There was no other way, so Yun Ruoxi had to find a deserted corner and used her ability to fly straight up.
Arriving at the trunk level, the experience was quite different from that of the root layer.
It was noticeably more lively here; even though it was late at night, quite a few Huang Elf were wandering outside.
They lounged in small groups on the tree trunk or tied themselves up in the air with vines.
Just like that, they stared blankly at the stars in the sky without saying a word.
This seemed to be some sort of tradition of theirs, or perhaps just a daily routine.
But Samira-21 didn’t have a natural satellite, which meant there was no moon.
In fact, most of the “stars” they were gazing at were actually meteoroids floating in the planetary rings.
Yun Ruoxi perked up her ears and wandered around for a bit, soon finding the entrance to the root passage.
But just like when she ascended to the trunk layer, access here also required a Treefolk card to verify one’s identity.
Yun Ruoxi had tried using her ability to steal one.
But upon getting her hands on it, she discovered that what she thought was an ID card was actually a living, strange leaf.
This kind of leaf was raised by Huang Elf with fresh blood from a young age.
Their name and origin were written on it, and the depth of its color represented the Bloodline level.
Apart from the owner, it recognized no one else.
The leaf Yun Ruoxi obtained immediately curled up into a ball in her hand; when she forced it open with Telekinesis, it instantly turned a sickly yellow.
Anyone could tell at a glance that there was something wrong with it.
With no other option, she had to return it.
“This is a bit troublesome. Sneaking directly into the root passage is out of the question. It’s easy to get in on this side, but who knows about the other end. I still need to figure out a way to get a Treefolk card, or see if I can find some unlucky local to act as a guide.”
Yun Ruoxi’s eyes darted around. She slowly glanced in the direction she’d come from, a plan forming in her mind.
“I am the noble lady in distress, Gan Ruoxi. Brave warrior, I need your help.”
Genbeier was just about to clock out and head home when, to his surprise, he ran into that strikingly green-skinned lady once again.
Not only could she speak now, but she was actually seeking his assistance.
Heavens have mercy, as one of the lower folk, when had he ever been treated this way by someone of such status?
Genbeier didn’t hesitate; he dropped to one knee before Yun Ruoxi.
But just as words of agreement reached his throat, he suddenly hesitated.
“My lady, I have no armor, only a spear. I also have to stand guard every day. The captain wouldn’t permit me to leave my post. Perhaps you should seek the help of a real knight.”
Genbeier had joined the army hoping to change his fate.
He knew he’d been discriminated against.
Otherwise, with his decent scores at the time, how could he have been assigned to gate duty?
And it had already been over a hundred and twenty days, without even being allowed to join a single bug-sweeping operation.
They just wanted to keep him stuck here, not allowing someone of his skin color among the lower folk to rise any higher.
So, with such an opportunity before him, he should have cherished it.
But slaying burrowing bugs was one thing; getting involved in noble affairs was something else entirely.
Those yellow-skinned ones were timid and cowardly; killing them was as easy as squashing a bug.
But nobles had armor, weapons, and divine power granted by the Tree God. Compared to them, he didn’t think he was of any use.
“I know all that.”
Yun Ruoxi nodded, stepped forward, and gently tapped his chest with her index finger.
“But I sought you out, not someone else, not those with greener skin than yours, nor those in the same position as you, because I know you are stronger than any of them, Genbeier—not in strength, but in your determination to change your life.”
“You—you… My lady, how do you know my name?” Genbeier looked up in shock.
“I also know you were an outstanding reserve Bug Hunter in the one hundred and sixty-second class of Boulder City, and have been guarding this gate for one hundred and twenty-one days.”
Yun Ruoxi withdrew her right hand, turned her back, tilted her head, and gave a sweet smile.
Genbeier had never met anyone who understood him so well, nor had he met anyone who could speak so persuasively.
As he listened to the young lady’s words, his breath grew quicker. He could almost feel himself slipping into the world she described.
Yes.
One hundred and twenty-one days. It had been a hundred and twenty-one days! He was close to forgetting what it felt like to wield his spear!
“A brave warrior like you shouldn’t be just guarding a gate. Come with me.”
Yun Ruoxi suddenly cupped her left hand to her ear.
“Do you hear it? Tick, tick, tick—it’s the sound of the city’s wooden clock. The hour has changed. It’s now the one hundred and twenty-second day.”
“I think, starting today, this should be the first day of your brand new life!”
She stretched out her right hand toward Genbeier, smiling gently, yet her eyes remained calm and serene.
“One hundred and twenty-second day. Fight for yourself! How about it?”
For her, acquiring Genbeier’s information was all too easy.
Some was introduced in the anime; with a cute face, she could coax some details from others.
Piecing these together was more than enough to fool this young fellow before her.
Genbeier reached out with trembling hands and clasped her fingertips, as though he were touching a priceless treasure.
He slowly looked up at Yun Ruoxi.
In his eyes, a blazing fire seemed to burn.
The fire of ideals and desires.
“My lady, from the one hundred and twenty-second day, and until the very last day of my life, I will fight for you! There is no longer a city guard Genbeier or Bug Hunter Genbeier—only your knight, Genbeier.”
He declared with utmost devotion, then placed his forehead upon the back of the girl’s hand.
It was the ritual oath of a knight’s allegiance.
This meant he had chosen to become Yun Ruoxi’s knight, swearing to protect and serve her for life.
“I swear, our succubus Ruoxi can charm people with just a few words!”
“Absolutely unmatched eloquence.”
“Wicked Ruoxi, three sentences and the guy’s on his knees.”
“Compared to Lin Zhen, who’s still sneaking around trying to avoid the Huang Elf to get to the underground world, things here are going way too smoothly.”
“0014 is no match for 0001.”
“Just seeing 0001 reminds me of Mo Yuan—almost makes me forget Ruoxi is the real boss of the Battle Camp now.”
“Ruoxi, when will you become the number one in the Battle Camp?”
“Today! It has to be today!”
These comments were both right and wrong.
Lin Zhen’s slow progress was partly because he chose to approach the Huang Elf first for information; their situation was much tougher compared to the dominant Huang Elf.
Another reason, of course, was because he was the protagonist.
Even if he wanted to keep a low profile, the plot would still find him.
Unlike herself, who had to rack her brains to stage an entertaining show, just to get the camera’s attention.
Yun Ruoxi pulled her thoughts back and took a keen interest in the little fellow with greenish-yellow skin before her.
It seemed she’d found herself quite a decent native guide as well.