerated, given the limited conditions, it couldn’t compare with the luxurious extravagance of the nobles in Suo Yu Bay’s White Cliff District.

Fresh beer, only recently unloaded from the Black Crow, was poured into cups; a thick stew made from peas, onions, and clams, along with a variety of fresh or dried fish, eggs, and various cured meats...

To Xia Nan, who was accustomed to the delicious offerings of taverns like "White Sparrow" and "Three-legged Sea Dog," it wasn’t particularly sumptuous.

But he clearly understood that this was all the villagers could provide.

There was a heartfelt, sincere gratitude wisped between these dishes, directed towards him and his companions.

The long-concerning demon was finally eradicated, and the villagers’ joy and excitement seemed to fill the air. Even the usually reserved village chief, Steven, couldn’t help but laugh heartily while drinking with Gregory.

Alton cooked a seafood mushroom soup for Xia Nan using a special mushroom he had gathered from between the sea-side rocks on the way back.

The appearance was a mess and looked dreadful, but it was still delicious. Before he realized it, he had finished the last spoonful.

Five days’ sail from Suo Yu Bay, and without any preservation conditions on the ship, by the time they returned, it would surely have rotted. The villagers buried the three adventurers’ bodies on a high cliff to the north, with gravestones engraved with their names facing the sea, visible every sunrise.

After consulting with Xia Nan and the villagers, they had devised a plan to deal with the massive body of the shark beast monster. It now lay quietly in the village’s central square, where a few curious children cautiously observed it, each touch of the shark’s rough, tough skin provoking gasps among them, jumping and giggling as they scattered and gathered again.

The mist lingering in the air dissolved into the depths of sunlight.

Waves rolled, the Black Crow moored at the dock swayed gently.

Cliff Island sat there, unchanged from their arrival.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com