Part 4: Valley Lake

After he got into the carriage, he was holding the ring. He put the ring on his finger and sighed. He thought that he wasn't able to see his mother before leaving, but it's okay — he would return after four months. He took out some biscuits that his aunt had given him and ate. He wanted to give some to the carriage driver, but after thinking, he decided not to bother him now.

He started remembering his father when he said to him,

"Shi Lan, I really love you, that's why you must go to the sect. This place is better than home, okay?"

Shi Lan smiled and said,

"I understand. Thank you, Father."

After remembering this, he sighed again.

The carriage driver said,

"Young master, are you alright?"

Shi Lan got nervous and felt like he sighed too much. He smiled shyly and said,

"Yes, I'm fine, but I'm nervous."

The carriage driver laughed and said,

"It's okay. The sect leader said you're not going to the sect today. You'll go to the Valley Lake — this place is in the middle of the forest. You will live there for four months, and the sect leader's son will come to you in the morning and teach you some things."

Shi Lan smiled and thanked him for the clarification, but he continued,

"But you must be careful. People say that others have gone missing there. So don't go far."

Shi Lan got nervous but tried to appear unafraid.

After four hours, they arrived at Valley Lake. The carriage driver said,

"I'm sorry, but I can't go any further. The place isn't far — just go straight ahead and you'll find the house."

Shi Lan replied,

"Okay, thank you. I understand, sir."

He took his things and left. The weather was quiet, and the sun was shining. After half an hour, he felt a bit nervous,

"Didn't the driver say the place was close?"

But suddenly, a small bird with light blue feathers appeared. Shi Lan heard its sound and looked at it.

Shi Lan felt happy. He took out the biscuits, and when the bird saw this, it sat on his hand and started eating.

Shi Lan smiled and said,

"Who would've thought I'd find such a beautiful bird here."

After finishing the food, the bird looked at him, took his hair ribbon, and flew off quickly.

Shi Lan was surprised and shouted,

"No, wait! That's not food — you can't eat that!"

Shi Lan felt sad that his hair ribbon was taken. The bird stopped and looked at Shi Lan.

Shi Lan understood that the bird wanted him to follow and asked to confirm,

"Do you want me to go with you?"

But it didn't answer. Shi Lan felt shy,

"Is the bird waiting for me to speak?"

But the shock was when the bird said,

"Yes."

Shi Lan was stunned and shocked,

"D-Did you just talk!?"

The bird flew off, and Shi Lan followed it.

After two minutes, the bird stopped on a tree branch.

When Shi Lan realized the bird stopped, he felt relieved but found himself in a beautiful place — there was a waterfall, flowers everywhere, and fruits. Shi Lan couldn't help but stare at this beautiful place and forgot about his hair ribbon.

But then a beautiful white wolf appeared. When Shi Lan saw the wolf, he felt indescribable happiness — even his eyes sparkled.

When the wolf saw Shi Lan, he didn't feel the same and looked at the bird. The bird quickly fled and left the hair ribbon.

Shi Lan didn't care and stepped forward. He said in a soft and very gentle voice,

"Umm, is this your home? I'm sorry if I surprised you, but I was lost in the..."

"middle of the forest. Do you know a small wooden house nearby?"

The wolf ignored him and went to sit in a quiet place.

But silence wasn't for long. Shi Lan appeared again and said with a smile,

"Looks like you don't know the place. Okay, can I touch you?"

The wolf looked at him and walked away quickly. Shi Lan was surprised, but when the wolf saw Shi Lan didn't move, it stopped.

Shi Lan understood that the wolf wanted him to follow, like the bird — and he did.

All the way, Shi Lan asked the wolf many questions like:

"Where is your mother and father? Do you have siblings? Is that bird your friend?"

But there was no response.

Not long after, Shi Lan saw the house. He felt happy and turned to the wolf and gently said,

"Thank you, really. I didn't know where the place was."

The wolf ignored him and walked off. But before leaving, Shi Lan asked,

"Oh right, can you come here during your free time? I live here alone. I'll give you beef."

The wolf looked at him, nodded, and left.

Shi Lan was about to cry from happiness.

He opened the door and started exploring.

There were some old paintings, and the room was a bit large, and there was a bed. Everything was clean.

Shi Lan remembered that the Blue Sea Sect leader sent someone to clean the place, and he thanked this person in his heart.

He started organizing his clothes and preparing food.

He remembered his cousin, who was a great cook, and learned a few things from him.

After eating, he changed into white clothes. Before sleeping, he read from the same book The Cutest Animals Ever and thought about the cute white wolf.

He really wanted to touch it, but it's okay — next time, he definitely will.

After that, he went to sleep.

He thought the day passed quickly — even though it was nine o'clock, he wanted to sleep because he was tired.

Indeed, out of exhaustion, he fell into deep sleep.

**But elsewhere, someone was being beaten violently. That person had light blue hair.

A man with long black hair tied in a ponytail and a tattoo of a wild tiger across half his face asked:

"Why is Guo Zinshuo being beaten?"

The guard replied,

"He angered our lord because he let a strange young man enter the lord's favorite place."

The man was surprised and felt a bit sorry for his poor friend.

He went to a large room — everything inside was filled with gold and jewels.

The man bowed and said,

"My lord, I've come."

There was a man sitting on a chair, holding a white hair ribbon.

The man asked curiously,

"My lord, was that young man who entered your place killed? I feel sorry for him. He's a fool for following a bird."

The other man smiled mockingly and said,

"Yes, that's true. He's very stupid."

The other man felt terrified.

"Is he happy because he killed a foolish person!?"

This man was the Golden Thunder Emperor.

He asked:

"Mou Luen Sheng, what did the doctor say?"

Mou Luen Sheng replied,

"The doctor said that because you are going to enter the Realm of Destruction, that means you will sleep and become in the body of that wolf for a month, my lord."

He held the white hair ribbon, wrapped it around his finger, and smiled.

He remembered when Shi Lan said,

"Oh right, can you come here during your free time? I live here alone. I'll give you beef."

Shi Lan's happy expression was so funny — he looked like a little kitten when someone brings it food.

That thought made the Golden Thunder Emperor try to hold back his laughter.

Mou Luen Sheng felt terrified.

"Did he just laugh!? That's terrifying!"