Pretending To Be A Boss

Suddenly laughed again.

The treehouse was more lively than ever before.

After Tang Xian's explanation, Dong Ran learned that not all creatures in the mining area were hostile to humans.

Although Tang Gazi was talkative and somewhat foolish, his favorite thing was the beautiful bodies of various female species, so as soon as he found out that this woman was an ally, he quickly grew fond of Dong Ran.

Amongst bird species, the mynah bird had a rather cute appearance, which Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu liked very much.

Tang Xian was sure that Tang Xiaojiu's fondness was similar to his own, mixed with a liking for the taste of bird meat.

Watching Tang Xiaojiu and Tang Gazi,

Dong Ran couldn't help but wonder what Tang had experienced in the mining area. How in just a few days, he had faced hellhounds, gained a little sister, and even became friends with a bird that could speak human language? His adventures were quite rich.

The sky was just right, and the crisp morning air quickly sobered Tang Xian up. He found it very comfortable and thought it was the perfect time to travel, so he prepared to take Dong Ran and Tang Xiaojiu to Waning Time Valley.

"I'm going too, I'm going too," Tang Gazi said upon hearing this, hoping to follow Tang Xian.

Tang Xian hoped to have someone to look after the house. With that in mind, he realized he couldn't always leave a foolish bird in charge, so should he get a hellhound as a guard dog instead?

He pondered this for two seconds and then dismissed the idea, as raising a dog seemed difficult, mainly because he would eventually have to eat dog hotpot.

"The place I'm going to has monsters that specifically eat birds," Tang Xian decided to continue leaving Tang Gazi to watch the house.

"I'm not going! I'm not going!" Tang Gazi quickly shook his little head.

How come he had never noticed before that this world was full of creatures that wanted to eat birds? It seemed he couldn't leave the treehouse, as the outside world was too dangerous. What a hard bird life!

...

...

Choosing the forest sea as a dwelling place was no random choice for Tang Xian. This place was originally a yellow zone and was located at the central position of the terrain explored by humans. To the south was the region where humans were active.

For example, the Red Soil Forest.

To the north was an area that humans did not dare to venture into much. In short, the swampy forest had many accessible routes and offered many destinations.

Now that the forest sea was a red zone, humans hardly set foot there, which suited Tang Xian's requirements in various aspects.

For instance, to get to Waning Time Valley, it only required a seven-hour journey. However, with two girls in tow, the trip was slower than expected.

Not to mention Tang Xiaojiu displayed a super ability, super eating.

About every half hour, Tang Xiaojiu would say, "Tang Xian, what are we eating next?"

So they traveled quite slowly, but fortunately, with the little fox on the way, Tang Xian did not bother to apply Red Line Grass since he wasn't worried about any reckless wild beasts.

Creatures at the elite and perfect levels basically dared not show themselves.

At least in the northern part of the forest sea, within a vast range, there was no faking tiger by fox, only faking fox by tiger.

As dusk approached, Tang Xian finally saw the outline of Waning Time Valley from afar.

There was a reason for the name "Waning Time." The place had guide-post locust trees that were even larger and more towering than Hundred-Handed Wood, with a canopy that blocked out the sun. With the exception of deep autumn and winter, there was basically no sunlight here, as if the daylight was incomplete.

This place was a yellow zone, and among the possible creatures to encounter, the greatest threat was, indeed, disaster-level beasts, but now, Waning Time Valley was supposed to be free of them.

From a distance, Tang Xian saw the enhanced-level creatures, Black Spotted Monkeys, on the guide-post locust trees.

These monkeys were quite weak and extremely timid; if they displayed activity, it meant that this place most likely didn't have any creatures beyond perfect-level bosses.

"Tang, Waning Time Valley is so big, how are we going to find our way?" Dong Ran was very curious.

"If a person is still alive and injured in such a place, they would naturally choose a cave close to the water source. We need to think more—our heads, as the part that can be described above the neck, should be put to good use."

Tang Xian did think so. Coming up with a way to find Qiao Shanshan wasn't hard, but he realized he didn't have to think about it at all.

Having killed two hellhounds, his prestige, resistance, and even damage to the hellhounds was enhanced. But for Tang Xian, the most useful attribute right now was his sense of smell.

"But with the current terrain and visibility, you don't need to use your brain—just follow me."

Dong Ran had gotten used to Tang Xian's put-downs and obediently followed behind him.

Tang Xian sensed some odors and had a basic understanding of the situation in Waning Time Valley.

Qiao Shanshan was still alive; the faint scent of her perfume didn't mix with any smell of rotting flesh, nor was there the smell that accompanies festering wounds. But there was another rather unique scent.

Tang Xian smiled. Qiao Shanshan was quite clever. The situation might be better than he had imagined.

The place was dim even in daylight, and at dusk, it became even darker. With many wild animals around, he had to walk more slowly.

With Tang Xiaojiu present, they didn't fear the wild beasts—it was just troublesome. They were animals that one could tell just by their smell wouldn't taste good, and there was no need to kill them.

In the pitch-black environment, Tang Xian's steps were slow but smooth, never pausing, which even surprised Dong Ran.

Even Tang Xiaojiu, who looked like a five or six-year-old child, had a spring in their step, hopping and jumping along with Dong Ran and Tang, seeming very relaxed.

With so many things about Tang Xian that didn't follow common logic, Dong Ran decided it wasn't worth the effort to ponder it.

If Tang Xian said something was there, then it definitely was. Why use their brain? Working this way was both relaxed and efficient.

Under Tang Xian's lead, a faint light appeared not far from their view.

...

...

Qiao Shanshan was a bit hungry.

Using the krypton sulfur compound in her medical kit, which emitted a scent that was fairly mild to humans but strong to animals, she had not been attacked by other creatures all these days. But she couldn't leave either.

At the place she wanted to go to, there were two Perfect-Level creatures blocking the path. Discover exclusive content at empire

Contrary to the norm, these two creatures weren't repelled by the scent, which astonished Qiao Shanshan. It was as if they were following a command to guard the valley.

Before this mission, as the team leader, Qiao Shanshan had left clues at the Pyramid. If she didn't return in three days, she had arranged for someone from the newspaper to publish news about it.

She believed that the news of her team's demise had likely already been released by the Pyramid. But even so, it was unlikely anyone would come to rescue her.

Qiao Shanshan had been in the valley for six days. It wasn't that she didn't want to go back; it was just that the portable teleportation rift was broken.

One by one, her dear friends had been devoured by the cataclysmic Nvwa Snake, which also gave her the resolution to face death.

But to her despair, the giant snake eventually left, and she wanted to follow it but couldn't get past the two Perfect-Level creatures blocking the valley's exit.

There was still some water, as the water sources here were very clean.

But food was scarce.

Qiao Shanshan, who majored in medicine and had exceptionally strong healing abilities, was unfamiliar with the plants in the mining area. To her, the oddly shaped plants in this place were probably not just inedible but also dangerous to approach.

Exhausted and hungry, she slumped inside the cave, her nose twitched, and she suddenly smelled the scent of fruit.

Qiao Shanshan squinted her weak eyes, savoring the pleasant illusion in her breath.

But then she felt something patting her face.

"Wake up, you get sleepy when you're hungry? Hungry thing, want a Bogen Fruit?" Tang Xian said, slapping Qiao Shanshan's face and teasing her with his voice.