004 Tree House

Xing Ning flew steadily on his sword beside me, keeping pace with surprising skill as we left the village far behind. After a few minutes of silent flight, his voice carried over the wind.

“Senior Wo Li, where do you plan to go now?”

I couldn’t really answer him while in this shape. I’m an eagle, darn it. I let out a sharp, frustrated eagle screech in reply.

“Kraaaw!”

Xing Ning sounded genuinely confused. “Uh… Senior? Was that a yes or a no?”

Okay. What did I know about camping? First, you’d need gear. My druid equipment should be fine, along with the many abilities at my disposal. How about the camping itself? I guessed there was hiking involved. Yeah, let’s start with that.

I circled wider around the dense forest below, using my sharp eagle vision to memorize various landmarks from rocky outcrops, winding rivers, and clusters of ancient trees that stood taller than the rest. Xing Ning followed closely the whole time.

Whoa… Wait a second… This seemed easier than I imagined.

My memory had never been sharper before. Every detail etched itself into my mind with perfect clarity. When I felt confident I had a good mental map of the forest around us, I descended smoothly toward a clear spot by the river and released my Wild Shape.

Power flowed back into my human form as I landed lightly on the grassy bank, robes and staff reappearing as if they had never left. Xing Ning followed, sheathing his sword as he gracefully touched down beside me.

“We’ll walk from here,” I told him.

I led the way into the treeline. The moment I stepped forward, the wildlife literally opened a path for me. Bushes parted gently, low branches lifted out of the way, and even the tall grass seemed to lean aside, creating a natural trail through the undergrowth.

Xing Ning’s eyes widened in shock. “Senior… how are you doing that? The forest itself is making way for you!”

I glanced back at him with a small shrug. “So, why are you following me, anyway?”

He sounded a little doubtful at first. “Um… Because I’m thankful, senior. More than that, I felt uncomfortable in the village. They don’t take kindly to strangers.”

I nodded and kept walking. “How did you end up here anyway? What’s that about secret realms?”

Xing Ning fell into step beside me and began explaining. “Secret realms are pocket dimensions or hidden lands that appear in our world from time to time. They contain rare treasures, ancient inheritances, powerful spirit herbs, and sometimes even fragments of old dao insights. Many sects compete fiercely to enter them when they open. My own sect entered one not long ago. It’s probably a secret realm connected to the Emerald Verdant Forest that is about to open here. I got separated from my group during the exit and nearly got killed by some fierce beasts. If it weren’t for Village Leader Li Ming saving me, I would have died.”

I recalled the village I had just left. I thought it had been my imagination at the time, but I was fairly confident now that I thought back to it. That ‘village’ had been alive. Like, the very land and structures had a life of their own. Or maybe I had seen it wrong, since I was still new to the superpowers my class afforded me, despite the inherited memories from Nevle.

I asked, “Can you tell me more about the village?”

Xing Ning nodded. “The place is called the Hidden Village of the Leaf. It’s not really one village, but an organization scattered across the continent. They guard secret realms, grave sites, ancient altars, and other important places. They stay neutral in most conflicts and are respected by many sects.”

I flinched at the name. “Please tell me they’re not ninjas.”

He looked genuinely puzzled. “Huh? What is a ninja?”

Okay. At least I knew I wasn’t in some weird crossover.

I stopped walking and stared directly at Xing Ning. “Now, spill it. What do you really want from me? You’ve left the village. You can go on your separate way and just leave me alone.”

Of course, I would appreciate the company, but I knew nothing about this guy. I could tell he was a ‘young master’ even at a glance, considering his fine clothes and that unmistakable aura of privilege he carried.

Xing Ning hesitated, then bowed slightly. “I am sorry, senior, if I’ve been rude. Please protect me.”

Huh? Excuse me?

He took out a flat steel pendant fashioned like a small badge, tied to his waist, and explained, “This is the Steelmark, a sect treasure. There’s another one like this back in the sect. It tells my location, allowing the sect elders to locate me. I might not look like it, but… I’m a bit of a big deal in my sect. You will be rewarded most generously, senior, if you protect me! I promise! I’ve seen your righteous spirit, senior, so I wish to entrust my life to you.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Okay, sure,” I said.

Xing Ning’s eyes lit up with obvious relief and excitement, as if I had just handed him a winning lottery ticket. Like I said, I could use a gofer… er… I mean, a guide! Yes, guide!

I tried to play it cool as we walked and hiked deeper into the forest. The terrain gradually grew rougher, but I kept my tone casual while feeding my curiosity. “So, earlier you mentioned a continent. What’s this continent called? Tell me about it.”

Xing Ning looked thoughtful for a moment, carefully stepping over a fallen log as he answered. “This is the Earthly Heart Continent, Senior Wo Li. It is vast with many nations, countless sects, and endless mountain ranges and forests stretch across it. While I don’t know much about the rest of the world, I’ve heard stories of foreigners from other continents arriving by sea or through ancient teleportation arrays. But I’m not sure if those stories are true. The oceans surrounding our continent are said to be extremely dangerous, filled with terrifying sea beasts and violent storms that can swallow even Nascent Soul cultivators whole.”