C26 Visiting the Bearman Clan

The Bear-man Clan is a formidable orc race with extraordinary physical prowess. Without lifting a finger, an adult Bear-man inherently possesses the strength of a Rank Two Knight. Those with extensive battle experience can even attain the power of Rank Four or Five.

During the great war with humans, the Bear-man warriors were always at the vanguard, relentless as war machines, haunting the human soldiers with memories of terror. Most Bear-men are quick to anger and typically resort to violence to solve disputes, making peaceful negotiations a rarity.

Despite the iron mine being tantalizingly within reach, wresting control from the Bear-man Clan is no simple feat.

"The Bear-man Clan has a notorious love for liquor, and the grain alcohol we've brewed could come in handy. I'll go there myself tomorrow. Whether by purchase or lease, I'm set on securing that iron mine," Qingyou stated serenely.

"Saintess... The Bear-man Clan isn't easy to deal with, and they have little regard for weaker races like ours. A hasty visit could be perilous," the Elder Black Cat warned.

"Haha, Elder, may I remind you of the time when two hundred of our Civet Clan warriors stood against a thousand-strong army? Wasn't that a perilous encounter?" Qingyou replied with a smile.

The Elder Black Cat found himself speechless, uncertain of how to respond.

"Please, have no worries, Patriarch and Elders. As the Saintess of the God of Flames, I am under divine protection. There's no need for concern. Any divine decree from the God of Flames is destined to succeed," Qingyou reassured them, rising to her feet with a gentle yet compelling voice.

As the divine emissary, the Saintess's decisions carry the weight of the gods themselves. Despite their concerns, the Patriarch and Elders had no choice but to acquiesce.

That very night, Qingyou had her people scout the route. Come dawn, she mobilized twenty robust Cat-man warriors, loaded two wagons with wine, and set off on their mission.

Aside from the twenty warriors manning the carts and Lillian, Qingyou had brought no additional troops.

She held a steadfast belief that the mighty God of Flames would watch over her journey. Unbeknownst to her, Lin Mo had transformed into a tiny spark, tucked away in the crevice between barrels of wine.

Worrying about Qingyou's well-being was inevitable.

Qingyou, as Lin Mo's Saintess, had already proven herself to be exceptional. Lin Mo simply couldn't stand the thought of her encountering even the slightest mishap.

The previous night, Qingyou had dispatched scouts to reconnoiter the path to the mine. The group made a beeline for their destination, without a moment's hesitation.

The distance to the mine was relatively short. Despite the two heavily laden carts that tempered their pace, they managed to reach the Bear-man Clan's domain by midday.

Confronted with the towering, rustic dwellings and the Bear-men, whose stature exceeded two meters, the Cat-man warriors tasked with the escort couldn't suppress a twinge of anxiety.

Qingyou and Lillian, however, remained unfazed. Both women exuded an air of tranquility as they stood at the edge of the Bear-man Clan's territory, awaiting a welcome.

"Hey! You little dwarfs, what brings you to our land uninvited? What do you want?" called out a voice.

As expected, two Bear-men approached swiftly.

They towered over Qingyou and Lillian, their voices booming as they spoke.