Ashen Dragon

Chapter 196: Chapter 122: Igloo Girl
 

The howls of the gnolls behind him continued intermittently, mournful and piercing, causing immense fear.

Mantou sped up along the deep path in the valley, shaking off the pursuers behind him, and reached an open area, finally escaping, breathless and alive.

“Huff… huff…”

“It’s really strange, where did so many gnolls come from, and they’re all mutants.”

Mantou looked up and saw a delicate wooden cabin suddenly appear on the mountainside of the snow peak. The roof made of log rolls was covered with thick snow, and warm firelight glowed from the window.

“Where is this?”

Mantou curiously approached.

He knew that encountering such a wooden cabin in this uninhabited deep mountain definitely meant something peculiar, but for players, it was impossible not to investigate this kind of place.

“Never mind! Let’s just go in and see!”

Mantou gritted his teeth, making up his mind.

With a light creak, Mantou gently pushed open the wooden door and entered the cabin.

The interior was quite cozy, with soft fur sofas, exquisite woven carpets, and the crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace.

On the table were delicacies like milk, bread, fruits, and silver spoons. There were even exquisite ornaments, starkly contrasting with the barren snow mountain outside.

“How can there be such a place in these mountains…”

Mantou muttered to himself, observing everywhere but finding nothing unusual.

“A guest from afar, it’s impolite to come uninvited—”

A clear and beautiful female voice rang out.

Mantou hurriedly turned around, only to see a girl of about seventeen or eighteen push open the wooden door and enter the main room.

She had her hair tied in a neat ponytail, holding a steaming cup of tea in her slender hands, with a playful smile on her kind face.

She placed the hot tea on the table and slyly winked at Mantou.

“It’s very cold outside, please have some hot tea to warm your stomach first.”

“By the way, my name is Valena, the daughter of the owner of this cabin.”

Mantou felt somewhat flattered, staring blankly at the girl’s beautiful big eyes, nodding repeatedly, and drinking the hot tea. Fortunately, his Red Dragon Bloodline made him immune to heat.

“Ah, thank you.”

“I… I’m Mantou.”

He hastily placed the tea on the table, answering.

“Your name is quite… unique.”

Valena smiled sweetly at Mantou until his already somewhat red dragon cheeks turned crimson, even producing steam from his skin’s surface.

After several failed online relationships, Mantou considered himself rock-solid, not having felt his heart race in a long time—”Mom, I’m in love!” He didn’t expect to be so unsettled by a beautiful NPC in “Erezer.”

Mantou thought to himself: “Mantou, that’s just a virtual character! How can you be mesmerized by fake beauty! It’s an NPC!”

Valena’s face intentionally showed a puzzled expression.

“Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, no, I didn’t…”

Mantou stammered awkwardly.

Valena burst out laughing.

“Don’t be nervous.”

Her big eyes still looked directly at Mantou.

“I’m the one who should be nervous. It’s rare for anyone to visit here, and you are the only guest in recent years. I have been looking forward to your arrival for a long time.”

A hint of apology appeared on Valena’s delicate face.

“I’m sorry to trouble you, but I’ve grown up in this cabin and have never been outside. I can only learn about the outside world through passing travelers.”

“So—could you tell me about the outside world? Just for a while, okay?”

The girl’s earnest tone made Mantou feel unable to refuse and he couldn’t help but touch his nose.

“Ah, ah… Of course.”

Mantou was initially a bit nervous, speaking haltingly, but as he drank the tea, his words flowed more smoothly, and a dazed expression appeared on his face.@@novelbin@@

“We call this the Kalka Mountains, and south of here is Stormy Ridge, a beautiful place inhabited by ogres, goblins, kobolds, and other residents. Further south is the North, where humans like you have built beautiful cities and work diligently…”

“Huh? Cities?”

“Yes, cities, a wonderful place with many, many people living there…”

The firewood in the fireplace burned quietly as Mantou and the girl sat on the soft fur sofa, talking all night long.

As they talked, the girl began relying on Mantou, leaning against him with a look full of admiration and longing.

“The world you described is truly beautiful…”

Mantou’s cheeks burned, not knowing what to do, so he stiffly sat there and changed the subject.

“Valena, why do you always stay here?”

The girl raised her head, unhesitatingly looking into his eyes: “My father is here, and I want to stay with him.”

“Valena, staying here must be very lonely…”

Mantou tenderly stroked the girl’s head, and Valena obediently nestled in his arms.

“Have another sip of tea, Brother Mantou. Drink it all, then you can tell me the next story.”

The girl murmured softly in his arms.

Mantou subconsciously complied, picked up the cup, and wanted to drink the tea in one gulp.

“Mantou! You’ve been hit by an illusion technique!”

“Open your eyes and show me!”

A familiar voice rang out, it was Singo, breaking the rare moment of warmth.

Mantou woke up as if from a dream, suddenly alert, and threw the glass cup in his hand to the ground, the remaining tea spilling all over.

“Crack!”

“Ah!”

Mantou was so scared that he collapsed to the ground, retreating on all fours.

Looking around, he realized this was not a cozy cabin but a cold metallic chamber, even with bloodstains remaining.

What he held in his arms was indeed a “girl” in human form, but it was just part of a monster, stitched onto a twisted, writhing mass of flesh.

The massive, twisted body was like a faulty creation made of various pieces of flesh. Sparse white scales covered its body but left large patches of exposed flesh, its head with greasy hair hanging down, making it look disgusting and ugly.

On its back were bat-like wing bones, but the wing membrane was tattered and decayed like a corroded piece of cloth.

What had been steaming tea on the ground now was an unknown liquid, emitting a mist.

“Valena” seemed unaware of her true form being discovered. The multi-lobed mouth, like a cracked flesh seam, filled with rows of sharp teeth writhing, lips twitching slightly:

“Big brother, drink it quickly…”

“Then you can… continue telling me stories…”