by Tinalynge
The road they picked led them to a small forest. They soon left the road and started looking for a location where they could do exactly what Hui Yue had asked of them. The sooner they managed to deal with it, the sooner they could return to the capital and wait for Hui Yue, who had promised to arrive there.
Within the mountains, the group found a forest which seemed to be devoid of life. No matter how much they traveled, no sign of life was visible. The only creatures they saw on their way were magical beasts, beasts which Xu Piao had never seen before. However, the young man was not energetic nor happy enough to observe all the wonders of the upper world. What filled his mind was grief and sadness after having lost Xie Lan.
The magical beasts around them were all around the Master rank, and the group of cultivators were more than capable of protecting themselves as they made their way through the forest until they finally found a large clearing. A clearing where the ground was covered with grass and flowers. A small river was running through it, and it had carved its way through the ground slowly eroding the banks and growing in size.
On this blanket of grass and flowers, Wang Ju Long and Sha Yun picked up their memory stones after which they placed down one Law after another. All of whom were still in a deep slumber.
These Laws were impossible to wake up with the strength the girls possessed so, instead, they attentively watched over them both day and night. Minute after minute went by slowly, but the two girls were filled with determination to ensure that the task they were given by Hui Yue was seen through to the end.
While the two girls were busy watching over and taking care of the laws, Xu Piao paid no attention towards these actions of the youngsters, instead, he found a place within the clearing where he put down Xie Lan and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He then wielded Wu Wei and dug a deep grave.
Xu Piao kept talking to Xie Lan as though she could hear him. He spoke about how they had met each other when they were children and about the mischief they caused as kids.
He spoke about how they had grown up, always been by each other’s side, and how they had gone to school, relying on no one other than themselves.
The story continued as his trembling voice spoke about how they arrived at the mercenary company and together fought their way to the ranks of Guild Master. How no matter which task it was, Xie Lan had always been by his side, the woman never complaining only assisting.
Eventually, Xu Piao apologized to the silent Xie Lan, apologized that he had not listened to her. That although he was now in the world above, the endless sky was meaningless now that she was no longer by his side.
At this point determination appeared in his eyes and he slapped himself hard.
“I know that you would scold me, where you still here.” He said with tears welling up in his eyes, “I will now live the life you gave me, and I will never forget that this life belongs to you. Stay in the netherworld and one day I’ll come to you. Hopefully, we can both be reincarnated together.”
Having said this, Xu Piao laid down Xie Lan ever so gently within the grave. Then he moved the ground over her as he buried his best friend. Using his strength he found a boulder which he placed upon the grave. Using Wu Wei, he managed to cut a beautiful figurine on which the words “Never forgotten and always loved,” were etched.
After having buried Xie Lan, Xu Piao stayed in front of her grave for countless days and nights, keeping vigil, ensuring that no one could harm her final memory.
While Xu Piao was busy keeping vigil, Sha Yun, Deng Wu, and Wang Ju Long were keeping watch over the Laws. One law after another woke up, and their eyes were filled with shock and astonishment as they saw that they no longer were trapped within a room, but instead were looking at beautiful flowers and trees.
Each and every one of these Laws were told what happened, and each and every one of them were allowed to start their new life. They were allowed to visit places they had never seen before and travel throughout the entire world where their powers changed the lives of every creature and plant alive.
One after another these Laws set out into the world. Their eyes were filled with excitement and gratitude, and each law formed their own goals for their life.
Finally, the last Law awoke and set off into the distance. Four days passed this way. Within these four days, Xu Piao had not moved an inch, however, now that none of the Laws were left the previous Guild Master stood up, his eyes filled with determination.
“We are going to the capital to wait for Hui Yue right?” Xu Piao asked. The three people in front of him all nodded in unison. Seeing this, Xu Piao nodded his head, and with one last glance at the grave he one more bowed deeply towards the carved stone. Xu Piao turned around and followed behind the three youngsters as they left the forest and started to descend down the mountain range.
….
While the friends were following Hui Yue’s advice and helping the Laws regain their freedom, the young white-haired man was rushing through the Dragon Corps headquarters.
There was panic everywhere. There was no longer any high ranked guards within the entire cave, and many mercenaries were using this to their advantage. They were stealing and trashing everything in the city. The experts of the various prominent families had to step in, and everyone was astonished wondering where the commander and the Dragon Corps were.
During this chaos, Hui Yue made his way through the main office of the Dragon Corps. He watched low ranked experts running from one side of the building to the other looking for experts or anyone who knew where the experts might be.
Completely ignoring them, Hui Yue rushed forward, rushing towards a place he knew all too well. He was headed towards the place where one could enter the other tunnels. His aim was to reach the tunnel which led towards Shenyuan; led towards Lan Feng’s old home.
Arriving at the tunnel, no one dared stop Hui Yue when he showed his A rank emblem. Without looking behind, Hui Yue rushed through the entrance towards the tunnel-system which led to the tunnels below Shenyuan; the tunnels which led to Lan Feng’s father.
….
The tunnel-system which Hui Yue entered was in many ways similar to that of the Dragon Tunnels, however, it was not exactly the same. The Vermilion Bird Tunnels did not have a corps like the Dragon Corps, instead, it was controlled by a royal family which overlooked the entire tunnel-system. Every cave within the system was considered a fiefdom, looked after by Dukes.
The Royal Kingdom of the Vermillion Bird was the official name of the tunnel-system, and the royal guards were all dressed in red cloaks. They were visible within every cave of the kingdom.
The Royal Kingdom of the Vermillion Bird was beautiful and well looked after. One of the caves was a whole sea that had small islands. A sea one traveled through on boats.
There were caves in which the sun never rose, and others were there was no moon. There were caves filled with forests where the inhabitants would hunt and sell the wild game for money.
There were caves where the entire area was used for agriculture and others which were filled with cities and earned their money from merchants.
Although mercenaries did exist within these caves, not many were seen. Those who were, lived their lives within the tunnels hunting down demon beasts.
Hui Yue journeyed through one cave after another, within him was Lan Feng and the two, man and divine beast, kept a low profile as they traveled. They hunted in every tunnel they went through and eventually he reached the final cave in the system.
‘Follow my guidelines,’ Lan Feng said with a sigh. The two of them had traveled constantly for one year as the only thing on their mind was to get through the tunnels as quickly as they could. Hui Yue’s heart started beating erratically, he was excited upon hearing what Lan Feng said because it meant that they would finally be able to view the endless sky once more. To head back to the capital where his friends were waiting.
Following Lan Feng’s orders, Hui Yue stood in front of a wall and closed his eyes as h
e placed his hands on the wall. This created a suction force, which then sucked in Hui Yue. He once more found himself in an entirely empty tunnel. A tunnel much like the one they used when they first entered the tunnels. Eagerness appeared as he rushed towards the entrance, rush towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
Chapter 199 - A Whole New World
* * *
Chapter 199: A Whole New World
Hui Yue breathed in the fresh crisp air. He was standing within a mountain range that was filled with ancient trees. No living creatures were near him, and he was standing on shaking legs, unable to fully comprehend that he had finally escaped the underground world.
In the end, three years were spent under the surface; two years together with his friends and one year on his own. The last year had tempered him immensely and now he dared not befriend anyone, nor stay too long in one place. He knew that currently his friends were waiting for him at the capital of Taiyang Kingdom, however, Hui Yue was no longer within the borders of Taiyang Kingdom, but in Shenyuan. The most mysterious place on the entire continent.
Around Hui Yue were massive trees. Trees so tall that it was impossible to see the top. They had small vines hanging down them. The temperature was humid and many plants were growing on the ground. Looking around one could see nothing apart from plants, even magical beasts had long since vanished. As Hui Yue moved around, he felt the fresh air surrounding him. The air was clean after a hard rainfall cleared it up.
Having stayed within the clearing for some time Hui Yue looked around him, and with a determined nod of his head, he started moving towards the east while staying in the mountain range. He was looking for an area where it would be possible for him to cross the border. A place to leave behind the dangers within Shenyuan and enter the safe and familiar area known as the Taiyang Kingdom.
The landscape which surrounded Hui Yue was filled with an astonishing forest; a forest which had not been touched for eons. A forest filled with plants of every shape and size. Hui Yue traveled through the forest for a very long time before he came across the first magical beast.
The beast he came across was not a highly ranked beast. It was instead an Iron Blood Bat. It was living its life within the tree tops, so far above the young white-haired man that he was incapable of fighting it.
As Hui Yue moved further and further into the forest he came to see that it was not because there was a lack of magical beasts, but that the forest was so vast that the beasts were few and far between. Some of them lived in small packs while others lived on their own. Some of the beasts were high ranked and Hui Yue had to tiptoe past them while others were weaker. Hui Yue could beat these and get a meal with meat for once.
Traveling through the forest one day took another and Hui Yue was astonished to see that no matter how far he went it was impossible for him to get past the mountain range. It was as though he was captured within a ravine. A ravine which stretched all the way to the Center Palace not allowing for anyone to enter or exit. That was as long as they were incapable of flight.
The ravine in which Hui Yue was currently trapped went on and on; the forest which filled the ravine seemed to go on as far as the ravine itself. On the ground, Hui Yue was starting to feel that the only way to exit this dangerous country was through the Center Palace. The palace through which his friends had originally escaped.
Traveling through the tunnel-system had been smooth and straightforward. All the caves and tunnels were created for man to travel through, however, within this forest, it was no longer an easy feat to travel forward. He had to cut his way through each and every bush, finding small animal trails to travel upon, and he could rest no longer than a few hours at a time.
The further into the forest Hui Yue went, the more magical beasts he met on his way. All of them were various strength as though there was no inner nor outer areas of the forest, all the beast’s races living in their own territories.
From time to time, the sounds of battle would echo throughout the forest as some beasts were fighting for new territories, But none of the beasts wished to battle against Hui Yue because the white-haired young man no longer suppressed his Saint ranked aura.
Only now and then would the young man suppress his aura when he needed to hunt, or if he wished to hone his skills.
At first, the travel through the forest was rushed. Hui Yue was determined to hurry his way through the forest, however, as one day took another he no longer rushed. Eventually, he took the time to cultivate for a few hours every day. The more he moved through the forest, the more he allowed for himself to return to nature. His affinity with Earth was constantly increasing.
Hui Yue also spent time on training his affinity with Fire and Metal. Although he did not use the Metal element much, he still wished to cultivate in every affinity he had. He still wished to merge the three elements together.
Traveling further and further into the distance, more and more elemental affinity accumulated within his body. His strength was rising constantly as the speed with which he was traveling slowed down.
After traveling for three months, Hui Yue reached the eighth star of the Grandmaster rank. His speed of cultivation surged over the past year and three months when he had been traveling on his own. Finally, the young man arrived at a large valley within the forest. A clearing in which a small village was next to the stream of water that Hui Yue was following.
Standing within the forest and looking down over the valley, Hui Yue was suddenly uncertain as to whether or not he should avoid the village; however, before he finished contemplating a voice sounded out ending the silence. The voice of a small child.
“Mother, Mother! A strange beast has appeared!” The voice of a small girl rang throughout the valley and within moments the quiet village became active.
Adults rushed from their houses and looking at these creatures Hui Yue was instantly taken aback.
The adults were all half animal half human. Each was some variation between the two with either more beastly appearances or more human.
As they saw Hui Yue they all grouped together and stared at him with vigilance. Seeing them all together, Hui Yue paid more attention to their appearance.
There was a woman who seemed a lot like Lan Feng. She looked human, apart from the fact that her entire body was covered in small feathers. The phoenix inside him had celestial, blue feathers, whereas this woman instead had feathers of a more brown, natural color.
There were a wolf whom Hui Yue saw that looked similar to how he himself looked when the red mist took over. Except that this beast was gray. It stood on its hind legs, and its hands were very human like but with sharp claws instead of nails. Its face was wolf-like with a snout and piercing eyes.
Other of the beasts had tails of different animals alongside fur on their skin. The children all seemed to be more beastly than human, and Hui Yue was taken aback by looking at them.
Just as they were alert when they saw Hui Yue, the white-haired man was alert as he saw the beastly humans. He instantly allowed for Lan Feng to release his suppressed aura, an aura which instantly radiated outward shocking every beast in the valley.
“Great Lord, we are sorry for mistaking you,” One of the beasts cried as the others joined in. “Great Lord, please forgive us.”
They all seemed to be shocked upon feeling his aura, however, Hui Yue frowned as he heard them call him milord.
“Milord please come stay in our humble village to relax while you are on your journey,” The feathered woman said and Hui Yue quietly nodded his head as he once more suppressed Lan Feng’s aura and stepped forward.
At first after entering the forest, Hui Yue had used Lan Feng’s aura as a means to frighten other beasts, however, once he had accidentally wandered into the territory of another Saint ranked beast. His aura was a challenge to the beast to protect its territory. Had Lan Feng not taken over and fled at their highest speed, then Hui Yue would likely not be alive any longer.
Having faced such a sit
uation, it was obvious that he no longer wished to jeopardize his safety by challenging more Saints.
Having faced death more than a few times during his journey through the forest, Hui Yue was quite astonished to see the way he was treated the moment he entered the village. Everyone called him Lord and they were all frightened by his presence but still excited whenever he was not around them.
Using Qi to fortify his hearing, he caught a lot of gossip from within the village. Gossip which just led to more questions for the already confused young man.
“We have a Lord of the Forest visiting us, how come such an important person appeared?” A raccoon man asked the mouse by his side. The mouse did nothing but shrug, although the whiskers on his face were constantly moving. His nose quivered and the head turned from side to side, “Be quiet!” He said, “What will you do if his lordship hears us. Who are we to question his actions?”
