Chapter 152 – The Stream of Rock Rabbits

(Note: This chapter title is incorrect and should be Chapter 151)

After leaving the Great Rift, one would discover that the prairie scenery near the Dillon Kingdom was truly beautiful. The lush green fine grass resembled rippling autumn water, creating wave after wave of undulations in the gentle breeze.

Even the most critical bard would involuntarily feel compelled to compose a poem of praise upon witnessing this scene.

Of course, it would have been even better without the three completely mismatched figures present.

These three figures were none other than Punk, Kangkai, and Bahanger, who had just emerged from the Great Rift. Yes, Bahanger was among them.

This tenacious dwarf had actually survived Tisha Xia’er’s self-destruction. Though he was critically injured and hanging by a thread—with 100% of his skin burned, all his bones shattered, and one arm missing—if Kangkai’s three life potions had arrived just a moment later, he would have been beyond saving. But ultimately, he survived.

Moradin’s bestowed divine magic was crucial, Bahanger’s berserk Battle Aura had absorbed much of the damage, and Kangkai’s timely treatment pulled the dwarf’s life back from the clutches of Kelemvor, the God of Death. So now, although Bahanger remained in a deep coma, with the dwarf’s natural recovery abilities and proper treatment back in Doleiz City, regaining sixty percent of his combat strength was entirely feasible.

Of course, the remaining forty percent would be permanently lost.

Carried on Kangkai’s back, Punk estimated that the first thing this fellow would say upon waking would likely be “By Moradin’s beard,” and what would grieve him most might be the loss of his Divine Hammer.

At this moment, Kangkai, still unaware of the tragedy that had befallen Doleiz City, was the most relaxed. After all, the most troublesome Tisha Xia’er was finished, and Kangkai had successfully retrieved the high-quality antidote from her Space Ring. The remaining followers would be mere insects to be crushed by a Formal-Level powerhouse.

In the optimistic ranger’s view, the next step upon returning to Doleiz City would be distributing the antidote and saving the people from suffering—a classic Hero’s template where nothing could possibly go wrong.

He cheerfully chatted with Punk about his hometown and the places he planned to visit in the future, his rich cultural knowledge making for fascinating conversation:

“Did you know the origin of my hometown’s name—Rock Rabbit Creek?

Legend tells of a young druid girl who had a magical rabbit as her animal companion. Together they traveled across the Rocky Plains, crossed the Mineral Vein Mountains, danced on the islands of Vina Lake, and overthrew the cruel Nobles who oppressed the common folk…

But one day, that exceptionally gifted magical rabbit advanced to become a Formal-Level creature, while the girl, limited by her own potential, could not progress. Centuries later, the two best partners were permanently separated. The villagers entrusted the girl’s body to the most beautiful creek, while the magical rabbit stood vigil in the stream until the end of its life.

Because the magical rabbit remained motionless in the creek, it came to be named Rock Rabbit Creek.”

Kangkai narrated this rather clichéd loyalty story—even by Faerûn’s standards—in his magnetic voice, but he told it with such vivid emotion that his distant tones seemed to dance lightly across the prairie.”This is purely something adults made up to deceive children. Most demonic gnawing demon rabbit-type creatures are inherently brutal, with their only attractive feature being their fur. This kind of story is clearly fabricated by ignorant commoners, and you actually believe it?”

Punk cast a disdainful glance at Kangkai; he had no interest in listening to this guy’s stories. He was in a hurry to return to Doleiz City to capture a group of people and extract their life force to heal his injuries. If it weren’t for the Legendary Equipment Kangkai carried, Punk would have rushed back alone long ago. But now, he was more focused on finding an opportunity to kill Kangkai. However, this ranger with over three centuries of life experience never gave him the chance.

Kangkai, on the other hand, refused to speed up for Bahanger’s sake. Without the protection of Battle Aura, the severely injured Bahanger couldn’t withstand a supersonic sprint. So, in response to Punk’s mockery, he simply smiled, spread his hands, and squinted as he said:

“Don’t be like that. This is all about charm, understand? Charm! With your attitude, there’s no charm left at all.”

After saying this, Kangkai shook his head with an expression that seemed to say “this child is beyond teaching,” though his tattered clothes completely turned the gesture into a comedic act.

But Punk paid him no mind.

Seeing that Punk didn’t engage, Kangkai awkwardly averted his gaze.

“Look, there’s a rabbit over there. It’s quite plump—the grass during the Evergreen Season fattens rabbits the most.”

Kangkai pointed loudly at a rabbit peeking out from the grass.

“Your attempt to change the subject is rather clumsy!”

Punk retorted helplessly. He had also spotted the little rabbit with its bright red eyes and had to admit that rabbits in this season were indeed very plump.

Kangkai examined the rabbit and then nodded seriously, saying:

“Although it’s a female rabbit, it’s not pregnant. Tonight’s dinner is settled.”

“What happened to your charm? Wasn’t the protagonist of your story just now a rabbit?”

“Haha, don’t worry about the details. Right now, filling our stomachs is what matters.”

Kangkai rubbed the back of his head and then kicked a small stone. The next second, the rabbit, still unaware of what was happening, had a hole appear in its forehead.

“Done. Let’s set up camp here. We need to bandage Bahanger, or he might not make it to Doleiz City.”

When he uttered the last sentence, Kangkai’s voice grew heavy. Bahanger’s muscles, now without skin protection, were continuously seeping tissue fluid, and the dwarf’s body temperature kept rising without dropping.

Gently laying Bahanger down, Kangkai retrieved a shiny small iron pot from the Divine Necklace and used his Battle Aura to clear a patch of grass. It seemed he had already decided to spend the night here.

Although it was already evening, for Formal-Level experts, traveling at night was no different from traveling during the day. However, Kangkai had clearly made up his mind, and Punk was also looking for an opportunity to kill these two “teammates,” so he agreed without hesitation. After all, Punk had plenty of time.

Seeing that Punk agreed to camp for the night, Kangkai happily declared that he would showcase his hometown’s unique cooking skills. Immediately, the ranger transformed into a top-tier chef.He used Wind-Type Battle Aura to lift the iron pot, then gathered a bit of Battle Aura at his fingernail to form a sharp small knife. With skilled movements and several blurred afterimages, Kangkai quickly and completely skinned the rabbit.

“Hey, Punk, can you help get some salt and water?”

Kangkai spoke to Punk while rapidly removing the rabbit’s internal organs.

Although Punk didn’t carry any seasonings with him, a bit of salt and some clean water obviously wouldn’t stump a full mage who practiced alchemy as a secondary discipline.

Apprentice-Level Alchemy Magic – Minor Substance Separation: Separates low-energy level substances without supernatural energy attachments.

Under the glow of this spell, droplets of water began to separate from the air, and then many white crystals separated from the ground.

Finally, all the water droplets converged into a large water ball half a meter in diameter, while the salt extracted from the ground piled up into a small mound.

“How’s that? Enough?”

Punk threw both “seasonings” toward Kangkai, watching the other’s flustered expression while speaking in an unhurried tone.