Chapter 14 - Spring Well Villa

"Ahh!" Tian Longmeng jumped up from out of his bed gasping for air, with sweat drenching his entire body. Cornered by those three behemoths of danger, Tian Longmeng was shocked back into reality.

The feeling was so dreadful for Tian Longmeng that even when he had confirmed his surroundings, his body was still fueling with adrenaline. This confirmed that the events of the nightmare were firmly etched in the subconscious of Tian Longmeng.

Tian Longmeng went into the where his father was reclining on his obtuse-angled chair and staring into the fire by the hearth. Tian Longmeng was reminded of the utter defeat he faced and the failure of the test.

Tian Longmeng clenched his fists in indignation and proceeded to walk out to the living room while blandly greeting his father with the usual courtesy.

Tian Fengmeng rose in his chair and looked at his son and hollered. "Boy, why you feel so down? Is it because you lost? If so then you can just beat me after you gain some outside experience."

Tian Longmeng spun around so hard that someone could become dizzy, and stared in wonder at his father. "You mean..." Tian Longmeng's inner child came out and he could not hide his excitement.

"Yes. You have my permission to go outside and see the world." Tian Fengmeng smugly stated as he left the chair, only to be barraged with the tight embrace of a joyful Tian Longmeng.

Tian Fengmeng rushed, "You know, I was not the only one to arrive at this decision."

Tian Longmeng looked up at Tian Fengmeng and playfully smiled, "I know, father, thank you." With that, he ran off to the garden where Tian Fengxian was tending to the shrubs.

He surprised her with a tight hug, so tight that she even dropped her watering pail. At first, Tian Fengxian was startled, but not long after, she calmed down and reciprocated the affection.

They stayed like that for a minute until Tian Longmeng decided to let go and began darting for the outside world.

He was halted by Tian Fengxian who quickly doused him with her cold-water words. "Where do you think you are going before accounting for your unfinished chores?"

Tian Longmeng wryly turned around before resigning to his mother's instructions.

.....

It has been a month, and Tian Longmeng was dashing through the hills of the Desolate Wilderness. He had finally finished his chores and was allowed to leave. His father even gave him the friendly tip by pointing Tian Longmeng in the direction of the nearest human settlement.

Tian Longmeng knew that if he ran at his top speed, he would be able to clear the Desolate Wilderness long before the day was done, but Tian Longmeng had something else in mind.

He studied the environment everywhere he went in the Desolate Wilderness, down to the beasts and terrain, in detail. He also placed subtle markings and indicators along the way, such as breaking trees in strange ways, or placing small craters in the ground and filling it with water.

Tian Longmeng did this throughout the span of the entire lower section of the Desolate Wilderness by day, and by night, he often cultivated in a cave or on top of a tall tree.

This process continued for 10 days; and by the end, Tian Longmeng memorized the entire lower half of the desolate Wilderness past his home. Tian Longmeng did not slack on cultivation either, as he reached the Late Flesh Hardening Stage during the eighth night.

Tian Longmeng finally left the zone that would be classified as the Desolate Wilderness and found himself in a dry expanse of land. Tian Longmeng surveyed the land and sighed, "Father said 'the nearest', but all I see is dirt."

Tian Longmeng just accepted his fate and brought himself along with all his assortment of things in a bag.

After 3 hours of walking across the hot, drylands, Tian Longmeng found a relatively large village. The village itself was partially walled off with thick wooden logs and there were trenches and contraptions on the outside to ward of beasts.

Tian Longmeng toured the village and analyzed everything about it. Their buildings were made of wood and slabbed stone, similar to Tian Longmeng's home in the Desolate Wilderness; except that Tian Longmeng's cottage was primarily made of reinforced stone and not wooden planks.

Tian Longmeng learned from the villagers that this place was named the Spring Well Villa. The naming choice became obvious after seeing the massive 20 feet tall natural fountain-like well in the center of the village.

Tian Longmeng continued to survey the village and learned that most of the townspeople had no cultivation and the most elite of the villagers who guard the village chief are only at the Mortal Apprentice Realm.

Tian Longmeng was surprised at this information.