"En?" Song Cheng's heart raced crazy.
If Xue Min found out it was Guang Sheng, that person wouldn't even hesitate before snapping it into two and there was no way Song Cheng could stop him.
"You're carrying two swords." Xue Min spoke, approaching him from the rear.
He reached his hand forward, as if to touch Guang Sheng and see.
Before he could do so, Bai Hua had already pulled out the sword from Song Cheng's side and hung it over his waist.
"It's mine." Bai Hua spoke to Xue Min.
Only then did his hand retreat.
"Tell me General Song, you've become a what- a personal assistant already? My my!" Xue Min asked, rolling his eyes.
"If this Brother God has had enough talking, let's just move ahead, would you?" Bai Hua interrupted.
"Lord Xue Min, this soul carried away a cultivation household's child. Let us not delay." Song Cheng spoke and Xue Min only shook his head before walking ahead.
Taking a sharp turn from the weapon's shop in the bustling market, the four found themselves on an off beaten path.
The path was made of stone but with time, green moss had already deposited over it. The canopies of trees entangled like a maze overhead, thick bushes and patches of green surrounded the path.
On the side, a little stone was erected, too covered with green. The characters that had been inscribed on it before were already vague and unable to be made out. The four started walking on the path.
If it were to go somewhere else, Song Cheng would've thought about riding their swords but with his mortal body, he was least interested in having Qin Su suddenly falling down and breaking his neck when they'd reach the East Border.
"How long would it take to reach the East Border?" Qin Su asked anxiously.
"About an hour. This is the quickest way." Song Cheng answered.
"We can use a talisman, that's way quicker." Qin Su responded.
Bai Hua chuckled lightly.
"What?" Qin Su asked, knitting his brows together.
"Ah, it's just that once you enter the East Border, that sword of yours won't be working. As for this Brother God-" he spoke referring to Xue Min "it wouldn't be a surprise if your heavenly power went mad."
"Hei Ying is forged from the Heaven. Once at the East Border, we'll be entering Huang Lin's lair. What happens, heaven's will cannot decide." Song Cheng explained.
Walking further, the canopies only condensed, letting only a tiny beams of sunlight here and there.
"What about your swords?" It was Xue Min who asked.
"Lan Tian is....."
How could he say it?
It was a sacrificial sword!
The next question would definitely be 'Who did you kill General Song?'
What would he say?
'I almost killed my own self haha!'
"...is forged from light." Song Cheng lied.
Although he didn't want to lie, but he couldn't tell them the truth either.
Hearing his response, it seemed that Bai Hua chuckled again.
Bai Hua didn't respond to the question Xue Min asked, completely ignoring it.
Looking overhead, Qin Su commented.
"This kind of path could only lead to a demonic god's lair."
If seen throrougly, Huang Lin wasn't exactly a demonic god, Song Cheng thought but didn't correct Qin Su.
After walking a few steps, Song Cheng heard a rustling sound from his side.
Although he had heard it a while ago, he thought it was an animal in the wilderness.
But now the sound was loud like a person whispering and there wasn't only one.
It wasn't only Song Cheng who heard it, the other three paused in their step as well.
"Who's there? Come out!" Qin Su spoke.
The noise died down for a moment.
Qin Su looked back at Song Cheng and walked ahead, tearing down the bushes with Hei Ying.
"W...ho are you people?" He yelled.
Song Cheng wanted to smack his head in a wall. These people were from the Cui household who had told them about the soul summoned in the East Border.
"What are you doing here?" Song Cheng asked as the group poured out on the path, their faces ashamed from being discovered.
"These servants only followed Young Masters to look for Child Cui. The child is the only heir of the family. Forgive this elder." The man who had spoken to them before spoke.
"Elder Meng has been serving the household since he was a young boy. Serving at a cultivation household, we all know a bit to work swords. It's not like we'll be that useless!!" Another man in the crowd spoke.
Song Cheng was touched for a moment. It was amusing that these men who had just escaped death were so eager to face that evil soul again for that child. But still he couldn't ignore the fact that these were just mortals and if they went with them, it would only cause more harm.
"I understand your worries but this is a really dangerous situation. It's better to not accompany us." Song Cheng spoke politely.
"This Master, we swear that we will not add to any trouble, we just want to save Child Cui." Elder Meng spoke.
"Cut the crap! Didn't you hear what he said? It's dangerous. And what if you provoke that Huang Lin! Who takes responsibility then?" Xue Min scolded.
Elder Meng was afraid for a moment before he spoke.
"Lord Huang is not at the lair. If he was there, we wouldn't have to trouble Master Hua. Lord Huang would take care of it himself."
The way he spoke reminded Song Cheng of a child talking about his father. Young children always believe that their fathers are figures to be worshipped and whatever trouble may come, the father would always protect the child like a hero.
Song Cheng felt that too, when he was young.
Before in front of his own eyes, his father took his life.
Crimson blood flowed like a river from his mouth. Lan Tian, that had driven itself through his heart was painted red.
Looking at his father's torn and pitiful appearance, Song Cheng was horrified. His whole worldview seemed to toppled down. The noble house master that once swelled with pride now ended up in this devastating state. His eyes were filled with tears and hands folded into fists on his side.
He could not move. His mother's strong grip on his shoulders held him down.
"Father! Father.....Let me go mother! Father..!" He had cried, struggling in his mother's grip.
Suddenly, he broke free and ran towards his father, hugging his kneeling body straight, sobbing loudly in his embrace.
"Father, don't leave me! Fath-" He cried as his words were swallowed by his sobs.
"A-Cheng has grown so heavy." Song Wu Sheng managed to speak, putting on a smile with difficulty.
When Song Cheng parted from him, his blue robes were already stained red.
"A-Cheng. Father will never leave you." Song Wu Sheng spoke, suppressing his tears.
He put his hands over Lan Tian and summoning all his remaining strength, he pulled it out of his chest.
Laying it horizontally in his hands, he pushed it towards Song Cheng.
"Tiantian....is yours now." Song Wu Cheng spoke, struggling with words as he referred to Lan Tian.
Song Cheng held Lan Tian, as tears flowed and washed down his face.
"A-Cheng.... don't be like father." Song Wu Cheng spoke before his head hung down.
Those were his last words. 'Don't be like me, don't be like your father.'
Lan Tian would have been forged with sacrificial spiritual energy had his father been a cultivator but they were just a noble household that rose and fell like a breeze.
"Xiao ge, is something wrong?" Bai Hua asked, standing next to Song Cheng.
He took Song Cheng's wrist and checked his nerve.
"You're crying." He added, a concerned look dancing on his face.
Was he crying?
Song Cheng realised that his cheeks felt wet and quickly wiped his face with his sleeve.
"I...." Now that he spoke, even his throat felt heavy.
He cleared his throat.
"I...just remembered something." He spoke, putting on a little fake smile.
Bai Hua seemed to cock a brow beneath his mask but he only nodded.
The group of servants was so reluctant to go away that Xue Min gave up afterall.
"Since you trust that 'Empty Chamber' so much, remember he won't come save you when that evil soul rips your heart out and savours it like a candy!" He spoke at last.
The people only ignored his words and followed the four as they walked forward, whispering along the way.
"Such dense forest! There's no proper light even in the day!"
"Wonder how's Child Cui doing there!"
"That little child is cunning, he won't be....?"
"Amitofo ! How dare you speak like that!"
"Idiot! Apologize in Lord Huang's name right now!"
"How long have we been walking? Aren't were yet at the East Border?" Qin Su asked.
"Light up Hei Ying." Song Cheng spoke.
"..?"
"There has never been a clear distinction of the East Border. Hei Ying will be ablaze as long as we are under heaven's will." Song Cheng explained.
Qin Su nodded and poured a bout of his spiritual energy into Hei Ying as a yellow halo glowed around it's blade.
After walking for another moment, the yellow glow surrounding Hei Ying began to shiver.
After another step, it died down fully.
They were finally at the East Border, officially into Huang Lin's lair.
It was surprising how there was no shielding spell or trap laid out.
'This Huang Lin really doesn't care who enters his lair.' Song Cheng thought in his head.
Xue Min tried to create a spell with his spiritual powers but failed.
For the first time in his life, Song Cheng couldn't help but feel proud about the way Lan Tian had been forged.
The four halted and the group behind them followed suit.
"Are we there, Master Hua?" Elder Meng asked.
Bai Hua walked a few steps forward on the stone path.
"En." Bai Hua spoke, crinkling his nose up.
"What is it?" Song Cheng asked, walking upto him.
"Xiao ge" Bai Hua spoke, looking at him. "Something isn't right."
"There wasn't one Summoning Of Lost Souls." Bai Hua spoke.
Song Cheng brows furrowed together.
"There are two of them." Bai Hua added. "And they are coming towards us."
The only reason a soul would chase someone after The Summoning Of Lost Souls was that the person who had summoned the other soul was right here!
Song Cheng and Bai Hua turned towards the group.
"Spell master, come out." Bai Hua spoke, with a smirk on his face.
***