Victim of Ambition

Huan Liwei left the town and went into the forest. Sometimes he would check the surroundings. That's why Huan Wei was following at quite a long distance. Once in the forest, it would be easy. That forest would become Huan Liwei's grave. He just didn't know about it yet. Who knew that one of the town's losers would suddenly start killing people? Huan Wei had always killed people who couldn't fight back, but this was the first time he was facing someone who could fight back.

However, unlike Huan Liwei, Huan Wei had no time for girls. Since he couldn't raise his cultivation level either, he had upgraded his sword skills in his spare time. He could wield the sword with both hands. Or he could use both hands at the same time. He had also practiced using it with both hands to increase the power of his blows. In fact, the trees in this forest were full of cut marks from his sword training.

The initial levels of cultivation would not create insurmountable differences between individuals. The real difference would be in choosing a Path after reaching the Explorer stage. Those who valued pride, honor and justice usually chose the Path of the Divines. One had to be in one of the Divine Regions to choose this path. Although this path is called the Path of the Divines, not all gods came this way. Some gods chose the Path of the Blood and ascended, but to choose this path, you had to be in one of the Corrupt Regions. People without big dreams would choose the Path of the Earth because it was easier, but their limit would have been set. Because the Path of the Earth would soon reach its limit and the person who chose it would no longer be able to develop their cultivation, but until you reach your limit, you can meditate wherever you want and increase your cultivation.

The last path was the Path of the Alone. It had become a legend for the world. In the world, those who walked the Path of the Alone were only told in stories. They were far superior to those who chose other paths and were strong against all paths, but the Path of the Alone could only be entered at a Temple of Solitude. And the Temples of Solitude were lost. No one knew where it was. That's why no one walked the Path of the Alone.

Huan Wei also trusted that they had not yet chosen a path. Because the path had not been chosen, the only difference between him and Huan Liwei was that Huan Liwei's energy would be slightly stronger than his, but because he didn't know a technique, he would have to use his weapon. Huan Wei, on the other hand, was confident. If he couldn't use a sword better than a simple stooge like Huan Liwei, he should have died. All his efforts would have been in vain.

So Huan Liwei entered the forest and started to move deeper into the forest. Huan Wei didn't want to lose sight of him. So he hid behind the trees. He wanted to take him somewhere. A meaningful place for Huan Wei. So he let him go on his own for a while.

Huan Liwei was walking along the edge of the cliff. He continued to examine his surroundings. He was eager to find the energy field that Huan Wei had told him about. If he could use it for himself, perhaps he could reach Huan Quon's level. Because Huan Liwei was also stuck at the Traveler stage. He was sure that if he used the medicine Huan Quon had given him, he would be able to break through the bottleneck. That's why he was progressing rapidly.

Some time passed. Huan Liwei had slowed down. He had never been in the forest before. Now that he had come this far, he felt uneasy. He stopped and looked around. Perhaps he had passed his destination? After all, Huan Wei couldn't have gone this deep. There must be dangerous monsters further up. It didn't make sense to go any further. He was too far away from the town.

Seeing that he intended to turn back, Huan Wei came out from behind the tree and waved to him. "Brother Liwei!"

Huan Liwei looked at him. "Huan Wei. Why are you here? I told you to mind your own business."

Huan Wei walked over to him. "But this is my job. I am a hunter, remember? I set traps and hunt useless animals."

"Right, I forgot." Huan Liwei looked around once more. "There is no place here like you said."

"No, there is. Actually, you're almost there. Or were you turning back?"

"It's dangerous further into the forest. We shouldn't go that far."

"Or is brother Liwei afraid?" Huan Wei stepped in front of him and started walking. "Have you informed brother Huan Quon?"

Huan Liwei tensed a little. "Yes, I did, but he asked me to come here and check. If it is true, he will come himself."

"I understand. If you don't intend to go back, I can show you."

Huan Liwei looked deep into the forest. "There is no way you could have gone this deep. It will be bad for you when Huan Quon sees through your lie."

"Lie? What would someone like me have to gain from lying to Huan Quon? I'm not that stupid, but it seems you're a little scared. Maybe you should go back to town. I'll check the traps I set."

Huan Wei walked a little away from him. He was going into the depths. Seeing him walking without hesitation, Huan Liwei stopped. Huan Wei was always in and out of this forest. If he could move forward without fear, so could Huan Liwei. Maybe there were no monsters here. After all, if there were monsters here, Huan Wei would be dead already.

"Wait," he called after Huan Wei. Then he hurried to his side. "Okay, lead the way."

Huan Wei's evil smile settled in his soul again. "Sure, follow me," he said, looking at him, and walked on. Together, the two of them followed the cliff, passing close to the thickly leafy trees. Huan Liwei was constantly checking the surroundings. It was obvious that he was uneasy. Huan Wei was very relaxed. He knew there was only one monster in this part of the forest. And that was himself. He was the only monster to be feared.

When they had gone on for a while, Huan Liwei spoke. "I still don't see a place like you said, you said it was close."

"We're almost there. See those thick trees up ahead?" He pointed with his finger. "You'll start to feel it when we get there." Still, it was clear that Huan Liwei was getting suspicious, but they had to go a little further. So he had to make him forget his fear a little. "Can I tell you a story, brother Liwei?

"No need. I didn't come here to listen to your fairy tales." Huan Liwei rejected it outright.

"But I think you will enjoy it. Besides, the story is about this forest."

Huan Liwei looked around, but he was really uneasy. So he was going to accept it, in case it might relax him a little. "Tell me."

Huan Wei smiled. "Hundreds of thousands of years ago, sages lived in this forest," he began. "The sages helped people on the path of cultivation to gain the understanding they needed." And they were walking. "One day, someone following Path of the Blood came to them and asked them for wisdom. The sages did not want to help him. Because the people who chose Path of the Blood were people who had become close to demons. Their souls were darkening and they could only bring bad luck and evil."

Huan Liwei walked in silence. He didn't want to admit it, but he was intrigued. Huan Wei continued. "Path of the Blood follower was angered by the sages' rejection of him. Using one of his demonic techniques, he turned the forest into a corrupt region. Demons appeared and slaughtered all the sages. It took tens of thousands of years for the forest to return to its natural state. When the Corrupt Zone disappeared, the demons disappeared with it. Only this forest remained."

"Where did you hear that story? I've never heard it."

"I heard it from a beggar."

"Who else are you going to hear it from anyway?"

"You're right."

Huan Wei drew his focus with the story. So they walked until they reached the place he wanted. You could see the cut marks on the trees. Almost every tree had been cut many times. Huan Liwei put his hand on a tree. "These don't look like claw marks. They look more like they were made by some kind of sword."

"Yes, they are." This was Huan Wei's training ground. It was far from the town. It was even farther from the forest. It was a place where even if you screamed, no one would hear you. It was also one of Huan Wei's hunting grounds. He knew where all the traps were. "This way, brother Liwei," he said and walked. He stepped over one of his own traps. After a few steps, he stopped. "There, I can feel the energy field."

"Where is it?" As Huan Liwei eagerly walked towards him, he stepped on a well-hidden trap. Suddenly the trap closed and caught him by the leg. A cry of pain rose from the young man. "Fool, Huan Wei! You put a trap here!" He tried to free his leg. The thorns of the trap had sunk into his flesh and he was bleeding. Blood trickled down his leg. "Open the damn trap!"

Huan Wei's back was turned. When he slowly turned towards Huan Liwei, the evil smile in his soul was reflected on his face this time. "One of the useless animals was caught in a trap." he said in a mocking voice.

"You..." Huan Liwei had just realized the implication in Huan Wei's words. He tried to free his foot from the trap, but he didn't know where this thing opened. So he tried to force it with his hands.

Huan Wei watched his effort with a smile. "Come on, save yourself. I'm waiting for you." Indeed, he waited for Huan Liwei to save his leg. The injured man could not step on his foot. He staggered forward. Then he drew his sword. This made Huan Wei laugh even more.

"Huan Liwei. What do you know about masks? I bet you know a lot. Deep down, you're consumed with jealousy. You would give anything to have Huan Quon's life. That's why you didn't think to tell him when I told you about this place. You wanted it for yourself, but this place was just a grave to you. How does it feel to have walked into your own grave?"

"You think you can get away with this? You're finished. You're finished! When I get back to town, I'll tell them what happened and you'll be executed. And no one will cry for you."

Huan Wei also drew his sword. He pointed it at Huan Liwei. "Who said you could return to town?"

"Hah! You think you can kill me because my leg is injured? You're a pathetic loser. I'll kill you first, then I'll go back to town and get my leg treated."

Huan Wei rubbed the tip of his sword on the ground and began to advance towards him. "Your body will never be found, Huan Liwei. I will even blame some of my deeds on you so that your reputation will be ruined and you will be known as a scum. The scum you really are."

Huan Liwei gripped his sword tighter. "Come then. Come and I will send you on your way."

Huan Wei brought his sword up to his own eyes. He examined it slowly. After inspecting the sword from one end to the other, he looked at Huan Liwei and spoke.

"My sword is too dry."