Chapter 6: Gandharva Ville

"Gandharva Ville?!"

Hearing the familiar name, Lin Feng, who had been startled by the sudden mention, immediately asked the unfortunate soul before him.

"You said your name is Farbod, and you come from a place called Gandharva Ville?"

Mention of Gandharva Ville finally sparked a memory for Lin Feng regarding the Farbod standing in front of him.

*Isn't this the legendary guy Tighnari specifically called out—the one who managed to poison himself three times in a single month from eating mushrooms?*

"That’s right! I figured you were a traveler, but I never expected you to know about Gandharva Ville."

Upon hearing Lin Feng bring up the village, Farbod became even more delighted, saying excitedly, "You must come back with me! I, Farbod, swear on my honor that I will personally request Forest Watcher Tighnari to grant you a medal for your courageous act!"

"Cough, cough. The medal isn't necessary. I just happened to save you; other than helping you open the cage, I didn't really do anything."

Lin Feng struggled to handle Farbod’s visible enthusiasm. In his previous life, he had never been good at dealing with elderly relatives who fussed over him during the holidays.

"To be honest, I'm a wanderer from Liyue who got lost in the rainforest. If you could tell me how to get to Gandharva Ville, that would be a huge help."

Returning to the main point, Lin Feng asked the question he cared about most, which had been the original purpose of his journey. Although this information didn't come from interrogating the Treasure Hoarders, having a local guide meant that, in Lin Feng's mind, the day he left the rainforest was finally within reach.

"Small matter!"

Farbod scrambled up from the ground, looking at Lin Feng with a proud expression.

"I, Farbod, am the best mushroom forager in all of Gandharva Ville! And my talent lies in my ability to distinguish directions!"

"Follow me, benefactor. We’ll be out of the rainforest in half a day at most. Shall we set off right now?"

It was clear that Farbod didn't want to spend even half a minute longer in this place of his misfortune. Seeing Lin Feng hesitate, Farbod explained, "You see, although the rainforest looks pitch black at night, it's actually safer than during the day. Most monsters and wild beasts are resting. Unless you burn the forest down, you won't even see those things. Other than the difficulty in finding your way, there’s no problem at all."

"—And I am the person best at navigating in all of Gandharva Ville!"

Farbod tilted his head, displaying an astonishing amount of confidence for a moment—if one ignored the mucus hanging from his nose.

***

Lin Feng was moved. He had no attachment to this humid, mosquito-ridden rainforest, so he readily agreed. After scavenging some supplies from the camp and extinguishing the bonfire, he tossed the bound trio of idiots into the cage. With a sense of excitement, Lin Feng and Farbod set off on the return journey.

...

Perhaps because they had reached the outskirts of the rainforest, signs of human activity began to appear along the way: temporary rain shelters made of leaves, embers from extinguished campfires, bushes bent from foot traffic, and Lin Feng even spotted a tent belonging to an Amurta scholar.

As they walked, Lin Feng chatted with the talkative Farbod. Through their conversation, Lin Feng learned that the three Treasure Hoarders who had kidnapped him were actually targeting scholars who couldn't afford guards. Because of their graduation theses, Amurta students often came to Avidya Forest for ecological research.

Gandharva Ville had originally been a temporary resting place for Sumeru scholars in the rainforest; it was only later that Forest Rangers were stationed there to protect these scholars and passing merchants. However, there were always some reckless individuals who, in order to make their theses more impressive, would venture deep into areas not cleared by the Rangers. The Treasure Hoarders who kidnapped them for ransom flourished because of this; after all, students studying at the Akademiya usually had plenty of resources. It was just bad luck for these three rookies that they had laid their hands on a "Forest Walker" who had nothing to offer but mushrooms.

Chatting to pass the time and gathering information from Farbod’s ramblings, the sky gradually began to brighten. Three hours later, as Lin Feng finally walked out of the dim rainforest and looked at the wide road and the open world before him, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Finally!

Lin Feng rubbed the shoulder where the little white creature sat, listening to the excited Farbod dancing and shouting beside him. Looking up at the rising sun and the bright sky, a sudden sense of emotion nearly brought him to tears.

...

Standing on the road to Gandharva Ville, watching the merchants selling their wares and the busy Forest Rangers despite the early hour, Lin Feng pulled himself together. He politely declined Farbod's invitation to sit at his home and instead took the initiative to suggest meeting the person in charge—the Forest Watcher, Tighnari. Farbod, realizing the importance of the matter, led Lin Feng to Tighnari’s treehouse.

***

Lin Feng informed Tighnari about the presence of the Treasure Hoarders in the forest, and Farbod provided the specific location. Before long, the three still-slumbering Treasure Hoarders were brought back by the Rangers. After administering an antidote decoction and verifying the situation, Tighnari quickly arranged for his subordinates to escort the unfortunate trio to the temporary holding cells.

"Apologies, I was busy dealing with the Treasure Hoarders and neglected you."

"While capturing Treasure Hoarders isn't the primary duty of a Forest Watcher, I still thank you for helping clear the danger from the rainforest."

After settling the matter of the prisoners, Tighnari looked at the ragged Lin Feng and expressed his sincere gratitude.

"Also, I thank you on behalf of that fool, Farbod. This isn't the first time he's poisoned himself from mushrooms. No matter what I say to him, he manages to do it once or twice a month."

"It's a pity; I specialize in botany, and helping people grow brains isn't within my professional scope."

Faced with a subordinate who was usually articulate, mature, and seemingly capable of anything, Tighnari wore a visibly helpless expression when discussing Farbod.

Finally settling down, Lin Feng curiously observed the first major character he had encountered. Facing this familiar yet strange "Chief Forest Watcher," Lin Feng forced himself to look away from the other's ears and responded to Tighnari’s gratitude.

"I didn't really do anything. I just helped tie the three of them up; the real hero was Farbod’s poisonous mushrooms."

"Those three Treasure Hoarders were the greenest of rookies; even if I had left them alone, they would have poisoned themselves sooner or later..."

Recalling the specific process of the "rescue," Lin Feng’s face twitched.

"Don't say that. Lin Feng, was it? You are from Liyue, right? Being willing to lend a helping hand to those in distress in such a strange and dangerous environment as the rainforest is, in itself, enough reason for me to thank you," Tighnari replied earnestly.

"And you don't need to be wary of us. Gandharva Ville is an area where merchants frequently station themselves, so we aren't particularly resistant to groups like wanderers."

Tighnari looked at Lin Feng, whose exhaustion was impossible to hide, and assumed Lin Feng was being modest because he didn't trust them yet.

"Hmm..."

Tighnari thought for a moment and called over a nearby Ranger.

"Nasrin, as before, tell the others that I will be working from Amir’s house for the next two days."

After giving instructions, Tighnari smiled at the young-looking but ragged Lin Feng.

"How about this? You must have been wandering in the rainforest for quite some time. You can rest here for a few nights. As for a specific reward, let me think on it, and I will give you an answer tomorrow, is that alright?"