Nightmare Shuttle

Chu Yi's eyebrows raised faintly, even though golden feathers were not rare among the bird species, birds that are completely golden like this one were almost unheard of. The golden bird flapped its wing weakly and tried to move but the arrow lodged into its wing only made the blood running down his wing flow even harsher.

He turned to look at Ling Zheng, in his conceptions, elves were the most compassionate and loving to creatures in nature. However, when his eyes locked onto Ling Zheng's cold expression he couldn't help but be shocked. In the face of the dying bird, a cold sneer wrought his lips and the slender dangers moved behind him to grab another arrow as if he wanted to shoot again.

Such a paradox shocked Chu Yi. 

The bird flapped weakly a few more times before seeming to give up, crying woefully. On its head, a pale golden circle appeared. Chu Yi instantly felt a change in atmosphere, Ling Zheng's previous indifferent look was suddenly stained with eagerness and need. The bow that had never left his side was dropped carelessly and he quickly ran forward, standing before the stunned golden bird. 

He lifted his hands and bit harshly onto his index finger, sharp teeth quickly piercing the flesh and letting droplets of red blood flow from the wound. Ling Zhen raised a hand and smeared the glaring red blood in the center of his eyebrows before bowing solemnly.

"The dead have a place where they should go... and you have worked hard to accompany them through journey after journey. It's time to part ways. The Guardian Tree will guide you but you must let go of this vessel."

"Whether darkness or light, the spirits of the mountains exist to unite with the elves. The fountain of life has withered and the spirits shall take their place. Everything must return to the roots."

Ling Zhen raised his slender palm forward and gradually stretched it out to face the bird. His palm slowly flattened upwards, as if waiting for someone's hand to hold his hand.

"Spirit of the Mountain..."

His expression was solemn: "It's time to let go. Untie the restrictions of the mortal world, and let those vessels go. I assure you, all-cause and affect those who did not commit evil will not and should not get a bad result."

"And those who did evil and has contaminated the breath of the earth." Ling Zheng's eyes flashed a sharp light, shallow and cruel. The thin lips spit out cruel words mercilessly: "They should be sacrificed to the guardian tree, welcome its divine judgment, and repeatedly recall the evil they have done in this life in the pain of hell."

"Become the light that feeds the elves."

Chu Yi seemed to see a golden glow rise from Ling Zheng's body and slowly infiltrate into the bird's body. There were ripples in circles, and even the surrounding scenery was blurred in a golden mist.

Under his curious gaze, a translucent figure slowly emerged from the bird's body.

Ling Zheng's eyebrows were bathed in an enthusiastic light and he immediately started chanting solemnly in the air. The figure that came from the bird's bodies seemed to grow more and more solid for every incantation that Ling Zheng spoke.

In Chu Yi's eyes, the spirit that emerged was divine and compassionate. It had no face but Chu Yi seemed to see two golden eyes staring down at him. Ling Zheng beside him suddenly opened his mouth and began to sing. Like a sacred ritual but also like a curse. Chu Yi beside him suddenly felt his head throbbing painfully as if a hammer had been smashed against his skull repeatedly! The face that had been rosy from the wine suddenly became completely bloodless and the red lips suppressed a groan.

Ling Zheng beside him did not notice his abnormality, in his green a strange and greedy light suddenly burst forth and the singing from his throat only grew stronger!

The song seemed to be able to take people to a distant time, to see the masts of the pirate ship under the moonlight, the ancient and broken market taverns, and the silent castle corridors in the middle of the night. The melody and interlude change back and forth and shuttle through the different scenes!

The bustling scene of the Middle Ages was turned away. Joy and loneliness coexist in the unique sound of the trembling voice, and freedom and desire overlap, which was like a distant echo of a time once forgotten.

Various voices were mixed, and the cries of the spirits were always present, ringing in his ears. The spirit looked at the handsome young elf in front of her gently as if some sadness, stretched out a golden hand, and slowly put the soft palm with rounded lines into Ling Zheng's outstretched palm.

"The time is nearing."

"Please save them. Please save the children" A golden light suddenly lit up in Ling Zheng's hands. and the spirit was abruptly sucked into Ling Zheng's body without a trace before it could finish speaking as if it had been swallowed by a bloodthirsty beast. The bird's figure had turned into a pitch-black like the darkest night. The beady eyes stared at them as if in shame and condemnation.

Chu Yi took all this in, the pain receding quickly, he could already smell the deep conspiracy defusing in this forest.

Ling Zheng gasped lightly and a contented expression appeared on his face that seemed to glow with a healthy light. He glanced at Chu Yi behind him but did not explain the previous scene instead he walked over to the bird still impaled to the tree and yanked the wooden arrow out of its wing. The body of the blackbird fell to his feet and he picked it up by the neck, checked for any signs of life before throwing it back to the ground disdainfully. 

He didn't wait for Chu Yi to catch his wits and immediately started walking again as if the previous scene was nothing but a lowly disturbance. Chu Yi raised an eyebrow from behind and slowly followed.

The red eyes raced with a multitude of thoughts. He didn't know if it was an illusion but Ling Zheng seemed to have, changed or lost something but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

They traversed through the heavy green terrain and passed a variety of different fauna before finally appearing at their desired destination.

The elves' place of residence truly deserved its reputation as a wonderland. Not far away was a huge sparkling lake. On its shores were a few white unicorns leisurely eating grass. Some elves were brushing a unicorn's hair, and all of them were very beautiful. The whole scene was like something out of a lovely fairy tale.

However the minute Chu Yi stepped past the hanging vines that fell from the large trees enclosing the clearing, the first thing he noticed wasn't the quaint houses in the tribe nor the elves walking gently dressed in pure white garbs.

But instead, in the middle of the cleaning a large, majestic tree stood. The branches of the tree appeared lush, but it didn't give off a vibrant feeling. Only one-third of its leaves were green. The rest of the leaves and their stems were black. When the branches of the tree were shaken by the wind, no birds flew out from its deathly stillness.

Before he could take a closer look, Ling Zheng's name was suddenly called from afar. Looking up the first thing he saw was a hunched old man. The old man stood before the wooden gates of the Elf village and stared at them with cloudy grey eyes. Beside him, strong and tall elves stood guard around him and stared vigilantly at the two who walked into the village.

Ling Zheng's face changed when he saw who had beckoned to him and without a moment's hesitation, he hurriedly trotted over to the old man and knelt before his feet. "Elder–"

The old man waved his hands and rough palms like bark quickly pulled Ling Zheng to his feet, "No need for that Xiao Ling, don't show your humbleness in front of the guest." Besides I am no longer the elder.",

"But–"

"Ling Zheng."

Ling Zheng dropped his head but did not speak anymore.

From behind him, Chu Yi came forward, smiling faintly at the old man. The sense of discordant and weirdness only increased the moment he locked eyes with the old man. Without letting his emotions show on his face, Chu Yi naturally bowed to the elder, "My name is Chu Yi and I was lost in the forest, but thankfully Ling Zheng guided me here to appreciate this wonderful land."

The old man's eyes wrinkled with a smile, although his sclera was cloudy, Chu Yi had the illusion of being pierced through. The old man nodded at him and patted Ling Zheng's wrist, "Take the guest to the human dwellings and provide adequate clothing and food for his short stay."

Ling Zheng frowned and pulled his brows but under the serious gaze of the old man he could only stand up and gesture to Chu Yi indifferently, "Let's go."

Chu Yi didn't say much and followed, when he turned his head back one last time, red eyes locked with cloudy gray. A dark light brewing in his depths. The old man looked away first, staring at the half-dead tree in the center of the village with an unknown emotion.

The closer they got to the presumed human dwellings, the stronger the smell of sweat and male hormones became. A rowdy and raucous cheering erupted in his ears and when they finally turned the corner, what came into was a large group of grappling men. Shirtless sweat dripped from their bulging muscles as they cheered the brutal fight happening on the platform. The sound of flesh hitting flesh and the violent slamming sent blood and teeth flying. The atmosphere was cruel and exciting.

Ling Zheng's face twisted in disapproval and he immediately shook his head and walked away, leaving only Chu Yi to stand there like a sheep that had strayed into a wolf's den. He didn't know if it was because of the charm buff but soon enough Chu Yi had attracted the attention of the sweaty men. White skin, slender limbs, and a beautiful face. Chu Yi was very different from the group of soldiers and with his difference comes a sense of suppression. 

There was a yell from the platform.

Red eyes snapped to the side, "Hey– Little weak chicken, why don't you come up to play with your father, I."

The man stood on the platform and crossed his arms on his chest, yellow teeth raised in a provocative sneer and the man at his feet was lying unconscious in a pool of his blood. The men laughed uproariously and the man's chest only raised higher, he didn't care for Chu Yi's opinion and continued to speak 

"I have to be fair don't I. If I win, you have to accompany me for the night."

Red lips slowly turned down.

"If you win...." The man smiled vulgarly, "I get to accompany you for the night."