Bear School Astartes

It’s unclear whether it won’t speak or is refusing to communicate.

The ancient willow tree that just sang beautiful ballads now bares its mouth and furrows its hard wooden nose made of knots, looking like it’s about to strike viciously.

The countless branches that grew over long years are now waving in the air, creating sharp whooshing sounds.

Equivalent to a whip gathering power before an attack.

The chaotic sound resembles the tightening bows before crossbow arrows are launched.

It signals the impending frenzy attack, naturally inducing uncontrollable panic and turmoil.

”Hoo-hah!”

Only now did the Qilin see the terrain it had been stepping on earlier, no wonder it couldn’t stand firm.

A spout of angry hot air blew from its moist nostrils, while the suppressed electric sparks flickered between its exposed hooves.

Rong Buqiu quickly gathered itself, pulling out the Thunder Cat Sword engraved with paw pad patterns from its back, readying itself against the massive ancient willow tree in the distance.

But amidst the chaos, Lann heard new footsteps.

The steps sounded like a humanoid coming this way.

”Rong Buqiu!”

With the Lady of the Lake’s Sword aimed at the ancient willow tree, Lann called out his companion’s name without turning his head.

”Something’s coming from behind; if it’s human, block them. I don’t want another ordinary person involved in this multi-handed enemy situation.”

”Got it, meow! I’m on it, meow!”

Aside from its cute appearance and pure heart, Rong Buqiu’s warrior-like decisiveness is one reason Lann gets along well with it.

Elu Cat sheathed the Thunder Cat Sword back into its scabbard on its back, then dropped on all fours, adjusting to the Light Body Breathing Technique, its agile form swiftly darting into the forest behind.

Seeing Rong Buqiu taking action, Lann calmly moved to the next step.

The willow tree branches swung more urgently, whip-like branches emitting fiercer screeches in the air, but the Demon Hunter’s face remained calm and steady.

This scene is manageable.

”Qilin, control the thunder, prepare to strike it dead!”

Though he could deal with such an enemy himself, with the Qilin, a New Continent Ancient Dragon capable of controlling the elements and mass destruction, why not use it?

The Qilin, already angry from being trapped in the illusion technique, unable to stand straight, felt this was infuriating.

And Lann sensed mixed emotions in the Qilin’s anger, a touch of fearful irritation, very much embodying its character.

”Chihi!”

With a neigh, its front hooves lifted off the ground, standing upright.

Its crystalline antlers glowed with blue-purple under high energy infusion.

The sky rapidly gathered thick clouds, turning light conditions almost like night.

Only the intermittent dull thunder could briefly illuminate the area.

The Qilin’s rearing form seemed even more regal and noble in the flickering light!

The ancient willow tree’s swing slowed, and its old face born of wooden parts showed slight fear.

No matter its cowardice or laziness, the racial talent was undeniable.

Its full-powered Summon Thunder could conservatively estimate the high temperatures turning the surrounding rocks into magma within a radius of ten meters.

This level of Summon Thunder requires the Qilin to prepare for ten seconds.

If disturbed or intimidated during this time, its performance might be affected by its personality.

But now...”Swish!”

Tachi Technique: Air Blade Grand Spin!

A shallow red Fighting Spirit Light Flame burst forth, as Lann grasped Aron Dite’s handle’s end with one hand, executing a grand spin, the Long Blade cutting a fierce arc.

The branches flung toward the Qilin were swiftly sliced in neat succession.

And after the slashing, the Lady of the Lake’s Sword gathered a layer of white luminescence.

Blade Opening: White Blade State.

Seeing it couldn’t threaten the thunder-charging Qilin, the ancient willow tree emitted hoarse and panicked cries.

It twisted uneasily, creating creaking sounds from the wood parts rubbing and squeezing, seemingly desperate enough to uproot itself.

But just as Lann stoically anticipated the Qilin’s thunder to blast the ancient willow into fragments...

”Whoa, whoa! This won’t do!”

Accompanied by a human male voice, the clouds raced away, the thunder diminished similarly.

Lann was a bit baffled by what happened.

He turned to glance at the Qilin, finding the ancient dragon equally bemused.

Its hooves shifted uneasily, revealing its similarly wavering mood.

”Chi...Chihi?”

The initially imposing, upright Qilin now shook its head, its antlers emitting glow and arcs, but the surroundings showed no signs of elemental manipulation.

This unprecedented phenomenon since birth terrified the Qilin.

It stopped being angry at the ancient willow, briskly trotting to Lann’s side, urgently nudging the Demon Hunter’s arm with its head, seeking assurance about its antlers.

But Lann didn’t tend first to the startled Qilin.

He first looked across the distance, standing motionless like an ordinary willow tree.

Then he twisted his wrist, not sheathing his sword, but instead, after a spin of the blade, he held the hilt in reverse grip.

With a cautious and wary stance, he restrained his hostility and turned around.

In the woods behind him and the Qilin, there were footsteps approaching, accompanied by laughter.

The tangled branches in the woods seemed to have a mind of their own, naturally parting in the path of these footsteps.

A man appeared.

This was a man with a cheerful smile on his face, or judging by his height... like a dwarf?

In any case, he seemed less than one meter fifty tall.

His face was round and flushed, with a bushy beard reaching his chest, giving him a jovial appearance.

On his head was a yellow, pointed cloth hat with a swan feather slotted in.

A snug little suit jacket, with a light blue overcoat, and boots matching the yellow of the hat.

”Hello there, sir!”

He walked out with his head held high and posture relaxed, even warmly taking off his hat to greet Lann.

In his other hand, Rong Buqiu was being cradled like an ordinary little cat, turned into a ’ball of cat’, its big dewy eyes equally at a loss.

The short man before him, with his expressions and mannerisms, seemed like he was on a leisurely and comfortable outing, leaving Lann, who a moment ago was planning to annihilate an enemy, feeling rather perplexed.

”Uh...” Lann opened his mouth, trying to respond to the greeting, ”Hello to you too, sir?”

”Of course, I’m very well!”

The man cheerfully walked towards Lann.

”Ah, such a sunny day, guests from afar, birds singing in the woods, fresh air, as long as I have these, I can always be well!”

As he said this, passing by Lann, he handed Rong Buqiu from his arms to him, lingering for a moment to pat the little cat’s head affectionately before letting go.

”Meow?”

Rong Buqiu still had no idea what was going on.

The man walked past Lann towards the direction of the old willow tree.

”Except for you! You naughty fellow!”

After passing Lann, the man shouted angrily at the old willow tree.

He had a wooden staff, used as a walking stick, raising it as if an elder disciplining a mischievous child, while approaching the old willow tree.

Normally, Lann would not allow an ordinary person to approach and confront a dangerous creature with which he had been battling.

But clearly, this man was anything but ordinary.

His staff smacked loudly against the seemingly tough and solid bark of the old willow tree.

The bark looked like it would be difficult to cut through even with a sword, requiring an axe or the tip of a spear to inflict damage.

Yet with just a few strikes, the old willow tree let out a scream more piercing than when Lann had cut off many of its branches.

It seemed to have truly been given a good lesson.

All the while, the man sang a song... Lann knew that lumberjacks would shout slogan-like chants to boost morale while working.

But this guy’s ’chant’ was a bit too merry.

”You shouldn’t have awakened! Eat dirt properly, dig deep roots, drink water well, and sleep soundly! Old Tom advises you not to always think of harming others!”

Every branch of the old willow tree trembled, like a child shivering fearfully after a stern scolding.

The large old face formed by knotted wood and bark seams on its trunk gradually contorted, becoming nothing more than an ordinary tree bark pattern.

Lann, with Rong Buqiu in his arms, and the Qilin’s head drooping on his shoulder, all three were dumbfounded watching the scene unfold.

Once the old willow tree truly stood motionless like a regular tree, swaying its tendrils gently in the breeze, the self-proclaimed ’Old Tom’ ceased his actions.

And, as if a bit tired, he took a deep breath, adjusted the collar of his light blue overcoat, and approached Lann and the others.

His face bore an apologetic look, but even with such an expression, an irrepressible sense of ease and joy exuded from him, as if these qualities were deeply rooted in him.

His every word and action carried these attributes naturally.

The small old man, upon reaching them, again offered a hat-tip, more formal compared to the last time he passed by.

In response, Lann put down Rong Buqiu and sheathed his Lady of the Lake’s Sword.

”Ah, please forgive me.”

He repeated once more.

”Please forgive me, beautiful steed. I dispersed the thundercloud you summoned earlier, for despite the old willow’s bad disposition, it remains a member of the forest and nature. I really couldn’t bear to let you burn it directly.”

The Qilin hid behind Lann, its head peeking out from the demon hunter’s shoulder, snorting a warm breath towards Tom.

And it nudged Lann from behind, trying to push him forward.

Lann paid no heed to its little tantrum after being scared.

”So...” the demon hunter discreetly pushed the Qilin’s head away with a polite and bright smile on his face. ”Are you a powerful wizard, old gentleman?”

”A wizard, haha! Old Tom is not a wizard! I’m certainly not a wizard! Haha!”

Lann’s words seemed to amuse him, or perhaps it was due to his naturally joyful disposition; anyway, Old Tom burst out laughing cheerfully.

”I am Tom Bombadil.”

”Please come to my home for a visit, guests from afar. The table is filled with yellow cheese, pure honey, white bread, and fresh cream. Jin Mei is waiting for me to return home! We can have a good chat over meal later!”