NovelYeni #241 - There is a dark forest here
#241 - There is a dark forest here
Late at night, Gu An returned to his residence at Peak Beyond Peaks.
He rarely returned to Sky Suspension Peak these days, and when he did, it was only to feed Noodles.
He was still logging recently, but the numerical accumulation was very slow.
The application had already been submitted, and it remained to be seen whether he could log better wood.
The probability of being rejected was high.
After all, Team Two's strength was too weak, even with him as the leader.
But the strength was there.
Mid-stage Golden Core.
The upper limit of logging trees had already become apparent.
Continuing to open it up would be dangerous.
But Gu An couldn't let them know that his nascent soul was complete.
Those trees no longer posed any harm to him.
Even stronger ones wouldn't cause much damage.
Or rather, stronger trees were more suitable for him to chop.
Early morning.
The last day of November.
Gu An called Pang Wen and Shu Ci over.
"Is the team leader going on a mission?" Pang Wen asked.
Gu An looked at the two and nodded, "Yes, I will be departing with the Law Enforcement Hall's team tomorrow.
I don't know how long this trip will take, so I'll leave Team Two's affairs to you."
Gu An didn't say much about the specific instructions.
Their abilities were decent.
Let them figure it out themselves.
He only had some experience with expansion.
When it came to management, he might not be better than these people.
Although his cultivation was high, he had been exposed to too few things.
His related vision was also somewhat different.
As long as there were no accidents, he would let them handle it themselves.
If anything else happened, he would deal with it when the problem arose.
At least he hadn't seen any signs of problems yet.
There was no need to guide them in their work.
Afterward, Gu An asked about Yu Tu.
"His injuries have just recovered, but he's been wanting to log. I refused and told him to adjust his condition first and improve his cultivation," Shu Ci said.
Gu An nodded, "Where does he live?"
"In a house near the forest. A new place has been built there," Shu Ci explained.
Afterward, Gu An asked about the others.
Shu Ci reported on them one by one.
They were all cultivating.
The two of them were currently waiting for a mission to arrive.
In addition, Pang Wen said that the main courtyard had originally targeted him, but now it had completely stopped and was even quite caring.
In the mission hall, no one would speak disrespectfully. Pang Wen also said that rumors about Gu An were everywhere at Peak Beyond Peaks.
Gu An didn't care about this.
He also told them not to take it too seriously.
Otherwise, it would be easy for something to happen.
Pang Wen and the others nodded, saying they would be careful.
After they left, Gu An went to the logging forest.
Sure enough, he saw the newly built house at the edge.
It was a courtyard with six rooms.
Two on the left, two in the middle, and two on the right.
Currently, only the first room on the left showed signs of habitation.
Gu An walked over and knocked on the door.
He found that no one opened the door, and after sensing it, he found that no one was there.
Gu An was quite surprised.
Then he entered the logging forest and finally saw Yu Tu logging at the Thunder Wood location.
He still looked somewhat mature, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.
He was quite sturdy.
Slightly dark-skinned, he looked very much like a woodcutter when he chopped wood.
Gu An didn't disturb him but stood there, watching him log.
Yu Tu was at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Logically speaking, chopping Thunder Wood would put a burden on his body.
However, his body was like a spring, constantly emitting vitality and nourishing his body.
Allowing him to withstand the damage from Thunder Wood.
Not only that, but even the previous serious injuries seemed to make his body even more resilient.
Was this a special physique?
Gu An was slightly surprised.
If he hadn't achieved Nascent Soul, learned the Chapter of Qi, the Chapter of Seven Emotions and Six Desires, and the Blood Fiend Great Shift.
He might not have been able to see it.
After all, the changes in Yu Tu's body were very subtle.
But it did exist.
When he was at the logging yard at night, Gu An felt strange.
Why was it that when the other party was at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Refining, logging Thunder Wood not only didn't make him listless, but the longer he did it, the more energetic he became?
Even his cultivation could be improved.
In contrast, Senior Sister Zeng was almost fundamentally injured.
But Yu Tu was not only fine, but his cultivation had also improved.
Besides, he was only in his teens or twenties.
To be buried like this, his talent must not be easy to show.
But his childhood sweetheart must have seen it.
Otherwise, why would she suppress him so much?
She was also afraid that one day the other party would leap up.
While Gu An was thinking, a tree crashed down.
At this time, Yu Tu was about to change to another tree to chop, but when he turned his head, he saw Gu An.
He was first surprised, then respectfully said, "Gu, Senior Brother Gu?"
"It's me." Gu An nodded and came to him, saying, "Is your injury healed?"
Yu Tu patted his chest and said seriously, "Y-yes, it's healed. I, I can continue logging."
Gu An came to the fallen Thunder Wood, sat down, and said, "Sit down."
Yu Tu was a little restrained, but he still sat on the side.
"Peak Beyond Peaks is not a safe place. If you want to return to the inner sect one day, just tell Pang Wen or Shu Ci," Gu An said.
Peak Beyond Peaks was actually quite safe. There were fewer people here than in the inner sect.
There was also infighting, but it wasn't that exaggerated.
But he was different from others.
Now, because of the Merit Hall, there were many good voices.
And the addition of prestige had caused many ambitious people to restrain themselves.
When he came down, and after this period of time passed.
Then the problems would gradually become apparent.
In addition, his becoming a peak master's disciple should mean that he was about to be drawn into some kind of vortex.
Perhaps one day, the vortex would appear.
That was also dangerous.
Yu Tu immediately said, "I, I . . ."
He looked at Gu An, his eyes with a strange light, seemingly not wanting to leave.
Gu An didn't say much, but just said, "It won't be long before you can establish your foundation. You are a genius. In a few years, your cultivation may surpass mine.
Whenever you feel you can leave, you can leave at any time."
Yu Tu's expression changed again and again, and finally he asked, "I, I am a genius?"
"Aren't you?" Gu An asked back.
Yu Tu seemed to remember a lot, and finally said, "I, I am a fool. They all say that about me."
Gu An looked at him and remained silent.
Yu Tu was born in a small place. He grew up with his childhood sweetheart.
At first, they should have been the closest people.
But after coming to the sect, the intelligent childhood sweetheart recognized everything and developed selfishness.
And Yu Tu, guarding the past, became the ignorant "fool" in her mouth.
He was deceived, teased, and insulted by his childhood sweetheart, and his parents lost their dignity because of him.
Yu Tu lowered his head, a little uneasy and helpless, "Actually, actually I thought a lot, I, I still don't understand, I only know who is good to me, I, I want to be good to whoever is good to me.
But, but I didn't expect that it would, would be this kind of result.
But, but I know now that I have today because of Senior Brother, I will repay Senior Brother."
Gu An looked at his uneasy, helpless, and firm appearance, and said softly, "It's okay, you are still a teenager, the road ahead is still long, and one day you will be able to distinguish clearly."
"Teenager?" Yu Tu pointed to himself and said, "I am no longer a teenager."
Gu An got up and looked at the sky, saying, "Is a teenager defined by age? A teenager should have a brave heart, not afraid of the years, not afraid of the wind. The east wind cannot wake up a teenager's dream, and life cannot smooth a teenager's heart.
One journey of mountains, one journey of water, where in life do we not meet.
Even if we part and never return, we can still meet in our dreams."
Gu An lowered his eyes, looking at the remaining soil beside him, and said, "Work hard, your future is still long."
Brave people usually have a firm heart.
They will strive and see the height of mountains and the distance of roads.
Gu An himself couldn't do it; he was old and no longer had that much courage.
He only dared to do some things when ensuring his own safety.
After that, Gu An stepped away and left.
Yu Tu sat in place, silent for a long time.
Unsure of what he was thinking.
That day, at noon.
Gu An appeared at the Law Enforcement Hall to inform them that he would be on a mission tomorrow.
To register.
The fairy responsible for registration looked at Gu An as if she were looking at some rare person.
After Gu An left, she said to the people around her, "Look, that's him, the most prestigious person in the sect recently."
"Ah? That's him? He looks a bit old; I thought he was a young senior brother."
"Yes, he's a bit ordinary, unlike some senior brothers and sisters. Could it be a mistake?"
"No, it must be him, but he is indeed a bit ordinary. Maybe he just got lucky, and he will slowly be forgotten after a while."
"It's a pity. I wonder when those senior brothers and sisters we are paying attention to will be known to everyone."
Gu An felt that these people were quite superficial.
Judging people by their appearance.
This is also good; everyone thinks he is an accident.
Then no one will pay too much attention.
It will be much safer.
Unexpectedly, being old also has this kind of benefit.
The next day.
Gu An came to the peak outside the peak. The mission was for him to wait outside the peak.
After a while, a flying boat appeared outside the peak.
Four people were standing on it.
Gu An jumped up.
He saw a group of people being controlled in the middle.
There were about fifty or sixty people.
Besides Gu An, the guards watching them were the five people he had just seen.
Gu An stepped forward and respectfully performed a greeting ceremony: "Gu An greets senior brothers and senior sisters."
The leader of these four people was a man who looked to be in his thirties.
Mid-Nascent Soul cultivation.
The other three people included a female Nascent Soul early stage cultivator who looked quite aloof.
There were also two others: a male Golden Core Completion cultivator, about twenty-five or six years old, who crossed his arms, looking quite sturdy.
The last female cultivator, Golden Core late stage, looked to be in her early twenties, holding a cyan long sword in her hand, with very high standards.
When Gu An looked at her, he always felt that the other party was slightly disdainful.
"Everyone's here, let's set off then," the leading man nodded slightly and said.
On the way, Gu An finally found out the names of these people.
The leading man was Lai Yunlong, a disciple of Qianchen Peak, with mid-Nascent Soul cultivation.
The Nascent Soul early stage fairy was Zai Qing, a disciple of Lingzhu Peak.
The sturdy Golden Core Completion man was Shi Jing, a disciple of Yu Ling Peak.
The last Golden Core late stage fairy with high standards came from Tianxuan Peak and was named Xia Li.
Gu An thought for a moment and realized that the cultivation levels were in order.
He was the weakest.
Then the small realm went up.
However, this time he came, he only needed to listen to the arrangements.
It takes more than a day to get to Linghua Valley.
Gu An quietly watched over his post.
This was the task given by the team leader.
The other party didn't say anything about other tasks, and he didn't ask.
Since he wasn't very popular, it was useless to say anything.
Fortunately, it was just escorting and then digging mountains.
The next day, in the afternoon.
Gu An breathed a sigh of relief; everything was going smoothly.
Now they had arrived in front of a mountain range.
This was the Linghua Valley's breeding farm.
Gu An looked at it and found that a corner of a mountain peak had collapsed.
Perhaps the collapse that Pang Wen mentioned was that place.
When they arrived, they saw a group of buildings.
At this time, three Nascent Soul early stage experts were staying here.
"Fellow Daoists from the Cangmu Sect?" the middle-aged man in the lead asked.
Lai Yunlong walked over and said, "Our people have been delivered. What are you planning to do?"
The middle-aged man looked at the people on the deck and said:
"Naturally, we will enter that area and dig out the buildings below."
"Lead the way then," Lai Yunlong said.
Gu An was quite surprised; was it that simple?
He thought they would exchange pleasantries for a long time and then find a good day to start digging.
After a while.
They arrived in front of a cave.
The middle-aged man pointed to the cave and said, "The collapsed place is inside. Also, because of you, I am no longer sure if the cave is safe.
You'd better be well-prepared before entering."
At this time, Lai Yunlong turned to look at Gu An and said, "Junior Brother Gu, you first take a team of people in to take a look, then determine the location, and come out to report the situation."
Gu An nodded.
His team was the weakest and unfamiliar with them, so dangerous things would naturally be handed over to him. "Also, anything obtained inside must be returned to us," the middle-aged man said.
Gu An just nodded and then led a team of people inside.
Lin Rou and the others were all in this team.
"Senior Brother, what if something happens?" Ran Qing asked.
"Senior Sister is worrying too much. Everyone says his achievements are high, but he was sent out, which means everything remains the same.
Otherwise, why send him, such a high-achieving person, to do this kind of task?
If something happens, it means he is not skilled enough.
The Merit Hall can't say anything.
Otherwise, the Merit Hall would have intervened long ago," Xia Li said disdainfully:
"Everyone says he is so admired at Tianxuan Peak, but he is just a clown.
His strength is too weak.
He just got lucky and obtained the Lingzhu; otherwise, he is nothing.
It's just an accidental component.
No matter how good your luck is, you need to have enough strength.
Otherwise, you will be swallowed by disaster sooner or later."
Gu An walked in front, not caring about the conversations outside.
Although they spoke softly and used talismans, Gu An's cultivation was too high.
The Aura Chapter and the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Chapter made him more aware of things than others.
He could only sigh; these people didn't even use better talismans.
Afterward, Gu An entered the cave, cautiously watching his surroundings.
The people from Linghua Valley also sent a Golden Core cultivator in.
"This senior brother, actually, it's not that dangerous here. We've been in here many times.
There may only be danger in the collapsed places; just follow me," the man who looked to be twenty-five or six said.
Gu An nodded, following the other party, but as he walked, the released blood spirit suddenly disappeared.
He paused and said, "Wait a moment."
For a moment, everyone was a little surprised.
The man leading the way curiously said, "What's wrong?"
"Something's not right ahead," Gu An said.
He tried to sense it but found that his perception was hindered.
It seemed that something had formed a formation.
But to the naked eye, there was nothing.
"Perception is hindered? It's okay; this is normal; just follow me," the man leading the way said with a smile.
Gu An was silent for a moment, but still followed, continuing to release the blood spirit to investigate.
He always felt that this cave was not safe.
"Our people have also explored it and seem to have discovered a forest deep inside; the things there are affecting this place," the man leading the way said.
Gu An was stunned.
A forest?
Can it be cut down?