Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Have you been living in the cold storage since then?"

"Yes, occasionally someone comes to cut my hair and feathers, and then gives me some food."

After recounting her general experiences, Orenna dared to look up at Hexia.

"It's okay now, someone will take care of you from here on out." Tilan comforted her for a while, and Orenna quickly cheered up. As Flan and Guy said, the Silkworm Moth Species are really easy to pacify.

Letting Moli take Orenna to eat, Tilan continued sitting in the front hall reading. Later, when her companions who went out for a leisurely walk returned, everyone quieted down considerably upon seeing Tilan before going around to the dining room to eat, then bathe and sleep.

After a good night's rest and sleep, Tilan and the others hit the road again, with one more slightly happier Silkworm Moth Species in their party this time.

On the way, Orenna lay by the window, tirelessly gazing at the scenery outside. Every time the wind blew, her nose would snuffle, breathing in delight, and even the moth wings on her back would flutter, though she still couldn't fly.

It always seemed like those wings were just for decoration and couldn't actually fly, Tilan thought as she glanced and then called Orenna over, gently pinching her wings on her back.

The texture was light and delicate, and after touching them, a little white powder remained on Tilan's fingers. Orenna said this powder is waterproof and has some cleansing and antibacterial properties, thus protecting the more fragile Silkworm Moth Species from getting sick, sparing their owners from the trouble of care.

"Do they use your hair as raw material to weave cloth?" Tilan thought of the habits and uses of silkworms.

"Yes, usually they cut it off and let me spin the thread and sew myself, but I grow slowly. The last time I spun yarn was a long time ago," Orenna answered earnestly.

Guy, who was riding alongside the carriage, heard this and casually replied, "The fabric woven from the Silkworm Moth Species' hair is the highest quality material on this land and sells at a high price. I guess the previous settlement leader locked her in the cold storage thinking she was a golden goose."

"Since the Silkworm Moth Species are so useful, why are they still so rare?" Tilan was slightly puzzled.

"I don't know either. Anyway, when I was a kid following the caravan to many places, they only ever bought products made by the Silkworm Moth Species, but never actually saw one," Guy reflected.

"I know a bit." Since joining the caravan, the relatively aloof Moli finally spoke up.

"The Silkworm Moth Species are just too fragile; they won't resist at all. That means, if a dog on the roadside chases her, she'd only dodge continuously. If someone tells her to stop, she probably wouldn't dare move at all."

"With such a nature, even a slight mistake would lead to being exploited by ill-intentioned people. Even settlements raising Silkworm Moth Species hide them away to prevent them from contacting others."

"So that's how it is." Flan, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't help expressing surprise and quickly jotted down notes in a small notebook as material for a report later.

In the following days, the caravan passed through several settlements, and the trade increased as well. Starting with just over ten carriages, they had now grown to nearly twenty. The goods exchanged and traded along the way were piled in the carriages.

Thus, the caravan continued deeper into the grasslands until one day, while Tilan was sitting in the carriage sensing something, she put down her book and looked out of the window.

In the distant view, the barren land stretched dry and yellow, while towards the horizon, a meandering wide river reflecting the sun's flash extended across the earth. Near the river, some herds of deer galloped by, a few stepping into the water trying to cross, only for crocodile-like wildlife to emerge and seize the passing deer.

The caravan gradually approached the riverbank and then stopped. Standing by the river, one could distinctly feel the moist water vapor spreading as the sunlight evaporated it.

"This is the place." Guy dismounted.

"This river doesn't have a special name because there's no other larger river in this land, so it's simply called 'Big River' or 'Giant River.'" He led his horse to the riverbank, took a few steps to find an appropriate spot to go down and let his horse drink some water.

"There are crocodile-like large turtles in the river. They are fierce but not fast. As long as you're careful, you won't get hurt." After that, Guy motioned for the caravan members to bring their horses down to drink water one by one.

Tilan also lightly jumped down from the carriage, walked in the refreshing river breeze, and gazed into the endless expanse of the river.

The river was over a hundred meters wide at its broadest point. Up close, it seemed slightly murky, but from a distance, it appeared sparklingly clear.

After days of monotonous grasslands, seeing this lively river brightened Tilan's mood significantly. She even thought of whether to take off her shoes and walk in the river, but approaching the river, seeing the yellow muddy waters, she retracted the thought and merely scooped the water slightly with her hand to feel the chilly water and the sensation of the flow slipping across her fingertips.

After a bit of rest, the caravan continued along the river, but this journey was much more interesting and enriching compared to the previous dull travel. Along the way, many animals came to drink from the grasslands, like herds of wildebeests, raptors, solitary lions and tigers, as well as some other caravans and travelers also making the journey.

"Are you also heading to the Wolf Blood King Camp?"

A caravan similar in scale to Tilan's group sent someone over to greet them, offering a bag of milk wine as a gesture of goodwill.

After examining it, Guy rode forward, walking alongside their representative, chatting as they went. The other party told Guy much recent information about the grasslands, and Guy told him about some happenings in the East, such as the fall of Shilin Mountain Castle and the pest disaster.

Midway, Guy returned to the caravan, came to Tilan's carriage, and told her about the news he just learned.

"They say recently, the Wolf Blood Queen has summoned many settlement leaders, seemingly planning something big."

"Because of this grand event, many merchants and curious travelers are flocking to the Wolf Blood King Camp like it's a market fair."

"Are we far from the King Camp?" Tilan was curious.

"Not far. In fact, this river marks the heart of the grasslands. Continuing along it, we could see the King Camp's location by tomorrow, and whether we can get in before dark will depend on our luck," Guy estimated the time.

"The order in the Wolf Blood Species Camp is still relatively decent. At least they have some dignity; under the pressure of the Wolf Blood Queen, no one else dares to act recklessly. Therefore, this area is safer for caravans."

"If we go there, we should meet many similar caravans, and if we need to gather food, we'll also encounter many settlement representatives in the King Camp, gaining lots of useful news. Of course, the most direct way is to trade with the Wolf Blood Species. They have plenty of food reserves, various dried fish, cured meats, fruits from the grasslands, and so on."

"If that's the case, let's go." Tilan nodded.

Just like the old saying in the East: since we are here, let's not miss it.

"Got it~" Guy acknowledged, then waved his horsewhip, moving back and forth along the caravan to inform everyone to advance towards the King Camp and convey Miss Hexia's will.

He probably had such a plan in mind all along, Tilan watched Guy's actions and thought to herself, then nonchalantly shook her head.

Enjoying bustling events is human nature. She was also quite curious just how strong the Wolf Blood Queen was, how she could suppress all the forces across this grasslands with her power, allowing the Wolf Blood Species to occupy the most fertile lands.

If she led the Chasing Star Covenant to settle in this land, they would eventually meet. Understanding the other's character beforehand would be beneficial.

The afternoon sun gradually slanted, and the caravan leisurely progressed along the river. Tilan sat in the carriage with unwritten plans and texts before her, occasionally twirling the pen between her fingers, contemplating how to construct the 'Chasing Star Covenant', how to handle the affairs among various internal species, and how to define the core beliefs and rules, and so forth.

Although she had held positions like student council president and club leader before, leading an organization from scratch and expanding it was far more complex than campus life. But if she could genuinely take it one step at a time, it would also be a huge improvement for her.

Perhaps only through such a process, leading a large organization to stand firm in a harsh environment and gradually build and expand, can she truly grow into a competent leader, rather than merely a flower-encrusted songstress rallying slogans or a military figure only familiar with solving problems through violence.

The fragrance of knowledge and the gentle power, the beautiful fireworks born of the intertwining of the two, will bloom amid the countless encounters with real-world issues.