Will We Change?...

At noon, Su Ming thought long and hard. Then, gritting his teeth, he slung on his woven basket and left the tribe. Lei Chen went with him.

Lei Chen had been to the Tribal Market before, and had even made a trip there a few days ago. So when he heard that Su Ming wanted to borrow some Stone Coins, he pressed him for details. Then his spirits lifted, and he volunteered to lead the way.

"Su Ming, I've only got two Stone Coins. It took me ages to trade for them. W-when are you going to pay me back?" Lei Chen gazed at Su Ming with eager, pleading eyes as the two raced through the woods outside the tribe.

"You've been saying that the whole way! They're only two Stone Coins! How many Stone Coins do you think all the Black Dragon Saliva I've given you over the years is worth? Lei Chen, aren't we good friends? How can you be like this?" Su Ming felt a little guilty, but he glared at Lei Chen, and the words that followed dissolved into an indistinct mutter.

"It took me ages to trade for those..." Lei Chen scratched his head. As he muttered, he seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at Su Ming in surprise.

"Oh, I just remembered. What are you going to buy at the Tribal Market with those Stone Coins?"

"Luoyun Leaf!" Su Ming darted through the woods with nimble leaps, moving so swiftly that he seemed ready to outpace Lei Chen.

"What's Luoyun Leaf?" Lei Chen asked, sounding simple-minded. Then he saw Su Ming pull ahead and quickly strode after him.

"Su Ming, remember to pay me back..."

"Su Ming, I saved those up for years..."

"Su Ming, even my dad doesn't know about those two Stone Coins. How did you know where I hid them the moment you came to my house?"

"Su Ming, what's Luoyun Leaf? Why won't you tell me..."

"Su Ming, Su Ming? I've been asking you for ages!"

Lei Chen's voice buzzed in Su Ming's ears the entire way. Su Ming had always known that Lei Chen liked to talk, and once he got going, he never stopped. But he hadn't expected him to keep chattering without the slightest pause the whole way.

By dusk, the two had traveled far from the tribe and were deep in unfamiliar woods. Su Ming could take it no longer. He slowed, then leaned against a big tree and panted a few times. Turning around, he helplessly watched Lei Chen, who was breathing just as hard and had plopped down on the ground.

"Su... Su Ming... remember... to pay me... back..." Lei Chen gasped. But when he saw Su Ming turn around, his spirits immediately lifted, and he started up again.

"I'll pay you back... I promise. But I have one condition!" Su Ming smiled wryly. He no longer knew what to say to Lei Chen.

"What condition?" Lei Chen blinked, once again putting on his simple-minded look.

"Don't make that face. Even Xiao Hong does it more convincingly than you. Lei Chen, I know what you've been trying to ask all this time, but I can't tell you. You'll find out one day." Su Ming glared at him. They had grown up together, and Su Ming knew him every bit as well as Lei Chen's parents did.

Lei Chen looked simple-minded on the outside, but in truth he was quite crafty. Most people were fooled by his honest expression and overlooked the sly glint that flashed in his eyes.

Hearing Su Ming say that, Lei Chen rubbed his nose and gave a simple-minded grin.

"My condition is simple. If you can keep quiet the rest of the way, I'll tell you what you want to know once I've taken care of things and we're on our way back," Su Ming said slowly, glancing at Lei Chen.

Lei Chen stiffened, his whole body seeming to freeze. In an instant, he was completely still, his eyes wide as he stared fixedly over Su Ming's shoulder.

"Lei Chen..." Su Ming smiled wryly. He was used to Lei Chen's tricks, and wouldn't fall for such a simple ruse.

"You're the one who told me to be quiet. I want to nod, but even nodding makes a whooshing sound. Look how good I'm being now, not moving at all and not making a sound. I'm keeping perfectly quiet, just like you asked. How can you say this doesn't count?

You told me to be quiet, and don't worry, I'll stay like this the whole way. I won't make a sound. But you can't blame me for the noise I make while running. I..."

"Stop! That's enough. Just keep quiet!" Su Ming rubbed his brow. He'd seen the mischievous glint in Lei Chen's eyes and knew he was doing it on purpose.

"All right, I'll tell you. I have a Barbarian Body, but Grandpa concealed it with a Barbarian Art. Don't tell anyone." Su Ming's expression turned serious as he finished.

Lei Chen was taken aback. He, too, became serious and nodded solemnly.

"If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked. I only wanted to know whether you'd started cultivating as a Barbarian. Now I'm relieved. Ha! From now on, we'll be the future eagles of Wu Mountain Tribe!"

Su Ming laughed, too. After resting for a while, the two set off again, hurrying onward. The sky was darkening, the moon was beginning to appear, and stars were glittering above them. Snow lay thick on the ground, and the cold wind howled, but the two didn't slow down at all. Every so often, they exchanged a few words, and their conversation brimmed with deep friendship.

"I saw Bei Ling today. Just looking at him annoys me, especially with Chen Xin at his side. He's known for ages that she has feelings for you!" Lei Chen grumbled indignantly.

"He's changed so much. He was only gone to Fengzhen Tribe for a few years. Did he forget that he belongs to Wu Mountain Tribe? You should've seen his expression. He even lectured me, telling me this and that."

Su Ming fell silent.

"Su Ming, I'll surpass him one day!" Lei Chen clenched his fists as he ran.

"Bei Ling is your big brother. He took good care of both of us when we were little. Don't you remember how he secretly taught you the secrets of Barbarian Cultivation? Grandpa punished him for that!

"He taught me archery, too..." Su Ming said calmly.

"As for Chen Xin, I've told you already. We only have the affection of siblings for each other, nothing more... You're the one who keeps making wild guesses." Su Ming's voice remained calm.

Lei Chen wanted to say more, but seeing Su Ming's calm expression, he never managed to get the words out. He knew Su Ming just as well as Su Ming knew him.

He knew Su Ming valued kindness.

"Su Ming, people change..." Lei Chen finally said softly.

"As we grow up and go through things, we all change... Maybe one day, I'll change too... I think you will, too..." Lei Chen murmured.

"Will we...?" Su Ming ran on in silence.

When darkness had fully fallen, Su Ming and Lei Chen stopped. Traveling at night was inconvenient, and the Tribal Market was still some distance away. So they found a big tree and hastily built a temporary shelter in its branches. One sat cross-legged, cultivating by circulating the blood in his body, while the other kept watch over their surroundings. They took turns, preparing to spend the night there.

Leaning against the tree trunk, Su Ming looked at Lei Chen, who sat cross-legged in front of him. Red light flickered across his body, and numerous red lines could be seen shifting beneath his skin.

After watching for a while, Su Ming looked up at the dark sky. The bright moon cast its pure light across the heavens, merging with the stars scattered overhead. The sight was beautiful, but it also made anyone who looked up feel how small they were.

"Everyone changes... Will I...?" Su Ming gazed up in silence, scenes of Bei Ling from his childhood surfacing in his mind.

"If I change one day... What will I become?" Confusion filled Su Ming's eyes. This question was simply too complicated for a sixteen-year-old boy.

"Maybe I'll become a powerful Barbarian Healer like Grandpa, and travel across the land with Xiao Hong, visiting places I've never been and journeying through one tribe after another, healing many people of the Barbarian Tribe...

"Maybe I could even become a Barbarian Duke... Then I'd meet a woman I loved and live with her. She'd travel with me, until both our hair turned white... Xiao Hong would become Old Hong... Then I'd tell Lasu in the tribe about all my adventures, just as Grandpa often tells us about his life..." Su Ming laughed. His smile was pure, simple, and happy.

"Or maybe... I'll learn who I am and where I came from..." Su Ming smiled, then sighed softly.

"Lei Chen, I won't change!" Su Ming took a deep breath. Beneath the moonlight, on the lands of the Barbarian Tribe, he murmured words only he could hear.

He was certain of it, just as young people always believed the future would be beautiful...

The night passed before they knew it. At dawn the next day, while the sky was still only faintly lit, Su Ming and Lei Chen got up early and washed with snow. The icy snow jolted them awake, leaving them more alert than before.

"Judging by the distance, we should reach the Tribal Market around noon," Lei Chen said to Su Ming, rubbing the snow from his face. He had been there several times.

Su Ming nodded. After washing, the two headed toward the rising sun and raced through the woods.

The journey went smoothly. At noon, Su Ming saw a cluster of wooden huts beyond the forest in the distance. The place was bustling with people, and many Barbarian Warriors from nearby tribes had gathered there.

"We're here!" Lei Chen looked at Su Ming, especially at his woven basket. But the basket was tightly wrapped in animal hide, so he couldn't see what was inside.

Su Ming looked at the distant Tribal Market. It was huge, almost like a small tribe. But instead of a surrounding fence, sturdy men stood scattered around, watching their surroundings coldly, keeping order and guarding against beasts.

At the center of the market stood an enormous tent covered in purple animal hide. It was heavily guarded, and no one was allowed near.

"That's where the market's owner stays. I heard he's a very powerful Barbarian Warrior, and only receives the leaders of the various tribes," Lei Chen explained quietly as he and Su Ming left the woods and headed toward the market.

Su Ming glanced at the purple hide tent, then looked away. Under the watchful eyes of the market guards, he stepped into this place he had never visited before.

Just then, a cold female voice suddenly came from nearby.

"Lei Chen!"

Su Ming stopped in his tracks. At once, he sensed Lei Chen beside him shudder as the voice rang out...

Chapter 21: First Update!

I've gotten used to posting a flurry of chapters at midnight on the first of every month. My fingers got itchy... I guess I really can't break the habit...

Looking at the few remaining chapters in my backlog, I'm throwing caution to the wind. If they're gone, they're gone!

This is my favorite chapter so far in Seeking Demon!

With this, I remember the youth and dreams that slipped away. I hope all of you who, like Su Ming, had dreams when you were young will give him a recommendation ticket!!