Hide and Seek part 2

Chapter 108

Outside of the town walks three people along a path with hoods covering their heads. They were able to enter the gate acting like normal travelers. Not long later the three arrived in an inn near a very conspicuous building, the alchemy house of the Nian clan.

The town which they entered is under the management of the Heavenly Crow sect and in this town lived many other sect elders and their clans. This big town is called the town of Crows.

The alchemy house is located just outside of the Nian clan state, and right across it is a big inn which many travelers use to rest. This is one of the big sources of income for the Nian clan as many of the travelers would always stock up some herbs or pills when they stop by in this place.

The three travelers are precisely Zen Nian, Rat Ling, and Ya Nian.

As per Shin Jiao's instruction, he told them to not reveal themselves or else they would be dealt with secretly by those who wanted them dead, especially with their relationship with him as Zen Nian's servant. And so the three decided to just follow Shin Jiao's advice and rested inside the hotel until the combat events of the clan trials start.

...

Meanwhile, Shin Jiao has busied himself for the whole day and was able to decode the teleportation rune even without using his computer. He was truly amazed as his mind is now able to store more data than when he was still on earth.

"The presence of thick Qi and mana in the air has boosted my memory. If I did this outside, it would have taken me at least 3 days or a week just to decipher these runes. But now, I know how it works and is confident to be able to duplicate its function." Shin Jiao muttered happily to himself while he carefully draws a pattern.

Shin Jiao started to draw the patterns as he slowly analyzes everything.

Then not long later he finished a huge array of runes near the entrance of the cave. After finishing the teleportation pattern in the cave he can now go to any place and return here as long as he has a connecting scroll which he also made. After a whole day of research, he was only able to make 2 scrolls as the drawing pattern is a little bit complex and he had made a lot of mistakes. Luckily he was able to craft a lot of paper out of the trees outside the cave. The first scroll is his way to the Safe Zone and the other one is his way back in this cave.

It was already night time when Shin Jiao finished the rune and thought his body feels a little stiff he wore a happy smile on his face.

"Let's get out of this place then." Shin Jiao muttered as he took out one of the scrolls.

Then using the energy on his glove he activated the paper and his whole figure suddenly vanished from inside the cave. After a few seconds, inside the now uninhibited Safe Zone, a figure suddenly appears out of a black hole. The figure wanders his gaze around the place and gave a faint smile.

"So this is how teleportation works using scrolls. Unlike instantaneous traveling, I have to wait inside the void for the gate to appear." Shin Jiao said as he recalled the few seconds he spends inside the darkness.

But it didn't take long as he suddenly saw a light in front of him and this prompts him to enter it. As Shin Jiao analyze this feeling that he has a sudden inspiration enters his mind. When his gaze turns to the invisible ring on his finger, he can't help but frown a little bit.

From time to time he would check the ring, and realized something. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to find a way to repair the ring and judging from his own experience before; he may or may not be able to fix it soon even if he gained his power back.

But now that he has a little grasp of the idea of spatial and dimensional traveling, his mind is now turning towards making his own unique spatial tool, a tool that cannot be seen or opened by anyone except for him, a dimension where he can decide the size and the capacity. The sudden inspiration also gave him a lot of questions like dimension collapse and the chance of dimensional creatures finding his items.

He didn't know if there are creatures living in another dimension, but he won't take the gamble. As he thinks about the things he would do, Shin Jiao was suddenly interrupted by a strange feeling deep within his heart. So after he wakes up from his stupor, he immediately dashed towards the trees on the side and begins to hide his presence.

Not long later, from the sky, Shin Jiao was able to see a group of cultivators.

"Hmm… those are mercenaries. What are they doing in the Dark Forest at this time?" Shin Jiao thought as he observes the flying figures of around eight people.

Out of all the people in this group, he noticed a familiar figure of a woman wearing a white veil on her face. She was one of the princess's guards whom Shin Jiao has saved. What confuses Shin Jiao is what she is doing in this place.

After the group passes through the area and into the sea of trees, Shin Jiao grabs this opportunity and quickly dashed towards town.

Meanwhile, after Shin Jiao left, the woman wearing a veil, Sia Rong, suddenly crests her brows as she felt that someone or something is watching them. But since she is not sure, she shrugged it off and continues to their destination. She received an order from the princes to save the mortal servant that saved her very life. They must make sure to know if either Shin Jiao is alive or dead, this is due to him saving Sia Rong and that the princess has a good opinion of him. If he is alive the princess is willing to help him and became a free man.

As she felt that she owe him her life, she agrees with the princess's suggestion and leads the group inside the Dark Forest.

Not long later, Shin Jiao has already arrived in town and was able to pass through the gate without any hassle. While walking on the street Shin Jiao carefully observed his surroundings and found that no one seems to be following him, so he directly went to the inn. Upon entering, boisterous noises welcome him. The smell of fermented wine and freshly cooked food wafted through the air making Shin Jiao unconsciously touch his stomach.

"It has been days since I last had something. Having a quick bite won't hurt." Shin Jiao thought as he sat in a corner then ordered some food.

After eating, Shin Jiao got a room and was about to go up when he heard something that piqued his interest.

"Hey, I heard that the Fish Jumping to the Sky Immortal's tournament is going to start soon."

"Well, that's what every clans and sect in the cultivation land are talking about."

"Where will they hold the tournament?"

"I don't know… maybe it will be in the Xi Empire mainland."

"Che… ignorant fools, you should consider yourselves lucky. I will tell you where it will be held at. They call the land 'the top of the world'. The highest peak of a mountain called the Nine-Headed Jade Dragon."

"What!? How can we get there? Without powerful flying tools, it would be truly dangerous."

After Shin Jiao heard this he was really curious, he didn't learn or knows about the immortal's tournament. So his curiosity was piqued a little, but upon learning where it is going to be held, his interest dimmed down. He is not sure who or what those immortals are, but he knows that they are still cultivators, though maybe with very high and powerful cultivation. But still it is of no concern to him, so he just turns around and continues towards his room.

That night he took a good rest as it's been a long time since he had a soft bed under his back.

...

The next morning after waking up he immediately went out and waited after eating his breakfast. And soon he saw two familiar figures going inside the inn. They were the two sisters Ziyun and Majin Lee, and behind following them stood a strong looking man who has similar features as the two women.

"Hmm… that must be their oldest brother." Shin Jiao thought.

Of the two women, Ziyun Lee immediately looks around the place as if trying to find someone. When she saw the familiar scarred face of Shin Jiao, she showed a faint smile. Then she led the two towards the table where Shin Jiao currently sits.

"Mister, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Ziyun Lee greeted as she cupped her hand in salute.

"Hmm… Mister, you seem to have changed a little." She added as she looks carefully at Shin Jiao.

"I'll take that as a compliment… But I have to trouble Miss Ziyun for the pills. I don't have much time as I still need to go on an errand." Shin Jiao straightforwardly said.

"Oh, of course. Here take this… Umm… I just have to warn you. Though we successfully concocted a Heavenly Mending pill however the Silver Ghost roots you gave me while we were escaping have some kind of extra effect on the pills. We have concocted 5 pills in total, but four of them turns into dust and was absorbed by the remaining pill. Though we tested the pill and it really is a Heavenly Mending pill, but the quality is…" Ziyun Lee explained.

"The quality is what?" Shin Jiao anxiously asked.

He didn't want to hear that the pill is a failure or is of no use. Because the pill is his only chance to get back his power. He didn't want to stay weak and powerless, unable to return to the underground base he built near the town of Dis.

"Well, you see the pill's quality is high grade… No, I think it's the peak of mortal grade… But as you can see that should have been impossible, as we are in the core-forming realm when we combine our power while crafting the pill." this time it was Majin Lee who replied.

She and her big brother already know that Shin Jiao is the mysterious man who saved her and her sister. When Ziyun Lee told her about what happened she felt grateful to Shin Jiao that she put her best in making the pill. But upon seeing the unknown condition of the pill, they both feel concerned.

"Oh… I thought it was a failure. Whew… that's okay. I'll do the rest of the testing process. I would like to offer my thanks then." Shin Jiao said as he took out a small bag full of low-grade spiritual stones.

Shin Jiao was able to get his hands on some of the many spiritual stones in the cave.

"Here is the pill Mister… Umm… can I know your name?" Ziyun Lee feels a little shy to ask but she really wanted to thank the man properly.

"Umm… Well, you can just call me Shin, no need to be so formal about it." Shin Jiao chuckled.

"Oh, okay thank you mister Shin. And you don't have to pay us for the pill. It is our thanks for saving both me and my sister." Ziyun Lee said as she pushed the bag on the table back to Shin Jiao.

"Miss Ziyun, I will feel bad about this. This is my sign of friendship to a very capable alchemist. Who knows, maybe someday I'll request another pill from you. Consider this as my advance payment." Shin Jiao insisted as he picks up the bag and directly put it in Ziyun Lee's small hand.

When Shin Jiao touched her small hands, a blush immediately creeps up on her cheek. But she didn't refuse and just took the bag full of low-level spiritual stones. When she held it, she felt a little stunned at its weight. Judging from how the bag weighs there should be around 100 spirit stones inside the bag. And that amount is already enough for the three of them to live a good life for a while.

She could not hide the astonishment in her face as she looks at Shin Jiao incredulously.

"How… how could he be just a mortal servant? This is impossible, if he told me that he is a young master trying to hide his identity, I would believe it." Ziyun Lee thought to herself as she looks at Shin Jiao.

"Well, that would be all. If I have business with you in the future, where would I find you?" Shin Jiao said as he stood up.

"Umm… We lived just outside of town, near the southern gate. People in that place know our family." Majin Lee replied.

Shin Jiao noticed the older brother of the two who just sits there quietly. But he didn't mind him as he just nods his head and walks towards his rooms upstairs. After Shin Jiao left the three also left the inn.

Following entering his room, Shin Jiao became ecstatic as he can't wait to consume the pill inside a small glass bottle. But then he reigns on his excitement as he remembers the warning of the sisters. So he must do some tests on the pill first before he consumes it. Who knows, maybe he would explode like a tomato and waste his own life because of carelessness.

Shin Jiao wanted to teleport to the cave immediately but he only has one scroll left. And his excitement and curiosity are already making him feel impatient so he decided to do the research in the room, and then immediately begins testing the pill. The room is already safe as he has already surrounded it with concealment and noise-canceling array. He knows that exposing his secrets would be fatal as he is still inside the territory of the Nian clan.

It took him the whole day of testing and data gathering before he can conclude that the pill is the real Heavenly Mending pill. He could not even sense danger on the pill when he tried to consume it. So it means that the pill would truly repair his meridians.

After the test results being positive, he found everything favorable, so Shin Jiao immediately sat on the ground and focused himself. He needs to be mentally prepared to take the pill and be ready for its effects. After closing his eyes he did think twice and just pop the pill inside his mouth.

When the pill entered his throat, a warm feeling immediately pervades his whole being which made him very comfortable.

Then after a while, Shin Jiao suddenly crests his brows as he felt something is happening inside his body. His heart began to panic as he suddenly heard something.

Crack!