Spirit Hall Move (End)

It was a well-hidden crevice, covered by vegetation and dense forest, that gradually transformed into the narrow entrance to a spacious cave. Inside nothing could be done about a comfortable environment, stone walls were slightly wet all day round, moisture in the air was at the level that hinders breathing for a normal person and low temperature would get on a nerve of unprepared ones.

Still, it was safe with fresh air and natural ventilation, that went somewhere on the other side and situated deep within the rocky mountain which gave some stability if assaulted.

In the center sat four men, they used some wood by the entrance to make a small campfire and were roasting meat.

"Who goes there?" – they were vigilant and Aiden never tried to cover his tracks.

"What are you screaming about, idiot!" – another man slapped him on the head and waved his hand at the incoming pair. He was the strongest in a group and noticed arriving people long ago. Aiden erased his own existence a couple of times, showing that if he wanted, he could sneak up to them. – "Come to the light."

'Qin Yang.'

Aiden cast a sidelong glance at Na'er, who was more than just irritated. He felt a headache arising again. Please, bro, don't…

"N-N-Na'er?" – he stammered with red albeit exhausted face. Even in a situation like this, he kept behaving so shyly it's almost a wonder where did he have the emotional power for that. Well, that dude was love-struck from the first glimpse of her and if it's just that it would be fine, but he couldn't look straight with her being present at all. A twenty-something year old man falling in love with an adolescent girl no older than eight, albeit looking about fourteen to fifteen and acting all mushy… that just plain scary.

But the most unbearable thing was the reaction of the said love interest. If Aiden can easily tell that Qin Yang was a fool in love, then Na'er was oblivious of such things. So much for being two hundred thousand years old fox. She thought he was scared witless and as a young sensitive girl at her prime, she thought straightforwardly.

He was afraid the moment he saw her? That means he either knew she is a spirit beast or… what was more terrifying in her mind, was afraid of her appearance. Well, first was impossible due to their clan's unique bloodline, and second… it pissed her off right off the bat. Like a stick of dynamite with a short fuse.

But now she was not in a mood for all that, although it irritated her. She just gave him a cursory glance and ignored that nuisance presence thereafter.

"Aiden." – said old man hoarsely. His eyes were bloodshot. – "They all are dead. They were waiting for us…" - his fists were clenched and the other three looked grimly at the little fire they have with ominous shadows adorning their faces. – "Everyone was killed… they showed no mercy at all, not even a couple of words were exchanged, just a brutal slaughter. But…but… that's not all. They… they eat us."

"They did what again?" – Aiden didn't believe his ears for a second.

"They… used blood and flesh and devoured it with some unknown method to cultivate. Aiden… they are a god damned cannibals! And they laughed while doing it. They are plain crazy!" – the other man was nearing a breakdown.

"What is this Spirit Hall? They boss us around like we are slaves, they have no qualms to exterminate a village and kidnap talented people…" - Aiden was shaken not by the news, but that they were spoken like common knowledge.

"Is that true?" – Qin Yang raised his head. No, looks like that man was a witness.

"Do you think I have a reason to lie at this point? I was a kid only eight back then and survived just because I fell down inside the toilet drain in fright!" – he said, not thinking of it as a shameful story. None of them did. - "Spirit Hall scums! They slaughtered my entire family! And what I? I can't even say it out loud, no one will believe me!"

Aiden sighed and threw bottles of fine wine in front of them. It was reckless to drink while being hunted, but this drink was different. He knew what they want. They were dejected and felt unfairness. But there were two paths from here – depression and defeat were the first rage and fight – second.

He exuded killing intent in the air, confined only in this little space. Tonight, it was their world and their way to decide. He gulped down and felt fire raging inside, showing battles of old and giving birth to tremendous war intent.

"Aiden, we are not talented, but you are different. Even if we die here today it doesn't matter, but you should live to tell the tale and avenge many innocent souls those beasts harmed." – the old man said and gulped down. Then he said in a crying voice full of pain as a solitary tear found a way out of the corner of his eye. – "My daughter was such a nice and beautiful lady, gentle and kind… but that Spirit Hall bishop saw her accidentally. I found her only after a week in the forest, half-eaten by wild beasts. They tore apart her lower body. I can't even imagine what she's being through…" - tears garbled his face, but the expression on it was anything but downcast. It seethed with thick hatred and a desire to kill. He awoke his primal wishes. – "I don't care anymore. I won't continue living in self depravity like that. I just can't. I want this pain to end it too much for the old me."

"They slaughtered my family and friends, my entire village. What fucking saints? What words of god? All of this is just dogshit! They are demons, wanting to preserve their power, that's all!" – another man smashed his fist in a wall. He could no longer sit and walked around in agitation, nearly screaming. – "What have we ever done to them? What can we even do to them? This Spirit Hall has many Titled Douluo's among them! Fuck! And they still killed every single person no matter the age and gender just to cover all up."

Aiden felt their emotions, grief, and indignation, but most of all their burning hearts full of rage. They were tired of oppression and somehow… today… tonight they will shine the brightest.

"Fuck this!" – Qin Yang screamed. – "I say we go. Stop hiding like rats and show them what it means to be humans! We are not beasts or cattle, we are humans! I say we fight! I don't care anymore… what's the use of this shitty life if I can't live as I want?!"

Aiden drunk a mouthful of wine, feeling a bit light-headed. Actually, it was just normal alcohol, not even that strong. It was just the final straw.

Don't they want to kill? So be it!

"Go. I will wait for you in Nuoding academy." – Aiden was astonished. She came up and tenderly help him fix a strand of loose hair, while subtly playing with it with her elegant fingers. And then she hugged him and stroke his face. – "You wouldn't be my ge I love so much if you weren't like that. Don't make me wait for long. Who knows, some guy may snatch me away."

"Okay. But I might need to do some stuff afterward. Meanwhile, you should get acquainted with a girl named Xiao Wu and a boy Tang San there. Also, there is an excellent teacher, Yu Xiaogang. Stay close to Xiao Wu, she is like you, a magical beast in human form. Don't leave their side, okay? We will meet up at Shrek academy at the very latest and don't try to find me. It can be very dangerous."

He kissed her forehead and smiled at the tear-stricken face, lightly and gently tracing her tears with his fingers. Na'er just nodded, committing every name to her memory, and looked at his eyes full of warmth. She hugged him and whispered several very important words into his ears, making Aiden stunned for a moment, but later he embraced her in return to feel her warmth again and then they separated.

"Let's move. Tonight, they die. But we won't go there empty-handed. Our task has to be said out loud. We are not going there to die but to give them a wake-up call and show that even small people if enraged can do wonders. Take this." – he threw them a weapon each, suitable for their battle style. They were created long ago to earn some cash when needed. Well, now they will serve another purpose.

The purpose of any true weapon. Killing.

They went outside as a team of five. Two control, two power types, and Aiden. Nexus found their camp easily, they created it in a field and never tried to even send scouts to watch it at night.

"So confident that no one will attack them." – the old man sneered, unsheathing a battle ax.

"Haha! Let's go kill them all!" – yes, that was exactly what they wanted.

No tactics and covers, no sneak attacks, and underhanded means.

They wanted a bloody damn frontal assault, a battle to vent rage and indignation and bath in their blood until they breathe their last today.

And Aiden obliged, somehow feeling that if he didn't, something would have left him forever and another part of him would have died here and then.

They raised from the cover of the night forest and went in like a never-ending storm of blood and rage.

* * *

A day after the final battle. Ruined campsite of Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue.

"Everyone, leave." – she commanded icily.

"Saintess, you needn't worry, we will…"

"Leave I said!" – she screamed and with her voice came an outbreak of unknown force, which made many very uncomfortable.

She stood there with trembling hands.

'What is this? How can it be?'

When all her subordinates went away, she finally gave in and sat on the ground crying.

She saw it all. It was like a beacon of righteous rage and fire of hope, love for life and freedom showed in death. It was tragic, scary, and beautiful. She was sitting on the ground near the trunk of the tree, covered in strange purple crystal, but it was so clear that one could barely recognize the color.

It was an enormous expanse of land frozen in time.

There were over thirty bodies left. Most of them cut in pieces or even ripped apart. But she stared unblinkingly at the four figures that literally engraved themselves in eternity. First was a young man. He was lying surrounded by six Spirit Hall enforcers.

He was pierced by seven weapons and died on them as a support. Others ended their lives in his hands, but he hugged the last enemy and ripped his throat with teeth.

Another two laid near. They used a fusion ability and gave up their own blood and souls for it to rage on a battlefield.

But the most eye-catching among all was an old man. He just stood in the very center of a camp unmoving and straight like a divine spear and where he looked now, the morning sun was rising. His eyes weren't closed. No, they were alive even in death, burning with hope and raging fire of true will.

And near him stood erected monument.

It didn't say threats or gave a description.

No.

It just stated a name. A weird one, but full of hope and feelings of fulfillment. She knew very well who erected it. And she knew that he had no grief and rage for their death.

No, he sent them on their journey with a smile.

"Burning Hearts of Humanity."

But if it was just that, it wasn't enough to make Saintess of Spirit Hall wail here silently.

"I saw it all, Aiden… your intent and aura, engraved in this ice… that's what I felt back then and that light resonated with my martial spirit unlocking my heart and cleansing my soul. I'm insane to talk to you here, right? I doubt we ever will meet and I doubt I have a right to even stand near you… but you showed me your life and another perspective. I saw it all. How you were abandoned and forgotten, how you fought for survival every day, how you faced a demon, and decided to help this world and yourself… I saw your care for that girl and I'm very jealous, you know. Although I have no right." – she cried whipping her tears again and again with her little hands. – "In contrast, what noble goal do I have? What have I ever done in my life, except for listening to that insane old man about our superiority…? I fear what he made me be… if not for you, what would I have become? A monster like most in Spirit Hall…"

"And my mother. Why do I hate her? Cold shoulder, that's it? Do I have a right to hate her when you never hated yours, who threw you away to die in the freezing wasteland? At least mine never left me! I now know and see. I never even tried to look at her properly. Yes, I can see it now. Her eyes, indifferent and cold, which held fear for me and tender warmth so deep that it never reached me. She is there for me, I'm not alone… and I never was. And I can feel it, the power of demons in the veins of my grandfather. My mother is afraid that I am the same… Aiden… you know… I really was. That old man made me drink it all the time during my seclusions. He said it was an Ambrosia… but it turns out to be diluted demon blood! Aiden, I'm scared. Your martial spirit and its aura purified it all and even help my Seraphim to evolve. And my mind suddenly started working. It was a miracle that I never noticed such obvious things, but now I do."

"I will make up to my mother, I will save her from this hell called Spirit Hall. They forced her to this position, I don't know how, but I'm sure of it. I will change Spirit Hall from within and cleanse it… please… Aiden… help me…" - she cried again. – "I can't fight alone… please…"

She stopped talking and again recounted a vast array of memories, including Great Way of a Titan. She found there a symbol, a suitable method for her. A path of Purity. To not be corrupted by anything, to stay true to oneself and close people around you.

"Maybe you left this gift for me, or maybe you don't even know. It doesn't matter. Thank you, my only friend. I will make it count, or I'm not Qian Ren Xue." - Then she stood up and waved her hand, collecting this little section of land. – "I will keep it for now, or they will destroy it."

She looked at the direction of Heavenly Dou Imperial Capital.

"But first we need to do something about Spirit Hall there."