Mist Empire’s Rise: Fake Noble to Fog Queen

Chapter 376 Mist Empire’s Rise- 375: Strange Happenings in Hulata Village

"Nothing," Luo Wei shook her head. "Just that the points we earn along the way might have to be spent before the return trip."

"Why?" Vina didn't understand.

Luo Wei explained: "Sixteen hundred kilometers distance. If we travel non-stop, advancing eighty kilometers daily, we can only reach Plague Forest on the twentieth day."

"But we also have to do tasks along the way. If we're delayed a day or two, we won't have enough time."

Moreover, horses carrying people would have their running speed greatly reduced. A day's maximum running distance didn't exceed two hundred kilometers. Running again the next day would exhaust them to death.

They also couldn't ride horses for twenty consecutive days. Continuous wear and tear would likewise cause the horses to die.

The professor also said points could exchange for flying tools and teleportation, and saved time could be used freely. In reality, they couldn't save up points at all.

Once Luo Wei explained, the six classmates behind all understood this point, immediately drooping their heads in dejection.

Losing points was minor. If they couldn't earn points along this journey, they definitely couldn't reach Plague Forest within twenty days.

Then missing the professor's deadline, they'd have to enter by themselves. Plague Forest was full of dangers. Without a professor leading, their lives would be hard to preserve.

"Wuu wuu wuu," Vina cried in fear. "I don't want to die. If I die in Plague Forest, my family's hope will be gone!"

Luo Wei was quite surprised: "You? Your family's hope?"

Tears still hung on Vina's face, yet she began puffing out her chest to boast: "Of course me! I'm the Wesley family's only hope. Father is counting on me to continue the family's glory!"

Luo Wei found it hard to say: "Who gave you this delusion?"

Vina proudly hummed: "It's not a delusion. My father said exactly this in his letter!"

Luo Wei: ...

She now believed Viscount Wesley really was a daughter-doting maniac.

But even if he doted on Vina, he couldn't say such conscience-violating words, right?

...

The afternoon sun was big and hot, baking people's scalps.

The junior department had twenty teams total. After leaving the city, they split into six routes heading in six different directions.

At first, teams traveled the same route as Luo Wei's group. After riding over ten kilometers, only their eight people remained on the wilderness path.

"There's a river ahead. Let's rest there."

After rushing for over an hour under the blazing sun, everyone was tired and thirsty. When Luo Wei said to rest, seven wilted heads all lifted, nodding vigorously.

Reaching the place, Luo Wei dismounted, leading the chestnut horse to the riverside to drink.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The horse was also hot, its coat soaked with sweat. Without replenishing water soon, there'd be danger of dehydration.

Vina and the other six also led their horses over. Eight people and eight horses stood in a long row by the river.

The others didn't like talking. Only Vina sighed repeatedly: "How much longer do we have to go? Why isn't it dark yet? Today's sun is too vicious. I'm really going to be sunburned to death. Sigh, I'm so hungry. I didn't even eat my fill at lunch..."

Luo Wei took out the map to look: "Soon. Go forward another ten-some kilometers—there's a village called Hulata. When we get there, we'll rest."

Vina brought her head over: "Hulata, are we staying overnight there?"

Luo Wei nodded: "Past the village are the Pufuze Highlands. The highlands are sparsely populated. We'll rest early tonight, depart early tomorrow morning, and try to cross Pufuze before dark."

"Okay!" Vina answered.

The others didn't respond. Luo Wei looked at them, calling their names one by one: "Aesar, Renee, Caesar, June, Natiavida, Joan—what do you think?"

Being called out, the six couldn't keep playing mute. They said stiffly: "We'll follow the captain's lead."

Teammates being too introverted wasn't good for leadership either. Luo Wei deeply felt this journey's difficulty.

She thought about it and decided to assign team roles now to cultivate everyone's coordination and communication abilities.

"June," Luo Wei called one female classmate's name, handing her the map. "From now on, you'll keep the map. You're responsible for giving everyone directions."

June was the second girl who'd come to the astrology classroom to register. Among the six classmates, her personality was slightly more lively.

"No no, I—I'm afraid I can't do it well..." June wanted to refuse.

Luo Wei: "If you can't do it well, you need practice even more. Take it. That's an order."

She'd already memorized all the map's content. If June gave wrong directions, she could also remind her.

"Aesar, you're responsible for finding water sources along the route. Caesar, from now on you'll walk at the front of the team, responsible for scouting."

After assigning tasks to the two male classmates, Luo Wei looked at the remaining three girls.

"Renee, pay attention to everyone's physical condition. If anyone gets heatstroke, report to me promptly."

"Natiavida, Joan—you're responsible for purchasing food and providing two meals daily."

"What about me?" Vina raised her hand. "What do I do?"

Luo Wei turned to look at Vina, examining her from top to bottom.

Luxurious clothing, proud demeanor, stupid with lots to say. Claimed to be a believer of the Goddess of Justice. From past behavior, she could barely be called someone who hated evil.

"You're responsible for negotiating lodging arrangements with villagers."

Her clothing and overall presence looked quite intimidating. No one knew she was strong outside but weak inside.

Receiving her task, Vina was very happy. Negotiating lodging wasn't hard—throw out a few gold coins and no one would refuse.

In her view, Luo Wei assigned her the easiest task. This was proof she'd latched onto a good thigh!

After resting twenty minutes by the river, the group mounted horses again, galloping toward Hulata Village over ten kilometers south.

Past 7 PM, with an hour before dark, the distant village's silhouette gradually entered everyone's view.

June sat on horseback comparing the map, saying uncertainly: "Ahead should be... Hulata Village, right?"

Caesar silently cracked his whip, riding ahead to scout.

A few minutes later, he rode back: "It's Hulata."

June breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing she hadn't recognized the wrong road.

Luo Wei looked at the village ahead, dismounting and telling everyone: "Everyone get down. We'll lead the horses into the village to avoid frightening the villagers."

The seven had no objections.

The evening glow dissipated. The sky turned grayish-white. Light also dimmed.

Vina walked ahead excitedly, preparing to find someone for lodging.

However, after entering the village, she discovered the houses here were not only broken and dilapidated—people were also pitifully scarce.

Passing four households in succession, she didn't see a single person.

Every house had doors tightly shut. She went forward to knock, but no one answered.

"Seems this village is already abandoned. There's no one inside." Vina said.

Luo Wei looked at her with a curious gaze, not knowing whether her little brain contained water or tofu dregs.

Every household's doors and windows tightly shut—how could there be no people?

Houses surrounded front and back with crops—this was called abandoned?

Luo Wei gave up on Vina, turning to ask the others: "What do you think?"

Caesar answered: "When I came just now, there were still people. I asked if this was Hulata Village. He said yes."

"Just now there were people. Less than ten minutes later they disappeared. This village is so strange." Vina muttered.

Luo Wei: "Haven't you noticed this village is very quiet?"