1 The Boy in the Forest

The dawn arrived just like it was supposed to. The forest was serene an were its inhabitants. Countless birds could be seen fluttering about everywhere.

In a wooden cabin tucked in an unassuming corner of the forest, a hoarse sound could be heard, disturbing the serenity of the forest.

"Stygian! Get your ass up. I don't feed and clothe you to lie in bed all day you know"

"Yes uncle Tan", said a youthful voice followed by scuffling sounds of someone getting up.

A young boy 14 years old could be seen groggily climbing out of the blankets.

"Eh.....it's too still some time till the sun fully rises....why the heck was I woken up this early? Did that old man get bored and wake me up to harras me?"

"What did you say brat?", asked the voice right in front of him.

Startled the boy rubbed his eyes and shook himself awake. He took a look at the burly man in front of him. The man was around 1.8 meters tall, with thick and burly arms and legs with a tanned face where a huge scar extending from his right temple to his chin could be seen.

"Umm.....Nothing. I was just wondering why you woke me up this early. Top of the morning to you."

"I could hear you cursing me brat. Or did you forget that I can hear even hear the smallest of sounds around me at my cultivation"

"Uh well...Never mind. How come you woke me up soo early?"

"Wake up you little rascal. There is something that is going to happen here today. We are going to have guests"

"Did the fence break again? I will drive away those Honeysuckle Bears if it is so...."

"Cough Cough! Not those kind of guests....living people guests. My friend from back in the days found out where I live unexpectedly. He told me he would visit today"

"And that concerns me how? You always meet people but don't allow me to meet them. At least allow me to sleep during this time. Why wake me?"

"Different this time. You are not a child anymore. Your fourteenth birthday is around the corner. You got to start cultivating soon. So you have to join a sect outside the forest quite soon. My friend has considerable influence out in the world and can help you."

"So let me get this straight.....you confined me in this forest for ten whole years and just when I started getting used to it you decide to kick me out?"

"Not exactly....but something similar. Forest's is not gonna be peaceful for much longer. Those fools of the Flame Ridge Sect tried to act smart and attacked that ill-tempered Flare Bull Demon King for its demonic core. That dumb as soup bull is dead set on revenge and is even harboring thoughts on invading the mainland and securing a foothold. Also, some idiotic but powerful mercenaries thought it was a good idea to attack the Nightmare Demonic Fox King and steal its cubs. The fox was already certifiably insane. Those god damned mercenaries had to kill one of its cubs before fleeing. That crazy fox is now massacring everything that moves. It's moving towards the mainland fast and is probably gonna join that dumb bull in assaulting the mainland. And for some incomprehensible reason, the other kings of the forest think it is a good idea to assault the mainland, and are sending resources and demonic beasts under their control to those to invaders. This part of the forest is going to be turned upside down soon, and it is unwise to stay here much longer. I have a destination in mind, but it is unsuitable for you. So I gotta ditch you fast. Pity about those grapes. They were just about to bloom"

"Where am I going? What arrangements do you have in mind?"

"What do you mean by arrangements? I'm tossing you to him, and he is probably going to toss you to a subordinate of his.....and who knows where that subordinate is going to toss you?"

"WHAT??!! SO YOU ARE JUST GONNA TOSS ME OUT LIKE AN OLD CIGAR PIPE OF YOURS?"

"Pretty much. Now go get ready and look presentable and all that crap. Maybe if you make a better impression on that old codger he will give a favorable status in his sect?"

"What sect is that?"

"Listen kid, since you gonna go out of this forest and go to the mainland soon, I will tell you some miscallaneous stuff you might need to know."