The issue with the map was the trigger.

“Are you seriously going to talk about the map? You’re trading your life with the sacrifice of so many people!

“I’d rather die than give away the map!

“Rustam, you, of all people, should know better!

“I think our friendship has come to an end. Zuxra, are you coming with us?”

The team was falling apart.

Zuxra was dumbfounded. She had always thought no matter how bad their differences were, they would always reconcile in the end.

They had gone through so much together. She had lost count of the time they had quarreled. It was almost a daily activity.

Still, things always got better in the end. Nobody ever talked about leaving. Zuxra was dumbfounded to see this.

“I know we’ve different opinions, but let’s not take it too far.” She believed they could still turn things around. “We’ve been through so much together. Although we had fights, we still care about each other!

“Please don’t say things we can’t take back. Let’s all take a good rest and continue our journey tomorrow.”

Zuxra wanted to play the peacemaker and calm down the three men. However, nobody listened to her, including Rustam.

Rustam said, “Fine. We’ll go our separate ways. This is where we part. From now on, you and I have nothing to do with one another!

“Zuxra, you can come with either side. It doesn’t matter to me. That’s all I have to say. Bye!”

Rustam walked in another direction. He showed no hesitation. There were no good feelings between them anymore, so it wasn’t strange that something like this happened.

Rustam had been ready to leave for a long time. He could feel there was a sense of separation among the team. As they lost more members, that feeling became more prominent.

Even if the other men hadn’t said anything, he was going to leave anyway. The team wasn’t what it used to be.

Zuxra burst into tears as she watched Rustam leave. She wanted to hold him from behind and tell him that she was on his side. However, she didn’t have the courage.

She could only watch as Rustam walked out of her sight. With him gone, there were only three people on the team.

“I think we should return. There are only three of us left, so I think our mission is half-finished. The chief wouldn’t blame us.”

The two men nodded at each other without seeking Zuxra’s opinion. They would make all the decisions from now on. If they thought it was alright, they would do it. If not, they wouldn’t.

Zuxra was irrelevant.

…

“Master, I think they had a fight,” said Firey.

She could sense what happened even from so far away. Himmel Soan didn’t need her reminder, though. However, he was an outsider and had no excuse to intervene.

“Firey, do you think he’ll be safe on his own?” Himmel Soan asked.

Firey thought for a moment. If she were alone in this forest, she knew she wouldn’t be in any danger. But Rustam wasn’t her, so she couldn’t say for sure. She didn’t know anything about him.

Therefore, when her master asked that question, she needed to think it over.

“If he explores this forest on his own, he’ll have an accident in a few days.” Firey shook her head.

She was already giving Rustam a lot of credit. Still, she reached the same conclusion. The bear she just ate could wipe out that entire team. If they ran into another one, without Himmel Soan’s help, they wouldn’t be that lucky.

“Let’s follow him around for a few more days. We can observe how he survives in the forest. Maybe we can find an answer to the incompatible energy he talked about.” Himmel Soan soon made a decision.

Rustam had left a good impression on him because he had been trying to repay him ever since he saved the team. There was also the episode with the map. Therefore, Himmel Soan wanted to help him.

Well, he was more like a secret guardian angel. As for the three-man team, he felt they could protect themselves.

They had suggested returning, so they wouldn’t stay in the forest for too long. He didn’t need to worry about them.

“Are we going to follow him in secret?” Firey asked curiously.

“Yes. Let’s not reveal ourselves. We’ll give him a hand when he’s in danger.”

If they showed up now and let Rustam follow them around, it would feel rather strange. There would be caution and tension between them.

Following Rustam in secret was a better choice for Himmel Soan. He wanted to see him as who he genuinely was.

The following day, Firey rubbed her rumbling stomach. It had been a while since she last ate. She couldn’t follow the man in silence like this. Several times, she almost ran out of her hiding place when she sensed some danger.

Luckily, Himmel Soan stopped her in time. The beasts making those noises would have all turned into Firey’s dinner. The more she ate, the stronger she became.

Himmel Soan had observed the energy flow in her body. Everything was going in the right direction. The beasts were like candies to her without any side effects.

“Calm down. They’re just some magical beasts. There’s no need to get so excited. I heard there are scared beasts out there.”