As the days passed, Lu Yin would occasionally exchange a few words with Si Jiu Shi, probing him for information about the Nine Heavens Universe and filling in his knowledge of it. He didn't ask too much, though.
They were less than ten days from the Four Lin Domain.
That day, their path was blocked. Si Jiu Shi stepped out of the Beast Carriage. "What's going on? Why's the road blocked? The mountain range's in the way. If we can't go straight ahead, we'll have to take a detour. That'll delay us by at least half a day."
A branch hung down from the Mother Tree ahead and connected to a neighboring branch, forming a barrier like a mountain range lying across their path. They could only get past it by going around or descending, and either way would cost them some time, even if not much.
"We ask that you take a detour, sir. The road ahead is steep and dangerous. We're only thinking of your safety..."
Lu Yin sat inside the Beast Carriage, watching from outside as Si Jiu Shi spoke with the others.
Soon, Si Jiu Shi came back in. "Seventh Brother, should we force our way through or take a detour?"
"Why's the road blocked?" Lu Yin asked.
Si Jiu Shi replied, "They didn't say, but they don't look that strong. With your abilities, you could deal with them easily. If you weren't here, though, I'd have to take the detour."
"The mountain range ahead belongs to the Yan Clan. I'm guessing someone's trying to snatch their Yuan Jia."
Lu Yin raised an eyebrow. "Yuan Jia?"
Si Jiu Shi nodded. "Yeah, those things..." He suddenly stopped and looked at Lu Yin, testing him. "Seventh Brother, you don't know what Yuan Jia is?"
Lu Yin narrowed his