Chapter 26: In the Forest

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The next day, Xiao Dong and Liu Jin set out for the Forest of Deceitful Whispers.

They bring two guards along with them, though they are there mostly for show. The guards may be older, but their cultivation level is not too different from theirs. According to Xiao Dong, there are no creatures in the forest that pose any threat to them. However, as the Young Master of the local branch, he is required to take them with him whenever he leaves the town limits.

Liu Jin guesses there’s no problem with this. If there was, Xiao Nan would have probably warned him about it the night before when Liu Jin told him he was going to the forest with Xiao Dong. Instead, the teen just wished him good luck.

While Liu Jin had crossed the forest on his way to New Moon Town with Xiao Nan, the two never strayed from the main path. It is only now that Liu Jin can appreciate the forest’s vastness. Steel-Skinned Trees rise high into the sky, and their leaves form a thick canopy that barely lets in any sunlight. Consequently, the ground is mostly devoid of vegetation, making it easy to walk on.

“Senior Brother Dong,” Liu Jin begins as a question pops into his mind.

“Senior Brother Liu! There is absolutely no need for you to call this one Senior Brother. The title is wasted on me!” Xiao Dong immediately objects. The guards look at their Young Master with surprise. Evidently, this is far from normal behavior from him.

Liu Jin sighs. He does not agree with Xiao Dong, but trying to fight him on this would only be a waste of time. He has learned that much from interacting with Xiao Heng.

Although their positions in the Sect are radically different, it seems like the two brothers are equally stubborn.

“Why is this forest called the Forest of Deceitful Whispers?”

For an instant, Liu Jin feels the urge to look to his side. When he does, he finds nothing. The forest is empty.

“I am actually not sure, Senior Brother Liu,” Xiao Dong says. “As far as I know, it has always been that way, but I have never bothered looking into the reason. The name never made much sense to us, so we started calling it the Whispering Woods in our reports to the main branch.” He turns to one of the guards. “You! Do you know why the forest is called the way it is?”

The guard quickly shakes his head in negative. The other is quick to follow suit. Xiao Dong frowns and strokes his chin. “I see. Well, if you don’t know, you don’t know. Continue as you were.”

The expressions on the guards’ faces make Liu Jin want to smile. They cannot believe what is happening. Who is this person? Their faces seem to be asking that. However, Liu Jin’s smile dims when the same weirded out gazes turn to his person and deepen.

Who is this person who can change the young master so?

That’s what those looks are saying.

“Even if you look at me that way, I can’t explain it either,” is what Liu Jin wants to say. He doesn’t, though. Considering his luck since arriving here, that would probably intimidate them somehow.

“I am sorry, Senior Brother Liu,” Xiao Dong says. “It seems I cannot satisfy your curiosity.”

He sounds so genuinely apologetic, Liu Jin regrets asking the question now. “It is fine. It was just idle curiosity. Nothing more. I was just wondering if it had something to do with the tradition we are taking part in right now.”

Xiao Dong’s face brightens. “Oh, if it is about the tradition, I can tell Senior Brother Liu all about it!”

Liu Jin just asked about it to waste time, but now it feels like he can’t just say that. He motions Xiao Dong to go on.

“As I am sure Senior Brother Liu knows, the forest is rich in Steel-Skinned Trees. They produce very durable wood which our branch sells. We also distribute the wood to other branches of the Xiao Sect. That is our major contribution to the Sect.”

Liu Jin wisely refrains from mentioning Xiao Nan had called this branch’s contributions immaterial.

“However, sometimes a Steel-Skinned Tree will grow to be a Gold-Skinned Tree! If you compare them to Steel-Skinned Trees, then Gold-Skinned Trees are superior in every way. It is the difference between Heaven and Earth! A single branch from a Gold-Skinned Tree can be sold for a lot of money.”

Like that, everything clicks in Liu Jin’s mind.

“Ah, so that’s how the tradition started.”

“Yes, that was my thought too.” Xiao Dong nods excitedly. “In the past, there was probably a groom who went out into the forest, found a Gold-Skinned Tree, and sold one of its branches. With that money, he was able to provide for his wife and family. People got the idea from him and started doing it as well. Eventually, it became common sense that ‘a groom who manages to find a Gold-Skinned Tree and presents one of its branches to his bride ensures a happy marriage.’ That’s probably how it began.”

Traditions are curious things that way.

“However, if that’s the case, there is no need for us to search for a Gold-Skinned Tree,” Liu Jin points out. To his surprise, Xiao Dong nods.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“It is as Senior Brother Liu says. Someone like me has no need to do so. As the local branch’s young master, I have all the wealth I need. Nevertheless, I want to abide by the traditions of my home. I want to make my bride happy. That is all there to it.”

Xiao Dong smiles as he says this. Liu Jin cannot help but think it is a pity his bride does not seem to care much for him.

Should he tell him about that?

As he contemplates what to say, a thrown knife travels through the air and lodges itself in Xiao Dong’s chest.

For a moment, there is silence as all four people try to comprehend what just happened. Even Xiao Dong looks at the knife in his chest in complete incomprehension. He cannot believe it is actually there.

It is not that the knife moved too quickly to be reacted to. Liu Jin clearly saw it passing through the air. It was not going so fast that it was beyond Xiao Dong’s ability to block.

Xiao Dong just couldn’t believe such a thing was happening. The act was so sudden he couldn’t comprehend it. Just who would dare attack the heir of the branch sect? For him, the notion was unthinkable.

A massive fist collides with Liu Jin.

It is a single second of perfectly clear intuition that allows Liu Jin to call forth his Qi and bring his arms up just in time to block. Even so, the impact knocks him back several meters. A large Steel-Skinned Tree cracks as his body collides with it.

Liu Jin gasps as he hits the ground. He struggles to get up. His vision is swimming. He hears fighting. He hears people.

What has happened?

What is happening?

“Well, well, well,” a familiar voice says. “Truly, the Heavens are kind to me. To think I would have a chance to take my revenge so soon!”

The one that speaks is a large man with a prominent beard. However, it is his Qi that jogs Liu Jin’s memory.

The man’s Qi is in the Nascent Realm.

“Did you think you could afford to humiliate the Black Bear Group’s Fifth Commander and get away with it?” The bandit asks. He cracks his large knuckles, a cruel grin on his face. “That guy is not here to save you this time.”