The Decaying World-Chapter 121 - 114: Exploration 2

"Later, within the Human Race, someone accidentally fused with an Evil Soldier Insect Scripture from the most ancient of times, becoming the first generation of Fog People. That was the beginning of our history of clearing out territory and establishing human settlements."

"The Fog People are incredibly powerful, but they have limited lifespans. The descendants of the first generation of Fog People are called the Original Blood, but this bloodline isn’t permanent. When the progenitor Fog Person dies, the Original Blood degrades, and the nobility reverts to being ordinary people. To maintain and extend the rule of the Original Blood, the Inner City was established."

"But I’ve heard that Fog People aren’t limited to just the Human Race. Is that true?" Lin Hui asked.

"Yes." Han Xiaoyue nodded. "Other races have Fog People, but overall, there aren’t as many as there are among humans."

"Getting back to what you said earlier, how was the Inner City built to extend their rule?" Lin Hui asked.

"Because the greatest drain on the Fog People is the constant battle against the external fog. The Inner City was built with special materials to block out most of it, which greatly reduces this drain. Of course, this isn’t the only method used to extend their time. There are also attempts to create imitation Evil Soldier Insect Scriptures and build imitation Fog People to share the burden, but these methods are generally not very effective."

Han Xiaoyue paused for a moment before continuing.

"The Original Blood Nobility discovered through their research that besides the Fog Person bloodline, there is one other way to truly resist the fog: Summoning."

"Summoning?"

"Yes. Summoning is actually a form of activation, a lower-grade ritual that imitates the creation of imitation Fog People. Summoners can also share some of the pressure of resisting the fog. And so, the Inner City began a large-scale effort to increase its population and screen people for Summoning."

"I think I get the gist of it..." Lin Hui nodded in realization. "So, what about those sealed fortresses I encountered on my way to the Inner City?"

"The fog holds countless dangers. A small area outside can have two ruins, to say nothing of a region as vast as the Inner City. So, the Original Bloods located the source of every anomaly, then categorized, contained, and sealed them all away. They then stationed people to guard them. These are what you call the sealed fortresses of the Inner City," Han Xiaoyue explained earnestly.

Afterward, Lin Hui asked various other questions about the Fog Area and the Inner City. She answered them all with ease, even citing historical texts as she recounted one major event after another.

The sheer breadth of her knowledge seemed to exceed Lin Hui’s expectations.

Without realizing it, the two became lost in conversation.

"What about a Fog Person’s lifespan? Since a Fog Person determines the lifespan of a city district, what does that mean for Tuyue’s current lifespan...?" Lin Hui suddenly brought up.

"Tuyue was founded about four thousand years ago. There are no specific records on the lifespan of Fog People, but based on the histories of the earliest recorded city districts, it should be around ten thousand years," Han Xiaoyue answered calmly.

"If there are no records, how did you come to that conclusion?" Lin Hui asked curiously.

"The Xingdiao City District is on the verge of collapse. Their Fog Person entered old age long ago. Not long ago, they were caught in the crossfire of a fight between two passing Fog People and were gravely injured. Now, they can’t even maintain stability in the Inner City District. It’s clear they’re not going to last. I’ve been to Xingdiao, and I drew my conclusion after researching their historical records," Han Xiaoyue replied.

She looked at Lin Hui, a peculiar glint in her eyes.

"You’re different. Most people don’t care about these things; they’re too far removed from their daily lives."

"Just curious," Lin Hui said with a smile.

"Sometimes, too much curiosity only brings suffering," Han Xiaoyue said.

"Then I’d rather suffer than remain ignorant," Lin Hui stated.

That wasn’t something a person could learn from the poor education available in the Outer City.

Han Xiaoyue’s eyes lit up. She sensed something about Lin Hui that was distinctly different from his surroundings.

She didn’t know it was the subtle air of a civilization from another world, but at that moment, she definitely sensed a difference.

Most other people would have probably just asked why curiosity brings suffering.

But Lin Hui understood instantly and gave his own reply.

"I have one more question. I wonder if Miss Han knows how a Fog Person fuses with an Evil Soldier Insect Scripture?" Lin Hui was extremely curious about this.

’How exactly are these Fog People, who ascend to the heavens in a single step, created? How can they reach the pinnacle without any training at all?’

"They are chosen," Han Xiaoyue said calmly. "Since it’s named ’Evil Soldier,’ you should be able to guess what the existence of a Fog Person truly implies."

"Chosen by the Evil Soldier Insect Scripture?"

"Yes. The choice is one-sided. In fact, from what I understand, Fog People must face different tribulations at regular intervals. They can only continue living if they overcome them. This divides Fog People into two classes: City-Founding Fog People and Wandering Fog People. Only a Fog Person who can safely pass through one tribulation after another can establish a city. This also means their power is terrifying." Han Xiaoyue told him everything she knew.

"I see. After fusing with an Evil Soldier Insect Scripture, can a Fog Person still practice Martial Arts?" Lin Hui asked.

Han Xiaoyue suddenly laughed.

"That’s a rather amusing question. After all, to a Fog Person, the strongest Martial Artist can be obliterated with a mere thought. But you have hit upon a key point. A Fog Person’s power depends on the development of the entity they fused with. The higher the upper limit of the Evil Soldier Insect Scripture, the stronger the Fog Person becomes. As for whether a Fog Person can cultivate other systems after fusion, I don’t know."

Her smile faded.

"I only know that once someone becomes a Fog Person, their foundational strength is far beyond comparison with any other system. Even the pinnacle of the Inner City’s Inner Strength path is nothing more than an ant that can be casually crushed in the eyes of a Fog Person."

"What about a High Priest?"

"Even the Palace Master realm above High Priest is no different. Their power compared to a Fog Person’s is like a single raindrop to a mighty river, or an ant to a human. The gap is indescribable," Han Xiaoyue said solemnly.

A chill ran through Lin Hui’s heart, and he asked no more questions.

’I have a decent understanding now of the power of a Circulation Martial Artist, and even some idea of the strength of Priests and High Priests. But even that level of power is no different from an ant in the eyes of a Fog Person. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of heights that is.’

Next, Han Xiaoyue asked for some of his personal information, apparently planning to use him as a cover.

As dusk approached, the two got up and parted ways, exchanging contact information.

Han Xiaoyue provided a mailing address, while Lin Hui gave the location of Qingfeng Temple.

After leaving the Inner City, he quickly wrote down everything Han Xiaoyue had said, planning to verify it later.

A rough outline of the Inner City was gradually taking shape from her descriptions.

The next day, Lin Hui packed his things early in the morning and entered the Inner City once again.

He confirmed his destination on the map: a place in the Outer Ring called the Xuanya District. The Inner City was divided into nine districts, and each district was subdivided into nine towns.

The Xuanya District was a large district located mostly within the Outer Ring, full of markets for medicinal herbs, minerals, and general trade. According to the records on the Wang Family’s map, a census taken fifteen years ago put the population at around four million.

Before leaving, Lin Hui asked his old man for some intelligence and learned that the Xuanya District was primarily inhabited by an ethnic minority known as the Gray Stone Race. Apart from The Three Greats, the most influential power there was the Profound Tooth Sect, one of the Three Sects and Six Gangs.

After learning about some of the local taboos, Lin Hui took the twenty vials of Feather Blood his father had sponsored and set out.

*

*

*

The sky was bright.

「Around nine in the morning.」

Following the familiar path, Lin Hui once again entered the Inner City through the South Nine Gates.

After passing through the broken cliffs, he reached a fork in the road. Following the signpost, he chose the main road leading toward the Xuanya District.

There was no convoy and no entourage, only him. With a sword on his back, carrying gold notes, Feather Blood, and a small supply of dry rations, he pushed off and shot forward along the main road like the wind.

The ground was damp, as it had just rained.

Simple bamboo railings flanked the dusty gray dirt road.

Beyond the railings stretched vast, vibrant green rice paddies.

In the paddies, men and women dressed as farmers held hoes, zipping back and forth through the fields at incredible speeds.

They moved as fast as an ordinary person sprinting on flat ground.

The white sky, the gray earth, and the vibrant green on either side lifted Lin Hui’s spirits.

He could smell the fresh scent drifting on the air.

After traveling at his normal pace for about half an hour, another signpost appeared ahead at a fork in the road.

He slowed to a stop and looked closely at the sign.

’Left: Redstone Fortress.’

’Right: Ma Fen Mountain.’

’There are no more markers... which way am I supposed to go... let me think...’ Lin Hui now regretted not bringing a guide. He had assumed this journey would be like the last, not realizing the distances involved would be so vast.

He mentally recalled the general direction and sped off to the left.

Before long, a stone bridge appeared ahead. Beneath it was a narrow chasm, at the bottom of which water shimmered.

A few men in light leather armor, carrying swords, stood guard at the head of the bridge, chatting to stave off boredom.

A bonfire burned to their right. By the flames lay two large, black, goat-horned dogs—creatures of an unknown type.

Lin Hui slowed down, intending to ask for directions and make sure he was on the right path.

’The route on the map doesn’t quite seem to match the actual terrain.’

"Halt!" One of the two men guarding the bridge spotted him, raised a hand, and shouted.

"There’s been a crime up ahead. The area is sealed off for investigation. You’ll have to find a detour," a man with a small mustache explained.

"A crime? What happened? Can you tell me?" Lin Hui asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Two bandits have ambushed and slaughtered at least three merchant caravans traveling through here. The Peacekeeping Army is hunting them down. You can’t pass through for now," the man replied.

He sized up Lin Hui, recalling the Body Technique he’d just displayed.

"Your Body Technique is impressive, but those bandits have killed over a hundred people from a caravan that was guarded by a Circulation Martial Artist. You’d best be careful going in there alone."

"Thank you!" A knot formed in Lin Hui’s stomach. ’The Inner City really is on another level. Even the bandits are at the Circulation Realm. It’s nothing like the Outer City, where someone at that level could rule over a dozen towns.’

After bidding the two men farewell, Lin Hui ran along the chasm’s edge for nearly ten miles before he finally found a second bridge, this one made of wood.

The wooden bridge was broken. The planks in the middle had completely rotted away, leaving only a few pieces scattered near either end.

Worse, there was no signpost, and the surroundings were completely desolate. There wasn’t another soul in sight.

Lin Hui hesitated. He had no idea where he’d ended up. ’If I get lost out here and can’t find my way back...’

’...all the permits I’m carrying won’t do me any good.’

He immediately turned and headed back toward the stone bridge, deciding to ask for more detailed directions.

He reached the stone bridge again in no time, but to his astonishment, the two men in leather armor who had been guarding it were now lying on the ground.

Blood stained the ground, and the two horned black dogs lay nearby, hacked in two and deader than dead.

A terrible feeling washed over him, and he immediately turned to run.

"That’s him! Get the murderer!"

Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from nearby.