1 Qin Yang
Archers leaned against the watchtowers, watching the purple gasses float around the bamboo barricades. There they discovered a hunter walking over the borders' safezone and onto the purple grasses - Lifting his feet, lifting it back, but ended stepping in.
The wardens watched the man blend in the purple gasses. Sigh. Yet another fool.
"Do we wait?" asked a recruit.
"Uh, no. He'll never return. List him."
"Name?"
"Dead tells no name."
"Uh, got it." He yanked his pen behind his ear and unfolded the scroll placed on the table. He jotted "2022" below "2021", adding descriptions beneath it.
[Case #2021
Description: A 3-star hunter manage to slip out of the evil hands of the Nefarious organization, but was forced to enter the forbidden zone. Assumed dead.
Case #2022
Description: Unknown, odds a hunter. Entered the mist intentionally. Assumed dead.]
Done.
The recruit folded the scroll and grabbed the bow across the table and resumed looking for god damn monsters over the forbidden zone... ...
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Moonlight covered the skies and darkened the outside world. An archer crouched onto the tree, his figure barely visible than the cluster of trees about. His eyes wide and ears focus on the bow upon his hand.
Should I draw? Fine, let's test it.
He leaned closer to the bow, aiming at the bush beside the lake. The string loosened and the arrow seared, darting in like brandished claws. A shadow crawled out of the bush and leaped to the air, but the arrow showed no mercy as shriek then thump sputtered — The arrow pierced the rabbit.
The young man lowered the bow and dropped down. He approached the prey, the arrow penetrated its stomach, an inch away from the heart.
"..."
Qin Yang is a 2-star hunter with a sense of sight and hearing enhanced. In the kingdom that lacked resources, his accomplishment was far better than his peers but fell short compared to the geniuses. Hunting weak beasts such as rabbits, mutated dogs, and low-level purple beasts would be his current limitation.
He had enhanced two of his sense five days ago and his shooting range increased, a radius of a hundred and fifty meters.
"Two-star sense enhancement is far from enough. To learn forbidden arts, one has to enhance three out of five senses. If I fail to attain 3-star by the end of Spring, I'll just forget participating."
The archer gazed the far distance - beyond the borderline, the dead of the night, purple mists enveloped the woodlands like looming shadows.
"How I wish I can traverse the purple mist."
God knows how long those purple mists existed. Whoever attempted to set foot meet their ends. None make it out alive.
Qin Yang pulled the arrow out and wiped it with a handkerchief. He looked at the corpse, blood spurted out from its pores and sighed.
Everyone is a predator but it depends on the prey. Like the purple beast, in its eyes, everyone is nourishment. But for the rabbit? It was the opposite.
The dismal archer carried the corpse near the lake, dug out a hole, and rested the body inside.
"May your soul rest in peace. And I'm sorry."
Then he covered the hole and went to the tree he'd been earlier. His attention was soon directed on the bow at his lap.
"Shooting 150m radius using the single function isn't that hard, but my wrist strength can't withstand the burden of multiple function shoot...Do I need to enhance my touch?"
A good idea. With enhanced touch, my strength will rise. Multiple function shot, drawing three arrows with precise accuracy is gonna be a piece of cake.
"I'll go by that."
His choice ain't that bad. Sense of touch increased his strength up to 500 jin. The only problem is the enhancement part was bound to be a thorny path. He had to suffer numerous pain before he would attain 3-star sense enhancement.
"Bear the pain!" Qin Yang exclaimed, looking at the moon turning transparent. The sky flashed a bright light as if morning arrives.
"New day, a new beginning."
Qin Yang hummed, descending the tree. Then pat the dust off coating his white clothes and sauntered. A footstep rustled out of the grasses and the Green Mountain welcomed an obese youngster.
Qin Yang sized the unexpected newcomer, up and down. His eyes widened and walked over. "Jiang Tian!"
Jiang Tian looked where the voice came from and breathed in relief. "F*ck why are you always practicing here. Aren't you afraid of assassination?"
"They aren't stupid enough to approach Green Mountain," Qin Yang snorted. "Why are you here?"
"Today's the registration day, you cultivation maniac!"
"Uh, today's the day?" Qin Yang smacked his forehead.
Jiang Tian rolled his eyes and said, "So what's up, wanna try your luck? Who knows you might gain a spot."
Nah, probably not. Seven Strife Academy only hands the spot for the Immortal Lands to the most exceptional student in the Holy Land Meets. Students had long eyed it, including those at 3-star and 4-stars. Qin Yang only wished to partake, after all, it was a grand event that happened once every decade.
"Let's go register. You should participate as well,"
Qin Yang said and walked past Jiang Tian.
"Nah, I'm good." Jiang Tian followed and clasped his hand. "Oh right, I'll bring you somewhere after you registered."
"F*ck off! Last time my ears were almost torn, it still hurts! You better quit before father-in-law erupted."
If Jiang Tian's addiction to lust compared to heaven, they would be equal. Had not the Emperor forbade princes to have children other than their wives, who knows how many women asking support for their child would complain against this fatty.
"He won't. And I admit it was my fault last time. I'd never expect that crazy girl to stalk us. But I promise you, today's different!"
"You better not provoke Lu'er, she'd skin you alive." Qin Yang nodded and looked. "So what's the difference?"
Jiang Tian blocked the road and raised his hand. "Ancient relics."
Qin Yang's eyes brightened. Then it dimmed. "Lies."
"I'm not." Jiang Tian shrugged. "Emperor father permitted me to visit the ancestral mausoleum and I reaped good stuff there. I planned to unbox it, but I figured it'd be better with you around."
Qin Yang paused. Royal Family's ancestral mausoleum had a winding history dating back to the dark ages. It would be nice to discover some ancient relics there.
"Alright, I'll go."
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"Name?"
" Qin Yang."
"Uhu, and cultivation?"
"2-star sense enhancement."
"Aight, you're registered." said the young lady behind the wooden board. "Here's your plate number."
Qin Yang took the token from the lady's hand and noticed the '1034'. Then he nodded and turned. "You're not participating?"
"Nope," said Jiang Tian, shaking his head.
"You wouldn't consider Your Royal Highness?" The young registrar persuaded, somehow surprise Jiang Tian wouldn't participate in a decade event despite being a prince.
"Ehem, not a chance my lady. I prefer a solitary life devoid of conflict," said Jiang Tian, stepping closer to the lady. "Life is interesting with beauties all 'round. A fine lady like you, I wonder how may I address you?"
"Maybe next time, I still have something to do." The flustered registrar forced a smile and bowed before leaving Qin Yang and Jiang Tian, and went to entertain the other students who came to register.
The disappointed fatty sighed watching the beautiful lady leave. Qin Yang couldn't help but laugh. "This is the first time you tasted defeat. A saying goes, not every girl prefers a prince!"
"Stop teasing me, will ya?" grumbled Jiang Tian, still annoyed he was rejected. Then he remembered. "Oh right, let's go!"
The eager fatty pulled Qin Yang out of the registration hall and descended onto the mountains. They both were excited, somehow impatient, to see the remains of the ancient relics. By the time they realized, they already left the Seven Strife Academy's gates and appeared in the lively street.
Qin Yang and Jiang Tian walked side by side, dressed in elegant clothes. Everyone noticed them but did not dare to breathe as these two youngsters swagger away. Hell they cared for face, as long as they don't provoke these two influential youngsters, their lives won't be over.
As the son of the emperor and son of a marquis talked, a commotion that could hardly be ignored was playing in front where a crowd - consisting of soldiers from the Military Academy and students of Seven Strife Academy - gathered.
"Offending the son of General Zhou, this guy's life is over."
"Sigh. Zhou Lin is too overbearing. The guy already apologizes, but he's not letting him off. Is he planning to murder in the broad daylight?"
"I'm not too sure, but that's likely."
Qin Yang frowned and headed there to see. The crowd noticed him and the fatty next to him and hurriedly carved a path, opening a wretched scene. A middle-aged man with messy hair, bruises over his bloody face, and eyes shuddering with tears knelt in the ground, completely unconscious. Two young men stood beside him; one was indifferent. The other was arrogant, spitting saliva everywhere. Truly disturbing scenery.
"Eh, isn't that Sister Evergreen's husband?" Jiang Tian's eyes widened as though he couldn't believe he seeing. Neither did Qin Yang believe it at first glance, but as they went closer, sure enough, they were not mistaken.
"Brother Wu!"
Qin Yang ran and supported the pitiful man, proving his condition. He only calmed down when he was sure the man's life wasn't endangered to the point of death. Then he stood up and glanced at the suspects who had caused this whole fiasco. Only then did he realize they were familiar.
His brows creased. Yet before his mouth opened, the fatty next to him already erupted like a flaming ball. "Zhou Lin, you better give us sufficient explanation! This time, it's hard if you can escape an inevitable death!"
The arrogant youngster frowned, somehow troubled why this fella interfered with his business. Though displeased, he did not dare to escalate the conflict into the bigger stage, so he said with a fawn on his face, "Is there a misunderstanding here, Your Highness?"
"This man is someone I know, we even had drunk a few days ago. Beating him is equivalent to slapping the face of a prince!" said Jiang Tian, pointing his hand down. "If you kneel, apologize to him, I might consider your forgiveness. Reckless fool."
The arrogant youngster was displeased and turned. His friend only smiled playfully, not bothering to help at all. He felt mocked and humiliated. His fawning face vanished and what replaced was coldness. "How dare a useless prince like you dare to make me kneel? Have you forgotten how my father contributed to the kingdom? An insignificant soldier isn't enough to humiliate a successor, don't you think you are being overly arrogant?!"
"Mind you, second son," said Qin Yang, looking at him with a sneer. "I'll make sure to bring this up to father. Your crimes can't be ignored, best be prepared for it."
The crowd flowed in a discussion. They were startled that the small commotion would escalate onto this stage, quite exciting.
Zhou Lin, the arrogant youngster, yet another frown on his face. Then he glanced at his friend, but the latter still had no intention to help. He felt slightly regretful, but his pride won't allow him to settle this matter in a humiliating manner. Are they dreaming for him to kneel? Tsk.
"Everyone's afraid of Marquis Qin, but sadly I'm not one of them." General Zhou was under Marquis Yi, and Zhou Lin was aware of that. "Instead of crying in front of your father, why don't we spice it up with a sparring match."
The crowd held their breath, excited to hear what would Qin Yang's respond. The low-key son of Marquis Qin had not shown his prowess once - this battle would be quite interesting. They expected it to happen.
"What do you think, Brother Qin?" Jiang Tian wasn't sure of Qin Yang's decision and hesitated. "You just entered 2-star, don't forget."
"I know," said Qin Yang, a frown on his face. If he refuse, not only everyone would label him as afraid, but they would also think Marquis Qin raised a scaredy-cat. Refusing means damaging his father's reputation. Sure he didn't want to see that happen.
"And the bet?"
Zhou Lin tapped his left's pointy finger, a dark, blue ring curled in it. Qin Yang's eyes shone. A spatial ring!
"Then I'll bet this," Qin Yang pointed at the bow in his back and said, "The time will be a week from now. Of course, you can pretend not to hear it if you're afraid."
"Sky Bamboo Bow? That settled then."
Zhou Lin snorted but was in relief inside. He looked at his friend, still feeling displeased, and walked away, not sparing a glance at the unconscious man who had been carried by Jiang Tian and a few men.
