Chapter 408: The Green Sea Ruins

Wu Qingsong knew that Red Moon’s words were half in jest, but he had no reason to stop them. In some ways, having members of Dark Moon along made the journey easier. Beastkin were experienced in handling the trivial matters of travel. Many times, before Wu Qingsong had even thought to act, everything had already been taken care of.

He could sense that Red Moon was trying to win him over. What he wasn’t sure of was whether it was part of Dark Moon’s strategy to recruit him, or her own decision. Regardless of the motive, he wasn’t willing to accept the gesture.

Their guide was a young wolfman. But due to the environment in which he grew up, he was entirely different from the Silvermoon wolfkin Wu Qingsong was familiar with.

Wolfkin occupied a peculiar place in the Empire’s social hierarchy. Elves were, of course, the first tier. Half-elves came second. Beastkin affiliated with the Empire made up the third. Most other beastfolk fell into the fourth tier or lower. Wolfkin, thanks to their natural physical prowess, could at least be considered the upper layer of that fourth tier.

But because elves and half-elves were relatively few in number, this young wolfman didn’t see himself as part of a lower class. Instead, he believed he ranked just beneath the elves and half-elves, second class in all but name. In his mind, with just a bit of luck, he could become an officer or civil servant. The path to that goal was becoming a mercenary, training his skills through real battle and adventure, accumulating experience, and eventually joining a duchy’s forces—or better yet, being selected for a legion directly under the royal court.

He even looked down on other beastfolk more than most elves or half-elves did. To him, ratfolk, rabbitfolk, sheepfolk, and deerfolk—those without strength or skill—were born to be ruled, oppressed, and enslaved.

He carried a wolfman’s innate pride, but it was of an entirely different nature than the pride of those born on the plains.

As someone raised in the capital, even if his life wasn’t better than that of a beastkin living in free trade cities, he held a strange sense of superiority. After all, they lived beneath the floating city of Padamia, built by the gods themselves, bathed in the glory of the Elven Pantheon each day. Surely, they were nobler than those uncultured peasants living in the wilderness.

Wu Qingsong found his mindset fascinating at first, but after a few conversations, he realized he simply couldn’t understand it, nor could he stand it. 

This wolfman didn’t see the elves as butchers of the beastkin or usurpers of their world. On the contrary, he believed—fanatically—that the elves had been created by the gods in their own image to rule and protect this world. Of course, they were nobler than beastfolk. And to serve and obey them was the divine will and the rightful fate of beastkin. Any beastman who dared to rebel against this destiny was deserving of death—a criminal before the heavens.

“The Elven Empire still has supporters, doesn’t it?” Red Moon seemed amused by Wu Qingsong’s experience, teasing him with a smile.

“Why?” Wu Qingsong asked, still struggling to understand. 

He knew the world was vast and full of strange beliefs, but even so…

“People always admire power. And besides, all the world’s wealth and resources flow into the capital. The elves, for all their arrogance, still show some pity and concern for the lands under their feet. They don’t allow things to go too far, and from time to time, they’ll even do good deeds, handing out grain and supplies. So, yes, people in the capital are objectively living better than beastkin elsewhere.” Red Moon shrugged. “Beneficiaries of a system will always instinctively protect that system, won’t they?”

“So, in truth, our enemies are far more numerous than we imagined?” Wu Qingsong asked.

“Maybe.” Red Moon shook her head. “Honestly, if you hadn’t appeared, I would never have believed Dark Moon had any chance of success.”

That remark brought an awkward silence. Wu Qingsong coughed and quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

“You think he can actually take us to that place?”

“According to him, his grandfather started telling him the story when he was barely old enough to walk. He claims to know every detail by heart.”

“But a story is still a story. If it was a long time ago, who’s to say the old man didn’t exaggerate to make it more entertaining? And then repeat it so many times he convinced even himself?”

“That’s why I’m coming with you.” Red Moon said. “I’ve already sent people to Emeraldfeather City to search for more adventurers and retired mercenaries. It’s the largest city in the depths of the Endless Green Sea. If this story turns out to be false, at least we’ll have a backup plan.”

“Thank you,” Wu Qingsong could only nod. “Truly, thank you.”

Following the wolfman’s directions, the group soon arrived in Rafaeru, a town within the Duchy of Yagata. After resupplying with food and livestock, they headed north into the Mier Aiklo Mountains, venturing deep into the Endless Green Sea.

“We’re looking for a cliff with a very distinctive shape,” the young wolfman said to them again and again. “It should be grayish-white. Halfway up, there’s a strange cave shaped like an open mouth, with four or five fang-like stones jutting down from above. There might even be a stream flowing out of it. The ruins are in the valley behind that cliff.”

“There are hundreds, maybe thousands of cliffs in this region,” grumbled one of Red Moon’s dogfolk scouts. “Don’t you have anything more specific?”

“There were some clues about tall trees and creeks, but after nearly thirty years, I doubt they’re useful anymore.”

“You’re right. Trees can fall, creeks can change course, but cliffs don’t move,” Red Moon said. “Complaining won’t help. Let’s get started.”

‘If only Ling were here,’ Wu Qingsong couldn’t help thinking.

Searching for terrain like this would be far easier from the air than from the ground. 

Deep in the dense forest, movement was difficult and visibility limited. Even if the cliff they sought was nearby, they wouldn’t see it until they reached the forest’s edge.

“They said it took six days heading north from Rafaeru to reach the cliff,” the young wolfman added. “It took four days to return.”

“Then it should be somewhere along this line,” Red Moon said, marking the map. “We’ll split into two teams and search along this route. When you find it, light two columns of wolf-smoke as a signal. If neither group finds anything, we regroup here.”