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Nothing much happened on the way back. After seeing "Broken Arrow" off the primeval forest, Linsel followed "Broken Boots" and the other two adventurers back into the forest.

"The Broken Shoe" walked in front, reminding Lindsay as he went.

"Wolf Slayer, the three of us searched from the northern edge of the primeval forest but couldn't find the cave. Now we're searching further south, and we hope you can lend us a hand."

"That being said, I don't actually have any particularly good search methods."

"It's alright," "Broken Boots" replied with a smile. "Ahead in a bit, there'll be a creek with a rather rapid current. We'll split up and search in different directions to the south, and try to find it today."

Upon hearing this, Lindsay's already furrowed brows tightened even more.

"Oh, you seem quite familiar with this primeval forest?"

"Of course, we have a map."

The person who answered Lindsay's question was the sword and shield adventurer walking beside him, who pulled out a parchment map from his person.

"Look, we're roughly around here now..."

So there was a map, that makes sense.

Linsel leaned closer to examine the map. A narrow forest area was outlined in black lines, and various prominent landmarks were marked on the map, which was the outer edge of the primeval forest.

"Listen carefully, there seems to be the sound of flowing water ahead."

The third adventurer, who had been holding a one-handed sword and had remained silent until now, suddenly shouted, and everyone immediately fell silent.

Linsset was also listening, and after filtering out the white noise in the forest, he could indeed hear the sound of flowing water ahead.

"Broken Boots" was overjoyed: "I heard it too! There's a rushing stream ahead! When we get to the stream, the four of us will split up in four directions to the south, which will make the search faster."

Lindsay wasn't really interested in the three men's search for the cave and their goal of finding the Rondry grass; what he was really concerned about was the beast they were talking about that was following them.

Even as Lindsay was talking to these people, he did not completely relax; instead, he remained vigilant at all times.

Because of the monster's "sensitive sense of smell," he was constantly reminded that the monster was following him, but he couldn't quite pinpoint its exact location yet.

But seeing the relaxed expressions on "Broken Boots'" and the other two's faces, Lindsay felt something was amiss.

"The 'Broken Boot,' that dire wolf-like monster you mentioned, is adept at ambushes. Logically, we should be on guard at all times, trying to drive it away or eliminate it. But why do you all seem to disregard it?"

"It's like this," the "Broken Boots" adventurer paused slightly before explaining, "The reason we're not so afraid of this monster is because of a special artifact..."

This strange object can serve as a warning of our surroundings; it can sense any monster that enters within ten meters of us.

As he spoke, he pulled out a glass marble, about the size of a billiard ball, that Linssay had seen in his previous life.

"This is my wondrous artifact. With it, I can keep an eye on that monster at all times."

Lindsay's explanation felt only marginally reasonable. A strange object with reconnaissance capabilities? The description was too vague, and Lindsay felt it wasn't quite right.

Linsel had seen "Broken Boots" and his two companions many times in Wind and City. They looked like ordinary adventurers, and ordinary bronze-level adventurers usually didn't possess any rare items.

Even if it's obtained through points redemption from the guild reward area, Linsel had previously seen the price list in the reward area, and the points required to redeem rare items were comparable to those required for combat skill books.

Moreover, most adventurers, after reaching the Bronze level, will usually exchange their weapons and equipment or skill books to significantly improve their strength. They probably wouldn't use most of their points to exchange for any rare items.

An idea suddenly popped into Lindsay's mind.

Could it be that these three adventurers are setting a trap? Perhaps their claims of searching for caves and following monsters are just a pretext, and their real target is themselves?

The original owner had heard of adventurers turning against each other in the wild for profit, but because the Adventurers' Guild had relatively strict punishments and dedicated personnel to investigate, such phenomena were not particularly frequent.

But the monster that was following them was indeed there, and he could already smell the faint scent emanating from the beast, which didn't quite make sense.

As Lindsay was speculating about the answers behind these illogical events, "Broken Boots" in front shouted loudly.

"We've arrived at the stream!"

Linsset snapped out of his daze and walked through the last few trees that were blocking his way, until he came to a small, narrow, open area.

The babbling brook in front of us, flowing from upstream to downstream, is two or three meters wide and has a rapid current, seemingly dividing the outer edge of the primeval forest near Wind and City into two parts.

The sword and shield adventurer crouched down and scooped up a little water with one hand to taste it.

"What sweet stream water, 'Wolf Slayer,' would you like to come and have a taste?"

Linsel also walked to the stream. The stream water was crystal clear, and it was still an otherworldly place that had not been polluted by industry. It was drinkable.

However, he wasn't in the mood for a spring outing at the moment; he noticed that the sword and shield-wielding adventurer was drinking water with only one hand, which seemed a bit awkward.

What about the other hand?

On the other side of the creek, "Broken Boots" was speaking loudly to Lindsay.

"Wolf Slayer, you head southeast now, while we search to the west, southwest, and south. We'll be back here by the afternoon. Is that alright?"

"Hmm, no problem." Linsel replied casually. He shifted his position and had already noticed the threat posed by the sword and shield adventurer next to him out of the corner of his eye.

He was holding a sharp dagger in his other hand!

"The Wolf Slayer, that's it..."

Before "Broken Boots" could finish speaking, the sword-and-shield man beside him slowly stood up, and then suddenly, the dagger in his hand stabbed towards Linsel.

The monster's "Danger Sense" ability was activated, and Linsel was prepared, so he nimbly dodged backward, causing the opponent to miss its target.

"Do it!!!"

The roar of "Broken Boots" reached Linsel's ears. The sword and shield adventurer immediately threw down his dagger and, with a speed that Linsel couldn't even see, switched to a longsword and swung it at Linsel.

"What are you trying to do!"

Linsel feigned panic, having already drawn his iron sword from its sheath and held it in front of him to block the attack.

"What are you doing? Isn't it obvious?"

"Broken Boots": "Why waste so much breath on him? This guy is carrying so much equipment and is dressed so well, he must be very rich."