Peng recalled as he spoke, "We met them on the second day after entering the Misty Forest. We were sitting by a small lake at the time."

The three Peng brothers were not visiting the South for the first time, but it was their first time in the Misty Forest. They knew it was dangerous here, but they hadn't anticipated it would be this perilous.

The three of them, one at level six, one at level five, and one at level four, could be considered quite formidable across the entire continent. But as soon as they entered the Misty Forest, their pride vanished instantly. Their strength was simply not enough in this perilous place!

The first major problem the three encountered was losing their sense of direction. As thieves, they prided themselves on having a good sense of direction, and the higher the level of the magician, the more acute their directional awareness. But once they actually entered, a shroud of mist instantly disoriented them, making it impossible to distinguish north from south or east from west.

However, losing their way wasn't the most fatal issue. The reason they ended up in such a sorry state was due to the packs of beasts and evil spirits hunting for food.

Encountering it once or twice was manageable; they could handle it. But the Misty Forest was not so easy to traverse, and they were fighting at a frequency of three times an hour.

After just one night, the clothes on the three brothers were in tatters, and their bodies were covered in knife wounds.

"The sun had come out by then, and we used it to determine our direction. The surroundings finally quieted down a lot. The three of us sat by the small lake, drinking water and resting, when we saw them coming from the south. They were completely different from us, looking bright and neat, with hardly any wrinkles in their clothes."

Speaking of this, Peng Er couldn't help but sigh from the side, "Boss, isn't it strange? Why have we ended up like this, while others are just like they're on vacation?"

Su Yao frowned, "Could it be that they have more people and greater strength? Or are they just lucky?"

Peng shook his head in denial: "There are indeed many people, but their strength can't be considered high. After all, there are still several third-level magicians in the team who are holding us back."

A level-three mage fighting against an evil spirit without causing any damage at all? That doesn't make sense.

"They were indeed lucky, that's hard to argue. After we shamelessly tagged along with their group, they really didn't encounter any evil spirits or wild beasts, and basically made it here without any obstacles."

"But I think, being this lucky is also not right!"

That's right, this doesn't seem like luck; it seems more like they have a way to avoid it.

However, she still didn't know much about Mary and the others, and all her suspicions lacked evidence. Su Yao could only say that all these signs indicated something was amiss.

"Was there anything else strange on the road?"

"They were quite cautious. Although they took us along, it didn't seem like they really intended to save us. They avoided discussing anything in front of us. It was by chance that we overheard them mention the destination was the hotel that day, and we haven't gotten any other information since."

"It's almost done. The rest can be investigated slowly. As long as they stay here, there will be clues, and their ultimate goal will inevitably be exposed one day."

The conversation ended, and the three Peng brothers resumed eating. They had been starving during this period and needed to replenish themselves properly.

……

In the afternoon, a strong wind began to blow outside.

Su Yao looked at the sky and felt it was going to rain.

"Felix and I will close the windows a bit, Ya, you go check on what we've planted in the backyard."

Su Yao's life experience told her that this kind of rain was usually not light, so she had to prepare and tidy up everything in advance.

While Su Yao was busy, Baker and Betty came downstairs.

"Hello, boss, it's really been a long time."

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Su Yao nodded and replied to him.

However, it seemed that Baker had more to say. He didn't leave immediately but stood beside Su Yao, watching her work.

Betty couldn't stand it any longer and said, "It's about to rain. Let me help the boss close the windows."

"No need, with Felix and Ya helping, it was quickly tidied up."

Beck also got into the spirit, very enthusiastic: "No problem, we're just idling around anyway, we'll help too."

Unfortunately, just as Baker finished speaking, Felix walked in from the backyard and said, "This is the last window, all the others that needed to be closed are already closed."

Beck: ..

The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward. Beck was suddenly interrupted and didn't know how to continue. Betty sighed and pushed her brother aside. "Boss, we're actually here to talk to you about something. Umm... we'll just get straight to the point."

Betty's straightforwardness obviously made communication easier.

Su Yao and Felix looked at Betty and asked, "What's the matter?"

Betty quietly pointed to the second floor with her index finger. "Boss, they weren't brought by us. Although I know we seem quite suspicious in your eyes too, I still hope you can distinguish between me, my brother, and Stephen, and that group of people."

Beck also nodded: "We are just a hired team. Initially, we were hired to take Jennifer home. As for now, we are being threatened. We can't beat them, so we have no choice but to follow orders and come along."

Su Yao didn't speak, and Felix had a question: "I see that Mary trusts you a lot."

"I am her nephew," Baker said honestly. "But our family has long been estranged from her. She trusts me only because I don't lie."

"Yes, she has a special weapon that she can use on her relatives. It can detect if someone is lying. My brother and I have no secrets from her," Betty said very seriously. "Everything I've said is true. We don't have a deep hatred for each other, but we're definitely not on the same side. We were forced to come here; we absolutely have no intention of harming you, boss."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Betty revealed a smile: "First, you saved our squad, and then you gave me such a great weapon. Isn't that considered a favor? Besides, we think the boss is very impressive. Given the choice between two teams, we naturally choose the stronger one."

The rain poured down with a splatter, hitting the trees, hitting the ground, hitting the windows and houses, creating a melodious song.

Beck and Betty went back, while Su Yao and Felix were still standing at the door.

Su Yao leaned her arm on the windowsill, holding her face in her hands as she looked outside.

To be honest, since coming to this world, she had not encountered anything this complicated. Moreover, the situation was becoming increasingly strange. A small team of 17 people had split into three parts in less than a day at the Anxin Inn.

"Waiting."

"What?" Su Yao turned her head to look at Felix.

Felix's expression seemed a bit softer in the dim, rainy day. He said, "The inn will be fine, and so will you. Just wait."

Wait and see their next move.

"Indeed, I shouldn't be so worried."

At this moment, Ya also flew over. She didn't know what had just happened, only coming to report on the newly planted wheat in the flowerpot. "A Yao, I just moved the flowerpot under the eaves, but after it started raining, it still got a bit wet."

"Rainwater won't harm the flowers."

"At first, I thought it was nothing, but it seems to have mutated again just now." Ya, being an elf, naturally had some affinity with plants. There weren't many plants that could make her change her expression.

Su Yao hurried to the back door to check the situation.

The flowerpot had already been moved inside by Ya using magic, but traces of rainwater could still be seen on the leaves.

"Where is the change?"

"Ayao, touch it."

Su Yao reached out her finger to touch the middle part of the sugarcane. The next second, the sugarcane bent over, accompanied by bursts of laughter.

"System, what is going on?"

[Maybe it touched its ticklish spot.]

"Then why is it alive?"

The plants grown in the flowerpot may be the same, but if other factors change during their growth, the final harvest will also vary. Now, having received rainwater, a mutation has occurred. The specific result of this mutation will only be known at harvest time.

Su Yao repeated what the system had said to Ya and Felix. Ya asked, "Should we let it continue to receive the rainwater?"

Su Yao caught the underlying meaning in Ya's words. She usually wouldn't offer suggestions proactively, but whenever she did, there was always a good reason. When it comes to plants, you might not trust anyone, but you must trust the elves.

"Try getting wet," Su Yao said.

The flowerpot was moved outside again. Su Yao and the two shop assistants saw the sugarcane swaying its body and spreading its leaves, and they also saw the raindrops falling from the sky being instantly absorbed by it.

Before long, as if discontented with the rain being too light, or perhaps dissatisfied with the small area of its surface that could catch the raindrops, the sugarcane began to sway its body, expanding the leaves at its top to the size of banana leaves.

"It seems moving it outside was the right choice; it really likes the rain."

Su Yao's mind stirred, and she used her magical power to drag the flowerpot to the eaves. The rainwater fell onto the roof, then flowed down along the eaves in large streams, quickly filling the entire flowerpot.

Sugarcane also noticed the increase in the water flow and was very happy. It started laughing again, absorbing the rainwater as it laughed.

"Just leave it outside." Since it has already mutated, it probably won't drown.

……

The rain kept pouring down, only stopping the next morning.

Su Yao had just gotten out of bed when she heard the system's announcement.

[Dreamcatcher used successfully, clerk Zhan Xing received Ruby*1.]

After Zhan Xing got the dreamcatcher, he often had dreams. This wasn't the first time Su Yao had heard this broadcast.

But the following one, indeed, is the first time I've heard it:

[The inn's plants have killed a level-three beast, the three-eyed rabbit*1. Congratulations to the host for obtaining three-eyed rabbit meat*1 and stone cutting tool blueprint*1.]

Su Yao already had the blueprint for making the stone slab, which included very detailed steps, but she still lacked a "stone collection point," "stone cutting tools," "stone polishing tools," and "coating" materials.

Su Yao thought she would have to draw cards several times to get it, but unexpectedly, she got one so easily.

There are also hotel plants..

Su Yao knew that it must be referring to the sugarcane in the backyard that drank rainwater!