These self-proclaimed wanderers—do they have a hidden identity? What exactly are their intentions in coming to the Elven Forest? Zhang Yuanqing observed quietly as the Elven chieftain and the men interacted. The elves sought to extract every ounce of value from the outsiders, while the outsiders arrived with ulterior motives. Neither party was entirely sincere. Why not let them clash and compete, and let himself simply reap the benefits as a passive beneficiary? After a series of cordial exchanges, the chieftain surveyed the village and declared aloud, "People of the village, offer us fine wine and delicious food to welcome our distant guests." The elves enthusiastically agreed, rushing back to their huts to bring out wooden tables and chairs, setting out wine and fruit, and building a fire by the lake to roast meat and fish. The entire village soon came alive, even the young children carrying dishes and fruit from one end to the other. Alice's mother served the stew in a clean wooden bowl, smiling warmly and presenting it to the visiting "heroes" to fill their stomachs. The elves were most generous with their food, for no horse can run without grass. At dusk, the sun bled crimson. The clear lake surface shimmered with splendid golden hues, the trees gilded in warm red tones, blending harmoniously with the sky's evening glow—beautiful as a painting. The fire flared to life. Men sat at tables, sipping the national wine crafted by the elves, tearing into roasted meats, and occasionally savoring a savory, spicy meat broth. Some elves joined them at the table, others carried fruit and meat between the kitchen and the lake's shore, while others roasted meat by the fire. As servants, Alice and Tria flipped the roasted meats by the fire. Alice often cut off pieces to enjoy them herself, while Tria skillfully tossed her eyes at the men, beginning to charm them. Zhang Yuanqing quietly observed the foreign men, and upon closer inspection, found them strong and well-built, far from the gaunt, hungry wanderers he had first imagined. Above all, the leading man—tall and broad-shouldered, his coat nearly pushed up by his frame, his hair streaked with oil, his face square and composed, with gentle, cautious gray eyes that often seemed awed—would occasionally reveal sharpness and greed, especially when gazing at the female elves. Zhang Yuanqing had been trying to influence his mood and sensed he was now firmly "held" by the iron. This man, Bouval, possessed a strong spirit, reaching the level of mastery. "These men may appear dazed by wine and women, yet their minds remain alert, preserving a touch of rationality. Their emotions blend anticipation and greed—they do not merely desire the women's bodies." Zhang Yuanqing interpreted the men's emotional states. At that moment, the sun had settled in the west, and the sky had turned deep blue; within the next half-hour, night would fall. The elves grew increasingly enthusiastic, some even sitting on the men's thighs, while the men were far from idle—holding wooden bowls in one hand and caressing the elves' graceful waists and full buttocks with the other. At this moment, the elven chieftain, with long blue hair and a floral crown, stepped out once more from the wooden hut, her face glowing with a bewitching smile and her voice soft and alluring: "Young warriors, as night approaches, you may choose among our elven maidens to share a delightful evening together." The men cheered, the women laughed and giggled, and pairings were swiftly arranged. Those not chosen did not fret—they would simply be enjoyed by the elven sisters throughout the night. "Oh, beautiful maiden, may I know your name?" a voice came from behind. Zhang Yuanqing turned to see a young man with golden hair standing behind her, his gaze deeply enchanted. "Alice!" Zhang Yuanqing replied calmly. The golden-haired young man glanced at the snow-soft grooves on the girl's chest wrapped in the animal hide, quietly swallowed his saliva, and gazed at her with deep affection: "My name is Rod Lev. The beauty of you has deeply captivated me. I wonder if tonight I can make it to your bed." Roll over! I'm bigger than you! Zhang Yuanqing watched him, curious and asked, "Rod Lev, there are many more beautiful young women here, many more graceful women than myself—why have you chosen me specifically?" Rod Lev spoke with heartfelt sincerity: "You are different from the other elves. You possess a unique soul, like a firefly in the forest—so vivid, so brilliant." Vivid? Brilliant? Zhang Yuanqing stared at himself in astonishment, thinking—could it be that my chest is larger than theirs? Or perhaps my hips more pronounced? Or maybe I'm naturally a bit bold and unrefined? He replied coldly, "Rod Lev, warrior, perhaps these words will find better reception if you say them to your other sisters. Please don't interrupt my roast meat. "Rod Lev's eyes sparkled," said he, "Yes, exactly this feeling—oh, my dearest Alice, you are truly unique. Other sprites may be beautiful, but their beauty lacks soul. You are different. You are a proud swan, from head to tail, never showing a single spark of warmth—like a flower blooming in winter, independent and resplendent. It is precisely this uniqueness that has deeply captivated me, drawn me irresistibly into your charm." I'm just going to make you suffer, thought Zhang Yuanqing. Turns out, he was just a boiling sheep all along. Rod Lev stepped forward, gazing down at him with an air of superiority: "I don't care. Tonight, you are mine. I will possess you, savor you—just as I savored that fine fruit wine. Alice, I will make you experience the most feminine bliss." Oh, heavens, how utterly humiliating this male intensity is! thought Zhang Yuanqing. He might as well go all out and launch a full-scale assault! He had originally intended to observe and let things unfold naturally, letting the two sides clash with each other, since the B-tier dungeon wasn't exactly easy—elite warriors from the Dominance tier were also entering dungeons of this level. If he were too impetuous, he might be targeted by both sides simultaneously, adding unnecessary difficulty. But Zhang Yuanqing could no longer tolerate this man. "Graceful and noble Queen of the Elves, please forgive me for being unable to accept your invitation," Boval stood up. The Elven chieftain furrowed her brow, gazing at the human leader, puzzled. "Humans, the Elven lands are rich and beautiful—here you can settle down, build families, and each of you can find a lovely wife. What could possibly be the reason for refusing?" Boval lifted a bowl of fruit wine, took a slow, composed sip, and said, "Respected Queen of the Elves, I know that no man entering the forest has ever made it out alive. So, please, do not deceive us any longer." The Elven queen and her surrounding elves exchanged a startled expression. Booval continued, "Of course, do not feel ashamed, noble Queen of the Elves, for... we are also deceivers. We are not mere wanderers without a home—we are, in fact, bounty hunters!" With that, he forcefully exhaled a deep stream of wine. The potent, narcotic breath spread rapidly, and the Elves around them gasped in succession, falling one after another. The young girl fell first, followed by the young woman. The elder Elves, with higher ranks, did not immediately succumb, turning instead toward the wooden huts, seeking weapons to defend themselves. But before they had taken even a few steps, they began to stagger and fall. Zhang Yuanqing surveyed the scene, seeing all the Elves fall, and then himself grew weak, gently collapsing to one side, feigning unconsciousness. The Elven chieftain's cheeks flushed with a delicate glow, as though overcome by the wine, wobbling slightly before she steadied herself. With her sea-blue eyes wide and bright, she fixed her gaze on the men, her voice rising in anger: "You—what do you intend to do to our people?" Booval didn't answer immediately. He picked up a young girl by the side, his rough hands kneading the full, soft chest, then nodded with satisfaction. "The beauty of the elves is enough to make kings and nobles go mad. It's a waste to hide them in the forest. Respectful Queen, I will send your people to various kingdoms." "Of course," he added, "before that, you have ample time to share your beds with us." As he spoke, the men unfastened the ropes at their waists and bound the girls' hands and feet. Only then could they finally draw deep breaths. At the very moment the chief had exhaled his wine, the hunters had instinctively held their breath, minimizing the impact. "Please, please," the elven queen whispered, her eyes glistening, her voice full of poignant appeal. Boivard's eyes grew enchanted, his heart softened, but soon he restrained his desires and smiled, saying, "Queen of the Elves, your charm has failed me, for even before we set out, I had already transformed my affection—from women to men." This would effectively ward off the elves' beauty. The Queen immediately adjusted her posture, furrowing her brows. How could the distortion of a drunkard be so effective? Zhang Yuanqing, pretending to be unconscious, was momentarily struck, thinking: Indeed, a true ancient cultivator—his elaborate techniques outshine even today's elven travelers. While waiting for his men to bind the elves, Boivard continued, "Queen of the Elves, the duke we've been hired by holds considerable power. Your efforts to allure the men of nearby villages have reached his ears. The common folk are the duke's property, as they must annually deliver grain to him. The duke is deeply displeased and has hired us to eliminate the elves from the forest. Should he learn of the elves' beauty, he would surely regret it. "The Elven Queen, before my companions take them away, I would like to ask you one thing—please answer me clearly." The Elven chieftain breathed lightly, his head slightly dizzy, and spoke coldly: "What more do you desire?" Boval turned toward the deep forest. "Through our investigations, we have found that the former Elven people, while fond of enticing men to enjoy pleasure and reproduce, never harmed men living outside the forest. But this has changed over the past year. A farmer who had escaped reported that after dusk, you became unusually erratic—immersed in joy and losing your senses. In times when men were scarce, you even accepted the male deer. Respected Queen of the Elves, may I ask—why has this happened?" The elf queen's face paled; her deep blue eyes darted wildly, and two clear tears rolled down her cheeks as she wept, pleading, "Brave bounty hunters, please spare me! I will fulfill every single one of your needs—such as my body..." With a gentle stroke of her fingertip across the leather chestplate, the fine leather split, releasing two large white rabbits that trembled with delicate allure. The bounty hunters halted, their gazes fixed in rapt fascination, their soft gurgling sounds of swallowing never ceasing. Though the love specialist had little offensive power, her charm was nearly unbeatable. The very next moment, the hunters' heads clicked one after another, turning uniformly toward the left, deliberately stepping away from the elf queen's body. Boval distorted his subordinates' vision, tore off a corner of his linen outer garment, and tied it tightly over his eyes, then picked up the wooden bow resting against the table, drawing an arrow that defied the laws of motion and struck directly at the elf queen's abdomen. She murmured in pain, clutching her abdomen and sinking wearily into a seat. Bouvard took deep breaths, striving to suppress the growing tide of desire, and said, "Queen of the Elves, you are not on my list of sales, for your charm is unmatched—even I, whose tastes have been warped, cannot withstand it. Therefore, I shall kill you." Drawing his bow, he aimed at the queen's chest, "But if you can tell me the secret of the forest, I will spare your life." The queen gazed at the sharp arrowhead, her heart filled with fear, instinctively biting her lip in an effort to enchant her foe. Yet Bouvard had covered his eyes and could not see her beauty. The power of her voice alone was now greatly diminished. The bowstring slowly drew taut.