Chapter 14: Preparations and Departures

The village chief, with a firm look and a tone that brooked no argument, instructed Xue Sha: "Go upstairs and take everything you need. Remember, you may be in the forest for up to a month. Once you have everything, we leave."

Xue Sha, with an energetic "Yes," stood up and began to climb the stairs quickly. "Don't run, you'll fall!" the village chief warned with a voice that carried the weight of experience.

"It's okay, it's okay," Xue Sha replied, moderating his pace but maintaining the urgency.

Upon reaching his room, Xue Sha proceeded to gather his belongings. He opened cupboards and drawers, and on the bed, he placed everything he considered necessary for his journey: suitable clothing for the forest, useful tools, provisions for several days, and some personal items of sentimental value.

Once everything was on the bed, Xue Sha took each item and, one by one, introduced them into the space of the ring. His previous practice with the ring made the process quick and without setbacks.

With everything safely stored in the ring, Xue Sha descended the stairs and presented himself before the village chief. "I'm ready," he said confidently.

"Let's go," the village chief replied, and they both left the house. They walked together to Zhu Long's house, where they would take the last steps before heading to the forest in search of the soul ring.

The door to Zhu Long's house resonated with three firm knocks. Zhu Xiang, Zhu Long's son, hurried to open it, and upon seeing Xue Sha, said respectfully: "Chief, please come in," while gesturing with his hand inviting them to enter.

The interior of the house was bathed in the dim light that filtered through the rice paper windows. Zhu Long, a man of imposing stature, was sitting on the floor on a meditation cushion, surrounded by five children who stood up respectfully upon seeing the visitors enter.

Yu Wen, the youth who had awakened the martial spirit of the dragon, had a penetrating gaze and a posture that radiated confidence. Liang Bo, linked with the spirit of the shadow, kept slightly apart from the group, his presence almost as ethereal as the spirit to which he was bound. Liu Kang, the swordsman, reverently held his weapon, which rested in his lap. Feng Mian, the one who awakened the mental threads, watched the scene with perceptive eyes, while Wei Jian, the crow's, remained silent, with a look that seemed to see beyond the obvious.

All, in unison, greeted Xue Sha with a simple but firm "Chief," to which he responded with a nod of the head.

The village chief, with a look that passed from one youth to another, as if evaluating their readiness, addressed Zhu Long with a tone that mixed seriousness with confidence: "I leave them to you, make sure to protect them." Then, he turned to Xue Sha and, with a touch of warmth in his voice, added: "And you, Xiao Xue, take care of yourself." Without further preamble, the village chief turned and left the house, leaving behind Xue Sha and the other children, who were now under the tutelage of Zhu Long.

Zhu Long observed the six children standing before him, each with a backpack loaded on their shoulders. "Do you have everything?" he asked with a voice that resonated with authority and paternal concern.

"Yes," they responded in unison, with determination reflected in their young faces.

Zhu Long noticed that, unlike the children, Xue Sha was not carrying a backpack. He was about to ask why, but then his eyes landed on the ring that Xue Sha wore. It was a simple ring, but it emanated an aura of power that could only be perceived when looked at closely. Understanding that Xue Sha was prepared in his own way, Zhu Long nodded to himself and said nothing about it.

"Follow me," Zhu Long instructed, and all obeyed without hesitation.

They left the house and headed towards the village entrance, where carriages occasionally passed. Zhu Xiang, with the curiosity of his youth, looked at his father and asked: "Dad, can we take a carriage?"

Zhu Long shook his head. "No, we will walk to the city of Nuoding. It will be good training," he replied firmly.

Despite some murmurs of complaint heard among the children, none challenged Zhu Long's decision. With youthful energy and a touch of reluctance, they followed Zhu Long, who set the pace by running towards the City of Nuoding.

After several hours of marching, Zhu Long and the children finally arrived at the great gate of the City of Nuoding. Exhaustion was reflected on their small faces, their breaths were heavy, and their steps, increasingly slower. All seemed to be at the edge of their limits, all except Xue Sha, who, although clearly tired, only showed a slightly deeper breathing than usual.

Zhu Xiang, with the pleading look of someone who has walked beyond their strength, addressed Zhu Long with a mix of hope and fatigue in his voice. "Dad, can we take a carriage to the forest?" he asked, almost out of breath.

Zhu Long looked at the children and after a moment of reflection, in which the children's fatigue weighed more than the discipline of training, Zhu Long nodded with understanding. "Alright," he said with a soft, yet still resonant voice, "once we exit the west gate, we will take a carriage."

A collective sigh of relief escaped the lips of the children, and their drooping shoulders rose slightly, as if the very air they exhaled carried away some of the weight of their fatigue.

"Let's go," Zhu Long encouraged, and with renewed spirit, the group entered the bustling city.

As they made their way to the west gate, they passed by children dressed in blue uniforms with golden embroidery playing in the streets. Crossing a busy market, Zhu Long stopped at an apple stall. "Give me eight apples," he requested firmly. The vendor, with agile movements, selected the reddest and juiciest fruits and informed him of the price: "It will be one silver coin."

Zhu Long paid without haggling and returned to the group, handing an apple to each child. The crisp and juicy bites broke the silence as they continued their way, and for a moment, the sweetness of the fruit made them forget their fatigue.

Finally, they exited the west gate and found themselves in front of a row of carriages. Zhu Long approached the driver of one of them and asked how much the trip to the Captive Soul Beast Forest would cost.

"Five silver coins," was the quick response.

Zhu Long nodded, handed over the payment, and helped the children into the carriage. With a creak of wheels and a gentle trot of horses, they left the city behind, moving away from the hustle and bustle and closer to the wild nature that awaited them.

Upon arrival, they disembarked from the carriage and found themselves in a place that resembled a village, but there was something peculiar in the atmosphere. People could be heard shouting with excitement: "I have permission to enter the forest, we need one more person!" while showing a token that seemed to be the key to the adventure that awaited them.

The first thing they did was look for a place to rest. After a brief walk, they found a hotel that seemed cozy and suitable for their needs. They approached the reception and Zhu Long, with his usual serenity, asked: "How much would it be for one night for four rooms?"

The receptionist, a middle-aged man with a kind look, replied: "It would be four silver coins, sir."

Zhu Long nodded, took the coins out of his pouch, and handed them to the receptionist, who in return provided them with four keys. Zhu Long gave one key to Xue Sha and distributed two more among the children, indicating that they should split into two groups of three to occupy the rooms.

"Go up to your room, I have to look for something," Zhu Long told them with a voice indicating there was no time to lose.

The children nodded, and some headed to their rooms, eager to explore the space that would be theirs for the night. Meanwhile, Zhu Xiang and Wei Jian approached the receptionist and asked where the bathrooms were.

"On the first floor, at the end. When you are on the first floor, you will see it," the receptionist informed them with a smile.

"Thank you," said Zhu Xiang and Wei Jian in unison, and they went up to the first floor in search of the bathrooms.