(Part 5)
Thunder struck over their heads. Xiao yin too stared at them, his expression turning disgusted as if he'd seen something horrible. Shijei's paintbrush had already fallen to the ground with a plop! Xianwu forced a laugh "Haha… that's what I've been trying to tell you…" she finally completed her incomplete sentence. Senlin with a crack of her fingers asked "What is he doing here till now? Hun?" Xianwu felt suppressed by her devilish aura.
"Tch! Sister, why did your lackeys come here again?" Xiao yin asked glancing at them with disgust. Shijei picking up the brush asked "Xianwu, would you mind explaining?" Even though his voice was polite, his expression changed the whole mood. "Senlin, Shijei, I was taking Xiao yin with me since he has long vacations. Last time I also left him at home. If I leave him at home for too long I might be worried. Moreover, Xiao yin knows a lot about the Silent city and the forest of no return. He might be a big help." she explained. Senlin smirked veins bulging on her forehead "Oh right… it's a perfect opportunity for me. I don't mind at all~"
Xianwu and Shijei both felt chills crawl down their backs. Of course there was a hidden meaning behind her words, for easily accepting Xiao yin to come with them. Shijei on the other hand started drawing the teleportation array but was not convinced with the idea of taking Xiao yin with them he inquired "So what does he know about the Silent city. Books don't tell everything and what if his bookish knowledge results in us falling into traps. He might just become a baggage for us!"
Xiao yin listening this snickered "Sister, those who are already a baggage dares to call others a baggage. Your lackeys sure have long tongues" Xianwu was enthralled by Xiao yin's way of mocking. "I really don't want to underestimate the replies of kids these days…" she thought awkwardly. Nevertheless, Shijei quiet angered by his words still drew the array.
"Anyway, we would enter the forest of no return first. Due to many rumours of Human eating corpses surrounding there we shouldn't be reckless." Senlin informed. Xianwu before stating asked curiously "Does the emperor knows that you two are here?" the two of them looked at her as Shijei responded "Of course Not! How could we tell anyone? We heard it from Shashou's private communication and rushed here the moment we knew." Xianwu nodded "So no one knows… that's great." She thought.
Xiao yin looked at Xianwu. He wore his outer robe and tightened his waist belt. Xianwu went into the cottage. She looked at the straw hat which hanged at the corner of the nail. Xianwu smiled "I remember I found it in Amian's scarp box, its good I changed the old straws and mended them with new ones in my free time…" Xianwu chuckled slightly. She gently wore it over her head. Fa ling stood up happily. The veil covered the surroundings and the back of her hairs. "With this even Fa ling can be safe, and no one would see you. But, make sure to hide my wings." She reminded as Fa ling nodded with his up and down movement.
Xianwu went back outside, closing the door and locking it she looked behind her. The array was almost complete. "Sister," Xiao yin called. "Hmm?" Xianwu asked. "We would be teleported directly to the forest right? Before we do that we need to be careful. The forest of no return is also known as the 'forest of Evil Reflections. Legends say that, this forest was once a large city which was bestowed with incomparable blessings from the heavens. However, as the time passed by no matter how many blessings they were offered with, they became greedy for more. So the heavens in wrath toppled the whole city upside down in its own ground. The people were never seen, and never known again. It says those people and their livestock became fertiliser for a forest to grow after a hundred years nonetheless, in the meantime the forest also absorbed people resentments turning it into forest of Reflection. Whoever, goes in their dies from the reflection of their own resentments…" he explained.
"Reflection for their own resentments huh…" Xianwu repeated in a light whisper. Senlin snickered. "For a sixteen year old boy, you sure know a lot." She mocked while pasting a talisman over the array. Xiao yin smirked back "Oh really~" he sang while mocking. "Well I don't think that way. It's not that I know a lot, it's just that you don't know anything." Shijei looked at Senlin who was crushing the talisman with her murderous grip, while veins popped on her forehead. Xianwu looked at the three of them with a tiresome expression. "How am I supposed to work with the three of them together…?" she thought exhausted.
Shijei opened the door of the array, inside was pitch black. "Come on! Follow me." He called. Xianwu and Xiao yin were about to walk in when Senlin suddenly in interrupted. "Stop right there!" she ordered. Even Shijei halted to take a look. "What's the matter?" Xianwu asked slightly perplexed. "First Shijei will go in, then Xianwu and then he will follow, lastly I would join." She instructed. Xianwu looked at Xiao yin who stood with his back on the wall and held quite an irritated expression. Shijei sighed as he crossed the array. Xianwu went after and soon Xiao yin passed. Lastly, when Senlin came she closed the array. Her expression seemed to turn more exasperate than before. Confused Xianwu with a smile gently tugged Xiao yin's sleeve, depicting him not to worry.
Looking ahead, the sight seemed enthralling. Large green trees up to a height of mountains stood still. The route up front seemed to darken by the setting sun. Silent eyes of wild beasts crossed Xianwu's eyes and ferocious voices echoed around. The sight was truly one sight great sight of a large forest. Xianwu confirmed "We really are in the forest, right?" she asked.
Twelve hundred years ago when Xianwu defeated the murderous demon at the Silent city, the forest was not this immense the way she was seeing now. It seemed that to reach the end of it they would still need to walk even after teleportation. Senlin replied walking forward "That's right we are in ¾ portion of the forest. The teleportation wasn't able to break through numerous reflections, so we had the choice to teleport only till here. After two hours of walk we might reach the Bridge of forever silence… Don't stop here, we have to get out of here before night falls." Xianwu nodded grabbing Xiao yin's wrist she walked forward.
"The part of the forest coming up ahead might be very dangerous, so be careful. Everyone should stay close. Reflections are created by trees surrounding us. They might be based on one's past experiences or present conditions. No matter what, just remember that everything here is only an illusion. It only creates fear and anger for the people. If anyone faces something like this, be sure to stay really calm." Shijei informed. Xianwu pondered "One's resentments for whom? Did the people here resent the heavens for ending their lives in such a way?"
"Sister." Xiao yin called as Xianwu nodded to him smiling "What is it?" she asked. Xiao yin pointing towards a long tree spoke "Over there, look Nightingales… they're humming together." Over the tree in a nest two nightingales chirped together creating a euphonious melody. Suddenly, Xianwu was reminded of Yeying. "They're beautiful right?" Xiao yin asked. Xianwu answered "Yeah… they are. My favourite and the most beautiful bird." Xiao yin stood stunned for a while "Nightingales… are your favourite bird?" he asked again curiously. Xianwu nodded again. A gleam filled his face "When we go back home, I'll give you one. Okay?" he asked. "Okay…" Xianwu replied back. "What a child…" she thought.