The Resurgence of Evil

In the following days, Luo Wei stayed with this hunter family in the western part of Velen, enjoying a rare period of peace.

Every morning after breakfast, he would accompany Hunter Brother on hunting trips or sit by the river to fish. In the afternoons, he would chat idly with Hunter Sister while skinning and cleaning the game. His days followed a strict routine—rising with the sun and resting at sunset—a life so orderly it was almost surreal.

Here, there were no endless troublesome cases or the political scheming of the Royal Capital's elite. Instead, there was only the vast, desolate wilderness stretching as far as the eye could see, and the endless blue sky with clouds so close it felt like one could reach out and touch them.

Not a bad life, Luo Wei thought as he lay on the riverside grass, fishing half-heartedly...

Of course, it would be even better without that constant feeling of being watched.

Luo Wei raised his head and glanced around.

Though Eleya wasn’t by his side, he knew she was watching him every second of the day.

"Brother Luo Wei, what are you looking around for?" Hunter Brother also started scanning the surroundings nervously. "You’ve got me on edge—I thought there might be wild beasts nearby."

"Nothing, just keep fishing." Luo Wei shook his head and stood up to check his float.

"The fish already ate all your bait..." Hunter Brother sighed. "Are you fishing or feeding them?"

"This is called ‘playing the long game’—waiting for the big catch," Luo Wei said with a smirk. "You wouldn’t understand, Brother. I’m actually a master angler—never once have I gone home empty-handed."

"Really?" Hunter Brother looked skeptical. "And what’s this ‘empty-handed’ you’re talking about?"

"Never mind." Luo Wei grabbed another handful of bait and tossed it into the river, sending a splash across the calm surface.

Hunter Brother could only shake his head in disbelief.

"By the way, Brother," Luo Wei suddenly remembered something, "Hunter Sister mentioned that there’s been an increase in wild animals around the valley lately. Have you come across anything particularly strange? Like creatures with bizarre shapes?"

"Bizarre creatures?" Hunter Brother pondered for a moment. "Not really, but the water levels in the valley have definitely risen, attracting all kinds of animals. This oasis has been thriving more and more over the past four years..."

"Hmm..." Luo Wei fell into thought. The ecological changes around Blackwater Town were likely tied to his arrival four years ago.

Back then, after he, Tilis, and Eleya eradicated the cult that had taken root in Blackwater Town, the ancient river channel, once cut off, had been restored. In contrast, the eerie forest surrounding the town had withered, growing increasingly barren.

"Must’ve been because of those cultists..." Hunter Brother mused. "The folks who escaped the town back then said those fanatics used some dark ritual to drain the life from this land—that’s why our soil turned so desolate..."

He added gratefully, "But thank the gods! Four years ago, a few nameless heroes arrived in town and drove the cultists away. That’s when this land finally started healing."

Luo Wei couldn’t help but smile at that.

His accidental heroics from years ago had now become the stuff of local legend. It was an amusing thought.

"What else did those heroes do? I’m curious—tell me more," Luo Wei urged eagerly.

"I could talk for three days straight and still not finish!" Hunter Brother grew animated. "They say the three heroes were one man and two women. The man was over two meters tall, with a thick beard and muscles like an ox. And the women? Built like warriors—could punch a cultist’s head clean off!"

Luo Wei silently glanced at his own barely-there biceps.

Had the rumors really gotten this exaggerated in less than four years?

As they chatted, ripples suddenly disturbed the water near Hunter Brother’s line. He quickly signaled for silence.

"Shh—got a bite!"

"Must be the bait I threw in earlier," Luo Wei said smugly. "Told you I’m a fishing expert—you just didn’t believe me."

Hunter Brother seized the moment and yanked the rod upward.

But the force from beneath the water was unexpectedly strong—so much so that he nearly lost his grip.

"It’s huge!" Hunter Brother called to Luo Wei. "Help me out here!"

Luo Wei stared at the violent splashing, sensing something was off, but he still stepped in to assist.

To their shock, even with both of them pulling, they were almost dragged into the river.

Luo Wei was stunned. His strength had long since recovered, and his stats weren’t just for show—yet whatever was down there was overpowering them both.

So he had no choice but to resort to magic.

With a loud boom, water sprayed three meters into the air as Hunter Brother reeled in a massive, shadowy figure.

"What in the—what is this?" Hunter Brother gaped at the thing on the ground. "Since when do fish have tentacles?"

Luo Wei fired a [Magic Missile], obliterating the grotesque, multi-mouthed abomination.

"Fish don’t have four mouths either. That’s no fish—it’s a monster."

Ignoring Hunter Brother’s shaken expression, Luo Wei turned his gaze upstream, toward Blackwater Town.

It seemed the dark power had awakened once more.

Four years ago, the cultists in Blackwater Town had worshipped a dark deity known as the "Mother of Abundance," whose domain was tied to "life"—or more specifically, "fertility." The cultists had sought to awaken the Mother, transforming the forest into a breeding ground for her offspring.

Blackwater Town had been the final challenge in Luo Wei’s first journey. His party had only dismantled the cult and disrupted the ritual, never addressing the root of the problem—the soil of the dark god’s influence remained.

Now, after four years, the seal on the "Mother of Abundance" was showing signs of weakening. It worried Luo Wei. Back then, even in her half-awakened state, the horrors she spawned had been terrifying enough. If they had to face her directly...

"This land has been tainted," Luo Wei said gravely. "Brother, you two should really consider moving."

"Move..." Hunter Brother shook his head. "Where else is there to go?"

"To the Royal Capital of Velen," Luo Wei suggested. "There are supernaturals stationed there, and the Church of the Holy Light. It’s far safer than here."

Hunter Brother gave a bitter laugh. "We fled the Royal Capital six years ago. Our family got caught up in the nobles’ wars—that’s why we hid in this godforsaken place. We’ve already left our homeland behind. Where else can we go?"

"I see..." Luo Wei knew Velen had always been unstable, but he hadn’t realized these two had such a past.

He sighed helplessly. Truly, tyranny was fiercer than any beast...