It was already evening, and the light in the forest began to soften.
Less than a hundred paces away on a gentle slope stood a watchtower.
It was fashioned from living, twisted trees, its trunk traced with silver runes that shimmered faintly under the setting sun.
Elven architecture was indeed different from that of humans.
“A Windrunner outpost,” Alice said softly, stepping up beside him.
“One of the easternmost eyes of Eversong Woods.” Luo Xun remained silent, narrowing his eyes.
In his energy vision, the watchtower was enveloped in a layer of pale blue order magic, while thick, fluorescent life energy drifted around it.
The two glows blended together, making the tower look as if it had grown naturally from the forest.
In the northeast and southwest corners of the tower, there were two extremely faint green auras that almost completely blended into their surroundings.
Those were hidden living beings, keeping their energy fluctuations suppressed to a minimum.
Such technique suggested they were sentries.
They were hidden incredibly well; without his energy vision, he might not have noticed anyone there at all.
“They’ve seen us,” Luo Xun said with certainty.
Just as he spoke, a crisp bird call echoed from the watchtower.
However, as a veteran hunter, he immediately realized it was a simulated whistle.
Four elven rangers walked quickly out from different directions, their steps so light they made no sound on the fallen leaves.
The leading elf was a male with pointed ears and long golden hair tied into a neat ponytail.
His eyes were vibrant green, like polished emeralds.
His gaze swept over Luo Xun and finally stopped on Alice, his body shuddering visibly.
“Lady Alice?” the elven ranger spoke, his tone filled with clear disbelief.
“Is that you?” Alice raised her hand, gently lifting a corner of the white veil covering her face to reveal the lower half.
With just this gesture, the four elven rangers moved in unison: placing their right fists against their left shoulders, they bowed slightly.
It was a military salute, but the reverence in their posture far exceeded that of ordinary subordinates.
“It is I, Lorion.” Alice let the white veil fall back.
“I must see General Halduron immediately.” “The General is in the main tent.” Lorion immediately stepped aside to clear the way.
After taking a couple of steps, Alice paused and looked back at Luo Xun.
“This is Luo Xun.
He saved me in the Ghostlands and escorted me all the way here.
Let him in.” Four pairs of eyes fell on Luo Xun in unison.
There was no hostility, but no welcome either—only scrutiny, carrying the natural, unvarnished aloofness that high elves held toward humans.
Especially when their gaze swept past the compound bow in Luo Xun’s hand, the corners of two elves’ mouths twitched downward ever so slightly.
Fine, looking down on my gear.
Luo Xun muttered to himself, his face showing no emotion.
He reached out to adjust his bow, picked up his mostly empty backpack, and stepped forward to follow Alice.
Look down on me all you want, but one day I’ll show you what I’m capable of!
Scanning the camp as they walked through, Luo Xun saw pale gold tents, hanging light armor, and several hawkstriders with glossy feathers in the stables.
These birds looked like ostriches.
He stared for another moment before looking away.
More gazes shifted toward them.
Everyone in the camp stopped what they were doing to look.
No, they were looking at Alice.
Every eye held the same surprise and reverence.
Some were whispering in low voices.
Luo Xun couldn’t understand them, but from their tone, he could pick out fragmentary words like “Sunfire,” “My Lady,” and “actually alive.” Sunfire?
It sounded like a family name.
The main tent was larger than the others, its edges embroidered with intricate sun and phoenix patterns in silver thread.
Two guards stood at the entrance.
Upon seeing Alice, they performed the same fist-to-shoulder salute and lifted the tent flap.
The interior was spacious.
Animal pelt rugs covered the ground, and in the center stood a large wooden table with maps spread across it.
Behind the table, an elf stood with his back to the entrance, looking up at a giant war map hanging on the wall.
This elf was very tall, with broad shoulders and a thick build, completely unlike the slender frame Luo Xun associated with elves.
He wore the dark green uniform armor of a Ranger-General, his long golden hair spilling over his shoulders.
Most eye-catching of all was his waist: an elven longsword hung on his left, while a far heavier war axe—clearly of human design—hung on his right.
Hearing the commotion, the man turned around.
Luo Xun recognized Halduron Brightwing at a glance—the real-life version!
He looked to be in his thirties by human standards, with a face that seemed carved by a knife.
A faint scar ran beneath his left eye, giving his handsome features a touch of ruthlessness.
His eyes were icy blue, like frozen lakes; when his gaze swept over, Luo Xun felt his skin tighten.
That was an aura only forged from rolling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Yet that oppressive presence dissolved the instant his gaze fell upon Alice.
Halduron clearly paused, then strode over, clapping a hand firmly on Alice’s shoulder.
“Alice,” Halduron said, his voice deep and raspy, like iron scraping against iron.
“Seeing you safe is the best news I’ve heard lately.
Master Rommath has had people searching for you for half a month.
They’ve practically turned the surrounding woods upside down.” “Thank you for your concern, Halduron,” Alice said, her voice soft but carrying unquestionable strength.
“I am fine.
I simply ran into some trouble and was delayed.” Halduron nodded, only then shifting his gaze to Luo Xun.
His icy blue eyes swept him up and down, missing nothing.
“A human?” Halduron spoke not in the elven tongue, but his lack of trust was not hidden in the slightest.
“How is a human like you traveling with Alice?” Luo Xun didn’t respond.
He had only understood the word “Alice”; the rest was entirely incomprehensible to him.
For an elf to speak a language other than his own, it had to be the Common tongue of humans.
Considering the history of alliances between the elves and humans of this world, it wasn’t surprising that a high-ranking commander like Halduron knew some Common.
The problem was, Luo Xun didn’t know Common either.
If he blew his cover, it would surely arouse major suspicion.
With this in mind, he merely smiled, nodded, and leaned closer to Alice’s side.
Alice must have realized this as well.
She took a step forward, her voice calm but clear.
“He saved me.
In the Ghostlands, the Scourge and a traitor attacked me.
It’s a long story.” “A traitor?” “Kaelen Dawnstar,” Alice said, her voice turning cold as she uttered the name.
“He defected to the undead, but he has been dealt with.” Halduron fell silent for a few seconds.
When he looked at Luo Xun again, the suspicion in his eyes had faded slightly, but it remained cold.
“You dealt with Kaelen all by yourself?” “Yes,” Luo Xun answered in the elven tongue, his voice devoid of ups and downs.
He didn’t care about the other’s attitude; the most important thing right now was to gather as much information about this world as possible to increase his chances of survival.
Once he was strong enough, who could stop him from going wherever he pleased?
Halduron stared at him for a long moment, then turned back to the table, tapping his finger on a spot on the map.
“We must return to Silvermoon City immediately,” he said, glancing at Alice.
“Your father’s patience is wearing thin.
Only you can calm his temper.” He paused, then looked back at Luo Xun.
“And you?
Will you set out with us?” Luo Xun didn’t answer immediately.
Azeroth was an incredibly dangerous place.
Traveling south from Eversong Woods would lead directly into the Eastern Plaguelands, which was Scourge territory.
Given his current understanding of this world, traveling alone carried far too high a risk.
It would be better to go to Silvermoon City.
It was, after all, the elven capital.
Besides, based on what he had gathered, Alice’s background was likely wealthy and influential.
Since he had saved her, this connection would allow him to obtain more information and assistance…
With this in mind, he nodded, signaling his agreement.
Yet he could feel several gazes peering inside through the gaps in the tent flap—the elven soldiers outside held curiosity, wariness, and a faint hint of hostility.
This trip into the city was likely not going to be simple.