The Legend of the Devil
Ch. 23 - So Who Is He?
The sound of the whirling waves from the high seas continued to echo repeatedly, Mu Rong led them to a place where the sea and mountains met. The river is not far from there either. A boat owner invited them to board and deliver them to a very hidden place. Mu Rong did not speak much at that time. Until they arrived at a settlement located quite far from the Ning River.
Wooden houses with distinctive shapes neatly lined up facing each other. Dozens of children came out and peeked in curiosity at the new people arriving at their place, rarely seeing other humans besides the people in the village for them.
So far, reinforcements sent to deal with the dead bodies at the site are still being held because the village chief is not so open to outsiders. They only receive help such as food, clothing and medicine. The place itself is protected very tightly. The wind just blew as if carrying a thorn that could kill them at any time.
"They were volunteers who stepped in to address the situation at our place. Many people are injured who need serious treatment. But most of us don't know anything, I deliberately invite these people and they have nothing to do with the government."
The adults hesitated for a moment, but after getting an explanation from Mu Rong they immediately nodded. The only reception is done at night. Mu Rong had brought them around to see the current state of their place.
The location itself was on the banks of the long Ning River flow. Through the path of the forest, there were many traps and ferocious demons that could kill at any time. Through the river path, it is said that there is a kind of dangerous sea creature that lives in the sea of the Ning River. Maybe that's why the people who want to get into their village are mostly not safe.
In the southwestern part of the settlement nearly twenty houses were flattened to the ground. The wood rubble scattered, even Xue Zhan still had a chance to see a lump of human flesh that only half a body was left over by the charcoal wood. A child the same age as him. His eyes were fixed, his red eyes locked onto the little boy. Gooseflesh.
Death is scary for some people. The way they died and the reason became a mystery that Xue Zhan did not want to know.
Kang Jian chatted with Mu Rong as well as some family heads who happened to be gathered. The night fell, the full moon rose up above the sky and illuminated the dark night on the ground. Dozens of fires were ignited in torch fires set along the way. They burned the hunted deer, served it to guests.
Just then, amidst the hustle and chatter around him, Xue Zhan had seen someone staring at him for about three seconds with a terrifying aura. The man looked away, his figure covered by a few passersby until he lost track of him. Xue Zhan stood up. But Kang Jian's hand immediately blocked it.
"Don't be in a hurry, it'll only arouse suspicion."
The next day Kang Jian jumped to his feet when he saw the place where Xue Zhan was sleeping, he disappeared from there. Leaving no traces or messages. His mind started to deteriorate, afraid that Xue Zhan had already been held captive or killed.
Jiazhen Yan and Kang Jian looked for her everywhere. But on the other side Xue Zhan was somewhere else.
That morning Xue Zhan trained his breathing, there were four levels with each ability. The higher the higher the greater the person is in controlling his or her inner energy. Right now Xue Zhan had just touched the second level of breathing. That was after he trained hard nonstop day and night. Reaching third level breathing was much more difficult than he had imagined.
Amidst the dangerous jungle, Xue Zhan sat cross-legged on a boulder. Next to his eyes opened while listening to the noise from the forest. His eyes that were much sharper than ordinary human eyes slowly began to see a blue colored energy that was a stream of human power. It was his way of seeing the enemy even in the long distance.
What surprised him was that one of them had an aura similar to the figure that looked at him hatefully last night. Xue Zhan decided to go sneaking around, approaching within a safe distance.
He listened to the conversation.
"Posters? Of course they are very suspicious. We observe their movements first, do not be rash let alone intend to leave this place."
"The price you pay will not be worth the price of my life. As soon as I want to leave this place, make a news like I was kidnapped or killed."
"What if I kill you for real?"
The figure in a black robe retreated while shuddering in horror, he raised a hand holding back his ally who was starting to heat up.
"All right, I get it. I'm just asking you to stop them right before it's all out."
He was still monitoring but could not see a single identity behind the figure talking to the black-robed person. His entire body was covered by strange clothes and masks. While he was busy listening, the man with the mask threw his sword.
Xue Zhan was stunned. His heart was like it was going to escape from place.
"I know you're stalking us."
The attack just pierced through the bushes next to Xue Zhan, the young man crawled up and moved away. Though this distance is already safe enough from the enemy's sight range. Xue Zhan cursed inwardly.
The two people began to approach warily, Xue Zhan picked up a huge boulder. As they were looking the other way he threw the stone somewhere else.
Luckily, they went to the source of the sound. Xue Zhan took a thousand steps and directly left from there.
He had to tell Kang Jian this immediately.
Arriving at the Mu Rong-house where they had been staying for a few days, Kang Jian and Jiazhen Yan had been rowdy since an hour ago.
"Teacher!"
"Zhan 'er? Where have you been?"
"This demon kid just freaks out." Jiazhen Yan is speaking.
Xue Zhan whispered very little, "I saw two suspicious people talking in the forest. One of the robed men wore a mask. They were talking about a guest who came here and said he was going to kill her."
"Kill guests? They mean, us?" Jiazhen Yan slowly took it seriously.
"Are you sure, Zhan'er?"
"I'm so sure Master."
Kang Jian asked again, "The cloaked person you mean is the same person you saw last night?"
Xue Zhan nodded, "It's not wrong for Master."
Kang Jian threw out a breath, looking confusedly dyeing his face ripples.
"But that person is not our target, Xue Zhan. He was not Hong Yen, the Intermediary that Emperor Li meant."
Xue Zhan was stunned.
"So who is he really?"