Four days later, a cool autumn breeze swept across the vast swamp, dispelling the last lingering traces of summer's stuffiness and sticky humidity. The air became crisp, dry, and slightly cool.
On both sides of the road, the leaves of the Swamp Oak Trees were visibly turning from green to yellow. A slightly stronger autumn wind swept through, and countless golden leaves fluttered down like dancing butterflies, drifting and swirling to blanket the kingdom's main thoroughfare, which the slimes had paved flat and solid. They gilded the gray-brown road surface with a brilliant, golden sheen.
On the road, several swamp draft animals, clad in thick autumn pelts, were slowly pulling several widened and reinforced wooden carts deeper into the Western Swamp. The wheels crunched over the fallen leaves and hard-packed earth, emitting a rhythmic creaking sound.
The carts were filled with lizardfolk from the Eastern Swamp fortress. Most wore the new, sturdy fur-lined coats issued by the kingdom, which could ward off the morning and evening chill.
The young lizardfolk warriors excitedly gazed at the unfamiliar and novel scenery along the way, while the older ones carefully tended to the luggage and belongings piled on the carts.
A few slime scholars, also preparing to go to the Royal Capital for further study, were squeezed in among the lizardfolk, their round bodies gently swaying with the jostling of the carts.
"Tulk, I heard the Royal Capital deep in the swamp is much bigger than the Eastern Fortress we've been staying in. They say there are streets wider than the Reed River channel, tall houses built from stone and glowing gel, and nights brighter than swarms of fireflies. Is that true?"
At the very front of the cart train, a young lizardfolk whose scales gleamed with a healthy sheen under the autumn sun nudged his companion's shoulder with a stout arm and asked curiously.
His name was Salaman, exceptionally burly in build, clearly a lizardfolk warrior.
Compared to Salaman's brawn, Tulk's frame was slimmer and smaller. Around his neck hung a string of various beast teeth, a necklace symbolizing his shaman status.
It was precisely because of his past bravery and wisdom that the Rotten Moss Tribe had managed to escape famine and threats from powerful enemies, joining this fantastical Slime Kingdom.
Not only would they no longer have to worry about starving, but that great Slime Majesty had even personally ordered the selection of many promising young lizardfolk warriors like Salaman from the tribe for systematic military training, hoping to help them become qualified Kingdom Knights.
The lizardfolk's future was no longer uncertain.
For this, all the lizardfolk of the Rotten Moss Tribe were secretly immensely grateful. They threw themselves into training with all their might every day. Combined with the excellent rations provided by the kingdom, they had visibly shed the scrawny, malnourished appearance caused by long-term hardship, becoming much more robust and solid, their scales glossier.
Before Tulk could even speak, a slime scholar who had originally been squeezed among the luggage pile at the back struggled out from a gap, hopped between the two of them, puffed out its round little belly, and snorted proudly, "Mudoo, very big! Very big! One thousand... ten thousand Pumudoo couldn't fill it!"
"The newly built training ground, big. You can train there, get stronger, better."
Tulk had actually heard from Little Flower quite some time ago that deep in the Western Swamp, a new city was being constructed, which would become the kingdom's center in the future. At that time, Little Flower had said only the city wall framework was built, and it was still quite desolate.
But in the short span of the past month, when he inquired again with a slime engineer who had participated in the Royal Capital's construction, the other excitedly told him that comfortable habitats specifically designed for lizardfolk, as well as a grand Kingdom Knight training camp, had already been built there.
It was said the training ground there was absurdly large, dozens of times the size of the Rotten Moss Tribe's camp, allowing for simultaneous training in horsemanship, combat, archery, formations, and more. There was even an obstacle course simulating complex terrain.
"Salaman, Mr. Pum has been to the Royal Capital, seen Mudoo with his own eyes. Of course it's true." Tulk smiled, responding to his companion's query, his own tone also carrying anticipation.
Salaman was about the same age as him, already recognized as the most formidable warrior in the Rotten Moss Tribe despite his youth. He was exceptionally brave and had sharp combat instincts.
Even the old shaman Shazak privately believed he was very likely to be the first to pass the rigorous knight trials set by His Majesty, becoming the unprecedented lizardfolk Kingdom Knight.
At this moment, Salaman's amber, slit-pupiled eyes shone with excitement and longing. He tightly gripped the battle axe crafted by the kingdom's blacksmith resting on his knees, as if already seeing himself sweating profusely on the training ground.
But in Pum's view, Salaman's appearance was exactly like a country bumpkin lizardfolk seeing a big city for the first time.
This guy... is definitely going to be awestruck by that magnificent Mudoo, Pum thought smugly, puffing out its little belly.
It had gone to "inspect" the Royal Capital during its early construction phase, having seen those grand structures rising from the ground and the busy, orderly construction sites.
That place was undoubtedly a land of miracles.
On the carts, the other lizardfolk also whispered among themselves, discussing the Royal Capital they were about to reach, their tones full of excitement and yearning for a new life.
Autumn migration wasn't unfamiliar to swamp creatures, but the destination and significance of this migration were completely different from any before.
But just then, old shaman Shazak, sitting in the middle of a cart, wrapped in a thick woolen blanket with his eyes closed in rest, slowly opened his slightly clouded eyes.
He tilted his head slightly and whispered something to a young lizardfolk attending him. Soon, the message was relayed to Tulk at the front of the convoy.
"Tulk, Elder Shazak says he just received a 'Nature's' revelation during his meditation."
"The revelation says... on our way to the Royal Capital, we will encounter an envoy of nature. Elder Shazak asks you to be watchful."
"An envoy of nature?" Tulk's expression turned grave immediately, shedding his relaxed demeanor and becoming serious.
Although Elder Shaman Shazak was old and his physical strength wasn't what it used to be, his ability to communicate with nature and receive revelations was highly revered throughout the Rotten Moss Tribe.
Tulk wouldn't dare take his words lightly in the slightest.
"Go back and tell Shaman Shazak I will be watchful."
After the lizardfolk relayed the message back, Pum, beside him, hopped once and said, "His Majesty, forest sage, gel network, didn't say, envoy visiting."
Tulk also found it strange. If there truly was an envoy of nature visiting the kingdom, the gel network covering the entire kingdom should have spread the news long ago.
He was pondering this when Salaman beside him urgently patted his shoulder hard, pointing a thick finger toward the roadside not far ahead.
"Tulk, look, is that it?"
Tulk quickly looked up.
He saw that beside a large, dead, fallen tree by the roadside ahead lay something that looked sickly.
It seemed to be a thick tree stump, but its surface faintly revealed the contours of a wrinkled human face. A few bare, thin branches remained at the top of the stump.
At this moment, the face on the tree stump was slightly opening its mouth, weakly waving tiny, withered branches toward the direction of the convoy, emitting a faint voice:
"Kind children, save... save this pitiful old one... I'm almost gone..."
Tulk deeply believed in the old shaman's instructions. Seeing this, he quickly signaled the convoy to stop. He and Salaman jumped off the cart and cautiously approached the "tree stump."
Upon getting closer, they saw more clearly that the stump's surface was dry, cracked, and rough, indeed looking as if it had lost moisture long ago.
"Old sir, what happened to you?" Tulk crouched down and asked cautiously.
"Water... I need water... and... a little fertile soil..." the stump elder said weakly.
Tulk hesitated no longer. Together with Salaman, they carefully lifted the heavy tree stump and moved it onto a cart with less cargo. Following its request, they poured some fresh water from the water skins they carried onto the dry, cracked roots of the stump, then brought over some relatively moist swamp mud to cover the surrounding area.
The lizardfolk and slimes, hearing that Tulk had rescued a "talking tree stump," curiously gathered around, crowding near the cart, chattering and discussing animatedly.
"Thank you... thank you, kind children." After receiving moisture, the wrinkled face on the tree stump seemed to relax a little, its eyes regaining a bit of vitality. Its voice, though still aged, was no longer so weak.
"I feel... much better."
Tulk gestured for everyone to quiet down, then politely asked, "Old sir, why were you lying here alone? Did you encounter some trouble?"
The stump elder sighed, its branches swaying slightly. "You may call me... Alders, a name born from the dryad tree-tongue."
"I originally lived in an ancient forest. But not long ago, a terrible fire swept through there. My home was burned to ashes, many old friends... I was merely fortunate to escape the sea of flames."
"I heard my niece Viola had established a new dryad domain in the swamp, so I thought to come seek refuge with her, ask for shelter, and see if I could help a little... After all, having lived this long, I still know a bit about forests and nature."
"But I never expected the swamp paths to be so difficult to traverse. I'm unfamiliar with the terrain and got hopelessly lost... If not for meeting you kind children, I'm afraid I would have withered away here."
"Viola?" Tulk, Salaman, and the surrounding lizardfolk exchanged glances, unfamiliar with the name.
It was Pum who hopped over and interjected, "Lady Viola, His Majesty's ally, dryad domain lord, southwest of Mudoo, a bit far."
"His Majesty has dryad allies?" Tulk felt a sense of novelty, and his belief in this "Mr. Alders'" identity grew a bit. Since he was a relative of an ally, helping him was only right.
"Mr. Alders, since you are Lady Viola's relative, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Why not follow our convoy back to the Royal Capital first? His Majesty will surely arrange everything properly for you. Once you've recovered, we can send you to the dryad domain to reunite with your family, or you can stay and live in the Royal Capital."
Upon hearing the word "Royal Capital," a look of confusion appeared on Alders' face. "Royal Capital? What Royal Capital? There's a city in this swamp?"
Even though he had heard from Viola before coming that the entire Eastern Swamp and parts of the Western Swamp had been integrated into a force called the "Slime Kingdom," he truly couldn't connect the concepts of "slime" with "Royal Capital" or "city."
This made him, a Forest Sage from the Golden Radiance Valley who had seen much of the world, appear instead like a country bumpkin old man from a remote backwater in front of the lizardfolk and slimes.
Indeed, in reality, he had already visited Viola's dryad domain some time ago. His current identity was merely a disguise, allowing him to personally see the kingdom the slimes were building and understand that newly emerged Slime Sage, all to recruit fresh blood for the Forest Sage Council.
"Viola didn't tell me about these details..." Alders muttered.
"What did you say?" Tulk didn't catch his whisper and asked, puzzled.
"Ahem... nothing, nothing." Alders quickly covered up. "Just a bit surprised... Child, I'll trouble you then. May nature bless you."
Since there was Elder Shazak's "revelation" beforehand, Tulk didn't suspect anything. He directed the convoy to set off again, continuing along the hardened road adorned with golden fallen leaves, advancing toward the Royal Capital.
On the journey, Alders, having received water, seemed to "recover" quite a bit of energy. He actively sought conversation with Tulk and Salaman, appearing to chat casually while actually observing and learning.
"Children, judging by your attire... are you also subjects of the Slime Kingdom?" Alders looked at the brand-new fur coat on Salaman and his robust physique.
Salaman proudly puffed out his chest, patting his solid torso, which produced a dull thud. "Of course! His Majesty mercifully accepted our Rotten Moss Tribe, treating every lizardfolk equally."
"The kingdom provides us with ample food, builds warm dwellings, and has special training grounds and instructors to guide us in getting stronger. We'll never have to worry about starving or freezing during Winter Years again."
His eyes shone with sincere gratitude. "Our Majesty is the greatest, most benevolent king!"
Alder nodded inwardly. He had carefully observed Salaman and the other lizardfolk on the carts.
Indeed, these lizardfolk were generally physically fit, their scales glossy and healthy, their eyes bright and spirited—completely different from the scrawny, timid lizardfolk he'd seen elsewhere suffering from food scarcity.
This was clearly a sign of stable living conditions and adequate nutrition.
It seems... at least in treating his subjects, this Slime King is doing well. The worry in Alders' heart lessened slightly.
A wise king who treated intelligent beings kindly and could provide a stable life was, at the very least, not a tyrant ruling purely through violence and fear, or a demon in disguise.
But he hadn't completely let his guard down.
The reason the Forest Sage Council sent a sage like him to secretly investigate the newly emerged "sage" and his kingdom stemmed from a painful lesson over three hundred years ago.
Back then, a great demon skilled in deception and disguise, using some unknown method, managed to slip past the council's initial vetting, successfully infiltrating their ranks, even attaining a fairly high position.
During its infiltration period, it secretly assassinated multiple sages, dealing a near-crippling blow to the council.
Since then, the council's organizational structure had become more loose and secretive. Members often addressed each other by code names or aliases, rarely revealing true identities or locations.
Simultaneously, the threshold for admitting new members became extremely high, with the vetting process rigorous and lengthy.
The council sending him to investigate this Slime Sage and his kingdom was just one part of the vetting process.
Of course, such investigations were typically conducted in secret.
On one hand, if the subject of investigation learned of the council's intentions beforehand, they might deliberately put on a facade, rendering the investigation meaningless.
On the other hand, the council itself also realized their organization was too ancient, urgently needing to replenish fresh blood. They couldn't let promising new sages feel the council was aloof and difficult to approach.
They weren't like those ossified, tradition-bound old fossils of the Ancient Tree Council who chanted ancient doctrines all day. Sages also needed to keep up with the times, adapt to changes, to better combat increasingly cunning, disguise-prone enemies.
Their enemies were many and complex. Any enemy of nature was their enemy.
This included, but was not limited to—the demon legions that trampled scorched earth, evil magical creature lords who slaughtered life indiscriminately, human nobles and merchants who wantonly felled or burned forests for profit... Even the elves of the Ancient Tree Council were viewed by the Sage Council as opponents requiring vigilance.
Precisely because of this, they had to act cautiously, not easily revealing their identities and purpose.
Along his journey, Alders hadn't only listened to the Slime Kingdom's official propaganda. Through some discreet channels, he had also heard "alternative" rumors about that slime.
Some said it was a "demon king" disguised as a sage, colluding with vampires, using evil magic to control its subjects. Others claimed it was actually a monster possessed by some ancient evil god, brewing a terrible conspiracy deep in the swamp...
These rumors were a mix of truth and falsehood, difficult to discern, but they forced Alders to raise his guard to the utmost once more. He needed to see with his own eyes, experience personally, to form his own judgment.