Blood spoke with quiet gratitude, his words carrying a subtle warmth. "I'm perfectly fine and thank you for your generosity. Once morning comes, we will be on our way. It's been very kind of you, elder."
At last, he decided to remove his hood, revealing his flawless face to the open air.
Ballock was taken aback by the transformation. Blood's bearing had changed immensely, replaced by what he could only describe as a perfect demeanor. He was rather speechless, realizing he hadn't truly paid attention to him earlier when he first awoke.
Master Alley, on the other hand, paled; his hand trembling at his side until he gripped the shelf to steady himself, regaining composure with difficulty.
This kid was beautiful. What a flawless face, hidden all this time beneath a hood.
"Ha‑haa, you may stay as long as you wish." Master Alley said with a laugh, though his voice betrayed his awe.
"Thanks! But it won't be necessary. We have urgent matters to attend to, and we are needed elsewhere." Blood declined politely, his tone firm but courteous.
"If you don't mind, where are you going? Perhaps we could be of help in guiding you or finding a safer route." Master Alley offered, his words careful and respectful. Even after Blood revealed his face, he didn't seem to recognize him.
"We are heading to Bland Town. We want to gain some insight into war tactics." Blood replied impassively.
"Yes, that's true. Bland Town is currently embroiled in war, though they seem to be gaining the upper hand thanks to an unknown group who joined them later. You should be cautious. This is one of the hardest ways to gain battle experience." Master Alley warned gravely.
Blood was surprised to hear that an unidentified group had joined the conflict. He asked the elder for more details, and slowly many things began to make sense.
However, what puzzled him most was the timing: today marked the tenth day since the disappearance of the now‑popular son of Sand‑Scale City's Ninth Division Commander, and only the third day since the first battle.
This troubled both him and Ballock greatly, since they had spent thirteen days in the Red Domain—how could it now be only the tenth day? And considering their return two days ago, it meant; it was the eighth day when they had arrived at Young Miss Kate's yard and thirteenth day in the Red Domain.
"And another thing." Master Alley continued sternly, pulling them from their thought. "Since you're going to Bland Town, you cannot pass through the normal route. Although I don't know your cultivation realm, with your appearance, you still cannot take that path—it has been infested by a Horned‑Monkey tribe who, just days ago, received a newly advanced Wing Monkey.
He suddenly drew out a map from his spatial pouch and handed it to Blood. "You guys definitely don't want to know how powerful it is. Steer clear of that place. Instead, take this route; it is closer to Bland Town."
Blood thanked him earnestly as he folded the map. He had no knowledge of what realm a Wing Monkey might belong to, and combating such a beast had never been part of their agenda. The thought alone unsettled him—it was best to avoid that place entirely.
Ballock sighed, his expression heavy. The information truly helped, even though they had no strategy worth mentioning. Still, it had given them clarity. It was far better than wandering blindly. At least now they understood what they were stepping into.
Blood looked at the Warp Tree Twig once more, his gaze lingering on its trunk, but he shook his head afterward.
Master Alley caught the look and smiled broadly. "Do you recognize this tree? It's called the Warp Tree. Our first village head brought it back a hundred years ago. He gave it the name himself."
Blood had read about Warp Village and its first head, but he hadn't realized this was the very tree that had been carried back then. The village had taken its name from it.
No wonder its bearing was entirely different from the others he had seen. Being the first, it should have been the highest grade the village had ever achieved.
"Oh! So, this is that tree!" Blood exclaimed in astonishment. "I read it's sold as timber, at a higher price than ordinary wood."
"Yes." Master Alley replied with a nod. "That's what has sustained the village from the beginning. Its bark is unlike normal tree trunks, so naturally the price is higher."
"I see." Blood said softly. Then, under his breath, he muttered, "What a waste."
It was indeed a waste of resources. The villagers, including Master Alley, had no idea of the treasure they possessed.
It wasn't that travelers never passed through Warp Village. Rather, most simply did not know its uniqueness. The villagers themselves sold Warp Trees as timber or for basic uses, blind to their true potential.
"What did you say?" Master Alley asked, not clearly hearing Blood's mutter.
"It's nothing." Blood replied, walking toward Ballock.
The village head shook his head and left soon after, leaving the duo alone and giving them the full room to themselves.
Together, they returned to their quarters. They spread the map out and compared it with Kate's version. Strangely enough, her map had never mentioned any infestation, which made Master Alley's warning all the more unsettling.
When they finished studying the map, they exchanged a few quiet words and decided to rest once more.
The two lay down, letting sleep claim them for another round, waiting until the sky cleared to continue their journey.
___
The sky was clear, and the radiant light of the rising sun dispersed the last traces of dark clouds. Soon, the night was gone, leaving the room bathed in a gentle glow.
Two figures lay on their backs upon the soft bed when a knock reverberated against the door, interrupting their rest.
The door was soon answered, and the face of an old man greeted them. Ballock rubbed his hand across his face, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
"Masters, it's already time. Any longer than this and you won't make it in time. It's a pity you will miss the opening of the battle." Master Alley said calmly.
"Oh! We will be with you shortly." Ballock replied, and the old man nodded before leaving.
Phew…
Ballock exhaled deeply. After some time, they emerged wearing their hoods and found their horses already prepared. Master Alley stood nearby, waiting patiently.
"We would like to thank you once again. You have been truly generous to us." Blood expressed with deep sincerity.
"Hehe, it is nothing." Master Alley replied, unwilling to refute the gratitude.
"I promise this won't be our last meeting. Perhaps by then, you will recognize me—for from now on, we shall be the ones steering waves." Blood said, gesturing toward Ballock beside him.
Master Alley simply nodded, though doubt remained in his heart. He didn't understand the meaning behind those words and chose instead to interpret them in his own way.
"There is nothing of significance with me at present." Blood continued, "but the next time we meet will be entirely different."
With that, they mounted their horses and departed. They took new route, since they had to avoid the infested path if they wished to escape the horde of monkeys.
The villagers watched silently until the two disappeared from sight.
"There is a strange feeling." Master Alley muttered to himself. "It is as though I have lost some kind of opportunity. Yet at the same time, my mind feels perfectly fine with losing it."
Those thoughts soon faded, vanishing like mist beneath the morning sun.
___
Two horses glided through the forest of sundering trees at incredible speed, their hooves striking the earth with rhythmic force. The rushing air lashed against the riders' faces, making it increasingly difficult to breathe, yet neither of them slowed down.
According to the map they had received, their destination would be reached in five hours—thanks to the quality of the mounts they rode.
"What do you think of Elder Alley?" Blood broke the silence, his voice carrying over the wind.
Ballock exhaled with a thoughtful expression. "Haa… he is a good man, I must say. But his intentions are clear. The village needs help, and most cultivators who pass through do not stay. They prefer their own tents instead." He paused briefly before adding,
"Although they make some profit from the Warp Tree trunks they sell, it is not enough. The village is declining, and he is the only one among them who has reached the Bronze Realm."
Ballock suddenly asked uneasily. "Shouldn't we have told them about the uniqueness of their Warp Trees?" His voice carried a trace of conflict, as though the decision was weighing on him.
Though their choice had seemed necessary at the time, part of him wondered if it had been the right thing to do.
Blood shook his head, his reply was plain. "As much as I'd love to, it is best we don't. With their current predicament, they would announce it without hesitation just to draw attention. But that would be a poor decision, because they simply do not possess the power to protect the plants. The entire village would be raided to the ground."
It was one thing to own a treasure, and another to protect it. Warp Village was barely a grade two settlement, and defending a soul‑related treasure so highly sought after by peak powers was impossible. Their fortune could turn into disaster overnight.
An example was Sand‑Scale City itself, which might one day be crushed beneath the weight of its own vulnerability.
Ballock didn't refute him. Instead, he nodded silently and focused on the path ahead, his eyes narrowing against the rushing wind.
[Accumulated Exp: 200]
Blood's gaze darkened as he read the words. His once vast pool of exp had been reduced to a mere 200 after redeeming one more skill. The cost had been steep—35,000 Exp. But the Eclipse Eater skill appeared essential for what awaited them.
The battle wouldn't be easy. Courage alone might not be enough.