Chapter 1124: Chapter 83: Preserve the Bloodline_4
Watching Ah Dai finish writing, Yan Li exclaimed with admiration, "Brother, your skill is becoming purer by the day. I don’t know when I’ll catch up to your level. Goris is right, once we go back, I must train diligently."
Ah Dai smiled and said, "Both of you have a strong foundation, and with the guidance of the Judgment Chief’s True Qi cultivation method, you will surely progress swiftly."
Yan Shi looked around nostalgically and said, "Let’s take advantage of the deep night and leave." After speaking, he led the way towards the outskirts of the Elf Forest. Thanks to the Elf Pearl they possessed, all illusions set by the Elves were ineffective against them. They moved rapidly toward the east, dodging several Elf patrols, and finally left the Elf Forest before dawn.
For Ah Dai, his feelings for Xing Er were nothing more than sibling-like. Although it was hard to part with everything in the Elf Clan, aside from feeling a bit lost, he wasn’t particularly sentimental. Yan Shi felt differently; deeply in love with Zhuo Yun, he reluctantly left the Elf Forest and became completely silent. Looking back at the misty Elf Forest, a deeply sorrowful look appeared in his eyes, his heart filled with reluctance to part from Zhuo Yun.
While they were walking, Yan Li said to Ah Dai, "Brother, come and stay with us in the Pu Yan Clan for a while."
Ah Dai shook his head and replied, "No, I haven’t seen him for seven years; I need to visit Teacher Goris in the Illusive Forest. Let’s part ways here, brothers." His chest swelled with intense longing for Goris. Remembering everything about the Illusive Forest, he vividly recalled every moment spent with Goris, who had transformed his life and led him out of the City of Nino. Without Goris, there would be no Ah Dai today; he was a person deeply attached to his emotions, and having fulfilled the Elves’ entrustment, it was time to see his teacher.
Yan Shi snapped out of his gloom, and almost simultaneously, the three of them stopped. They had been together for two years, and the impending separation filled them with bitterness.
Ah Dai took a deep breath, stepped forward, and tightly embraced Yan Shi’s lofty shoulders, "Big brother." Yan Shi responded by grabbing Ah Dai’s shoulders, their deep brotherly affection expressed without words.
Ah Dai released Yan Shi and turned to the much shorter Yan Li, grabbing his broad shoulders, "Big brother Yan Li."
Yan Li, deeply moved, said, "I hadn’t expected us to part so soon, brother, take care. When you have time, come and visit us in Pu Yan. We will be thinking of you."
Ah Dai nodded, recalling the words once spoken to him by the Prophet Pu Lin, "Don’t worry, brothers, should the Pu Yan Clan ever need help, I will come as quickly as I can. That was my promise to Prophet Pu Lin."
Yan Shi said, "Good brother, keep striving, and don’t become disheartened. There are many tasks ahead of you. Take this, it will be useful when you return to the Illusive Forest." Saying this, Yan Shi took out his continental map from his chest and handed it over, a map that noted the accurate routes of most regions on the continent.
"Big brother, this map is very useful to you too. What will you use if you give it to me?"
"Take it, brother. I don’t have much to offer, but let it be a parting gift. We will be training in the Pu Yan Clan and likely won’t leave easily. When you miss us, come see us. I think the Prophet would also be very eager for your visit. Next time, try to bring Yue Yue along."
Ah Dai’s face turned red, "Big brother, I will definitely come to find you again."
Yan Shi sighed, "Let’s go. Since we have to part ways, let’s not be hesitant. Brother, we will be waiting for you." After finishing, he grabbed Yan Li’s burly arm, channeled his fighting energy, and ran towards the direction of the Pu Yan Clan. Ah Dai stood still, watching as their tall and short figures gradually disappeared from his sight. He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness, and loneliness engulfed him, making him deeply sorrowful. Ever since Uncle Owen had died, he left the Xi Bo Clan and soon met Xuan Yue. Yue Yue was arguably his first friend, followed by the Moon Scar Mercenary Corps and Yan Shi and Yan Li. Yue Yue stayed at the church, and it was unlikely they would ever meet again in this lifetime. The whereabouts of the Moon Scar Mercenary Corps were unknown, and now even the Yan brothers had parted ways with him. He stood there for a long while, until the sunlight covered the earth and the dazzling light pulled him back to reality. Indeed! It was time to leave.
Ah Dai spread out the map Yan Shi had given him and found his location. From here, if he crossed the Varangian tribe and continued north, he could enter the Empire of Tian Jing, then passing through Duru Province and DeLun Province of the Empire, he would reach the Illusive Forest in Varangian Province. Under the sunlight, Ah Dai leaped up, tiptoeing on the ground, speeding towards the north. With each jump, he soared through the air landing over ten meters away, and in a short while, he disappeared over the prairie that lay between the Tian Yuan Clan and the Varangian tribe.
Ten days later, in the Wind Tribe of the Varangian clan. A group of Varangians was gathering the slaughtered cattle and sheep together for the drying and salting process, which would become their food for the coming period. Among these black people, a tall young man with black hair and eyes was particularly striking. He worked swiftly, as he alone could carry a robust ox weighing seven to eight hundred pounds, almost doing the work of four or five Varangian men. This black-haired and black-eyed youth was none other than Ah Dai. Ten days ago, when he had entered the territory of the Varangians, he realized he was penniless. When he and Yan Shi were in the Sunset City, the money they had won in the gambling house had all been stored in a card only valid in the Sunset Empire. Yan Shi, eager to send Ah Dai to the church, had forgotten to exchange the currency. Later, when they returned Xing Er to the Elves Clan, they’d spent almost all their money on horses. It was only upon entering the Varangian territory that Ah Dai discovered he didn’t even have enough money to buy a Steamed Bun, let alone retrieve a salary from Mage Guild, as there were practically boundless prairies with neither cities nor Guilds. Left with no choice, Ah Dai had to rely on his strength to find a job moving things in the larger Wind Tribe of the Varangians. Ah Dai wasn’t demanding much; he just needed to save up some food to sustain him until he reached the Empire of Tian Jing. By his calculation, tonight would be enough.
The Varangians were an extraordinarily hospitable tribe. Although Ah Dai was of a different race, they did not reject or discriminate against him, especially when he, showing off his strength, lifted a whole cow, nearly causing a sensation throughout the Wind Tribe. Anywhere and anytime, a warrior was always cherished.
"Bang." Ah Dai dropped the dead ox from his shoulder onto the ground, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and said to an elderly Varangian who was cutting the meat, "Uncle Feng Nu, is this enough?" The old man nodded at Ah Dai and said, "It’s enough, it’s enough. Ah Dai, you really are a hardworking lad. Our efficiency has increased a lot since you arrived. Take a break now. Here, have some sheep’s milk." Saying this, he tossed a leather bag made from cowhide to Ah Dai.
Ah Dai opened the stopper and poured the slightly gamey sheep’s milk into his mouth, drinking heartily. As he drank, he gazed at the busy Pu Yan people, feeling an indescribable ease. In this simple tribe, without any conflicts, everyone was busy with their duties. Having lived here for ten days, Ah Dai felt a relaxation he had never experienced before. He thought perhaps this most ordinary life without deception was indeed what suited him.
Uncle Feng Nu smiled and said, "Ah Dai, why don’t you settle down in our Wind Tribe? You’re so capable; someday, uncle will help you find a beautiful wife. There are quite a few lovely girls in the tribe who fancy you. Haha."
Ah Dai shyly smiled and replied, "I’m sorry, uncle, I still have many things to do and can’t stay in the tribe for too long. Perhaps, I might leave tonight already."
Feng Nu furrowed his brows and said, "What? Don’t you like the life here in the Wind Tribe? Here, as long as you work hard, you will definitely get a corresponding reward. If you leave, uncle will miss you."
Ah Dai looked towards the direction of the Tian Jing Empire and murmured, "No, I really like it here, but, I have reasons I must leave. I’m sorry, uncle. I will miss you all too, and if there’s a chance in the future, I will definitely come back to see everyone." After saying this, he turned and continued his work for the day.
Watching Ah Dai’s tall figure, Uncle Feng Nu sighed and murmured, "Yes! How could someone like you live an ordinary life! Go on, venture into your own world. If you ever get weary or tired, this place will always be your safe harbor."
Ah Dai’s figure shuddered slightly, but he didn’t stop, heading straight on.
As night fell, the people of the Wind Tribe returned to their tents for rest, and the bustling prairie during the day fell into a deep silence. The night temperatures were much lower than during the day. Only the fires in the tents provided warmth to the hardworking Varangian people. Ah Dai packed up his belongings in the tent; ten days of hard work had earned him three sets of plain clothes and enough food. He stored these items inside Dragon’s Blood, touched the Sword of Hades at his chest, took a deep look at Uncle Feng Nu, who seemed to be in deep sleep, sighed softly, and quietly left the tent.
