Chapter 62: Doubt


    Youre the adventurers?! eximed the firstdy in disbelief.


    How can such young children handle our mission?


    Yeah. I expected a strong sword master!


    What''s to be done now? What should we do with these two kiddies?


    We can have them go back. Even if the girls can''t be saved, at least these two kids wont get hurt.


    The vigers continued discussing with each other. They had pinned all their hopes on the adventurer who would ept their mission, but they never expected it would be epted by two small children. The gap between their expectation and reality was simply too great!


    The chief ising! The chief ising! cried out several children as they ran over to the crowd.


    A white-haired man in a white coat appeared as the crowd parted a path for him. He was thin and walked with the help of a wooden walking stick. One look and it was obvious he was a respected elder of the vige.


    Young guests, wee. Please allow me to receive you in my home. The vige chief spoke politely to Jier and Feng Wu.


    The chiefs house was bigger and of a better build quality than the other houses in the vige. Upon entering he had his daughters-inw prepare a meal for Jier and Feng Wu. They were clever and obedient and did so without asking any questions.


    The chiefs wife passed away some time ago so the housekeeping was managed by his sons two wives. The twodies were the only ones at home since both their husbands were out.


    Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bulu and I am the chief of this vige. His eyes were thick with grief and it was obvious the situation with the girls had left him haggard.


    Greetings chief. Im Jier, a D-level registered adventurer at the Adventurers'' guild. The one who epted the mission is my friend, Feng Wu. At this Jier gestured to Feng Wu beside him.


    Feng Wu was bad with social interactions so Jier handled the usual courtesies. He was used to it and automatically introduced Feng Wu after introducing himself.


    The old mans face stiffened when he heard Feng Wu was the one who epted the mission. Such a delicate girl for such a dangerous mission filled him with unease.


    Young adventurers, what happened in the vige is very unusual. Youre still young, Im afraid the fiends will be beyond your ability to handle. They really were just too young to take on such a risk.


    The chief felt the same way the other vigers did, however he had been chief for many years and was more diplomatic.


    Chief doesnt believe in us? Jier broke out inughter as he spoke.


    The chief looked at Jier confused at the sudden change in temperament. The gentle refined air Jier had on earlier waspletely gone, now reced with a brash arrogance.


    The chief believed they were too weak to take on the task, however he was far too tactful to voice such a thought aloud and hurt their feelings, so instead he said, You are simply too young.


    Feng Wu looked at the old chief and in very somber voice said, I willplete the mission.


    The old chief found it hard to reject such sincerity. He tried one more time to dissuade them. It is very dangerous.


    I am very strong, replied Feng Wu.


    This


    Jier was not going to be rejected. I am not an ordinary adventurer. Please do not worry chief. We will be able to help your vige.


    The chiefs heart was in the right ce. He tried his best to dissuade the children but in the end their persistence won out. Although they refused to listen to him, he felt they were good children, however it would be a pity if they were to get injured. He decided to have some of the younger vigers follow them around as they investigated. In this way the vigers wouldnt be put out, but the childrens safety would still be ensured.


    Thedies finished cooking and brought the meal over. Matron Las cooking was better, but considering Matron La was a professional cook, it was to be expected. The two sons, both in their forties, returned as everyone finished eating. They came directly from the field and still carried their farm tools as they walked in.


    Both sons and their wives also doubted the childrens strength, however they were well raised and kept their opinions to themselves, not wanting to insult Jier or Feng Wu.


    Aside from the sons and their wives, the chief also had three grandsons and two granddaughters. Because of all the disappearances, they had been sent away to stay with their maternal families outside the vige to keep them safe.


    After eating Feng Wu asked permission to look around the vige. The chief allowed her to do so after assigning a clever, cute ten-year-old boy from a small family to be her guide. He was a sensible boy who, despite being very curious about Jier and Feng Wu, refrained from asking a lot of questions.


    There was a variety of nts in and around the vige. Aside from the one cultivar of winterberries used for export, there were also other winterberry trees grown for domestic use. These berries were delicious and filling, and were usually found cooked in different dishes at mealtimes. The none bearing fruit trees looked depressing with their bare branches devoid of any greenery. In contrast the flowers that poked out of the snow enlivened the air with their fragrance.


    Feng Wu and Jier followed the child as he guided them around the vige. Feng Wu purposefully touched the all the trees they passed, going from one tree trunk to another. Every now and again she also bent down to graze her hand on the flowers that grew around the trees. Neither Jier nor the child guiding them understood why she was doing it. They returned to the vige chiefs house after Feng Wu was satisfied.


    The chief didnt have much hope in Feng Wu, so when she returned he didnt ask how the investigation went. If the identity of the perpetuator could be found just by walking around the vige, then the vigers would have already done so. They wouldnt have had to spend so much money hiring an adventurer.


    Its strange, but the person who took the girls brought them into the mountain forest. Feng Wu shared what she found out.


    The mountain forest?! cried out the chief wide-eyed. Thats impossible. Weve searched all around the base of the forest and havent found a thing. Not to mention the pr bears that live in the forest of the mountains are very ferocious! No one could possibly get all the way inside alive.


    Feng Wu bit her lip. Jier, lets go into the forest together. The chief didnt believe her so she had to go and find the missing girls to prove she wasnt lying.