The Wiakava Sisters Association, the predecessor to the Children of the Forest, was a secretive sect composed entirely of Witches. They usually lived in deep and dense forests, coexisting with the forest and Magical Beasts, excelling in gathering plants, concocting Magic Potions, and manipulating flora.
Historically, the Association had always stayed behind the scenes, not involving themselves in worldly affairs. Only in recent decades had they started to emerge from the forest and re-enter human society. Many Witches leveraged their exquisite potion-making skills to infiltrate the upper echelons of various royal kingdoms.
Old Dorothy had, more than once, used the network of the Wiakava Sisters Association to extricate herself from troubles she could not solve. This time, however, the aura and strength displayed by the Eastern Monk were far beyond the Forest Witch Old Dorothy's ability to handle. Even within the entire Wiakava Sisters Association, few could match him.
The most crucial point was that this Monk seemed able to manipulate plants just like the Forest Witches. And his domain was even more formidable! It could even be said to be an overwhelming advantage!
Such an existence would surely have been discovered by the Spellcaster squadron stationed along the kingdom's coastline the moment he set foot on it. They would have sent warnings to the major kingdoms, right?
How could he directly appear in the heartland of Rune Kingdom without any related information leaking out?
Could it be... he really was a Monk who had traveled overland from the distant East?
Old Dorothy's mind raced. She now realized her life was in another's hands, yet she wasn't as afraid as she might have been. Even though she didn't know the specific details of this Eastern Monk, a powerful dragon doesn't oppress the local snakes. Besides, he couldn't afford to disrespect the Association, could he?
Li Ang wasn't one to start off with violence. Instead, he formed a hand gesture and answered Old Dorothy's question, "This humble Monk is named Wu Qing."
He pointed to several players standing on the edge of the forest and introduced them one by one, "My disciples are named Speechless, Mugen, Wu Neng, Useless, and Five-Five-Open."
The last one, called Five-Five-Open—the lumberjack Frederick II—wore a baffled expression, completely unaware of what was happening.
"Wu Neng, Useless, Five-Five-Open..."
Old Dorothy murmured these names. The System automatically translated them, but this Witch, living in the West, couldn't grasp the exact spiritual essence of these dharma names. Nor could she mock why the disciples were named as if they were of the same generation as their Master. This inevitably left Li Ang somewhat disappointed.
The feeling of creating a moment ripe for mockery, only to have no one partake, was a bit lonely... Indeed, Wanli Fengdao, Little Brother Dao, was better. No matter how down-to-earth he looked, at least he could one hundred percent get the jokes.
"Master Wu Qing," the Forest Witch Old Dorothy carefully chose her words, tentatively saying, "I am truly sorry for the disturbance here. We, the Children of the Forest, are a reasonable, polite, non-profit public welfare organization that never engages in activities violating the regulations of the great kingdoms. This incident was entirely caused by incomplete communication and misunderstandings between both parties. We will withdraw from this mountainous area immediately. I am willing to personally take responsibility and make reparations to Antimony Town for any losses incurred in this event."
The paper mill owner didn't speak. Being well-informed, he knew that Old Dorothy, the Witch who had led the Children of the Forest for many years, was an old fox. She oppressed small towns and businesses without powerful backers to an extreme degree, forcing them to return cultivated land to forest and dismantle industrial equipment that threatened the woods.
And when facing a slightly stronger enemy, Old Dorothy would immediately slip away. Even if she were secretly captured and thrown into the kingdom's prison, she could use her connections within the Wiakava Sisters Association to find a scapegoat from the Children of the Forest to take the blame, freeing herself from incarceration.
Carpenter Hoenburg really wished the Eastern Monk wouldn't let this Witch off the hook, but in the end, he opted for silence.
The situation was now completely under the control of this Eastern Monk, and everything depended on his attitude.
"Reparations?"
Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "How will you compensate?"
Old Dorothy's heart leaped with joy. Since the other party had relented, it meant there was a chance for peace.
Ignoring the disappointed and despairing looks from the Children of the Forest members, she humbly told Li Ang, "In our pursuit of a traditional, primitive life, we haven't held any currency or gold and silver from the major kingdoms. However, while working freely in our forest, we've accumulated quite a few special herbs that can be used to make Magic Potions.
These herbs could be sold at the town markets, and the estimated value should be enough to cover the town's losses from this turmoil."
"That sounds promising," Li Ang nodded, "but it seems you've forgotten something."
Old Dorothy's face froze. "Hm?"
"You forgot about my mental anguish."
Li Ang frowned slightly and said with some displeasure, "Your two disciples just threatened to turn me into a microbial culture dish. Such unfriendly threats have cast an indelible psychological shadow upon my tender heart. How do you plan to compensate for this mental suffering?"
"This..."
Hearing such brazen words, Old Dorothy was dumbfounded. Weren't those two troublemakers just strung up and beaten by you? And considering your fierce and violent behavior just now, you hardly look like someone who has suffered mental trauma!
Old Dorothy wanted to denounce his shamelessness, but the circumstances were against her. She suspected that if she uttered a single word of refusal, he would snatch the half-empty bottle of Magic Potion and force it down her throat, making her suffer an immediate bout of diarrhea.
Although the Forest Witch was a Spellcaster, old was still old. Her current gastrointestinal condition meant she couldn't endure another two or three such episodes.
Old Dorothy took a deep breath and managed to squeeze out a smile. "Ah, I see. Then what can we do to heal the psychological trauma Your Excellency has suffered? No matter what your requirements are, we Children of the Forest will do our best to meet them."
"Hmm..."
Li Ang rubbed his chin and scanned the surroundings. His eyes lit up when he saw the lumberjack Frederick. He then said to Old Dorothy with a grin, "Here's an idea: my little apprentice, Five-Five-Open, has been feeling mentally exhausted recently. How about you become his personal maid? Stay by his side, cheer him up, and encourage him. How does that sound?"
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