Page 192

The mournful and piercing howls of gnolls echoed behind him, chilling and full of dread.

Mantou sped along the narrow, shadowy mountain trail, putting distance between himself and his pursuers. He emerged into a clearing, panting heavily, finally escaping the chase.

"Huff, huff..."

"What the hell? Where did so many gnolls come from, and mutated ones at that?"

Raising his head, Mantou noticed a small, finely crafted wooden hut nestled midway up the snowy peak. Thick snow covered the timber roof, and warm light glowed from within its windows.

"What is this place?"

Curiosity piqued, Mantou moved closer to investigate.

He knew that finding such a hut in this remote, desolate mountain range was suspicious, but as a player, leaving it unexplored was simply not an option.

"Whatever! I'll check it out!"

Gritting his teeth, Mantou made up his mind.

With a soft creak, he pushed the wooden door open and stepped inside.

The interior was warm and inviting, with plush fur sofas, intricately woven carpets, and a roaring fire crackling in the hearth.

A table was laden with milk, bread, fruits, and other delicacies, alongside silver spoons and ornaments that seemed oddly out of place in the barren snowy wilderness.

"What kind of place is this in the mountains..."

Mantou muttered, looking around, unable to spot anything suspicious.

"A faraway guest, entering uninvited is quite impolite, you know—"

A gentle, melodious voice rang out.

Mantou spun around to see a young girl, around seventeen or eighteen years old, entering the room.

Her neat ponytail swayed as she walked, and her slender hands held a steaming cup of tea. Her kind, pretty face bore a hint of playful charm.

She set the tea on the table and gave Mantou a mischievous wink.

"It’s cold outside. Please, have some tea to warm yourself up."

"By the way, I’m Valenna, the daughter of this hut’s owner."

Mantou, startled by the hospitality, stared dumbfounded at her bright eyes. He nodded repeatedly and eagerly drank the tea, his dragon-blooded body impervious to the heat.

"Ah, thank you."

"I... I’m Mantou."

Sheepishly placing the tea back on the table, he introduced himself.

"Your name is... quite unique," Valenna said with a smile, her gaze fixed on him until Mantou’s already flushed face grew even redder, faint wisps of steam rising from his skin.

Mantou, who considered himself emotionally unshakeable after several failed online romances, found his heart racing unexpectedly—"Mom, I’m in love!" he thought, amazed at being so captivated by an NPC in Erezaghe.

"Mantou, this is just a virtual character!" he chastised himself internally. "You can’t be ensnared by fictional beauty!"

Valenna’s face turned curious, her expression puzzled.

"Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?"

"Ah, no, I’m not..."

Mantou stammered, his face showing embarrassment.

Valenna chuckled softly.

"Don’t be so nervous."

Her large eyes never left Mantou.

"I should be the one nervous. This place rarely sees visitors, and you’re the first in years. I’ve been waiting for someone like you for so long."

A hint of sorrow crossed Valenna’s delicate face.

"I apologize for troubling you, but I’ve grown up in this hut and never ventured outside. The only stories I know of the world come from passing travelers."

"So—could you tell me about the outside world? Just for a little while, please?"

Her pleading tone made it impossible for Mantou to refuse. He scratched his nose awkwardly.

"Ah, ah... of course."

At first hesitant, Mantou soon found himself speaking fluidly, the warmth of the tea loosening his nerves.

"This place is known as the Kolka Mountains. South of here is the Storm Highlands, a scenic region home to ogres, goblins, kobolds, and more. Beyond that lies the Northern Territories, where humans like you have built bustling cities, working diligently..."

"Cities?"

"Yes, cities—beautiful places where many people live together..."

The crackling firelight danced in the hearth as Mantou and the girl sat on a soft fur sofa, talking late into the night.

Before long, Valenna was leaning against Mantou, her eyes filled with admiration and wonder.

"The world you describe sounds so beautiful..."

Mantou’s face burned. Unsure of what to do, he sat stiffly, trying to change the subject.

"Valenna, why have you stayed here all this time?"

Raising her head, she met his eyes without hesitation. "My father is here. I must stay and accompany him."

"But Valenna, don’t you feel lonely being here all alone?"

Mantou asked, stroking her hair gently. Valenna nestled closer into his embrace.

"Drink some more tea, Brother Mantou. Finish the tea, and then you can tell me another story."

The girl’s soft, warm voice lured him in.

Without thinking, Mantou picked up the cup, ready to down the remaining tea.

"Mantou! You’re under an illusion!"

"Open your eyes and snap out of it!"

Singo’s familiar voice shattered the moment.

Jolted awake, Mantou dropped the glass cup, spilling its contents on the floor.

"Crash!"

"Ah!"

Mantou fell back in terror, scrambling on all fours to retreat.

His surroundings had changed entirely—the cozy hut was gone, replaced by a cold metal chamber smeared with dark stains.

The "girl" in his arms wasn’t a girl at all—it was part of a grotesque, pulsating mass of flesh stitched together haphazardly.

The creature’s massive, twisted body was a mishmash of fleshy scraps and sparsely scaled patches. Its bat-like wings were tattered, resembling corroded rags.

The steaming "tea" was nothing but a foul, unknown liquid.

The "Valenna" he saw was part of the monstrosity, her maw revealing rows of wriggling fangs.

"Big Brother, drink it..."

"Then you can... keep telling me stories..."

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