Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Shitang Town (Part One)
“There is no need to go. The ‘Nether King’ will not wait around for you to return and capture him. Remember my words: henceforth, you must remain calm when facing any situation. I will forgive you for this incident; after all, the ‘Nether King’ has always been your leader, so it was only natural that you felt some hesitation toward him. However, should similar oversights occur during future missions, you ought to understand clearly what consequences will follow.”
It seemed that the Master had no intention of punishing them. Mie Yi’s heart swelled with joy, and he replied respectfully, “Yes, Master. Thank you for your mercy.” The nine survivors of the Annihilation Squad simultaneously knelt on the ground, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Very well, you may leave now. From this moment on, none of you are to set foot outside headquarters for an entire year. Handle your public identities with plausible explanations as you see fit. With the ‘King of Hades’ now gone, our organization urgently needs to strengthen its capabilities. You must all dedicate yourselves to rigorous cultivation. Do you understand? Mie Yi, you will temporarily assume the King of Hades’ position as leader of the Annihilation Squad. Should any changes arise in the future, I will inform you accordingly.”
“Yes, Master,” the nine members of the Annihilation Squad responded in unison. After bowing respectfully toward the shadows, they withdrew from the room.
Silence once again filled the chamber. After a long pause, a chilling voice emerged from the darkness: “Master, this seems to violate our rules. Are you truly letting Mie Yi and the others off so easily?”
A ethereal voice spoke: “You do not understand. The Annihilation Squad has rendered tremendous service to our organization, and now is precisely the time when we need capable hands. Do you not realize how much effort it takes to cultivate an assassin of the Annihilation level? Although the nine of them, even combined, cannot compare to ‘Hades,’ hailed as the continent’s foremost assassin, they are nonetheless fully capable of assassinating high-ranking mages. ‘Hades’ was originally my most prized asset; alas, he still failed to reach the highest realm of an assassin—being devoid of emotion and desire. Transmit my orders: offer a substantial reward to the Thieves’ Guild to locate ‘Hades.’ We must see him alive or recover his corpse. Simultaneously, issue my Nine-Star Annihilation Decree, commanding the Prime Annihilation Squad to stand ready. The moment ‘Hades’ is located, deploy immediately and leave no survivors. ‘Hades,’ poisoned by the Peerless Sacred Water, no longer holds any value to us.”
“Yes, Master.” In the dark chamber, a flash of crimson light appeared and vanished.
The master murmured to himself, “Oh, King of the Underworld! If you wish to contend with me, you still fall far short.”
A month after Owen and A-Dai had left the Forest of Illusions, the Pyromancer Goris returned. His heart weighed heavily; time was running out. Even after three months of deep contemplation, he still could not bring himself to be utterly ruthless. Accustomed to solitude, his life had gained many colors since A-Dai’s arrival. The boy’s kindness and simplicity had deeply touched his heart. Yet the experiment must proceed; it was a desire decades in the making that he could not abandon. Burdened by this inner conflict, he had returned. In one more month, it would be April of the Sacred Year 989. According to Goris’s calculations, that would mark the once-in-a-millennium opportunity. During this final month, he must steel his heart if he hoped to successfully fulfill his long-cherished wish.
“A-Dai, A-Dai, I’m back!” Goris called out loudly toward the wooden cabin. Though unwilling to admit it even to himself, he indeed missed A-Dai greatly.
Several calls went unanswered, startling Goris. He hurried into the wooden cabin where A-Dai lived. Everything remained exactly as he had left it; nothing had changed. Yet A-Dai was gone. Walking to the bed, he tossed aside a stone and picked up two letters lying there. An ominous feeling flooded his heart. Eagerly, he tore open one envelope. The bold, sweeping handwriting on the paper clearly could not have been written by A-Dai.
“Brother Glis, greetings. Although we have never met in person, our spirits have long been acquainted. Two days ago, I was pursued by assassins and fled to this place; fortunately, your disciple saved me, for which I am deeply grateful. I greatly admire your research, Brother. A Dai used the methods you developed to temporarily suppress the deadly poison of the Wuer Holy Water. Suddenly, I discovered an extraordinarily powerful life force within A Dai, making him highly suitable to learn my martial arts. Since my own power has greatly diminished, and driven by the imperative to avenge the blood-soaked hatred I bear, I had no choice but to coerce your disciple A Dai into leaving me by threatening your life. Once A Dai has mastered my skills, I will surely release him to return and reunite with you, serving at your side. Concerned that you might worry, I leave this letter specially; there is no need for alarm. Please treat him well. I hope for your understanding.” The letter concluded with the signature: “Pluto bows respectfully.”
Glis’s hands began to tremble. Pluto, Pluto—even though he rarely involved himself in worldly affairs, this name was extremely familiar to him. It belonged to the continent’s number one assassin, who rose to fame thirty years ago, having killed countless people throughout his life without ever failing. With his Pluto Sword, he defeated masters across the land. The description “When Pluto flashes once, heaven and earth shake; when Pluto flashes again, gods and ghosts are startled” was not exaggeration in the least. No one could ever escape his pursuit. He was the ace assassin of the Assassins’ Guild, having already reached the level of an Annihilator thirty years ago.
“Him? How could it be him? A Dai has been taken away by ‘Pluto’.” In Glis’s heart, ‘Pluto’ was undoubtedly a far more evil person than himself. A feeling of deep worry filled his chest. Countless questions flashed through Glis’s mind: Why would Pluto come here? It was not strange that he was being hunted down; after all, having killed so many people, he must have enemies everywhere. But who could possibly have poisoned him with the deadly Wuer Holy Water? As an assassin, his vigilance should have been paramount. Moreover, why did he abduct A Dai? Judging from what he wrote in the letter, he seemed to harbor no ill will toward A Dai; on the contrary, he appeared prepared to transmit all his knowledge and skills to him. At this moment, Glis’s heart was filled with concern for A Dai’s safety, so much so that he didn’t even consider that with A Dai gone, his experiments could no longer continue.
Amidst overwhelming confusion, Golis opened another letter. At a glance, he recognized the crooked handwriting as A-Dai’s. Upon careful scrutiny, the contents finally became clear. The letter roughly read: “Teacher, it’s me, A-Dai! Yesterday I saved someone, but he insisted on taking me away, saying he wanted to teach me some martial arts. I really don’t want to go! Teacher, I truly don’t want to leave! A-Dai wishes to stay with you; you are the person in this world who has treated me best. However, the one I rescued said that if I didn’t go with him, he would kill you. Although A-Dai doesn’t wish to leave his teacher, A-Dai even less wishes to watch his teacher die. Teacher, A-Dai truly likes you very much. For your safety, A-Dai can only go with him. Teacher, your formula for suppressing the Wu-Er Holy Water succeeded; the person I saved is temporarily out of life-threatening danger. Teacher, once, when you weren’t paying attention, I used a little of your tin-silver alloy and kept one of the steamed buns you brought back last time. Whenever I miss you, I look at it. Teacher, if you ever miss A-Dai, just call my name loudly; A-Dai will definitely hear you. Teacher, that person said that after I learn his skills, he will let me return. You must take good care of your health. When A-Dai returns, I will surely serve you well. Teacher, I have washed all your clothes; they are in your cupboard. I used some of your materials when saving that person; please forgive me. When conducting experiments, please remember to eat some fruit. You are getting older; you cannot survive without proper meals. Teacher, I am leaving now. Wait for me; you must wait for A-Dai to return. When I come back, you must teach me magic again! Teacher, goodbye. A-Dai is departing; please take care of your health.” On the last line of the letter paper was written: “Forever and always thinking of you, A-Dai.” Several creases marked the letter paper, traces of where tears had dampened it. Golis naturally understood; these were the tears A-Dai shed before departing. Although the letter contained many awkward phrases, every single address of “Teacher” and every word between the lines overflowed with A-Dai’s endless longing for him.
The letter paper drifted gently from his hand to the floor, while two streams of clear tears flowed down his cheeks. He had never imagined that the simple-minded boy A-Dai, who had spent less than a year with him, could harbor such deep affection for him. The tears Golis shed were tears of regret. In this moment, it seemed his lifelong aspiration no longer mattered. Suddenly, he rushed outside, shouting loudly: “A-Dai, come back! Hurry back! Teacher will teach you magic, teach you alchemy! Come back quickly! Teacher won’t use you for experiments anymore!” He regretted it; his heart truly ached with remorse. Why did he have to leave this place? Why was he so selfish? What a wonderful child A-Dai was! Throughout Golis’s entire life, no one had ever treated him with such genuine sincerity.
Golis sat collapsed on the ground, tears streaming freely from his aged eyes. He sat precisely where A-Dai waited for him every day. For an entire day, Golis did not move. The surroundings remained shrouded in mist as usual. During this day, Golis thought of many, many things. Only when night fell did he support himself against the wooden wall behind him and rise to his feet. His stiff body made him appear even more elderly. “A-Dai, you must return quickly! Teacher has made a decision. When you come back, you will truly be my student.” Deep within Golis’s heart lay immense pain; he had never felt such intensely powerful longing, not even for his own younger brother. “Teacher gave you too little. As long as you return, you will surely see everything Teacher has done for you.”
Golis turned around and stumbled slowly into the wooden house, his lonely silhouette appearing so frail. This old man, who had devoted his entire life to alchemy, had finally understood the true meaning of emotion.
After a month of arduous trekking from the westernmost tip of the continent, Owen and Adai finally arrived at Shitang Town, a coastal settlement in the far east of the Suoyu Federation. This town belongs to the Xibo people, the weakest among the six major races of the Suoyu Federation. During this month, Owen purchased a fine steed, handling nearly everything while mounted; they traveled by day and rested by night, deliberately choosing remote backroads. Each time they passed through a city, Owen would exchange his horse for a fresh one. Even so, covering a distance equivalent to crossing the entire continent, it still took them more than thirty days to reach their destination.
The six races of the Suo Domain Federation are, first and foremost, the most powerful nomadic people, the Yalian tribe. Composed entirely of black-skinned peoples, who, despite facing widespread discrimination from other races across the continent, undeniably possess the strongest physiques and unyielding perseverance. As a nomadic nation, they command the continent’s most formidable cavalry. The Yalian tribe occupies nearly one-third of the federation’s plains and holds a dominant position within the federation. Their territory lies in the federation’s far west, bordering the Tianjin Empire to the north, the Huasheng Empire to the south, and the Holy See at its westernmost point. To the southeast of the Yalian tribe lies the Tianyuan tribe, which shares a border only with the Huasheng Empire. In reality, this region comprises numerous minority races; precisely because of this diversity, they regard themselves as a microcosm of the entire continent and named their race after the continent itself—Tianyuan. The region inhabited by the Tianyuan tribe is arguably the most topographically complex area on the continent, devoid of plains and dominated instead by rolling hills and vast forests. The dwarves, elves, winged humans, and half-orcs living here have always sought peace and lived tranquil lives, yet this does not mean they are helpless before others. An allied force composed of forging-expert dwarves, naturally gifted elven archers, winged humans capable of high-speed flight, and immensely powerful half-orcs undoubtedly constitutes the elite forces of the Suo Domain Federation. Collectively known as the Tianyuan tribe, major affairs within their community are resolved through joint consultation among these four races. To the northeast of the Yalian tribe resides the Yajin tribe, predominantly composed of white-skinned peoples. Most of their ancestors migrated from the Tianjin Empire and subsequently intermarried with other races of the Suo Domain Federation; over generations of development, they eventually formed their current population scale. Within the Yajin territory, cities stand densely packed much like in the Tianjin Empire, making them the most developed race in the Suo Domain Federation. Directly east of the Yalian tribe lies the Puyan tribe, the second-largest race in the Suo Domain Federation. The Puyan are a mysterious people who rarely communicate with other races; unless major events occur within the federation, they generally live self-sufficient lives. Their abundant production of weaponry serves as their primary source of economic income. North of the Puyan tribe dwells the Hongju tribe, known for their fierce customs and distinctive red hair. The Hongju tribe is the birthplace of the Mercenary Guild; the Red Hurricane Mercenary Group, the largest mercenary organization on the continent, consists entirely of Hongju people. At the federation’s easternmost extremity, which also marks the continent’s easternmost point, lies the Xibo tribe, where Owen and Adai have arrived. The Xibo are a simple and kind-hearted small tribe whose members primarily make their living through fishing. Their greatest asset is a fleet capable of rivaling any nation on the continent. Among the six major races of the Suo Domain Federation, only the Xibo rely on support from other races; otherwise, given their limited strength, they could not sustain such a massive fleet. Consequently, members of other Suo Domain races frequently appear within Xibo territory.

Shitang Town (Part Two)
Gazing upon the endless sea, Owen turned to Adai and said, “From now on, we shall live here. Do you know what place this is?”
Adai shook his head and replied, “I don’t know.” During this period, he had remained unusually silent. When Owen rode horseback carrying him, Adai would sit atop the horse lost in thought. Despite suffering whole-body soreness by day’s end, he never complained. Unless Owen asked him something, he rarely initiated conversation. Owen also noticed that Adai had become much more withdrawn compared to when they first met; naturally, he understood the reason behind this change. Yet he had never questioned Adai about it, believing that given some time, Adai would surely adapt to life here.
Shitang Town is one of dozens of coastal towns inhabited by the Xibo people. Many of the Xibo here are immigrants from the Huasheng Empire, so individuals with black hair and dark eyes like Adai are commonplace. Upon arriving here, Adai no longer stands out as he did in the Tianjin Empire; this is the only place that brings him some comfort.
Throughout their journey, Owen has taken meticulous care of Adai. To enable Adai to endure long hours on horseback, Owen specially purchased a thick, soft cushion. Although Adai always responded by shaking his head, Owen would almost daily ask him with concern whether he was tired, hungry, or anything else. Though Adai was no longer as silent as when he first left the Illusionary Forest, a deep rift still remained between him and Owen.
When Owen and Adai entered Shitang Town, it was broad daylight. Most of the village’s able-bodied men were either out at sea fishing or working at the Xibo shipyards, leaving behind only the elderly, children, and women. Along the town’s narrow paths, one could occasionally see several women sitting together washing clothes, while simply dressed children played merrily with one another.
To avoid frightening the villagers and provoking hostility, Owen had hidden his broadsword among a cluster of coastal rocks before entering the village, changed into ordinary commoner’s clothing, and sold their horse. Even so, their two unfamiliar faces still aroused suspicion among the locals. A man in his fifties, resembling a village constable, approached them and asked puzzledly, “You’re not from around here, are you? What brings you to this place?” The language of the Suoyu Federation differs from that of the Tianjin region; even within the Suoyu Federation itself, the six major races each possess distinct accents. Without great familiarity, distinguishing them is difficult. Along the road, Owen taught Adai some strangely pronounced words every day, explaining them tirelessly. Due to his slow comprehension, Adai had only managed to learn a few simple phrases. It was only now that Adai realized what Owen had been teaching him was precisely the local dialect. He barely understood the man’s question.
A smile graced Owen’s face as he spoke in the purest Xibo-Sovian Federation tongue: “Hello, I was actually born right here; I’ve just been away from home for a long time and haven’t returned until now.”
Hearing his own language spoken, the other man visibly relaxed and asked, “Are you from the town? I don’t recall seeing you before.”
Owen looked the man up and down, then suddenly exclaimed with delight, “Ah! Could you be one of the Sheer brothers?”
Sheer froze. “How do you know my name is Sheer? Who exactly are you? I have no recollection of you at all.”
“Shi’er, it’s really you! I’m Owen! Don’t you recognize me? It’s been nearly fifty years since I left. Have you forgotten when we used to pee in the mud together as children? We even got beaten up for that back then,” Owen said excitedly.
Shi’er stared at Owen in stunned silence for a long moment before finally speaking, “You… you really are Big Brother Owen? But… but how can you be so young?”
Owen rolled up his right sleeve, revealing a fair-skinned arm bearing a distinct dark purple crescent-shaped scar. “Look, this is from when I saved you and got scraped by the ship’s anchor. Don’t you remember?” he said.
A-Dai stood nearby, staring blankly at Owen and Shi’er. Since they were speaking very quickly, A-Dai could barely make out only a few words.
Seir grabbed Owen’s arm, took a careful look, and exclaimed, “Ah! You really are Big Brother Owen. If it weren’t for you back then, I would have long since perished in the sea. But Big Brother, how is it that you still look so young? I recall you being about two years older than me. I am fifty-six this year; you were born in February of the Sacred Year 931, which means you should already be fifty-eight. Incredible, truly incredible—I can’t tell at all!”
Owen smiled and replied, “Actually, it’s nothing special. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been living in the mountains and forests all along, absorbing the spiritual energy of nature, so I appear somewhat younger. Seir, is our family’s ancestral home still standing?”
Xier nodded and said, “It’s still here. Come, let me show you. I’ve taken over my father’s position and have been the town mayor for over a decade now. Given our past relationship, no one would dare touch your ancestral home. However, it has fallen into some disrepair; if you plan to live there, it will need renovation. Big brother, after returning this time, will you leave again?”
Owen shook his head and sighed, “Alas… No, I won’t leave. After struggling outside for most of my life, it’s time to return to my roots. Ah! By the way, brother, this is my distant cousin, also my only remaining relative. We will settle down here. Perhaps, I’ll stay here until I die.”
Xier laughed heartily and said, “Big brother, I was just worrying about having no one to keep me company usually. From now on, we two old brothers can keep each other company. Come, let me show you the ancestral house. When my boys return, I’ll have them help you renovate it. We can be neighbors again.”
Under Xier’s enthusiastic guidance, Adai and Owen arrived outside a small courtyard by the sea on the eastern side of Shitang Town. This courtyard was somewhat distant from where the other residents of Shitang Town lived. Seeing the small courtyard before him, Owen’s eyes turned red. After all, this was where he had spent his childhood.
Sheer patted Owen on the shoulder and said, “What’s wrong? Missing your uncle and aunt again? Ah, that great tsunami back then truly claimed so many lives!”
Owen glanced at Sheer and replied, “It’s been so many years; what good does dwelling on it do?” He pulled several gold coins from his chest and pressed them into Sheer’s hand, saying, “Brother, I haven’t been back in all this time; nothing feels familiar anymore. I’ll have to trouble you to help me find someone to repair this dilapidated house!”
Sheer hastily pushed the money away, saying, “Big brother, what are you doing? Isn’t this treating me like an outsider? You’ve finally returned; of course I should help you. Rest assured, I’m still somebody around town. Once my sons who are out working come back, I’ll have them fetch some tarpaulin and lumber for you. A day’s work should be enough to fix things up. Don’t give me money, or I’ll truly get angry.”
Owen said, “That won’t do at all. I already feel terrible for troubling you; how could I possibly let you pay out of your own pocket? Take it, hurry up and take it, or I won’t come back to stay here.” After arguing for quite some time, Sheer finally relented to Owen’s insistence and accepted the money.
Sheer said, “Big brother, go back to the courtyard first and take a look. I’ll handle the arrangements. Come to my place for lunch today; we must share a few good drinks. I have some aged wine stored away, haha.” While speaking, Sheer turned and walked toward the town.
Watching Sheer’s figure gradually disappear, Owen said to Adai, “From now on, when you see him, call him Uncle Sheer, and call me Uncle. Understand? This is where we will be living.”
Adai nodded and asked, “Uncle, when will you start teaching me martial arts?”
Owen smiled slightly and said, “In a hurry, are you? I know you’re eager to return to your master soon, but mastering martial arts isn’t something achieved in a day or two. We must lay all the groundwork properly before beginning, don’t you agree? Come, let me take you inside for a look; it’s been over forty years since I last returned.”
A-Dai had understood the few words just exchanged between Sheer and Owen regarding age, and asked puzzledly, “Uncle, are you really fifty-eight years old?”
Owen glanced at him and spoke gently, “Yes! Fifty-eight years old. The reason I appear so youthful is mainly because the cultivation method I practice has the effect of slowing down aging, which is why I look only about forty. Once we’ve settled down, Uncle will teach you this skill.”
Pushing open the unlocked gate, a musty odor wafted toward them. Owen frowned, pulled A-Dai inside, and a courtyard of approximately thirty square meters came into view. Nothing surrounded it except two tiled houses with their doors closed. Numerous spider webs clung to the corners of the walls. Since this place was near the seaside and consisted of saline-alkali soil, no moss had grown; otherwise, cleaning would have been even more difficult.
Two days later, with Sheer’s enthusiastic help, Owen’s ancestral home was completely renovated and furnished with new pieces. Supported by Sheer, the town mayor, the local people gradually began to accept both Owen and Adai.
Adai felt much more at ease; compared to the wooden cabin in the Misty Forest, this place truly felt like a home. Everyone treated him kindly. He got to know Sheer’s three sons; the eldest appeared to be about Owen’s age. When Sheer told them that Owen was actually older than himself, his family reacted with disbelief. All three of Sheer’s sons were already married. His eldest granddaughter was only two years younger than Adai, and he also had two grandsons, aged seven and three respectively.
In the evening, after seeing Sheer’s family off, Owen stood in the courtyard, took a deep breath of the slightly salty sea breeze, and said, “Adai, come here.”
Adai had just finished clearing the dishes and utensils. Hearing Owen call him, he dried his hands and walked over. “Uncle.”
Owen turned around, looked at Adai, and said solemnly, “I know you hate me for forcing you to leave your master. However, starting tonight, I will begin teaching you everything I have learned in my lifetime. I hope you will study diligently. If you ever wish to see your master again, the only way is to master all my skills before you can leave. Do you understand?”
Adai nodded and whispered softly, “I understand.” Though he agreed verbally, his heart had already flown to the Enchanted Forest, wondering whether Master Glis had returned by now.
Owen said, “From today onward, do not practice the magic Glis previously taught you; it will only distract you. Magic is extremely rare in this small town. You are forbidden from using those few fire-element spells of yours in front of others. Do you understand?”
Adai raised his head, glaring at Owen, and stated firmly, “No, I must continue practicing magic. I cannot forget the magic my master taught me.”
Owen was taken aback; this was the first time Ah Dai had ever dared to contradict him. Yet he felt no anger and replied gently, “Child, you must understand that magic and martial arts cannot be learned simultaneously. A person’s lifetime is limited; mastering even one of these disciplines to its peak is already exceedingly difficult, let alone pursuing both. Your teacher Goris will not blame you.”
Ah Dai stubbornly shook his head and said, “No, that won’t do either. I must practice magic. I may not use it before others, but I absolutely must train in it every day.”
Owen thought for a moment and said, “Very well. Since you insist, I will allow you to practice magic for one hour each evening. However, at all other times, you must not let magic interfere with your martial arts training. Can you do this? If not, you will have to give up magic entirely.”
Ah Dai nodded and said, “I… I can definitely do it.”
Owen spoke solemnly, “Very well. Today, I will first teach you the most fundamental method of circulating energy. The battle qi I cultivate is called the Ever-Life Technique, named for its principle of endless renewal. Its primary purpose is to enhance the strength of one’s life force and transform it into battle qi imbued with a sacred aura. It can be said to be the most authentic and supreme method of cultivating battle qi on the continent, as well as the finest art of nourishing life; this is precisely why I appear so youthful. When the Ever-Life Technique circulates within the body, it is what your senior brother, Chris, referred to as true energy. When this energy is released outward for attack, it becomes what is known as battle qi. Since you have consumed the Fruit of Rebirth, your cultivation will undoubtedly achieve twice the result with half the effort. Come, let us return to the room, and I will impart the incantation to you.”
Upon returning to the room, Owen spoke solemnly once more, “The general guideline of the Ever-Life Technique consists of only four words: ‘Endless Renewal,’ which I have already mentioned to you. Only true energy that endlessly renews can grant you the perpetual capacity to unleash battle qi.” It was precisely due to the endlessly renewing true energy of the Ever-Life Technique that Owen had been able to endure until he frightened away Mie Yi and the others. “You must memorize the incantation for the first stage: ‘Energy moves with thought, energy arises from the heart, refine essence into energy, endless renewal.’ Cultivating the first layer, which is also the foundation of the Ever-Life Technique, constitutes the phase of establishing the base. Very well, let us begin.”
Owen instructed A Dai to sit cross-legged on the bed, while he himself seated himself behind A Dai, placing his right palm against the center of A Dai’s back. He said, “Close your eyes and silently recite the incantation. The incantation must be understood; use your mind and spirit to sense the path where that warm current of energy flows, and commit this pathway to memory. Very well, let us begin.”