112 Adventure

Huxian woke from his pleasant dream of massive riches and a human city. In this dream, he wasn't a beast, he was a man. These dreams had been getting more frequent of late. With a yawn, Huxian lazily stretched out and wandered out of his cave on the mountain peak. He saw Silverwing and Lei Jiang enjoying a bout of light sparring on the jade platform. Silverwing dominated, of course. They stopped just before he arrived and greeted him warmly.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough to late purification, Lei Jiang!" Huxian said to the small purple mouse who stood proudly beside his winged sparring companion. Silverwing looked at the small mouse with a longing expression.

"It's all thanks to the purification technique that Master gifted me," he said humbly.

"Nonsense," Huxian rebuked. "Your natural talent is quite high. If I gave this technique to just anyone, they would never be able to use it to full effect. Give it a few years, and I guarantee you'll be able to step into core formation."

Lei Jiang continued showing off for a bit longer before scampering off.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, my friend," Huxian said, shaking his head. "He might be inconsiderate at times, but he means well. I truly wish I could help you, but my hands are tied. Still, the technique I gave you is much better than nothing. You'll surely break through to core formation in five decades or so. That's nothing to demons like us."

Silverwing sighed. "What's the use? Even if I break through to core formation, what comes next? I won't have a formula to continue my advancement. I can't keep begging for techniques like this."

"Come now, Silverwing," Huxian said. "You're my friend, so you're not begging. I'm giving them to you because I can." Then, noticing the falcon wasn't convinced, he glanced at the jade plate behind him. "Maybe you can make up for it by trading information."

"Information?" the falcon asked.

"That's right," Huxian said. "For example, I was wondering what the story is about this jade plate. Do you know what it does, or its origins?"

The falcon nodded. "Its origins are linked to my ancestor. He was good friends with the monarch at the time. In fact, these mountains were named after my ancestor. Every generation in my family takes on the name Silverwing to honor him.

"I'm not too sure what the jade plate is for. No one is. Except maybe the monarch. All I know is that there are nine mountains, and each mountain peak holds a jade plate. It is rumored that there is a tenth plate in the valley between the mountains, but no one dares to go."

"Why not?" Huxian asked.

"It is a valley of death," Silverwing replied. "Only the monarch and his inheritor dares to go there. I'm surprised you don't know all this, though. The current inheritor is on your mountain peak. It's that True Seer Great Owl. The reason the old sovereign never touched him was because he's the progeny of the monarch."

"That's very interesting," Huxian said. "See? That information was totally worth those useless techniques. By the way, do you want to go have some fun today?"

"What kind of fun?" the bird asked suspiciously.

"I want to go tease the tiger," Huxian said. "I heard that he's guarding a yin-yang dragon fruit. It's been maturing for almost 108 years, the perfect maturity for such a fruit."

Silverwing hesitated. "I suppose this fruit is for you to break through to late purification?"

"That's right," Huxian admitted. "I'm worried that the humans will come here to make trouble, so I need to be as strong as possible before they arrive. Otherwise they'll end up taking over your mountain. I think we both don't want to see that happen."

"All right," Silverwing said. "But we need to be careful. He's a half-step core-formation demon beast. I have a very high defense, so I don't have much to worry about. He could kill you in a single strike, however. And by the way, he's actually a lion. There's a big difference."

"Don't worry, I'm very fast," Huxian said, rolling his eyes. He was touched by Silverwing's concern. "Lei Jiang, you run ahead to scout."

The three small beasts quickly moved through the forest that encompassed the nine mountains. The scenery changed drastically once they arrived at their final destination: Reptilian Mountain. The forest quickly turned hot and dry and the trees increasingly sparse. It became just like a savannah, a habitat filled with tall grass. It was ideal for hiding predators.

"Do you have any idea how he managed to terraform the forest?" Huxian asked Silverwing.

"It's a very impressive feat, but it makes sense given the lion's mixed bloodline," Silverwing replied. "What other animal can you think of that can change the terrain so easily?"

"A geomantic boa?" Huxian guessed.

"Wrong!" Silverwing said, chuckling. "It was a geomantic python, a much higher tier demon beast. He bragged about it just a few years ago. While he doesn't have the ability to lay traps, and his ability to terraform is mediocre at best, he was still able to change the terrain on this mountain to the most suitable climate for him and his pride.

"He's much stronger than a normal half-step core-formation beast, and his claws and fangs are naturally coated with a strong venom. His defenses are also absurd, so he can attack without worry."

"Then we should make sure we don't bother him," Huxian said.

"And how will we do that, given that we want to take the fruit he's been guarding for the last hundred years?" Silverwing asked.

Huxian was at a loss for what to say. If this lion was as strong as Silverwing said, they were courting death by stealing from him.

They soon arrived in a wide clearing surrounded by many feline creatures. Most of them were lions, all female, of course. A male lion would never tolerate other males in its den unless it was looking for an heir. They all sat patiently, awaiting the arrival of their king.

"How much longer until the fruit ripens?" a young cub asked.

"It will ripen when it ripens!" a lion that Huxian could only presume was its mother rebuked.

"No need to be so harsh on the little cub," an older female lion, presumably the mother of the entire pride, said. "The yin-yang dragon fruit is a fruit of balance. It will ripen today halfway between high noon and midnight. We are here both to guard it and to congratulate your father on his upcoming breakthrough to core formation. He will enter seclusion after retrieving the fruit. Then we will begin raising your younger brother to become his successor."

Huxian and his friends were hidden in a small shadow. Huxian's shadow abilities were very useful for clandestine operations. "How can we steal the fruit in such open terrain filled with lions?" Lei Jiang said. "It's basically impossible."

"It's better to turn back," the falcon said, nodding. "Our lives are more important."

Huxian shook his head. "We have to risk it. This is too good of an opportunity. Lei Jiang will run a distraction while I dive in to grab the fruit. What are your thoughts?"

"That's suicide!" the falcon cried. "I'm all for helping you, but I'm not for losing my life. Besides, I don't have a bad relationship with the old lion. Why antagonize him needlessly?"

Huxian sighed. "I see how it is. Very well, you can just stay back, and we'll try our best."

The falcon looked at him with a hurt expression but said nothing. Instead, Silverwing flew up and perched himself on a nearby tree, observing everything.

Hours passed while Huxian and Lei Jiang waited patiently.

I can't believe he's not helping you, Lei Jiang said. What an ungrateful bird!

He's not ungrateful, Huxian said. He is being cautious, and the technique I gave him isn't worth his risking his life. This is perfectly reasonable of him. I don't want you causing trouble for him and ruining my plans.

Lei Jiang wore a resentful expression. Fine. I know I can get that fruit for you.

Don't focus on getting the fruit, Huxian said. I need you to be an annoying and flashy distraction. Even if you must die, I need him distracted until I get the fruit. If you're still alive by the time I get the fruit, try your best to escape.

A look of determination flashed in Lei Jiang's eyes. I am willing to die for you, Master.

Huxian did not reply but instead continued to observe the pride of lions. The hour was drawing near.

A frightening pressure appeared in the sky a quarter hour later. A large scaly lion walked in the air from afar. He ignored all the nearby beasts as he gloriously pranced over to the maturing fruit. Purification-realm demon beasts could not walk in the air in this way; only core-formation beasts could. This was a small advantage the Reptilian Lion Sovereign had gained when forming his false core, a faint imitation of the true core he would condense to enter core formation.

"My pride," he roared, "it is good for you to be here during this glorious moment."

"We are joyful in being able to take part in my lord'sglory," the oldest lioness replied submissively.

"After I retrieve the fruit, I will retire into seclusion," the Reptilian Lion Sovereign said. "Pick a newborn male cub of your choosing and raise him as you see fit during my absence. You will naturally be in charge and may kill anyone who displeases you."

"As you wish, my lord," the lioness replied humbly. The nearby lionesses trembled in fear.

"Beautiful," the Reptilian Lion Sovereign whispered while watching the fruit mature. It was like a normal fire dragon fruit, but the fruit's flowerlike husk was white and black, infused with the powers of light and darkness.

As far as Huxian was concerned, it was a waste for this lion to consume it. Huxian's attributes perfectly matched the fruit, while the lion's attributes did not.

An incense time passed, and the sun began setting on the horizon. "Almost there," the Reptilian Lion Sovereign whispered.

Now! Huxian yelled mentally. He slithered into the long shadows created by the setting sun while Lei Jiang transformed into a purple bolt of lightning that darted toward the fruit.

"What gall!" the Reptilian Lion Sovereign roared as he swiped at the Calamity-Swallowing Mouse. Lei Jiang didn't reply. Instead, the sky turned dark as he summoned purple lightning in the shape of a storm. It rained down and formed an offensive shield around him, which spread out and began attacking the scaly lion.

"That hurts!" the lion shouted in surprise. The lionesses nearby could only watch in fear and awe. They would be burnt to a crisp the moment they so much as touched the purple lightning shield.

Only a few more moments, Huxian said as he waited beside the fruit. It had almost reached its peak of maturity.

Not a problem, boss. I can handle him, Lei Jiang said. But he spoke too soon. Suddenly the pressure given off by the lion skyrocketed, and Lei Jiang found himself suppressed on a fundamental level. It was the power of the lion's false core that restricted him. The solidified bloodline present in a demon core was much more concentrated than a purification beast's bloodline.

"I will devour you for sustenance before eating the yin-yang dragon fruit," the lion said. "This way, my odds of success in core formation will double. Did you really think that your pathetic speed could contend with my false core?"

Lei Jiang, clearly suppressed by the lion's solidified bloodline, attempted to run away. However, the speed it was most proud of didn't matter in front of the gigantic lion, who swatted him aside with ease. Huxian heard breaking bones, but he steeled himself. Getting the fruit was most important. If one of his generals died, he could always replace him.

As the lion pounced on Lei Jiang, Huxian jumped from the shadows and swallowed the fruit whole. Its powerful energies did not immediately dissolve into his bloodstream but were stored away for a later date.

"How dare you deceive this sovereign!" the lion roared, appearing directly beside Huxian.

What shocking speed, he thought. He mustered every ounce of his power but soon discovered that the gravity around him had been amplified a hundredfold. An enormous, venomous claw came crashing down on him. He braced himself for his inevitable demise.

I'm sorry, Cha Ming, Huxian thought. I tried. He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable 20,000-jin paw strike.

Peng!

The paw didn't land. He opened his eyes and saw brown and silver feathers. "Silverwing!" Huxian shouted.

"You dare meddle in my affairs and help these thieves, Silverwing?" the lion roared. "Do you think I would hesitate to annihilate every bird on your mountain in retaliation?"

"You can say whatever you wish," Silverwing said. "But if you dare do such a thing, I will eliminate every cat in the mountain range. We both know you can't kill me. Both because you don't dare and because you're physically incapable."

The lion hesitated, then looked to the side at the crumpled Lei Jiang. "Fine. But this one stays with me as an apology."

Seeing the blood running down Silverwing's beak, Huxian was ready to make this concession. However, before he had a chance, the large falcon spread its wings. "I'm taking the mouse with me, and you can't stop me. However, we are indeed in the wrong. In the future, I owe you an equivalent herb or fruit, and it will be much more suitable to your constitution. This will happen within the next ten years."

The Reptilian Lion Sovereign's eyes narrowed. He seemed about to yell out in indignation but suddenly held himself back. "Very well. You may take the mouse, then. I'll give you face for the sake of your ancestors."

Silverwing bowed his head slightly and calmly picked up both Huxian and Lei Jiang in his talons and flew off. They retreated until they arrived at Huxian's mountain, where Silverwing dropped them unceremoniously. Huxian, seeing Lei Jiang's dire state, coughed up a tiny bit of blood essence and fed it to his follower, whose erratic breath quickly recovered.

"Many thanks, Silverwing," Huxian said. "If you hadn't—"

Paff.

A wing struck Huxian across the face, sending blood flowing out of his mouth. "What's your problem?" Huxian asked, growling.

"What's your problem?" the falcon asked with a menacing glare in his eyes. "I warned you he was powerful, and you wouldn't listen. Not just that, you used your slave as bait. I saw it clearly. You were willing to sacrifice him for that fruit. I thought I knew you, but I was wrong."

Huxian gulped and was immediately filled with something he had never felt before: regret.

Seeing Huxian's expression change, the falcon shook its head. "You're just a kid. You know nothing. But you should appreciate friendship, Huxian. I saved you today because you are my friend. I risked my life today because you are my friend. And I saved Lei Jiang's life because he is my friend, too.

"I didn't have to save you two, but I did. You need to appreciate what you have. Otherwise you might lose it all one day. If you don't care for the people around you, even your closest friends and brothers will abandon you." Silverwing looked up toward his mountain peak. "I'm entering seclusion now to recover from my wounds. I don't want to see your face for a week. But when I do, I hope you'll have reflected on your mistakes."

Silverwing disappeared in a flash of silver, and Huxian was left alone on his mountaintop. He was dejected and confused. He felt regret. From what he understood, his ancestors had always treated his generals as disposable commodities. However, the more he thought about Lei Jiang, another new emotion surfaced.

Guilt.

Can I really recruit Silverwing as my general? he thought. No. I could never do that to Silverwing. What a terrible thing to do to a friend.

***

The Reptilian Lion Sovereign lounged next to the giant jade plate on his mountain. He was moping, and for a good reason. A large shadow approached him from afar before landing beside him.

"Why couldn't I just kill the mouse?" the Reptilian Lion Sovereign said. "Is it really so important?"

"The mouse is irrelevant," the figure said. "But it's Silverwing's friend. That alone should be enough."

"I know how you operate," the Reptilian Lion Sovereign said. "You wouldn't save the mouse just for Silverwing's sake."

A pause ensued. "You're right. I wouldn't," the figure said. Then, without further explanation, he vanished.