Page 52: Into another place

Blaargh!

There was nothing to barf out but he can taste the bitter liquid rising from below his esophagus. With both knees and palms on the ground to support his suffering body, he tried to regulate his breathing. However every time he tries to inhale a supplemental air, the putrid smell of the liquid from his mouth just annoyingly follows making the routine harder. 'Ah, its really disgustingly awful. Its good I did not eat yet or else I have vomited a lot.'

Five minutes later, he was able to regain his normal state. He tried to look around but there was only darkness. 'Am I inside of another cave? Good thing, I brought some moon stones from the previous cave.'

Long Bai released a tiny amount of essence to stimulate the moon stones but an amazing thing happened afterwards. Just after the tiny moon stones activated, some tiny embedded moon stones on the wall has also been activated. What happened is that upon activating the moon stones, it resonated with the moon stones on the cave's wall. This made the entire area enough to become visible.

Inside the current chamber, the only thing that makes it different with the previous was the absence of materials for learning and the stronger smell of a cave. Since the previous cave was occupied recently, the natural cave smell was weaker than where he is now. Bai speculated that the previous cave was the main base and the array was the owner's means to travel for supply or something similar. Maybe, it was also because of the source of milennium milk that the other cave became the base It is the best reason Bai can think of as of now.

After checking the functionality of the array and ensuring that it works, Long Bai started to move around. Only two chambers were found, one for the transport array and the other was for a concealing array. It was the same array that was supposed to hide the entrance of the other cave system. This one though, was complete and still fully functional. Since its another array that may prove useful later, Long Bai used the system to analyze its inscription patterns.

[System notice: Analyzing of array has started. Remaining time before completion: 6 mins, 38 secs.]

While waiting for the system to complete its work, Long Bai took some bite of the food the villagers made. One of them that he likes was dumplings he introduced them to make. Since it was still warm, he was able to enjoy flavorful bites of it.

[System notice: Analyzing of array has been completed. Adding the information into your library.]

'Ho. So this is how it works. No wonder it can last for a long time.'

The concealment array was made of two intertwined arrays which made look as one. One was for the concealment function and the other was an essence gathering function. If one has to check the ceiling, one will find an essence crystal that was condensed by the essence gathering array which served as a power source for the other array. In modern times, it was similar to a household that has installed a solar panel. The only difference was that the solar panel may deteriorate sooner compared to an inscription technique which may last for more than a hundred years.

Looking for the exit, he saw the familiar stairs that directs upwards. The width and the height of each step was identical with the previous cave. While walking the stairs, he immediately noticed some root system of trees. It seemed that the current cave was shallower than the previous. Upon reaching an end, he pushed what he felt like a slab and as it opened, he was greeted by a dense forest. Exiting and looking back at the stone slab, the area was perfectly camouflaged as if it was just a normal ground. Since it is difficult to notice, Long Bai made a signage at a nearby tree just in case he would not recognize the area later.

Trying to observe where he was, climbing at the top of the tree, he noticed that he was on a mountain side while 5 kilometers to where he was facing was a sign of civilization. That is his today's aim, to reach the city and check things that would be useful. Since five kilometers is not far, he decided to walk the forest and collect herbs he might encounter along the way. He might also asses the beast grade of the area.

Just when he jumped down from the tree top, he heard some noises of battle going on. Going near from the noise, he saw two groups of students fighting and a corpse of a flame boar. There are 3 males from the first group, two of them are at the middle stages of flesh refining while the man who looks like their leader is at the late stages of flesh refining. The second group who was trying to stay in front of the dead flame boar have also three members. Two of them are also at the middle stages and the lady who seemed to be the leader is at the late stages but is currently wounded, probably from the fight with the flame boar. This seemed to be a daylight robbery!

"Si Kong, you really are shameless. We're the ones who subdued this boar and yet you are trying to take it away from us?" The female leader of the second group yelled.

"Don't be mad, Yang Ruiya. Isn't our motto, "the fastest takes the best"? Have you forgotten?"

"We already caught the boar ourselves. Weren't you the one who's slower?"

Yang Ruiya's last statement just made Si Kong even more infuriated. The fact that Ruiya's group hunted the flame boar first, he can't just accept that a group of commoners has aced the test against them who are of noble birth. Once they'll return empty handed, it would really give them a bad reputation. Since it is like that already, Si Kong would become shameless and decided to steal the goods instead and frame the commoners later. Since he cannot kill the woman because of the soul tag with her, he'll just beat her until she cannot resist.

"Ahh. Yang Ruiya, since you said we are slower then there's no hard feelings if you can't keep that boar from our slow hands. Haha!"

"We'll report this to the elders! Do you think you can get away from this?"

"Ruiya, its no use. You see, who will they believe when we're the ones who will bring that boar's body to the sect? And in addition, one of the elders is my uncle so just give up. Although you live with the Yang household, you are just a commoner. A word from a noble is heavier than a commoner's life. Hahaha! Guys, take care of the other two, I'll handle this woman."

Long Bai, who was hiding behind a tree heard the man's words and disagreed greatly in his mind. Although he wanted to help the lady, he doesn't want to show up in front of them. Revealing his identity will just create some inconveniences later on. Thinking of how to help the lady, he took out a berserk pill, wrapped it up on a piece of parchment with some words on it and aimed at the lady.

"Si Kong, you really are detestable. I'll fight you to death if that's what you.." Before she can finish her statement, she noticed something coming at her. To her, it looked like a stone being flung to her without strength so she just tried to catch it with her bare hands. Upon contact, she felt the texture of a parchment. Thinking about what is happening she thought, 'Huh? Why is a parchment being aimed at me? Hmm? There's something inside?'

As she opened, words were seen on the inside and were written as follows:

"Take it if you want to survive. Doubt and you die."

Yang Ruiya doesn't know if it was a kind of threat or not but seeing the pill on her hands, it smelled familiar. Si Kong who saw what happened was puzzled.

"What is that? Give it to me. Give it here!"

Before he can make a move, Ruiya has already swallowed the pill on her hand. After a few seconds, her cultivation has risen to the 3rd level of viscera tempering. With the temporary rise of her cultivation, her confidence has returned. The pain from the wound from earlier has now temporarily stopped. Si Kong on the other hand recognized the pill Ruiya took and began to tremble.

"That's.. the berserk pill. Why is it here? No, no, Ruiya. I was just joking a while ago, don't take it ti heart."

Si Kong who was scared and rattled by the current flow of events has lost his cool and looked pathetic while giving a terrified look. If a berserk pill is here in the mountains, it means that an elder or someone from a high position is watching and supporting Ruiya since berserk pill is only held and given by them. It was a pill that was exclusive to higher ups since they are the ones who mostly visit merchant city from time to time.

"Si Kong, now that you're in a pinch, you have shown your very true nature. A wimp who just rely on someone's hands to rise and a bully who doesn't have regards for other's life. I, Yang Ruiya will beat some sense into that thick head of yours."

"No.. You can't kill me. If you do, my soul tag at our household will break and reveal who killed me."

"Who said about killing? You're not just stupid, you're also deaf. Since you don't understand words, I'll just let you experience it."

Yang Ruiya attacked Si Kong and the other two companion until they become unconscious. Since the effects of the berserk pill is just temporary, before it would wear off, Yang Ruiya's group took the flame boar and fled the area. Of course she did not forget to express her thanks to whoever helped her.

"To the hidden master who hides in the shadows, thank you for the help. If there's anything I can do in return, I request the master to be our guest at the Yang residence."

Ruiya waited for a response and received another parchment with a pill. Inside was written:

"No need for that. I just helped because you remained true to yourself. Take this essence replenishing pill. Be well."

Ruiya was thankful to the bottom of her heart with this mysterious helper and gave one final bow.

"Thank you again, hidden master."

Ruiya understood that masters like them don't want to expose themselves. She also considered that the person might even an elder from the sect. Since there's no helping it, she took off afterwards.