Chapter 215 Dongxue Village Part 17

In the old pavilion, the five Tanzanies sat quietly, staring at each other, trying to understand what U-ri saw.

After thinking for a long time, Michio finally said, "The Fairly Ring Circle? You are not seeing it wrong?"

U-ri shook his head. "I have memorized every detail of the pattern. I can't be wrong."

Hajime said, "According to the villagers, an immortal king and his soldiers descended from the sky to help the villagers fight against the Taka tribe." He looked at the other Tanzanies. "Could this Immortal King be the tenth king of Tanzang?"

U-ri said, "They don't have records. It's hard to know for sure."

Yul said, "Although the Fairly Ring Circle Formation has been used for hundreds of years, its originality may not come from Tanzang."

"What are you saying?" Abrafo asked.

Yul said, "We saw the Fairly Ring Circle Formation used by the tenth king in Magior City. Ever since Magior City, I have some doubts that my ancestor might not be the founder of such a powerful formation, he is just an ordinary general. If you want to create such a powerful formation, there must be magic, and knowledge contained in the formation."

Michio said, "You mean, the person who arranged this formation must be someone with powerful power, such as a mage?"

Yul said, "Only the tenth king can have such powerful people serving under him."

"If the tenth king are indeed the creators of the Fairy Ring Circle Formation, then why not let him take the credit, but instead let your ancestor took the credit." Hajime expressed his opinion. "Could it be that this formation was jointly created by the tenth king and your ancestor, but since the tenth king already have the highest title in this land, he decided to give all the credit to your ancestor." Hajime smiled. "But, if I were the tenth king, I would give the best to the one I love and hope that the one I love can be praised by everyone for his achievements."

Abrafo said, "Who knows? Maybe Yul's ancestor was a genius like U-ri. He created this formation himself, and with the help of the four hundred mages, he was able to bring out such a powerful formation. After all, he is the Great Grand General of Tanzang. The Tenth King will not give him such title for no reason."

Michio asked, "How can we know who the originator of this formation is?"

"When I was captured with other villagers, the women told me the story of an immortal king who descended from the sky with his soldiers to help them escape from the Taka tribe," Hajime said.

Michio asked, "So, are you wondering if this immortal king is the tenth king of Tanzang?"

Yul said, "In Magior City, there is a similar story. The story of the Northern King came out of the night and destroyed Magior City."

Abrafo scoffed and said, "We found that this version of the story was not true."

U-ri said, "Maybe the story of the Northern King and the Immortal King might not be the same."

Yul said, "We don't have any evidence to confirm our suspicions, so now that we have rescued the villagers, we should head to Dreake Kingdom."

Hajime said, "Well... maybe there is evidence to confirm our suspicions. If we could find it."

Abrafo looked at Hajime and asked, "Where can we find such evidence?"

Hajime said, "There is a cave in those mountains where the Immortal King and his soldiers are recorded, but no one knows where it is. A villager said that a woodcutter once discovered the cave, but because he died soon after discovering the cave, the other villagers did not follow the woodcutter's marking to the cave, fearing that they would suffer the same fate as the woodcutter."

Abrafo said, "Or it could be a lot of gossips."

"Well, the only way to know if this cave exists is to look for it," Hajime said. Hajime stood up, closed his eyes, and made a fist with his right hand. When he made a fist again, three wolf-wood figures and a wooden black panther appeared in his palm. He put the wooden figures into his cross bag, looked at the four Tanzanies and smiled. "Shall we go to find the answers to our suspicions?"

U-ri said, "I voted yes. Because this is already deepened in my mind, and I won't be able to sleep if I don't have an answer."

Hajime looked at Abrafo and Michio. He asked, "What about the two of you?"

Abrafo smirked and said, "Why not? Now that our mission is over, let's find a new one."

Michio said, "Uh... if everyone goes, I will go too."

Yul said, "Let's see if we can find the cave, but after three days, if we can't find the cave, we have to go to Dreake Kingdom."

Abrafo said, "I want to go to Dreake Kingdom and meet Baishui and eat delicious food, but I can still bear it. Why are you anxious?"

Yul said, "Because Hajime's time is running out."

Michio looked at Hajime with a pale face and asked, "What? Hajime is sick. Why didn't I know?"

U-ri knocked Michio's bald head and said, "Stop shaving your head, leave some hair to save some senses. Hajime's time was running out, and it wasn't because he was sick. Hajime's time is running out, because soon we have to go back to the temple to let Master Yuuto to deliver the baby."

Hajime turned to Yul and asked, "Are you worried that our six months may not be enough time to get the fourth key without disturbing Huoyan?"

Yul nodded.

Hajime said, "Okay, three days. If we can't find this cave, we will leave in three days."

Abrafo asked, "What about the villagers?"

U-ri said, "I suggest we tell them our intentions. Maybe they can point us in the direction, and we don't have to blindly search this cave without a destination."

Yul said, "Let's set off after breakfast."

As the rising sun casts a rosy hue in the morning sky, the villagers returned with some fish and some berries. The villagers gathered around a small campfire and began to grill the fish over an open fire. An hour passed, and Niǎo came into the pavilion with five fish and some berries. Niǎo placed the five fish and berries on the wooden bench next to U-ri.

U-ri picked up one of the fish and handed it back to Niǎo. "Four is enough for us," he said.

Niǎo said, "But there are five of you."

U-ri said, "Hajime won't eat meat during this period."

"Oh, let me get you some more berries," Niǎo said, but U-ri quickly stopped him.

U-ri said, "Sit here and chat with us."

Niǎo smiled, took the fish, and sat next to U-ri.

Michio walked over to Yul and Hajime, who were sitting across from them, holding a fish and berries from an elephant leaf.

Abrafo took a bite of the grilled fish and asked, "Uh...Old Niǎo, can I call you old Niǎo?"

Niǎo laughed and said, "Of course. Everyone in the village calls me Niǎo."

Abrafo said, "I heard about the Immortal King and his soldiers from Hajime. You, you do know this story, right?"

Niǎo said, "Yes, this is the beginning of our village. We worship the Immortal King; he is the savior of our ancestors." Niǎo sighed happily. "Without him, there would be no Dongxue Village."

U-ri asked, "So, do you know the cave that recorded the history of this Immortal King?"

Niǎo said, "Oh, I don't know where this cave is. According to the oral accounts of the older generation, a woodcutter once discovered this cave, but the woodcutter died soon after returning home. It is believed that the woodcutter died because he entered the holy place dedicated to the Immortal King. Since the woodcutter's death, no villager dared to look for the cave, so the location of the cave is still unknown to this day."

U-ri asked, "Can you point us in the direction where the villagers think the cave is?"

Niǎo's jaw dropped, and its mouth opened wide. "I can't..." He said with trembling lips.

Yul asked, "Why not?"

Niǎo said, "Because you all are our saviors, it would be wrong for me to send you to death."

Abrafo coaxed by saying, "Old Niǎo, listen, we have an adventurous spirit, and we dare to go where others dare not go. You see, if we really find that place, it will be a great thing for the villagers."

U-ri said, "Abrafo is right. If we find this cave, your village will be able to worship the Immortal King in the right way."

Hajime said, "Sir Niǎo, if you want to thank us for saving you and the villagers, please point us in the direction where the villagers think the cave is."

Yul said, "We're still going to move forward whether you tell us or not, but it would be more helpful and save us time if you help us."

Niǎo thought for a moment and pointed in the direction of the river. "According to the elders' words, this cave should be somewhere on the other side of the river."

Yul said, "Thank you. We will leave after breakfast."

Niǎo asked, "Aren't you going back to the village with us?" He looked at the five Tanzanies who shook their heads in unison.

U-ri said, "If we find the cave, then we will return to the village in three days to tell you. If three days have passed and we have not returned to the village, it means that we cannot find the cave and travel to Dreake Kingdom." 

Yul said, "Please tell the three monk brothers not to look for us. We will return to the temple in six months."

Niǎo said, "I'll let them know. Have a safe journey"

After breakfast, the five Tanzanies watched the villagers return to Dongxue Village carrying the children on their backs. Hajime put his hand into the cross bag and threw the two wooden eagle figures to the ground. Soon, the eagles came to life.

"Flying will save us time," Hajime said as he and Yul walked towards the two eagles.

U-ri smiled and said, "This old man agree." He quickly followed Hajime and Yul towards the eagles with Abrafo and Michio.