Parting Ways

Beside a massive boulder in the Stone Forest.

Mo Chao Ge, Barnard, and the Nether Moon Envoy stood with indifferent expressions, seemingly waiting for some news.

Before long, a Dark Star Envoy of Dark Nether appeared on a distant stone path and headed straight for them.

When the Dark Star Envoy arrived, he bowed to the Nether Moon Envoy and said, "My lord, we still haven't found any trace of them."

The Nether Moon Envoy nodded and waved a hand. "Keep watch on those checkpoints. Don't let your guard down!"

"Yes!"

The Dark Star Envoy tasked with gathering information quietly retreated. His figure flashed between the rocks, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

An hour later.

Qiang Sen's imposing, one-armed figure appeared from a stone path. He walked over, saluted Mo Chao Ge, and reported, "I haven't seen anyone."

"Mm." Mo Chao Ge nodded and ordered, "Keep watch. I refuse to believe they won't come out."

"Third Master, could they have been killed by demon beasts in the Gloomy Forest?" Qiang Sen hesitated, then said, "I heard that after we left, the demon beasts in that area went even wilder. Many Martial Artists who made their living there have been reported dead. Those few still haven't come out. Maybe the beasts killed them a long time ago."

"That's possible."

To everyone's surprise, Mo Chao Ge didn't argue. He nodded first, then said, "But if the demon beasts didn't kill them, and they slipped away to the Merchant Alliance while we weren't paying attention, we'd regret it too late! Do you... understand what I mean?"

"Understood! I'll go back to keeping watch!" Qiang Sen's expression tightened, and he hurried off.

Mo Chao Ge furrowed his brow and said to the Nether Moon Envoy beside him, "Let's wait another month. If they still don't come out, they may really have died in there. What do you think?"

"Mm, I have no objections." The Nether Moon Envoy pondered for a moment, then said, "I received word that Medicine King Gan Xiao is still fighting the Thunder Wing Silver Wolf in the Gloomy Forest. But there are too many demon beasts there, and Gan Xiao seems to have started withdrawing. The beasts have now gathered around the Thunder Wing Silver Wolf, and they're still hunting down Medicine King Gan Xiao and his attendants. That area they were in before is actually relatively safe."

"You mean... they might still be alive?" Mo Chao Ge asked.

"The chances they survived are very high," the Nether Moon Envoy said. "A lot of Martial Artists in that area were killed. Those who weren't fled early, frightened out of their wits. As long as they weren't terribly unlucky, they should be able to make it out of the Gloomy Forest alive."

"I hope they're alive!" Barnard of the Tusk Mercenary Group was filled with venom. He said icily, "I'll make them regret ever coming into this world."

A cold glint flashed in the Nether Moon Envoy's eyes. "I'm taking that Mu girl."

"That scrawny brat is mine for a while first. He stole something from the Mo Family. I'll get it back, then you can do whatever you want with him." Mo Chao Ge shot Barnard a sidelong glance, his tone neither warm nor cold.

Barnard fell silent, giving no answer. No one knew what was going through his mind.

Shi Yan cautiously made his way between the jagged rocks, not daring to let his guard down for even a moment.

Mu Yu Die and Di Ya Lan were up ahead, talking quietly. He had no idea what they were discussing.

"Ding Yan." Suddenly, Mu Yu Die stopped and turned to look at him.

"Hmm?" Shi Yan looked surprised, relaxing his guard a little. "What is it?"

"You're with the Merchant Alliance, right?" Mu Yu Die hesitated, then asked casually.

"Mm."

"Do you cultivate on your own?"

"Mm."

"You've helped me a lot on this journey. I'd like to introduce you to someone. If you can earn his regard, it would greatly benefit your future cultivation. What do you think?" Mu Yu Die's expression was solemn, her bright eyes fixed intently on him.

Shi Yan was taken aback. After a long pause, he shook his head and said calmly, "I appreciate your kind offer, Miss Mu, but I don't like being bound by others."

He understood that Mu Yu Die planned to recommend him to some powerful figure or major faction.

In this world, there were Martial Artists who walked alone, but most of them were highly cultivated. They didn't need to rely on any faction to do as they pleased.

But the vast majority of Martial Artists chose to join a major faction or a great lineage.

That was because major factions and great lineages controlled abundant cultivation resources. They had complete collections of Martial Skills and cultivation materials, as well as experts to guide them. These things helped Martial Artists break through bottlenecks and reach higher realms more quickly.

However, truly powerful factions and lineages rarely recruited people of unknown origin. Without someone to recommend you, it was very difficult to join one and cultivate there.

Mu Yu Die clearly knew someone important in a major faction. She was offering Shi Yan a favor.

"Cultivating alone can be a real hassle." Mu Yu Die seemed surprised and didn't understand why Shi Yan had refused. "Only by relying on a major faction can you make rapid progress. When you're honing yourself in unfamiliar regions, you'll also have people to watch your back. A lone Martial Artist cultivating in an unfamiliar place can easily become a target. Do you understand?"

"That's right. There are plenty of drawbacks to cultivating alone. Xiao Die is only trying to help. Why not meet the person first, then decide whether to turn him down?" Di Ya Lan also tried to persuade him.

"No need. I have things to do, and I don't want to become some lineage's servant." Shi Yan shook his head resolutely.

"Suit yourself." Mu Yu Die's brows knitted slightly. She felt Shi Yan didn't know what was good for him, but she didn't press the matter.

Di Ya Lan sighed, a faint sense of loss stirring in her heart.

She was going with Mu Yu Die. Now that Shi Yan had rejected Mu Yu Die's invitation, it meant she would be parting from him. They might never see each other again.

Over the past few days, Shi Yan's image had already been deeply etched in her heart. The thought of parting left her feeling unsettled.

"Ding Yan, I'm going with Xiao Die, so you..."

After thinking it over for a long while, Di Ya Lan finally couldn't hold back. Her gaze toward Shi Yan was almost pleading.

"You can come with me, too." Shi Yan was momentarily stunned, then added, "If you want to."

"I..."

Di Ya Lan stammered, her expression bitter. She said wistfully, "The faction behind Xiao Die can protect her from harm, and it can help me keep improving my cultivation. Besides, Xiao Die promised me I'd get abundant cultivation materials there, as well as a Mysterious Grade weapon. In the future, I might even be able to cultivate Spirit Grade Martial Skills. I..."

"Then forget it!"

Shi Yan was blunt. His tone was cool. "You have your own pursuit, and I have my own goals. The things you want... I can't give you. When we reach Silent Town, let's go our separate ways."

It was obvious that Di Ya Lan believed the faction behind Mu Yu Die would do more for her future cultivation. The terms they had offered were also enticing; she had no reason to refuse.

"Ding Yan..." Di Ya Lan's heart ached. She murmured, "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize." Shi Yan shook his head and said calmly, "We were both willing before; now we go our separate ways. Neither of us owes the other anything."

"You!" Di Ya Lan's expression changed slightly, and she looked at him with a hint of resentment. Her ample bosom trembled gently, but in the end, she let out a wistful sigh and murmured, "Think whatever you want. I have my own plans. You're still young. You wouldn't understand..."

Shi Yan curled his lip. His expression was cool, and there was a hint of disdain in his eyes. He said nothing.

"You don't know what's good for you," Mu Yu Die said with a cold snort.

"There's no point talking when we're not of the same mind." Shi Yan shook his head, unwilling to entertain her. Without even looking at her, he headed down another fork in the path. With his back to the two women, he said coldly, "We'll never meet again."

"Ding Yan!" Di Ya Lan cried out in alarm. "Didn't we say we'd part when we reached Silent Town?"

"Miss Mu is at the Human Position Triple Heaven, and powerful people are waiting to meet you in the Stone Forest. You can rest easy. I won't be tagging along." Shi Yan's voice faded into the distance, and his figure disappeared from view.

"An arrogant fool like him is bound to suffer someday," Mu Yu Die said, shaking her head. "In this world, you sometimes have to learn to yield. Otherwise, it's hard to stay alive for long, especially for Martial Artists like us."

Di Ya Lan felt dejected. "I'm really worried about him. Sigh, wouldn't it be better for him to come with us? Why did he refuse?"

"Forget it. Don't dwell on it. We're both with the Merchant Alliance, so we might see him again someday." Mu Yu Die tried to comfort her. "Sister Lan, we're women, and we both carry the mission of restoring our lineages. We also have to avenge Uncle Luo and the others. We have to rely on a powerful faction, on powerful people. Only then can we achieve our goals."

After a pause, complicated emotions showed in Mu Yu Die's bright eyes. She, too, thought of the moments she had shared with Shi Yan, and of his domineering kiss in the cave...

But in the end, she shook her head hard, as though trying to banish Shi Yan's image from her mind. She murmured, "...As for him, let's just treat him as a beautiful memory from our lives."

It sounded as though she was saying it to herself.

"He's not bad, either. He's almost at the Human Position Realm, and he's still so young..." Di Ya Lan murmured.

"He wants to reach the Hundred Tribulations and Earth Position Realms, which will take more than ten years. Who knows how many years it'll take to reach Nirvana and the Heaven Position? We can't wait that long. Besides, he's only one person, with no powerful faction backing him..."

"Sigh, forget it. I hope we made the right choice."

"I don't make mistakes!"