Pillar of Yita

In such an era, traditional perceptions are gradually collapsing, the value system planned by some people is becoming a thing of the past. As civic awareness awakens, an era once birthed on Earth is now descending on this world.

Doing the right thing at the right time, there’s nothing wrong with that.

He reached out and ruffled Pasha’s head.

”Little one, call me brother.”

Pasha’s face turned red, he was too shy to call.

However, Fang Hong understood the hope contained in those bright eyes amidst the dark gaze. For someone who has lost all relatives, the most hoped-for feeling is the acceptance of being considered family.

His fondness for Pasha comes from similar experiences, though he was more fortunate.

Soon everyone was ready.

Atira didn’t plan to disembark because Elf Miss was always gentle and understanding. On the ship, a Papalarian fell seriously ill and needed care—acute dysentery, leaving him nearly exhausted, almost unable to get out of bed.

Perhaps the Cursed Mark on the Papalarian hadn’t completely faded, or returning to this land made it active again. But everyone agreed that this guy ate something he shouldn’t have.

Elf Miss didn’t leave the ship, so the Big Catfolk naturally stayed on board too, reducing their party from ten to eight. From those who had been to Traveler’s Rest before, three were missing, but Briana and Elisa had joined.

Just as Fang Hong expected, they walked through the path of memories—traversing the pier shrouded in mist, surrounded by sparse and mixed aerial roots of red trees, hearing the occasional thud from beneath the dark water surface, but it was quiet all along.

Like last time, they didn’t encounter any trouble.

Those occasional bizarre thud sounds, though travelers once thought they were water ghosts, returning here with higher levels now made it clear that they were just noises from small creatures in the swamp.

Wind Lanterns hung in the mist, looking from afar like a swirling halo. In the distant Forest, there were larger creatures, the dim glow exactly the Bait of a swamp anglerfish, something even they couldn’t provoke now.

Elisa walked at the front, curiously observing the surroundings—she was here for the first time, north of Fenris, in the long-known Traveler’s Swamp.

”Is Dolifen far from here?” she suddenly asked.

”Pretty far.”

”I’m a bit curious, how far?”

”Actually, it’s not in this direction.”

”Oh.”

The group chatted sporadically.

Not long after, Fang Hong once again saw the crooked signpost—this ’old buddy’ was still the same as last time, unchanged, always looking like it could fall, its bark mottled and peeling, covered in moss.

On it, ’Traveler Camp’, ’Traveler’s Path’ and the like were still there, barely legible.

And not far from the signpost were several solitary crosses, a few more than the last time they visited.

It was upon reaching this place that Fang Hong felt it—he was back again.

Though this wasn’t Kapuka, nor Rodell, not the first stop he arrived at in this world. But for him, even for Tianlan, Luo Yu, and everyone in the team, this was a place rich with important memories.

It was the birthplace of the Seven Seas Travel Group.

He turned back and saw Gita’s bright gaze also looking over. Miss Natural Historian clutched her large book tightly, as if it were still a wooden book. But some things simply can’t return to the past.

Just as the Seven Seas Travel Group now had many new companions.

”So nostalgic.” Tianlan stood beside Luo Yu, chatting chirpily: ”Feels like yesterday.”

And Luo Yu simply held the Magic Guided Wand, gazing into the misty distance.

...

The sword slanted outside the entrance of Egon Forest was surprisingly renewed.

The sword once covered in Rust was gone, replaced with a freshly forged sword, similarly slanted into the soil—as they walked out of the Forest, they noticed this.

Naturally, the text on this icy gleaming sharp blade maintained its original flavor:

’Mazak’s Safe Haven’

Once, it was said, every word on it was the law of this place.

In the distance, there was still a blazing bonfire, Mars flying, surrounded by several Guards. The elderly man Fang Hong once saw was gone, the Guards seemed to have changed, the person who greeted them was no longer there, the distant square was empty, no Poet.

Nor the melodious music.

But those who once listened to that music were still there, Fang Hong couldn’t help but look at those beside him. Hilveld was also looking over, her clear eyes met his gaze, carrying a faint smile, as if understanding his heart and reading his thoughts.

She lightly touched the back of his fingers with her fingertips, her eyebrows curved, with a slightly playful smile.

The Guards, seeing someone exit the Forest, slightly unexpectedly grasped Weapons, lifted their heads to glance in this direction. But seeing they were humans, quickly lowered their heads again, no longer paying them any attention.