Chapter 70

Standing in a field with other… soldiers training, Hisashi continued to watch while eating an apple with the old man beside him.

"So what now? What do I need to do? Jin told me that you'll be the one to tell me, right?" Hisashi bites through the juicy apple. The old man nods at his statement as he bites the apple Hisashi gave him.

"We plan to go to the Death Valley." He simply said to which Hisashi added, "Not to explore, isn't it?"

"Yes. Decades ago, if I remember correctly, was when a clan from your country, based on their weapons, took refuge in our country. It was said to be a powerful clan that was banished from the country because of some problems. The former Qin's father, who was a Qin of a pretty big town northeast of the country took them in, unbeknownst to all the other Qin."

"Is it called the Yami Clan?!" Hisashi quickly asks. His reaction caused the old man to knit his eyebrows.

"Unfortunately, I don't know. What I do know, is that they're extremely skillful at the art of killing making them the best weapon an unruly leader can have. It's also said that they have great ties with demons making their magic more powerful and mysterious. This was taken advantage of by the Qin's son, which was now the former and deceased Qin. You see, the Yami Clan doesn't just want a new home – they want revenge.

But that Qin was the one to take a long time making sure that he has a guaranteed win. With that, his son took the chance and made the deal with the devil. He usurped the throne, attacked the other towns, and in a year, he unified it… through fear." The old man said to them.

"Where are you that time? It's more or less six years since that happened right? Where are you and Jin by then?" Hisashi said, seemingly back to usual now.

"We're at the Death Valley." This shocks Hisashi, as he looks at the old man with wide eyes. "Huh? I thought that going there is like death?"

"Normally that'd be the case. But me and Master Jin are the exception." "What do you mean?"

"Remember the skill I told you that I learned in a country beyond ours? I'm actually talking about Death Valley. Both of us can use the said skill. Still, I'm sure that there's a country beyond that fog. Regardless, I've been a caretaker for Master Jin since he was a child. Starting 4 years old, to now 26, I've been by his side.

When he was 8 years old, we took a tour of the very edge of the town, bordering the first layer of the Death Valley. But due to his curiosity, he entered it when I wasn't looking and I followed him after – I still have my sight then. This carelessness proved me useless because even at the first layer of the Death Valley, I didn't manage to find Master Jin."

"First Layer? Are there more?" Hisashi can't help but ask as he was curious about the fog.

"The first one was called the Void Layer of Taste, as it takes away your taste. Consecutively, the second to the sixth is as follows: Void Layer of Smell, Void Layer of Hearing, Void Layer of Touch, Void Layer of Sight, and finally, the Void Layer of Spirit.

At first, I was able to follow him with my hearing and my chi. I was even more surprised that no matter how faster I get, I never chased him. Mind you, I use Lightning Sorcery. But I couldn't just let him go. I chased him with my chi while killing some monsters. And by the time I reached the Sixth Layer, I realized that I fucked up. I'm lost, and worse, I lost Master Jin."

"Him being as fast as you didn't raise any flags?" Hisashi asks, immersed in the old man's story.

"My worry overtook my ability to think. Anyhow, my experience in the Sixth Layer was like hell. I can't use any of my senses or my chi. Fighting beasts and monsters became hundreds if not thousands of times harder. You're like fighting in the void. The worst, is that I don't even know anything. I'm merely acting on instinct.

Just when I thought that I was about to die and lose my consciousness to the darkness forever, a strong force pulls me away and by the time I woke up, all my senses were back, except for my sight. It was hit by a special corrosive blood according to the man. Shockingly, Master Jin was also there… in that country."

"Why did Jin enter the fog? And that skill you're talking about, what is it?"

"He told me, that a voice was calling into him, so he followed it. Even after he lost his hearing at the third layer, he told me that he felt where it was and that it was calling for him. The time that the former Qin was doing his evil deeds, we were back in the fog, searching for the voice that only he can hear.

We find some interesting things that are not the voice, but that's for later. As for the skill… I believe they call it: Seismic Sense."

…

"Are you done touring the town?" Jin asks Hisashi, who was standing in the room. "Why? You need me for anything already?" Jin just laughs as he shakes his head.

"No. Someone's looking for you." As he said so, someone opens the door and just by her ki, Hisashi already knew who it was, making him gloomy.

"Gozu! I knew you'd come here! Master Jin! I told you right? He's pretty strong!" Mai said excitedly. It was pretty different from when they first met but Hisashi thinks that it was probably because of Jin's presence. Even though he's only been there for less than a day, he sees the admiration of Jin's closest companion to him. From the story of Zhang Meng the town officer(mayor), to Mai's obvious uplift of mood, and Old Man Kai's dedication to him.

"I don't know that yet. Anyways, you don't have to leave anymore. I've sent some people to take care of the wild beats in the Yalu Mountains. As for you, Gozu my friend, let's discuss the plan when these youngins are away later." Jin said, looking at Mai, making her furious.

"HUH!? What do you mean youngins, Master Jin? Gozu's younger than me don't you know? I even have my scroll while he has yet to get one." She said so as she take out her scroll with a forest image for an outward cover.

"I know, but he's stronger than you. Also, don't even think that you'll get a chance in joining. I'm training the guys for a reason, and that reason is to not let any newbies join the battle." Mai wants to refute what the Qin has said but she can't say anything back.

"I'll do whatever I want! I'm an adult now with my own scroll!" Mai said, leaving the Qin's room. Jin looks at Hisashi who just shrugs as an answer.