Chapter 12: The Shadow of the Amazon

"Well..." Hearing Li Bin's question, Alastor’s face flushed red, and after mumbling for a while, he finally said, "Actually, it’s nothing much. It’s just that I was sealed here by Avia."

"Sealed by her?" Li Bin was stunned. He had thought they might be lovers or had some other relationship, but now it was clear—they were enemies.

"But she’s kept me company here for over two thousand years," Alastor quickly added, seeing Li Bin’s expression change.

More like she’s guarded you for two thousand years, Li Bin thought to himself, secretly mocking Alastor. Still, he asked aloud, "May I ask why she wanted to seal you, Great Deity?"

"Well... It's nothing much, really. I came to propose marriage, and when she refused, we ended up fighting. I didn’t lose because I was weaker, but because the item she used to seal me was her most treasured possession. I was afraid she’d be heartbroken if it got destroyed," Alastor explained.

Li Bin finally understood. He gave a bitter laugh and said, "I see. I’ll accept this quest, then."

"Really?" Alastor said excitedly. "Here, take this. When you meet Avia, just crush this gemstone and the task will be complete."

Li Bin stepped forward to accept it. Suddenly, he felt a chill, and the system prompt appeared: "You have accepted the quest 'Find the Goddess' from the Bloodthirsty War God Alastor. You have learned basic tactical formations, the formation map function is enabled, and you have mastered the Triangular Charge Formation and Enhanced Defense Formation."

Having learned these tactics, Li Bin was promptly sent away by Alastor, never even stepping inside the temple.

Li Bin didn’t mind, because at the end, Alastor promised him that if Li Bin would build a temple for Alastor in his territory, he would favor Li Bin’s people in matters of divine magic.

Aside from losing a few troops, Li Bin considered this trip a great success. After bidding Alastor farewell, he hurried excitedly toward the Amazon camp.

"Master, even if you want to hurry back for your reward, there’s no need to rush so," Lidas said, puzzled by Li Bin’s urgency.

"If it’s just about claiming the reward, there’s no need to rush," Li Bin replied as he walked. "But if I want to catch a good show, then I’d better hurry. By the way, Lidas, I have a question for you: what is your chieftain like? Is she generous?"

"Of course! To those who help our tribe, the chieftain is always generous," Lidas answered honestly.

"Then maybe we’ll manage to catch another quest," Li Bin said with a smile, idly playing with the treasure Lidas had recovered: the Evergreen Divine Vine.

It was a staff shaped like a golden arrow, entwined with carved vine motifs. Originally used to seal Alastor, Li Bin learned from the system its other use: to promote Amazon Priestesses and Amazon Guards in the camp to level 6 Amazon High Priests and Amazon Paladins. If not for being on the novice continent, it could even be used to train the ultimate Amazon unit, level 9 Amazon Valkyries.

Recalling everything he’d seen in the Amazon camp, Li Bin was now certain of his plan. He turned to Lidas and said, "Lidas, please go ahead and inform your chieftain that I wish to meet her before returning to the Amazon camp."

"Master, is that wise? The chieftain rarely leaves the camp," Lidas said, uncertain.

"Just go. I’m sure your chieftain will come to meet me," Li Bin replied confidently.

Li Bin’s guess proved correct. Later that night, while still some distance from the Amazon camp, he met the Amazon chieftain.

Li Bin placed the Evergreen Divine Vine in the chieftain’s hand and asked directly, "Do you need my help?"

The chieftain’s eyes gleamed, but she shook her head. "What help could I possibly need? I only came out because you didn’t want to return to our camp, so I came to take the item."

"Is that so?" Li Bin smiled. "I believe that if I hadn’t had Lidas bring you here, tomorrow on the way back I’d have encountered your camp’s defenders, wouldn’t I?"

"How could that be? Amazon warriors never attack players," the chieftain denied bitterly.

"But I feel some of my actions have displeased your elders. For my own safety, I must be cautious," Li Bin said, watching the understanding in her eyes.

He then said tactfully, "You may return now, chieftain. Tomorrow, I’ll deliver the treasure to your tribe."

The chieftain glanced at Li Bin and then at the Evergreen Divine Vine in her hand. Understanding his intention, she said nothing more and melted into the darkness.

After sending off the Amazon chieftain, Li Bin ordered his troops to strengthen their defenses and sighed softly. "Who knows what rewards this quest will bring?"

The next morning, Li Bin led his troops under the banner of returning the treasure to the Amazon camp, advancing slowly. As expected, while still far from the camp, they encountered an Amazon force.

But it wasn’t led by a tribal hero—it was led by a player.

The player, carrying the adorable sheep-head banner, stepped forward and shouted, "Is that Li Bin, the undead player, up ahead? I am Crusading Sheep, a free faction player (courtesy of the reader Blazing Sky_Wing). I’ve just received a quest to help you return the Evergreen Divine Vine to the Amazon camp, so please hand it over."

"What level are your troops?" Li Bin responded, not directly answering Crusading Sheep.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Are you refusing to hand it over?" Crusading Sheep retorted angrily.

"Of course not. But when I went to retrieve this item, the Amazons promised me a squad of level 6 troops. If you take it, where am I to claim my reward? Unless you received the same quest and want to trick me into giving you the item?" Li Bin said with a cold smile.

"Don’t accuse me falsely! If you won’t give it, so be it. I knew this would happen," Crusading Sheep shouted. "If you won’t hand over the item, then hand over your life!"

Seeing Crusading Sheep rush forward with his troops, Li Bin smiled coldly. It was clear Crusading Sheep was a new player, no higher than level 3, with troops at most level 3, and no supporting heroes. In every way, he was no match for Li Bin.

Li Bin wondered how the Amazon camp could have sent him—was there really no player who could find the Amazon tribe?

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