That bigwig was a smart man, and Chen Yining did approve of his style.

Gas was a non-renewable resource after all, and there were many other needs for it in the city, what with its legions of vehicles. Therefore, a liter of gas unused was a liter of gas saved—that is, before anyone found a new oil-field.

Most importantly, there might not be petroleum in this world.

If that was the case, every car was just a steel bucket.

And yet, that bigwig had the guts to trade a vehicle worth two million bucks for a hobgoblin at this phase. That decisiveness and boldness alone was outstanding, and certainly not to be eclipsed by his appearance.

Moreover, at this stage, having a single hobgoblin definitely kept one ahead of the competition.

It was because Chen Yining had yet to see anyone else who had tamed a hobgoblin.

Nonetheless, he withdrew his gaze. Though he was quite interested in the ORV, if he had to choose one between the ORV and hobgoblin, he would choose the hobgoblin.

A glance enough to tell that the ORV was a monster of gas consumption—that bit of gas would not even last it a day.

Moreover, even an idiot would know how rare gas would come by in the future.

What good was the vehicle without gas? For lifting like a brick to hit your target?

***

Meanwhile, Chen Yining and Chen Jing passed though the crowds and entered the forest.

They distinctly felt an oncoming chill at their faces right then.

Summoning Green Skin and the blazing chicken, Chen Yining pushed himself over the latter's back and wrapped his arm around its neck.

The down around its neck was thick and fat, which also felt good to the touch.

All of its feathers were also shrouded in a faint golden radiance, and the bird appeared spirited as it looked left and right.

As it walked through the forest, it looked just like a king surveying its lands, and it strode ahead with an exceedingly pompous gait.

On the other hand, Chen Jing did not have that sort of luxury. In fact, it was already amazing that his gnomes did not demand that he carried them—it was not as if both of them could carry him on piggyback either.

Soon, Chen Yining found the sights around him familiar.

This appeared to be the same street where he had first entered the forest.

He then remembered the swamp and the giant slime inside it.

While Green Skin's physical attack did no good against it, they had the blazing chicken now. With its fire breath, they could attempt hunting that giant slime themselves.

Chen Yining always believed that he had good memory, and the fact that he recognized the route to the swamp was good news.

***

It soon turned out that he might have overestimated his memory—he had successfully gone the wrong way.

In the end, the forest looked the same everywhere in the absence of road signs. Moreover, the slightest of divergence would put them on a completely different path as well.

Still, they did not have to worry about the way back, since Chen Yining would carve markings on the trees as pointers.

That was when a rustling could be heard from up front. Green Skin excitedly climbed up a tree, but soon climbed down miserably.

"There's a fire fowl just ahead, master." It reported disinterestedly.

After all, Green Skin knows that the only way it could get stronger was by killing other goblins.

Any fire fowls, on the other hand, would go to the chicken his master was riding.

A fire fowl?

Chen Yining's eyes lit up.

Right now, he just needs two fire fowls to evolve the blazing chicken.

"Are there any threats other than the fire fowl?" He quickly asked.

"None. I only saw that bird." Green Skin replied.

"Kill it, then."

For this outing, Chen Yining's objectives were fire fowls and goblins, as both Green Skin and the blazing chicken needed two goblins and two fire fowls respectively to evolve.

At the thicket ahead, the fire fowl was grazing on some wild fruits.

It was strolling nonchalantly, no different from an old man having a walk at the park.

After all, fire fowls did not have many natural enemies in the forest—normal goblins would never stand a chance against it in a duel.

Moreover, not every being in the forest was a magical beast, since there were quite a number of normal animals.

At the same time, the fire fowl seemed to pick up a scent that left it restless.

It looked up carefully, studying its surroundings, and strode off as it headed elsewhere to graze.

That was when a figure leaped out from behind the trees.

Caught unawares, the fire fowl was startled and breathed a gust of flames by instinct at the figure charging toward it.

Green Skin, who was prepared for it, raised his shield to block the flames, which kicked up fiery sparks as it struck the shield.

Since he was ready for the impact as well, Green Skin managed to brace the flames with his shield and firmly took two steps forward.

Then, it raised its rebar and stabbed forward viciously, wounding the fire fowl.

However, the injury triggered the bird's ferocity.

Instead of backing down, it lunged fearsomely at Green Skin.

Meanwhile, the blazing chicken which had subtly moved behind the fire fowl, had hidden itself in a corner, watching the battle between the fire fowl and Green Skin.

As the fire fowl flew into a fit of rage, it actually overwhelmed Green Skin… but the situation turned around in just two minutes.

Despite gaining an advantage thanks to its might and ferocity, the bird had merely been riding a high.

And once the high was over, actual ability came into play.

The fire fowl was at a disadvantage when it comes to a pure contest of strength and endurance.

Moreover, that sudden burst of strength had worn out the fire fowl as well.

Stabbed by Green Skin on the neck with his rebar, it dropped to the ground with a plop.

With that, Green Skin ended it.

Chen Yining then passed the essence of the fire fowl to his blazing chicken, which was now at [1/2] of its evolution phase.

The killing of that fire fowl seemed to bring him good luck as well—after continuing ahead for a while, he soon saw a lake glimmering in silver radiance.

If there were no other lakes in the area, that must be the same lake they had found the last time.

And since they found the lake, the previous swamp would be nearby.

Nonetheless, Chen Yining paused as he traversed the woods beside the lake.

He saw a small hut near the shores of the lake.

It was unlike the other buildings in Mountain Water City. Vines had grown all over the yellow hut and there were wind chimes dangling beneath the roof.

The hut had no windows either, and had only one door.

"Is there anyone inside?" Chen Jing muttered.

It was indeed bizarre to find a hut standing there in the middle of the forest.

A curious thought occurred to them then—could it be a building constructed by intelligent lifeforms of this world?

Green Skin shook his head at that. He claimed that he had occasionally encountered such huts as well, but the goblins never entered and were never able to destroy them. Moreover, the huts would mysteriously vanish and appear at other places soon enough.

Since Green Skin said that there was no danger, the brothers approached the hut, maintaining a safe distance when their Summoner's Grimoire suddenly heated up.

Both tomes opened themselves, and a picture of that hut appeared on one white page, labeled with two words beside it: bounty house.

It was not in a language they recognized, but they somehow knew its meaning.

Then, with a creaking sound, the wooden door was slowly opened, with warm, orange-yellow radiance flowing through.