The sun sinking to the horizon colored the flower fields in warm tint of gold and orange. The pure, cloudless sky took on deep dark tones. This mysterious Spirit World was too much like an Earthly dwelling place. It was difficult to think of it as of an afterlife.
However, Hao Ning did not want to think about the trouble that had happened to him, while he was running in the direction indicated by Wu Zhe Kai. His rained feet carried the youth fast and smoothly.
He needed find the right place before the darkness covered the area. But, unfortunately, the place was called the "ocean of foliage" not for nothing. The landscape in front of Hao Ning changed only when the last ray of the sun disappeared beyond the horizon.
The sudden change in the environment struck the young man – it turned out that hills hid a lot behind their curves. Standing on a small hill, Hao Ning rested his palms on his knees and tried to catch his breath, examining the area that opened up to him.
Not a trace of flowers or herbs was now seen anywhere. They were replaced by dark soil, dotted with rocks and boulders of various sizes and types. Large, small, rounded, and pointed – like fangs they were sticking straight out of the ground and scattered in fragments at the feet of the visible hills. That was indeed the scenery that reminded all those terrible stories about the Middle World that Hao Ning had heard or read.
However, the sudden change of scenery was not the only thing that struck the youth. The sound of clanging of swords and hoarse screams reached his ears. That were the sounds characteristic of battle.
Hao Ning felt goosebumps running down his spine. His heart behind the ribs was beating like a scared bird. But, even though he felt uneasy, did not mean he was going to turn back. So Hao Nin made a deep breath and began slowly and quietly moving down the rocky slope. In a time he successfully reached the bottom. With a brisk dash, the youth found himself at a massive boulder that hid most of the view.
Hao Nin carefully looked out from behind the boulder. At that very moment, he needed all his willpower to restrain his voice and not give away his presence with a sudden scream. Right before his eyes a battle unfolded.
Two fought there: a man unfamiliar to Hao Ning and Wei Huan.
Shoulder to shoulder they were thwarting the attack of… some creatures that were beyond any description. Four-legged, covered with thick black hairs, eyes burning like scarlet coals. The creatures bared long fangs in their wolf-like muzzles. And the tongues were forked like those of the vipers.
The creatures moved sharply and quicklyю However, they could not break through the steady defense of two warriors. Despite even the prevailing numbers.
Hao Ning stared at Wei Huan's expression. Holding a sword that emitted a faint blue light the man was calm and emotionless. As if everything was just a... daily routine for him.
Well, maybe it really was. Hao Ning reminded himself that he knew nothing about this man.
The youth crouched down, trying to figure out the way he could help in a battle that was unlike any he had ever heard of. His breathing was quick but erratic as if Hao Ning was afraid of being discovered due to taking too many deep inhales.
And his fears were not unfounded. Even this excessive caution did not help. He was detected.
On the battlefield, all the senses are sharpened and tense. Every movement is caught and remembered, and any change is striking. That is why the impromptu shelter did not save Hao Ning. Very soon the long shadow hang over him.
The youth raised his head and smiled awkwardly. Well, what else could he do in this situation, right?
– What are you doing here? – wondered Wei Huan. The expression of the man was stern, but not hostile. – How did you get here?
– Wu Zhe Kai told me where you are. I didn't mean to disturb, – Hao Ning slowly straightened up, noting that the man no longer had a sword in his hand. – I didn't know you were fighting.
– That's not the issue, – Wei Huan trailed off as if he was trying to find the right words to express his thoughts. – Did you notice anything on your way here? Maybe... anything barred your way?
– No, – Hao Ning shook his head. – I left the village and ran here. Was something supposed to happen?
– So you ran. That simple... – A smile flickered across Wei Huan's lips. – You are amazingly lucky.
Suddenly the man caught a glimpse of something aside and his eyes instantly acquired the usual steel sharpness.
– We shall talk later. Now it's the wrong time. I have to finish the job.
– What are those things?
– Yaoguai.
– Demons? – exhaled Hao Ning. – In the Middle World?
– Yes – nodded Wei Huan. – I'll explain later, now just keep in.
– But, I want to help.
– You will. By keeping your head down, – grinned Wei Huan.
Hao Ning wanted to argue, but his fuse instantly subsided, as he saw the sword appear in Wei Huan's hand again. The blade got formed out of thin air. Literary. First, sparkles of blue appeared around the man's fingers. They circled like fireflies around his wrist. And then step by step those sparkles folded into the shape of a steel weapon.
– General Wei, we almost held the attack off. There is only a small number of beasts left, – an unfamiliar voice was heard from above the boulder.
Hao Ning lifted his head, meeting the calm look of gray eyes. That second warrior, whose name the youth did not yet know, addressed Wei Huan. When he noticed Hao Ning, he nodded politely. Hao Ning responded with the identical silent greeting.
– Drive them into a circle and scatter! – ordered Wei Huan leaving the temporary shelter. – Now, to the rear!
– Yes, General!
Without further ado, the warrior jumped off the boulder. Wei Huan followed. Hao Ning watched how the well-coordinated work of the two warriors put the plan into action, as they were herding the remaining group of demons into a circle. The Yaoguai hissed and growled, but all their efforts went in vain.
Wei Huan was gorgeous as moved through the battlefield. Not a single creature could escape his sword. His comrade, wielding a spear, played an equally significant role in the battle. The climax of their teamwork was a long chain that appeared in the same blue lights that had previously bestowed the sword on Wei Huan.
– Jin Yu Ming, be ready!
The blue flash blinded the demons and stunned them. Then thee chain bound the writhing creatures into a dense ring.
Wei Huan pulled one of the ends with all his might, and the trapped demons roared in fury.
Yu Ming spun the spear, bringing down cutting streams of wind on the Yaoguai.
– Yu Ming! – commanded Wei Huan again, as he threw both ends of the chain to the man.
Jin Yu Ming's reaction was ideal. He threw his spear at the same moment as Wei Huan made a move. The spear hit the rings of the chain nailing it to the ground.
Wei Huan took advantage of this. The sword flashed in the air, slicing and cutting the demons, that had already been trying to free themselves. Their deafening final roar mingled with the sound of a chain falling to the ground.
Hao Ning watched bright blue luminous lights soar skyward and go out of sight. Little blue dots fading into the warm night air... All that was left of the demons…
The young man watched the pale light of the fading souls, his heart aching from the sorrowful understanding. Hao Ning finally believed that everything around was a completely different (non-Earthly) world.
As the battle was won, Wei Huan observed the recently infested lowland, making sure that everything was safe, and turned to Hao Ning. His beautiful dark blue military robes, embroidered with cloud patterns, remained unstained and tidy, proving the wearer's combat prowess and skill.
Jin Yu Ming, standing next to him, had a similar military uniform, though simpler and more monochromatic. But both men were dressed in the same style. Looking at them, Hao Ning was able to catch many similarities in their behavior. For instance, both were calm and ready to withstand any trials.
The two warriors were undoubtedly close and it did not even require confirmation.
– Are you all right? – asked Wei Huan.
Hao Ning nodded.
– I'm fine. A little shocked by the sight, but fine, – the youth looked up into the man's eyes. – You said they were demons. Do they also end up in the Middle World?
– The souls of every leaving being who must wait for their Solemn Hour, ends up here. The reason, your background of a temple servant or a merciless murderer do not matter. No one knows why souls come in the Middle World and what kind of game the Gods are playing. However, it is known for sure that the blackened beings, rejected by other ghosts, turn into Yaoguai…
While Wei Huan was talking, Jin Yu Ming came closer. So Wei Huan interrupted himself to introduce the warrior.
– Hao Ning, meet Jin Yu Ming. My good friend and faithful comrade.
Yu Ming again politely nodded, limiting himself to silent gestures. And, either he behaved this way with every stranger, or his disciplined nurture and tamed nature did not allow him to act frivolously in the presence of a senior in rank. Moreover… Didn't Jin Yu Ming called Wei Huan a General?
– So, this is your wife.
Hao Ning flared up. Right! So more of a friend than a comrade...
– A husband sounds better, – came a calm reply.
– Wait! – Hao Ning hurried to interfere. – That's the thing I wanted to discuss with you!
– Family matters. Got it, – Yu Ming nodded. – I'll leave then. Take your time.
With these words, the warrior patted Wei Huan on the shoulder and, as if nothing had happened, went away. Supposedly, continued patrolling the area, watching for the presence of demons nearby.
Hao Ning stared his back with widened eyes. The man's words made the youth completely forget what he wanted to say before.
– So, what did you want to talk about?
A quiet cough from the side brought Hao Ning's attention back to the General. The man was looking at him in anticipation.
– Wu Zhe Kai and Ba explained to me... I am still trying to get used to all that and I understand that I need time... Therefore... Well, they said the best way for me to accept what has happened is to remember my last breath. That is why... That is why I want to get to the Gates.
Wei Huan raised his eyebrows in surprise and crossed his arms over his chest.
– The way to the Gates is long and dangerous. How are you planning to do it?
– I planned to ask for your help and assistance...
– I can not help you.
Hao Ning bit his lip. He didn't count on Wei Huan's instant consent, but such a sharp refusal... It hurt.
– You saw the demons, – Wei Huan decided that he deserved some explanation. – They often appear nearby and attack the village. And I protect those people. I can't just pick up and take my leave.
– What about Jin Yu Ming?
– If I leave, he leaves with me. He always follows. This is his martial duty. Even if I order him to stay, he would not obey.
– So, there is no chance to convince you?
– Why are you on to the Gates so badly? You may as well remember everything here after a while.
– It's not just my desire to remember death the sooner the better. On the contrary, I'd rather stay ignorant, – Hao Ning smiled awkwardly. – The thing is, I have a plea to the Gatekeeper.
– You want to escape the Middle World? – smiled Wei Huan.
– No. I want to know how to break our marriage contract, – simply replied Hao Ning.
Wei Huan was confused. The words uttered were said with such ease… The man looked back blankly. The youth looked very determined. Wei Huan had never met a person like that before.
The thing that Wei Huan understood in the short time they had known each other was that Hao Ning was a paradox. Th youth seemed constantly come up with the ideas none could think of.
– I don't care about this contract if that is what bothers you.
– Still, I think it's wrong.
– Because I'm a man?
– No, – Hao Ning quickly waved his hands. – Your manhood has nothing to do with it. I would make the same decision if you were the woman. My parents wanted the best for me. I understand that and appreciate their intentions. But it seems wrong to me – bringing two people together, even if it is here. I mean, not in the Earthly dwelling place. It's like... I made you marry me. By mistake, though...
– I said, I don't care.
– Maybe, you don't. But I still want to fix it.
Wei Huan took a deep breath, realizing that he could do nothing about this youth's stubbornness. So he decided to clarify some details.
– Are you a warrior?
– Yes, I was trained in martial arts. But the truth is, I am not very skilled.
– Don't you have to be perfect every way to serve the Ten?
The irony was well heard in Wei Huan's voice. It happened every time the Gods were mentioned.
– Apparently not! I was the best among Scholars of Harmony.
The general's attitude toward the Gods interested Hao Ning from the moment the man learned about his belonging to the followers of the Ten. But the youth knew perfectly well that this was an extremely delicate topic, which Wei Huan obviously would not agree to discuss so easily. So the young man decided not to push it.
– When the warriors are taught the martial basics, they are also trained in spiritual practices, – began Wei Huan. – You use your inner strength, drawing energy from it for the battle. Your body is your weapon, which you improve over the years. There is another principle at work here as well. After death, as you become a ghost, you are drained of internal energy. It flows away becoming part of the Middle World. However, this means that every surrounding shall help to you.
Wei Huan extended his hand, and familiar blue lights began dancing around his fingers.
– When you want to materialize something, you dissipate the spirit of something else. For example, to get my sword, I borrowed the energy from this stone. – The General pointed to a large boulder closest to them. – Many specific nuances are also worth remembering. For example, if you think of the speed of creating the desired item. Now I have deliberately done it slowly so that you saw the process.
Huan gripped the hilt of sword. The weapon was finally formed and the rock that man had spoken of disappeared. Nothing was left of it.
– It will come with experience. Now you should keep in mind only one rule – the energy taken must be equivalent to the created object. With a small petal, you cannot create yourself a tiger.
– So this stone is… dispelled? – Hao Ning continued to look at the empty space. – As were the demons?
– No. The borrowed energy will eventually come back, – confirming his words, Wei Huan made the sword disappear and returned the energy to its original form of a rock. – The demons have been dispelled. How exactly does the process of materializing work... none can say. Maybe the objects for which energy is used, are just transported to another place in the Middle World, maybe they go to Diyu, or maybe they cease their existence in all worlds. I don't know.
Hao Ning softly sighed. This information was no less confusing, but given the circumstances, he took it much more seriously than before.
– And what if I borrow energy from a living being? Since all creatures here are the part of the spiritual world... Considering you take the energy from a person, will they then recover?
The sincere curiosity made Wei Huan stutter for a while, staring into the hazel-brown eyes of the youth in front of him.
The heavy look of the General's dark eyes was crushing, but Hao Ning baldly withstood it. He wanted to get used to the unbending energy of that man.
– You are a dangerous strategist. Guess, every Scholar of Harmony is like that, – finally uttered the General. – Let's hope we don't have to check it out.
Hao Ning wanted to explain himself, but he didn't have time.
– General Wei!
A familiar voice sounded very close. And with every word was getting closer. Someone was running fast in their direction.
– General Wei! Blue Mist! A rift has opened near the village!
Jin Yu Ming appeared at the top of the hill. His impassive face was dark and focused. Having reported the news, the man headed in the said direction. Wei Huan, as well as Hao Ning, immediately followed.
Hao Ning was puzzled. He had not yet learned everything about the Middle World, but now it looked as if it did not matter.
The desire to protect the serene existence of other people subdued him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jin Yu Ming - 金昱铭; Yu: bright/glory, justice; Min: to remember, to keep in the heart (when becomes the part of the name might mean "to struggle / to push oneself to the limit / to achieve something (success)"