Gentle Bao, Freaky Bao

"Grandpa Andi, thank you so much for your kindness! I'll be visiting often!" Eli bowed to the elder dwarf Andvari sincerely as the he saw her off his shop.

After fulfilling the contract, Andvari the Elder dwarf had taught her how to use the magic items she just purchased and they chatted for a long while. They became so close that the elder asked her to call him 'Grandpa Andi' every time Eli would visit the shop.

With a chuckle Andvari replied as he waved Eli goodbye, "Hahaha you lass! Don't be so careless on your way home. Go on, be on your way. Visit soon!"

"Bye Grandpa, see you soon!" Eli courteously waved her hands goodbye, then she went on her way home.

Grandpa Andvari stood still in front of the shop until he couldn't see Eli's shadow anymore.

But just as he was about to turn around and go inside the shop, a scary glint appeared in his eyes and he suddenly stared at the alley on the opposite side of the road.

"The young lass is in danger," He whispered with a solemn look.

"Randel, go keep an eye on the young lass, make sure that they never find her and track her home." It seemed like Andvari was just talking to himself, but in a nearby tree in front of the shop, a dark shadow immediately flew towards Eli's direction.

"Young lass, I hope you and your little one will be safe..." Andvari sincerely said in his heart.

--

Eli walked her way home with a happy mood.

She met a gentle and kind grandpa and he taught her a lot of things. On top of that she became a multi-millionaire! In just one trip!

"Ohhh It is so nice to have moneeeeeh!!" She exclaimed. She was a salary woman in her previous life, apart from the living expenses, she worked hard to pay for the loans she signed for her late Mum's treatment.

She never experienced having this amount of money on her own.

Celebrating on her way home, with Wisey on her shoulders. She soon reached the entrance of the forest.

Soon they saw a huge furry figure, sitting on a tree with lush leaves, eating adorably like there is a feast that is happening in the forest.

As soon as Baobao caught Eli's scent, he stopped eating and happily approached the two who came from their excursion.

"Waaah you're finally here!!" Baobao the giant panda suddenly acted like a dog who finally saw his owner coming home.

Eli was in a super good mood, so she affectionately petted Baobao's fluffy face and said "Have you waited long? We're sorry. But our trip in town was very fruitful!"

"Indeed, very fruitful!!!" Wisey, who acted like a normal bird when they were in town, finally let go of her disguise and excitedly exclaimed.

Seeing the two had many stories to tell him, Baobao lifted the corners of his mouth, his shiny teeth were slightly revealed in a cute little smile. "That's good to hear, that master had a good time, but first let's go on our way home.." he reminded them.

Baobao gently lowered his body and gestured for Eli to mount. The terrain along their way home is not that tricky, however, extra care is needed for the pregnant Eli.

Baobao, didn't want a small accident to happen, so he decisively offered to be Eli's mount every time she would go out.

When they finally arrived in their dwelling, the sun had already begun to set.

After letting Eli down, Baobao suddenly lifted his furry face up in the air and took a few sniffs.

Then he turned to Eli and asked permission, "Master, I am still hungry, allow me to go around the forest to look for some food.."

Eli didn't think much of Baobao's sudden urge to go out of the forest. Since he is a panda, a species of a bear with a carnivorous digestive system that mysteriously became vegetarian, Baobao has to eat a lot of food to compensate for the gap between his contradicting diet and anatomy.

She lovingly patted Baobao's head and said with a smile, "Go on, but be careful on your way, come back before the lights out."

"Yes master!" Baobao said then when out of the woods.

After seeing Baobao off, Eli turned to enter the house to freshen up and prepare for dinner.

--

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sounds of crossing swords and daggers were heard in the forest. Five men ferociously attack a man clothed in black.

These men were the ones who were following Eli upon entering the town. They camped in front of the Argentum shop and accounted for anyone that came and went in the shop. However, dusk had already approached but no young pregnant woman was seen going out of the shop.

Soon these men realized that Eli may have bought a disguise item as her appearance is of Asani descent. Luckily, one of their team members is a tracking knight - a devourer who specifically allocated his mana to enhance his sense of smell.

When Eli's veiled figure emerged out of the Argentum shop, they knew immediately that she was the one they were waiting for. Without hesitation they discretely followed her tracks.

But who would have known that upon her entering the forest, this insanely strange man appeared to block their way! What a nuisance!

The leader of the man annoyingly yelled and said "Hey you! Do not hinder us from doing business! Men let's deal with him fast!"

They surrounded the black clothed man, arming their weapons while cautiously assuming a battle stance.

The black clothed man stood still at the center, without emotions he uttered, " Master ordered that no one can come near her." Then in a flash, he turned into a shadow and disappeared at the center of the circle the men made.

He appeared at the back of the tracking knight, gave a heavy blow at the back of his head, knocking him out.

Then he proceeded to engage in a close quarter fight among the remaining four.

However, it seems like the men are skilled in fighting and the black clothed man started feeling the burden of fighting a group of men.

He didn't hesitate, he used a lightning spell and aimed it on one of the remaining four men. It instantly hit the target knocking him out. Without even checking if his target hit, he immediately casted another lightning spell again.

"Tsk!" The leader, annoyed, immediately casted an earth spell to form several chunks of rock to block the incoming lightning spell and assault the man.

Soon a caster fight ensued in the forest.

The black clothed man keeps the other two at bay by sending some lightning spells, while nimbly defending against the earth attacks by the opponent's leader. Beads of sweat rolled on his forehead, as he was starting to get agitated and exhausted.

He could not kill in the Silver Dew Forest, humans aren't allowed to.

Because this is part of the treaty between the Elves of the Silver Dew Forest and the Emperor of Seirende - no killing shall be done by humans within the Silver Dew Forest. The Elves would allow the Seirende citizens a controlled access to the Silver Dew Forest's medicinal herbs, while the Seirende Empire will not do anything to disturb nor incur the ire of Elves.

Thus, the black cloth man could only knock them out and drag them out of the forest first before attempting to kill them.

While he was busy fighting with the remaining three men. No one noticed the tracking knight, who was the first one to be knocked down, regain consciousness.

Seeing that the group was busy fighting each other, he took the chance to discreetly go away from the fighting scene and follow Eli's scent. No matter what happens, they must send the girl to that client, because she will definitely cost a lot of money!

Sniff sniff..

Upon reaching a distance far from the battle area, the tracking knight started to use his abilities and catch a whiff of Eli's scent.

"It must be in this direction.." He said looking at the direction he believed was the way to Eli's home.

"Ohh are you sure about that?" Suddenly a voice asked him back.

"Of course! Who would doubt a tracking knight's sense of smell!" The tracking knight arrogantly responded to the sudden question.

Soon he realized, he should be alone right? Then who in the world asked him?

"Hmfff! I do!" The voice responded eerily. It grumped, letting out a huge blow of air.

The tracking knight froze. He felt a wave of shivers as the blow of air touched his nape. He tried to cautiously turn to his back where the voice came from. Upon finally seeing who was on his back his eyes widened and his whole body became stiff.

Big black eyes and ferocious set of teeth baring at his open back. A large furry figure that looked like a monster ready to claim his tiny little life. Its paws held on a position ready to claw out his human flesh.

Soon the tracking knight couldn't take the spook and shock. His eyes rolled up all white then stiffly fell on the ground unconscious.

"Huh? He fainted? Eeeeh no fun!" The spooky figure was actually Baobao.

As soon as he noticed the scent of a few people following his Master, he immediately coaxed them to go home. While taking a roundabout path home, he soon smelled another scent. However, the scent along with the others seemed not to progress towards them anymore.

Baobao didn't take any drastic measures as he was worried that his master and his little master would be in more danger of shock.

As soon as they arrived home, he immediately proceeded to the scent of variously dispersed mana on the disguise of finding food.

Soon he came to the battle scene, noticing a sneaky figure continuing his approach to his master's dwelling.

Thus, this scene of a man, knocked out of his wits and him, dumbfounded for not even exerting an ounce of strength to fight him.

However he must eliminate this person that directly threatens his loving master.

"Do you know why my ancestor pandas chose to be vegetarians?"

He asked as if the man still listens to him. While doing so, he effortlessly picked the man's body out and lifted him high up in the air with his two paws.

"Because they had once eaten an evil humans' flesh and found it horrible!" He said while he powerfully threw the tracking knight's body against a tree crushing his spinal cord, instantly killing him.

"They were evil humans who hunted on the weak… just like you." He said looking down without mercy on the man's corpse before finally walking towards the battle area.