Muxuan watched Ailiya’s undisguised elation and exchanged a helpless glance with Qiansitelin.
Qiansitelin remained alert, her gaze sweeping across the surrounding forest.
Though the forest had regained its vitality, birdsong and insect chirps faintly audible, and the sunlight carried warmth, that overly perfect stillness only tightened the string of tension in her heart.
Without a sound, she moved half a step closer to Muxuan and said in a low voice:
“Your Highness, how are you feeling? The corruption…”
Muxuan shook her head lightly.
Her voice carried a trace of fatigue, but her eyes were clear again.
“It’s temporarily gone… just as Ailiya said, those aberrations only existed for a while.”
“But as for the details—whether we walked out of it, or it dissipated on its own…”
I’m not sure.
“And those Oak Guardian’s reactions… too suspicious.”
This wasn’t to say the Oak Guardians would obey her; rather, the Oak Guardians themselves were extremely off.
One thing was certain: this Elven Forest had been eroded by corruption.
“Mm.”
Qiansitelin acknowledged, tightening her grip on the hilt of Lyrasel.
“The residents of the Airedolia Empire and the dwarves that Ailiya mentioned—their situation is also unknown. We need to remain cautious.”
“I know.”
Muxuan took a deep breath of the air rich with Life Essence, trying to dispel the lingering dull ache deep in her mind.
“We’ll figure it out as we go. Let’s first take a look at this elven capital—Biercuiluoda.”
As she spoke, the forest ahead opened up.
Unlike the primal wilderness deep in the woods, the scene before them was one of carefully planned grandeur and order.
Vines glowing with a soft fluorescence wove together in the air like natural bridges, forming an intersecting network of skywalks.
On those walkways, elves moved with light steps.
Their attire was mostly as natural and delicate as Ailiya’s, but the materials were more sumptuous, adorned with glistening dew-drop gems or luminous flowers.
Massive ancient tree branches supported a layered platform city.
Elegant and oddly shaped buildings were scattered across platforms beneath the canopy, emitting a warm radiance.
The platforms were covered in emerald moss and blooming exotic flowers.
“So this is Biercuiluoda…”
Muxuan and Qiansitelin’s pupils trembled slightly, and genuine astonishment flashed in their eyes.
After all, neither of them had ever truly visited the Elven Forest.
They took a deep breath.
The air was thick with rich floral scents, the fragrance of grass and trees, and a pure Life Energy.
The city’s “streets” were platform surfaces covered in thick, soft mossy velvet; stepping on them felt like treading on clouds.
Clear streams flowed down from higher branches, forming small waterfalls and waterways that cut through the city and eventually merged into the turquoise lake surrounding it below.
Yet this splendor and tranquility seemed unrelated to the three of them.
Most elves still focused on their own affairs with peaceful eyes.
Humans were indeed rare in the Elven Forest.
Qiansitelin’s presence only drew a few curious glances now and then—brief pauses on her face and the sword at her waist before they shifted away indifferently.
Muxuan’s elven disguise, on the other hand, made her less conspicuous here.
Ailiya was a little disappointed.
‘…Why does it feel like no one’s noticed us at all…?’
‘And the two ladies’ status is so noble!’
But soon, Ailiya adjusted her mood.
‘As long as I can build a connection with these two ladies, I’ll definitely get into Saint Delosia Academy!’
Unlike Ailiya’s mood, Muxuan maintained a grave expression.
She had a premonition that she and Qiansitelin would soon be stopped.
And that was exactly what happened.
This “unnoticed” peace didn’t last long.
As they walked deeper into the city along a main vine corridor, at the entrance to a node connecting an important platform, two guards in light Vine Armor blocked Muxuan’s group.
Ailiya was naturally shooed to the side.
It was their duty to pay more attention to unfamiliar faces that clearly didn’t belong to the Elven Forest.
One guard’s gaze first fell on Qiansitelin, whose aura clearly wasn’t elven.
His brow furrowed subtly.
He was just about to raise his hand and routinely question the three when his eyes swept over Muxuan, who was subtly shielded by Qiansitelin’s side.
That cascade of silver-white hair instantly caught the guard’s attention.
The guard’s movement stopped abruptly.
His companion also noticed this anomaly and followed his gaze, likewise seeing that striking silver-white.
Both of their pupils contracted almost simultaneously.
The stern, professional expression on their faces was immediately replaced by one of sudden realization and profound reverence.
In the Elven Forest, silver hair signified noble status—either the only royal Silver Moon Elves currently in the forest, or a distinguished guest from the Airedolia Empire.
And being accompanied by a human… that meant the other person was very likely a distinguished guest of the Airedolia Empire.
Without any hesitation, the guard who had been about to speak suddenly put away his Halberd and dropped heavily to one knee on the moss-covered ground.
His companion followed suit, movements perfectly synchronized.
“Welcome, Honored Guest of the Airedolia Empire, to Biercuiluoda!”
A low, respectful voice rang out, drowning out the surrounding murmurs.
This sudden turn of events made several passing elves stop and stare in surprise, whispers spreading like ripples.
Ailiya’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
She stood half a step behind and to the side of Muxuan and Qiansitelin, watching this scene.
The earlier disappointment at being ignored on the city’s edge vanished instantly, replaced by indescribable excitement and pride.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her emerald eyes blazing bright.
The moment the guards knelt, Ailiya unconsciously straightened her back and lifted her small chin by a barely perceptible degree.
She tried to keep her face calm, but the irrepressible pride and excitement leaked through her sparkling eyes and the slight curve of her lips.
Her mental calculations raced, and a strong sense of superiority welled up inside her.
“Hmph! These two ladies were brought here by me! Even if they don’t care about me, they have to show these two ladies some respect!”
However, unlike Ailiya’s almost overflowing pride and excitement, Muxuan and Qiansitelin’s expressions grew even more grave.
Deep within Muxuan’s disguised emerald eyes, doubt and vigilance extinguished any possible relaxation like ice water.
The guards’ reaction seemed to confirm their status as “Honored Guests of the Airedolia Empire.”
But they knew very well that they were not from the Airedolia Empire.
That was precisely the biggest problem.
The Oak Guardians had reacted because of the corruption they carried…
But what about these elven guards?
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