Chapter 1088. Fulo's Determination. (Patreon)

After following the tracks for a day, Yasenia’s group noticed a small encampment ahead. The encampment had well-built houses. However, their tidy appearance couldn’t really hide how rushed they were built. After all, there were no roads around them, giving the impression of a primitive settlement.

Yasenia looked from a distance and looked at Doriel. “Infiltrate and gather information. I’ll give you two hours.”

Doriel nodded once and then disappeared. 

Fulo looked at Yasenia and asked, somewhat nervous. “W-What do you want to investigate, Lady Yasenia? I can recognize the type of house from here, and I would put my life on the line that these people are from my village!”

The young man was clearly rushed. He wanted to know what happened and why the village that lasted for thousands of years suddenly collapsed overnight. He had experienced a lot during the time he was with the girls. During this time, he learned how to lead, information about the outside, and many more things that he would never forget.

However, his journey that was yet to start felt like it was coming to an end before the first page was written. The disappearance of his village, the unusual crater, and the clear signs that this was man-made were discussed by these powerful cultivators. Everything led him to believe that something more insidious was happening.

Yasenia calmed the Young Man with a few words. “Don’t worry. Our intention is to know what happened before we make contact with them. After all, the bad guy who did that might’ve convinced everyone to follow his orders. A preliminary investigation will save us from trying to decipher lies with no information.” The dragoness looked at Fulo and smiled faintly under her veil. “I have nothing against your village, Fulo. Moreover, I am not about to let you have an easy death after bothering to take care of you during that trial!”

Fulo blinked a few times as his eyes became slightly hot. A sensation of gratefulness spread in his heart, and he vowed in his mind never to betray Yasenia’s expectations if they were to meet again. 

Eventually, Doriel returned and kneeled in front of Yasenia. They were around five kilometers away from the settlement, hidden between the flaming trees and behind a large hill. Spotting them would be difficult in their current location.

“Young Miss. The perpetrator was the City Lord. Seemingly crazed because he thought that his son was never going to return, he blew up the formation in the middle of the village, destroying the defensive formation and several people in the process, including himself.”

Fulo’s eyes opened wide, unable to believe Doriel’s tale. “T-That’s impossible! Why would father go so far!?”

Yasenia was similarly confused and gestured to Doriel. Doriel shook her head. “I can’t really decipher why he did it. However, I can guess. The formation, as we learned, can only be activated and controlled by those of the City Lord’s blood. Fulo is strangely his only son. Hence, losing his son, he thought that no one would be able to control the formation in the future. Maddened by the loss of his son and the bleak future of his tribe, he decided to end everything in an act of self-imposed mercy.” 

Doriel raised her head, her obsidian eyes showing no emotion. “Such cases often happen in this kind of setting. A person with absolute power thinks that he and those chosen by him can push the village to thrive. When they lose those advantages, they end everything, thinking everything is doomed.”

Yasenia listened and looked at Fulo. The young man had fallen to his knees, his eyes tearless as the shock was too strong. “How many people are in that settlement, Doriel?”

“I have not counted consciously. However, I would say that there are between 230 and 260 people.”

Fulo asked, his voice croaking. “T-Two hundred?”

Before, there were around one thousand people in the town.

Yasenia tapped her chin and sighed. “While I did want to teach that old man a lesson, I never intended for things to twist in this manner. Yet, I can’t deny part of the responsibility now that this has happened.”

“We can help.”

Yasenia paused and looked behind her. There, seven golden mice were looking at Yasenia with their adorable beady eyes. Yasenia’s eyebrows twitched. ‘Ah… I forgot about them. Were they following us all along?’

Tatyana understood Yasenia’s expression and chuckled. She answered her unasked question. “They have been behind us this whole time, yes. I am in awe at their ability to meld with their surroundings. I also had a hard time noticing them.”

Yasenia cleared her throat and crouched in front of the seven golden-colored mice. “Well… How can you help?”

The leader of the mice, who was coincidentally the one who spoke with Yasenia’s group before, squeaked. “We can become this village’s guardian beasts for one thousand years. That should give it enough time to thrive and gain independence, right?”

Yasenia was surprised. “You’d do that? Why the sacrifice?”

The mice smiled, and another one spoke. This time, the voice was higher-pitched, making Yasenia believe that this one was female. ‘Wasn’t this a single creature? It seems that they can have different genders with their different bodies…’ 

“We are really grateful to you, Yasenia. What are one thousand years compared to the torment we’ve suffered in the Sun God’s trial? We’ve been trapped there for who knows how many hundreds of thousands of years…” Looking around, the female mice spoke. “This place is rich in Yang energy. We can use it as a source to replenish some of our strength and acclimatize ourselves to this strange new energy.”

“Hm? New energy?”

Yasenia looked at Vairon, and Vairon asked, confused. “Huh? Isn’t the energy in this place special?” 

Seeing the dragoness’s eyebrow twitch again, Andrea coughed and took the reins of the conversation. “This area has an extreme amount of Yang energy. However, the basic energy here is the same as outside.”

Vairon exclaimed. “Oh. Then, yes. This energy is very strange. It feels much more… wild. Unclear? Mixed? How would you describe it, mouse?”

One of the mice answered. “Dragon, that’s too vague. Can’t you come up with better words? They will understand nothing that way.”

Vairon snorted, a plume of fire escaping his nose. “If these youngins can’t understand that, that’s their fault, not mine. They should get used to-.”

“Vairon.”

Vairon stiffened and looked sideways, meeting with a pair of cold golden slit eyes. “Be clear about it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Vairon cleared his throat and explained. “Before I was trapped, if my memory doesn’t fail me, the energies were much easier to separate into spiritual energies, physical energies, soul energies, and original energies.” Vairon sighed. “Now, everything is tangled. It feels as if Heaven is purposely mixing everything so that it is harder to cultivate.”

Mirrory appeared and looked at Vairon. “While what you said is not wrong, I would refrain from making such a statement.” 

Vairon blinked and asked, confused. “Who are you?”

Mirrory smiled. “I am with Angel, don’t worry. Regardless, I think that the energy is as such because we are in a low realm. Once we go up, the energy should become much clearer.”

Vairon hummed and nodded. “That’s a sound reasoning.”

Yasenia looked at the mice and said. “Since you are going to be here for 1000 years, listen to Fulo and try to guide him so that he becomes a good leader. However, don’t pamper him. Also, if Fulo dies, you’ll be free as well.”

The mice nodded. “We can do that.”

Fulo coughed and asked, somewhat fearful. “Um, Lady Yasenia, then won’t they be free if they kill me?”

Yasenia tilted her head. “Unless you abuse them, they have no reason to kill you. One thousand years are but a blink of an eye for creatures like them. Also, if you are going to reach high levels of cultivation, one thousand years is far from your limit in lifespan. You shouldn’t rely on them.” Yasenia added. “On the contrary, you should try to act and think as if they aren’t around. If not, once those 1000 years pass, you might become lost and unsure of what to do.”

Fulo’s face gained a determined glint, and he nodded firmly. “Understood.”

Yasenia chuckled and patted his head. “That’s great. Now, go to that village. We won’t go with you.”

Fulo bowed as much as he could and shouted. “This is an experience that I will never forget and keep forever close to my heart. My path ahead is unknown, but if we ever cross paths, I will always be on your side.” 

Yasenia crossed her arms and asked, teasing. “Even when what happened in the village is mostly because of me?”

Fulo raised his head and said, his eyes unwavering. “My father attacked you first. If you were not powerful, you would’ve died without knowing why. Both sides have resentment, but carrying resentment only taints the heart. Hence, before a vicious cycle starts, I will forgive you and cut any possibility of it manifesting.”

Yasenia paused and looked deeply at him. After a few moments, she smiled and looked at Andrea. “Give the boy some weapons and robes that will grow with him. I think he deserves it.”

Andrea chuckled and walked forward. “I agree wholeheartedly. I heard that you use a spear?”

Fulo blinked and nodded, somewhat dazed. Having his affirmation, Andrea waved her hand, summoning a gorgeous red and gold spear with patterns sneaking up the shaft. She spun it twice and then pierced it on the ground. “A drop of blood, and it is as good as yours. Evelyn, robes.”

Evelyn flicked her finger, and a wave of energy enveloped Fulo, lifting him off the ground by a few centimeters. When he fell back down, Fulo felt a soft and comfortable cloth touching his skin. “What?”

His gaze lowered, revealing a gorgeous and handsome piece of black and red clothes. They perfectly fit with his brown and healthy skin, creating the image of a young noble. 

When Fulo raised his head, Yasenia and the others were gone. Only the spear that Andrea stuck into the ground and the clothes on his body were left as proof that everything he had experienced wasn’t just a wild dream. 

Looking around, the mice were also out of sight. However, he knew that they would be watching from the shadows for a long time.

Looking at the weapon, Fulo walked forward and stopped in front of it. He crouched, picking a stone, and then he opened his palm, making blood surge out. “This spear and these robes will be the start of my journey. A treasure that will be passed down from generation to generation in my house. I swear on my blood that I will fulfill what my father was meant to do and bring my clan glory and prosperity.”

Then, he grabbed the spear, and a powerful aura surrounded him. The spear absorbed his blood and then sent a pulse of healing energy, closing the wound on his hand. With the spear in his hands, Fulo walked back to the village with a straight back and determined face, his eyes shining with much more maturity than before he left the village.