𝓞𝑣𝗅xt.𝕔𝑶𝕞
Shi Lang and the two ran through the forest when suddenly, Xiang San said, “Do you hear that?”
Shi Lang focused his senses and said, “Yeah, it seems like someone is fighting.”
Xiang San nodded and said, “Let’s go, check what is going on.”
The three of them nodded, but before they moved, Shi Lang said, “Wait, we do not know who the enemy is, how strong they are. Would you mind if I take the lead?”
Xiang San was surprised and wanted to ask something when Xiao Nan said, “I trust him more than I trust you, Third Xiang.”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “I am not saying I am the stronger or, the more capable one, but I still have some experience in battle.”
Xiang San was still doubtful, and Shi Lang said, “Miss Xiao, you will stay at the back and ensure that no one sneaks up on us. Brother Xiang, you will be in the middle to provide support if needed. I do not wish to die so soon.”
Xiang San nodded, and they moved toward the sound. The trio was careful, and they were silent as they moved. When they approached the spot, they hid inside the thickets and converged on their breath.
In a narrow clearing, two groups of people engaged in an armed confrontation. There were injuries on both sides, but none seemed to have died.
Shi Lang gazed at Xiang San in askance, checking if the latter knew these people, and the third master nodded. Xiao Nan opened her mouth, but Shi Lang signaled her to stay silent.
They heard one of the group leaders speak, “Jiang Yangshi, leave, the Yu family came here first, and we will be exploring the Titan mountain range. Your family can come after a week. Dare you to violate the agreement?”
Jiang Yangshi old at the old man before him and said, “Old bustard Yu, do you think your Yu family can occupy the resources hidden in this place? Do you believe I can kill you and your pups right now, and then I will do what I want here.”
Old Yu clenched his fists for a second and said, “Very well, kill us if you dare to.”
His casual attitude surprised Jiang Yangshi. Only two premises could make someone so casual when facing a death threat. One, they had a card up their sleeves and could overturn the situation. Two, they did not care whether they would live or die.
Jiang Yangshi knew the condition of the Yu Family in Lion Heart City, and he was sure that it was the latter. However, experience has taught him the hard way that a cornered beast can inflict some serious damage.
Shi Lang and the two were watching the entire situation play out silently. The terran had no interest in playing messiah and mediating the two parties’ situation. He only inspected them to ensure that none of these people was after the Myriad Caves.
The two parties entered a stalemate. Jiang Yangshi hesitated and did not wish to cause any of his men to die in a desperate struggle. Titan mountain range was not a regular forest. This place was lingering with spirit beasts stronger than them.
Jiang Yangshi snorted and said, “Fine, have it your way and die in this fucking place. I will come after the deadline expires, and then we will see things.”
Old Man Yu was not complacent. He did not lower his guard. He knew full well what Jiang Yangshi was capable of. He was a snake waiting to bite the prey in a blink. Another reason that Jiang Yangshi did not attack him was fear. He feared the bloodshed would attract spirit beasts’ unwanted attention, and his party would suffer loss.
Jiang Yangshi retreated quickly, and only when his breath disappeared from the vicinity did Old Man Yu calm down. He looked at his group and instructed, “Let’s go. That snake might be waiting in the shadows to strike us down. Let’s go.”
Old Man Yu also left the place. After they disappeared, Shi Lang asked, “What was that about?”
Xiang San sighed and said, “That was a regular conflict between the old and new lion. Yu family was glorious and strong, but recently, after their old patriarch passed away. They witnessed a rapid fall in their status. Jiang Family’s patriarch and elders were respectful to the Yu family before any of this. However, now they have been fighting over petty resources desperately.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “We should get going.”
The three of them moved and left the area. They did not meet any of the two groups on the way, and after traveling for a few hundred kilometers inside the mountain range. They arrived at a waterfall.
Shi Lang could swear that even the biggest waterfall back in the federation would look puny before this natural marvel. The whole place was misty, and a loud sound of water falling into the plunge pool. They could not see the top of the waterfall even with their enhanced gaze.
Xiao Nan sighed and remarked, “Now, this must be the first challenge, right?”
Xiang San nodded and commented, “Correct, this water curtain is the first obstacle.”
Shi Lang sat down at the bank and said, “Elaborate.”
Xiang San cleared his throat and said, “What you seek is hiding behind the curtain of transparency. Glass of illusion breaks with brute strength.”
Xiao Nan exasperatedly said, “Ugh, another riddle.”
Shi Lang clicked his tongue and said, “Nope, it is very simply stated that the caves lie behind this water curtain. Water is transparent. We must have immense strength to break past this water curtain to look for things.”
Xiang San nodded and remarked, “You are a smart guy.”
Shi Lang did not reply and dived inside the plunge pool. He swam his way to the waterfall. He wanted to try breaking through the water curtain underwater. However, the flow was so intense that he almost drowned from the drag.
The terran returned to the surface, and this time he tried to rush into the curtain directly, but he was repelled. It was like a fly being swatted. He was washed away to the bank and gazed at the sky in a daze. Xiang San and Xiao Nan looked at him with sympathy.
Xiang San helped the Terran sit up, saying, “Brother, you should have used your spirit energy to shield. It would have been easy then.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Thank you for your advice, Brother Xiang. Why don’t you do the honor? After all, it is the inheritance site of your ancestors.”
Xiang San thought about it and then nodded. The young man was a moving muscle mountain. After hearing what Shi Lang said, he rushed forward, but the result was unchanged. Xiang San was also pushed back. Xiao Nan helped him sit up, and the young man said, “Why did you not tell me that this place does not allow one to use your spiritual energy?”
Shi Lang rolled his eyes and said, “I will train here. You can join me.”
Xiang San nodded, and Xiao Nan said, “I will not do the body refining training, but my spiritual cultivation had reached a bottleneck. I will maintain vigil.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “You should stay at the bank, Miss Xiao. The entire plunge pool and the water curtain disable spirit energy.”
Xiao Nan nodded and sat down at the side. Shi Lang and Xiang San found a boulder in the plunge pool. These stones were why Shi Lang survived the earlier attempt of breaking through underwater.
They aimed to stand on the boulder and withstand the pressure of the waterfall to temper their bodies. This was not going to be easy for them. However, this was the only way they had.
The two could not get closer to the boulder, let alone get on top of it. Shi Lang had been trying to get past the pressure of the waterfall, but he failed. Xiang San was no different than the Terran. Shi Lang sighed, and after ten more attempts. He came to the bank to adjust his state before he attempted again.
The two people were relentless. Finally, after two days, Shi Lang reached a boulder. However, he was washed away by the current. Half a day later, Xiang San faced the same thing.
The two people decided that the next step was to gain a steady foothold on the boulders when they heard a few rushed footsteps approaching in their direction.
Shi Lang and Xiang San hid in the pool, and Xiao Nan stood at the bank with a whip in her hand.
The footsteps belonged to none other than Jiang Yangshi. He spotted Xiao Nan and he was stunned. He could not help but mumble, “What a beauty.”
Xiao Nan snapped her whip and said, “Do you not want your eyes anymore?”
The man gulped a mouthful. He said, “You can have my eyes in exchange that you will let me watch you a bit longer.”