Chapter 97: Departure

"Master!"

Yan Que couldn't help but burst into tears, rushing into Zeng Yi's arms and crying loudly.

She was really scared just now, scared that her master had changed. That strange feeling made her panic, afraid of losing her gentle master. But fortunately, her master remained the same.

Zeng Yi felt warmth in his heart as he looked at Yan Que crying in his arms. It felt good to be relied upon by someone.

"Alright, you're a girl, don't cry too much, or you'll become ugly," Zeng Yi touched Yan Que's head and chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, yeah!" Yan Que sniffled in response.

"Meow~"

Xiao Ju also jumped onto Zeng Yi's shoulder and gently rubbed his neck, acting coquettishly.

"Hehe, Xiao Ju, you're great too!" Zeng Yi patted its head and laughed. If it weren't for Xiao Ju's mental attacks, things would have been more troublesome.

"Let's go, let's go back."

"Okay, but master, what about this place?"

"Don't worry, someone will take care of it."

Three days later, Zeng Yi heard a piece of news in Shundin City. The Lord's mansion had been destroyed overnight, and the Lord had been instantly replaced.

"Master," seeing Yan Que's gaze turning towards him, Zeng Yi shook his head.

"Why does it concern us? We don't need to care. Those who commit evil will always face retribution, it's just a matter of time," Zeng Yi said calmly.

However, Zeng Yi also guessed what had happened. This should be greatly related to him. Because of the people he killed, the original Lord's mansion had a vacuum in its power, which allowed other forces to take advantage of it.

But such people, when dead, were dead. He didn't feel much guilt. He just hoped that the current Lord could bring a better life to the people in the city.

"Master, when will you take me to obtain a soul ring?" Yan Que looked at Zeng Yi expectantly and asked.

"Not yet, train well and improve your physical strength. Otherwise, you won't be able to withstand a hundred-year soul ring," Zeng Yi took a sip of wine and said.

"Oh."

"Go back and swing your sword while carrying weights five hundred times, and eat quickly!"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Que suddenly lost her appetite for the delicious meal.

Her master was indeed very good to her, very gentle, but only in leisure time. During training, he was extremely strict and showed no mercy, which made her both in pain and joy.

Seven days later.

Early in the morning, Yan Que opened the door and saw her master waiting for her outside.

"Master, are we going for a run again in the morning?" Yan Que asked, looking at Zeng Yi's face with a faint smile.

"No, today we are leaving this city," Zeng Yi said.

"What? Leaving? Where are we going?" Yan Que was surprised.

"Haven't you always wanted to obtain a soul ring?"

"Soul ring!"

Upon hearing these words, Yan Que's previously vague eyes instantly lit up, exclaiming in excitement.

"I can finally get a soul ring. I want to become a Soul Master!" Yan Que exclaimed with excitement.

Watching Yan Que's expression, Zeng Yi couldn't help but smile.

After all, she was just a child!

Because it was a small city with nowhere to obtain a soul ring, Zeng Yi planned to take Yan Que to the Hunting Soul Forest to hunt for soul rings. The soul beasts forest nurtured by the state and the Martial Soul Hall could meet the requirement of a hundred-year soul ring, so there was no need to go to those two soul beast forests. He was afraid of getting lost, not frightened by the soul beasts.

Originally, Zeng Yi didn't go to the Hunting Soul Forest because he couldn't enter it. But now, he had a status.

"Since there's no problem, then let's set off now," Zeng Yi smiled.

"Wait, master."

"What's the matter?" Zeng Yi was puzzled.

"Can we go to a place before that?" Yan Que looked at Zeng Yi and pleaded, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Outside Shundin City, in front of a small mound, Yan Que knelt in front of a wooden plaque, with Zeng Yi standing behind her silently watching.

"Mother, you can rest assured now. Yan'er is doing well here. Although it was difficult before, Yan'er managed to survive and now has a master who cares for and loves her just like you," Yan Que said to her mother's grave plaque, with a somewhat melancholic expression.

"By the way, mother, this is Yan'er's master. Isn't he handsome?" Yan Que looked at her master, Zeng Yi, behind her, then said.

"Master is a very powerful Soul Master! Yan'er is now following him for training. Master said Yan'er has great talent and will become a powerful Soul Master in the future."

"Though the training is tough and tiring, Yan'er will persevere and not disappoint Master's expectations."

"Mother, you said as long as Yan'er can live well, it's enough. But that's not enough. Yan'er will not only live well but also become a strong person!"

"Mother, I have to go now. When I come back again, I will already be an excellent and powerful Soul Master."

Unfortunately, mother, you won't be able to see it anymore.

Yan Que wiped away her tears, stood up from the ground, turned to face Zeng Yi, and smiled, "Alright, master, we can set off now."

"You smile so ugly."

Zeng Yi placed his hand on Yan Que's head and ruffled her hair.

"Let's go."

The Hunting Soul Forest Zeng Yi took Yan Que to was near a main city of the Heaven Dou Empire, not too far from Shundin City.

"Yan Que, can you read maps?" Zeng Yi handed her a sheepskin scroll and asked.

He had already asked for the route to the Hunting Soul Forest in Shundin City and had someone draw a detailed map, but he was still a bit anxious. He wasn't confident in his sense of direction.

"Yes, I know this. Master," Yan Que opened the map and looked at it seriously.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

Yan Que nodded affirmatively. Although her strength was weak, she wasn't dumb. With such a detailed map, she could understand it clearly.

Why did master ask this question? Is he testing me?

Seeing the pleased expression on her master's face, Yan Que couldn't help but think so.

"Well, good! Since that's the case, let's continue and try to reach there by tomorrow night. We can train on the way and save some travel expenses," Zeng Yi said. He originally planned to hire a carriage, but since his disciple said so, they would go on foot. Besides, he was a bit short on money now and saving some would be good.

The reason Zeng Yi had stayed in Shundin City for ten days was to lay a foundation for Yan Que because her physique was very poor before.

He provided her with good food and drink every day, nourishing her body. At night, he gave her medicinal baths. Although Zeng Yi himself didn't understand medicine, the doctors at the medical hall should know some tonics. As long as he had money, it could be done.

Considering the training he put her through, her current physical condition should be able to withstand a hundred-year soul ring.

Save on travel expenses?

Hearing his master's words, Yan Que's mouth twitched. Was he going to torment her again?

However, as a disciple, she should listen to her master. After going through his strict training, Yan Que felt much stronger than before.

The two of them walked out of Shundin City's gate together, with Zeng Yi in front and Yan Que following behind. After walking for a while, Yan Que couldn't help but turn around and look at the city that was getting smaller in her sight, feeling deeply moved.

Although this city had given her many bad memories, it had also been her home for several years. Now that she was leaving, she couldn't help but feel a bit reluctant.

Goodbye, my hometown.

"By the way, Yan Que, what about the long sword I gave you, where is it?" Zeng Yi suddenly asked, interrupting Yan Que's thoughts.

"I put the sword in the Soul Guide," Yan Que came back to her senses and immediately answered, looking at the ring on her hand and instinctively touching it.

This ring was a space-type Soul Guide, obtained by Zeng Yi after killing a Soul King. He happened to give it to Yan Que.

This Soul Guide had a space of three cubic meters, which was quite large and could hold many things. Being exposed to such a miraculous thing for the first time, Yan Que had been happy for a long time.

"Take it out and carry it on your back. The sword should be carried at all times, understand?" Zeng Yi said sternly.

"Yes!"

Yan Que obediently took out the sword and put it on her back. The over fifty-kilogram long sword exerted great pressure on her.

The journey to the destination was so far and they had to carry the weight all the way. It wouldn't be easy.

...

Because they were training while rushing on the road, it had already taken them seven days, but they still hadn't arrived at the Hunting Soul Forest.

"Mas... master, can... can we rest?" Yan Que gasped for breath, covered in sweat, and weakly asked Zeng Yi.

"Well, let's take a break!" seeing her exhausted state, Zeng Yi nodded and agreed.

"Phew~"

Hearing her master's agreement, Yan Que immediately sheathed her sword and sat on the ground. Swinging her sword with a thousand repetitions while carrying weights was exhausting. Her arms were numb and felt detached from her body.

During these seven days, Yan Que finally experienced what hellish training was like. The training in Shundin City before couldn't even reach half of this intensity.

No wonder her master was so strong. It turns out he trained like this too!

Yan Que couldn't help but admire Zeng Yi in her heart.

After resting for about ten minutes, Zeng Yi said to Yan Que, "Yan Que, take a look at the map. How much longer till we arrive?"

"Okay."

Yan Que nodded and took out the map, saying, "Master, based on our current pace, we should arrive tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night..."

Zeng Yi nodded and then quickly reached for his waist. His sword, Ronin Sword, unsheathed instantly, and an invisible sword energy tore through the air, slashing towards the sky.

Zeng Yi's sudden action startled Yan Que.

After a while, a gray eagle dropped from the sky, being caught by Zeng Yi steadily.

"Hehe, it followed me for so long, seems like it really wanted to become our lunch!" Zeng Yi chuckled.

"Yan Que, we won't train today. Hurry and move on, we should try to arrive there by tonight."

"Yes!" Yan Que became excited upon hearing her master's words.

Looking at the lifeless gray eagle in his hand, Zeng Yi furrowed his eyebrows.

He had a slight feeling of unease in his heart.

...