Goldcave

Chapter 94 – Goldcave

Thirty minutes after that, a squad of ten McArthur family guards walked around the forest. They slashed the tree while checking the surrounding.

"Why are we told to check around this area?" A guard asked his friend.

"Just shut up and do what the higher up told us." Another guard used a spear to stab a bush.

"Hey! That is the family insignia." A guard shouted. He saw a big man body. They ran toward the body.

"They are injured!" Another guard shouted.

"Doctor Tong! Come here!" A bandit called the medical personnel in the team.

"Here is a bandit!" Another checked the area further.

"Wait! We have a young master here." Another guard carried a handsome young man.

"Let's get back to the caravan!" Another shouted.

"Squeak!" Master Rabbink pretended to be Nana, else the mouse would be left behind. The Rabbink didn't forget to put a ribbon with McArthur insignia on Nana.

"We found a contracted beast."

"Quickly, we have to bring them back!"

Two hours later, in a McArthur family caravan.

Trevon was blankly looking outside his wagon's window.

"Do you want to have a tea, Young Master?" Aya called Trevon. She was carrying a tray with a hot tea with a relaxing aroma for Trevon.

Trevon still looked outside. He had just woken up from his unconsciousness. Aya had been taking care of him.

His squad was fully injured. Nana had the biggest injury, but Master Rabbink had checked that it wasn't fatal. The Rabbink gave some first aids to Nana and the bodyguards since it was no longer direct help during a dangerous situation. Everyone received at least broken bones. Marcus and his wife were tending those injured bodyguards below.

"Young Master?" Aya asked again with a slightly louder voice.

"…" Master Rabbink looked into Trevon. This was the first time, that Trevon killed another human. That battle was also the first time that Trevon really danced with danger. Even during the dangerous beast wave, Trevon had a second life with the Plot Armor.

While Trevon had often participated in a hunt or a killing of a demon beast during demon beast waves, killing another human was his first. Sometimes he looked into his hand. His right hand was bandaged since he torn it when he parried the bandit's slashes. He could feel the throbbing pain coming from his hand under the bandage.

"What?" Trevon looked into Aya. He saw her eyebrows were uptight. She looked worriedly to Trevon, similar to his mother.

"Sorry. I..." Trevon wanted to say that he was fine but he stopped. "How is Nana?" He changed the topic.

"She had received a treatment from the family beast tamer. Her condition is good."

"That is good. That is good." Trevon nodded while looking outside again. Then he closed his eyes.

However, he saw that angry, unwilling, and full resentment pair of eyes.

He opened his eyes in fear, he looked at his bandaged hand.

Trevon's body could still remember the last movement, his pain when he was smashed at the tree. His mind always thought that in his anger, he had used his ability to pierce the bandit. He could still feel the strange softness when he pierced and the warm liquid that followed.

[...] He still looked at his right hand. [I kill a person with this hand.]

"Young Master?"

"Ah!"

"Your tea." Aya took the tray closer to Trevon.

Trevon took the tea and smelled the aroma. His breathing was a bit calmer, but his sight was still empty. The thought still haunted him whenever he thought about his fight.

Trevon stayed in his wagon while Aya cultivated next to him waiting for her master to order her something.

After five hours of hunting the bandits, the family caravan continued their journey.

The family managed to find ten bandit dens and destroyed them. Almost none bandits survived the chase. Goldcave branch of the family had prepared a larger encirclement by hiring many mercenaries. It was a planned trap from the family.

When the bandits attacked, the family had prepared some warriors to encircle the bandits from outside. Simultaneously, some McArthur warriors also attacked the bandits' dens. On the inside, McArthur Rank 3 Grand Elders chased those bandits.

Most bandits fell into traps. They returned to a den filled with McArthur family guards. The family also had put some warriors in the nearby villages. Making hiding became impossible for the bandits. Only bandits who escaped to the wilderness could escape, but they would face the ferocious demon beasts.

This was killing two birds with one stone.

The family destroyed a big bandit alliance which didn't give a respect to their banner. Their tournament journey was the big chance since they had several Rank 3 grand elders protecting the caravan. McArthur family's counterattack was a public announcement to other bandit groups that McArthur family couldn't be offended.

The other bird was the youngsters and their guards. This was a trial was to temper them and removed the weak. None young master and ladies lost their lives, but the weak would be eliminated from future investment. The survivors and the guards would grow from this battle.

Trevon case was a bit special because he was unlucky to meet a powerful warrior. Most powerful bandits were defeated by McArthur Elders and Grand Elders. However, this contribution also gave Trevon a huge point.

Some people thought that Trevon was saved by his mysterious backer. No one believed he could kill an experienced Beginner Rank 2 warrior.

On the surface, People knew Trevon as a Middle Rank 1 warrior. Everyone didn't know that Trevon had reached Peak Rank 1. Even if someone knew, nobody would believe a seventeen-year-old Peak Rank 1 warrior.

The caravan continued their journey. Aya offered a few things during the journey, but Trevon rejected all of them. His mind kept repeating his battle experience.

They spent around six hours before they arrived at a very tall mountain.

"This mountain is called the Gigantes." Master Rabbink said. It had read some local people's memory.

"…" Trevon didn't respond. He still looked outside.

From his window, a monstrous tall mountain could be seen. Several tall mountains combined to make a super mountain range around it. Yet, the Gigantes a towering wall. On top of the giant mountain, an eternal ice could be seen. The mountain was still far, but it already covered the sky. It was a large wall blocking the area around.

The wagon slowly moved forward on the stone road. A bit bumpy here and there shook the wagon a bit. However, Trevon kept looking outside. They stopped at several villages and small cities, but it was short. Trevon stayed in his wagon the entire time.

A few hours later, the magnificent mountain view was changed into a lush green and brown color. Gigant Forest covered the bottom part of the mountain. The forest was the home of several demon beasts. Luckily, the beast king from the Gigantes had made an agreement with the human leader.

The beast wouldn't attack the traveling human on the road, but the human warriors from local cultivation family couldn't enter the forest. Human also couldn't increase their city into the forest else a full demon beast wave would appear. Only the villagers could enter the forest but they risk being killed by a demon beast.

Their caravan continued to move through the forest. Soon the view turned black from the night, but Trevon didn't stop looking outside. He watched the endless darkness outside his windows. Only some guards with a shining pearl torch patrolling outside from a rogue demon beast.

[Hm…] Master Rabbink stayed silent. This was the step that every person in a dangerous world must face. It floated outside and stood above the wagon enjoying the night natural light.

In the deep night, the group continued the journey. Trevon could see the family guards patrolled around the caravan. So far, their journey was safe.

Trevon didn't sleep that night. Their caravan arrived near Goldcave City at 08:00. The sun had already risen in the sky. However, it was an eternal night in Goldcave City.

Goldcave City was a city under the mountain inside a very large natural cave. It was built after human warriors defeated the dwarves living in there. Light blue mosses grew on the cave giving the necessary light and fresh air for Goldcave's citizen.

The city sanitary was helped by a huge underground river which passed through the cave bringing the waste outside into the ocean. Trevon didn't see when the caravan entered the cave since it was a total darkness and the alga only grew near the city.

Goldcave City was unique, it was built by digging into the land. It was the opposite of Hillbridge. While Hillbridge grew high in the mountain range, Goldcave grew into the ground.

The dwarves built their kingdom in Goldcave. While Human continued by changing the mine into a city. Goldcave main advantage was its safety. With a powerful demon beast king guaranteed their status quo, they didn't' need to be afraid of the beast waves.

This was why the city became the home of rich people. Therefore, came the name of Goldcave. It was the home for rich merchants who loved to wear gold.

However, the city was very small compared to Redwood, Bluestar, and even Hillbridge. It was only one-tenth of Redwood City.

Ninety percent of buildings in Goldcave were on a mining hole. The best location located in the deepest mine since they were built from the old dwarves' buildings.

Outside the mining hole was the second most expensive land. A small flat area inside the human city surrounded the mining hole. The buildings outside the mining hole also could be built tall, unlike those in the mine wall.

Three defensive towers surrounded the city located outside the mining hold welcomed the visitor to the city. They were the decoration that had never been used in hundred thousand of year.

There was almost no slum in the city. Poor people lived in villages outside Goldcave and sold their product in the city daily. Their travel was safe from the beasts as long as they used the stone road. Only huge bandits become the problem.

Trevon's wagon passed the city gate. It soon arrived at McArthur family's pavilion. McArthur family pavilion in Goldcave was located on the flat land outside the mining hole. This was to accommodate the merchants which warehouse also located on the flatlands.

The family headquarter was a huge complex with several majestic pavilions. A huge field located not far away from where the caravan could park.

"We will rest in Goldcave for three days." Grand Elder Lewa McArthur told the group using spiritual sense. Most merchants had a house in this city. They would need some time to take a break. Their group also had just fought the bandits. Some guards would need time to recover.

Trevon didn't talk much. He was received by a family attendant and followed her to his room. The young master quickly rested on his bed while Aya took care of his belongings.

Ten minutes later, a doctor came and checked him. The doctor took some time to check Trevon's injuries.

"Young Master have some injuries, but everything should be fine." The doctor had seen Trevon's condition using spiritual sense.

The diagnosis wasn't strange. Trevon had drunk many recovery pills. Otherwise, his condition would be worse.

"..." Trevon still rested on the bed.

"What should I do?" Aya looked at Trevon asked the doctor.

"You should take care of him. This is the medicine that he should drink. If there is a further problem, you can call the medicine pavilion." The doctor said. He had done all he could for the physical injury.

"I will. Thank you for your help, Doctor." Aya led the doctor to outside. Outside, the doctor gave Aya another suggestion to bring her young master to a therapist. Trevon's problem was psychological.

Other than Trevon, Qadr was also shocked by the fight. She had never had a fight before. The lady didn't even kill a bandit, but she experienced her first real fights yesterday. Noah took care of his girlfriend during the journey.

Twenty minutes later, Aya came and brought a healthy soup.

"This is a medicinal soup based on the doctor's suggestion." Aya cooked it in the family kitchen.

"Put it on the table! I don't want to eat now." Trevon rejected it. He still looked toward his bedroom ceiling.

"Yes, Young Master." Aya put the soup on the table but she didn't leave the room.

"Go! I want to be alone!!!" Trevon screamed.

"Yes, Young Master." Aya hurriedly left Trevon.

"Huff… Huff…" Trevon started to gather his breath again.

"Shout if you want." Master Rabbink said. The Rabbink put some formation to prevent noise outside.

"WHYYYYY?!!! WHYYYYYYY?!!! WHYYYYYYYYY?!!!" Trevon shouted. "ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Trevon shouted for one hour until he couldn't shout again. The tired young master finally could sleep.

"Where am I?" Trevon looked around, it was the same black space that he met Master Rabbink.

"Master Rabbink?!!!" Trevon shouted. He didn't understand why Master Rabbink brought him here again.

"This is not funny!" Trevon remembered the first meeting between him and the Rabbink.

"Do you need time to prepare your special effect?"

"Hmph... Fine! Lend me your tablet!"

[Huh?] Trevon didn't get a response.

"Please?!" He tried again.

"GRAAAAAAAOOOOOO!!!" A roar answered him.

"Eh?" Trevon looked behind. A three-meter-tall and eight-meter-long tiger-type demon beast suddenly was roared to him. Trevon wanted to use his Scout skill. However, he could not see any panel.

[Shit!] He decided to run.

Trevon was chased by a giant demon beast. He did his best to run away, he threw his talismans to defeat the demon beast.

"Boom! Boom!" The sound of blazing talisman merged with the roar of the beast.

"BRAK!"

"Hahaha! I win." Trevon laughed. He saw the beast slumped into the ground.

"Die, you!" Trevon stopped and ran toward the demon beast. He kicked the demon beast.

His kick turned the demon beast. The beast's body rolled.

"GHWAAA!!!" Trevon shocked by what he saw. The beast had Dabuma's face.

That was the same face that filled with revenge. The one filled with anger, unwillingness, and resentment.

"AAAAAAA!!!! Help me! Help me!" Trevon shouted.

"Hey! You only have a nightmare." Master Rabbink grabbed a chicken wing from God knew where and bit it.

Trevon looked around. It was his room in Goldcave. [A dream?]

"Do you want some chicken wings?"

"Sigh..." Trevon breathed slowly.

"You will pass through this phase."

"I…"

"Every warrior will face this. As long as you live, you will face some unavoidable moment."

"I kill a man. I really kill one."

"Yes. You have also killed many demon beasts and animals."

"They are demon beasts."

"Everyone is the same in this Rabbink's eyes. I don't even care about a human, dwarf, elf, goblin, orc, demon, or demon beast. This Rabbink only cares for anyone who would fight to protect this universe."

"Everyone is the same?" Trevon thought.

"Depending on your point of view. Your life would be more important to Dabuma. In your eyes, your families and friends would be more important than him. If you don't fight Dabuma, he will hurt your life, Nana's, and your guards' lives. Your anger and survival instinct picked you the choice."

"I kill a person. I am the same as him. I am not good." Trevon looked into his hand again. The bandage had been removed. His medicines were powerful enough to make him recover after this long.

"Killing is wrong." The Rabbink floated. "For every action, you will get karma. Everything has its karma. It will be a burden in your life, a result of your decision. Even those demon beasts that you have hunted have their families."

"Those demon beasts are killing people."

"They do it for survival. People are also killing demon beasts, taking their territory, their home for survival. Humans to survive also grab other races' homes. For example, this city is formerly a dwarves' city. I believe outside here; some dwarves want to reclaim this place one day. Does human think taking this city is wrong? You even hunt the demon beasts and animals for fun."

"So, that is wrong?"

"There is no absolute. Even helping people might be wrong and might be correct. Look at the beggar in the street! You give them money. You help them to eat and survive. However, what about tomorrow? Those people would find it is easier to beg than to work. Will you continue to help them? Will you make them a lazy beggar? Is that good or bad? If you don't help they die."

"Erm…"

"Do not think too hard! This Rabbink prefers you to live than to die. If you hate the destiny of making you do the thing that you don't want, you have to grow stronger."

"..." Trevon looked to the Rabbink.

"Become stronger and you can decide. The Destiny Path cultivation technique is this Rabbink's present for you. With it, you could escape from being a small person in the endless universe. Become strong! So, you can avoid doing what you don't like, and do what you like. So, you can protect the people close to you. "

"Becoming stronger…" Trevon thought. This was something that he had forgotten for a long time.

"Sigh..." He fell into his thought.

The Rabbink allowed Trevon some time to think.

"Well, why don't you eat some delicious foods and watch some performances tonight? Today this rich Rabbink will treat you. Gwahahaha. Come on! I have read some people's past and found the best places in the city."

Trevon nodded. He decided to look around with the Rabbink. Perhaps he could forget the bandit this way.

Before he left, he took the time to look for his injured bodyguards. They were treated in the medicine pavilion.

Trevon entered the building and saw many injuries people. Several nurses checked the condition of patients.

He walked past them and went to the higher floor. Trevon found his bodyguards in a room. Qadr was in another room with other injured female guards. As cultivators, his bodyguards had a better room than the common guards below.

"Good Morning, Young Master!" They greeted Trevon.

"Sigh..." Trevon saw them bandaged. He squeezed his hand. [This is because I am too weak.]

"Thank you." He didn't speak a lot.

[Well, this is rare.] Master Rabbink thought.

"Do not forget to drink the medicine! The one in the storage ring is better." Trevon said.

"Yes, Young Master."

"Marcus, I want to go around in Goldcave. You will accompany me." Trevon asked the only healthy bodyguard he had. He needed a bodyguard to show his status. Besides, he was not accustomed to going alone in public. No. He wouldn't want to go alone at this time.

"Yes, Young Master." Marcus took his sword from the storage ring and wore it on his robe. That would remove some unnecessary problem.

"Let!"

"Um..." Aya suddenly interrupted Trevon.

"What? Do you need something, Aya?"

"Could I follow Young Master to look around?" Aya asked.

"..." Trevon knew Aya didn't like to go outside. Even in Redwood, she preferred to stay at home. [She must be worried.]

"Fine. However, I want to visit that place." Trevon had remembered Drunken Night. [I want to relax today.] He thought.

Aya nodded and followed Trevon. He went outside and looked around. Trevon didn't focus on the beautiful light blue moss which covered the ceiling of the city. [This is strange.]

McArthur Goldcave Pavilion was above the ground in one of the expensive locations in Goldcave. Therefore, Trevon saw many tall pavilions around it.

Unlike other cities where the expensive location consisted of short and luxury pavilions with a huge courtyard. The lands in Goldcave were premium which made even the rich built their home tall and dense without a big courtyard.

[They have so many lights.] Trevon saw many Shining Pearls were activated. Goldcave didn't look a dark It was shining twenty-four hour a day with shining pearls and glowing mosses.

"We should visit the mine first for the tour." Master Rabbink had seen the destiny.

Trevon only followed Master Rabbink. Unlike the usual, Trevon didn't play around.

The caravan stayed for three days in the city to let the injured recuperated. Most merchants also preferred to rest at their home or enjoyed the luxury city. This break time was enough for Trevon to play around.

[I should visit several pleasure houses.] He planned.

Trevon walked from the luxury region in the outer mine into the mine itself. From the top, Trevon saw a massive hole in the land.

[This is very big.] Trevon could see the end of the hole, yet it was very far. His 'Extravagant Young Master Travel Book' said that it was over five kilometers in diameter. The place was two kilometers deep.

The place a former iron mine for dwarves. It was said in the past the dwarves mined a special iron on the mine. However, humans couldn't use the iron. Dwarf blacksmiths had better knowledge about metal processing. Trevon had heard a rumor that Dwarves could speak with metal.

In the center of the hole, a tall castle stood surrounded by several smaller castles. The largest castle was the home of Ironlaw family, the leader of the city.

From the top into the lowermost, the dwarves built a small spiraling road to connect them. Big wagons for city trading couldn't be used on the road. Only smaller carriages and wagons could pass the road. Goldcave people called it the Spiraling Middle Road. That was the longest city road in Heavenly Phoenix.

Trevon saw two different houses in Goldcave. The houses on the mine wall were a hole in the wall. From the outside, the house was a huge door. A better house would have several small windows. Some smaller house could be seen above the bigger house, you would need to walk a small path from the spiraling middle street to go to those houses.

On the other hand, the house on the mining hole side was the very common tall buildings. Those buildings blocked the view when one walked and were similar to the one found in every city. They were made by using a building formation. Nevertheless, the building had better decoration than the one in other cities. This showed the richer people who lived in the city.

[The building is strange.] Trevon couldn't imagine living in those holes.

"What is strange?" Master Rabbink said. It had the memory from all its clones. Therefore, the Rabbink had seen various places. "Which do you think more expensive?"

"The tall one." Trevon said. Even when building made from formation and rock was cheap, the small buildings on the wall was even worse.

"Nope. The rich stayed at the hole, while the poor stacked on the tall buildings. Do you want to see one in the hole?" Master Rabbink asked.

Trevon thought before nodded.

"Fine." Let's go. Master Rabbink brought Trevon into the spiraling road.

Trevon saw the houses on both sides of the spiraling middle road turned into busy stores. He looked around and purchased things.

Nevertheless, he didn't feel to make a trouble. Treasure Snatcher Trevon was on a holiday. Instead, a good boy Trevon purchase souvenirs and snacks. Soon Trevon started to forget about his stress.

Trevon saw Aya looked toward a cute plush doll.

"This is good, Aya! I will buy this for you." He took the doll and walked from the display toward the merchant.

"Bruk!" Trevon felt he bumped into something soft.