Chapter 48: The Unicorn's Terms
"Stay humble," Hua Mi reminded himself as he adopted a reverent gaze. Although there was an element of performance involved, he couldn't deny that the unicorn before him exuded a divine radiance, making it almost impossible not to want to worship and believe.
In ancient times, this creature would have been considered a sacred beast. The desolation surrounding it didn't diminish its sanctity; it, in fact, added an air of mystery.
In his field of vision, there was nothing more captivating than the unicorn. Its entire body radiated sanctity, its spiral horn, and... wait, what kind of flower was that?
Hua Mi's attention was suddenly drawn to a nearby flowerbed. In the courtyard, two rectangular flowerbeds were symmetrically arranged. One of them was lifeless, filled with only soil and withered branches.
In contrast, the other flowerbed boasted several peculiar flowers. Dozens of petals clustered around the flower buds, presenting an ethereal shade of deep blue with lightning-like patterns on their petals.
In the midst of the dwindling water and the onset of winter, these blue flowers thrived.
They appeared to be nectar-producing plants. There was no mention of these flowers in his alchemical notes, so they must be rare in the Black Forest, perhaps unique to this ruin.
"I should find a way to bring one back... Do you think it minds if I just pick a flower? Or maybe I should take seeds," Hua Mi mused as he marveled at the fascinating colors and intricate structures of these flowers. It wasn't until Xiao Huang cleared his throat that he snapped back to reality.
Xiao Huang approached and said, "First, we want to apologize once again for our audacity yesterday. We sincerely hope that you can be generous in assisting us..."
"Let me correct you," Hua Mi suddenly interjected, interrupting Xiao Huang's address. The unicorn's indifferent gaze shifted to him. "We didn't come seeking help; we came for a trade."
Hua Mi took a step forward and got straight to the point. "I'm not a brave adventurer, just an honest merchant. I don't like violence. The only principle I follow is fair trade. So, I'd like to know, what do we need to offer to obtain 15g of horn powder from you? Feel free to state your terms, and we can negotiate."
Xiao Huang relayed this message to the unicorn telepathically. The unicorn, however, remained motionless.
Hua Mi patiently waited for over a minute. Xiao Huang suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "What does it want?"
The unicorn shot her a glance, its expression slightly irritated, as if saying, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"
Xiao Huang immediately backed down, flying behind Hua Mi, perching on his shoulder. She muttered, "This is unfair... What it wants is extremely difficult to obtain."
But Hua Mi saw a glimmer of hope. The fact that the unicorn had a specific demand meant there was room for negotiation.
"What does it want?" he asked.
"It wants an Eye Fiend!" Xiao Huang replied. "This is insane! Do you even know what an Eye Fiend is? They can't be found in the Black Forest."
The mention of the Eye Fiend caught Hua Mi's attention. He knew there were entrances to the Abyssal Realm in the Black Forest, but as Xiao Huang said, it was too dangerous for him, and time was running out.
"However, if it's in the Black Forest, I can try," Hua Mi considered. "If it's elsewhere, I'm not so sure. I only have two days left."
Xiao Huang shook her head. "You won't find it in the Black Forest. Eye Fiends are aberrant creatures that inhabit the shadowy realms. It's perilous down there, not to mention the inherent danger of the Eye Fiend itself. This request is simply unreasonable."
Her last sentence was whispered in Hua Mi's ear. Shadowy realms...
Hua Mi glanced down. There were entrances to the shadowy realms in the Black Forest. However, as Xiao Huang said, it was too perilous for him, and navigating an entirely new and unfamiliar area in such a short time was impossible.
Hua Mi contemplated for a moment and said, "Honestly, this request is quite challenging... I have a proposal: we can draft an agreement. I'll offer something as collateral, and once I capture an Eye Fiend, we can exchange it for the collateral. I won't leave you waiting. You'll get more in return, like two Eye Fiends or whatever else you desire."
Xiao Huang conveyed this to the unicorn telepathically. The unicorn remained unresponsive. Instead, the tip of its spiral horn glowed, emitting a shockwave that spread outwards.
Hua Mi raised his hand and noticed a faint white glow enveloping him. Xiao Huang was similarly bathed in white light. Soon, a white ring of light appeared on the ground, encircling them.
The next moment, they felt dizzy and squeezed.
As they regained their senses, they found themselves outside the Black Castle ruins. Hua Mi's bow and arrows materialized in front of him.
"We've been forcibly teleported out by the unicorn..." Xiao Huang, looking quite queasy, sat on Hua Mi's shoulder with her head drooping. She seemed on the verge of running out of energy.
Hua Mi couldn't proceed without her guidance. In a forest without phone navigation, he might not even find his way back during the day, let alone in the dark.
Hua Mi was about to retrieve honey to recharge her, but a sneering voice came from nearby, "Seems like the unicorn doesn't welcome you."
Xiao Huang's wings fluttered as she darted into Hua Mi's chest.
Hua Mi, on the other hand, stepped back, raising his hands toward the source of the voice.
Perched on a tree branch was a slender figure. The distinctive features made it clear; it was a member of the group he had encountered earlier that day—the one who had been dismissive.
The person toyed with an arrow, glowing green under the moonlight.
A Wind God's Arrow?
Hua Mi lowered his gaze and realized his Wind God's Arrows were missing from his quiver.
"This guy managed to steal my things without us noticing, even little Orange's perception was low, probably due to her exhaustion," Hua Mi thought. Quietly, he assessed the pocket inside his black robe. Fortunately, the magic box was still there.
He discreetly signaled the pain bee squad, waiting in his left sleeve, to relocate a few bees to the top of the pocket.
The rest of the bees inside his sleeve remained at the ready.
The thief smiled slyly and tossed down the Wind God's Arrow. "Keep an eye on your belongings, including your life. Who knows when they might disappear."
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