novelraw Chapter 52: Night Talk in the Forest
Chapter 52: Night Talk in the Forest
The campfire burned, emitting a warm and bright glow.
Chen Qi sprinkled Soul Seasoning mixed with cumin over the food.
An enticing aroma instantly filled the air.
The Flower Witch eagerly grabbed a large beef skewer, blew on it, and took a big bite.
Chen Qi had already eaten earlier, so he wasn't hungry.
Come to think of it, the Flower Witch came from nobility and must have tasted many delicacies, even expensive supernatural ingredients.
Her palate was probably quite refined.
Chen Qi asked expectantly:
"How is it?"
The Flower Witch chewed the meat, savoring the explosion of flavor in her mouth. "It's... not bad... quite tasty," she replied.
Though her expression remained composed, her head instantly sprouted an abundance of happy little yellow flowers, along with some rare pink blossoms of delight!
To be precise—it was absolutely delicious!
Why? How could a simple beef skewer made by a chef taste this incredible!
She actually thought this ordinary beef skewer was the most delicious thing she'd ever eaten in her life! Comparable even to dishes made from dragon meat.
What kind of seasoning was this?!
Her eating pace unconsciously quickened.
Chen Qi observed the Flower Witch.
Though she was still trying to maintain table manners, her small movements had grown noticeably more unrestrained.
Clearly, this girl was truly famished.
"Don't choke..." Chen Qi took out a bottle of sweet wine and handed it to her.
"By the way, Flower Witch, may I ask why you appeared in the Witch Sea? And why are you here now?"
Chen Qi was curious.
In the early stages, no one knew the whereabouts of witches.
For her to appear in a low-level hunting ground rift was quite unusual.
"Mmm, mmm..."
The Flower Witch took the wine and gulped it down.
She had eaten too quickly and choked.
She looked at Chen Qi—he didn't seem malicious, just genuinely curious.
After some thought, she answered:
"Due to certain circumstances, I'm currently not well-off. I came to this rift to find some things and earn a bit of money.
As for why I'm in the Witch Sea..."
The Flower Witch pondered—it wouldn't hurt to tell him.
"You must have noticed—I'm no ordinary person. I suffer from a very severe, rare illness. It's so rare, you wouldn't know—"
"Blood Blossom Disease?"
Chen Qi uncorked the wine bottle and took a sip.
"Wha—?!" The Flower Witch was shocked. This was an ultra-rare disease!
Chen Qi examined the Flower Witch again.
She wore practical shorts and a short-sleeved top.
But because her body was covered in flowers, it visually resembled a short floral dress.
The reason the Flower Witch was covered in blossoms was due to a severe condition called 'Blood Blossom Disease.'
This illness was practically a curse—at regular intervals, flowers would sprout from her body.
Though these flowers granted her power,
if not regularly removed, they would burrow into her nerves, reaching her heart and brain, eventually transforming her into a flower-covered monstrosity.
Removing the flowers was agonizing—plucking each one felt like pulling a steel needle deeply embedded in flesh.
The flowers voraciously drained her life force. Normally, those with Blood Blossom Disease rarely lived past thirty.
"How did you know?"
The Flower Witch stared at Chen Qi in surprise.
She'd missed her chance to show off her knowledge.
This disease was unique to the Goldenfinch Kingdom!
In her eyes, Chen Qi grew even more mysterious.
"I read about it in a book..." Chen Qi said.
Though extremely rare, Blood Blossom Disease was documented in many medical texts due to its striking appearance.
"Oh." The Flower Witch nodded.
"You probably know Blood Blossom Disease is nearly incurable. So one reason I came to the Witch Sea is to seek treatment."
"I see." Chen Qi pretended this was news to him.
Then, the Flower Witch suddenly lowered her voice:
"As for my second purpose... it concerns a deep secret of this sea. Something about distant lands."
Her lips curled slightly as she said gravely:
"This secret... it's better if you don't know."
Chen Qi frowned.
Damn it—she's being cryptic!
But he had a rough idea of her second objective.
The Flower Witch's goal aligned with the Witch Sea's main storyline:
Stop the Great Whale!
According to promotional material, the Great Whale was a terrifying creature from beyond the New Dawn World, seen as the embodiment of nature's wrath, the manifestation of calamity.
Mighty fleets and concentrated artillery fire were insignificant before it.
Rumors said the entire rift tides originated from its breath.
At the tide's end, it would cross boundaries and bring destruction to the Witch Sea.
The Great Whale was the keyword of the Witch Sea arc.
Whether the Black Whale Pirates or the Flower Witch, all were connected to it.
Since Deep Sea Hunters were said to have resisted the Great Whale in legends, their treasure hunt was considered a crucial side quest.
However, by Moonstone City's commoner logic, stopping the Great Whale had nothing to do with the Flower Witch.
Such matters should be left to professional navies and the more powerful hunter organizations behind Beiguo.
Given the Flower Witch's current strength, she'd struggle against even some high-ranking Black Whale Pirates, let alone the Great Whale.
At only third-tier like him, she was still in her growth phase.
Against the true tide, she was just as weak and powerless.
Players had deduced from her words that her goal was to stop the Great Whale.
But how she planned to do it, and why, remained a mystery.
Chen Qi studied the Flower Witch.
They'd only just met—not close enough to share secrets.
The Flower Witch drank more wine, her cheeks slightly flushed.
It had been so long since she'd eaten such delicious barbecue, so long since she'd had a proper meal!
This was pure bliss!
Her tongue loosened slightly. Propping her chin, she continued mysteriously:
"You know what? I'm not the Flower Witch you imagine..."
"What... You're not the Flower Witch from a century ago who turned people into fertilizer...?"
Chen Qi played along, feigning surprise.
The Flower Witch smirked—got you!
"Exactly. I inherited the title of Flower Witch. My current strength is still far from the legendary Flower Witch."
Her tone grew impassioned:
"But one day, I'll surpass her! Then, I'll choose a new title for myself and make my name known across the seas!"
"Make my name known across the seas..."
Chen Qi smiled faintly:
"Is that so..."
As long as they didn't die during their growth, they'd all make their mark eventually.
Then the Flower Witch looked at Chen Qi.
Though she still suspected he harbored secrets, at least for now, he seemed like an ordinary chef.
This level of cooking skill took serious practice!
Someone who cooked this well couldn't be a bad person, right...?
Moonlight shone down as the food was nearly finished.
The Flower Witch patted her slightly full stomach.
Time to part ways.
Chen Qi thought for a moment before asking one last question:
"Oh, Flower Witch, if I find medicinal herbs, where should I look for you?"
According to game forums, the Flower Witch had a special hideout in the Witch Sea.
She was arguably the region's greatest potion master!
If he obtained rare ingredients, he could commission powerful supernatural potions from her.
"Look for me...?" The Flower Witch was startled.
She placed a hand on her forehead, lowering her gaze to evade the question:
"That won't be necessary. You're a chef, right? The seas will grow turbulent. If possible, sail less and focus on what you want to do."
The storm was coming—monsters would surge like tides.
Against pirates and horrors, most could only pray.
In the Flower Witch's view, ordinary folk should spend time with family, meet loved ones, and fulfill their wishes before catastrophe struck.
Look for her?
She was a witch with grand ambitions! Where she stayed would be extremely dangerous!
Those near her met misfortune.
Besides, she wasn't even sure she'd survive the coming storm.
"We'll meet again if fate allows. But you'd better pray we don't."
The Flower Witch stood, wiping grease from her lips.
"I see..."
Chen Qi chuckled inwardly.
All main storylines were hellishly difficult.
Before his transmigration, most quests touching the main plot became player graveyards.
At his current strength, getting involved with the Flower Witch's affairs was indeed too risky.
Yet somehow, he had a feeling their next meeting wouldn't be long in coming.
Chen Qi packed up, storing his Hunter's Garment, Beast Hunting Pistol, and seasonings into his backpack card:
"Then, until we meet again, Flower Witch."
Then he glanced at her—she didn't seem ready to leave the rift yet. Had unfinished business?
Could she really be after the Deep Sea Hunter's treasure...?
Chen Qi shook his head and exited the rift.
After Chen Qi left, the Flower Witch sighed in relief.
She still had matters to attend to in the hunting ground rift.
Earlier, for a dramatic entrance, she'd discarded her disguise cloak.
Without it, she'd be swarmed by reporters the moment she stepped out.
The price of elegance...
After searching the exit area, she finally found a tattered cloak.
Once dressed, she pulled out a treasure map depicting a water sphere.
After examining it, she shook her head—a fake. No treasure here.
"Meet again on the seas, if fate allows..."
As she walked out, several melancholic blue flowers bloomed on her head.
The ocean's tides were merciless. What she planned to do next was far too dangerous—she didn't want to drag innocents down.
But truthfully, she wasn't sure how long she'd last.
Before dying... she should enjoy more good meals.
That chef's barbecue was exceptional.
Chefs usually ran restaurants...
Should she have asked where his shop was?
Regret. Profound regret!