Chapter 38: Suddenly Arriving and Raising Suspicion

  With the guide, this forest was no longer so formidable in Xuán Zhèn's eyes. The girl Zǐ Xuān had grown up on Líng Shān since childhood and was extremely familiar with the nearby paths. Following her, Xuán Zhèn avoided many detours, and whenever they reached a point where the mountain seemed impassable and there was no way forward, Zǐ Xuān would part the underbrush and another small path would appear before their eyes.

  Xuan Zhen chatted with her for a while and figured it out in less than half an hour. Zi Xuan was indeed from the White Witch tribe and lived in Dali City at the foot of Ling Mountain, which was also the gathering place of the White Witch tribe and one of the largest tribes in the southern border region. The Black Witch tribe lived in a valley on the other side of Ling Mountain and had to pass through the divine forest filled with giant poisonous trees to reach it.

  That Dali City is also a day's journey from Shenmu Forest, Zixuan was able to arrive at this place, and it was all thanks to her own two feet. At such a young age, she was more at home in these mountains than Xuanzhen, not only unafraid of the poisonous insects and snakes, but also able to recite the names and origins of the rare flowers and grasses they encountered. As for their knowledge of these things, Xuanzhen couldn't help but feel inferior, and suspected that Zixuan's understanding was far from ordinary.

  "You claim to be a White Witch, why do you come to this place close to the Black Witches?" After getting familiar with each other, knowing that Zixuan was straightforward and honest, Xuanshen asked questions without much hesitation.

  Zixuan's small face suddenly flushed with a hint of shyness, as if it was hard for her to speak. She hesitated before saying: "Xuanzhen gege, I'm telling you this but don't laugh at me. I...I snuck out!"

  "Huh?" Xuan Zhen was taken aback, then nodded as if suddenly enlightened, "So that's how it is. I figured your parents would still be spoiling you, but they wouldn't let a daughter like you run wild day and night outside... Ah..." He looked her up and down again, with a hint of slyness in his eyes, thinking to himself: The girls from the Central Plains are all confined behind closed doors, strictly controlled by their parents and brothers from a young age. On the other hand, this girl from the Southern Border is living life so freely... Who would have thought that in my lifetime I'd meet another interesting little girl like this...

  Her face turned even redder, and she pouted: "I don't have parents to take care of me!" As she spoke, she lowered her head, seemingly a bit sorrowful, and said softly, "The puppet granny said that my mother died soon after I was born... She's the one who raised me, but she always locked me in the temple to study magic, not allowing me to go out and play. And she always scolded me, I...I don't like her!" As she spoke, she couldn't help but pucker up her small mouth in extreme discontent, her voice also growing louder.

  Xuan Zhen shook his head and smiled, "You really don't know what's good for you. If your mother-in-law heard that, she would be furious to death." But thinking of himself, he couldn't help but sympathize with her feelings, and said, "At least you know who your parents are, but I don't even know whether my parents are still alive or not... I've been living on Mount Kunlun since I was a child, surrounded by only my master and fellow disciples. Although we didn't lack food or clothing, there was no one to take care of me, everything had to be done by myself. How can that compare to having someone to look after you?"

  "Are you a child who was abandoned by your parents since childhood?"

  Xuan Zhen shook his head again: "No. One day I woke up and suddenly forgot all the things of the past, it was my master who saved me, the elders of the sect took me in, and even taught me powerful techniques, this kindness I will never be able to repay." He said with a heavy heart, "Your mother-in-law treats you just like my masters treated me, she raised you up, taught you how to become stronger, it's for your own good, although you're young, you should understand the importance of gratitude. From now on, don't say such things again, or else if the old lady hears them, wouldn't she be heartbroken?"

  Zi Xuan pouted, reluctantly nodding: "I know." After giving him a white eye, she muttered again, "You're even more eloquent than the puppet granny, chattering on and on like the little insects behind the temple!"

  Xuan Zhen could only shake his head and smile wryly.

  As we chatted, the trees in front of us gradually became sparse, but the poisonous flowers and weeds on the side of the road gradually increased. On the contrary, those shrubs and wild grasses were mostly deprived of water and nutrients by them, and gradually became sparse and withered.

  Not yet out of the divine wood, a strange fragrance had already hit his nose, extremely thick. When he walked out from behind an old tree with intertwined roots, Xuán Zhèn suddenly felt refreshed and saw a large patch of flowers in front of him, vastly different from the dark and humid forest. At that time, it was already the second day's early morning, a large piece of golden light poured down from the seam of the clouds above his head, shining on the colorful flower field in front, with gentle breeze blowing, bringing up waves of color, fragrance overflowing everywhere, attracting butterflies and bees to dance and fly. This boundless flower sea covered more than half of the slowly rising and falling mountain slope, with only a narrow stream flowing silently within it.

  This small stream is the silver creek that Xuán Zhèn saw yesterday evening, he and Zǐ Xuān followed the stream to this place outside the forest, before leaving the forest it was still gray and gloomy, unexpectedly the outside world had already become morning light. The sunlight is beautiful, last night's sparkling creek has now transformed into a golden glow, quietly nourishing this vast field of flowers, with a tranquil atmosphere.

  Xuan Zhen took a deep breath, feeling his heart and soul at ease, and couldn't help but laugh: "It's actually possible to walk out of here. The path in this divine wood is difficult to discern, and it's full of venomous snakes and poisonous weeds. Who would have thought that deep within lies such a beautiful scene? It seems that what the ancient books say is true - the most exquisite places are often hidden where people rarely go."

  Zi Xuan didn't pay attention to what he said, and had already excitedly rushed towards the sea of flowers. By the time Xuan Zhen approached, her skirt was filled with a handful of purple and red flowers, which adorned her light purple dress and made this lovely girl look extremely beautiful.

  "Xuan Zhen brother, this is Huadianba, and that stream here is called Wanhua Creek. You say, isn't it beautiful?" Zi Xuan still held a crimson clover flower in her hand, "Here, all four seasons are filled with blooming flowers, the girls of the Hei Wu tribe truly have good fortune, living in such a beautiful place." As she spoke, she let out a gentle sigh, her face full of admiration.

  "When true beauty is overwhelming." Xuan Zhen gazed at her with a faint smile, but his words had a deeper meaning: "Flowers are beautiful, scenery is beautiful, and they make people even more beautiful." However, he didn't forget to ask another question: "Does the Black Witch tribe live nearby?"

  "Ah, come with me!" Zixuan's joyful gaze lingered in the sea of flowers for a moment before she turned around and walked through the flower cluster, heading up the slope. Her legs were short but her footsteps were light and quick, and soon she had already reached the back of the flower dam.

  Xuan Zhen followed closely, walking through the flowers and wading through the water. The lower hem of his blue-white Taoist robe was stained with flower colors, and his body was even more fragrant, attracting bees and butterflies to chase after him, their buzzing sounds following all the way to a mountain wall before gradually dispersing.

  Zi Xuan stood still in front of the mountain wall, turned her head and smiled: "It's right here!"

  Xuan was shocked, staring at the stone wall for a long time, speechless. The mountain wall wasn't very high, standing behind the flower dam towards the shaded side, with old vines and withered creepers tangled and overgrown, looking quite ordinary, let alone this place could be seen at a glance, where was there any sign of human habitation?

  Zi Xuan's big eyes swept across his face, seemingly guessing what he was thinking, and chuckled. Without explanation, she took a few more steps forward, suddenly raised her hands from both sides of her body, drew a large arc over her head, and with a soft cry, her hands had already formed the Orchid Hand Seal, crossing in front of her chest. Suddenly, a series of cracking sounds echoed, and in front of the stone wall, icy blades began to gather, emitting a chilling aura, especially at their tips.

  At the purple-robed girl's single command, the ice blades shot towards the stone wall with a whooshing sound, "Shua, shua" cutting away large swaths of the layered and densely entwined vines. Amidst the sounds of destruction, a dark cave entrance about one person high was revealed on the stone wall.

  "Ha, I knew it! Going through this stone cave is the village of the Black Witch tribe." Zi Xuan smiled and clapped her hands, "Last time, it was that dead face who brought me and Puppet Granny here, I was still very young at that time." Those big eyes rolled around again, glancing sideways with a look full of self-satisfaction, somewhat expecting praise, making Xuan Zhen hold back his smile.

  Xuan Zhen smiled and patted her head: "Thanks to Miss Zi Xuan, otherwise I would have had to spend a few more days in the Divine Wood Forest."

  Zi Xuan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes!" Smugly taking the lead, he walked towards the cave.

  The tunnel in the rock wasn't very long, and after walking for just a moment, it brightened up again. After taking another dozen or so steps, what was in front of me was once again a completely different scene.

  Xuan Zhen looked around and suddenly realized that he and Zi Xuan had arrived at another mountain valley, but this time the valley was surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides, with no place to climb up or down. It was as if even a swan's flight could not pass through, and a monkey trying to cross would be anxious about finding a way to climb over. It seemed that the only way in and out was the path that Zi Xuan had led him along.

  In the valley, there are also exotic flowers and plants all over the place. There are green trees providing shade, and a stream flowing with a gentle sound, as if it is being taken care of by someone. The growth here is more lush than outside. Behind the trees, there is a fence made of bamboo or wood, and inside the fence, there seems to be a small piece of cultivated land. In the fields, various plants are planted, but they are colorful and seem to be poisonous.

  There must be someone here, this is definitely a gathering place of the Wu tribe. Under the shock, his heart was already joyful, but before this joy had time to bloom into a smile, it was dispelled by a rebuke.

  "Halt! Who are you and why have you intruded into our village?"

  The one who shouted was a young man, with a black body, wearing a double-breasted jacket on top and short cloth pants below, with exposed arms showing knots of muscles, looking very strong. Behind him were several others, also young and robust men, apparently all members of the Black Witch tribe.

  Zi Xuan's face sank, and she said displeased: "You are really rude, I don't want to talk to you, call Dead Face over!"

  "Hey!" The young man seemed to have a fiery temper, and upon hearing Zi Xuan's impolite words, he took several steps forward, about to say something else when someone beside him pulled him back.

  That person's gaze swept over Xuan Zhen and turned to Zi Xuan, saying: "Little sister, I see you are also a child of our Southern Barbarian Tribe, but that person is not... Why do you bring an outsider to our Black Witch Tribe village? Is there something important?"

  "I brought him along, do I need your approval or something?" Zi Xuan said nonchalantly. "As for what's going on... why should I tell you? Hurry up and call Dead Face over, I'm not talking to you guys."

  That person seemed to have no way out with Zi Xuan, but was also unwilling to be driven by her like this, and had to ask: "Whose face is the dead man?"

  Zi Xuan giggled and her big eyes rolled around a few more times, slyly smiling: "The name 'Dead Face' was given by me, it's much better than his original one... Hmm, let me think, he's called... He's called Li Qianyu, go call him over!"

  "How dare you!" The fiery young man finally couldn't bear it, and with a "whoosh" sound, he drew out his waist knife, furiously shouting, "You actually dare to mock our Black Witch Tribe's Great Witch Zhu, don't you want to live?"