Chapter 126 – Sorrowful Partings

The Forbidden Region was as mysterious as it was hazardous. Its vast terrain could change without cause without following any recognizable pattern. What was a field of corpse-eating flowers one day would become a sandy desert or a battlefield filled with bodies the next. Everything was transient, all but a few landmarks. The cause was unknown or at least unknown to disciples of Ren’s level.

From the records he had studied, Ren knew there were two such permanent locations of relatively low danger close to the boundary near the Edge. It was one of the biggest reasons why the Edge was a popular point of entry. The Mass Grave was a gigantic pit in the ground from which undead corpses climbed out endlessly. Where the bodies came from was another mystery. One theory was that the dead from all over the Forbidden region were transferred there somehow, where they underwent the transformation into the yin creatures that crawled out. Another was that the bodies didn’t belong to real people but were closer to constructs of qi and illusion given form or vengeful ghosts, as some called them.

The bodies were usually in the early foundation establishment realm and not too difficult to defeat. The difficulty lay in the numbers. Unless someone strong had recently passed through and eradicated a portion of the undead creatures, they could gather into vast hordes of thousands, all shuffling around the Mass Grave, until they encountered the faintest signs of life. Then they would pursue it relentlessly until they snuffed it out. Ren lacked the endurance and defenses to fight such an inexhaustible enemy. Nor had he made any preparations to deal with those creatures in advance. This was another reason why Ren felt grateful that Mei Ling had chosen to go to the other location.

The other permanent landmark, the one Mei Ling had decided to head towards, was the Tree of Sorrows. There was far less known about it, as most entries about it said it was just a dead tree with a few ghosts around it. But occasionally something triggered a change, and for a few years after, the area around the tree would be teeming with lingering ghosts. While not directly harmful, their attacks were far more insidious and long-lasting. For those not warded against possession, they were the worst enemies.

As they headed in the direction of the purple glow on the horizon, Mei Ling one-sidedly revealed some of the techniques she was practicing alongside her cultivation. As long as Ren had known her, the girl had always been as interested in poisons as medicines, the very thing that had brought her to her master’s attention. In the years since, he had come to learn that her path involved poisons to a significant degree, including refining them into pills and consuming them. However, he had been unaware of her recent interests in ghosts.

Almost as if acquiescing and settling into rumors surrounding her, she had chosen to practice a method that required her to capture and subdue ghosts. She didn’t go into too much detail, but she claimed to have an affinity for it, and Ren was inclined to trust her.

“So what are you going to do once you catch one? Don’t tell me you’re going to let it possess you?” Ren, like most others, didn’t know much about controlling ghosts. After all, the common perception of manipulating yin creatures was closely associated with demonic cultivators.

Mei Ling responded with the weary acceptance of someone who has been asked the same question many times before. “It’s not truly a dark path like many say, just one suited to those with a yin attribute affinity. And I’m not killing people to turn them into ghosts, am I? No, I’ll just wield them like you do those swords. Or to boost my cultivation. After proper refining, ghosts can be as powerful as spirit beasts, and far fewer people are prepared to face them. And do you know just how many varieties of ghosts there are?! Somehow, they can all be found here! The forbidden region is filled with all kinds of yin beasts. It’s why that other sect, the Valley of Eternal Peace, is so interested in this place.” As she spoke, the tiredness was swiftly replaced with a spark of genuine curiosity and excitement.

Ren hadn’t known about that particular connection. “The Valley of Eternal Peace? One of the 8 biggest powerhouses of the continent? I’ve read about them from Jian Feng’s records, but how are they related to the forbidden region?” He inquired. It was in his best interests to learn all he could about possible competition over his neighboring territories.

Mei Ling was starting to really get into the explanation. “As you know, the forbidden region extends west and north from the Edge. The Azure Mountains Sect is said to control most of it, but because of how close this area is to their controlled border, a portion of the forbidden region extends beyond it. The Valley of Eternal Peace controls that portion. The records I found said there were countless wars fought over this territory in the ancient past, but because The Valley actually formed an accord with the Azure Mountains. Because they were geographically distant, they had to fight their way towards the forbidden region and only partnered with our sect to share the territory because they couldn’t extend any further.”

Ren was still missing their reasoning. He knew the big sects fought for resources all the time, but they should have exchanged the land for benefits that they could more easily control. “But why would they fight so desperately for this specific region, even risking overextending themselves? I know how powerful and valuable such places can be, but to go so far? Wouldn’t some other sect have taken advantage of their weakness and obvious desire?”

Mei Ling raised her eyebrows, her voice climbing in excitement, saying, “Exactly! Why go so far?! Those were the details I believe were removed from the records I was able to find! I’m not sure why, but the forbidden region in particular is of interest to them. And I think it’s because of the rumors I’ve heard about them specializing in wielding ghosts and undead. Although, I get the feeling it’s closer to a religion to them.”

An eerie, ululating howl echoed over the air, sending goosebumps rising on Ren’s neck.

“Maybe we should walk quietly. As fascinating as it is, I don’t think this is the place to exchange theories.”

Ren nearly jumped when an annoyed voice spoke up after a prolonged silence. “Finally remembered your place, have you, peasant? Aren’t you ashamed, relying on my kindness and chatting like you’re out on a walk in the garden?”

Lost in the information Mei Ling had revealed to him, Ren had nearly forgotten her senior brother, who was even now throwing out protective yang talismans.

‘Ren, do you think if I asked nicely, that annoying boy would drop the shield that’s scaring away the snacks?’ A hopeful voice rang in his head.

‘Hush now. He’s keeping us safe for now. We should be grateful. And this is only the first time we’ve entered this scary place. It’s better if we learn in relative safety, and then next time you can eat to your heart’s desire.’ Ren calmed the young snake coiled around under his sleeve.

Exactly as he promised Yu Ran, Ren intended to visit on his own once he made better preparations in the future. He hadn’t understood the appeal before, but now that he had seen the abundance of natural treasures found even on the boundary regions with his own eyes, the prospect of frequent delves was extremely alluring.

He heard a loud susurrus of a thousand fluttering wings sound above his head, but even to his divine sense, the skies remained hidden in an unusual darkness. Yet again, Ren was glad for the glowing shield of yang energy keeping away the nastiest predators.

They had gotten close enough to see the tree on a small hill not far in front of them. The trunk looked short, but the naked branches twisted far in all directions. It looked utterly dead, without a single leaf on it. From the distance, Ren could make out a partially obstructed crescent moon through its withered canopy.

‘No, it can’t be night yet! It hasn’t been that long since we entered. How could the moon have risen?’ Ren’s skin was beginning to crawl from the inaccuracies. Recalling from his memory, Ren was certain that the last night had been a full moon.

“...n’t gooo. "Staaay," a disembodied whisper reached his ears.

Thoroughly unsettled, Ren summoned 27 of his flying bamboo swords and warned Yu Ran to be on guard. Beside him, Mei Ling and Bai Kang were also on alert.

“You promised! How could youuuu?!" A faint wail came from all around him.

And the voices only began to sound more frequently. And with greater clarity.

“We were going to be together forever!”

“I’m all alone! Aaahh”

The voices belonged to both men and women, carrying a terrible sadness as they all wept about pained separations. Ren almost felt himself being infected by their sorrow, but the feelings found little purchase. As if their immeasurable sadness lacked intensity despite tugging at his heartstrings. He found himself oddly clear-headed. He bolstered Yu Ran through their mental connection, and the snake perked up where it had been drooping before.

Looking around, Ren found that Bai Kang’s position had shifted slightly until Ren was no longer covered under the light of the protective talisman.

‘This bast…’

Just then a voice screamed out with startling loudness.

“Why did you leave me? I can’t follow you into death!”

And the purple glow that had lit the horizon returned with a sudden luminosity. The dead tree looked alive with glowing pinkish-purple leaves, and they waved to a nonexistent wind. The ground around the tree was carpeted thickly by the same glowing leaves. Above that shimmering carpet, Ren could make out the outlines of dozens of floating figures. Most wandered aimlessly, but there was one that had its eyes locked in the direction of their group.

Long, dark hair drifted around her slim figure, and thick trails of bloody tears ran down her face. Her mouth stretched abnormally wide open in a silent wail, and it rushed toward them, its arms outstretched.

“Mei Ling! Whatever you’re going to do, you should do it now!” He needn’t have shouted because in the next instant a murky smoke emerged from the construct she had weaved and enveloped the attacking ghost. Then, with a whoosh, the smoke vanished along with the ghost.

Ren looked on with wide eyes as Mei Ling’s face contorted with effort, sweat pouring down.

Almost as if her actions had triggered a dinner bell, every single ghost’s head turned toward them. Even if the bodies stayed facing the opposite direction, their necks twisting grotesquely.

A thought lodged itself at the forefront of his mind. ‘I think it’s a good time to leave.’

Apparently he was a breath slow, as another had come to the same conclusion before him. The golden light of the shield was already a ways off into the distance.

‘This bastard!’ Ren was about to start off in the same direction when Yu Ran called out, “Ren, Mei Ling!”

Cursing softly under his breath, he returned to his friend who hadn’t moved, still locked in an internal struggle. The ghosts had crossed over half the distance to them by then. Scooping her lithe figure over his shoulder, Ren charged, his only thought to get away from the ghosts.