Chapter 6: Entering the Deep Forest

Chapter 6: Into the Deep Forest

Leaving the tribe of the Serpent Enchantress behind, Ye Tian determined his direction and, guided by a map borrowed from the sorcerer, hurried overnight toward the exit of the Magical Beast Forest. When he learned that returning home was hopeless, Ye Tian sank into despair; but upon hearing that a great sage might have a solution, he wished he could sprout wings and fly there at once. Now, with the serpent clan stabilized at last, Ye Tian had no desire to linger and waste precious time. Fortunately, he had already spoken to Lilia before departing. The young girl, though reluctant, forced herself to let go. Seeing Lilia's tear-streaked face, Ye Tian nearly blurted out that he would stay, but managed to restrain himself. Thankfully, Lilia was understanding and whispered in his ear to return soon, for there were still things left between them unfinished. The words made Ye Tian break out in a cold sweat, but he still held Lilia tightly for a long while before finally letting go.

Remembering Lilia's gentle admonition, warmth suffused Ye Tian's heart. He patted the bundle slung across his shoulder and quickened his pace. He ran until dawn, exhaustion finally weighing on him. Only then did he stop, scanning his surroundings and listening intently. After a moment, he caught the sound of running water and swiftly moved toward it. Soon, he found a small lake, reasoning that he could rest there.

Recalling his previous experience, Ye Tian decided to travel by night and rest during the day, reasoning that it was better to be alert should he encounter magical beasts again rather than be caught off guard while sleeping. He chose a clearing near the water, set down his pack, tidied the area a bit, and opened his bundle. A smile crept onto his face; inside were all sorts of items, carefully arranged—a testament to the owner's meticulousness. Ye Tian laid out a blanket, found a bag of cured beast meat, gathered some firewood, and kindled a flame to slowly roast the meat. Soon, the tantalizing aroma of roasting meat filled the air. Ye Tian took out several bottles of spices from his breast pocket, opened them, and brushed them onto the meat. Then, clapping his hands, he laughed, "Time to eat!" and reached for the food.

Before his hand touched the roasted meat, a sudden breeze passed by, and a small, dark figure leapt up, snatched the meat, and darted away. Ye Tian cried out, "My meat!" and gave chase. He pursued only a short distance before the shadow disappeared with a few agile hops. Sighing, Ye Tian returned to his camp and prepared another breakfast. This time, nothing interrupted him, and after eating his fill, he stretched, tidied the blanket, and lay down to rest.

All around was silent. Ye Tian slept soundly, but a faint rustling awoke him. He sprang up and surveyed the area, finding nothing amiss. He relaxed and was about to lie back down when a surge of danger washed over him. Without hesitation, Ye Tian dropped flat to the ground as a black sphere of light silently skimmed over his head and landed nearby, leaving a small crater in the earth. Springing forward, Ye Tian rushed toward the direction from which the light had come. Another black sphere shot towards him, but Ye Tian smiled, ducked low, and narrowly evaded it. Without pausing, he grabbed a tree branch and continued forward. Suddenly, two silver daggers flashed from the ground, thrusting toward his chest. Startled, Ye Tian swept his left hand to knock the daggers aside. Then, a dark-bladed dagger sliced toward his neck from behind. Ye Tian flicked the branch in his right hand, striking the assailant’s arm and eliciting a muffled groan. The dagger dropped to the ground. Ye Tian kicked it, sending it back to its owner, embedding it in their shoulder. Another dagger clattered down. Ye Tian spun in midair and landed squarely before his attacker.

The assailant wore a voluminous black robe, obscuring their features. Ye Tian smiled, "Friend, we are strangers—why the ambush?" The figure remained silent, crouched low, then launched at Ye Tian, pulling the dagger from their shoulder and stabbing fiercely at him. Ye Tian ducked, lifted his left hand to parry the dagger, and in a flash, jabbed at the robed figure’s pressure point with his right hand. The figure twisted aside, narrowly avoiding Ye Tian's attack, and lashed out with a vicious kick. Ye Tian raised his knee to block, then struck the figure’s chest with his palm, sending them flying. The attacker twisted in midair, landing gently on the grass, then sprang at Ye Tian again, hurling their dagger toward him. Ye Tian sidestepped, retreated, and when he looked up, the figure had vanished. Scratching his head, Ye Tian pondered briefly, but finding no answers, decided not to dwell on it. He focused on recovering his strength, for after a night of exertion and a fierce battle, fatigue weighed heavily upon him.

Unnoticed, night descended and the surrounding mist thickened. Ye Tian exhaled deeply, opened his eyes, and surveyed the area. Sensing no danger, he quickly packed his belongings. He took out a divination compass and compared it to his map, then sighed, stowed the map, and readied himself to continue on. This place was rife with unseen dangers—no one would want to stay in such a desolate land.

Ye Tian pressed forward at full speed, wind whipping past his ears. The sensation felt like soaring through clouds and mist. He recalled how the old eccentric from the Wudang Sect had forced him to learn this skill, and couldn’t help but laugh. In truth, he considered himself rather fortunate. Thinking this, he quickened his steps, eager to leave this cursed forest as soon as possible.

As dawn began to break, Ye Tian slowed his pace—after a night’s run, fatigue was setting in. He thought to rest for a while, grateful he hadn’t met any trouble. But reality often betrays such hopes. As fate would have it, he soon heard the sounds of battle nearby. After a brief hesitation, Ye Tian headed toward the commotion, and upon arrival, was stunned by the scene before him.

Chaos and devastation—within a hundred meters, it looked as though a band of thieves had ransacked a village. Trees lay broken and scattered everywhere, and the ground was pocked with dozens of charred, round pits, still steaming faintly. Not far off, a giant bear, standing over ten feet tall, was locked in combat with a figure clad in black. Ye Tian’s scalp tingled—he had never seen such a massive bear. As he gaped at the spectacle, the bear struck the black-clad man, then leapt to crush him. With a deafening crash, a large crater appeared in the ground. The bear staggered to its feet, finding no prey beneath its belly, and immediately swung its massive head to search around, finally locking eyes on a tree ten meters away.

Panting, Ye Tian realized the giant bear had spotted the tree where he was hiding. He smiled bitterly at his luck. The beast’s senses were remarkably sharp—he had barely managed to move away at the moment the bear landed, using the last reserves of his internal energy to propel himself more than thirty feet and hide in the treetop, hoping to fool the creature. Yet he was discovered almost instantly, cursing his bad luck. Now exposed, Ye Tian dared not linger. Clutching the black-clad man tightly, he took a deep breath and used the springiness of the branches to glide to another tree. The bear, seeing its prey attempt to escape, roared and lumbered after them. Ye Tian raced through the woods, weaving between the trees, hoping to shake off the bear. Facing it head-on, he had no confidence; his only hope lay in outpacing the beast and escaping with his life.