Chapter 130 Into The Phoenix Chamber Part 10

Staring at the dark, dense misty forest from afar, Yul and Abrafo continued to stare at the forest trying to figure out the best way into the forest.

"I wonder if the fog will get thinner than this," Yul said, turning to looked at Abrafo.

"No wonder Lady Lai told us to leave this forest before the fifteenth day of the month," Abrafo said. "This forest is much scarier than others have described. What were we thinking when we agreed to take this mission?" He looked at the unknown dark forest and scoffed shaking his head.

Yul said, "We are here now, so going back is not an option now." He handed the map to Abrafo. "I think what we need is in there."

Abrafo took the map and looked at it. The traces of the previous markings were now gone, replaced by a picture of tall black mountains.

"This suck," he said, handing the map back to Yul. "We're not just looking for one item, but two items. I suggest we form three groups." He sighed. "When we enter the Phoenix Chamber. You, Michio and I, we work alone. Hajime and U-ri are a team. I don't like this as much as you do, but our time is limited this time." He looked at Yul. "What do you think?"

"Let's form three teams," Yul said, tucking the map back into his robe.

Yul and Abrafo walked back to the other three Tanzanies.

Michio said, "We found many water holes on the other side of the mountain."

Abrafo asked, "Is the water safe to drink?"

Hajime said, "I drank some and I am still okay."

"Where are our two friends?" Abrafo asked, looking around.

Hajime said, "They are by the water holes on the other side of the mountain."

Yul said, "We should set up camp there and replenish water."

Michio asked, "But we don't know if that water is safe."

U-ri said, "I'm sure the water is safe to drink.". U-ri stood up and grabbed his backpack.

Michio asked, "How could, you be sure?"

U-ri said, "By the look of Sir Hai, I'm sure he has been here before."

Abrafo asked, "How do you know?"

U-ri said, "As soon as we landed, he and the other guy walked straight towards the water holes, which told me they had been here before."

A gust of wind blew towards the five Tanzanies. They looked back and saw that Hajime's two eagles had landed a few feet away from them.

As soon as Lixin and others jumped off the eagle's back, the two eagles disappeared and reappeared in Hajime's right palm.

Lixin led the four of them towards the five Tanzanies, and Lixin stood in front of Hajime. "Thanks for the ride," he said with a smile.

Hajime said, "You're welcome."

Jin chuckled and said, "We're very grateful."

Yul looked at Lixin and Lixin's four men. "I thought you were going to take everyone with you," Yul said.

Lixin said, "The competition said there are only five people in each team, so I picked my best five men."

Shi walked up to Lixin and said, "Sir, according to the information I have collected, our water source should be over that mountain."

Abrafo looked at Lixin and others and said, "You are indeed well prepared." He looked at all the people, but Bong was not among them. "Your friend Bong? He didn't come with you?"

Lixin said, "He promised me not to participate in the competition." Lixin looked at Abrafo strangely. "You don't seem to like Bong very much, so you can rest assured."

"I must thank my ancestors for changing your heart of not bringing your friends and sister with you," Abrafo said, teasing Lixin.

Lixin said, "Kexin is currently single. Does Sir Abrafo want me to be your matchmaker?"

Abrafo shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "No, thank you. I prefer women without royal status," Abrafo said.

The group of ten people started walking towards the water holes.

Heng asked, "Sir Abrafo, may I ask why?"

Abrafo joked. "Simple... the royal family is so hard to please. For example, you must please your wife and your in-laws. If you marry a girl who doesn't have royal status, you won't have to please anyone. You can be yourself."

Feng said, "I must agree with Sir Abrafo on that. Our Lady is indeed very hard to please."

The men laughed.

Shi said, "Take our Lord for an example. He not only must please our master, but also must please the Lai family."

Abrafo asked, "So your Lord is really Lady Lai's fiancé?"

Shi said, "Yes...their wedding has been scheduled for next year." He looked at Abrafo. "Sir Abrafo, is there anything wrong with our lady?"

Abrafo looked at the men and said, "Where do I start?"

The four men laughed and continued chatting, walking towards the water holes.

It was early in the night, and other participants slowly appeared one after another. The last ones to arrive at the waterhole were Prince Gang and his four men.

Bong sat far away from Lixin and Prince Gang. He knew he had to keep a low profile, otherwise Lixin would be angry with him. He intended to keep up the disguise for as long as possible.

Bong looked at Hai and said, "I have never asked you, but why did you participate in this competition for the title of Phoenix General?"

Hai said, "That's the point. This is the only thing that everyone who participates in this competition wants. If it's not for the Phoenix General title, what's the point of risking our lives here."

Bong said, "I mean, there's a lot of other things you can do."

"I know, but that doesn't make my life stable," Hai said, chuckling. "Having the title of Phoenix General will change my life and the lives of my children and their children."

Bong said, "That's true."

"Here," Abrafo suddenly appeared on Bong's right side.

Suddenly hearing Abrafo's voice angers Bong and seeing two roasted pigeons on a stick startle Bong. "Get that thing away from my face," Bong said angrily, quickly knocking the roasted pigeons to the ground.

"I spent hours trying to catch them. You don't have to throw them on the ground if you don't want to eat them," Abrafo said in disappointment. "I was kind enough to share half of my food with you. You could at least show a little sympathy."

Bong said angrily, "I will never ask you for food, nor will I eat anything that has been touched by your dirty hands."

Abrafo scoffed and picked up the roasted pigeons off the ground. "You're so unbelievable," he said, handing the roasted pigeons to Hai. "Although it's a little dirty, it's still edible." He glanced at Bong, shook his head, and walked away.

Abrafo sat down and picked up the roasted pigeons and started eating.

U-ri asked, "How was it?"

"I didn't even want to try anymore," Abrafo said. "I kindly gave him a ninety percent share to rebuild our friendship, but instead he threw the roasted pigeons on the ground like some piece of trash."

Hajime said, "Abrafo, I have never seen anyone hated you so much. Are you sure you didn't do anything to offend that man?"

Abrafo said, "I didn't. I don't remember offending anyone."

Michio looked at Abrafo from the other side of the bonfire and said, "I see that you are very generous to that man, but he doesn't seem to like you at all. So, do you want to keep trying or stop trying? You know that tomorrow we will enter Scattered Forest."

Hajime added, "Those we consider friends will become our opponents."

Abrafo said, "I just wanted to make one last attempt to make friends before heading into Scattered Forest, but I guess my efforts were in vain."

U-ri said, "That's the way life is. No matter how hard you try, some people just don't want to be your friends."

Abrafo looked towards where Bong and Hai were sitting and found that the pigeons he had brought were being eaten by Hai. He shook his head, feeling a little disappointment because he had never worked so hard to make friends with anyone before.

"What a waste of food and energy," Abrafo said, shaking his head.

Early in the morning, before sunrise, participants begin packing their bags and heading into Scattered Forest.

U-ri poured five black pills into the palm of his hand and said, "Let's take one each."

Michio asked, "What is this?"

U-ri said, "For precaution."

Abrafo picked up a black pill that looked more like a watermelon seed. "What kind of precaution?" He asked, picking up a black pill.

U-ri said, "This will help us fight the toxins entering our body and buy us more time. Normally, people can last for three hours, but this elixir will give us an extra two more hours, by allowing our body to resist the toxins in our body before the inhaled toxins begin to take effect."

Hajime asked, "So this means that others only have three hours, but we actually have five hours."

U-ri smiled and said, "Indeed."

Abrafo put the black pill into his mouth and swallowed it. He asked, "Is there anymore?"

U-ri poured the last pill into his hand and said, "This is the last one."

Abrafo asked, "Can I have this last pill?"

U-ri nodded.

Abrafo took the pill from U-ri's hand. He made his way to Bong and Hai.

Abrafo said, "Before entering Scattered Forest, let's be friend first."

Bong rolled his cold eyes at Abrafo and said, "No, thank you. After entering Scattered Forest, the first thing I will do is stab you in the back." He approached Abrafo and taunted. "So, you'd better be careful and stay away from me."

Abrafo asked, "Do you really hate me that much?"

Bong stretched out his hand and grabbed Abrafo's collar. He gritted his teeth and said, "Just being in the same place with you makes me sick to the point of vomiting. So, you despicable lowlife..." He pushed Abrafo away from him. "Stay away from me."

Abrafo stared at Bong up and down. He said, "Hey sir, you looked very familiar. You look like someone I know, not only in appearance, but your attitude is exactly the same as him." Abrafo looked at the man's extinguished dark brows. "Hey Lixin!" Abrafo quickly looked over Bong's shoulder.

Bong turned around to look for Lixin, when Abrafo quickly stuffed the detoxing pill into Bong's mouth and hit Bong in the chest.

Bong coughed and swallowed the pill. He coughed again and tried to spit the pill out, but he couldn't. He looked at Abrafo and shouted angrily, "What the hell you feed me?"

Abrafo chuckled and said, "Thank me later."

Abrafo saw that Bong quickly reaching for the dagger at his waist, so Abrafo quickly waved to Bong and ran away. "See you inside Scattered Forest."