Nightmare Shuttle

Just as the red sedan breached the elf tribe, thousands of miles north of the camp, it was raining heavily. In the dark forest, two groups of people were galloping through the endless meadow. The people in front were all tall and sturdy like bears. With ferocious faces, they cursed loudly speaking words no one could understand. Someone took off the ax from their waist and threw it to the back.

The ax slashed on the head of the horse in front and the horse fell neighing wildly, and the man on him was thrown far away. Most of the people chasing behind slowed down, only one horse remained unaffected, the black horse took off with its hooves, and the man on the horse rounded his bow in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning split the darkness, bright as day, and the chase on the grass was illuminated, but it couldn't be seen in those dark eyes like a deep pool.

The arrow released!––

The man pulling the bow was soaked all over, and his wet face was calm.

No sound was made, but the person on the horse in front suddenly froze, and his heavy body fell into the muddy water.

The thunder continued.

After chasing more than 200 miles, the number of men and horses in the front has changed from fifty-three to seventeen. No, another man's neck had been pierced from the back to the front just now, and now there were only sixteen left.

Only one horse was left chasing behind, but the person in front did not dare to stop.

The heavy rain blocked too much movement, and they had lost their way, but the arrows behind seemed to carry eyes, and each strike took a life.

The grass was too slippery after it rains, the fast-running horse lost its balance, and the tall body immediately fell to the ground. Before he could hide, the dark ghost behind him had arrived, with a sharp knife and the cold rain running across his neck, those blue eyes full of fear stared at the sky.

There are fifteen more.

The rain was getting heavier, and this battle of life and death is not over yet.

"Fan Ling!" 

"Stop the chase!–"

The man paused only for a brief moment, looking back his eyes were cold. To retrieve the lost treasure he would stop at anything, even if it meant slaughtering the gods!

He nudged the horse forward, hooves clomping through the grassy forest, the thunder and rain continued to light up the heavens.

***

The whistle of the flute was almost inaudible amongst the pouring rain, the low crescent rising sharply before falling like the curve of a rollercoaster, the somber and melancholy notes falling onto the ears like a cold knife.

Something akin to a ghost slowly walked out of the shadows and walked towards the carriage, the man's long hair slowly billowing behind him and the colorless pupils stared at the white lanterns emotionlessly.

"Elder Ling!"

The row of elven warriors fell to their knees with a low thump, the man did not spare them a glance, his eyes continued to gaze distantly at the carriage as if seeing something through them.

At this moment, there was a loud commotion amongst the carriages. When the soldiers looked over, one of the carriages had unexpectedly overturned, the women inside falling out, and two of them scampered up to escape!

The shrill cries of the startled women instantly turned the night chaos and the people inside the clearing were woken up by the sudden noise.

Elder Ling's face finally changed, he pulled his lips and spat a ruthless command, "Catch them–"

A group of eleven warriors rushed to the overturned carriage, with bows and arrows in their hands, they roughly pulled the women from the ground and shoved them into another already packed carriage.

Someone pulled up a bow and arrow and aimed it at the escaped woman. The arrow in the rainy night glowed with a cold light–

The air was still for a moment, the elf's finger curled around the tail of the arrow before suddenly releasing. In the shrill sound of the wind tearing, the woman's body jerked and fell to the ground. 

The arrow lodged through the thin cloth on her back, and smashed through her ribs, with a cry, she spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed into the mud, life and death unknown. 

The elf lifted a hand to pull out a second bow to shoot again but another commotion came from beside him!

Tang Shun's eyes snapped open, without hesitation he rapidly moved from where he was and shoved a hand out of the barbed window to grasp at the elf standing right beside the carriage! Before the arrow could leave its string, the elf was disrupted by Tang Shun's hand that hit his shoulder!

The arrow fell short of his target–

Before the elf could pull his bow again, the woman disappeared into the forest unseen.

***

"Do you know the legendary myth, about the elves?"

"Cold. Emotionless. Free from desires."

Chu Yi finally turned his head towards him, feeling the cold breath in his ears, inexplicable shivers racked his body. "Speak well–"

The man chuckled and slowly rubbed his chin against Chu Yi's neck, "No creature is born without emotions– Chu Yi what do you think the elves did to theirs."

Ignoring the itchy feeling in his ears he glanced at the majestic guardian tree outside, and slowly licked the corner of his lips. 

"There is only one fate for things people don't need anymore."

"To be abandoned."

***

The moment his hands touched the cold breastplate, a biting chill rose from his fingertips and traveled straight to his heart.

His vision shifted suddenly and in the blink of an eye, he was no longer in the thundering clearing.

In the early morning, the first ray of sunlight fell from a gap in the distant sky, passing through the clouds and mist like a golden veil, slowly enveloping the spring mountain.

The huge temple on the top of the mountain was majestic, the huge and exquisite reliefs built according to the trend of the mountain, depicted a transcendent scene of sentient beings on a pilgrimage.

Farther away, a semi-circular stone pillar sits in front of the cliff, enclosing the central altar in its arms.

Thousands of white doves flapped their wings in the sky and landed in front of the tower prepared for them.

A golden holy flame was burning on the torch, swaying in the wind.

Countless elves knelt piously before the temple, the rosy cheeks and exquisite clothes was evident of the prosperity of the elves. Looking down from the sky, Tang Shun could only see thousands of crowded black spots on the vast land. The scriptures they piously chanted were heard from the top of the mountain.

The elders and priests wore formal and cumbersome ceremonial robes, with holy and pure crystals and gold ornaments on their arms. They appeared solemn, standing in a row staring straight ahead.

The guardian tree rose from the ground and pierced into hazy clouds, lush green leaves swayed heartily in the wind and the scent of nature and wood danced along with the wind.

Inside the temple, the warm yellow sunlight penetrated through the colored glass dome and shone down onto the people inside. Inside the temple was clean and empty. There were grooves where the scriptures were placed, a solemn and dissonant tune traveled the land, and the sound of flowing water from the fountains on the side echoed in the vast temple.

In the middle of the temple, was a majestic and brilliant golden throne, decorated with the symbols of sun, moon, lotus, and lions, and sitting on the throne is an old elf wearing a gold throne. Beside him, in smaller thrones, some other elders sat. They were the same cold and dignified expression, like gods looking down on the earth. 

The elder on the throne slowly raised a hand, and the forest seemed to fall silent for a brief moment before he abruptly dropped it down!

"Hong!––"

It was the sound of a Gong being smashed! 

Outside, the people cheered loudly, countless black spots rose from their bodies and into the sky, forming billowing back clouds.

Another Hong!––

All the darkness in the sky was gathered into the center, before falling from the sky like a funnel and stalactites onto the Guardian Tree! 

Heaven and earth stagnated for a second.

In the next moment, a strong wind rose from the ground, like a hurricane.

Those obscure, hideous, evil thoughts accumulated from thousands of elves poured down from the top of the sky, like a sharp sharpened knife, piercing the tree relentlessly.

Tang Shun seemed to hear the tree scream silently, its trunk shaking and jolting violently like a helpless boat in the middle of a raging sea.

The immense malice infested it, starting from the roots, and gradually spreading to its veins and leaves, dyeing the luscious green leaves, and then the black energy condensed into a sticky black mud that could not be removed. The tree could only be forced to absorb the filth and digest all the negative emotions of the elves that it had guarded for thousands of years.

As the darkness flooded back and the black clouds dissipated into the land, the bright sunlight was once again restored upon the elf's land.

The elves that had rid themselves of cumbersome emotions were instantly happy, loud cheers filled the forest and a loud beating drum sounded in the air. 

Tang Shun lowered his head, what the others couldn't see, was that under their feet, ugly blue-black faces stared up at them with boundless resentment. And all of these faces were women. 

The tree became their dumpster, for all the corrupt and disgusting filth in their hearts. But when the dumpsters seized being able to hold the darkness of a thousand elves, the elves had to find another container.

His eyes quickly opened again, the desolate and gloomy scene of the elf village now was directly contrasted against the scene of prosperity back then.

His hands were directly twisted by the elf warrior and he could faintly hear a crack from where his wrist had touched him. His body was violently shoved back by the cold elf and he could feel the blood rising in the back of his throat from the force. He gritted his teeth and didn't cry out, only silently leaning against the carriage walls and looking out at the black sky.

Elder Ling looked to the forest and shook his head, "Don't chase. She won't survive for long."

He waved his hands, "Continue."

The red carriage slowly moved forward and the sight of the guardian quickly faded from his eyes, the elf soldiers transported the brides to their final destination.

Underground.

***

"Do you think, elves, who are mere mortal existences can disregard all emotions and desires?"

Chu Yi looked out into the cold darkness, the pattern patter of rain hitting the forest floors filled his ears. Slowly a strange emotion rose in the depths of the crimson red eyes, "No."

He slowly lifted a hand and pointed it to the tree, "Because not even gods can throw away all emotions."

"Yes."

His hair entangled with Chu Yi's as he rested his head against his shoulder, slowly breathing in the cool fragrance on his neck, "Not even the God's can be truly free."