Mountains and hills passed by Bai Yunfei and the three soul cultivators as they flew. Thereâd also be a few forests and such, but with so many landmarks passing by Bai Yunfei wasnât even sure just how far they had gone. He only knew that a considerable amount of time had passed and that the day was already close to being gone with the sun setting down the mountain. Would they be stopping anytime soon? Bai Yunfei didnât know.
On the way, Wang Tong made sure to explain to him a bit about his âsoulâ and âoriginseedâ being damaged. He also made sure to touch down on a few topics on the basics of a soul cultivator.
Soul cultivator.
Bai Yunfei knew now that these people werenât âImmortalsâ as the villagers thought they were. They were merely just âsoul cultivatorsâ, and Bai Yunfei was one too. He was just one that was comparatively weaker than these ones, one that could be classified as a âSoul Warriorâ.
He could tell that Wang Tong and the others were very cautious about how they flew. They were constantly looking around themselves as if expecting to be attacked at any moment. To minimize their presence, the group also made sure to fly close to the ground. Bai Yunfei was sure that they were simply trying their best to avoid any of the âintrudersâ they mentioned earlier.
Bai Yunfei hadnât a sense of what âconflictâ was after living so peacefully in the village for three years. Sure, the village had its fair share of squabbles and sometimes even a rowdy scuffle or two, but never something like âmurderâ appeared in Bai Yunfeiâs everyday life.
But today, a group of evil-doers had popped into his village and harmed the people living there. The first battle he had with another person in the last three years andâŠhis first time having to kill.
There was something that baffled him, however. He thought that heâd feel âsickâ after killing someone. But somehow, it didnât seem like any worse than killing an unwanted pestâŠÂ
It made him feel panicked if anything. Surely there was something wrong with him if he felt that way?
But then he thought about how Wang Tong and his companions had killed over a dozen âintrudersâ. Their reaction didnât seem to be saying much to Bai Yunfei. It didnât even feel like they thought killing was anything strange, not even the kid.Â
So Bai Yunfei decided to leave this matter up to debate for another time.
He was a soul cultivator like them.Â
Bai Yunfei thought to himself, and then to the âmagical powerâ shown by the glove on his right hand. Now he knew that power was known as something as âsoulforceâ and was the reason why his soul hurt so much and why the memories were coming out. He recalled the act of those memories coming out into his head, but he couldnât seem to remember what those specific memories were.
âIf those are my memories, then doesnât it mean I just have to endure that pain if I want to be able to see the memories?â
It was a question Bai Yunfei wanted to know the answer to, but then he thought about just how painful it had been. How would he be able to recall any memories if the first thing he did was buckle under the pain and fall unconscious?
All the new things he was learning was making it hard for Bai Yunfei to think properly. Before he knew it, the sky had already lost the light of the daylight.
âWeâre here!â
A voice broke Bai Yunfei out from his spellbound wonder. He looked ahead of where he stood and stared in confusion.
Up ahead was an extremely tall mountain point with two equally tall mountains to its left and right. An ocean of trees filled the flat lands between each point so that nothing else could be seen. And that was the problem. Where were the people? The buildings? How were they here then?
He noticed then that they were still in the air without seemingly any plans to head down. In front of him, Wang Tong had his arm stretched to allow a pulse of red light to flow out from it.
The undulations of red light melded with space and shimmered hypnotically like ripples across the surface of a body of water before taking the form of a door.
âLetâs head in.â
Wang Tong gestured to Bai Yunfei before disappearing through the ripples.
Seemingly pleased by the stunned look on Bai Yunfeiâs face, Feiyun snickered, âWait until you see where we live, big brother Tang, youâll be even more surprised!â
Then he tugged Bai Yunfei with him through the door.
Bai Yunfei felt the world grow hazy around him for a moment before clearing back up.
And when he didâŠhe was met with an entire city!
Bai Yunfei couldnât see the mountains that used to stand on the left and right of this area anymore. Where once was a sea of trees was now filled with just as many buildings! A grand city had somehow appeared out of nowhere!
Of all the things that could possibly exist in this isolated forest, Bai Yunfei never imagined itâd be a city!
The shadows of the cityâs inhabitants walked about to and fro, and Bai Yunfei could even hear the voices of several of them talk as they walked about. Clearly, this was a city that flourished with activity.
While Bai Yunfei was busy taking in the sights of everything taking place in the city, a light-green light was flying out from the walls towards them. The light took only a moment for it to make it to where Bai Yunfei and the other stood, revealing a long-haired male.Â
âThe three of you are finally back,â He breathed a sigh of relief, âThe head was sure to send people out to find you if you hadnât taken any longerâŠâ
âBrother Jiadi,â Feiyun laughed, âdidnât we say weâd be back by today? Donât you believe me? IsâŠis dad angry?â
Jiadi forced a smile. âYou said youâd be in the surrounding area, but why do I have the feeling you went further than that? The head lady was worried to tears after your disappearance, Iâm sure youâll be in for a harsh punishment in a while.â
His eyes swiveled to look at Bai Yunfei next. His surprise was hardly noticeable then, but it grew more pronounced when he saw the two unconscious persons being held by Kai Wen behind Bai Yunfei.
âWhat kind of situation is this?â His voice dropped several tones, âDidâŠdid you make contact with the intruders?!â
âItâs a long story,â Wang Tong exhaled. âWeâve important matters to report to the head, letâs head into the city first.â
Jiadi nodded and the group flew once more through the skies to head into the city rather than going in from the ground. Flying over the walls, their flight continued for some time before ultimately coming to a stop near a magnificent-looking building.
They landed onto solid ground without incident and strode through the gates where Wang Tong then turned to look at Bai Yunfei. âBrother Tang Long, weâve some important matters to deal with, so please make yourself at home here. If nothing goes wrong, weâll be able to get you a recall pill soon.â
âThank you for your hard work, big brother Wang Tong.â Bai Yunfei replied gratefully.
The three left, leaving Bu Jiadi with Bai Yunfei. âFollow me, little brother,â He smiled, âIâll bring you to one of our living quarters.â
âPlease!â Bai Yunfei bowed.
âHaha, a guest you may be, but thereâs no need to be this polite.â
Bu Jiadi didnât take Bai Yunfei far before the living quarters were in sight. Allocating a guest room for Bai Yunfei, Bu Jiadi told him to not wander around the place for now before leaving him to rest in peace.
Bai Yunfei knew better than to âwanderâ about in the place of another. He was an outsider and had no desire to do any of that, so he entered his room and sat on the bed to rest.
Several others were living in this place, though most of them were of ages younger than Bai Yunfei. He recalled walking past a few of them on his way here with Bu Jiadi, and how curious they looked when they arrived. Even now on his bed, Bai Yunfei could distinctly hear the whispers of a few of them on the outside, muttering words such as âstrangerâ, ânew apprenticeâ, âcivilian quartersâ, and âconnectedâ, though Bai Yunfei wasnât quite sure what this meant.
ââââââââââ
Wang Tong, Kai Wen, and Feiyun stood at the center of a large hall with the still unconscious youth and old man they captured earlier in front of them. They werenât alone in the hall, Wang Tong was currently retelling the story of what happened to them today.
Several chairs were lined up on both sides of the hall with men both young and old sitting on them. A single larger chair sat at the front of the hall with a golden-robed man seated on top of it. Judging from his appearance, the man was in his thirties. He held a stern expression on his dignified face as he listened to Wang Tong. The longer Wang Tong went on, the more serious his expression became.
âAs we expectedâŠâ He exhaled slowly once Wang Tong finished. âThose men are after usâŠâ
An elder in white seated at the first seat on the right was next to speak. âWe can surmise they harbor ill-intent from their actions. And a large-scale searching effort like this one would only be capable by only the strongest of schools.â
âIndeed, they must be very powerful if they were able to find our hiding place.â The yellow-faced man to his side spoke up after him, âNot even a single outsider was able to find us in our two thousand years of hiding. Iâm afraid they wonât stop with just finding us either this time. Judging their current location, itâs only a matter of time before they find this placeâŠthese people are not bearers of good will, I say we should prepare our defenses.â
âA timely defensive measure is always proper to have, no matter what the intent may be. HoweverâŠâ Another elder spoke next.
âWe should still ascertain who these people might be before anything else. The actions of Wang Tong may have been rash, but fortunately, no damages were brought. They even brought back two enemies. WeâŠmay be able to learn plenty from them.â
âSecond uncle is right, we should interrogate these people at once, clan head!â
Silence was had in the hall for a short two seconds as the man sitting at the top debated what to do. Then two faint-gray pills flew out from him towards Wang Tong. âAdminister these to them.â
âYes, clan head!â
Wang Tong replied at once. Handing one pill to Kai Wen, the two of them woke the two captives at once. Forcing their jaws open, Wang Tong and Kai Wen had the two swallow the pills against their willâŠ