The trio of Zilan, Kifo and Fujo, having learned a lesson proceeded with utmost caution as they traversed the forest.
Under the combination of Kifo and Zilan’s vigilant gazes the group did not come across any other surprises. Instead, they drifted back to their treasure hunter mode.
Occasionally they’d run into other participants, especially the older ones who did not know or just didn’t care for Fujo’s face, and would immediately attack them for their possessions. Unfortunately for them, the young Master’s rage was taken out on them, with assistance from Kifo who’s strikes came from strange yet brilliant and unguardable angles.
Like this, the group slowly moved deeper into the red forest.
“Ha, we’ve already got enough to pass the first test.” Laughed Fujo. “Too bad, time is moving too slowly. It’s still a few hours before sunset marking the end of the test.”
Kifo too was pleased with their progress but upon hearing Fujo’s final statement, he couldn’t help but lament.
“Two lazy people brought together by fate. Does this mean that in the future I will be the one made to work hard. Sigh~ I’m not a donkey or a horse, this is too messed up.”
Zilan on the other hand wasn’t paying attention to the two, he was instead busy pondering on something when suddenly, his senses picked up on signs of fierce combat in the distance.
“Kifo, what’s going on to the North of us?” asked Zilan.
Kifo quickly moved his eyes in the direction Zilan was pointing to, before activating his Feline perception.
“There are two groups of people fighting each other, around thirty in total. I can’t tell what they’re battling for but a large crowd has gathered there to watch it. It’s right at the edge of the inner red forest. The pressure there must be crazy.”
Zilan was just about to propose avoiding the whole thing when Kifo quickly followed up by saying,
“Oh! That Mnono and Ker are actually among the group of people being attacked. Hehe, from their faces it looks like they’re not doing too good. Outnumbered and outmatched, it’s only a matter of time before they’re defeated.”
Kifo’s analysis was spot on leading Zilan to raise his eyebrows and give an inward thumbs up. His mind did not change though, he still wished to avoid the whole thing but unfortunately, he was unable to voice his thoughts yet again.
“Let’s go take a look.” Said Fujo, a dangerous light glowing in his eyes.
“Haha, I wonder what the hell they obtained to cause such a big event to unfold.” Smiled Kifo.
Feeling a headache coming on, Zilan could only sigh as he swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue.
He could do nothing to stop the two eager people who wished to ‘kick their enemies while they were down’.
………………
A few moments later and the trio arrived at a part of the red forest that was particularly flourishing. The trees were much taller and the pressure also went up a notch, to the point that even Zilan was burdened by it.
Stabilising themselves, they then made their way towards a place where dozens of people were amusedly watching two groups of people battle. Some of them were stealthy about it scattering and hiding behind cover as they observed but others who were confident in themselves stood upfront, playfully laughing and throwing out remarks.
“Old Fang, these kids from the Sumu Alliance are really interesting. They gathered a lot of people in order to enter that treasure pit but after obtaining a lot of good things, they actually tried to cheat that Mad man Mchafu and his lackeys when it came to dividing the loot.”
“Hahaha! Indeed these idiots have no idea that Mchafu values his life more than anything else. He even brought all those people to apply for fire guardian spots for the sole purpose of helping him pass the first test. Even if their backgrounds were deeper, Mchafu still wouldn’t hesitate to fight with anyone who messed with his life.” Laughed an old man in clean white robes giving off a scholarly air.
“It’s still impressive though the amount of people who’ve gathered to watch them. Say, Old Fang are you going to try and seize their spoils after they’ve exhausted each other?”
“Hehe, this old man has no desire to partake. These things are better left to the young and hot blooded. Why? Will you give it a go?”
“How could I? I’m just here to watch the fun.” Laughed the twenty something year old dog man.
……………………………………
It was at this moment that a dark skinned broad chested bore-like man who had large, bulging muscles, that exceeded the size of his own head roared towards Mnono, Ker and their companions. His eyes were bloodshot from anger and the wisps of grey hair on his chin violently swayed betraying his robust appearance, giving away his age.
“So you think that I’m just someone who can be pushed around with a mere mention of your Sumu Alliance? Hmph! Hand over all that belongs to me and I’ll spare you otherwise, you can forget about walking out of this place with your limbs intact.”
“Yo..you..wouldn’t dare.” Bitter, Mnono tried to threaten Mchafu one last time however, before he could spout his nonsense he saw a palm moving extremely quickly towards him.
“PAP!”
The palm connected perfectly with his fatty cheeks leaving a deep red palm print as he was mercilessly flung into the air. Three surprisingly impressive somersaults later and with a thud Mnono landed on the ground spitting out a mouthful of blood in the process.
His eyes flashed through the gathered crowd fearfully examining the ‘vultures’ among them. Even if he got through the mad Mchafu which wasn’t very likely, an even more impressive replacement would probably appear.
“Eh?”
Not too far away, a beacon of hope in the form a young Fujo suddenly came into his view.
“Eldest Brother, please help me! I’m being wrongly accused.” He cried out in the most pitiful voice he could muster even going as far as to bite his own lip so that more blood could flow out.
The entire crowd quickly followed Mnono’s gaze. As soon as they noticed Fujo, even the brave ones couldn’t help but frown. Dealing with Mnono wasn’t too difficult however, Fujo’s importance to his family was something most of them were aware of.
If he stood in their way, face needed to be given.
“Hmph!”
A cold snort suddenly resounded throughout the area, originating from Fujo.
“Call me your brother again and see if I don’t dare to deal with you myself.”
These words shocked many including Mchafu but this only lasted an instant before a sigh of relief escaped from his lips.
Even a mad person was aware of the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth.
He then furiously glared at Mnono and shouted,
“Are you taking my things out or not?”
Seeing his final branch of hope broken, Mnono unwillingly pulled out a voidless sack and threw it towards Mchafu.
“With this we’re done.” Declared Mnono as he stood up to move away.
Unfortunately, before he, Ker and the underlings he’d picked up along the way could take another step to leave, Mchafu’s lackeys quickly surrounded them.
“Break an arm and a leg, then you can leave. Some of my people died inside the pit, even though it’s just a small sacrifice, I’ll still offer it to them.” The mad boar’s emotional words came quickly after, dumbfounding Mnono.
“Are you crazy? If you go too far, do you truly believe my Sumu Alliance will let you off?” This time it was Ker who cursed out loudly.
His words though, as if hitting against a brick wall did nothing except for causing Mchafu’s already bloodshot eyes to further redden.
Stuck in his stupor, a rather annoying sound of someone laughing abruptly entered Mnono’s ears. He looked towards its origin only to cause his eyes to narrow and a viscious smile to form on his face.
“You bastard Half Breed and your f****** friend can go to hell.” Barked Mnono.
He then pointed towards them, sucked in a deep breath before shouting out.
“THAT MOTHERFU**ER STOLE MY FIVE STAR FRUIT!”
The entire crowd suddenly went silent to the point that if a pin dropped, the sound would still be perfectly audible.
Old Fang as well as the middle aged man were also among those whose necks were facing Zilan’s direction all intensely staring at him.
“Hahaha, a five star fruit! If I can get it, first place isn’t a dream. Didn’t those Elders say that great rewards would be given this time.” An excited cry from somewhere within the forest caught many people’s attention.
“Oh! It’s in the hands of a Half Breed? Hehe, in which world does scum like them deserve to hold onto such an earth shaking treasure.” Sneered another person as he slowly exited from his hiding spot.
Soon many people were doing the same and if one looked from above they’d notice that Zilan, Kifo and Fujo were being slowly surrounded.
“What are you people doing?” asked Fujo as he narrowed his eyes.
Everyone immediately stopped their movements but the greed within their eyes did not dissipate.
“Fujo, step aside, there’s no point in protecting just an interesting play thing.” A thin young man who had features similar to those of a tiger albeit quite strange slowly moved towards Fujo. His fur was completely green with orange stripes that exuded an ominous air leaking from him.
“Chui? If you want to meddle in my business, the price won’t be small.” A trace of fear that quickly disappeared flashed in the deepest recesses of Fujo’s eyes as he spoke.
Zilan noticed this and thus paid more attention to this mysterious Chui.
“Hehe, tell you what, hand over the five star fruit and I will immediately disappear otherwise…._”
“Otherwise what?” With a frown, Zilan suddenly interjected.
“Ho! Fujo you haven’t trained your pet well I see. No matter, if you don’t surrender the fruit, I will cripple your cultivation and casually retrieve my five star fruit.” A cold light flickered in his eyes as he disgustingly looked at Zilan.
*Tak*
A switch suddenly flipped in Zilan’s mind as a memory of cold, disgust filled eyes looking down at him suddenly surfaced.
“I see, Kifo, would you like to know something about me?” Ignoring everyone Zilan whose body was visibly shuddering started conversing with Kifo.
“In this life I will never care about those who wish to take my life as there will be too many to count, I will never stoop to the level of the powerless who will long to take my life, dreaming about it every night. If they really want to take it, then if they’re strong enough, they can come forward and try. However, for those who even think or dream about trying to cripple me, those people are the ones I will give my care.”
He then looked at Chui who he’d never seen before yet harboured such vicious intent towards him and smiled.
“I’ll grant you your wish then. Since you desire the Nine Heaven Dew fruit I shall give it to you.” Laughed Zilan.
An instant later and the fruit was now in his left hand. With a minute and completely indiscernible movement of his nails, Zilan carefully drew a single inscription character.
However, the instant he began to carve it unnoticeable to many, dark clouds started to gather in the sky above. Fortunately, he did not know the whole inscription and only a single character otherwise the calamity that would occur would literally shock the world.
After drawing the inscription, with a flick of his fingers Zilan unexpectedly threw the fruit towards Chui who immediately caught it. He was just about to turn to attack Zilan for spouting stupidity before him when he shockingly looked at his hands and found that the fruit was nowhere to be found.
Zilan smiled evilly, his mind was already in a predatory state and this time he did not fight it.
“For those who wish to cripple me, bring a god, I’ll slay a god, bring a Heavenly King and I’ll turn him to ash. For those who bar my path, I’ll use their blood to soak it red.” These were his inner most thoughts as well as his conviction.
He then looked towards Mnono and smiled,
“I told to use your brain the next time we meet but it looks like my advice was a complete waste of time.”
………………………………
All of this may seem to have taken a long time to play out but in actuality, only a few seconds had passed from the threat of crippling to the passing of the fruit.
