As Ming Shin looked around, he found girl around 10 years wearing some strange clothing and had a necklace which looks like it's made of animal bone. Looking above and his surroundings, he figured as he remembered a person approaching him before he fainted.
'This must be his home. But why have I never seen such strange cloth and style in my village till now?' he pondered upon. The girl immediately ran away to inform someone.
He began to observe his body for any major injuries. Soon he found out that his whole upper body and both his feet seemed to be stuck with some elongating liquid substance. He could feel his heartbeat was normal and his wounds seemed to have healed.
On closer inspection, he found that he is already in Bone Forging sixth realm. 'Well, looks like most of the energy from the behemoth meat seems to be depleted. But there is still more than 95% of the meat left in the cave. If I can digest it all, then I'm sure I can even be in strong qi condensation realm'.
While he was thinking about these, he felt a tingly sensation from the middle of his eyebrows. It's the marble which has disappeared when he checked his wrist earlier. It seems to be giving off soft light and cannot be seen outside his body.
He could vaguely feel four people approaching of which one of them seems to be the young girl from before. The other three two of them gave a strong presence while the other one is the most hard to detect as if the presence can be extinguished any moment.
Soon the door to the room in where he is staying was opened and the girl first came into view followed by an elderly woman who did not seem too old but one cannot fathom the vicissitudes of life she has seen.
The other two were strong men who gave a very threatening presence. He could vaguely even sense that they seem to be in Foundation realm even stronger Ning Shu or Wu Lao who gave off his pressure during the assessment.
Just as he was looking at them, they were also looking at him curiously. The two men were even surprised when they first saw his condition 'How could anyone be still alive with all the wounds in such realm, not to mention a young kid at that'.
"How are you feeling?" the woman interrupted the silence. The young girl curiously interjected " What's your name? What are you doing here?"
"Li Sha, not rude" the woman interrupted. The formed just sticked out her tongue in a playful manner but looked at Ming Shin as if he definitely had to answer her queries.
Ming Shin composed himself before replying " I am Ju Hai and currently I seem to be recovering well. Thank you seniors for saving me " he bowed his hand. By this time, he was fully aware that seems to be not his village. He was always warned by his parents to always be cautious and be vigilant at all times.
He faked his name so that he did not want to invite such strong presence back to the village and bring forth something unforeseen.
"Boy, we found you in very terrible condition four months back. we really though it was hard to survive after such heavy blood loss and ruptured internal organs. What were you, a kid of your age doing in the middle of nowhere?" One of the men exerted some pressure while asking.
Ming Shin started oozing some cold sweat when the woman just sighed and the pressure disappeared in an instant. Ming Shin soon became red eyed " I don't remember anything clearly. The last thing I know is that I was stranded in a dense forest with a sword to fend for myself" he replied fearfully.
The other man was surprised 'What? Then there may be a chance that his memory was probably sealed or wiped off. the people who are capable of this are at least a strong man in the Sea Spirit realm' he rubbed the invisible sweat off his forehead.
The first man also made a look the woman "Chief, do we need to sail in these troubled waters?". even he was panicking. They have been maintaining this stronghold for many years now without being discovered.
They cannot possible invite unnecessary trouble. Even Ming Shin was feeling elated by the way things are developing. He needs to first get out of the place though they may be his benefactors.
he could not figure out why there are two such powerhouses in this place. No, the old woman earlier seemed to relieve the pressure just by a sigh. His heart beat was raised a little immediately. Judging from their speech and dressing style, they do not seem to be from Henji town.
Which means I'm still somewhere in the forest. Also, they have casually said that I have been sleeping for four months now? What happened to the convoy? Is Dad getting worried about me? Also, there are only two jade beads left on my bracelet.
Even if it can solve these two strong men, there is still the woman and who knows how many others are located in this place. It is better to play it safe and quickly get out of here.
Li Kui has been observing Ming Shin ever since they entered the door. She felt amused by his wit and demeanor. He even seems to have fooled Ya Jun and Ya Kun. His little rise of heartbeat did not escape her mind.
'He is still young after all. But still, a kid around nine years to just possess these traits and those wounds especially his deep eyes, just what could he experience that he turned out this way' she sighed.
"No matter who it is, how can we abandon a junior who is not even a double digit age? Make sure he recovers well" she ordered the two men while giving a deep look into his hair.
'What? Who in their right mind would be so gullible to take care of a stranger for so many months and not yet seriously dig deep about them?' Ming Shin was surprised. He still remembers the hard lesson when Bai Mei told him not to help someone beyond his reach and without considering all factors.
"Yes" Ya Jun and Ya Kun responded. Ya Kun then remained with Li Sha to take care of Ming Shin while Ya Jun followed behind Li Kui to the chief's place.
" Ju Hai, how old are you this year?"
"I'm ten years old"
"Oh? But you look so skinny. You should eat more" Ya Kun called someone to bring some food and water. Ming Shin until now remembered that his stomach was burning due to hunger and not injury. Soon he finished his meal.
One of the young men came forward and helped him get out of bed and showed him where he can wash himself. Ming Shin thanked him undid his lower ragged robes while putting Xiao Lan on the edge and jumped into the small pool.
He undid all the bandage wrappings and threw them away. He looks completely healed, but still could not figure out the shiny marble inside his head which provides him with a refreshing calm mood.
It's like he can think clearly than before and also notice a any living things around him. For now, he can completely sense a perimeter of 500 meters. But trying now, it seems his sense is obstructed by some wall here.
He carefully washed himself and found that his skeletal bones looked thick and strong by several layers compared to previously. 'So, this is Bone Forging realm?' he was excited. I bet I can defeat the strongest man in Juuko now, except for my father. I still could not guess how strong he is.
A new set of clothing were already placed for him at the end of the pool. He quickly dried himself and put on the clothing. Both the upper garment and lower garment are very rough and coarse. They are not soft at all. But they feel very strong and hard to tear.
Even with a full warrior's might, they cannot be torn. And the food he ate earlier also tasted like hard meat and mostly dried up. Do people here not know proper taste and make everything rough? He slowly made his way out to where Ya Kun and Li Sha were waiting.
What? Both of them gasped, especially Li Sha as if she were seeing a living doll. Ming Shin seems to have so tender and soft skin with bright white jade luster. Together with the robes, his demeanor was that of a noble son, not that of a stranded rag doll.
He was soon escorted by them to the main hall where all the important people where they discussing something important and serious issue. All of this was just blown away when Ming Shin just entered.
He felt like a young tender women spotted by some heavy breathing middle aged men. This only made him aware to escape from this place as soon as possible.
'