After the incident in the pit, everyone was clearly more cautious.
With the addition of high-quality charcoal, Mr. Luo found food preparation much easier.
Every three days, the team would process food. Each time was accompanied by a beast tide, and with Tian Zui and Zhang Wei's skills, they could always harvest extra ingredients.
"If we go any deeper, we'll reach the depths of the Yellow Zone. Most of the fierce beasts there are between level 45 and 90. If we encounter a group of level 60 beasts, your lives could be in danger."
The woodcutter, blacksmith, and others understood and expressed their desire to stay put and stabilize for a while.
Among them, the strongest, Vampire and Bloodhound, wanted to venture further, and Tian Zui agreed.
"Mr. Zhang Wei, we're about to reach Rivendell Forest."
Rivendell, meaning the land of elves in ancient tongue.
These elves are not the pointy-eared high elves from Western fantasy. Instead, they mean mischievous and clever, more like elementals, sprites, or butterflies in the lore.
The entire forest is filled with strange laws and powers. Entering it requires extreme caution; brute strength alone won't allow for reckless behavior.
Many ingredients in the forest require special processing methods. Extreme care must be taken!
As they entered the depths of the forest, Tian Zui recounted his previous experiences.
"Actually, the Path of Hunger is a rare 'safe path' that leads to the culinary world. Many people explore here every year."
"The other teams who entered Rivendell Forest with us before encountered many fantastical stories, and some suffered significant losses."
Zhang Wei asked with interest, "For example?"
"One person fell into the water and came out as a frog, losing all their cell levels and strength. They could only return to normal after being kissed by an elf in the forest."
"But there are many kinds of elves. They only found a dark elf and, under duress, completed the kissing ritual. Although the person returned to normal, they were permanently covered in goosebumps."
The Frog Prince?
There were also thorny bushes that induced sleep...
A witch who used the blood of young women to make a rejuvenating elixir...
A strange fruit that caused continuous beard growth after consumption...
And a nine-colored divine deer that could grant human wishes...
This place was like a fairy tale wonderland. Those who didn't abide by the rules usually faced very severe curses.
As they chatted, the group walked deeper into the forest.
Before long, they were lost.
Bloodhound and Vampire, both highly experienced in combat, immediately sensed something amiss on their first circuit. "We've been here before!"
They even worked together to create a map, illustrating how they got lost.
"Strange, we clearly walked in straight lines..."
"Is it a mirror image... or some other peculiar path?"
Tian Zui laughed, "It doesn't matter. Getting lost is the mark of entering this forest. Mysterious things aren't so easily revealed!"
The group continued walking.
Mist gradually rose in the forest.
Within the repeating scenery, they became increasingly disoriented, and a sense of irritation, anxiety, and thirst began to surge.
Zhang Wei, with the residual value of the Silver Apple, was the most at ease among them.
"Look, there's a stone path here... it's a creature's aura!"
"Let's go and see!"
Finally, something different!
They pushed through the mist...
And found themselves at... a small wooden hut!
It had an ancient, pure wooden style, with a Japanese-style signboard and welcoming decorations.
It was a small restaurant!
In Rivendell Forest?
A small restaurant?
And it was run by a group of monsters!
They were even stranger than the mutants from the Cloud Kingdom!
Frogs in chef's uniforms, animated crow-people, and even talking stone lions...
As Zhang Wei and the others approached, over a dozen white canvas cloths immediately floated up, like phantoms. Each cloth seemed to be worn by an invisible person, with a white, grinning mask on the head.
"Welcome, guests who have passed through the fog... This is the Foggy Little Inn, offering hot springs and culinary services~~"
Creepy!
Too creepy!
Even Tian Zui and the others had never seen such a situation!
"Let's go!"
Tian Zui bowed, "Apologies for the intrusion, perhaps another time!"
With that, the six of them turned and retreated!
They plunged back into the thick fog!
Continuing along the stone steps...
A building emerged from the fog!
Damn it!
It was the same Foggy Little Inn!
"Welcome, guests who have passed through the fog... This is the Foggy Little Inn, offering hot springs and culinary services~~"
The group exchanged glances.
They had no choice but to brace themselves and walk in slowly.
In a corner of the signboard by the entrance, there were small characters written in the common continental script.
'No loud noises, no fighting, damaged items will be compensated at price, remember to tip the servers, no dine and dash...'
The Foggy Little Inn had a distinct fairy tale style, with a large thatched roof drooping down like a moldy mushroom.
Pushing open the low door, they found the interior surprisingly vast!
The exterior covered an area of less than a hundred square meters, but inside, it felt like a grand attic, incredibly spacious!
"Sir... please remove your shoes... the clean floor must not be stepped upon!"
"Sir, here are clean bathrobes and wooden clogs... please feel free to take them."
Uniform attire, then.
Many busy figures were inside, all wearing white flying robes and grinning masks.
Six white-robed figures brought over trays.
On each tray was a cup of tea with swirling mist and a dark, wide-mouthed small bun.
"This is..."
The white-robed figure said in a strange voice, "Please enjoy..."
The six of them reluctantly picked up their teacups and suspiciously sipped the tea.
The aroma wafted into their noses...
Excellent tea!
Even the finest teas from the northern lands were inferior!
No poison!
Tian Zui instantly sensed it and drank it down in one gulp!
Atlas followed suit, also praising it.
Bloodhound and Vampire exchanged glances, poured the tea into their mouths, and remained silent.
Only Zhang Wei and Mr. Luo still held their cups hesitantly.
The white-robed figure urged, "Guests... please enjoy!"
Mr. Luo said, "This tea... the taste is wrong! Mr. Zhang, you sense it too, don't you?"
Zhang Wei chuckled, "Heh heh, if I'm not mistaken, this is mouthwash tea. Is this the first test?"
Saying this, Zhang Wei lifted the teacup, swished the liquid in his mouth, and casually spat it into the gray container on the tray!
Immediately, a fresh sensation filled his mouth, and his teeth became sparkling white, as if he had received porcelain veneers!
Pfft~
Pfft~
Bloodhound and Vampire, following suit, spat out the tea in their mouths!
It turned out that the two of them hadn't swallowed the tea, but had kept it in their mouths, ready to spit it out at any moment.
It seemed their vigilance was quite high!
Only Tian Zui and Atlas looked at each other, sighing, "Who could tell the difference between teas like this, unless they were a professional chef..."
"This is a bit too much to ask."