15 minutes later,
Long Mong drips sweats. Despite his effort, that woman did not seem discouraged at all – she had been chasing Long Mong nonstop. Wearing full of black attire and a veil, Long Mong started feeling unsure of his judgement. Now, he did not know which one of them is the assassins – the dead people in black from the forest before or, the one chasing him now.
'What the hel—' He felt terrified as she almost reaches by his side.
"Hey, I have something to ask."
Long Mong ignored her question. Only one thing he had in his mind – he need to save his breath to avoid being caught by that woman. He had been using the same martial arts for several minutes, 'This can't go on!'
He fell into panic. Using Thousands Wind Step is not simple; if the practitioner loses focus, they will lose balance and have a high possibility to stumble – especially if they suddenly stop when losing their balance. All because it needs great control of the Calm Cloud breathing method—a slow and steady breathing method despite how fast the speed is.
"Heh…you're clever." She snickered.
'Huh?! How can anyone talk easily in this situation?' Long Mong became curious because it seems his effort was most likely useless. His Thousand Wind Step is certainly not slow enough to allow anyone to speak comfortably while chasing him.
'Haa…nobody ever chases me for this long…' He glanced toward her.
He wanted to increase the pace but had already hit the limit. Long Mong groaned. His eyebrows furrowed, and his teeth clashed with each other. Now, he just holds on the best he can.
"You told me you are a passer-by but, how did you know this is a mountain?" Asked that woman sarcastically while chasing him non-stop from behind.
Long Mong was shocked, but he did not show it. He now understands why that woman suddenly became hostile.
Upon realising it, 'Ah…what a fool!' He laughed at himself for being an obvious fool during such a critical moment.
*****
Only a few people know Dà forest's true nature. Furthermore, only a strong and influential person with a higher backup knows about the identity of Dà forest - Dà Húdié (Big Butterfly) Mountain. People who live in the village nearer do not possibly know because they are poor and weak.
'Maybe, if there's any, only a few of them know,' Long Mong thought calmly for the first time in that chaotic moment. He looked at the clear sky upright above his head in the middle of the escape.
Dà forest actually is the surface of Dà Húdié Mountain. Hundreds of years ago, old folks from Hépíng city used to say, 'There's a big, beautiful land near here with fresh air. Once you find it, you would not want to leave it.'
In people's ears, it was heard as a paradise for visitors or tourists, but that was not what it actually means. The truth is, it is a place for martial artists to cultivate and practice. It also had been said that it has rich energy and can be found in some of the caves in Dà Húdié Mountain.
Regardless, as time goes by, no one can find the caves—they only found the forest, not the mountain, and people start to forget about the mountain. Losing its fame and values, it began to be called Dà forest. Because of that, people believed it was just a rumour made up by the old folks who love to stay in nature.
However, martial artists are still martial artists. They would do anything to get strong. In the midst of being forgotten, eventually, some found the cave but did not dare to tell others because, the air around the caves is not suitable for low-level cultivators, and the energy is so rich—made they become greedy and only keep it to themselves.
*****
Long Mong carefully opened his mouth again, "Well, of course, I know it's a mountain. It's been several years since I stay here," smiled Long Mong gently to that woman, hoping his answer this time could cease her anger.
Unfortunately, that woman unsheathed her sword and once again thrust it toward Long Mong.
Meanwhile, Long Mong, who caught on to her action, finally took out his last resort that long fall asleep – a brilliant sword was unsheathed. Even though Long Mong can only see her eyes because of the veil, he knows that woman is smiling maliciously like a snake finally get to hunt its most-wait prey.
Cling. Clang. Cling. Within the sound of two swords facing each other, that woman spoke with composure, "A passer-by… then a man lives here for several years…" looked straight into Long Mong's eyes she continued, "…then what? A man with a sword?"
Not giving him time to answer, swoosh! she moves faster, dancing together with her sword.
Long Mong could not keep up with her speed and stopped his sword – wanting to give up.
Luckily, just right before it reach Long Mong's neck again, that woman also stopped her sword.
They looked at each other. The birds and wind were partying; singing and dancing between their silence for a moment before one of them decide to speak.
"Why?"
"I've told you, I'm not with them."
"…" That woman looked unfazed.
Sighed. Long Mong continued, "I'm not the person you are looking for. I don't know any of the men back there."
"The sword?" she stared sharply at his sword.
"This is my sword. Why? Are all people with swords your enemy?" —he scratched his head, thinking how to prove himself— "I'm telling the truth. I'm just a passerby." Long Mong showed his sword to that woman.
The look in that woman's eyes changed. She cannot believe what she had just seen. Her eyes widened with her brain processing the sword she had in front of her eyes in a flash. The engraved word on it was read carefully.
A name that had almost forgotten came to her mind. Her body stiffened, cannot believe such a day would come. A day where she could meet a hero that had only been heard of when she was small, a hero who contributed various achievements to the Mang Dynasty to their glorious day, the so-called hero – Man of sword, Lian Long.
"Lian…Lian Long?"