Jin Xuanwan woke up on Fenghu's back. She sat up with the support of her hand while rubbing her eyes. She yawned one last time and noticed they are traveling by foot. Shen Mo is ahead and a row of light blue flame surrounded them to provide light for the night. From time to time, Shen Mo would stop and squat down to pick something up. Jin Xuanwan propped her chin on the back of Fenghu's head. She observed Shen Mo checking flowers and wild grasses. He will also come across common herbs.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Jin Xuanwan can't help it and ask. Shen Mo glanced at her before taking a herb in his space ring.
"Multi-tasking." He was traveling and at the same time, looking for herbs he listed down. To create the pill for Cai's improvement, he needs a lot of them. Furthermore, asking someone to collect them is not fun. Since he has a disciple to take care of, he must be responsible and do it himself. "At least I'm not bored."
Jin Xuanwan no longer asked. She lay on her back and gazed at the starry sky. Golden Dragon Realm doesn't have a sky like this. It was always plain black, with no moon, no stars. The same goes for daytime, there is no sun but it is bright. Wu is really a strange environment for her. There is so much to hate but so much to love as well.
"Shen Mo." She called out again. She heard him hum and Jin Xuanwan asked, "Why did my ancestors despise Wu so much, we got into hiding?"
"Huh?" Shen Mo stopped walking. He sauntered to Jin Xuanwan's side and paced next to Fenghu. "Why ask? Shouldn't the reason be taught to Golden Dragon Realm's every generation?"
"All I heard is that Wu is an ugly place, full of treachery and dispute. It's actually close to what the book says about Wu, but now that I got out, I don't think it's that bad, or downtrodden." Jin Xuanwan reached her hand towards the sky as if to grasp the glistening stars. "Golden Dragon Realm is always in peace, free from demon beasts, ghouls, strife. However, it is not Wu. Although Wu is this horrible, some things make it unique. You for example."
"Can't argue with that." Shen Mo just smiled. No mortal, demon, or half-breed ever had the experience of being chased by the Will of Heaven which has more than a hundred and one ways of killing a person.
"Then, how is Sir Shen unique?" Fenghu raised a question for Shen Mo.
"He's from the royal bloodline of the Demon Clan, which I learned from books that is a very awful clan. However, Shen Mo doesn't display the same hostility or mischief those demons have. He is, uhm... Too calm and nice." Jin Xuanwan glanced at Shen Mo to see his reaction. He didn't flinch or took note of her praise at all. "What are you?"
"Half-human, half-demon." Shen Mo answered nonchalantly. "I feel offended by your question though. Am I a 'what' to you? Not a who?"
Before Jin Xuanwan can refute, Shen Mo and Fenghu stopped at the same time. Jin Xuanwan noticed Shen Mo's vigilance. He was looking straight ahead on the rough road. As far as she can remember, this is not the path they took when they tried to enter the Demon Realm.
"Both of you stay here." Shen Mo took a step forward and waved his arm. The dots of blue flames rushed ahead and became a big ball of fire.
With the light brightening the whole place, they saw a Tao Qie¹ ahead. The Tao Qie cried disturbingly and vanished into the darkness at its fastest speed. Shen Mo didn't continue pursuing the Tao Qie. He retrieved the flames to light up their path.
(1. Tao Qie- a mythical beast that is meant to lead humans astray, has no eyes or ears, portraying a gluttinous beast that can even eat itself when hungry)
"What is a Tao Qie doing at the border?" Shen Mo frowned. He had never traveled by foot before and no longer delved into the matters of mortals. A Tao Qie's existence is strange for him though, especially since they are between the Western Desert and the Mainland.
"That's a Tao Qie?" It was the first time Jin Xuanwan saw it personally. Since the Golden Dragon Realm is always peaceful, monsters and demons are not within its territory. She only read about Tao Qie's existence.
Shen Mo accessed his divine sense and found a mortal village ahead with only three cultivators to protect it. Yet, a Tao Qie is roaming close to the village. Tao Qie lures humans into choosing the wrong choices and can strengthen worldly desires. The Tao Qie could have massacred the whole village with its strength but it did nothing. There must be more to this place.
"Let's have a rest ahead. There is a village nearby. However, we can't alarm the mortals here. They shouldn't know our real attainments in cultivation." Shen Mo instructed briefly. He looked at Fenghu but Jin Xuanwan looks unwilling.
"But Fenghu is comfortable to sleep on!"
"He can't show up there. That's just a normal weak village. If they were to see Fenghu, they will think it's a demon and it will cause more trouble for us." Shen Mo sighed. He can't just let this village get destroyed by an evil being. It was his job to protect Wu, then it includes the civilians.
Deep into the forest, the Tao Qie hides. It sensed Shen Mo and the rest are leaving their previous spot. The Tao Qie leaped down a broken well without hesitation.
A normal warrior patrolled by the gate of the village and noticed two figures not far from them. He squinted his eyes to see a cloaked tall person and a young girl approaching. Their clothes are not ordinary with their materials and their composure points to a different class. They don't seem to be travelers from the neighboring village, they might be people from the capital.
"Hello. We arrived here so late. Is there an inn to rest at?" Jin Xuanwan was the first to speak in a friendly manner. The guard quickly nodded.
"Why are you youngsters wandering in the woods at night? Aren't you afraid of the demon out there?" The warrior helplessly said. They must have been lucky to have arrived unscathed.