Chapter Forty-Nine: The Return

The fierce battle had left Hughes utterly exhausted, but he dared not sleep in this place. Instead, he could only close his eyes and slowly recover his strength through meditation.

Meditation also relaxed the taut strings of his mind. The sun was gradually rising, yet the thick mist in the mountains made visibility exceedingly low. Hughes decided to wait until noon before slowly making his way out.

As the mist dissipated bit by bit, Hughes considered his options and chose to burn the corpse of the banshee. Watching it gradually turn to ash, he suddenly remembered the tree inside the cave. He sensed the tree was no ordinary one, glanced at his own battered state, and resolved to return only after he had healed. Few people ventured here, so the cave likely would remain undiscovered.

When noon arrived and the mist was completely gone, Hughes retraced his steps, inch by inch, along the path he had taken. By the riverside, he cupped water in his hands to drink and washed his face, gazing at his own reflection.

At this moment, Hughes looked little better than a beggar. His clothes were stained with dust and blood, with holes torn at the cuffs—he didn't even know when they appeared. His hair was a tangled mess, and his appearance was wretched.

A journey that should have been short took Hughes more than an hour to complete, hampered by his injuries. When he reached Serya City, the soldiers at the gates initially mistook his silhouette for that of a refugee. Only as he drew near did they recognize his face.

Seeing Hughes in such a state, the soldiers hurried to support him and sent someone to inform Lord Dave. Hughes was placed in a carriage arranged by the soldiers to be taken to Dave's residence.

Halfway there, they encountered Lord Dave himself, rushing over in haste. Upon seeing Hughes, he did not ask how matters had ended, but instead accompanied him back.

Back at his lodgings, Hughes asked for hot water. Lord Dave, noting his injuries, intended to arrange someone to attend to him, but Hughes firmly refused. Seeing Hughes' insistence, Dave had no choice but to acquiesce.

After washing up, Hughes took his backpack, found a vial of natural potion, drank it, and collapsed onto the bed, intending to sleep deeply.

When Hughes next awoke, it was already the following morning. He opened his eyes to see a brand new robe laid out on the table beside him, exquisitely crafted, with intricate patterns outlined in golden thread.

Donning the robe, Hughes felt that his chest had nearly healed, so he went downstairs.

"Hey! How are you feeling?" Dave asked with concern as Hughes descended.

"I'm nearly recovered. Thank you for your trouble," Hughes replied with a smile.

"Good to hear!"

Breakfast was brought up; noting that Hughes had not eaten in quite some time, the table was laden with meat dishes. After the previous battle and such a long sleep, Hughes was famished, and he nearly finished everything on the table.

Once he was full, Hughes wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and spoke slowly.

"The matter is resolved. You needn't worry anymore!"

"Haha, wonderful! Truly, you have my thanks." In fact, since Hughes had returned and there were no disappearances that night, Lord Dave already knew the crisis had been dealt with. Though he had suspected as much, hearing Hughes confirm it brought undeniable excitement.

Dave was astute enough not to ask about the killer. He knew that ordinary foes could not have wounded a wizard apprentice so severely.

For the next few days, Hughes remained in his room, healing and meditating. Lord Dave, however, was kept busy. After Hughes announced the matter was resolved, Dave declared it throughout Serya City.

The townsfolk cheered, though many voiced complaints about Dave's handling of the situation, pointing out how many had vanished before the culprit was dealt with.

All in all, Serya City gradually began to recover. Dave personally led efforts to restore the city’s infrastructure and order.

“Beep! Transmission complete!”

“Whew!” Hughes took a deep breath as he saw his mental power had increased again.

Since advancing to Second-level Apprentice, Hughes' progress in meditation had become unusually sluggish. As for the spiritual runes needed for Third-level Apprentice, he had managed to obtain only thirteen so far. In over a month, the chip had analyzed just one rune, which was troubling.

“This time, I must focus on acquiring the formula for the Concentration Potion when I return.” He had long wanted to obtain it, but due to his relationship with the relevant parties, he had not asked. Now, it seemed he needed to quicken his pace.

Three days later, Hughes gathered his belongings and formally bid farewell to Lord Dave. But Dave stopped him, saying that after these busy days, he wanted to properly host Hughes and requested he stay longer in Serya City.

Faced with Dave's earnest hospitality, Hughes had no choice but to mention his teacher. Perhaps knowing his old friend's temperament, Dave thought for a moment and agreed to let Hughes depart, though he assured him he would always be welcome.

After thanking him, Hughes rode out of the city on the horse Dave had provided.

He rode for a long time, then circled back from the side, for he had not forgotten the tree in the cave behind the mountain.

He tethered his horse in a secluded spot and made his way to the cave entrance with practiced ease.

Upon entering, Hughes discovered a great deal of animal droppings. Without the banshee's deterrent, many creatures had ventured inside.

"Damn!" Realizing the tree’s fruit might have been eaten, Hughes hurried deeper into the cave.

He ran all the way to the stone chamber and found it much as he had left it.

“Hm?” But Hughes detected a faint fishy odor in the air.

“Where did they go!?” He went to the nest where he had slain three young banshees, only to find their bodies gone.

“Hiss!” A sibilant cry echoed through the chamber. Hughes followed the sound, his gaze settling on the tree.

The tree appeared normal—larger than before, but otherwise unchanged.

“Thud!” Hughes picked up a stone and threw it.

On the black trunk, a pair of brown slit-pupiled eyes opened, scrutinizing Hughes.

By the faint light on the wall, Hughes saw that a python was coiled around the tree. Its body was as thick as a thigh, its scales dark red with fiery markings, exactly like the ones Hughes had once seen on the tree. If not for the hiss, he might never have noticed it.

Hughes stayed his hand, and the snake slowly slithered down.

“Hissss~” The dark-patterned serpent stopped five meters from Hughes, raising its forebody to stare at him.

Now Hughes saw its belly was swollen with a large bulge.

“It ate those three young banshees,” Hughes thought, feeling nauseated at the memory of their faces. He had wondered where the bodies had gone—now he knew.

The snake began crawling toward the cave entrance, evidently trying to escape. Hughes would not let it go; if it got out, the people of Serya would be in danger, and his own mission would be for naught.

“Ding!” Hughes stabbed his dagger into the ground directly in front of the snake, blocking its path.

He understood its intent: having consumed the tree’s fruit and the banshees, with its belly swollen and digestion incomplete, it was hampered and unable to fight, so it sought to flee.

“Hiss!” Seeing an obstacle appear, the dark-patterned serpent twisted its massive body, turned its head, and opened its gaping maw to hiss at Hughes.

The slime and stench from its mouth made Hughes recoil in disgust.

He raised his sleeve to block it just as the snake spat a spray of dark green liquid at him.

Though he didn’t know what it was, he dodged instinctively.

“Hiss hiss hiss!” The liquid hit the ground with a sizzle, corroding a hole into the stone.

“Such power—I've never heard of a venomous snake this size,” Hughes was startled by the potency of the venom, thankful he had avoided it.

“Chip! What kind of snake is this?”

“Beep! After comparison and analysis, the snake before the host is an ordinary patterned python, but has undergone unknown influences and mutated, now possessing venom.”

“Beep! Mutated Patterned Python: Strength: 3.15, Agility: 2.78, Constitution: 8.4, Mental Power: 1.64. Status: Emits high-intensity energy radiation around its body; prolonged proximity induces a bloodthirsty state.”