A Dangerous World, Part 1

Chapter 14

As his name resounded around the world, Wuji was smiling at the shiny gold luster in his hand.

"Hmm… it seems that starting off in this dangerous area is not that bad after all."

"Wuji!" A familiar voice yelled.

Wuji looked behind him, putting away the gold coins into his Spirit Pouch.

Footsteps crunching the dirt, a blurry figure quickly approached. Wuji soon recognized who it was.

"Wuji! Ah-pant. I'm sorry about Weiss. He's always grumpy." Edmund's head was slightly bowed down.

"Hmm? Oh, it's fine, really." Wuji shook his head lightly. Why would he be mad at the alchemist? He wanted to thank him!

"So, uh... where do you want to go now?" Edmund smiled, his eyes gleaming. He promised he'd make up that terrible meeting by bringing Wuji to the best sights in the village. The Fountain of Evanescence, perhaps. Or, or maybe the Ancestral Halls?

"Can you take me to this so-called Spirit Sealing Valley?"

Wuji's voice doused Edmund's thoughts. He froze.

"You- you weren't joking about getting the Soul-Refining Grass?!" Horror dawned on Edmund's face, his smile gone. His teeth bit at the corners of his lips, hands wringing nervously.

Wuji turned his head questionably, lifting an eyebrow.

"Why? Are we not allowed to go there?"

"Well, we-we were told not to..."

Wuji sighed, a disappointed look on his face.

"Oh, well, if it's like that then-"

"Ah... I mean, if you really want to go... then-then I guess I can at least take you there." Edmund relented, his words fumbling. He didn't want the immortal to be displeased... Hopefully, Beatrice wouldn't be too angry at him.

Wuji's eyes lit up in pleasant surprise, mouthing thanks to Edmund, who nervously nodded in return.

The two continued to chat as they walked through the village. Although it was not yet dark, the sun's brightness had already begun to dim. Many of the villagers began to return into the warmth of their homes. Parents were coaxing their children inside and shops were closing for the day.

When they reached the gates, Wuji scanned the nearby surroundings for the guards, who seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Who was guarding the village? He was about to use his spirit sense when Edmund blurted out:

"Oh, they're probably just eating or chatting. There aren't really any dangerous threats to the village and the wild beasts never come close, so they often leave their posts unattended."

Although Wuji gave a nod, Edmund was still embarrassed at the guard's slacking off.

"Don't worry, I'll look for them right now. Wait here, I'll be right back!" Edmund yelled, running off into the distance.

"Ah, wai-" Wuji tried to say something, but Edmund had already become a small blip. He sighed. He could've just used his spirit sense to locate where they were...

Adrenaline in his blood, Edmund breathlessly looked around for the guards, checking all of the "usual" places. Near the forest, by the Jade Water Lake? Nope. At the campsite near the ancient well? No one in sight. On the small hill peculiarly shaped like a donkey's butt? Only grass and dirt there.

Edmund, panting, decided to hike up the hill to get a better view. Instead, he discovered a large mass of large, pudgy figures nearby.

The guards adorned with metal armor would've been a hard sight to miss, if not for the hill's two heads covering them.

They were huddled underneath the shade of a large, yellow tree, its leaves shining bulbs of light. Like an enormous candle, it brightly lit up the area, warding off the darkness. The roots extended into the mold of a wooden ring. In the middle was a large black pot, billows of steam rising out like ocean vents.

Edmund ran towards the guards, frowning as he heard their roaring laughter and prattling chatter.

Stomping forward, his indignant face disappeared into the thick, burly arms of one of the guards, who chuckled mischievously.

"Hey, it's Edmund! Hahaha! So how was the immortal?" Edmund, suffocating in the guard's firm grip, tried to yell, but all the guards could hear were incoherent mumbles.

"Edmund?"

"Garion, you're choking him!"

"Ahh, what are you talking about?" the guard let go of Edmund, noticing him trying to swallow down air, his cheeks flushed.

"Oh-"

"Garion you almost choked me!" Edmund spat out in anger, his face red from embarrassment.

Although Garion was like a father to him, he knew how much Edmund hated those bear hugs! Thank god Wuji hadn't followed him. If- if he had seen that, Edmund would never be able to show his face again.

. . .

On top of one of the donkey hill's mounds, a blue-haired man turned around, shaking his head with a smile. Wuji had not listened to Edmund and quietly followed him around, getting familiar with the surroundings of the village. Now it seemed Edmund was having fun and he didn't want to bother him.

Sitting down on one of the mounds, Wuji stared at the setting sun, the brilliant yellow fading into the horizon like a blossoming flower. The tendrils of light bounced off the misty clouds, like ripples in water. The sight made Wuji sigh in amazement. Transcendence was truly something else. Although today had been a series of unexpected surprises, it had been a great-

The hairs on his neck stood up as he felt a cold breeze on his back.

A low voice whispered:

"Hello, my immortal."