Mechanical Alchemist

Su Lun finished tallying this batch of war loot and, all in all, had made a sizable profit.

For the stronger party, war has always been a shortcut to immense wealth.

With a hundred puppets helping to clear the battlefield, the work progressed quickly, and before long, he had almost gathered up all of the spoils.

While he was dealing with the traces of the battlefield, he heard a large group of people approaching from the village on the distant hillside.

Looking over, it was Yuta leading a group from the White Deer tribe.

The leader was an elder with white deer antlers on his forehead and the strongest soul fire, which naturally made him Daggu, the Tier Four Druid elder.

The old man looked very weak, being supported by others, with freshly ground herbs still applied to a wound on his abdomen. As he approached, a strong scent of medicine wafted through the air. It seemed he had been severely injured in the previous battle.

This group of people came over, and Yuta introduced to them very formally, "This is Mr. Su Lun, who just now repelled the enemy."

The common tongue was used, and only the Druids among the Dalu tribe could understand it.

The White Deer elder looked at Su Lun, his face showing an excited and sincere gratitude, "On behalf of the entire White Deer tribe, this old man Daggu thanks the brave warrior for saving our lives..."

As he spoke, he placed one hand over his chest and bowed deeply to Su Lun.

Behind him, the dozens of people also bowed in unison.

In front of the elders, Su Lun naturally did not dare to act arrogantly and courteously responded.

....

Even though the tribe had just experienced a great disaster, being the warrior who saved the tribe, Su Lun was still warmly welcomed by the people of the White Deer village of the Dalu tribe.

He had initially planned to spend the night in the forest but now stayed in the village's best hut, provided with roasted meat and fruit.

It was probably because they needed people, that the old and young in the tribe had not been slaughtered to the last by the slaver gang.

But even so, bodies were piled up like a mountain.

The village was a sight of devastation.

As a guest, Su Lun naturally did not need to help, as there were enough hands within the tribe. The young and robust of the Deer tribe were chopping wood to repair the village wall destroyed by the blast. With sturdy walls, the elderly and the young could safely clean up their relatives' bodies, to prevent predators from the forest drawn by the smell of blood and flesh from causing secondary harm to the tribe members...

The tribe had been burned nearly to the ground, but Su Lun was still arranged to stay in the best hut, with barbecue and fruit.

The night sky was beautiful this evening, with moonlight like silver.

Su Lun watched the village in front of him, carving the puppet in his hand, and his thoughts occasionally drifted to other things.

Yuta was by his side.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

This Druid had witnessed such desperate scenes twice in a short time, and her emotions were very unstable.

She dared not look too much at her fellow tribespeople, and the moonlight poured into those blue crystalline eyes, shimmering with waves of light.

Eventually, unable to hold back the overflowing emotions, she looked at Su Lun with tearful eyes and asked with grief, "Mr. Su Lun, why are humans so cruel, when we could all live together peacefully..."

Su Lun didn't know how to answer.

Thinking it over, he reached out and touched Yuta's head, consoling the weeping young Miss of the White Wolf clan.

Yuta threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

....

Early the next day, Su Lun and Yuta continued on their journey.

A team of strong young people from the White Deer tribe escorted them for a long distance, not parting until the sunset, and then they returned.

The situation of the various tribes of the Dalu clan was very bad now.

Having been discovered by the slaver gang, other gangs would certainly come upon hearing the news.

The White Deer tribe must also migrate.

The Silent Forest was vast, but there were not many places they could choose from.

This was already the depths of the forest, and to retreat further would mean to enter the sanctuary.

But it could not accommodate so many tribespeople.

The Dalu tribe worships the god of nature, and their way of life is almost entirely primitive. Their main source of food is hunting and gathering. This lifestyle also means that they cannot live together in a city like humans do.

A hunting area can only sustain a certain number of people.

When a tribe's population exceeds what an area can support, part of it must split off to develop new hunting grounds and establish new tribes.

But now, with their living space continually shrinking and the population rapidly declining, the very survival of the tribe is a big problem.

Su Lun had also asked Yuta why they did not migrate further away.

Yuta said that at Sacred Lake there is something the Dalu tribe must protect.

....

The next few days of travel went smoothly.

As a Druid, Yuta could understand some of the language of birds and beasts. With her leading the way, the two of them avoided areas where high-level magical beasts roamed and other dangerous regions. Although they were attacked a few times, they safely made it to the deepest part of Silent Forest without serious incident.

Even in the frigid north, the Silent Forest boasted an abundance of water resources like a network of leaf veins, and there were rivers that never froze all year round.

That day, after descending a mountainous terrain, they fashioned a small boat and changed from land to water travel, drifting eastward along a large river known to the Dalu tribe as "Runas River."

Drifting in the clear river water, the two of them seemed very relaxed.

Yuta was responsible for rowing the boat while Su Lun remained focused on tinkering with his puppet, occasionally flipping through books.

The pair had formed a tacit understanding along the way, chatting occasionally, with Yuta introducing him to the extraordinary creatures of the forest.

Half the day had passed on the boat without them noticing, when Yuta suddenly spoke up, "Mr. Su Lun, we're almost there!"

Su Lun finally snapped out of his immersion and saw a lovely face.

After days of travel, Miss Druid's mood had progressively improved, and a naive and cheerful smile had returned to her face.

Yuta sighed, "Mr. Su Lun, you really do work hard, no wonder you're so amazing..."

Su Lun smiled noncommittally and looked around, "Are we almost there?"

He observed the surrounding forest was not much different from before, feeling slightly surprised in his heart. Was this the legendary central tribe of the Dalu clan, "Emerald Holy Land"?

It looked the same, and he saw no other members of the Dalu tribe.

"Mhm!"

Yuta nodded earnestly, then turned and pointed toward the front of the boat, "It's over there~"

Only then did Su Lun extend his gaze beyond Yuta's body and looked toward the front of the river.

"Eh... That's a waterfall?"

With his excellent eyesight, he naturally noticed that the river abruptly dropped off at the end of their view, forming a fine line.

Listening closely, the "roaring" sound of the water was also becoming progressively clear.

With such noise, the waterfall seemed to have a significant drop.

"Mhm, this is the nearest path!"

Yuta's face was full of anticipation, "It's been a year or two since I became a Druid and last visited Sacred Lake..."

Su Lun looked on with slight curiosity, like reaching the peak of a roller coaster, when the view down below is obscured, yet there's still a thrill of anticipation for the unknown.

Noticing that Yuta had no intention of pulling to the shore to stop the boat, he asked, "Are we going to jump down from the waterfall?"

Yuta nodded, a sly smile forming at the corner of her mouth, "Mr. Su Lun, you'll have to hold on tight to me~"

"Heh..."

Hearing her playful words, Su Lun's eyes crinkled with amusement.

He also stood up, looking into the distance.

The waterfall was getting closer, the boat's speed increasing, and the roar in their ears now so loud that speech was barely discernible.

Approaching the edge of the river, Su Lun finally saw the shockingly magnificent scenery ahead, murmuring involuntarily, "It truly is the Emerald Holy Land!"

....

The maps that Su Lun had previously purchased from the black market and the Adventurers' Guild outlined only the outer areas of Silent Forest. He had not known that deep within the forest lay such a wondrous and unimaginable sight.

```

It was as if a meteor had fallen, smashing into the depths of the forest to create a vast basin, known as the "Emerald Holy Land".

The Silent Forest was situated in the cold northern lands, and its vegetation largely consisted of coniferous trees such as various firs and cold pines, all blanketed by frost and snow, presenting a dominating hue of greyish white. Yet beneath this waterfall, there was a burst of lush green teeming with life and a pleasant climate.

From the sky above, it resembled an emerald embedded in a greyish-white expanse.

Su Lun didn't have time to appreciate the scenery before him, as the small boat they were in began to free-fall over the waterfall, and they leaped for their lives.

Yuta grabbed Su Lun's hand, laughed heartily with a face full of joyous and mischievous smile, "Hahahaha... Mister Su Lun, do you know? My most most most favorite thing when I was a child was jumping off waterfalls..."

Su Lun listened and smiled slightly, his eyes also glittering with fascination as he gazed at the waterfall with its several hundred meters of drop.

Free falling through the air, there was an inexplicable sense of exhilaration in his heart.

After a few breaths, the two of them hit the water with a "plop."

The gurgling sound of water filled their ears, accompanied by the rush of flowing water all around.

Yuta didn't rush to surface, instead, she pulled Su Lun along for a long underwater swim.

After the waterfall's turbulent flow entered the forest, it quickly became calm.

The water was exceptionally clear, and with eyes open underwater, the world beneath the surface was visible in great detail.

There were swaying aquatic plants with roots clearly seen; little red fish joyfully accompanying the two uninvited guests; semi-transparent shrimps startled and swiftly retreating... The play of light and shadow from plant life above the water's surface was reflected below, creating an indescribably beautiful scene.

Everything in sight was crystal clear.

As Su Lun swam underwater, that sense of exhilaration within him grew stronger.

It was as if the countless days of accumulated frustration were being cleansed by the crystal clear river water.

Only then did he realize that since coming to this world, he had never observed and experienced the beauty of nature so closely before.

In that moment, every pore in his body felt refreshed.

Su Lun tilted his head slightly and saw a radiant, smiling face.

Yuta pointed towards the surface.

The two surfaced and climbed ashore.

This was a serene and quiet deep forest, with the chirping of birds by their ears, and the scent of flowers in their breaths. It was like a small woodland path on a summer day, with dappled tree shadows on the ground, a comfortably warm temperature, and a gentle breeze caressing their faces.

Underfoot lay a path of moss-covered stones stretching into the depths of the woods. On the side of the path stood two rustic stone pillars carved with mysterious patterns, resembling the torii gates in front of Japanese shrines from Su Lun's previous life. Around these pillars, somewhat hidden in the piles of earth, were several pottery jars used for offerings. They seemed aged, with the marks of time leaving mottled traces upon them.

Su Lun took a moment to look.

The runes of Alchemy and the prohibitory system of the Dalu clan were vastly different, yet he discerned that these carvings on the stone pillars contained some form of high-level Power of Laws.

Seeing his interest, Yuta explained, "Those are 'ritual pillars,' built specifically for the elves who guard this forest. They can avert disasters and bring blessings. They are also enchantments blessed by deities that protect our Dalu tribe, repelling anyone with malice towards us."

After a pause, she called out, "Let's go, Mister Su Lun."

"Hmm."

After giving the pillars another thoughtful look, Su Lun followed her.

Passing through the two stone pillars, it was like crossing through an invisible barrier, and he faintly sensed something. But before he could ponder it, they had only walked a few steps when suddenly, several beast-skin clad sub-humans sprang out from the trees above.

From their elevated position, they recognized the newcomers and excitedly shouted in unison, "Sister Yuta!"

Yuta clearly knew them and cheerfully greeted back, "Koula, is it your group's turn to patrol today?"

"Yeah! Sister Yuta, what brings you to the Holy Land?"

The one named Koula was a rabbit-kin girl, seemingly young, around thirteen or fourteen years old. She was armed with a bow and arrows, carrying a quiver on her back, appearing ready for patrol. And beside her were several other Dalu youths of similar age.

The group jumped down, and upon seeing Su Lun, a human, everyone's eyes immediately showed caution and wariness.

Koula asked, "Sister Yuta, why did you bring a human into the Holy Land?"

Yuta introduced him, "This is Mister Su Lun. He is my lifesaver and a benefactor to our Dalu tribe..."

Despite her explanation, the wary gazes of the young ones towards Su Lun did not diminish, and they began to speak all at once.

"Lately, there have been a lot of slavers in the forest, the 'Green Tiger Tribe' and 'Black Bear Tribe' to the north have been attacked by those despicable humans, many of our people died..."

"Yes, Sister Yuta, humans can't be trusted... Some humans have already attempted to scout the perimeter of the Holy Land recently."

```

"I heard that there are humans eyeing the relics in 'Cursed Valley', and the Clan Leader even specifically instructed us to patrol carefully..."

"..."

Su Lun stood by, listening to Yuta and the group of young patrollers communicate in the Dalu language, but he could not understand much.

However, from their expressions, he could tell that these kids didn't seem too welcoming towards humans entering the area.

Yuta, having heard some of those bad news, and aware of their concerns, patiently explained, "Mr. Su Lun is different, he is the 'Brave Warrior foretold in the prophecies' you know."

Hearing this, Koula exclaimed in surprise, "Ah? Another Brave Warrior from the prophecy? But, a human just arrived yesterday. The elders were very happy and even gathered everyone to welcome that human..."

Upon hearing this, Yuta frowned immediately and asked, "A human came yesterday?"

"Yes."

Koula said, "That human saved the 'Frost Fox Tribe' during a slave-catching raid, and even brought back a sacred object. The elders said that she is the warrior foretold in the prophecy."

As she said this, she looked at Su Lun with a skeptical gaze, worriedly uttering, "Sister Yuta, don't be deceived by this human. The adults always say that humans are very cunning and lie better than foxes..."

Yuta was immediately shocked upon hearing this, "The human brought back a sacred object?"

"Mhm!"

Koula nodded earnestly and responded excitedly, "It's the 'Spear of Maburionak', I saw it with my own eyes yesterday!"

At this, Yuta was truly surprised.

She had assumed that Mr. Su Lun by her side would be the person from the prophecy, but it appeared he might not be?

"The Brave Warrior, adherent to the ancient covenant, will save his people and bring back a sacred object"—could the prophecy be referring to someone else?

But what about the covenant?

Mr. Su Lun had said that he was the heir to the Isaac family.

For a moment, Yuta felt conflicted, unable to figure out what the problem might be.

However, no matter how she thought about it, the return of the sacred object was ultimately a good thing.

.....

Su Lun, seeing Yuta's expression become quite strange, asked, "What's the matter?"

Without doubting Su Lun in the slightest, Yuta translated the previous conversation for him. Stay updated through empire

Su Lun also found it odd, "Someone came with a sacred object?"

Upon hearing this, he immediately felt there was something fishy going on.

The covenant of old was signed between Sir Isaac and the ancestors of the Dalu tribe; the "Brave Warrior following the covenant" mentioned in the prophecy would most likely be Mr. Jing.

Now that another one had arrived, what was going on?

If Su Lun wasn't very familiar with Mr. Jing, and didn't know Isaac only had two daughters, he might even suspect there were other heirs to the Isaac lineage.

So, what exactly was happening now?

Bringing back a sacred object also seemed to fit the conditions of the prophecy more closely...

Yuta couldn't figure it out either, her face full of confusion.

However, in her eyes, whether Su Lun was the "Brave Warrior from the prophecy" wasn't important.

He had saved herself and her people multiple times, and that was a fact.

She