Chapter 5: Towards the Central Forest!

Liu Haoyu enjoyed the slow, unhurried pace of life. He cherished the feeling of time flowing gently, like a calm river. Many of his actions were subconscious, and after experiencing fragmented dreams, he realized something extraordinary—his wishes seemed to manifest themselves without effort. The first time it happened, he had casually thought, 'I want a useful book for my desciple' and, to his astonishment, a book appeared in his hands.

The discovery of this newfound ability is because of the inability of Shi Yun to even recognize basic characters due to his impoverished upbringing. Though late, Liu Haoyu resolved to provide Shi Yun with an education.

Shi Yun truly treasures the first picture book he received from his master. Also, this was the first gift that he ever got from others. His parents died when he was an infant and his grandma could only raise him with difficulty. He never asked anything from her. He just understood everything early. Though he wanted to help his grandma, he was just a helpless child. It was unfortunate that his grandma died still worrying about him as she knew of her elder son's character and that he just had a wolf's heart. He did not even bother to take care of his elderly mother and what guarantee is there that he would look after his orphaned nephew after her passing?

As Shi Yun thought about his past, he became lost in a haze of sorrow. Liu Haoyu, noticing the boy's expression, looked at him for a moment before speaking softly. "Don't dwell on the past, Shi Yun. Your grandmother was a kind and virtuous person. Her soul has been reborn into a blessed life. As for those who wronged her, they will face their karma. No evil person escapes suffering, whether in this life or the next."

Shi Yun's eyes widened in surprise and then softened with relief. "Master, how did you know I was thinking about my grandma?" he asked, his voice filled with awe.

Liu Haoyu gently stroked his hair and replied with a warm smile, "Master knows everything."

Shi Yun stared at him, overwhelmed by emotion. 'Master… feels like… a mother. Is this what having a mother truly feels like?" The thought startled him, and he immediately chastised himself. How could I think that? It's so disrespectful. Master is a man! Yet, he couldn't help feeling deep inside that his master was both a father and a mother to him.

He glanced at Liu Haoyu, only to find his master chuckling softly, as if reading his thoughts. Embarrassed, Shi Yun's cheeks flushed red, and he stammered, "M-Master! I… I'm going outside to play!" Before Liu Haoyu could respond, the boy darted out of the room.

Liu Haoyu laughed heartily at the boy's reaction, then let his smile fade into a wistful expression. "I hope he always remains this happy and carefree as he grows," he murmured.

The next morning, the master and disciple set off from the town toward the Central Forest. This vast forest bordered all four regions: Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern Wilderness. Its central location gave it its name. Unlike the Eastern Wilderness, where mortals and low-level cultivators were predominant, the Western Wilderness was home to a majority of cultivators. The Northern Wilderness was known for its diverse races, including demons, elves, and the feathered clans. Meanwhile, the Southern Wilderness was dominated by evil cultivators, with the Dark Holy Church reigning as the most powerful among the dark and evil sects.

Throughout history, there had always been conflict between the righteous and evil factions. A century ago, a great war had erupted between them. Though the righteous sects emerged victorious, their victory came at a heavy cost. Both sides had since retreated to recover, but signs of unrest had begun to surface. Evil cultivators had grown bolder, causing chaos, and it was the mortal population that suffered most from their actions.

To reach the Central Forest, Liu Haoyu and Shi Yun hitched a ride with a group of mercenaries. The journey would take at least half a month, even with transportation. These mercenaries had just completed a mission delivering vital materials to the Jiuxiao Sect and were returning to their base. Their primary work involved hunting beasts and completing missions from the hall, earning valuable resources for cultivation. They also traded or sold beast parts, making their dangerous work highly lucrative.

Initially, the mercenaries had been attracted by the pair. Liu Haoyu's calm demeanor and faintly intimidating aura made people uneasy. However, the master's quiet composure and the boy's lively curiosity quickly won them over.

As they traveled, one of the mercenaries broke the silence. "Mr. Liu, we're curious—why are you heading to the Central Forest? It's a dangerous place, especially with a child."

Liu Haoyu opened his eyes and replied with a faint smile, "We have important matters to attend to. Thank you for your concern."

Before anyone could respond, Shi Yun chimed in proudly, "And my master is very powerful! He's the strongest person in the world!"

The mercenaries chuckled. "Haha! The strongest, you say?"

Shi Yun puffed his cheeks. "You don't believe me?"

"Of course we do!" one of them replied, trying to suppress their laughter.

"Hmph!" Shi Yun snorted, turning his attention back to the passing scenery.

"Your disciple is a good boy," a mercenary remarked.

Liu Haoyu smiled gently. "He is. Just a little proud."

"Aren't all kids? But he's clever, I can tell," the mercenary added.

A week into their journey, they were halfway to their destination. As they passed through a dense forest, arrows suddenly rained down on them.

"Master!" Shi Yun cried, startled, and instinctively clung to Liu Haoyu.

Liu Haoyu held him close, his tone calm and reassuring. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. Didn't you say earlier that your master is the strongest?"

The mercenaries cursed loudly. "It's those Dark Holy Church scum again!" one spat.

Hearing this, Liu Haoyu's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them.

The mercenary captain gave orders. "Stay calm! Everyone, get ready! Mr. Liu, please take cover under the seat with the boy. We'll protect you!"

Before the captain could finish, an arrow zipped toward Shi Yun. Liu Haoyu caught it mid-air with his bare hand, his grip crushing the arrow with ease. The mercenaries stared, stunned.

Liu Haoyu's voice was cold. "Don't worry about us. Focus on your fight."

His calm yet commanding tone sent a shiver down their spines as they prepared to engage the attackers.