Book 2 Chapter 67

AN:A little early today - have an appointment to go to!

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Wind howled through the Giant Step Forest, twisting between the boughs of ancient trees and tugging at their leaves until they broke free, spinning toward the forest floor. It raked through carpets of fallen leaves and whispered over moss, bending the smaller shrubs and plants even as the great trees remained unmoved. Birds fluttered from their perches, some seeking shelter among sturdier branches, others simply spreading their wings and letting the wind carry them away. The gusts twisted and turned, growing stronger until even the vast canopy shuddered. Shafts of brilliant golden sunlight spilled through the leaves, painting a shifting checkerboard across the forest floor. As the branches swayed, gold and shadow chased one another in constantly changing patterns.

A squirrel perched on a branch, its three tails flicking idly behind it. Several short spikes protruded from its back, giving it an even more peculiar appearance. It chittered softly, tilting its head as something caught its attention among the grass and fallen leaves below. A line of tiny creatures was moving through the forest. They were about the same size as the squirrel – perhaps a little smaller – and utterly unlike anything it had ever seen.

The squirrel bared its teeth. A fine meal, it decided. In the Giant Step Forest, size meant strength. The smaller the creature, the weaker it tended to be, and anything larger naturally preyed upon anything smaller. The squirrel had little reason to fear creatures of such diminutive stature. It scrambled down the branch, then another, zigzagging toward the trunk. Once it reached the ground, it crouched, its hind legs tensing. Then it leapt.

A blue-black cooking pot came flying through the air. It was several times larger than the squirrel. The pot smashed directly into its face. The squirrel was flattened against the ground with a pathetic squeak. Before it could even recover, the pot spun in midair. Its lid sprang open, and a fireball as large as the pot itself erupted from within. The squirrel vanished in an instant. When the flames dispersed, nothing remained but a wisp of smoke. The pot shrank rapidly, becoming smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the sleeve of one of the "tiny creatures" continuing along the forest floor.

Mo Jian sighed, utterly exhausted by this absurd forest. "I can't wait to leave this place," he muttered. It had been a day since they had left the Wall, and this forest was the first hurdle they had come across.

Behind him, four people immediately booed. The chief culprit – the one who had somehow corrupted three others with her behavior – was craning her neck this way and that, her eyes shining with delight. She looked utterly captivated by the forest, at one point happily wrapping her arms around a stand of grass that had grown as tall as she was. "Quit being such a bore, Master. Look! That acorn is as large as a cart. Just imagine what sort of tree it could sprout into!"

Li Kang, one of the three people who had been nodding eagerly along with her, immediately seized his opportunity. He flew toward the enormous acorn and, with a casual sweep of his sleeve, split it into ten neat pieces. The freshly exposed surfaces gleamed smooth and pale in the sunlight. With another gesture, he levitated all ten pieces and sent them drifting back toward the group, looking rather pleased with himself. Bai Ning and her friends snatched up their portions at once. Each section was larger than their heads, yet that did not stop them from trying to bite into the kernels.

Duan Cheng politely shook his head and dropped his piece onto the forest floor. Liu Rushi, meanwhile, examined hers with genuine curiosity, running a hand over its strange, smooth surface. Wei Shentong merely glared at his portion. With a flick of his finger, he transformed it into jade, and then, with another flick, he reduced the jade to dust. He looked considerably more satisfied. Of everyone else, only Muxue actually took a bite. Mo Jian reached out and swatted his own piece aside.

"I don't have to imagine," he said dryly, gesturing toward the enormous trees surrounding them. "I have eyes." No one paid him the slightest attention.

Five people bit into their acorn kernels. Five people immediately spat them back out. Their expressions cycled through green, white, and finally a rather alarming shade of orange. "Brother," Chen Zhuhe gagged, his face twisting in horror. "What evil did you make us eat just now?"

Li Kang looked just as miserable. He spat repeatedly, as though he could cleanse the taste from his tongue through sheer determination. "I thought it would taste good," he mumbled, thoroughly dispirited.

"At least you haven't poisoned yourselves," Liu Rushi offered consolingly. Her expression, however, was one of barely concealed schadenfreude. Qi shimmered faintly in her eyes as she examined her student, Yue Shuangyi, and the others.

Muxue, the only one who had managed to retain some composure, coughed lightly. "If it were poisonous, the Truth Tolling Bell would have warned me. It simply tasted…" She hesitated. "Bad."

Before anyone could say more, Wei Shentong sliced a hand through the air. "How far?" His tone brooked no argument.

Mo Jian, for once grateful for the man's impatient temperament, seized the opportunity to steer them back toward more serious matters. "By all accounts, we should have been out of this forest four hours ago." He shook his head. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you were right. We should have simply blasted our way through and abandoned stealth. At this rate, we'll keep wandering in circles."

Wei Shentong sniffed disdainfully. "Of course I was right. I have far more experience than you." He glanced ahead. "Shall we?"

Muxue cut in before Mo Jian could answer, alarm rippling across her features. "Wait. Have you forgotten why we're walking in the first place?" Her gaze swept over the group. "We must remain hidden for as long as possible. If we're discovered and word spreads, the Yuan tribes will pursue us from one end of the Steppes to the other."

Mo Jian hesitated before speaking carefully. "He is still right, Muxue. Who knows how much time we'll waste otherwise? Besides, only nomadic tribes roam this far south, and unless our luck is truly terrible, we should remain unseen as we exit the forest. There's only so much time we can afford to waste."

The princess looked torn. At last, she let out a reluctant hiss of defeat. "All right. Then we will depend upon you and Senior Wei Shentong."

The truth was that, for all its immense size and exotic nature, the Giant Step Forest posed little threat to their group. Most of the creatures and plants within were only Rank Two to Rank Four, with only a handful reaching Rank Five or above. A group composed of seven Core Formation cultivators and two Nascent Soul cultivators could have torn their way through the forest with ease. But the Giant Step Forest lay on the outskirts of the Three Color Waterhole, a vast region frequented by multiple roaming Yuan tribes. That alone had forced them to proceed with caution. The last thing they needed was to emerge from the forest directly into the path of a wandering tribe and announce their presence to the entire Steppes.

As long as fortune remained on their side, they would make it through unseen. The odds of emerging directly atop a Yuan tribe were, thankfully, quite low.

Wei Shentong was already moving. He had opposed the plan to walk through the forest from the very beginning, calling it foolish to attempt such a thing when they possessed the means to cross it far more quickly. Now that he had been proven right, he had no patience left for further hesitation. With a sweep of his sleeve, a jade-green flying boat materialized in midair. Compared to the colossal trees surrounding them, it was no larger than a small hand-drawn cart. Yet to the cultivators who would ride upon it, the vessel appeared more like a grand galleon built to sail the heavens. Its jade hull gleamed beneath the fractured sunlight, intricate patterns of light flowing across its surface.

Everyone boarded in short order. The moment the last person stepped aboard and they wrapped themselves in their individual qi barriers, the flying boat shot upward. Branches whipped past them as the vessel climbed through the forest with astonishing speed, twisting between trunks that rose like pillars into the heavens. The wind howled around them as they ascended, scattering leaves and sending countless strange cries echoing through the trees below. They had barely risen a few dozen meters when a violent hiss erupted from their left. A gigantic serpent was coiled around one of the trees, its scales dark and gleaming beneath the canopy. Its head swung toward them, jaws opening wide enough to swallow the ship whole.

Three attacks met it almost simultaneously. Duan Cheng's die flashed like a brick of gold, Li Kang's sword cleaved through the air in a brilliant arc, and Yue Shuangyi's ice lotus blossomed, releasing a burst of crystalline light. All three attacks slammed into the building-sized viper at once. The enormous creature exploded, blood, scales, and viscera raining down through the air, but before any of it could touch the cultivators, an azure barrier unfurled around the ship, catching the remains and scattering them harmlessly into the rushing wind. The flying boat never slowed. It continued its ascent, tearing through the layers of branches until the canopy above them grew brighter and brighter. Then, with one final surge, they broke through.

The endless forest opened beneath them. A vast sea of green stretched to the horizon, its colossal trees forming an undulating canopy beneath the open sky. Here and there, brilliant flowers rose above the greenery like scattered jewels, their colors so vivid that they seemed almost unreal from such a height. For the first time since entering the Giant Step Forest, they could see just how immense it truly was.

"There." Liu Rushi raised a hand, pointing toward the distant horizon. Due north, the sky itself seemed to have taken on three distinct hues. Yellow, green, and red shimmered above a distant point on the earth, rising in faint, luminous bands from somewhere beyond the forest. "The Three Color Waterhole," she said.

Wei Shentong immediately turned the flying boat. The vessel swung northward and accelerated, skimming just above the endless canopy. Its passage scattered clouds of enormous butterflies from the treetops, some of them nearly half the size of the boat itself. Their wings flashed with every color imaginable as they fled before the approaching vessel, transforming the air into a kaleidoscope of drifting light.

They were almost clear of the forest when Mo Jian's expression suddenly changed.

"What is it?" Muxue asked.

Mo Jian narrowed his eyes, slowly lowering the hand he had raised, not answering. It was already too late. There were people below, and not just one or two, but an entire tribe. Their luck really was terrible. The flying boat had barely emerged from the forest before they were spotted. On the open grassland surrounding the Three Color Waterhole, dozens of figures were already looking up at them. Mo Jian exchanged a glance with Wei Shentong. This was less than ideal. They had gone to considerable lengths to conceal their presence within the Giant Step Forest, only to emerge directly above a Yuan tribe.

"Should we turn back?" Chen Zhuhe whispered.

"We won't make it back into the forest before they realize something is wrong," Bai Ning replied quietly.

Mo Jian immediately concealed his cultivation, suppressing his aura until it was no greater than that of a Core Formation cultivator. Wei Shentong gave him a sidelong glance, before his own aura vanished. The others understood at once. If the Yuan tribe below had already discovered them, there was little point in pretending otherwise. The question now was whether the tribe intended to attack. The flying boat continued forward. Below, the Yuan cultivators were already gathering. Several centaur-like warriors emerged from a cluster of hide tents, weapons in hand, green scales shimmering beneath the sunlight. Others stood atop the low hills surrounding the waterhole, watching the approaching vessel with wary expressions.

Mo Jian's fingers tightened slightly.

Then one of the Yuan stepped forward. Instead of raising a weapon, the woman lifted an arm and waved. "Travelers!" Her voice carried clearly across the open grassland. "Are you merchants?"

Everyone aboard the flying boat stared. The woman waved again, this time with a broad grin. "Come down! If you're merchants, you're welcome at our camp!"

Mo Jian blinked, turning toward Muxue. She looked just as uncertain as he felt. The Yuan warriors below continued watching them, but there was no killing intent in their gazes. If anything, several appeared openly curious. Mo Jian's thoughts raced. Merchants – it was a ready-made excuse, and given the circumstances, perhaps the best one they were going to get.

He turned toward Muxue and was about to speak under his breath, but she beat him to it. With a broad smile, she stepped forward and called out loudly, "We are." Her voice carried across the grasslands just as clearly.

The Yuan warriors exchanged glances. The woman who had spoken earlier threw back her head and laughed. "Then you've come at a fortunate time!"

"Land," Mo Jian hissed to Wei Shentong. He looked rebellious for a moment, clearly unwilling to indulge this absurdity, but finally relented. The flying boat descended toward the grassland and settled onto the ground with barely a sound.

The moment they stepped down, curious Yuan surrounded the group. Children peeked out from behind their parents, small scales glimmering across their arms and legs. Several young warriors – four-legged from the waist down, but with distinctly humanoid torsos – stared openly at the flying boat. A few older cultivators watched the newcomers with guarded expressions, their bodies almost entirely covered in green scales, though even their wariness seemed tempered by curiosity rather than hostility.

The woman who had greeted them finally pushed her way through the crowd. She, too, possessed the body of a centaur, green scales covering the equine half, while her four legs ended in broad, powerful claws more suited to a dragon than a horse. A long tail swept behind her, formed from golden fire. Her humanoid torso was likewise patterned with green scales, though fewer in number, which climbed gracefully along her sides before stopping at her neck, leaving her face entirely human. Her clothing was sparse: a thick band wrapping around her chest and a quilt-like blanket draped across her back, beneath which hung a large storage pouch like a saddlebag. A string of colorful beads and several small horns adorned one temple, the only ornament she wore.

As she stepped forward, the surrounding Yuan immediately parted. No one needed to explain who she was; this was clearly the tribe's matriarch. The woman looked over the group, her gaze lingering briefly on each of them before settling on Muxue. Then she smiled. "You have traveled far, followers of the Fatwa."

Muxue stepped forward and returned the smile with practiced grace. "We lost our way in the Giant Step Forest after entering the Steppes. We were hoping to find a place to rest before continuing our journey."

"Then you have come to the right place." The matriarch laughed, her voice carrying warmly across the gathered tribe. "Anyone who can cross that forest alive deserves a meal." Several Yuan around her chuckled. "We have spirit stones, medicinal herbs, materials from the forest, as well as beast hides and bones to barter," the matriarch continued. "Since you are traders, perhaps you have something our tribe might find useful."

She counted the items off almost casually. "We will take silk, magical tools, tea, spices, talismans, and news." Her smile widened. "If there is nothing we can buy, then fear not. That is no matter. You may still enjoy our hospitality."

Muxue's smile did not falter. "Then we would be honored to accept your hospitality."

The matriarch laughed again, apparently pleased by the answer. "Good! It has been too long since travelers came to our camp." She turned and called over her shoulder. "Prepare the guest tents! Bring out the fermented fruit! And tell the hunters to bring back whatever they caught this morning. We have guests!"

A chorus of voices answered her. The gathered Yuan immediately sprang into motion. Several children cheered and ran toward the center of the settlement. Young warriors followed, some casting curious glances back at the newcomers as they went. Even the older cultivators seemed to relax, their guarded expressions easing as the matriarch's orders spread through the camp. Mo Jian watched all of this carefully. It was strange: not the hospitality itself – the Yuan were known to be fiercely tribal, and different tribes had wildly different customs – but rather the complete lack of suspicion.

They had appeared from the Giant Step Forest on a flying boat, claiming to be merchants. Instead of questioning them, the tribe had simply welcomed them in. Were they unaware of the ongoing War? They had not even demanded to see the Fatwa of Trade that every merchant was supposed to carry when venturing beyond the Wall. Were they truly so confident that no one would attempt to sneak north for any reason?

"Relax," Muxue murmured as she passed him. The rest of the group moved forward as well. Bai Ning even winked at him as she went. Mo Jian exhaled slowly before following.

The settlement was larger than he had initially assumed. What had appeared from a distance to be little more than a scattering of tents was, in truth, a small moving city. Dozens of hide tents surrounded a broad central clearing, their poles decorated with feathers, bones, brightly colored cloth, and strange carved ornaments. There were no wall or gates; the Yuan simply lived beneath the open sky.

Beyond the tents, the Three Color Waterhole shimmered beneath the strange radiance rising from its depths. Yellow, green, and red light intertwined above the surface, casting the surrounding grassland in an otherworldly glow. Mo Jian's gaze lingered on it. Even from here, he could sense the dense spiritual energy emanating from the water. No wonder the Yuan tribes fought over this region.

They reached the central clearing. A number of Yuan were already preparing food. Great slabs of roasted meat hung over open fires, while large clay pots bubbled with fragrant stews. Someone had even brought out several enormous wooden barrels filled with a dark red drink.

Bai Ning's eyes immediately lit up. "Is that wine?"

"A fruit brew," the matriarch replied.

Bai Ning looked delighted.

Mo Jian sighed inwardly.

The matriarch gestured toward a large tent. "Rest there. When you have recovered, we can see what goods you have brought."

Muxue nodded. "We will."

The matriarch started to leave, then paused. "Oh, and one more thing. It's only a formality, but the elders will insist on taking a look at your Fatwa of Trade. You may present it to them after you have had some food and drink."

Mo Jian's expression changed slightly. Thankfully, the matriarch's eyes were fixed on Muxue. As the spokesperson for their group, the princess had not so much as twitched. Even more thankfully, Muxue was not the only one to remain composed. Duan Cheng, Liu Rushi, and Wei Shentong had managed the same feat. The rest looked shocked, concerned, or downright anxious for a heartbeat before hastily mastering themselves.

Muxue smiled serenely. "Such a thing need not be said. We will, of course, present it to the respected elders as requested."

The matriarch laughed. "Good, good. We can make our introductions then, too. For now, eat and rest. Afterwards, we will trade."

And with that, she reared onto her hind legs, spun around, and galloped away, leaving the group standing in the middle of her tribe, surrounded by roasting food, curious Yuan, and the increasingly inconvenient question of what exactly they intended to do when the elders asked to see a Fatwa they did not possess.

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AN:More chapters over on Patreon, if you want to read ahead!