Mist Swamp Forest (Two Chapters in One)

On the afternoon of the third day, they reached the Mist Swamp Forest.

From a distance, the forest looked as though it were shrouded in a veil of gray-blue gauze. Treetops rose at uneven heights above the mist, exposing only the upper halves of their trunks; the lower halves were submerged in the thick fog. There was no clear boundary at the forest's edge. Mist drifted slowly out from between the trunks, first creeping along the ground in wisps, then spreading into a thin haze that mingled with the wild grass beside the main road. A damp, raw smell of vegetation hung in the air. It wasn't strong, but it clung to the back of the throat, impossible to swallow down.

"This is it." Xie Yue stopped and glanced at the sky. "It'll be dark soon. Going in now would be like fumbling around blind. We'll rest outside the forest tonight and go in at daybreak."

The four retreated to a high slope about a hundred paces from the edge of the swamp forest, sheltered from the wind and with a clearer view. Xie Yue took out the mission sheet and read it again, making sure nothing had been overlooked. Hu Liena brought out several thick blankets and handed them around, then wrapped herself in one and sat down against a tree trunk.

Yan pulled dry firewood and a firestone from his storage ring and quickly lit a small fire. The moment the flames sprang up, he turned to Ning Buhui. "Buhui, where are the rations? Hand them out. I'm hungry."

Ning Buhui didn't move. He unhurriedly turned his own ring halfway around and began taking things out.

First came a small iron pot, its bottom still bearing soot marks. Then a few bowls, a short-handled spoon, a small packet of salt, and several iron skewers of varying thicknesses. Last, he produced a piece of fresh meat wrapped in oil paper. It looked to weigh about two jin, cut into a neat square with alternating layers of fat and lean.

The bag of rations in Yan's hand stopped in midair. "You... you brought a pot on the road?"

"When you're away from home, you ought to have something hot to eat." Ning Buhui rinsed the skewers in his waterskin and began slicing the meat. His knife work was deft, and the slices came out evenly thick. Then he produced a small bottle of yellowish-brown sauce and brushed it onto the meat with a short brush. The moment the sauce touched the meat, a fragrance rose. It wasn't the usual savory aroma; there was a hint of sweetness, a hint of heat, and an indescribable roasted note underneath.

"What sauce is that?" Hu Liena leaned closer.

"I mixed it myself." Ning Buhui threaded the meat onto the skewers, his movements quick and steady, as though he had done it thousands of times. "Before we left, I experimented with leftovers from the kitchen. The base is sweet bean paste that's been sun-dried for a full half year, with a little horseradish powder and a few crushed dried spices mixed in. It's for grilled meat."

Xie Yue stopped looking at the mission sheet, his gaze falling on the prepared skewers. "You even mixed a sauce specially before we set out?"

"It was no trouble." Ning Buhui set the skewers over the fire, resting them on a simple support made from two thick branches, two fingers' width above the flames. He crouched beside the fire and slowly turned them. Fat dripped onto the coals, sending up white smoke with a sizzle. The wind caught the fragrance, and even the mist at the forest's edge seemed to thin a little.

Yan swallowed and shoved the bag of rations back into his ring. "I'm suddenly not hungry anymore."

"Then don't eat." Ning Buhui didn't even look up.

"I'll eat!" Yan immediately changed his tune.

Hu Liena laughed aloud. She took a few wild fruits from her ring, sliced them with a small knife, and arranged them in a bowl. Xie Yue rose and went for a look around nearby. When he returned, he was holding several slender grass stems. He peeled them, revealing tender white flesh that looked like both scallion and bamboo shoot. "They grow on the outskirts of the swamp forest. They're called water scallions, and they add flavor," he said, handing them to Ning Buhui.

Ning Buhui took them and sniffed, his eyes lighting up. "Good stuff." He chopped the water scallions and scattered them over the nearly finished skewers. The minced scallions soaked up the oil, and the aroma grew stronger. He turned the skewers a few more times until the meat was golden brown and glistening, its edges curling slightly. Fat and sauce mingled, shining on the slices.

He handed the first skewer to Hu Liena. She took a bite, her eyes curving. "Junior brother, with skills like these, you could open a restaurant if you ever stopped being a Soul Master."

"Senior sister, I'll take that as a compliment."

The second skewer went to Xie Yue. He ate elegantly, taking a small bite and chewing without a word. But Ning Buhui saw him reach for another skewer after he finished. The third went to Yan, who devoured half of it in one bite. He sucked in air from the heat but kept shoving meat into his mouth, mumbling, "This is more than a whole level above the cafeteria."

Ning Buhui sat beside the fire, slowly grilling the second batch. He worked attentively, turning each skewer to a rhythm, brushing on sauce twice and sprinkling on water scallions twice. Fat dripped from the skewers into the coals, crackling and popping. Firelight flickered across his still-youthful face.

"When did you learn to do this?" Hu Liena asked as she chewed.

"Back in Bluestone Town." Ning Buhui sprinkled a final pinch of salt over the skewers. "The winter I was five, I couldn't stand the hunger, so I squatted under someone else's stove and watched them cook. I committed it to memory. Later, I saved up a few things and secretly tried it myself."

He spoke matter-of-factly. Hu Liena's chopsticks paused. She glanced at him but didn't press further. Xie Yue fell silent for a moment too, then lowered his head and drank his water.

"Here, eat these." Ning Buhui handed over a fresh batch, as though he hadn't said a thing. "Water scallions taste better grilled soft than raw. Eat them while they're hot."

The four sat around the fire, turning skewers over the flames. Occasionally, fat popped and sent a few sparks flying. The swamp forest's mist surged silently beside them, yet it could not spill past the circle of firelight. Later in the meal, Yan took a small flask of wine from his ring, and the four passed it around for a few sips. Ning Buhui was still too young, so he didn't drink, merely holding his bowl of water as he watched them fight over the skewers. Hu Liena scolded Yan for his ugly table manners, only for Xie Yue to retort mildly, "You weren't any slower than him at grabbing them."

The fire gradually died down. Ning Buhui divided up the last two skewers and began tidying the pot and bowls. Even his way of washing bowls was meticulous: he first wiped them with a damp cloth, then a dry one, and finally set them upside down beside the fire to dry. Yan clicked his tongue in amazement. "Your obsession with cleanliness is as ridiculous as your cooking skills."

"I just like being clean. I'm not obsessed," Ning Buhui retorted.

The night grew late. Xie Yue was the first to lean back against a tree and close his eyes. Hu Liena wrapped her blanket tightly around herself and muttered before going to sleep, "We're taking you on every mission from now on." Yan was already snoring softly. Ning Buhui put the skewers and bowls back into his ring, added the last two pieces of firewood to the fire, then wrapped himself in his blanket and lay down. The flames lit the mist at the edge of the swamp forest, dyeing that small patch of gray-blue a warm orange. He closed his eyes, breathed in the lingering scent of grilled meat, and slowly fell asleep.

He had no dreams that night.

At the first light of dawn, the mist in the swamp forest had thinned somewhat, though it was still dense. The four packed up, thoroughly stamped out the fire, and each applied a layer of insect-repellent powder. Xie Yue took out a compass to check their direction, then led the other three into the forest from the west.

As soon as they entered, the light dimmed.

Mist closed in from every direction, gray-blue, damp, and cold. Tree trunks three paces away were nothing but blurry dark shapes, and vines five paces away could only be recognized by their outlines. The mud underfoot was unbelievably soft. Every step sank half an inch, and their soles came free with a squelch. Before Ning Buhui had gone a hundred paces, his trouser legs were wet to the knees, muddy water had flooded his shoes, and they squelched as he walked.

"Stop," Xie Yue said quietly. "Buhui, scout the way."

Ning Buhui stopped as instructed, closed his eyes, and focused his attention on his ears and skin. His spiritual power was much stronger than that of Soul Masters at the same rank, but he was still a long way from being able to project it outside his body. What he called scouting relied on senses sharper than other people's, as well as the Soul Beast habits he had memorized by rote in the library. He listened intently, then crouched and pressed the back of his hand to the ground before looking up at the direction of the canopy overhead.

"We can't get through straight ahead. The trees are too dense and the branches hang low; we'd have to bend over and crawl through." He opened his eyes and lowered his voice. "There's a patch of low shrubs on the left. Their roots aren't deep, so we can step over them. Eight paces to the right, there's standing water. Judging by its color, it's at least half a person deep, and there's probably soft mud underneath. Don't step there. Going uphill, the ground is firm and easier to walk on."

Xie Yue nodded and changed course to the left. The four moved in single file, with him in front, Yan bringing up the rear, and Hu Liena and Ning Buhui in the middle. Every so often, Ning Buhui crouched to examine the path. Whenever they came to a fork, he reached down to feel the soil, then listened for movement ahead and behind. He could sense changes in the moisture in the air. The farther uphill they went, the firmer the ground became, but the mist overhead also grew thicker, which meant the forest ahead was denser, keeping the light from penetrating and the moisture from dispersing.

"Wait." He stopped again and stared at a crooked old tree ahead for a few breaths. "There are three claw marks on that tree's bark. They're evenly spaced, not random scratches. Tracks from a wolf pack's patrol. They were heading off to the front right."

Xie Yue looked in the direction he pointed, but could see nothing clearly through the mist. Still, he asked no questions, merely drawing the Moon Blade from his waist and holding it in a reverse grip. The four continued forward, their steps even lighter than before.

As Ning Buhui walked, he kept an eye on the ground, occasionally bending down to part a clump of grass and check the soil beneath for signs of trampling. He went over the descriptions of Mist-Hidden Shadow Wolves he had read before. A pack generally patrolled along a fixed route, heading from the water to higher ground before circling back to its den. If they followed that direction, they would eventually find the alpha's lair.

After another hundred paces or so, Ning Buhui suddenly raised his hand, and all four stopped at once. He listened for a while, frowning. "There's a sound ahead. It's not the wind. Something alive is moving, but very quietly."

Hu Liena stepped forward, lowered her center of gravity, and silently released her Martial Soul. Her First Soul Ring lit up: Fox Charm. A faint pink light spread from her eyes and drifted forward along the ground. A few breaths later, a very low whimper came from the mist ahead, like a dog with its mouth covered. Hu Liena looked back and gestured to the other three that she had it under control.

"One young wolf, at the thousand-year level." Ning Buhui listened to the direction of the whimper. "On the left."

Xie Yue waved a hand. The four quickly cut through on the right, going around the charmed young wolf. After they had put some distance between them, Hu Liena withdrew her Soul Skill. The young wolf's whimpering continued to circle in the same spot; it hadn't followed them. Ning Buhui glanced back at the blurry gray-white shape in the mist and thought that the Demon Fox Martial Soul's Charm really was useful.

Xie Yue raised his hand, and all four stopped together. Yan put a hand on his sword hilt, while Hu Liena turned slightly sideways and lowered her center of gravity. Ning Buhui continued sensing their surroundings. A moment later, he said, "Thirty-five paces to the front right, there's another one, about the same age. They're roughly ten paces apart, heading in the same direction."

"They're patrolling," Xie Yue concluded quietly. "The young wolves are on patrol, and the alpha is in the den."

He gestured to Hu Liena. She nodded, took two steps forward, and moved to the front of the group. Her Martial Soul silently manifested, her fox tail swaying gently behind her as three Soul Rings, two yellow and one purple, rose from beneath her feet. Her First Soul Ring lit up: Fox Charm. A faint pink light spread from her eyes, passing through the mist toward the young wolf on the left.

A few breaths later, a low whine came from the mist on the left, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on. Another followed immediately from the right, shorter than the first. The two young wolves' footsteps grew erratic. Hu Liena looked back and gestured to the other three that she had them under control.

"Go." Xie Yue waved a hand.

The four quickly crossed the area, cutting between the two charmed young wolves. As Ning Buhui passed, he caught sight of the one on the left. It had gray-white fur and a dark blue mane down its back, and it was turning in circles on the spot like a drunk. He looked away and continued forward.

After they had gone a little farther, the ground suddenly dipped. Ahead lay a low-lying patch of dry ground, surrounded by several enormous old trees whose gnarled, intertwined roots formed a natural clearing. Bones, half-eaten animal hides, and several tufts of dry grass matted with wolf fur lay in the clearing. It was a wolf den.

A wolf lay in the den.

It rested at the far end of the clearing, forepaws crossed and head upon them. It was more than a size larger than the two young wolves they had seen earlier. Its fur was gray-white, and an exceptionally broad strip of deep-blue mane ran from the back of its neck down its spine, gleaming darkly in the mist. Its eyes were closed, but its ears stood upright, turning slightly toward the four of them.

The alpha of the Mist-Hidden Shadow Wolves.

Xie Yue stopped, lowered his stance, and silently released his Martial Soul. Two blood-colored crescent Moon Blades formed in his palms, their blades exceedingly thin and shimmering with a cold silver-red light. Three Soul Rings, two yellow and one purple, rose from beneath his feet.

Yan clenched his fists. Crimson Soul Power seeped between his fingers, and the phantom of the Flame Lord flashed behind him before vanishing. Three Soul Rings, likewise two yellow and one purple, encircled him, while dark red, lava-like patterns surfaced on his skin.

Hu Liena's Third Soul Ring lit up: Demon Fox Illusion Mist. A layer of faint pink mist spread from around her, creeping along the ground toward the alpha wolf.

Ning Buhui stood five paces behind the other three, the Nine Hell Soul-Suppressing Pagoda floating above his palm. Its body was black and white, with the twin fish of yin and yang circling it, while three Soul Rings, two purple and one black, rotated quietly. Without hesitation, he lit his First Soul Ring and Third Soul Ring at the same time.

"Nine Hell Soul Suppression, Butterfly Dance Flowing Radiance."

"Nine Hell Soul Suppression, Wind Thunder Wing Shadow."

Golden butterfly silhouettes beat their wings and flew out, dividing into three streams of light that entered the backs of Xie Yue's, Yan's, and Hu Liena's shoulders. Immediately afterward, the yang fish flicked its tail again, and a blue-purple light of wind and thunder surged from the pagoda. It split into three and settled over them. Blue-purple patterns of light spread down their backs and into their limbs, while delicate lightning patterns flowed beneath their skin, as though a thread of current were racing through their meridians.

The change was instantaneous.

Xie Yue felt his whole body grow light, as though the wind were carrying him. The Moon Blades felt almost weightless in his hands, and the mud beneath his feet no longer felt soft and yielding; each step landed a little more firmly. What startled him even more was his reaction speed. Every stir of wind and grass came at him from all directions, and he could catch every trace. Directions that had once taken half a breath to judge became clear almost as soon as the thought occurred to him. He turned his wrist slightly, spinning a Moon Blade once in his palm. It was so fast that even he was stunned for a moment.

Yan's impression was more direct. Butterfly Dance Flowing Radiance's boost to all attributes was stronger than before, and with Wind Thunder Wing Shadow's speed boost upon him, he tried taking a step forward. He pushed off and shot more than a zhang ahead, faster than he normally moved in an all-out sprint. He opened his mouth to grin, only to discover that his reaction speed had risen too. The thought Duck had barely crossed his mind before his neck moved. He clenched his fists, and crimson flames rose from them, nearly half again as fierce as usual.

What Hu Liena felt most subtly was the change in her spiritual power. Butterfly Dance Flowing Radiance enhanced her spiritual recovery, while Wind Thunder Wing Shadow made her movements exceedingly light. The pink illusion mist around her spread faster and farther, and every slightest movement within it registered clearly in her mind. She swayed her fox tail instinctively, and even the ripples of wind it stirred as it swept through the air became distinctly discernible. She narrowed her eyes slightly and fixed her gaze on the alpha wolf. If I use Charm in this state, it should amplify its effect.

Ning Buhui watched the changes in the three of them. Maintaining two support abilities on three people at once was draining a considerable amount of Soul Power, but fortunately, his Soul Power was already deeper than that of ordinary Soul Masters at the same level, and he could still hold out for a short while.

He stared at the wolf, silently observing the situation. With senses sharper than those of ordinary people, he caught the Soul Power fluctuations radiating from the alpha's entire body. He could be certain that the beast was no younger than the four thousand five hundred years specified on the mission sheet. It was probably close to five thousand.

The alpha wolf suddenly opened its eyes.

Its eyes were gray-blue, the same color as the mist in the swamp forest. As though sensing someone watching it, those eyes passed over Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena, looking straight through the gaps between the three of them to settle on Ning Buhui.

A very low whine rumbled from its throat, like a warning, yet also like a probe. Then it let out a piercing wolf howl.

It was calling the young wolves nearby.

At that moment, Xie Yue moved.