The entire perimeter of the camp relied on the massive, straight tree trunks of the forest as its framework, connected by thick, smooth wooden planks to form a wall. Due to the peculiar nature of the Misty Forest, Hao Yun and Dao Lao couldn't see the entire layout of the camp. From what they could discern through the fog, the towering walls extended deep into the forest on either side, suggesting the camp covered a considerable area.

Upon entering the camp, Hao Yun and Dao Lao were surprised to find that the mysterious concealment effect of the Misty Forest suddenly vanished. Although the white mist still lingered within the camp, slightly obstructing their vision, they could now see the camp's layout more clearly. They also noticed that dusk was approaching, indicating they had spent the entire afternoon trekking through the forest.

Indeed, the camp was more than just sizable; it could be described as a small town with military forces stationed within. Inside the camp, the number of trees was significantly less than in the surrounding forest, but each tree was a towering giant, lush and vibrant, forming a natural canopy over the camp and blending seamlessly with the forest. As Hao Yun and Dao Lao walked past these colossal trees, they noticed guard towers not only around the camp's perimeter but also built atop the thick trunks.

Each of these towers was manned by elf guards armed with short crossbows. Hao Yun could feel their sharp gazes fixed on him and Master Gu as they passed beneath the towers. Clearly, the elf guards were wary of these two sudden, unknown visitors.

The camp featured many wooden barracks, which Hao Yun estimated were constructed from the giant trees felled to create the camp. This approach made efficient use of local resources. The wooden barracks, though simple in design, were crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Considering that elves are a race deeply connected with nature and skilled at utilizing natural resources, Hao Yun was not surprised by their expertise in woodworking.

Hao Yun's impression that this place resembled a small town was reinforced by the presence of wooden barracks, stone-paved paths, and numerous elf civilians in rough-spun clothes. These civilians were likely either support personnel accompanying the military or permanent residents of the camp. The presence of these civilians and the well-maintained paths gave the camp a lively atmosphere, despite the omnipresent soldiers and defensive structures.

("Heh, this guy keeps saying no, but his body is being very honest. Hypocrite," the author teased as Hao Yun's eyes almost popped out at the sight of two stunningly beautiful elf women.

"Screw you! Just because I have no interest in elf women doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate their beauty! I’m a decent man! What decent man wouldn’t take a second look at a beauty? Wouldn't you?" Hao Yun retorted defiantly.

The author smirked, refusing to respond to Hao Yun's challenge.)

"There are many beautiful elf women in the camp, Lord Hao. You can stay and admire them at your leisure. But while you’re appreciating the view, take care of yourself," Elienna's teasing voice came from behind just as Hao Yun's gaze was drawn to another exotic elf woman.

Since returning to the camp, Elienna had gone to speak with several elf officers, giving Hao Yun and Dao Lao some temporary freedom. But now that she was back, it seemed they would have to follow her again.

"Please, do not feel constrained. Feel free to explore," Elienna said, waving her hand in a relaxed manner when she noticed Hao Yun and Master Gu had stopped looking around and were now watching her warily.

She then pointed to an older male elf in rough-spun clothes who had been following her. "This is Serwinf, who is in charge of logistics in the camp. He will take care of your needs while you're here. If you need anything, just ask him."

Elienna didn't forget to point to the elf women who had captivated Hao Yun earlier, and with a playful expression, she nodded in their direction. Embarrassed, Hao Yun quickly turned his back to the women, once again trying to show he wasn't interested in elf women.

Satisfied that Hao Yun genuinely had no desire to interact with the elf woman, the older elf, Serwinf, respectfully bowed to Hao Yun and Dao Lao. "Greetings, my lords. I am Serwinf. It is an honor to serve you."

Hao Yun and Dao Lao returned the bow courteously. "Pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your assistance, Serwinf."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Knowing Elienna wouldn't let them leave easily and wanting to gather more information, they decided to accept Serwinf's help for the time being.

"You've had a long journey. Why not rest for now? Serwinf, please take our guests to their quarters and show them around the camp. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. We can continue our conversation tomorrow morning."

With that, Elienna crossed her legs, balanced on her toes, and performed a formal curtsey, lifting the sides of her robe with her thumb and forefinger, then turned to leave.

Hao Yun thought this was the moment when they would be confined, but surprisingly, Elienna didn’t impose further restrictions on them. She casually instructed Serwinf to take care of them and then nonchalantly walked away.

Hao Yun, bewildered by the situation, couldn't help but ask, "Is that it?"

Elienna stopped in her tracks upon hearing this, turned back slowly, and with a look of apparent confusion, asked, "What else? I imagine both of you have many questions for me, and I actually want to have a good chat with you both as well. Since this is your first time on Elven Star, why not take a good rest first? Whatever you need to discuss, we can talk in detail tomorrow."

Then, with a feigned sincerity, Elienna added, "Rest assured, my lords, I won't take the opportunity to escape. Heh heh heh."

With that, Elienna gracefully turned and left with her squad of guards.

Hao Yun and Dao Lao could only shrug helplessly as they watched her depart. Since they were already on her turf, what could they say? Given the current situation, their hosts hadn't shown any overt hostility. It seemed best to rest for now and then decide their next move after assessing the situation.

"Please, this way, my lords," Serwinf said warmly after Elienna had left.

"Hohoho! Please, lead the way!" Dao Lao responded courteously, indicating for Serwinf to guide them.

Under Serwinf's guidance, Hao Yun and Master Gu slowly walked deeper into the camp, which gave them a chance to observe more of their surroundings.

As they moved further into the camp, Hao Yun noticed that the inner part of this settlement, which resembled a small town, had much more orderly streets compared to the outer areas. The wooden barracks, which were single-story buildings outside, had become primarily two-story duplexes here. Clearly, this was the main residential area of the camp, and the buildings were more refined.

Each barrack here had an open staircase attached to the outer walls, wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The stairs spiraled around the circular walls from the first floor to the rooftop platform. From the large crossbows and other weaponry placed on the rooftops, it was evident that these buildings, at least two stories high, could quickly be transformed into defensible towers during a battle. Since this was a military camp, it made sense that the civilians living here were also trained as soldiers.

After winding through the residential streets for a while, Serwinf finally led Hao Yun and Master Gu to a more spacious area. The barracks here were not as densely packed, and their size and footprint were noticeably larger. The building they were approaching was so grand that Hao Yun thought it should be called a mini-castle rather than a barrack.

This structure stood three stories high, with guard towers on both sides of the roof and a low wall surrounding it. Armed elven soldiers were stationed on the towers and around the walls, indicating this was not an ordinary residence but a high-end private mansion reserved for the elite.

Upon reaching the imposing front door, Serwinf turned and respectfully addressed Hao Yun and Dao Lao, "This is the residence provided for you by the True Goddess Elienna. Since this is just a camp, the accommodations are rather humble. I ask for your patience and understanding if the hospitality is not up to your standards."

Hao Yun responded courteously, assuring Serwinf that the environment was more than adequate for them. Meanwhile, he privately messaged Dao Lao, "The True Goddess Elienna? How did Elienna become a goddess?"

"This might be related to her dramatic public appearance. The elves here have a strong penchant for worshiping deities," Dao Lao explained.

"No wonder Elienna was able to rally such a well-equipped elven army in just over a month. Judge Yan's suspicion was right—Elienna's public display must have been part of a larger scheme," Hao Yun noted.

"Hohoho! Serwinf, you are too kind! With such thoughtful hospitality, how could we possibly complain?" Dao Lao suggested that Hao Yun save any questions for later and then stepped forward, smiling as he thanked Serwinf for their accommodations and motioned for him to lead them inside.

"Since you say so, I am relieved. Please, my lords, come inside. After such a long walk, you must be hungry. Please rest while I prepare food and drink for you." After showing them around the mansion-sized barrack and explaining its layout, Serwinf hurried off to arrange their meal.

As soon as Serwinf closed the door behind him, Hao Yun and Dao Lao stood up and instructed their energy detection system to thoroughly scan the entire building. Meanwhile, they began exploring the barrack themselves.

The interior space of this barrack was even more spacious than Hao Yun had imagined. The center of the building featured a massive hall that spanned two floors in height. A circular carpet, seemingly woven from some dried grass, covered the floor. When Hao Yun tried stepping on it barefoot, he found it unexpectedly soft, like a thick woolen carpet.

The interior decor was minimal, with only essential furniture and no unnecessary embellishments. However, the entire building was circular and had no sharp corners, so the furniture was custom-made with curved lines to fit against the curved walls. This unique design gave the interior a distinctive aesthetic.