Chapter One Hundred and Four: The Dark Elf Migration

Chixin nodded. “Be careful.”

Heiyu followed Ling Xiaolei and ran off into the forest at the side.

Before long, after threading through the thickets and springing from branch to branch, they saw a clearing in the woods ahead, where more than a dozen dark elves with dusky skin had gathered. The one leading them stood on a stump, a map in hand, loudly reading out orders.

Ling Xiaolei and Heiyu leaped down from the treetops. Seeing that nothing seemed amiss, they slowed their pace and walked gradually into their midst.

Since leaving her homeland on the Western Sea, this was the first time Ling Xiaolei had seen so many dark elves gathered together. For a moment she was overjoyed, feeling as though she had come home.

When the dark elves saw Ling Xiaolei approaching, they all cast friendly glances her way. An older girl with short hair extended a hand and led Ling Xiaolei in among them.

“Look, a young lady. Where are you from? What’s your name? Are you a mage?” she asked.

“My name is Ling Xiaolei. And you?”

“I’m A Duo, and this is my little brother, Xiao Lan,” she said gently, beckoning over a small boy.

The boy tugged at the hem of Ling Xiaolei’s sleeve from the side, then held out a handful of wild fruits to her with both hands, like a flower suddenly opening in bloom.

This was also Heiyu’s first time seeing so many dark elves gathered together. They all had the same dusky skin, the same black hair, and long pointed ears. Surrounded by what felt like her family, Ling Xiaolei’s smile was bright with joy, as though every burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Though these dark elves had not known one another before, the bond of their shared blood made their feelings for one another exceptionally deep.

The person standing on the stump with the map said:

“I have gathered the nearby dark elf clans here for the summons of the Dark Elf King.”

“The Dark Elf King?!” Ling Xiaolei straightened at once, and in her mind rose the cold and stern figure of Ling Xi.

At the title, all the dark elves were filled with delight and reverence.

The speaker went on:

“Yes. The Dark Elf King is summoning us. He has called all dark elves to his side. From here, we will head east all the way, setting out from the port on the eastern coast, crossing the Mist Forest, and reaching the southern reaches of the Dark Forest... We will rebuild a home of our own!”

“At last, we’re going to have a home of our own...”

“That’s wonderful. We’re finally going to migrate, and we’ll at last get to see the Dark Elf King.”

Everyone grasped one another’s hands in excitement.

Suddenly, Ling Xiaolei felt tears rising to her eyes. She remembered that moonlit night, when she had begged the Dark Elf King to lead the dark elves once more. She had never imagined that Ling Xi would keep his promise.

“When do we set out?” A Duo asked.

The leader pointed out the continent’s map to everyone. Upon it were several secret routes extending from all over the land toward the Mist Forest, carefully avoiding the Empire’s garrisons and watch posts. One of them started from the southern port; that was the path they were to take.

All those routes eventually converged in a barren plain south of the Dark Forest, marked with a clear red dot.

“Tonight, everyone will depart from the port. Ships will be waiting there. We’ll go to the Dark Forest.”

“The Dark Forest? Isn’t that a place overrun by demons?” Heiyu asked.

The man gave Heiyu a quick once-over. “Since our king is summoning us, there is naturally a reason for it.” Then he turned to the gathered dark elves. “Please pack your things and set out at once!”

The crowd followed a dark elf leader at the front and moved off. A Duo turned back and asked Ling Xiaolei, “Aren’t you coming with us?”

Ling Xiaolei thought for a moment. “I... I do want to go with you. But I still have other things to do. Still, I will definitely come to you someday!”

A Duo smiled softly. “Then we’ll wait for you there.”

The little boy also waved goodbye. “Big sister, we’ll see you in our homeland!”

The man with the map came down from the stump and walked up to Ling Xiaolei and Heiyu.

“My name is Ling Feng. Where are you two from?”

“I’m Ling Xiaolei, and he’s Heiyu. We came from the Holy City Magic Academy. Our purpose this time is to treat those near Dragon Island who have been infected by demonic creatures.”

“Oh... Dragon Island.” He said thoughtfully, “Are you heading west?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to other places as well. Many dark elf clans still live on the southern continent, and I have to go tell them. If you meet any dark elf clansmen along the way, please tell them that the Dark Elf King is calling.”

Ling Xiaolei nodded solemnly. “I will definitely tell them.”

Ling Feng gave Ling Xiaolei a map, then rolled it up and headed off toward another direction. Ling Xiaolei and Heiyu also returned to the road they had taken before. Along the way, Ling Xiaolei could not calm her heart, and kept saying:

“Did you hear that? Our dark elf clan is finally going to have a home of its own! I praise the tall, handsome, great, and wise Dark Elf King! Ah, how I wish I could go with them!”

In her heart, she replayed the scenes of Ling Xi summoning Taotie, and felt that he truly was the most trustworthy person in the world.

“That Dark Elf King... isn’t he just Boss Ling?” Heiyu said, spreading his hands.

Ling Xiaolei glanced at him, still smiling. “He used to be Boss Ling, but now we must call him our great Dark Elf King! Let’s hurry and finish this rescue mission. I can’t wait to get to the Dark Forest and see it for myself!”

Her heart brimmed with anticipation, and even her footsteps grew light.

Before long, along the broad avenue through the orchards, a thriving village came into view. This was a settlement of the Dragon Clan, larger than the villages outside the Holy City, and far more populous.

At the village gate, a great banner bore the black-and-red totem of the Dragon Clan. The road was paved with smooth stone slabs, and on both sides stood neatly arranged homes, shops, and taverns.

The Dragon Clan was a warlike people. Here, the young red-haired men and women alike wore armor and carried giant swords on their backs. Strong and well-built, they radiated even more vigorous vitality than people of other races. Nearly every one of them was a capable warrior.

It was already noon. Just as they reached the village entrance, a red-haired boy in coarse cloth came to receive them.

“Are you the mages from the Holy City? Lord Chixin is waiting for you at my clinic. I’ll take you there now.”

Heiyu and Ling Xiaolei followed him through the streets and turned into a series of narrow alleys. Along the way, he said:

“Ever since I was small, I’ve learned to make medicines from my parents. But the darkness is too powerful. My parents were also infected when they went to the front lines to rescue the wounded. I heard from the white-haired apothecary that as long as you come, the villagers will be saved!”

As he spoke, a look of joy appeared on his weary face.

They stopped in front of a house. At the doorway hung a heavy curtain marked with the symbol of a clinic. From within came the faint aura of darkness; it seemed that the severely ill had been gathering there for a long time.