The duo found themselves in a sticky situation. Their way back had a large blockage and their way forward carried a big risk. Taeyang looked at the centipede and then at the family of rats. Yinyue - What do we do?Taeyang heard her whisper, from her tone she didn’t sound worried. As if she didn’t find the situation dangerous in the slightest. He didn’t know if he should consider it a good thing or a bad thing. ‘The centipede is… is blind. Then it’s the one I fought before,’ Taeyang thought. Taeyang - You can sense the presence around you, can you also sense or gauge their strength? Yinyue - Yeah, I can, can’t you?Taeyang - Not really. Yinyue frowned at Taeyang, she found it weird that he couldn’t determine their strength. He scratched his head and gave a her a wry smile.Yinyue - Most of those horned rats are as strong as you. There’s only one as strong as I am. That worm is almost as strong as me, but I think because of an error in its growth or some eternal force it is weaker.
Yinyue - I see light at the end of this tunnel.Taeyang - Be careful, we don’t know what’s out there. Yinyue - Okay. After several hours, the duo finally made it out of the mine. They stood at the exit (entrance) of the tunnel and received the greetings of the sky. It greeted them with heavy snowfall. They found four huts just outside the tunnel and beyond the huts stood a forest of trees with snow as leaves. ??? - Who goes there? A crude voice sounded beside them. They turned and found an old man seated on the ground. If he had not spoken they would not have noticed him. ??? - Outsiders!Another voice came from their front. Dozens of people stepped out of the hut, and each of them bared hostility towards them. Each clad in thick clothing made from white animal fur and possessed at least one weapon. The men had a black cross on their right cheek and the women had a crescent moon on their left cheek. Taeyang grabbed Yinyue by the hand, and pulled her behind him. Instinctively, h
*****A few hours later, a knock on the front door interrupted Taeyang’s cultivation. Yinyue lay by his side, still sound asleep. He got up quietly, and made his way to the front door. “Greetings sir.”The sun seemed to be setting, and Taeyang found four villagers at the door; three of them ladies, and one, a bald young man. The four bowed and greeted when they saw him. “I’m Mo Yu. The chieftain sent us here,” the young man said. “These are Gu Lan and Gu Yan; they will serve as your maids.”Two of the ladies bowed while Mo Yu spoke. They shared similar facial features, with their only distinctive features being their eyes and hair style. One had yellow-colored eyes and wore pigtails, the other had green-colored eyes and her hair fell freely down her shoulders. Mo Yu - This is my younger sister, Mo Ying. We are both responsible for your protection. The third lady hissed at his words, and Taeyang could tell from the look in her brown eyes, she didn’t like him. Like her brother, she
The morning came in a flash, and a knock on the door interrupted Taeyang. Yinyue opened her eyes as soon as the knock sounded. Her eyes were clear as if she had not just woken up.“Excuse me sir and ma. This is Gu Yan, the chieftain is here to see you,” a voice sounded from behind the door.Yinyue got up, her sudden movements surprised Taeyang, who didn’t know she had woken up. She stretched her body; the bones in her arms, and back cracked. Taeyang - We’ll be there in a minute. Taeyang replied Gu Yan, while he watched Yinyue stretched. When she found him looking, she flashed him a smile.Yinyue - Good morning!Taeyang - Good morning, did you sleep well. Yinyue nodded. Although she had been on guard, she did sleep well. She didn’t let Taeyang know of the killing intent she sensed last night because it had not been directed to them. And because she didn’t want to worry him.Taeyang - Let’s go. She nodded, and the duo made their way out of the room. With her yellow-colored eyes and
“To think he actually chose that?”“That’s the cursed sword, right? Haha.”“I can’t believe this.”“He really must be unlucky.”“Haha, seriously though is it really okay to have him in our village?”Everyone laughed to their heart content and made fun of him. Taeyang understood from the comments they made the sword he chose had a curse on it. Old Shen - That’s enough. Bian Hong, spar with him.Old Shen spoke and the compound returned to its initial silence. Everyone kept their mouth shut and dared not utter a word. A young man stood up; he held a sword in his left hand. Not much taller Taeyang, nevertheless he had a better physique than Taeyang. He walked up to Taeyang, took a bow and raised his sword at him. The gaze he gave Taeyang had been one of a predator up on its prey. Taeyang had seen this gaze before; the village children always tried to bully him and some adults had picked on him, and in their eyes he had seen the same gaze. So he knew Bian Hong wanted to hurt him bad. Ol
Taeyang - What the hell?He yelled in confusion. ‘What is this?’ he thought. Everyone around had their eyes wide open. Some had the look of confusion while others had a look of fear on their faces. Old Shen - Haha, after so long something interesting finally happened. Unlike everyone else, old Shen laughed his heart out. His lips curved to his ears, and his eyes twinkled like bright stars. Without a doubt everyone could see how extremely happy he looked.Old Shen - You all should leave. Someone get Bian Hong out of the tree. ??? - Yes sir. The group chorused and got to their feet. They bowed at old Shen before they headed toward the gate. A few of them walked up to Bian Hong. Old Shen walked up Taeyang; the smile still evident on his face.Old Shen - Interesting! He examined Taeyang’s hands and exclaimed. Taeyang could only wonder what exactly made him so happy. Yinyue walked over to them reluctantly, and Taeyang could see the fear on her face. Old Shen - Come with me.Old Shen
Old Shen - Huh? What’s going on? Old Shen halted when he found the serpent on Taeyang’s body moving. Taeyang’s breathing had relaxed; he no longer gasped for air. Old Shen - Interesting, it seems I don’t have to do anything. Taeyang lay quiet and at eased. The pain had subsided, his blood no longer boiled, and both his vision and hearing returned back. He never wants to experience again. Old Shen - Are you alright? Taeyang - Yeah, I am. He took a deep breath and exhaled. The pain had reduced, nonetheless it hurt bad. He struggled to a seated position, and faced old Shen. His brows corrugated when he saw the compound. Large holes and footprints, collapsed building and several tress fallen. Taeyang looked at old Shen and then at Yinyue. Taeyang - What’s going on? Yinyue - Taeyang! Taeyang let out an “ah!” as Yinyue dived him. She hugged him tight and buried her face in his chest. Taeyang looked at old Shen then at his surroundings. It felt weird seeing the change that
Taeyang stared at the cave entrance that old Shen had led him to. He had followed without a question and curiosity ate him from within. They stopped before the cave but old Shen turned around.Old Shen - You don’t need to follow us anymore. “Yes sir,” Mo Ying’s voice sounded. Taeyang turned but found no one. He saw no signs of being followed. He found just the setting sun behind, the grasses and a few trees that witness their arrival. Old Shen - Let’s go.He walked in and clapped his hands and the dark cave lit up. On the ceiling laid several stones that glowed bright. Similar stones to the ones Taeyang saw in the weapon’s room. Though much bigger and brighter. Old Shen led the way for them and after five minutes walk and a few bends, they arrived at a large room. ‘This is the largest cave room have seen,’ Taeyang thought. Almost as large as old Shen’s compound, the cave room possessed a large, milky pool at the center. Above the pool the sky could be seen. The sun had almost set.