The Lan Shu Forest

After the small interruption at the beginning of our trip, the next few days towards the Lan Shu forest went by without any disruptions. Just a little ways away from the trail that leads into the forest, we are watching the entrance through a small telescope Wanjing brought along.

"So what's the situation look like over there?" Lia asks.

"There are a few guards at the entrance, take a look for yourself," Wanjing says, handing over the telescope to Lia.

"They look to be well trained and the equipment also looks to be some of the best we've seen since arriving, do you know their affiliation?" Aurelia asks.

"The Yellow Dragon crest on their chest piece says it all, they are direct subordinates of the Dragon Emperor. If they're here then this tomb is of clear importance. So how are we supposed to get in and find the tomb?"

Simultaneously at the same time, Me, Aurelia, and Lia, all say, "brute force the entrance," "sneak around and infiltrate the forest," "Pretend to be imperials and have the guards guide us."

"Out of the three suggestions, Aurelia's is probably the most feasible but the path is likely to be guarded from within the forest as well and there are likely to be patrols around the forest as well. I don't think you two can fool these guards into thinking your members of the imperial family, they spend their career working with them after all. And how do you actually expect to just brute force your way in, Teacher?"

"I was thinking of walking up and using my true form to barge right in, I took a look at those guard's stats, they shouldn't pose much of a threat. Their classes are only tier 4, the only thing to watch out for is their high levels. But I don't think we can't take them."

"I too don't doubt that we can easily make it into the forest that way, but then what? I'm almost certain that there will be much stronger people as we get closer to the tomb," Aurelia says.

"Then why don't I just burn done the whole forest? That way we can easily found the tomb and clear out everyone else in the area."

"This pyromaniac... is one burnt forest not enough for you?"

"Actually, you couldn't destroy the forest even if you wanted to. At least not with a method like that," Wanjing says.

"And why's that?" I ask.

"While I'm not certain on the authenticity of the tale, according to legend, the Lan Shu forest was grown under the nourishment of the Azure Dragon, giving the trees here their blue shade and granting them protection from the elements. The trees here can't be burnt or cut by metal, not even lightning strikes can destroy the trees here. It is possible to push them aside with brute force, but using metal or wooden tools won't work. Any work here needs to be done by hand, without any third force from any kind of tool."

"Fine, I won't try to burn down or freeze the forest, but then what are we going to do?"

"Why not just try and sneak in as Aurelia said, and once they find us we brute force the rest of the way," Lia suggests.

"If we're really set on doing this, that is probably the best idea so far," Wanjing says.

"I agree, furthermore, we should wait till nightfall, it will make it harder to spot us once we enter while both Cordelia and I can still move unhindered," Aurelia says.

On Aurelia's suggestion, we decided had originally decided to wait for midnight, but not long after the sun had set, we found it was a new moon tonight, so we move towards the forest ahead of time and proceed off the trail to the side of the forest. After Aurelia and I double-check our surroundings for potential patrols. After confirming that no one else is around, I move forward but am quickly pulled back by Aurelia.

"What was that for?"

"Pay attention to where your stepping, you almost triggered a trap. Did you really think that they would leave the perimeter of the forest completely unattended, look down to where you were about to step," Aurelia says.

Just as she said, right where I was about to step there is a small rectangular slip of paper. Until Aurelia had pointed it out, I hadn't even realised it was there.

"What is it," I ask.

"I don't know," Aurelia says, turning her head towards Wanjing.

"If you're asking me then I would guess and say that it's a talisman that is being used as the cornerstone of an array. Messing with it will probably alert all the guards and we'd probably be surrounded in no time. I wouldn't know for certain though unless we moved it, but I'd rather not take the chance."

As we begin to discuss the matter of how to bypass this, Lia interrupts, saying, "get ready to fight, Cory wasn't the only one not paying attention."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me, don't tell me that you..." Aurelia says.

Trying to play it off with a cute face, Lia just goes, "hehe."

Sure enough, in her hands is another paper talisman. The tress begins to sway and I begin to hear faint sounds in the distance coming from the forest. Looking back, there are already nearly twenty guards coming from each side, forming a half-circle behind us. It only takes a few more seconds before we are stuck in the centre of a complete encirclement.

One of the guards whose uniform has more decoration stands out saying, "I had heard that the outsiders were Dragonoids, but don't think because you are of the same race as our great imperial family that you will be treated as such. All forces strike down the intruders!"

As they begin to close in on us, I say, "Dragonoid? Lia, yes, but me, I'm no Dragonoid. I'm a true Dragon," returning to my true form the guards here are left stunned as I instantly tower over everything in the area.

As expected as professionals, they are quick to regroup and resume their attacks, despite any hesitations they may have. Stretching my wings out wide, I release a strong gust of air, as the battle begins.