19 Old Friend Returns

  After Anna's miraculous recovery, the days are quiet and flow by gently, like a small mountain stream. The refugees slowly settle into daily life. Franklin continues his training while Laurel and the other children play. Each day brings them closer to some form of stability.

  The vegetables in the gardens grow at a staggering speed causing everyone's eyes to bulge. The villagers decide to celebrate this miraculous land with a vegetable feast. Joe finally gets his reward for helping save Anna and the kids. The big bull dances with joy as he is given the most savory vegetables.

  Peace makes the days fly, and soon it is summer once again. The fiery sun beams down on a young lady with curves in all the right places. Elanor wipes sweat from her forehead as she returns to that damnable hill. 'Some stupid demonic beast isn't going to stop me!' She thinks as she clenches her fist in determination.

  As Elanor gets closer to the clearing, she hides her presence and begins to sneak, quietly jumping from tree to tree. As a skilled treasure hunter, she knows not to expand her senses. A demonic beast defending its territory will immediately go berserk if it senses anything amiss. With her external senses held back, she can only use her eyes. Elanor narrows her eyes as she sees some recently felled trees. 'What's going on?' She ponders.

  Elanor slowly peeks her head out from behind a tree. She sees a few huts made out of thatch in front of her. 'When did a village appear here!' Elanor gasps in surprise.

  Nearby Laurel, is making a basket with grass so she can gather fruit. However, in her peripheral vision, there is something colorful bouncing up and down. Laurel looks over at something pink and blue bouncing from behind a tree. She is mesmerized by the colorful silks before her!

  Laurel begins to walk over with gleaming eyes. As she gets closer, she can tell that it is someone's bottom. Bouncing and waving around without any thought for decency. Slowly Laurel reaches out to feel the beautiful fabric.

  Elanor freezes. 'Why is it always my butt?' Elanor cries to herself as she leaps away. As she lands, she prepares for a life and death battle only to see a girl standing near the tree. Laurel's jaw drops. 'This lady is amazing!' "Woah, you're so fast and pretty!" The girl squeals with delight hopping up and down.

   "Well, aren't you a cutie?!" Elanor exclaims while laughing at the girl. The young girl looks like a chipmunk that just found the largest nut. "What are you guys doing all the way out here?" Elanor inquires.

  Laurel's smile turns gloomy as she explains, "We had to run from the Red River Empire. Almost everyone from town was killed," Laurel Pauses with watery eyes as she looks at the beauty in front of her, "But thankfully, we found this place. None of the demonic beasts will come here. So we decided to stay."

  "Oh," Elanor smiles to lighten the mood. "Well, at least you're safe now, don't worry." Elanor pats the girl's head, causing Laurel to perk up.

  Laurel points over to the hill. "That's right. There's a super-strong bull here!"

  Frowning, Elanor sighs, "I know, we've met before. That's why I was hiding."

  Laurel looks at the beauty strangely 'that was hiding?' she wonders. "Are you a bad lady?" Laurel asked with apprehension.

  "What part of me looks like I'm bad?" Elanor retorts while pinching the girl's cheeks. Under the pinching attack, Laurel squirms as she tries to escape. Elanor bites her lips as she continues, "It was just a bit of a misunderstanding."

  Back on the hill, the two hill mates are cultivating and eating as usual. John has gotten used to the circulation of energy, with it almost becoming second nature to him. Plant cultivation has so far been comfortable and relaxing. He can only sigh at the struggles of his past life. Now John's cultivation is mind-numbingly dull and tedious, so he often watches the locals.

  As he is checking in on the village, he notices the very obvious fairy fluttering in the forest. (Author note: Fairy is a term used to denote someone with otherworldly beauty in Chinese translated novels. Whether this is some untranslatable word in Chinese or direct translation, I do not know.) She is having a fun talk with the rambunctious girl named Laurel. He waves his branch at the fat bull. "Hey, your playmates back!"

  Joe, "Snort," as he looks over lazily and sees the gaudily dressed women. "Brrd," he says, annoyed.

  John laughs, "How can you say that about such a beauty?" John Waves his branches as if shaking his head. "Don't get so hung up on little things! It's not like you never get any sleep. She must like you quite a lot to come back and visit."

  Joe's jaw drops, and his back hoof kicks the ground. "Mrhh?"

  "It's not that uncommon for powerful demonic beasts to take a human wife," John explains to the ignorant bull, "When you get strong enough, you'll be able to transform into a human yourself. Such a well-proportioned woman wouldn't be a bad catch then."

  The demonic bull looks at the bush with killing intent in his eyes. "Why do you have to be like that? You're so violent. Even demonic cows won't want you if you're like that." John complains.

  "Hmph," Joe looks around with a stern face.

  John's leaves shake a bit as he says, "I know there aren't any around to see. If you don't cultivate a refined attitude, how will any woman feel secure with you as a mate?"

  Down below, Elanor shivers as she feels two senses on her. She glances over at the hill to see who is peaking. Yet when they don't seem that interested in her, Elanor frowns. Seeing the worried beauty, Laurel grabs her hand. "Don't worry. He only beats up bad people and demonic beasts."

  Elanor shrugs with mixed feelings in her heart. 'I was looking for adventure, but I guess I can just play instead,' she thinks as she puts on a bright smile like the sun rising. "Okay," She leans down to look the girl in the eyes, "I'm Elanor. Nice to meet you."

  The girl giggles and says, "I'm Laurel!" She kicks her foot shyly, "Do you want to be friends?" Laurel asks.

  Elanor squeezes the girl's hand and nods. "Of course."

  "YAY!" Laurel yells as she jumps at her new friend hugging her. Elanor freezes in surprise, but soon she is squeezing the young lass. Laurel backs up and then excitedly says. "Come on and meet my mom!"

  "Oh, she's coming into the town?" John says, a bit surprised. "That girl must be pretty charismatic."

  "Grr," Joe just kept munching without even looking up.

  "You're no fun," John pouts 'unless it is food, this stupid Joe can't be bothered. It is so hard to have a good conversation nowadays.' "Why don't you go chase her around again for exercise?" John teases.

  Joe just looks at the bush with disdain. Then he prances around the bush smugly. "Oh, yeah, well, you just wait! A few more inches, and you won't be able to prance around either," John hollers in rage.

  In the town, all eyes are on this new woman who looks like she just came from a festival. Clearly, she isn't an ordinary person to just waltz into the village as if she was having a stroll. Many look up at the hill only to see the bull not paying any attention to the commotion below. They've gotten used to their guardian spirits, sometimes odd behavior. Since he has no objections, neither do they.