Chương 104: The Fairy of the Lake

The group chose a fine, sunny day and set off.

According to the map, the landslide-dammed lake is about half a day's journey from their current cabin. In order to get back to the cabin before dusk, they got up very early.

Of course, Frillie strongly opposed the idea of getting up early.

However, the minority must submit to the majority, and opposition is invalid.

Because of the bright sunshine, the surface of the snow melted slightly, forming a crisp ice shell that made a crunching sound when stepped on.

Kraft and Shutark walked at the front, both seemingly very interested in fishing.

Philon walked in the middle, glancing back every now and then at the swaying Frillie.

Xia En deliberately lagged behind to prevent the elven girl in front from accidentally burying him in the snow.

"Shane, Frilian, come and take a look."

Ahead, Shutark's voice came.

Xia En looked up and saw a huge circular ice lake appear before them.

It resembles a smooth jade plate, tinged with a faint blue hue, shimmering with tiny sparkles in the sunlight. The distant snow-capped mountains stand silently, their reflections perfectly captured by the ice surface, as if heaven and earth were folded together, both above and below pure white and pale blue.

One can imagine that the lake must be even more beautiful without freezing over.

Frillie was also captivated by the view before her, and her drowsiness gradually dissipated.

"Look, there's a stone tablet here."

Philen discovered a stone tablet in the thick snow by the lake, with only the pointed tip of the tablet exposed. The group worked together to clear the snow around the tablet, revealing it completely.

The carvings and inscriptions on it have weathered somewhat, but they are still legible.

"It seems to be telling a legend of the 'Lake Fairy'—the people here enjoy favorable weather and abundant harvests thanks to the fairy's blessing, and they hold a harvest festival every year to celebrate."

The stone tablet is engraved with the image of the "Lake Fairy". Although it is blurred, it can still be made out that she is a beautiful long-haired girl. She wears a wreath made of water plants on her head, is draped in a light veil, and has silver bells on her wrists and ankles. Her face is serene and her eyes are compassionate.

"She sounds like a very popular fairy," Philon exclaimed.

Xia En looked at the frozen lake.

"It's hard to imagine that there used to be a village here."

Kraft smiled.

"Thousands of years ago, the Swirl Mountains were lush forests with fertile fields and many villages of all sizes."

"After that, the climate gradually changed. More than a thousand years ago, this place was completely covered by ice and snow, and it was cold all year round. Humans gradually migrated south, and that's how it became a desolate snowfield."

"Thousands of years ago—" Everyone couldn't help but sigh; time truly is a wonder.

The ice on the lake is very thick.

Based on his experience ice fishing in his previous life, Shane determined the location and marked the spot where he decided to open the fishing line. Then, he tied a long rope around Shutark's waist and extended it to the lakeshore.

"Are you sure you want me to go alone?"

"Only your battle axe can break through this thick layer of ice."

"What if I fall?"

"There's a rope here, don't worry. We already have experience treating hypothermia, your life won't be in danger."

Shutark looked at Shane with disbelief in his eyes. Listen to what he's saying—

"Keep going, believe in yourself."

Is this something you can just believe in yourself for?!

After mentally roaring several times, Shutark resignedly stepped onto the ice and went to the mark Shain had made. Indeed, as Shain had said, he was the only one suitable to break the ice.

The group waited quietly by the lake.

Then Shutark raised his battle axe and roared.

Thud— The battle axe cleaved through the ice, instantly creating a large hole, and the enormous impact sent water columns several meters high into the air.

At the same time, a terrifying crack extends along the large hole toward the center of the lake.

Shaun cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at Shutark, "Jump around a few times and see if you break the ice's load-bearing capacity!"'

Shutark obediently jumped around a few times on the spot.

There was nothing unusual about the ice layer.

Only then was Xia En relieved and allowed everyone to walk onto the ice.

Judging from the breach, the ice layer here is at least a meter thick. Well, although there are cracks, it should still be safe enough.

Thinking this, Xia En poured a large bag of bread crumbs down the hole.

Sure enough, before long, fish came attracted by the smell.

Xia En was in no hurry. When enough fish had gathered, he drew his longsword from his waist and gently tapped the surface of the water.

Sizzle sizzle— Suddenly, a current surged into the water.

All the fish scrambling for the breadcrumbs instantly turned belly up, and the hole was instantly filled with white fish.

Kraft was stunned.

Whether it was Shane's amazing [oversized backpack] or [electrocution fishing], both gave him a deeper understanding of the Sage profession.

"Now we'll have plenty of food for the next few months."

Shutark and Philon happily scooped the fish up, one after another, forming a dense pile. The temperature of the ice was just right to freeze the fish instantly.

Just as they were happily packing the boxes.

Suddenly, a cracking sound came from the ice.

The sound came so fast that it reached everyone's feet in an instant.

"not good!"

Xia En shouted a warning, but everything happened in an instant.

Thump, thump— Before anyone could react, they were instantly plunged into the icy lake. Although Xia En was aware of it, he was still not fast enough to escape the breaking of the ice.

The instant he fell into the water, he immediately tried to activate [Dual Blade Style: Shadow Kill] to leap back onto the ice, but something in the lake seemed to grab his foot in an instant.

The same goes for everyone else.

Frillie and Philon tried to fly out of the water, but they clearly couldn't. They were pulled by a mysterious force in the water, and their bodies sank more than halfway down.

The situation is quite critical.

"Hold hands! Don't let go!"

At Xia En's prompting, everyone quickly grabbed the nearest person, and the group held hands, trying to get together.

Just then.

Suddenly, a golden light shone from the bottom of the lake.

The pulling force beneath everyone's feet intensified.

Xia En decisively activated the Goddess's Barrier, enveloping everyone within it.

The people enveloped by the barrier were transformed into a giant bubble and pulled into the lake.

As the bubble sank, a magnificent palace appeared before everyone's eyes.

The palace roof was inlaid with various gemstones, and the walls were made entirely of gold bricks, shimmering with dazzling light.

In the center of the light, a beautiful young woman appeared.

She wore a wreath of waterweeds on her head, a light veil over her body, and silver bells on her wrists and ankles. Her face was serene and her eyes were compassionate. Xia En was startled.

It is the "Fairy of the Lake" recorded on the stone tablet.

The fairy addressed the crowd gently, "Welcome home, my children."

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