Mushroom Lord in the Underground City

Chapter 509 - 499: Encounter

Shi Wu stood silently outside the gates of the Elf Royal Palace, having already delivered the Broken Sword. The matter of compensation had also been settled in subsequent discussions with Salian.

Now, he only waited for the elves to send someone to lead him out of the forest.

It’s not that he didn’t know the way, but as an outsider, he couldn’t traverse Ishildorin on his own.

After all, unlike his master, he didn’t have the privilege of freely coming and going in the elves’ territory.

Rustle——

Remembering what he had seen and heard before, he couldn’t help but click his tongue.

Galadriel had actually shed tears out of sorrow for his master, something he had never known about the relationship between his master and Galadriel before.

But it also made him realize why borrowing the sword back then had been so easy.

If Galadriel could be his master’s wife, Shi Wu thought it wouldn’t be bad at all.

Rustle——

Unfortunately, his master had already fallen in battle, rendering all assumptions mere pipe dreams.

Shi Wu was also deeply grieved, but having trained in the army, he could still manage his emotions.

If he wallowed in sorrow, even if his master were resurrected, he would likely scold him for being useless.

Rustle——

"No. 9, can you stop playing with my hair?" Shi Wu finally spoke up in resignation.

Sitting on Shi Wu’s head, No. 9 reluctantly let go of the tendrils it was using to braid his hair.

The long wait had bored the little fellow.

A Telepathy stone lay beneath Puki’s bottom, which was how they communicated.

"By the way, now that the war is over, are you still going to follow me like this?"

"What kind of talk is that? We’re partners! Remember how we fought those Demon Race warriors together until they abandoned their armor? Together, we’re invincible! You’re not thinking of ditching me, are you? Especially since I saved you before."

Given the current importance of the Mushroom Race, Shi Wu had no intention of ditching him; the question was just asked offhandedly.

Moreover, although No. 9’s claim of being "invincible" could be debated, it was true that it had saved Shi Wu’s life.

The shockwave that destroyed Three Mountains City had severely injured Shi Wu, leaving him unconscious as it wasn’t even aimed at him. He got buried in the rubble.

If No. 9 hadn’t dug his head out and stimulated his body with various toxins, he wouldn’t have held on until others rescued him.

Though the cost was Shi Wu suffering from diarrhea for several days, the fact that No. 9 saved his life was unquestionable.

Realizing he had misspoken, Shi Wu tried to change the subject: "Wouldn’t you be happy returning to your homeland?"

Shi Wu still believed that No. 9 was born in the forest.

"What’s there to be happy about," No. 9 casually pointed a tendril at an elf guard standing nearby, "this place is full of little chicks who haven’t even been on a battlefield. It’s no fun at all. Let’s hurry back. They say there’s still intense fighting in the west, right? Let’s go there and slaughter those Demon Race creatures! Hahahaha!"

No. 9’s tendrils quivered with excitement, already imagining commanding Shi Wu to wreak havoc.

The person to show Shi Wu the way arrived—an old acquaintance, Eco.

Hearing No. 9’s arrogant laugh over the Fungal Network, Eco glanced at No. 9 a few times.

As they traversed the Tree City, the figures with Puki on their heads drew frequent glances from passing elves.

A young elf girl, who kept Puki as a pet, watched their backs, thought for a moment, and gently placed her own Puki on her head...

Shi Wu’s return journey went smoothly, having No. 9 meant he didn’t even need to look for Puki.

As for the demons in the shallow areas of the Scarecrow Abyss, they posed no threat to Shi Wu. Even No. 9 could handle these bloodless scarecrows on its own.

Until they almost crossed the Scarecrow Abyss, when they encountered a Puki carrying Dual Swords.

The Sword Saint had initially wandered around the outside; upon learning that humanity had temporarily overcome their crisis, he came to Scarecrow Abyss by following the fungal network along with No. 5 as per his agreement with Lin Jun.

No. 5 couldn’t descend into the Scarecrow Abyss, so it didn’t follow the Sword Saint inside. Instead, it mimicked a rock blocking the network’s entrance, patiently waiting for the Sword Saint’s return.

The Sword Saint alone ventured into the Scarecrow Abyss.

In fact, Lin Jun wasn’t sure if the current Sword Saint could descend deeper due to his influence, but it didn’t cost him anything to have him try.

However, the Sword Saint didn’t expect to immediately run into his disciple, Shi Wu, upon entering!

As per the agreement, he couldn’t reveal his identity and couldn’t acknowledge Shi Wu.

But Elvyn was never someone to stand on ceremony; recognition or not didn’t matter to him, seeing Shi Wu safe was enough.

But the mindset of Shi Wu and No. 9 was entirely different.

"Seems like a member of the Mushroom Race, but not really. Who are you?!" No. 9 shouted across the Fungal Network.

When the Sword Saint Puki was created, it wasn’t present, nor did Lin Jun think to inform it.

To No. 9, someone with this form naturally seemed a member of the Mushroom Race, but it couldn’t sense the spiritual connection that it should have felt, hence the confusion.

Meanwhile, Shi Wu directly drew his Dual Swords.

No other reason; this Puki gave him too much pressure.

Though just a short-legged Puki, standing there, Shi Wu found no apparent flaw.

Even his [Qi Sensitivity] warned him that if he didn’t draw his weapon first, should this Puki suddenly become hostile, he might not have the chance to draw his sword at all.

Although reason told Shi Wu that this judgment was absurd, having faced life and death multiple times, he chose to trust his instincts in critical moments.

The Sword Saint had initially planned to leave directly, but seeing his disciple so tense changed his mind.

This Puki body was of Knight Level, but compared to his original body, its Attributes surely weren’t as high.

However, it had skills he didn’t previously possess, resulting in a notable difference.

Having obtained this Puki body, he hadn’t had the chance to fully test it, so he didn’t have a clear understanding of his capabilities.

Being unaware was not good.

Upon seeing Shi Wu, the more he looked, the more he felt Shi Wu suited the task.

Suited to be his punching bag.

Since obtaining the new body, no, that’s not quite right.

As a master, even if reborn as Puki, he should properly instruct this irresponsible disciple.

Moreover, to have a Puki riding on his head was simply a disgrace!

On the other side.

Shi Wu stared intently at the mysterious Puki, softly asking No. 9, "Is it really your kin?"

"Uh... probably... maybe... I guess..." No. 9 wasn’t sure, but the other was definitely connected to the Fungal Network, so they were certainly allies, "Anyway, there’s no danger, don’t be so tense..."

No. 9 hadn’t finished speaking when a sword shadow laced with Thunder Attribute slashed through the air!

Shi Wu hastily used [Wandering Body Step] to slide backward, and an unprepared No. 9 fell into the grass.

The ground where he had stood bore a charred sword mark, with electric arcs still crackling.

"A Puki wielding a weapon with Thunder Attribute skills?!"

Shi Wu was immensely relieved he stayed vigilant; had he been a step slower and got paralyzed by the lightning, it would have been over.

"Is this what you called not dangerous?"

No. 9 bounced in the grass, but having detached from the Telepathy stone, Shi Wu couldn’t hear what No. 9 was saying.

And now Shi Wu couldn’t afford distractions—the sword-wielding Puki was charging with short but rapid steps!

Puki——