Chapter 12: Four-Star Mission

  In the forest, Lin Chen and Xia Lu waited for about half an hour before killing three more roaming magical beasts, earning Lin Chen nearly 500 experience points. The two then carefully exited the forest, but not by the original route, instead deviating at an angle to leave the woods.

  "Where are you going now?" After walking out of the forest, thinking that under the siege of more than a hundred thieves, those guards would not be able to escape either. Xia Lu felt a pang of sadness and then looked up at Lin Chen and asked.

  "Where to go?", at this time, Lin Chen really didn't know where to go, so after hesitating for a moment, he shook his head calmly, "I don't know, I just came out of the deep mountains and only wanted to travel on the main road, now I also don't know where to go".

  Here is the translation:

  "Up to here, Lin Chen paused slightly, then asked back: "And you? You're a young lady from the Marquis's manor, why aren't you staying properly in the Marquis's manor, what are you running out for?"

  When Lin Chen spoke, Xia Lu's face was somewhat helpless and she let out a sigh, saying: "Actually, I left home to find the Tempered Bone Flower in the Sunset Forest. I heard that there are many rare and precious medicinal herbs in the Sunset Forest, but now it's infested with magical beasts. With just the two of us, we won't be able to succeed."

  "Many rare medicinal materials?" Lin Chen's eyes lit up when he heard this. Since he had crossed over, the medicines in his package could play a role in battle were few and far between. Now that there were medicinal materials available, he couldn't help but want to refine some special battle medicines for himself. At least for now, his combat strength still relied on medicine, as long as he didn't go too far and draw excessive attention to himself.

  "Tempering Bone Flower? What do you want that thing for?" Lin Chen naturally knew the effect of Tempering Bone Flower, and it was precisely because he knew its effect that he asked Xia Lu in a puzzled tone. The effect of Tempering Bone Flower was to enhance one's physique, but it only worked on low-level warriors, and it was likely useless beyond level 20.

  "I have a younger brother, a half-brother from the same father but different mother. Because his mother was just a maid in the mansion, he had no status at all. But unfortunately, he was born with a weak physique...". Xia Lu's face showed some sadness as she slowly told the story from beginning to end.

  It turned out that Xia Lu had another half-brother, but because his mother was only a maid and the child was born out of wedlock after the marquis got drunk, he was not well-received in the manor. His status was barely higher than some ordinary house slaves. In the entire manor, only Xia Lu treated him relatively well.

  Xia Lu's younger brother, however, was very ambitious and aspired to become a powerful warrior to change his status. Unfortunately, he was born with a weak physique and often fainted from exhaustion due to intense training. After seven or eight years, he still remained at the level of a sword apprentice.

  So, this time upon hearing the news of the Tempering Bone Flower, Xia Lu gathered some people from the Marquis's residence and came to the Sunset Forest to search for the Tempering Bone Flower. She hoped to find an alchemist to help her refine a medicine to change her brother's physique, but unexpectedly, they encountered the Hungry Wolf Bandits...

  "So that's how it is, anyway I don't have anything to do now, why don't I help you take a trip to the Sunset Forest?" Hearing Xia Lu's words, thinking of going to the Sunset Forest to collect some medicinal materials, he took the initiative to ask.

  "But... the two of us are too weak... in the Sunset Forest, you can often see magical beasts above level 5 roaming around...", upon hearing Lin Chen's words, although Xia Lu's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, they soon dimmed again.

  "Have you forgotten that I have many wonderful potions on me? As long as we don't encounter a magical beast above level 6, our escape should still be no problem...", Lin Chen said, looking at the things in his package.

  "No way! Your medicine is too expensive", Xia Lu said with a painful expression. If those medicines were hers, used to help her own brother, she wouldn't have anything to say, but they belonged to Lin Chen, so Xia Lu couldn't bear the thought. Besides, using several bottles of top-grade medicine in exchange for one Bone Tempering Flower was not a good deal at all.

  "As a matter of fact, I myself need to go to the Sunset Forest to collect some medicinal herbs. Helping you find the Tempering Bone Flower is just a coincidence. If you really don't want to, then I'll have no choice but to go alone." Lin Chen said this while secretly admiring Xia Lu's kindness, pretending to prepare to head to the Sunset Forest by himself.

  "Wait...", seeing Lin Chen was about to leave alone, Xia Lu thought of her own brother with an unyielding gaze and hastily opened her mouth to stop Lin Chen, "Th-thank you..."

  "Alright, let's go...", seeing Xia Lu agreed, Lin Chen smiled and nodded, then the two turned around and headed towards the nearest town. After all, there were still hundreds of miles to the Sunset Forest, and it was really difficult for a magic book to walk that far.

  "Ding, four-star mission 'Search for the Bone Flower' activated, reward 6800 experience, reward excellent equipment mercenary greatsword", at this moment, the system's prompt sounded in Lin Chen's mind, and a new task appeared in the task bar.

  "Mercenary Great Sword (Fine), Requires Level 10, Attack 52-70, Weight 8, Durability 12/12".

  Looking at the green, finely crafted mercenary greatsword in the taskbar, Lin Chen was quite disdainful, but it was better than nothing. Moreover, none of the equipment in his package could be used, and obtaining a finely crafted weapon would allow him to refine it with materials and possibly upgrade it to perfect grade.

  Lin Chen and Xia Lu walked to the town, bought two fine horses at Ma Xing, and then bought some necessary supplies. The two of them rode their horses towards the Sunset Forest.

  Xia Lu's horse riding skills were quite clumsy, resulting in a very slow speed. However, after practicing along the way for more than half a day, she had somewhat improved and her speed had increased significantly.

  By dusk, a vast expanse of boundless forest appeared in the distance, that was the Sunset Forest. The enormous forest was so huge that its edges could not be seen, and there was also a small town beside the forest.

  After discussing with Xia Lu, the two decided to rest in the small town for a night and enter the Sunset Forest again the next day. After all, the Sunset Forest at night was more dangerous than during the day.

  Karlo Village is a small town located next to the Sunset Forest, where ferocious beasts roam and danger lurks. However, within the forest are various levels of magical creatures, as well as countless rare herbs and treasures, which naturally attract many adventurers. After all, even the magical crystals of these beasts are a considerable income for these adventurers, not to mention that if they're lucky enough to find special ores or herbs, their fortunes will be made...