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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 16: The Path of Travel
“Xia Lian, I have actually taken a step closer. You might not imagine it, but Kai Zhou Shen opened a path of Travel for me in his dreams. Kai is the Prophet God. In this Travel Path, I saw events from the past two hundred years. Of course, these events were fragmented, and without experiencing them firsthand, I couldn't connect the pieces just by seeing them.”
Xia Lian murmured, “The Path of Travel?”
The clan leader replied, “Yes, that’s what Kai Zhou Shen calls it.” The leader looked at Xia Lian, hoping she could truly understand what she had seen. “I saw a vortex devouring the Evil God within.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Lian nodded. “It seems to really be him. I once confused him; I also saw an unfathomable vortex within him. Actually, I brought him here to let you see if the vortex he possesses is indeed the same one you sensed.”
The clan leader's eyes sparkled with intensity. “Are you sure? Did you really see a vortex within him?”
Xia Lian replied, “Yes, but I always feel there’s something deeper within that vortex that I cannot see clearly. However, that doesn’t matter anymore. Even if the vortex you see isn’t his, he can use the Five Elements Pearl. He is one of the few remaining individuals suitable for practicing the Sealing Technique besides me. The Evil God’s soul has possessed the Arbitrator; things have already become chaotic. Regardless of what happens, Ji Zichen will not stand idly by when it comes to the Evil God.”
The clan leader took Xia Lian's hand and comforted her. “Don’t worry too much about the Evil God. Kai Zhou Shen's prophecies are never wrong. You brought him back; have you told him everything?”
Xia Lian nodded.
The clan leader said, “If he listened to your story and still agreed to come back with you, he truly is a special person.”
Xia Lian smiled. “He is indeed quite different from others.”
As they walked closer to the iron cage in the square, they spotted Cang Da lying down asleep in the distance. He looked peaceful in his slumber; this was a habit of the Guzhao Clan—once well-fed and satisfied, they would sleep anywhere.
Not long ago, Ji Zichen had encountered Big Fool with him. Cang Da dreamed of Big Fool during his sleep; it was their first time hunting Azure Serpent together after leaving the valley. There were more than ten of them in that group and they encountered six Azure Serpents. After battling with them, only Cang Da, Big Fool, and three remaining Gu Diao were left; the others had perished.
Seeing their companions torn apart by the Azure Serpents filled Cang Da and Big Fool with deep sorrow. In front of them were still three Azure Serpents; numerically speaking, they had a significant advantage with five against three. However, these Azure Serpents had sharp fangs and powerful bodies, making them wary and cautious.
Five Gu Diao teamed up to confront three Azure Serpents. The battle raged on until one Azure Serpent was bitten to death by Zang Da. Big Fool drew the attention of the remaining Azure Serpents, allowing Zang Da to sneak around behind one of them. With a fierce howl, Zang Da lunged and tore the Azure Serpent in half. The scales on the Azure Serpent were as thick as armor, but Zang Da, filled with rage, showed no mercy. The Azure Serpent was ultimately killed in a single bite.
The remaining two Azure Serpents, enraged by the loss of their companion, lashed out with their tails. The Gu Diao struggled to defend themselves; although they fought valiantly, they were already wounded by the Azure Serpents' attacks.
The Guzhao Clan often clashed with the Azure Serpents and had developed effective strategies against them. When there were still over ten Gu Diao, their defensive formation was impenetrable. Initially, the Azure Serpents struggled to break through, but as time passed, their strength waned in comparison to that of the Azure Serpents. Gradually, their numbers dwindled, and suddenly two Gu Diao lost their heads.
Blood sprayed like red ink, splattering onto their companions as rivers of blood flowed. One Gu Diao, furious and humiliated, leaped into battle against the Azure Serpents. However, Zang Da and Big Fool could not reach it in time; this Gu Diao fell as well. Its body was rendered unrecognizable by the Azure Serpent's bites. The difficulty in killing the Gu Diao was not only due to the scales but also because the Azure Serpents exuded a corrosive greenish slime.
Big Fool swung its claws at the terrifying Azure Serpent repeatedly, but it was a futile effort. Sweat poured from Big Fool as it failed to inflict any damage on the creature. Zang Da did not want Big Fool to perish here; they were already exhausted and Zang Da did not wish to be left alone. Thus, it pulled Big Fool away in retreat, marking their first failed attempt at killing an Azure Serpent.
Thinking of its fallen companions brought tears to Zang Da's eyes, and the coolness of those tears snapped it back to reality.
Though the sun had set, the air was not too cold; yet Zang Da trembled within the Formation Cage. It thought it had forgotten this event and built immunity against it, but when this nightmare returned, it realized it had never truly let go. This added invisible pain and guilt weighed heavily on its heart.
Guilt surged within Zang Da as it frequently pondered whether it should have stood and fought alongside its companions instead of fleeing. Its comrades had sacrificed their lives for honor while it chose survival—this felt wrong.
"I am a coward," Zang Da muttered to itself. "If I hadn't run away, I could have died for honor and wouldn't be trapped here now."
But at that moment, Big Fool had told it, "No need to sacrifice yourself; you have your scars now—come back next time."
Big Fool's words offered some comfort, yet Zang Da still could not forgive itself.
Indeed, Zang Da could not forgive itself; it felt like livestock confined in a pen—a disgraceful existence. The villagers stared at it with eyes full of disdain as if they were looking at an Azure Serpent. Zang Da recalled Ji Zichen's gaze—there was no disgust there; only respect and care.
Zang Da sensed a strange power emanating from Ji Zichen —a force stemming from an unfathomable Vortex. It remembered hearing about such a Vortex from the Gu Diao Saint King; it was a destructive force that inspired fear in Zang Da's memory of when the Saint King invoked it.
Zang Da did not know what fate awaited it. After being captured, it remained silent, fully aware of the intentions of those who had taken it. If it weren't for the Azure Serpent exhausting its strength, how could these insignificant humans have caught it?
The cage was small, and Zang Da often found itself turning restlessly inside. It had considered risking its life to escape, thinking that even if it failed and died, it would be better than enduring such humiliation. However, Zang Da was unwilling to die in such a manner. If it were to die, it should do so with honor; otherwise, who would remember or mourn its passing?
Zang Da murmured a plea to the Saint King, "If you can hear me, grant me one more chance to fight. I want to die with purpose."
But no one responded. Zang Da stared blankly into space; it was a coward fleeing from escape, a nameless pawn. The Saint King would never hear its heart's voice. Zang Da felt bitter; how could its fate be in the hands of these humans?
Ignoring the others outside the cage, Zang Da was already noticed by the tribe leader and Xia Lian. The tribe leader observed Zang Da, which had been captured for three days now. She had once spoken with Zang Da, offering freedom in exchange for the Azure Serpent Pearl, but Zang Da paid her no mind.
The tribe leader remained silent as she looked at Zang Da, while Xia Lian followed her gaze. Upon seeing Zang Da again, Xia Lian felt no curiosity left in her eyes; she no longer wondered where this creature came from. Now that there were no other people around the cage, any novelty had long since worn off.
Seeing the tribe leader's silence, Xia Lian recalled Ji Zichen's concern for Zang Da and frowned as she asked, "Why is it locked up here?"
The tribe leader replied, "I want the Azure Serpent Pearl, of course. You know this pearl not only has life-saving properties but also enhances beauty and vitality."
Xia Lian had never imagined that this was the reason for Zang Da's captivity. However, she understood the tribe leader well; no one loved beauty more than she did. To Xia Lian, Zang Da was merely a distant Demon Beast. Ji Zichen may have treated it kindly, but that had nothing to do with her.
As they approached the Formation Cage, two militia guards suddenly knelt down nervously and said, "Leader..."
It was rare for the tribe leader to visit the square in person, which made the two militia guards anxious and uneasy. The tribe leader smiled gently and approached them to help them up. They had never received such treatment before and were momentarily at a loss for words. The tribe leader chuckled softly and said, "Get up now; both of you stand up."
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