Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

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Chapter 312 A Detailed Plan

Chapter 312 A Detailed Plan

Zhao De's smile faded, his expression turning grave: "Zhao De is right. We cannot allow anything to threaten the safety of this city. I suggest we take the initiative, venture deep into the forest, and find and eliminate their source."

Upon hearing this, the veteran pondered for a moment, and finally nodded: "Alright! It's settled then. Immediately organize an elite team, led by the two of you, and make sure to solve this problem once and for all."

Once the decision was made, the city quickly sprang into action, preparing supplies for the expedition and selecting soldiers. Meanwhile, Zhao De and Zhao De remained on the city wall, discussing a more detailed plan.

"Zhao De, venturing into the unknown, we need more intelligence support," Zhao De said softly.

“I’ve thought of someone. He’s a hunter in the forest and knows the situation there very well. If we can persuade him, it will be a great help,” Zhao De replied, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes.

“Then we must act without delay and find him before we set off. However, Zhao De…” Zhao De’s tone suddenly turned heavy, “This journey may be very dangerous. Are you afraid?”

Zhao De smiled slightly, his eyes resolute: "Fighting alongside you, I have nothing to fear. Besides, aren't there still miracles waiting for us to create?"

As the two were talking, a figure quietly approached. It was the scout mentioned earlier, with a hint of hesitation on his face: "General, Lord Zhao De, there is some news... about that hunter, he seems unwilling to cooperate with outsiders."

Upon hearing this, Zhao De and Zhao De exchanged a glance and smiled at each other, as if all the problems were no longer problems.

"Unwilling to cooperate? That's quite an interesting challenge." Zhao De's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes gleaming with an indomitable light. "Zhao De, it seems we'll have to make a trip ourselves and use our sincerity to move this reclusive hunter."

“That suits me perfectly,” Zhao De clapped his hands, his eyes filled with eager excitement. “Let’s go and see what kind of person can make even the best lobbyist in the city run into a wall.”

The next morning, as dawn broke, Zhao De and Zhao De set off for the forest. At the city gate, several soldiers were busy preparing their equipment. Upon seeing the two, they stopped what they were doing and looked at them with awe.

"Look, it's Lord Zhao De and Lord Zhao De. Where are they going?" a young soldier whispered to his companion.

"I heard it's to completely eliminate those dark forces, so they're partnering with some forest hunters," a soldier next to him replied in a low voice, his tone full of admiration. "I really hope that one day I can be like them, a hero who protects the city."

The two protagonists gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving the soldiers to discuss among themselves, filled with imagination about the adventure that was about to unfold.

-

Deep in the forest, amidst the birdsong and fragrant flowers, lies a mysterious place. Following clues provided by the scouts, Zhao De and his companions found the legendary hunter Zhao De's dwelling—a small wooden cabin hidden in the dense woods.

"Knock, knock, knock." Zhao De knocked politely on the door, but there was no response for a long time.

"It seems Mr. Zhao De doesn't welcome visitors," Zhao De said with a smile, his eyes scanning his surroundings sharply, trying to find clues.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from the woods, and a middle-aged man dressed in animal skins and holding a longbow appeared before them. It was Zhao De.

Chapter 313 Building Trust

Chapter 313 Building Trust

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Zhao De's tone was wary, but his eyes held a barely perceptible curiosity.

“Mr. Zhao De, we are here to seek cooperation.” He stated his purpose directly. “Dark forces threaten our city, and we believe your knowledge of this forest can help us find and resolve this threat.”

Zhao De sneered: "You city folks always think you can get people to work for you with a few nice words. I've lived here for many years and don't want to get involved in any conflicts."

“We understand your concerns,” Li Li interjected, his smile warm and sincere. “But the enemy we face threatens not only the city, but will one day reach this place as well. We are fighting for our common home, aren’t we?”

Zhao De remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping over the two men with a complex expression. Finally, he sighed and said, "Alright, I'll consider it. But you two have to prove to me that you're really worth the risk."

-

As night fell, they sat around the campfire, sharing their stories and experiences. In the relaxed atmosphere, the initial awkwardness between the three quietly dissipated, and a subtle trust gradually took shape.

“It seems you are not entirely unaware of the hardships of the forest.” Zhao De rarely showed a smile. “Tomorrow, I will take you to a place. If you can pass the test, we will act together.”

"A test?" Zhao De raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sounds exciting, I'm really looking forward to it."

Zhao De remained calm, his eyes revealing determination: "No matter what trials we face, we will confront them. For the sake of our homeland, we have no way out."

Under the glow of the campfire, the three men cast long shadows, as if foreshadowing the long and uncertain journey they were about to embark on.

"Alright, get some rest," Zhao De stood up and dusted himself off. "Tomorrow, everything will be revealed."

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling the faces of the three. Zhao De led the other two along a winding path to a secluded valley deep within the forest. The valley was surrounded by strangely shaped rocks, with a turquoise lake in the center, its surface shrouded in a light mist, creating a scene of ethereal beauty.

"This is the place of test." Zhao De pointed to the lake, a serious look flashing in his eyes. "An ancient giant tortoise lives in the lake, and legend has it that it has the ability to see into people's hearts. If you can win its approval, then we may have the possibility of cooperation."

Upon hearing this, Zhao De's eyes lit up: "It sounds like a scene from a myth! I love it!"

Zhao De, on the other hand, appeared more composed. He gazed at the lake and slowly said, "A trial of the soul? This is more direct and profound than any contest of force."

Just as the three were about to approach the lake, an old man gathering herbs suddenly appeared before them. He had a full head of white hair, but his eyes were unusually bright. "Oh, isn't this Zhao De? What brings an outsider to this strange place today?" The old man's tone was somewhat mocking.

"They're here to be tested," Zhao De explained simply.

Upon hearing this, the old man looked at Zhao De and his companion with great interest: "Oh? This seems to be quite interesting. I've lived in this forest for most of my life, and I've never seen anyone gain the giant tortoise's approval."

Chapter 314 Giving Everything

Chapter 314 Giving Everything

Zhao De smiled and said to the old man, "Old man, let's try our best to be the first. Maybe we can even bring you some interesting stories."

"Haha, it's good that young people have ambition, but don't be too confident. That giant tortoise is very picky." The old man laughed and shook his head as he left, leaving behind a meaningful remark, "I hope I can still see you here unharmed by evening."

As the old man left, the atmosphere became slightly tense. Zhao De took a deep breath and walked towards the lake first, followed closely by Zhao De. Suddenly, ripples spread across the lake's surface, and a giant turtle slowly rose from the water. Its shell was etched with the marks of time, and its eyes were as deep as ancient wells, seemingly able to see into people's hearts.

The giant tortoise spoke, its voice deep and ancient: "Outsiders, let me see your hearts."

Zhao De felt a chill run down his spine, but then replied calmly, "Lord Giant Turtle, we have come to protect our home. We have no ulterior motives, only determination and courage."

The giant tortoise turned to look at Zhao De, who stood quietly with clear eyes: "I ask for little, only that my family and friends be safe and happy, and that the world be at peace. For this, I am willing to give everything."

The giant tortoise seemed satisfied with their answers. After a moment of contemplation, the lake water rippled gently, and a bead shimmering with an unusual light was released from its mouth, slowly floating towards the two: "Your hearts are pure and strong; this is the forest's approval. Remember, true power comes from the light within."

The moment Zhao De received the bead, he felt a warm power surge through his body, a sense of fulfillment and determination he had never experienced before.

Night fell again, and the three sat around the campfire, this time with an inexplicable tacit understanding.

"Tomorrow, we will fight side by side." Zhao De's eyes were filled with an unprecedented determination.

“It’s not just us.” Zhao De smiled and pointed into the distance, where an old man was slowly walking towards them, holding an old book in his hand. “It seems that even the old rascal in the forest has been attracted by our story.”

The old man sat down, the firelight illuminating his wrinkled face, adding a touch of mystery. "This book records some ancient legends about the giant tortoise; perhaps it will be helpful for your journey ahead," he said, carefully turning the pages as if the dust of history were being swept away with each turn.

"It is said that those who gain the forest's approval will have the opportunity to unlock the deepest secrets of the forest, a powerful force capable of changing the world." The old man's tone was deep and mysterious, drawing the full attention of the people around him.

A look of curiosity flashed in Zhao De's eyes. "What kind of power could it be?"

"The book doesn't explicitly say so, but it mentions an ancient prophecy—'When the Hearts of Light gather, the Abyss of Darkness will no longer be deep, and the world will usher in a new dawn.'" The old man closed the book, gazing intently at the campfire. "Perhaps, you are the Hearts of Light in this prophecy."

For a moment, they fell into deep thought by the campfire. Passersby quietly gathered around, their conversation filled with surprise and awe.

"Look, isn't that the young man who challenged the giant tortoise today?" a child in patched clothes whispered, pulling his mother's hand.

"Yes, I never expected they would actually gain the giant tortoise's approval. This is a rare occurrence, something we haven't seen in decades," the mother replied, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Chapter 315 An Extraordinary Treasure

Chapter 315 An Extraordinary Treasure

"That book in the old man's hand must be some extraordinary treasure!" A middle-aged man who looked like a hunter whispered among the crowd, drawing nods of agreement from those around him.

As the night deepened, the starlight and campfire intertwined, reflecting the diverse expressions on everyone's faces: anticipation, curiosity, and a hint of barely perceptible envy.

Suddenly, the tranquility was broken by hurried footsteps. A young man came running up, panting and pale. "Something terrible has happened! The village! Something's happened in the village!"

Zhao De suddenly stood up, his expression grim. "Tell me quickly, what happened?"

"It's...it's those black mist monsters! They somehow broke through the defenses and are attacking the village!" The young man's words had barely left his mouth when the entire camp erupted in excitement.

Zhao De clenched his fist, his eyes burning with a resolute flame. "We must set off immediately. We cannot allow the village to be harmed!"

"Wait, take this book with you." The old man handed the ancient book to Zhao De. "The key to fighting the Black Mist Monster may be in this book. We don't have time to hesitate."

The four quickly got ready to go, and passersby automatically made way for them, casting encouraging and expectant glances at them.

"Go, warriors!" The child's voice was clear and loud, like a star in the night sky, illuminating the path forward.

"What an amazing group of people, especially Zhao De, he's practically a legendary hero reborn." The child in the patched clothes looked up at his mother, his eyes shining with admiration.

The mother smiled and patted her child's head: "Yes, everyone should have courage and perseverance in their hearts so that they can stand tall in the face of difficulties."

Not far away, a middle-aged man who looked like a hunter was having a heated discussion with his friend: "Tell me, what exactly are those black mist monsters? We haven't been able to deal with them for so many years, and now they're suddenly erupting at this time."

"Who knows? But judging from Zhao De's attitude, maybe there really will be a turning point this time. After all, even the old rascal's ancient books have been used." My friend rubbed his hands together, his tone a mixture of worry and anticipation.

In the night breeze, faint conversations mingled, each word a praise of heroes, a speculation about the unknown, and an infinite longing for the future.

-

Meanwhile, Zhao De and his group darted through the dense forest like arrows. The ancient books trembled slightly in Zhao De's arms, as if guiding them forward. Along the way, they occasionally encountered sporadic black mist monsters. In each battle, Zhao De could find clues in the books, such as a forgotten spell or an ancient fighting technique, allowing them to escape danger time and time again.

Finally, as dawn approached, they reached the edge of the village. The scene before them was terrifying: black mist swirled, monsters roared, and the village's protective array was on the verge of collapse.

"Everyone split up and protect the villagers. I'll go find the array's core and stabilize it using the methods in the book!" Zhao De instructed, then dashed into the black mist like an arrow.

The battle unfolded swiftly, with each team member displaying unprecedented strength. The courage and conviction of the bystanders seemed to be transmitted to them in some way, making each strike even more resolute and powerful.

"Zhao De, watch out!" The old man suddenly shouted from the side, and a huge black mist monster silently approached Zhao De.

Zhao De whirled around, a glint in his eyes. The ancient book automatically flipped to a page, the words shimmering with an eerie light, and an ancient melody resonated in his mind. He opened his mouth and softly chanted, and the monster seemed to be intimidated, retreating step by step.


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