Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1023 - 1016: Encountering Taran Again

Chapter 1023: Chapter 1016: Encountering Taran Again

"Another side of the world?" Luo’er was momentarily stunned, then exchanged glances with Tangmo.

"You mean..." Baiyue lifted her head, furrowing her brow as she looked at him and asked.

"You’ve probably guessed it by now," seeing her expression, Cheng Ziang smiled smugly.

"Guessed what?" Luo’er and Tangmo asked in unison.

Baiyue glanced at the two of them and then said with a solemn expression, "Remember what we mentioned before about Feng’s origins?"

"Yes," Luo’er nodded and then said, "We were saying that Feng is very likely to come from another continent..."

"That’s right, at that time we also said that the Sub-beastmen might also be from another continent," Baiyue added.

"Oh, there was indeed such a matter," Luo’er nodded.

"But what does this have to do with Lipei?" Tangmo asked, puzzled.

"The best way to learn about another continent is to find people connected to this continent. Aside from Feng, the Sub-beast Race is undoubtedly the most ideal subject," Baiyue explained.

"Oh, so that means," Tangmo realized, raising his index finger, "we can propose to headquarters to relocate Meila Village near Lipei, allowing us to study them better."

"I think it’s feasible," Luo’er nodded in agreement and said, "After all, headquarters would need the help of these Sub-beastmen if they want to explore a new world. With this as our request, if we push for it a bit more, I feel it could work."

"But there’s one issue," Cheng Ziang said.

"What issue?" Luo’er asked.

"There’s no issue on our side, but would the Sub-beastmen be willing to relocate? If they don’t want to, then we’re just being clever for our own sake," Cheng Ziang looked at them and said.

"True, we still need to ask for their opinion," Luo’er nodded and said.

"Let’s set off early, so we don’t enter the village in the dark. Meila Village is probably armed to the teeth; it’d be bad if we got shot in a surprise attack," Cheng Ziang clapped his hands and said.

"Alright, break’s over, let’s set off," Luo’er nodded and then commanded loudly.

"Luo’er..." Just as Luo’er was about to turn and leave, he was suddenly pulled back by Baiyue.

Facing a somewhat flustered Baiyue, Luo’er asked with concern, "What’s wrong?"

"That, that, when we go to see the village chief, don’t, don’t leave me behind..." Baiyue’s lips trembled as she spoke tentatively.

"Heh," seeing her anxious demeanor, Luo’er reached out to hold the back of her hand and then said with a smile, "Don’t worry, I’ll go with you."

"Thank you..." Baiyue said genuinely grateful.

"Let’s not say things like that, let’s go, it’s time to return to one’s roots," Luo’er said, taking her hand and walking towards the carriage.

The caravan continued on its way towards Meila Village. The closer they got to the village, the denser the forest became. After about an hour’s ride in the carriage, Feng suddenly drew her long knife without warning.

Talis was startled by her action and then asked with a furrowed brow, "What is she doing?"

"There’s danger nearby, this is Feng’s stress response," Luo’er reassured her, then turned his head to open the window and look outside, where tall trees and bushes were all around.

"How many people, and where?" Luo’er turned his gaze back to her and asked.

"Not many." Feng moved her lips, uttering two syllables, then drew a circle in the air with her finger.

"Fula," recognizing her gesture, Luo’er finally had an idea and then called out.

"Got it, I’m on it!" Fulajie’er understood immediately, and without need for Luo’er’s instructions, she already knew what to do.

The carriage continued forward and after about a hundred meters, Fulajie’er came back to report to Luo’er: "There are unidentified armed individuals on both sides of the road; these people are generally short and thin but all carrying weapons. They wear old hoods, and I noticed some of them seem to have fuzzy ears on their heads."

"Fuzzy ears..." Luo’er paused for a moment, quickly understanding, and then reached into Baiyue’s hood, pinching her ears to show and asked, "Are they ears like this?"

"Yes, yes, yes, exactly like that!" Fulajie’er responded excitedly, "I was just about to say, their ears are just like Baiyue’s!"

"Eh!!" Upon seeing Baiyue’s ears for the first time, the three elves simultaneously let out exclamations of surprise.

"Luo’er..." Baiyue said, her head hung in embarrassment, calling out weakly.

"It’s okay, you’ll see your own kind once we enter the village." Luo’er said.

"Do they show any signs of hostility?" Cheng Ziang asked, arms crossed.

"No, they are just following us with guns on their backs." Fulajie’er answered.

"Then it’s fine, let them follow." Cheng Ziang shrugged and said.

The carriage continued on, and after about half an hour, they arrived at a fork in the road. The driver familiar with Meila Village did not hesitate to lead them down the left path.

After traveling a few kilometers forward, a checkpoint appeared in the distance, with even a watchtower set up beside the road. Several short-statured soldiers wearing hoods were vigilantly watching the approaching carriage.

Luo’er had the carriage stop in front of the checkpoint and instructed everyone to wait inside, then he put on his hood and descended from the vehicle.

Once on the ground, Luo’er walked toward the checkpoint with his hands raised. Despite his non-threatening demeanor, the soldiers were still tense, clutching their rifles as they interrogatively asked, "Stranger, stand still, who are you?"

"If you hold a gun like that, it’ll fall out of your hands when you try to shoot." Luo’er sighed and said.

"Eh, oh!" The soldier paused, then looked down at his grip and quickly corrected his stance.

"Who... who are you, exactly?" The soldier asked nervously, still watching him.

"I’m an old friend from your village, I came especially to see you all, I hope you’ll let me through." Luo’er said, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Old friend?" Hearing his words, the soldiers looked at each other puzzled.

"Can I put my hands down now?" Luo’er asked.

"Sure, you can, but please don’t make any hostile moves." The soldier answered anxiously.

"You’re still quite naive, adorably so," Luo’er said with a smile, then he reached up and took off his hood.

The soldier looked at Luo’er’s handsome face, the black hair, and those deep, dark green eyes. Instantly shocked, he stood there for a while before pointing at Luo’er, excitedly saying, "You, you, you are, are..."

"Luo’er," Luo’er said with a wry smile, "you’ve actually forgotten my name."

"Sorry, sorry, it’s Captain Luo’er, it’s Captain Luo’er!" The soldier lowered his rifle and excitedly yelled back to his comrades.

"Captain Luo’er, Captain Luo’er, it’s Captain Luo’er!" His words instantly set the soldiers abuzz, and they started stowing their rifles over their shoulders.

"Check your safety catch before stowing the rifles!" Luo’er said loudly, pointing at them.

"Oh, oh, sorry, sorry, we forgot again..." The soldiers were surprised at first, then hurriedly took down their rifles, fumbling to check them.

"Sigh, in the years I’ve been gone, you’ve all backslid a lot..." Luo’er shook his head and sighed.

At that moment, there was a rustling from the bushes by the roadside, followed by a small figure who suddenly rushed out, then barreled straight towards Luo’er. Luo’er didn’t dodge but looked at the figure coming his way with a resigned smile.

"Luo’er brother, I’ve finally seen you again. Ever since you left, it’s been so long, why have you not come back to see us?" The arrival said excitedly, hugging Luo’er firmly.

"Taran, your rifle is poking me, did you engage the safety?" Luo’er said, blocking the Lee-Enfield Rifle on the other’s back with his hand and smiling wryly.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, the safety is on, don’t worry, brother Luo’er." Taran paused, then quickly let go and awkwardly adjusted the rifle on his shoulder.