Chapter 251 - Darkness (II)

"The way I understand it," I said, trying to somehow simplify my already simplistic understanding of how light functions. "How we see the world is a reflection of light. Think about it--how does the world look like at night? Dark, vague, indiscernible. Yet, if we shine a bit of light on it, everything suddenly becomes visible. But it also all depends on what kind of light we shine--is it red? Then everything now has a reddish hue. What if it's faint light? The shadows are still dark and everything seems ever so slightly muted. An extremely bright light? Colors are now blown out, sometimes so much that they swallow the shape itself.

"As I understand, that's what it means to distort the light--you're not creating an illusion for someone's perception, you really are altering the natural state of things. Think of the mirrors and how they can show distorted reflections if you crack them. Maybe something like that?"

Honestly, that's probably as good as it was gonna get. I already have a rather simplistic and quite vague idea of what light is and how it behaves and it all stems from those physics classes I had in back in high school over twenty years ago.

Whether it made sense or not, he made a rather thoughtful expression and fell silent as I shifted my focus to the side where I saw Lao Shun staring at me. Shit, I forgot this guy was here.

"... what?" I asked.

"I'm beginning to get the sense of why you're qualified to be their Master." I really doubt that, but go off.

"If you ask me," I said. "There's probably like six people truly qualified to be their Masters."

"No doubt," he nodded as both our attentions shifted over to the spat between Dai Xiu and Wan Lan.

Their relationship, at least from what I could glean, developed in a both predictable yet slightly unorthodox manner. There's a lot of competitive sibling energy between them, though most of it comes from Dai Xiu while Wan Lan seems to mostly indulge her.

At the same time, though, after each of their spars, they'd both sit down and actually talk about it, with Wan Lan offering advice and Dai Xiu pretending to ignore it.

"What are your plans now?" Lao Shun asked and... I didn't really have a straight answer for him.

The broad plan, as I understand it, is to eventually go after the Sages. But I'm not really sure where on timeline does that fit; there's still that ordeal with the Eternal Edge Mountain and the token they gave me. I kind of lost count, but it's just over two years away I feel, so the question is... do we go after the Sages before or after?

And I just don't know. Mostly because I'm not sure just how strong the Sages are.

I will say, though, that the voice that boomed throughout the city gave off a feeling that was stronger than Hua's. There was a good chance that at least one of the Sages was in the realm above the Demigod, a realm whose name I didn't even know yet.

And for all their talents, the kids were still in just the Foundation Establishment, and I was merely in the Revolving Core.

"I don't know," I replied honestly. "We are headed north. That's about as good as it gets."

"North? To the Sunless Forest?"

"Hm."

"Oh. Don't tell me you're one of those hoping to find the Garden?"

"... and if I am?" I prodded for information.

"I suggest giving up," he sighed. "Alchemy Tower has tried finding it for literal centuries, but to no avail. If there is a Garden somewhere therein, it is hidden behind arrays that cannot be seen through. Most people believe that the darkness is the greatest hurdle to overcome, but, from what I've heard from some of the Seniors that went there, it's rather the easiest.

"There are demonic beasts that prowl the leafed paths, entirely unseen and adapted to the lack of light. Virtually every expedition had to be cut short as either too many would die, or they'd run out of healing pills and powders."

"You never went yourself?"

"Hah. As if," he scoffed, though it wasn't really targeted at me or even the question, but more so at himself, it felt. "I was considered once, a long time ago, when I was still an Apprentice. But that's as far as it got."

He fell silent and so did I.

My only knowledge of this area came from a very vague man I once saw in the Spirit Sword Sect. I was going to look for one in the city but, well, one thing happened and then another, and I just... never did.

But the little spat I had with Long Tao weighed on me.

The kids survived and even thrived in the chaos of the city being invaded.

Maybe it really is that they'd do much better with constantly pushing themselves?

"We'll check it out," I said. "Maybe we get lucky."

"Hm. Maybe."

As the kids finished the morning sparring session by being brutally beaten by Long Tao (who was yet to use a sword at all, even when all kids attacked together), and a half an hour to heal the bruised skin (and egos), we packed up and started trekking northward through the forest.

The trees looked to be mostly birch, tall and thin with somewhat naked branches. It made sense, I suppose, as it really did seem like the Autumn was fast approaching. The days were growing shorter and much colder, and though it didn't really rain all that frequently, most of the days were quite overcast.

We passed by a rather lovely creek where I saw a rainbow-colored frog the size of a housecat yank a fly-like thing the size of a hummingbird from the air and swallow it in one, big gulp. By the edges, there was a stag with interwoven, marble-white antlers bending forward and drinking, its beady eyes darting around cautiously.

Further up a nearby tree was a strange-looking owl, four-winged and red-feathered.

It honestly felt like walking through a strange, alien zoo of sorts with how many animals were just... there. Though they appeared alert and on guard against us, since we kept our distance and didn't bother them, none of them ran way or looked like they'd attack.

At some point, a tiny multi-colored sparrow abruptly landed on Dai Xiu's shoulder and 'sang' a few notes as the girl laughed gingerly, reaching over and gently patting the bird's head with her finger. Following the brief grooming session, the sparrow spread its wings and flew away, joining a tall nest well above us.

Quaint.

It's a feeling I've been missing for a long time.

Also a reminder that, as with all things, this world was built on nuance. Not everything and everyone was struggling for dominion of things; if anything, the vast majority of living were simply, well, living.

And nothing quite captures the ethereal beauty like the fleeting moments of life in all its ever-shifting forms.

There was still that little paranoid voice in me reminding me that the greatest storms come after the greatest calm. But, for once in my life... I chose to ignore it.

Come what may, I'll struggle and survive, and help these kids unfurl their own wings one day the best I can.