The Forsaken-Grade Cultivator
Chapter 44: Fairy’s Hearth

Chapter 44: Fairy’s Hearth

’What did you do?’ Ying asked, his black eyes narrowing to key-hole slits.

’Wow, never in all my years have I seen a soul with as little self trust as you, but fine... I kind of, sort of... manipulated your body to move towards here.’ The nameless enigma twirled his non-existent fingers nervously.

He knew he was about to get it.

’YOU DID WHAT?!’

Ying hollered internally, the distraught leaking onto his face.

’Relax; it was just your micro muscles... And I could only do it because you weren’t paying attention. But that’s as much as I can do, you have to believe me!’ They tried to defend themselves, but Ying’s fury didn’t waver, his veins bulging ever so slightly.

’Believe you? How the hell am I supposed to believe you, when you might as well have just walked me into my doom?! What else are you lying to me about?!’

’Calm down—!’

"You know what, forget it, it’s my fault for letting my guard down around someone, no, someTHING like you. I’ll be logging out now."

’LISTEN! I didn’t control your body so much so as I nudged you in the right direction. It had to be done. The more time we waste, the more we risk losing the ingredient. You have to think rationally about this, and stop overacting!’

Ying wanted to instantly retort, even opening his mouth, but the truth in the enigma’s words struck him like a thunder bolt.

’...!’

His expression contorted severally in pensive deliberation.

Truth be told, Ying was never one to let emotions dictate his actions, excluding the last incident, the number of times he had faltered in such could be counted on one hand.

He needed to succeed in this game. It was the only way he could reach that person, after all. Which meant that he needed to get ’stronger’.

And his Talent, the Death Bargain, was just what he needed to do it....

’By the ways, isn’t my Talent supposed to be of the absolute worst grade...?’ Ying suddenly wondered, ’Yeah, it’s trash and all. But it’s not completely pointless. It boasts a lot of strength, really.... But it’s still quite ass.’

’...!’

’I heard that...’

’I know.’

’Che, petty...’

In any case, he had goals, and if getting this.... ’ingredient’ would put him ahead of the opposition, then he was willing to overlook things this once... just this once.

"Sigh, don’t ever do that again, ya hear me?!" Ying warned sternly, to which the entity responded with a meek psychic nod. After affirming his response, Ying finally asked, "Alright, what are we looking for here?"

’Humph, just look ahead of you.’ The voice snorted proudly.

Ying looked forward, and his gaze fell upon a particularly large tree. The tree was so large, that Ying had to raise his neck just to see its shoot. However, he didn’t sport any fruits, and all the leaves seemed quite ordinary.

That begged the question.

’Are you screwing with me? Where’s the ingredient you said you sensed?’

’It’s inside.’

’Pardon?’

’What we are looking for is inside the damned tree.’

Ying stole a glance at the enormous spawn of nature, and then asked, "So I have to cut it open?"

’No, not quite.’

The enigma responded, his voice sounding serious and solemn.

Ying snapped, "Could you be a little more clear with your intentions?!"

’...Do you trust me?’ The entity asked gravely.

"Nope. Not in the slightest." Ying was not letting up his guard again.

’Ugh, fine, what you need to do is simple. Just sit here, and wait. That’s it... Just be patient and what we need to get the ingredient will reveal itself.’

’...!’

Ying was stunned for a moment, but that didn’t persist, "How long?" He asked seriously.

’Can’t say. All I can tell you is, it will show itself in due time. Believe me; you are in for quite the surprise.’

Hearing these words, Ying psychically eyes the enigma, ’If this turns out to be some sort of trick, I swear by the gods, I will–!’

’It’s not a trick, trust me. I inhabit you now, so whatever danger you fall into, I’ll probably suffer it too. If you die, I might die too, though I’m not a hundred percent sure about that...’

After that, Ying didn’t say anything. He just sighed, summoned his swords for security, and took a seat on the cool grass, then leaning against the massive tree, he began Cultivating.

’Hmm? This speed is... I must be getting the hang of it now.’ Ying noted with suppressed elation, to which the nameless entity snorted in mockery.

’What was that?’

’Nothing.’

A minute turned into five, and five minutes turned into fifteen, yet nothing noteworthy had happened.

Ying was far from impatient though, as he just kept Cultivating in silence. His threshold for delay was much higher than most, this long was nothing to him.

More time passed in silence.

Neither Ying, nor the nameless entity said a word to each other. It seemed that most of the beasts were asleep as well, seeing as the only noise in the forest was from the cool breeze ruffling the plants.

Ying cultivated deep into the night, hours passing by, and allowing him to break through to the fourth realm of Body Tempering stage. The act garnered a suppressed shock from his unusual partner, but he ignored it, persevering.

Until...

"I give up." The uneventful night had gone on long enough, and Ying was about ready to throw in the towel. He stood up and dusted his robes, ignoring the incorporeal existence and its pleas.

"We can continue this tomorrow, for now I have to—Huh?!"

Ying’s jaw snapped shut mid sentence as an oppressive aura suddenly spread across the forest. Ying, who was finding it difficult to breathe as air had suddenly gained mass, attacked his new partner mentally.

’W-what is going on?!’ He yelped, to which he was responded, ’It’s what we came here for... At all costs, you CANNOT show weakness, at the very least, remain standing!!’

’Tch. Easy for you to say...’ Ying responded unkindly, but he heeded the enigma’s warnings nonetheless.

His eyes darted left and right, piercing through the dark woods, for a sign of his oppressor, but no luck. Whoever they were, they seemed to be a master at concealment... Just like an assassin.

Ying panicked.

’Ugh, don’t tell me... Bastard, did you seriously just walk me into a trap?!’ Ying snapped at his partner. It might have been quite inconvenient, and really almost impossible, but Ying didn’t put it past the stranger to walk him into an ambush, somehow.

That made sense. If Mr. Ex-con didn’t have such despicable intentions, then why would he forcefully lead Ying into these parts of the woods?

If his intentions were truly pure, he’d have just told Ying where he needed to go and not effectively Blood bend him all the way here!

’What the hell are you talking about?! I didn’t walk you into no trap, nothing of the sort... quite the opposite actually.’ The Ex-con from hell tried to defend himself.

’Oh yeah? Then explain what’s happening here right –!’

"Who goes there?!"

A voice, one that didn’t belong to Ying or the enigmatic ex convict, chimed through from the woody forests of the eastern woods.

Its sound was like silk, seamlessly draping itself around the hearer’s form, instantly enchanting them. Like a distinct tune, it was melodious, putting Ying’s soul at ease. No doubt, men would go to war just to hear this voice, even if just once.

In an instant, all of Ying’s anxiousness and fear dissolved like butter in steaming water. A being that possessed such a pure voice could never be of harm...

The young cultivator had never heard anything like it. To think a sound could instantly melt one’s brain like such... It was surreal!

’Humph, you haven’t seen anything yet!’ Ying’s partner harrumphed proudly from his mental jail, casting Ying under a spell of anticipation.

He simply gawked, in the direction of the beautiful vocal. The grasses swayed and deep shadows flickered, finally, the bearer of the harmonious tune appeared.

Much to the excitement of Ying’s inner male, they did not disappoint.

The being that emerged from the dim forest boasted an undeniably ethereal appearance.

With long, flowing, golden blonde hair that seemed to glow like an actual mineral even under the moon lit sky, and jade green eyes that reflected the very conceptualization of beauty. Her perfect features and luscious blossom lips, which rested ever so enticingly on her immaculate pale white skin, was enough to ensnare anyone – male or female.

In a nutshell, every square inch of this... being, was a rendition of otherworldly perfection. Simply her scent would send man and beast crashing down horrendously into the throes of passion.

Ying was awestruck.

’What, in the name of...?’ Ying muttered, not expecting any answer, but his uncanny ’companion’ possessed the ability to read his surface thoughts.

’Like what you see huh? That my friend is a Fairy, the most beautiful species of mythical creatures resident to this imaginary plane. Amazing isn’t it?’