Chapter 376- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (15)
Some of the elves might not have noticed, but as the most powerful being among the elven race, the Elven Queen naturally perceived the extraordinary nature of Mu Jin’s method for reviving the young treant.
Reviving a treant was far more complex than it appeared. Even the Elven Mother Tree was incapable of such a feat. Yet, with a single gesture, Mu Jin unleashed an overwhelming surge of vitality from his fingertips, channeling it directly into the sapling’s body, thereby fully restoring it to life.
Moreover, observing how close the young treant was to Mu Jin, it was evident that this man was far more than a mere high-level mage. Reflecting on her inherited memories, the Queen could think of only one being with such immense power.
Her heart trembled with realization. She immediately dropped to one knee and, bowing toward Mu Jin, exclaimed, “My lord, Abyssal Sovereign! We are eternally grateful for your mercy in saving the treant race!”
The other elves, upon hearing their queen’s words, were momentarily stunned into silence. But it wasn’t long before they, too, followed her lead, dropping to one knee and bowing in reverence to the most formidable presence on the continent.
Though tens of thousands of years had passed and the dragons had long slumbered, both elves and treants had never forgotten the unparalleled might of the dragons—a power so overwhelming that no other race could compare.
Standing to the side, Norris wore an expression of pride and exhilaration, clearly feeling honored to be associated with Mu Jin.
Mu Jin’s lips curled slightly into a faint smile, but he did not deny the title bestowed upon him by the Elven Queen.
Revealing such a display of power and being recognized was well within his expectations.
He was fully aware that his strength alone would compel the elves to submit. Yet, Mu Jin found little satisfaction in relying solely on force to coerce others, especially since he already knew that the Elven Queen harbored deep resentment toward the protagonist, Gardner.
As long as Mu Jin helped the Elven Queen revive the treant race, the elves would undoubtedly be willing to serve him. Moreover, perhaps because Mu Jin’s current worldly form was also plant-based, he felt an innate closeness to the treant race.
Looking at the tiny treant in his palm, clutching his finger and acting adorably, Mu Jin extended a finger to gently touch the young treant’s cheek. The little treant immediately struck a shy pose, swaying its two small branches as though bashfully responding to Mu Jin’s affection. This widened the gentle smile on Mu Jin’s face even more.
Seeing Mu Jin’s calm and kind demeanor as he interacted with the young treant helped ease the tension among the elves. This great being seemed far less intimidating than the legends suggested—at least, he was exceedingly gentle with the treant. A figure so deeply loved by plants and nature must surely possess a kind heart.
However, the Elven Queen’s thoughts ran deeper than those of her people. Mu Jin’s lack of denial earlier confirmed that her guess was correct. She never would have imagined that the delicate and elegant human before her was, in fact, a powerful dragon in his true form.
Though she remained profoundly grateful for Mu Jin’s act of reviving the young treant, she now felt an even greater sense of reverence. The Elven Queen doubted that Mu Jin’s actions were without purpose, so she cautiously probed, asking, “My lord, may I ask what business brings you to the Elven Forest?”
Hearing the Queen’s inquiry, Mu Jin nodded in satisfaction and replied, “You must despise Gardner, don’t you?”
The Elven Queen’s eyes widened in shock. She had not expected Mu Jin to know about this matter. Yet, considering his immense power, it wasn’t entirely surprising that he was aware of Gardner.
What truly caught her off guard was Mu Jin’s next question: “Do you want revenge?”
This statement was deeply tempting to both the Elven Queen and her people. They loathed the villain who had destroyed their homeland and killed their friends.
Hearing Mu Jin’s words, a surge of resolve rose in the hearts of the elves. In the past, they had been powerless against Gardner’s might. But now, with this great being standing behind them, what was there to fear?
“Of course we want revenge!” the Elven Queen declared firmly to Mu Jin. “My lord, we beg for your assistance. We must make that wicked man pay for his crimes!”
As soon as the Queen finished speaking, the surrounding elves straightened their backs, brimming with a fierce determination as if they were ready to charge into battle against Gardner immediately. Seeing this, Mu Jin chuckled softly. He hadn’t come to the Elven Forest to turn the elves into soldiers sent to die on the battlefield.
He raised a hand, motioning for them to calm down, and said, “There’s no need for such excitement. I didn’t come here to put you in harm’s way. I will help you because I’ve always had a deep love for the forest and nature. You have done an excellent job preserving and caring for everything around you, which pleases me greatly.”
“Moreover, the treant race is one of my favorites. Gardner annihilated the entire treant race while I was in slumber. There’s no way I’ll let him get away with that.”
Hearing Mu Jin’s words, the elves were deeply moved. This powerful being had chosen to oppose Gardner for their sake—it was truly noble and kind of him.
However, Norris was less pleased. Hearing Mu Jin say that the treants were his favorite race made a twinge of jealousy rise in his heart. He couldn’t help but feel a little sour about it. But when he glanced at the tiny treant in Mu Jin’s hand, he forced himself to suppress his jealousy. Consoling himself, he thought, ‘This little thing doesn’t pose any threat at all.’
Mu Jin dismissed the other elves, leaving only Norris by his side as he discussed a plan with the Elven Queen.
The Elven Queen wasn’t surprised that Mu Jin knew about her false, ambiguous relationship with Gardner. After all, the surprises Mu Jin had given her that day were already too many to count. However, she still felt a deep sense of shame. To protect the Elven race, she had been forced to feign affection for that despicable man.
She did not object to any of the tasks Mu Jin asked of her. She now fully trusted the inherited memories that had described Mu Jin’s overwhelming power—a level of strength far beyond their comprehension. Whatever this lord wished to do was not something she could question.
Over the next few days, Mu Jin spent his time leisurely in the Elven Forest with Norris. He admired the stunning scenery, basked in the harmony of nature, and enjoyed the unique delicacies of the forest. He even stayed in an enchanting treehouse, living as if on a honeymoon.
Meanwhile, the Elven Queen left the forest and secretly traveled to the human kingdom to meet Gardner.
Gardner was overjoyed to see the Elven Queen taking the initiative to visit him. Compared to the innocent charm of a princess, the Queen’s ethereal and otherworldly beauty suited his tastes far better.
In her presence, Gardner maintained a polished and courteous demeanor, putting some effort into cultivating what he believed to be a bond between them. Little did he know that the Queen, whom he thought harbored deep affection for him, actually loathed him to the core.
When the Elven Queen told Gardner that she had come because she missed him, he was filled with smug satisfaction. As they chatted, Gardner naturally sought to present his best side. Proudly, he even gifted her one of the most exquisite magical artifacts recently crafted in the goblin workshops.
The Elven Queen feigned an expression of surprise and admiration as she exclaimed to Gardner, “Gardner, how on earth did you manage to make those goblins work for you willingly? You know, goblins are notoriously difficult to deal with. Even I would need to put in significant effort to acquire top-tier artifacts like these.”
Pleased by the compliment, Gardner immediately began boasting. “It’s all thanks to this,” he said.
As he spoke, he pulled a black object resembling a stamp from his pocket. The item bore an intricate and complex design etched onto its surface.
The Elven Queen’s eyes flashed with interest as she picked up the stamp and asked curiously, “What is this?”
Gardner grinned and explained, “This is the Goblin Mark. With it, I can control the goblins and make them work for me. I happened to come across it by chance.”
“Incredible! A mark with such magical properties!” the Elven Queen exclaimed in astonishment, her tone filled with admiration. She then praised Gardner warmly, her affectionate words making him feel even more smug and elated at her apparent adoration.
…
Meanwhile, Mu Jin and Norris were relaxing by a lake filled with fireflies, fishing under the soft glow of the tiny creatures. The tranquil and picturesque setting was serene, though slightly marred by their lack of success—despite sitting there for a long time, not a single fish had taken the bait.
A few elves had gathered nearby, whispering among themselves. To them, dragons were awe-inspiring, powerful, and fearsome beings. However, looking at Mu Jin in his human form, with his delicate and adorable appearance, he seemed far more like one of their own than the majestic creature they had imagined. Their curiosity was inevitable.
Norris, noticing the elves’ fascinated stares, began to feel a little annoyed. This knowledge about Mu Jin was supposed to be their special secret, something just between the two of them. Now, not only did others know, but there was also a clingy little tree spirit constantly following Mu Jin around.
Feeling jealous, Norris glanced sulkily at the tiny tree spirit near Mu Jin’s feet, busying itself with catching earthworms.