0145 Stone? Arrowhead? Mysterious Figure?

Ever since she first managed to obtain supplies from the mysterious entity, subsequent operations to leverage its aid went smoothly, yielding unexpectedly positive results. Through repeated one-sided exchanges, she gradually deciphered the creature's schedule and the scope of requests it was willing to accept.

The mysterious entity would appear near her and Huanluo only about five minutes before the standard meal times each day. Consequently, if she wanted it to help source ingredients, she had to provide a list that could be fulfilled within ten minutes. Furthermore, the ingredients brought back were always exactly enough for three people—no more, no less.

Once the meal was over, it would slip away quietly without lingering for a second. For a long time, she assumed the entity was a magical beast that enjoyed cooked food, as it would devour whatever was offered in one go. However, after careful observation, she realized it wasn't a gluttonous monster capable of finishing everything at once. Occasionally, the faint, unmistakable sound of chewing and swallowing in the air revealed that this mysterious entity was a human, just like her.

Upon reaching this conclusion, she became even more brazen. Her daily one-sided conversations with the empty air and the occasional delivery of ingredients could no longer satisfy her growing curiosity. She grew desperate for a response that went beyond mere food. The moment this thought took root, she devised a theory regarding the entity's true identity and concocted a "reveal the phantom" scheme to satisfy her inquisitiveness.

Huanluo, who shared the same suspicions, remained taciturn when presented with the plan, which relied entirely on luck. The day of the execution arrived, falling on a murky, twilight evening—a perfect opportunity that suddenly presented itself.

Having spent so much time in the forest, both girls had been forced by circumstance to master essential survival skills. At that moment, they were carefully trailing a "flower-foot beast." These small, herbivorous creatures were at the bottom of the forest's food chain; they possessed no exceptional speed, no formidable defense, and no unique shapeshifting abilities. If spotted, death was certain. Yet, they had survived for thousands of years by passing the ultimate test of natural selection.

The only reason they survived was their uncanny ability to locate safe havens and mask their scent and tracks. Thus, the most practical skill she had learned was using earth-element sensitivity to track these beasts to find secure temporary shelters each night. Since she started following them, she no longer had to endure midnight raids by ferocious monsters.

They had been trailing the beast for a long time, but unexpectedly, its tracks vanished at what appeared to be a forest fork. After a fruitless search, she reached a conclusion she was loath to admit: the poor creature must have been snatched by a passing predator on its way to its hideout.

Unable to reach their destination, the two exchanged silent, helpless looks. With dinner time approaching, the mysterious entity was likely already nearby, waiting to be fed. Yet, they had been so focused on the chase that they had prepared nothing. While they could ask the entity for help, this gloomy fork in the road felt dangerous—hardly an ideal place to eat. Returning the way they came was impossible; they hadn't bothered to mark their path. Just as she turned to ask Huanluo if she remembered the way, Huanluo’s familiar voice reached her ears: "Do you remember the way back?"

Indeed, they were lost. Not daring to exchange a look that might betray their act, she continued her performance. In the depths of the forest intersection, two young women of vastly different appearances and temperaments peered about. The girl with long purple hair wore a grave expression, her brow furrowed in distress, while the girl with shoulder-length red hair looked vexed, tapping her head as if trying to knock out a missing memory. Time raced toward dinner, but the two girls remained utterly clueless.

"Um, Mysterious Classmate," she said, feigning innocence as she addressed the empty air. "Could you point these lost girls toward the lake in the southern forest? We're lost, and we can't cook in a place like this."

"..." The forest remained deathly silent.

"We are genuinely lost," Huanluo added calmly.

"..." The forest remained silent.

It seemed the entity was determined to keep its mouth shut. Frustrated, she stared in a certain direction, racking her brain for a solution. Based on its usual efficiency, it should have responded by now. Yet, there was no reaction; the silence was as total as if it weren't there at all.

Her original plan was to use this opportunity to hear the entity's voice, or at least determine if it was male, female, old, or young. Unfortunately, it gave her no such chance. Whether it didn't know the way or simply refused to speak, she couldn't tell. She turned to look at Huanluo, who returned a look that clearly said, "I want to know who this is too, but there's nothing we can do."

Remaining here wasn't an option. Sensing a vague, dangerous aura permeating the intersection, she gritted her teeth and spoke to the air: "Perhaps you should handle your own dinner tonight, Mysterious Classmate. Huanluo and I need to continue searching for the lake and a shelter. We'll see you tomorrow morning."

*Clack, clack.* No sooner had she finished speaking than the sound of heavy objects hitting the ground echoed. Two stones, shaped like arrowheads—sharp at the front and thick at the back—fell from the sky, pointing toward an unknown path.