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The Legend of the Immortals Prequel: Wilderness Journey
Ten Thousand Swords in One glanced back at Azure Pine and the others, and indeed saw that his fellow disciples all had an unmistakable hostility on their faces. He then smiled and said, "You and I are on different paths of righteousness and evil; isn't some hostility quite normal?"
Zhuque turned her gaze back to the handsome young man before her, looking deeply into his eyes, and asked, "If that's the case, why do you want to save me?"
Ten Thousand Swords in One replied, "I have my own reasons; I just need you to help us get through this Sand Dance Maze quickly."
Zhuque let out a cold laugh, her eyes revealing some hostility as she looked at Ten Thousand Swords in One and said, "Then it seems we are even now. So, do you plan to make a move against me?"
Ten Thousand Swords in One laughed heartily and said, "Though I wouldn't dare to boast of being a hero, I am not so despicable. Let's part ways today; if we meet again in the future, we can rely on our own abilities."
Upon hearing this, Zhuque looked at Ten Thousand Swords in One with a somewhat gentler gaze, mixed with surprise and curiosity. She scrutinized the young man before her and then nodded, saying, "Alright, let's leave it at that for today. If we meet again in the future, don't blame me for being merciless."
With that, she turned and leaped away, disappearing into the depths of the desert after a few bounds.
Ten Thousand Swords in One stared at her graceful figure as she vanished. After a moment, he heard footsteps approaching; it was Tian Buyi and the others coming over.
Zeng Shuchang spoke first, saying, "Senior Brother Wan, why not capture that witch? What if she reveals our whereabouts?"
Ten Thousand Swords in One shook his head and replied, "Senior Brother Zeng, firstly, I have already promised her; secondly, this wilderness is vast. As long as we are careful and considering that the Demon Cult has just suffered defeat and people are in a state of panic, it shouldn't be a big problem." He then looked at the others and continued, "Fellow disciples, let me reiterate: our purpose in venturing deep into this wilderness is not to show off our bravery by exterminating the Demon Cult. Such endeavors are too dangerous and difficult for us at this moment. What we need to do is take advantage of this chaos within the Demon Cult to carefully explore this perilous wilderness. If possible, we might even find the Demon Cult Holy Temple, preparing for when our righteous forces truly enter this place in the future. Do you all understand?"
Tian Buyi and the others nodded in agreement. Ten Thousand Swords in One smiled slightly and said, "Let's go; it's getting late. According to what Bai Duzai mentioned earlier, after we pass through this Sand Dance Maze, there should be two oases ahead in the desert. We should reach there before nightfall."
※※※
Oases in the desert are extremely precious and beautiful places. They contain lush greenery and the most valuable fresh water amidst the arid sands. Sometimes people find it hard to understand how such relatively small patches of greenery can exist in such a vast dry desert.
Other places have dried up, yet this area remains lush year-round? Other trees have withered under the sun, but these trees are still verdant?
Few people understand these matters. At least those who came from Middle-earth and Fertile Land to the desolate Azure Pine and Tian Buyi did not comprehend. So when they found two large patches of green, separated by more than a hundred yards, like two green pearls adorning the oasis in the desert, they couldn't help but feel excited and joyful, even though they were mentally prepared.
According to Bai Duzai and Duanmu Tie, these two adjacent oases had existed for a long time and had never degraded over the years. They remained an important resting place in the Barbaric Desert. The larger oasis was abundant with trees and covered an area more than three times that of the smaller one, which had four springs, hence it was named Qingquan Island. The smaller oasis, while less extensive, was surrounded by a dense ring of forest, and at its center lay a lake that never dried up, making it both magical and beautiful; thus it was called Lake Oasis.
Ten Thousand Swords in One and his companions discovered these two oases just as dusk was falling. Under Ten Thousand Swords in One's arrangement, they immediately split up to search the area and confirmed that both oases posed no danger or hidden enemies before returning to gather at Qingquan Island.
Having walked all the way down from Azure Cloud Mountain, the five of them had hardly rested at all. That night, after confirming their safety, everyone relaxed thoroughly, drinking water and eating food while also grooming themselves. Especially Zeng Shuchang, who monopolized one of the springs and washed himself thoroughly from head to toe, finally ridding himself of that terrible and lingering stench.
Although wasting fresh water like this in the desert was an extravagant act, the spring on Qingquan Island never dried up, and since there were no outsiders that night, no one minded Zeng Shuchang's actions. Moreover, having someone nearby with such an unbearable odor was intolerable for anyone, even for someone well-trained.
After this exhausting ordeal and rest, everyone felt rejuvenated. With the night deepening, the desert was quiet; above them in the night sky were countless stars shining brightly, casting their light upon Qingquan Island and illuminating the faces of the five young men filled with vigor.
Finding a patch of grass, Ten Thousand Swords in One lay on his back gazing at the night sky with his hands crossed behind his head, quietly watching the stars. Before long, he heard footsteps approaching; it was Tian Buyi who had come over without him noticing. He sat down beside Ten Thousand Swords in One and softly called out, "Wan Shixiong."
Ten Thousand Swords in One smiled and nodded at him. "Tian Shidi."
Tian Buyi seemed somewhat reserved as he sat next to Ten Thousand Swords in One and appeared a bit uncomfortable. In contrast, Ten Thousand Swords in One was always relaxed and laid back. However, he soon sensed Tian Buyi's nervousness and couldn't help but laugh. "Tian Shidi, what's wrong with you?"
Tian Buyi chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head sheepishly. "I... I don't know what's wrong either. I saw you lying here and thought I could come over to ask you about some cultivation doubts I have. But when I got close, I suddenly didn't know what to say."
"What's so bad about that? We are all fellow disciples; we are like family," Ten Thousand Swords in One said with a smile. Then he couldn't help but tease him again. "With such a thin skin as yours, if you encounter a girl you like in the future but are too afraid to express your feelings, what will you do?"
Tian Buyi thought for a moment and couldn't help but nod. "Shixiong, you really hit the nail on the head. I just thought about it; it's indeed like that. But sometimes when I see someone I like, I just feel a bit hesitant to speak."
Ten Thousand Swords in One shrugged and said, "That's your own problem. Anyway, I believe that as men, we should be straightforward. If both parties have mutual feelings, then naturally there will be harmony. If the girl has no interest in you, it's better to let go of your infatuation early to avoid causing pain to both sides. What about you?"
Tian Buyi nodded repeatedly and said, "Brother, you are absolutely right. I will remember that."
Ten Thousand Swords in One suddenly sat up and looked at Tian Buyi with a smile, "Good fellow! From what you just said, it seems you have someone you like?"
Tian Buyi's chubby face turned slightly red as he replied, "Well... I guess I do have someone."
Ten Thousand Swords in One looked at him for a while, smiled again, and lay back down, saying, "Forget it, I won't ask who it is. After all, that's your own business; do what you think is best."
Tian Buyi smiled and was about to say something when suddenly they heard voices coming from a distance. Soon after, they saw Azure Pine and Shang Zhengliang approaching, followed shortly by Zeng Shuchang, who also walked onto the grassy area.
Unanimously, everyone lay down on the soft and gentle grass. For a while, no one spoke; they let the evening breeze gently blow by, the leaves rustling in the wind, and the starlight softly falling as if embracing this peaceful and beautiful night.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still. The vast earth and the brilliant starry sky looked so beautiful that one didn't want to close their eyes. Before long, someone began to speak softly; soon others joined in, some spoke loudly while others laughed heartily, filling the surroundings with laughter.
The laughter was warm and pure, clear without any impurities, reminiscent of the simple times we all once had in our early lives.
Under the starlight, in the oasis forest, even far away from the desolate regions of Middle-earth, there were indeed such beautiful places.
※※※
Unknowingly, it was already late at night; the voices gradually faded away until they could no longer be heard.
Under the gentle starlight, those who peacefully slept were filled with happiness and contentment.
Ten Thousand Swords in One lay on the grass for a while, gently turning over to sit up and glancing around. He saw that four of his fellow disciples had already fallen asleep, each in different postures. Among them, Azure Pine had the most cautious sleeping position; he lay on his side with his arms crossed over his chest, appearing to be somewhat alert even in sleep. Shang Zhengliang was the most normal, lying flat on the ground with even breathing. In contrast, Zeng Shuchang was rather peculiar, sprawled out in a way that took up more space than the two beside him, occasionally emitting loud snores that suggested he was sleeping with great abandon. Next to him, Tian Buyi looked honest and simple, squeezed into a small space left by Zeng Shuchang, curled up as he slept. However, there was no sign of discomfort or irritation on his face; instead, he occasionally wore a slight smile, as if he were dreaming of something that brought him satisfaction and happiness.
Could it be that this chubby guy was dreaming of the person he liked?
Ten Thousand Swords in One chuckled silently and shook his head as he stood up. He looked around and waved his sleeve; his body floated gently into the air. The night breeze blew softly, and starlight fell upon him. Dressed in white like snow, he moved gracefully with the wind, exuding an effortless charm. At that moment, amidst the oasis and the earthly realm, it seemed as though only his solitary figure shone brightly.
Just then, he suddenly felt something and turned to look into the distance. The night sky was quiet; that direction was enveloped in darkness and tranquility, seemingly without any unusual signs. After pondering for a moment and recalling that direction should be towards Lake Oasis, he decided to glide in that direction.
Under the night sky, he raced across the desert like a streak of white light and soon arrived at the oasis. There, deep within the trees, the lake lay quietly reflecting countless stars—a different kind of gentle beauty.
He paused his body and landed by the lakeside. Although his expression remained calm, his gaze fixed intently on the surface of the lake, revealing a hint of depth in his thoughts. The lake was serene and beautiful; however, for some unknown reason—perhaps it was just the breeze passing by—ripples danced lightly across its surface.
The wind brushed over the water's surface, creating a beautiful pattern of delicate ripples. Yet at this moment, what Ten Thousand Swords in One saw was not merely caused by the wind; from the center of the lake, circles of water rippled outward.
It seemed that it wasn't just the wind...
As Ten Thousand Swords in One gazed at the lake, lost in thought, suddenly his attention froze. At that moment, the starlight in the night sky seemed to brighten all at once, coalescing from above and landing on the surface of the water.
A hand as white as jade suddenly emerged gently from the water. The droplets sparkled as they rolled down her tender skin before reluctantly sliding away.
A figure slowly rose from the water, her damp long hair cascading over her shoulders but failing to conceal her enchanting curves. Even in profile, her soft white form appeared as one of the most beautiful paintings in existence—an unexpected sight that captured Ten Thousand Swords in One's gaze completely.
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