Night of the Broken Gliph

Chui Yim stepped into the forbidden area, enjoying the fresh air while Chor Shing Chit continued introducing the place to Chui Yim as if he was teaching; it was difficult to get rid of occupational habits after working as a teacher for such a long time, after all. 

“The method of tattooing gliphs is the major difference in the North and South’s ideology, but Southerners do hunt for gliphic beasts too since every part of them comes into good use. From crafting a gliphist’s treasure, gliph weapon or even g-food, gliphic beasts are an irreplaceable source of precious ingredients. 

“Just that when compared to Northerners, Southerners value the never-ending cycle of nature more. Thus the rate of gliphic beasts hunted is normally maintained at a balanced rate. If the Lam dynasty discovers that the death rate of gliphic beasts exceeds their growth rate, they will shut off this place and only reopen when gliphic beasts increase in numbers, unlike the North where there aren’t so many restrictions and Northerners can kill gliphic beasts freely. Of course, it’s also because they have way more gliphic beasts than we do.” 

As the saying went, it was better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books. Despite having read about it in books, visiting the place personally while Chor Shing Chit fed him with information about the forbidden area made Chui Yim felt like he was introduced to a brand new world. 

True to the earlier statement, groups of twos—a clan disciple accompanied by an adult—-were a familiar scene in the forbidden area. 

As they made their way further into the area, Chui Yim and Chor Shing Chit came across a number of groups whom the adults gave a short nod to adults of another group before passing by each other. After all, they were currently in a forbidden area where regulations were looser than the outside world. Illegal activities were nothing new in the forbidden zone, and knowing this by heart, everyone tried to keep their distance. 

Chor Shing Chit stayed cautious, but not Chui Yim who was unaware of the happenings in his surroundings. “Wow! It’s the eternal spring blossom which can bloom all year-round until the end of its lifespan! What a great gliphic plant. It would’ve been perfect if I had it when I was serious injured!” 

Watching Chui Yim act like a beggar, plucking plant after plant that was even unknown to him and throwing them all into the worn-out bag Chui Yim carried everywhere, Chor Shing Chit’s face twitched. What was more was that no matter how much Chui Yim stuffed into his bag, the bag didn’t even bulge up slightly. 

Thanks to Chui Yim who was greedy even for the slightest profit, the pair moved at a snail’s pace towards the depths of the Engrave Mountain Range. Chui Yim also got increasingly excited as they ventured further in. 

The Engraved Mountain Range was indeed full of gems. Every gliphic plant here was of high class, and Chui Yim even found a dragon saliva straw aged over a century old. 

Being the main ingredient for the Spiral Dragon gliph on his double arm chambers, Chor Shing Chit had some knowledge of the dragon saliva straw, and he was aware that a century-old dragon saliva straw could cost more than 70,000 silver tales. 

As they went, Chui Yim felt that the Engraved Mountain Range was perfect for cultivating his style. The gains of cultivating at the mountain range for a day were equivalent to three days on the outside world! All of a sudden, his eyes lit up brightly. 

Chor Shing Chit followed his sight to see a small flower situated about a hundred meters in front of them. It was an ordinary fragile looking flower with a diameter no bigger than two fingers, growing within the crack of a rock. An odd sight, as it seemed like the stone had cracked to make space for the flower. 

“The rock bloomer!” 

Filled with excitement, Chui Yim dashed towards the flower. But Chor Shing Chit’s frowned instantly. “Careful!” 

He turned into a black shadow the next second and threw himself onto Chui Yim. 

Whoosh! Chui Yim’s head felt cool. A wound cut across his bald head. 

Chor Shing Chit had already stood up, looking in another direction seriously. A jet black eagle about a metre tall stood on a tree, its eyes screaming ruthlessness. 

Chor Shing Chit glared at the eagle as he chided Chui Yim sternly, “Are you tired of living? Have I not taught you that all precious treasures of this world are usually guarded by something? This is a grade three gliphic beast, the foggy night onyx eagle. I’m not its opponent without a weapon.” 

Seeing the eagle’s blood-stained beak, the knowledge that the blood belonged to him sent shivers down Chui Yim’s spine. If Chor Shing Chit had reacted even half a second slower, he might have been put to eternal rest here. 

Yet Chui Yim wasn’t someone to give up easily. After all, bold ones died of overeating, while timid ones died of hunger. 

I’ll bet on this! 

“Mr Chor, the more capable ones work the most. Help me block it while I snatch the flower!” Chui Yim shouted and went towards the flower right away. Chor Shing Chit nearly vomited blood in anger. This kiddo really wants to die early just for that stupid flower…

Still, he acted rapidly. As soon as Chui Yim ran towards the flower, the foggy night onyx eagle disappeared, and Chor Shing Chit saw it shooting towards Chui Yim. With a snort, he stomped hard on the ground with his right foot and vanished as well. When he reappeared, his right arm had turned into a black dragon that attacked the eagle. 

The eagle was taken aback as it didn’t expect the human to be so fast. It turned its knife-like beak towards the fist that was as black as itself to strike it.

Boom! 

While Chor Shing Chit tackled the eagle, Chui Yim jumped onto the rock at lightning speed, smiling in surprise at the sight of the tiny flower. 

The rock bloomer was a very high-class gliphic plant… and mineral. To be exact, it was both a high-class gliphic plant and gliphic mineral. If the dragon saliva straw was a treasure that cost more than 70,000 silver taels, this flower was priceless, and only could only come across it when luck struck. 

There’s such a rare treasure here!? This flower is considered a high-grade item even in the scrolls! 

“Why are you still staring into space!” Chor Shing Chit yelled, with blood at the corners of his mouth. He was injured during the fight. The foggy night onyx eagle was a very capable speed-type gliphic beast. Even if Chor Shing Chit was equipped with a weapon, he would only be on par with it. But now, without any weapon, the eagle had the upper hand. 

Covered in wounds, Chor Shing Chit vomited more blood out of anger when he saw Chui Yim staring at the flower blankly from the corner of his eyes. 

Chor Shing Chit’s yell pulled Chui Yim back to earth. He hurriedly put his bag on the ground and lifted the rock with his arms that possessed the strength of an adult and threw it in his bag like trash. The rock was swallowed by the bag and disappeared.