CHAPTER 199: A Wonderful Feeling

After filling their stomachs and leaving the shop, Phoebe and Han Shuo shopped around the various shops in the Valley of Sunshine for a while. Phoebe then went to find the proper members of the Cairo Mercenary Band to negotiate for the shop that contained the place of extreme water for Han Shuo.

Han Shuo went alone to the shop where Emily was, planning to ask Emily to investigate Florida's background.

The same old man was still watching the door. This shop sold the armour of the knights of the Lancelot Empire, and since night had not yet fallen, there were actually a few people in knight's armour browsing through the merchandise at the front of the shop.

The old man motioned to Han Shuo with a slight smile when he saw Han Shuo walk in. He pointed to the back yard. Han Shuo understood and made a show of picking up a set of clothes, walked over to the door that led to the backyard and walked through it.

"How did you run into Florida?!" Emily was noticeably taken aback when Han Shuo started to ask her about Florida with a ruthless expression on his face.

"Aside from the information everyone knows about him, do you have anything else? I know the Dark Mantle must have some other information about him!" Han Shuo looked at Emily.

Emily's forehead creased slightly as she looked at Han Shuo. "What exactly is going on here?"

Han Shuo recounted what had happened last night, simply going through the events. Emily then said angrily, "I have long heard that Florida is arrogant and conceited. I hadn't thought that he was really that domineering. The Valley of Sunshine isn't in the hands of the Rainbow Sickle mercenaries anymore. How dare he act like this!"

When he saw that Emily was also getting angry with him, Han Shuo's originally angry feelings suddenly calmed down. He then asked tenderly, "So what is the background of this Florida?"

"The Dark Mantle stronghold here in the valley is to gather local information. Florida is neither of the Lancelot Empire nor of the Kasi Empire. He comes from a vassal state of the Lancelot Empire, and his grandfather is Grand Magus Ferguson of the Church of Light. He has a high status in the Church and it's said that he has an extremely high chance of becoming a Magister.

"Florida grew up in the Church of Light and was personally taught by his grandfather. As well as the main magics of Light, he's also learnt a lot of Thunder magic. These are secrets most people don't know. Because his grandfather taught him personally, and because his potential is indeed rare, he became an Archmage at a young age, only three years ago. The Dark Mantle once watched him and felt that he would become one of the continent's foremost experts.

"However, he didn't join the Church of Light and suddenly left a few years ago to come to the Valley of Sunshine, joining the Rainbow Sickle mercenaries shortly after. Because he had so much power, He quickly gained the trust of Chief Jason. Jason even entrusted him with his only daughter. However, old Jason was once killed fighting bandits, and his daughter also disappeared.

"It is said that this had something to do with Florida."

"But no one has solid proof of that. Florida naturally took control of the Rainbow Sickle mercenaries after Jason's death. There was a group who suspected that Florida had something to do with it and left the band and the valley out of resentment and anger. This is how the Cairo Mercenary Band grew in strength.

"At the same time, the Rainbow Sickle Mercenary Band has indeed developed well in Florida's hands in recent years, and it has gradually regained all the strength it'd lost before. They've now become the Cairo Mercenary Band's greatest opponent, and they may indeed regain control of the valley in Florida's hands! Emily pondered for a moment with a furrowed brow, then told him all she knew.

After Emily finished sharing her knowledge, Han Shuo said modestly. "A strong enemy indeed. This person's thoughts are vicious and cunning to even make a move against his benefactor. These methods are completely against the mission of the Church of Light. It looks like I'll have to be careful."

"Bryan, the Valley of Sunshine is different from other places and is not under the jurisdiction of any country. Whoever has the most power here is king. I know that your strength is not inferior to Florida's, but Florida has the Rainbow Sickle mercenaries in his hands and it will be difficult for you to fight several enemies with your fists alone. I don't think he'll make any moves in the valley thanks to the restraining pressure of the Cairo Mercenary Band, but you'd better not venture out easily so as not to give him a chance to make a move! Emily was obviously very cautious of Florida as she spoke reassuringly to Han Shuo.

"Don't worry, I know!" Han Shuo's expression was calm as he replied seriously. He paused and said to Emily, "Oh right, why hasn't Elaine brought Belinda after such a long time? I left a drop of blood essence in Belinda so she can't do anything. Did something happen on the way?"

Emily shook her head with a wry smile at Han Shuo's words as she replied, "I was worried too. Elaine should have arrived in the valley by now. Has something really happened to her?"

"Forget it, I'll take a trip and search the roads around the valley for a bit." Han Shuo thought for a moment and replied.

"No, you have offended Florida, so you probably shouldn't leave the valley for a while. He has great power in this area and if he knew that you left the valley, he would definitely try to make trouble for you." A look of panic appeared on Emily's face as she tried to stop Han Shuo.

"It's going to be fine. You know how observant I am. I'll leave immediately if I see any sign of danger. Besides, I placed a drop of blood essence on Belinda and only I can sense her within a certain distance. I must take this journey to complete this mission perfectly!" Han Shuo smiled dashingly and paid no attention to the threat from Florida as he spoke quite calmly.

"Since you insist, then let me go with you!" Emily spoke firmly to Han Shuo when she saw that she couldn't persuade him.

Shaking his head, Han Shuo rejected Emily's suggestion and turned to leave. He spoke with his back to Emily, "Emily, you should trust me and not try to take care of everything for me like I'm a child. That's not the kind of life I want. If Florida really does work out, I'll be very happy.

Emily had already started to move, but sighed when she heard Han Shuo's words. "All right, but you have to be careful. Elaine and Belinda's well-being is nothing compared to your own. You have to remember to protect yourself first."

"I will!" Han Shuo replied.

The sky was already darkening as he left the shop. The various shops on the streets were already closed by this time, and the bright, colourful lights of many entertainment venues were replacing the setting sun.

Ignoring all the calls and pleas for attention from the heavily make up faces around him, Han Shuo walked towards the valley border. A few procedures were required to enter the valley, but none to leave. No one asked Han Shuo anything, but the two Cairo Mercenary Band knights looked at him with some surprise, seemingly perplexed as to why the two beauties didn't leave with him.

Han Shuo's keen perception noticed that someone was watching him as soon as he stepped out of the valley, but he paid no attention to them. There was no need to think any further. It was either members of the Cairo or Rainbow Sickle mercenaries who were watching him. It wasn't difficult for Han Shuo to shake them off, he was extremely confident of that.

He'd been walking slowly since leaving the valley, but his speed suddenly increased. Han Shuo's body was like a shooting star as he streaked through the twilight sky. He'd covered several hundred metres in just a few breaths, and was getting ahead of those who were keeping an eye on him.

As the feeling of being watched faded, he suddenly took to the skies, flying close to the lush silver trees and heading for the city of Valen.

He sent out a mental command as the demon infant's mystical power mysteriously circulated. Waves of mystical power rippled out from the demon infant, covering the distance in front of him. There was a connection between the demon infant and the drop of blood essence. If the drop of blood essence appeared, Han Shuo would feel it immediately.

As he focused his attention on the demon infant, casting out his senses to search for the blood essence, a wonderful feeling suddenly grew in his heart. He could suddenly sense the presence of any life form, small or large. . As Han Shuo started inwardly in shock, that feeling suddenly disappeared.

He once again focused his attention and bent his mind to finely sense the feeling that had just surged into his heart. He discovered that he could sense the life forms of the various bugs and small mammals that were hibernating around him. Even though this sensation faded in and out and was rather blurry, it still shocked him.

The demon infant suddenly shifted slightly at this point and the location of the blood essence was transmitted to Han Shuo in the next second. Overjoyed, he suddenly picked up his flying speed and raced to where the drop of blood essence was.

However, when he reached his destination, he saw Elaine lying on the ground beneath a large tree, her body covered in blood. Her neck was bent at an unnatural angle, as if she'd been strangled by a strap. Her body appeared to have been struck by windblade spells, as several bone-deep lacerations had cut through her shirt. The blood was mixed with the accumulated snow and had melted into bloody water. It looked as if she'd died not long ago.

Suddenly, a strong sense of danger exploded in Han Shuo's heart. He started and immediately tried to quickly back away from Elaine's body.