Quest Maker of Soul Land

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***

"That was some nasty game you learned from your friend!" Jun'er scowled. Even Tang Yuehua didn't look any better. Meanwhile, with hair finally sprouting on his face and head, Ja Sun smiled gave more wood to the fire.

She meant the Value of Life.

Oscar looked a bit ponderous and Tang Yuehua didn't dare look at anyone this moment. The other five from the group could relate to the trio's emotions currently.

They had been on travel for four days now. Each day would be productive. Each day, everyone learned something new, even Ja Sun did. And although Xie Xan was still studying the Asura Sight Technique to make sure he doesn't accidentally take a wrong step, his eyes were opened to a whole new world of strength. With Ja Sun giving Xie Xan free reign to the technique, Xie Xan had much more help from the others.

As expected, Bibi Dong and others refused to practice this technique. Even Liu Erlong was the same while Oscar couldn't practice it. Once again, this was all because of the technique's requirements and methods. But with continuous discussion with Bibi Dong and Hu Lana, who only encouraged his drive to get strong instead of letting their own inhibitions be the blocking factor for someone else, Xie Xan was almost prepared to start it.

The group had yet to set up a camp. And from the looks of it, this was just one of the days where they wouldn't set up a tent and would find their own spots to rest close to one another.

"I would like to go first then," Tang Yuehua mumbled.

Ja Sun and everyone looked at the woman. Despite her origin and courtly manners, and etiquette training, Yuehua had proved herself to be quite a surprise. She didn't act out of place for little things or discomfort brought by such a way of living, and she even helped teach some etiquettes to others in the group in the passing. Finally... she played harp seldom and it was enjoyed by the girls a lot, which included Xie Xan.

"Personally, I have never attacked anyone much less taking other's life. It is not hard to admit that my father raised me quite protectively but I don't dislike it. Outside the clan, my brothers took care of me well, too. Even with my more restricted nurturing, I have never harbored curiosity for such actions.

But now, seeing you all. Seeing my brothers and thinking back on how my father actually is... I wonder if the path of a Spirit Master is tied to killing someone else. From the very beginning, a spirit master has to take a life for the advancement of the path and I cannot help but wonder if there is another way.

I understand that this game is to speak up your mind to better understand those around us and not truly about who we killed. It's about the 'why?'. So... here it is. Why can I not stop wondering if the path of Spirit Masters can have more than one route or not... If there is an individual who doesn't like to kill aside from the necessities of life, like eating, will he or she remain spiritually weak forever?"

Everyone grew silent. This was truly a fantasy for someone.

"But long story short, I have never killed anybody or anything personally. But I do eat... like everyone else, technically."

Jun'er and Oscar looked at each other before shrugging. It's not like their killing history was long or personal. They were the same as many other Spirit Masters out there.

"We haven't killed personally either. But I guess it's just the way of the world that we don't find it hard to take a spirit beast's life."

Everyone nodded while Ah Yin's lips twitched momentarily.

"Can I ask something?" Jun'er inquired while hugging Oscar, "Brother Xie and Sister Hu are obviously a couple like me and Oscar. But what about the rest? Brother Ka-ul, until now, don't you have anyone you like? Hmm, Erlong, Yin, and Teacher, what about you?"

Now Jun'er was asking some important questions. Tang Yuehua's gaze lit in curiosity while Ja Sun looked around, finding many gazes settling on him.

'This isn't some random school camp you hell bitch,' Ja Sun rolled his eyes before he sighed and nodded.

"I do hold affection. And for an entity, I don't think I can ever meet again."

Seeing Ja Sun being so forthright about it, only the newbies felt curious. The veterans, however, knew better.

"Who?" Jun'er inquired in excitement. Struggles are the bread and butter of romance and seeing even Ja Sun, the being she felt simply overpowering even with a single arm lost, she couldn't help but wonder what sort of existence could make him feel so somber.

"I remember the touch... and I loved it," Ja Sun shook his head as his shoulders slumped.

"I loved... my left arm!" Ja Sun suddenly laughed and the others followed except for Jun'er, Oscar, and Tang Yuehua grew daze before gazing at their laughing teammates. Everyone felt different. Oscar and Jun'er recalled their previous team and how they would use to have such a good time. At least, things didn't seem too different here. On the other hand, Yuehua felt refreshed and a little excited.

Everyone walked on their toes around her brothers and those who were calm were either too strong or too old. But here, although she did not appreciate Ja Sun's vulgarity, in the end, she began to found it endearing because more often than not... everyone laughed.

It was enjoyable, not hurtful.

Though recalling Dai Taiyin's situation, she couldn't help but sigh involuntarily. That was diabolical.

"Now that we're asking questions," Ja Sun smiled, "I have to ask," Ja Sun looked at Oscar and Jun'er.

"Ah Yin told me that you had an encounter with the one Titled Evil Grandson. Ja Sun, is it? What did you think of him? Is he strong?"

Everyone looked at Jun'er and Oscar. Controlling the urge to roll her eyes, Ah Yin glanced at Ja Sun with a sigh.

"Ja Sun... I don't like to think about him. But... he isn't a spirit master and he still defeated all of us. A team of five with the strength rivaling a Spirit Emperor."

"Really?" Liu Erlong inquired, "By the way, who is this Evil Grandson?"

"The one with the bounty of a 10000-year-old spirit bone on his head from the day he awakened his martial soul," Bibi Dong gazed at the flickering flames, "And also the one who left a lasting mark on my master."

Ah Yin and Ja Sun both looked at each other.

'See?' Ja Sun's gaze seemed rather smug about it while Ah Yin shook her head.

"What mark?" Jun'er inquired while Oscar elbowed her and shook his head.

"It's alright," Bibi Dong smiled, "But you guys did run into him. If you have this kind of luck once, then you might get another chance. And when we run into this guy..." she narrowed her eyes.

'Hug him? He did save your life,' Ja Sun mused internally, "Anyway, this Ja Sun guy sounds awesome enough. Now, Teacher, after Ah Yin's spirit ring, are we finally headed for the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Bibi Dong nodded, "We have accomplished everything we can inside the Star Luo Empire. Yuehua, even if you break past your shackles, you need to understand that strength won't come easy. Our main objective to have you as a team member aside from your potential was also because we needed to have at least seven members for the competition. Now, fortunately, you and I can stay out of the competition and we will still have enough members.

Once Oscar and Jun'er also gain their fifth spirit ring, I and Ka-ul will be able to focus on you entirely."

Yuehua nodded, "Thank you."

She could not and would not forget this favor. Ever!

*Tp*

*Tp*

A few droplets of water began showering as the group sighed simultaneously. The weather has been bad recently so they hurried to set up a tent and entered it together. Like usual, Ah Yin kept the watch first with her domain activated while the remaining rested.

After losing his arm, Ja Sun apparently did strike a few chords. With him as the center, everybody rested around him while the Oscar and Jun'er took a corner for their own. Yuehua once again meditated after activating her martial soul.

It was only within Ja Sun's and her own presence that her Clear Sky Swallow reacted more pleasantly. But its function still remained a mystery to Yuehua. Although Ja Sun did show quite a bit of trust in her abilities, the blue-silver-haired woman couldn't help but feel a little empty while seeing Ja Sun sleep with such content. Could she ever reach the point where she isn't riddled with the lack of self-confidence to sleep with such satisfaction?

---

Once the group crossed the borders once again and, Ah Yin stopped near the periphery of a forest abundant with blue silver grass and various variants of the entity.

"This is the place... this is where I constantly feel that someone is calling me," Ah Yin stated softly while Xie Xan crouched down and observed the carpet of blue silver grass.

"Well, doesn't look dangerous," he mumbled.

"This is a beautiful forest," Yuehua smiled while she looked around curiously. Everyone had pretty much a similar reaction.

"Do we wait for master?" Ah Yin looked at Ja Sun as he shrugged. This wasn't even his place to decide so it didn't matter what he wished. Ah Yin grew thoughtful.

'One method tests my acting skills... and the other path relieves me of my burdens even if selfish.'

She silently sat down on the ground. Even without releasing her domain, the grass around her seemed to sway as if already responsive to her presence and Ah Yin's expression slowly turned warm from her usual indifference. 'This place hasn't changed a bit.'

"I want to see what is calling me all this time. Ka-ul... you come with me. Teacher, please protect the area around us."

"Shouldn't we all go together?" Liu Erlong inquired curiously as Ah Yin shook her head.

"I did tell master that it didn't matter but... I guess it matters to me who gets to know more about me first. Come," she instantly held Ja Sun's hand and pulled him inside the forest while the remaining group glanced at each other.

"Was that a confession?" Hu Lana squeaked while Jun'er smiled widely. On the other hand, Bibi Dong snorted softly, "Separate and cover the ground—"

"No need for it," A calm presence eased everyone around. Bibi Dong's stern expression instantly softened as Qian Daoliu's body floated down from the sky. His appearance shocked Yuehua, Oscar, and Jun'er.

"You are all so hard to track... good work," Qian Daoliu smiled and then gazed in the direction where Ah Yin and Ja Sun left.

"Those two will be fine, I sense it. A better use of all of your time will be to take this chance and meditate. This forest is strange. It only reveals itself when it wishes to and usually remains elusive even to the strongest individuals. Take this chance to understand its properties."

---

"Where are we going?" Ja Sun inquired curiously but the crafty glint in his gaze could barely be hidden at this point. He could sense Ah Yin's emotions slowly growing and stretching her control as if she was facing one of the greatest decisions of her life.

"Aren't you curious why I keep on talking about my sixth spirit ring? You must have realized something by now, haven't you? I could clear all your doubts this time."

Ah Yin stopped and looked around before she heaved a deep sigh and released her domain. This time, Ja Sun felt a primal breath of life releasing from her body and her surroundings started to grow lusher. The grass grew and naturally began to coil into bluish vines and then it began to thicken with leaves sprouting from its body as Ah Yin watched everything with a careful but gentle expression.

"This is the first use of my Blue Silver Domain after it evolved by becoming Blue Silver Goddess: Wisp of Life. It allows me to nurture various plants within my domain."

With a smile, she waved her hand and bluish wisps of light began to emerge from her surroundings and entered Ja Sun. This was a technique he had seen many times before.

"This is the second ability of my domain: Convergence. I can convert the converged energy from the plants around me into any form of energy, be it life, spirit, or mental. This is how I have been taking care of you for such a long time."

Without waiting for his reply, Ah Yin held Ja Sun's hand once again and pulled him away. The forest was beautiful with fireflies brightening the interior and the entirety of it covered by a large dome-like spread of thick and lush leaves from the mysterious trees that now seemed to be variants of the blue silver grass themselves.

A sweet yet subtle scent continuously tickled his senses. It wasn't the forest but Ah Yin herself. As Ja Sun gazed at the excited smile slowly touching Ah Yin's face subconsciously...

Well, he lost the will to make a mockery of everything. Being pulled, Ja Sun was dragged toward the center of the forest. A small piece of land with a thin creek surrounding it and the only spot where the leaves above seemed to be pulled apart. And even if the area outside was covered with a cloudy weather. Strangely, this piece of land only received warm sunshine.

Barely able to contain her excitement anymore, Ah Yin jumped over the creek and let go of Ja Sun. Instead, she knelt on the ground, touching the warm patch, and surprisingly, she slumped on the ground with her limbs spread apart.

The tips of her hair blue hair were slightly muddied but it only made it look like the blue silver grass itself.

Ja Sun silently looked at her while Ah Yin continued to... roll. Like a child, she seemed to have forgotten Ja Sun for a moment and then tiptoed around the small patch of land. Continuously touching the thick trunks with a warm smile. Nodding every now and then. Sometimes giggling. The more Ja Sun saw it... the more he missed his own home.

He loved it here, no doubt about it. And all the excitement he was blessed with in this world made him forget about his own home, until today.

A warm and weary couch that would creak every time you lie on it. An old but comfortable woodwork with lots and lots of defects but something you simply accept. A bed so comfortable that nothing could ever match its love...

Ja Sun sighed and sat down silently. Letting his palm reach for the creek and enjoy the cold water flowing around them.

"They used to call me their highness. An Empress... but now, they call me their Goddess. I have never felt so loved and so longed for in my entire life... thank you, Ja Sun."

"It's... Jason..." he pursed his lips and whispered before shaking his head, "No, Ja Sun is much better..."

He turned around to see Ah Yin sitting cross-legged and already facing him.

"We both owe each other favors that we cannot repay. You owe me your life... and I owe you my martial soul."

"Which is the same, isn't it?" Ja Sun chuckled.

"No, it isn't. Your debt can be easily be taken from me. By anyone smart, strong, and unscrupulous enough. But my debt to you... cannot. The third ability of my domain is that even if die. As long as my corpse is intact, I will revive in 49 days or so it would have been before my evolution. Now, it is merely 7 days."

"Are you worried that I might plot to kill you?" Ja Sun inquired curiously.

"Don't make me laugh," Ah Yin's smile receded, "Because it was hardly funny."

"What do you want me to say? I cannot revive no matter how hard I try. If I die, I'm gone completely."

"I know..." Ah Yin smiled with a slightly pained look that made Ja Sun look away momentarily.

"By the way, I call my third ability Rooted Immortality."

"Oh, that's a good name."

Silence once again ensued after this moment. It persisted for a few minutes. Ja Sun and Ah Yin continued to look at each other until Ah Yin groaned softly, "Just spit it out. You already know something, don't you?"

His eyelids jumped in surprise, "Am I that easy to read?"

"Others can't, but I've seen enough of you to know what's going inside your head," Ah Yin scoffed.

"Well... it started from when we met Violet. And then your insistence of reaching rank 60... and how much importance you place in this rank when ordinarily, rank 70 is the true focus of a spirit master because of our True Spirit Avatar.

You're... retarded, aren't you?"

Ja Sun sighed. He couldn't do it in the end. It wasn't his news to expose.

Ah Yin's expression turned a little cold.

"Stop it. I want to hear you say it. Or you would even deny the truth and facts? Is it that repulsive?"

Ja Sun blinked before shaking his head.

"You misunderstand. And do you really think I would find it repulsive? Come on, the only thing I find repulsive are fruits that should be hard but sometimes end soft and weird. Like a soft apple... or a rotten banana. Well, I don't mean soft like you. I—"

"Alright, alright, I get it..." Ah Yin crawled forward before sitting right in front of Ja Sun.

"This is my birthplace. As a Blue Silver Grass... as a Blue Silver Queen, and as a Blue Silver Empress. And as Ah Yin."

She held Ja Sun's palm with both of her hands and then looked down. Her heart feeling a strange force making her feel a sense of discomfort. It wasn't embarrassment. But a sense of fluster and anxiousness.

"I see..." Ja Sun leaned forward. His head equally lowered and touched Ah Yin's forehead with his. "I want you to know. I really wasn't comparing you to a soft apple or a rotten banana. You look the best the way you are."

"You've lost your touch in complimenting others."

"Who said I was good at it... I'm good at other forms of verbal wars," Ja Sun chuckled.

"I still haven't gotten my sixth spirit ring..."

"Yes. I see. Hmm, I, Ja Sun, am going to kiss you. If you do not consent, then any action other than a slap will be considered as a matter of a formality and not actually resistance."

He whispered. Consent is always hot.

His lips leaned downward and Ah Yin slowly raised her head up. Her hands holding Ja Sun's palm tightly as their lips brushed past against each other. With eyes closed, under the large Blue Silver King, their bodies basked in the glow of the sun and their hearts so anxious, they simply melted against each other the moment they gently pecked each other's lips.

Tender, both of them realized.

Caring and kind, they further realized, at least, towards each other. But that's the only thing it mattered, right?

Ah Yin finally let go of Ja Sun's hand and raised her palms. She felt anxious and wanted to stop it at once. This was too much of an excitement for her yet she only held Ja Sun's cheeks from a little closer to his jawline.

Ja Sun simultaneously stroked her cheek with his hand, finally feeling the true loss of his left arm. He could have touched something else simultaneously!

"This doesn't mean anything... until you grow back your eyebrows," Ah Yin pulled back for a moment.

"Jokes on you, I'm into kissing women without bearing any responsibility," Ja Sun snickered before reaching out once again.