This thing is truly bizarre. I can't help but recall the white bull figurine I encountered in the temple earlier.
I feel that anything on this island connected to the sea and its magic possesses a strange, hallucinatory power, making one constantly on guard.
If my will weren't so firm, I would have surely fallen prey to them by now.
After Ke Xin helped me get dressed, she smiled and asked, "Master, how are you feeling now? Has your body become stronger?"
After I came ashore, I was so focused on the hot spring that I hadn't noticed. It was only after Ke Xin's reminder that I realized my body truly felt lighter than before!
I felt as though I could fly if only I had a pair of wings!
This sensation stems from the illusion of my mind after my body strengthened. Once I train for a couple of days, I will have complete control over my body.
I called out to Ke Xin and Ke Ya to hurry and leave.
As I departed, I glanced back at the hot spring one last time.
While it is beneficial, ordinary people cannot withstand it.
Therefore, I plan to return and properly train the others in the cave before bringing them here to strengthen their physiques!
We retraced our steps along the path we had taken.
As we passed the dark gate, I felt no desire to explore it. After all, few things give me such an unsettling feeling; it's best not to meddle.
"If you don't court disaster, you won't die" is one of the principles I've lived by on Wuming Island.
I had now completed the primary mission of this excursion. Seeing that the sky was still bright, I took Ke Xin and Ke Ya on a patrol of the tribe to see if there were any usable supplies left.
Surprisingly, perhaps because the Du'an tribe was careless when collecting spoils, we actually found many things. For instance, animal traps and a few small jars used for poisoning arrowheads.
When we once again saw the tribal chief's corpse, Ke Ya suddenly knelt before me, her head touching the ground, and pleaded, "Master, I wish to bury the tribal chief's body. I hope you will permit it."
When I first began training Ke Xin and Ke Ya, I learned about their backgrounds.
Both of their parents had died in battle when they were young. Before becoming Saintesses, they were both supported by the current tribal chief. Thus, for them, the tribal chief was akin to a father.
Facing Ke Ya's plea, I sighed and nodded in agreement.
Although the Kasa tribe and I were in a relationship of irreconcilable animosity, none of that concerned Ke Ya.
Now that the Kasa tribe's chief was dead, I felt a natural, manly respect for such a warrior.
I nodded, "Go and bury him."
Ke Ya stood up and looked sadly at the man before her, his body riddled with wounds.
Suddenly, she fiercely pulled three arrows from the tribal chief's chest.
"Father above, in this life, I swear to annihilate the Du'an tribe and bring the head of the Du'an tribal chief to mourn the Kasa tribe! If I break this oath, may I die a terrible death like these arrows!"
As Ke Ya spoke, she snapped all three arrows and carefully placed the three arrowheads into her satchel.
Seeing Ke Ya's actions, I was taken aback.
She had finally grown!
This wild girl before me had finally undergone a rebirth, spurred by the fires of revenge.
From an innocent tribal Saintess, she had transformed into a warrior with a firm purpose. Her remaining combat experience and skills would be honed by time.
Ke Xin was also inspired by Ke Ya's oath. The two of them worked together to dig a pit.
They buried the Kasa tribal chief's body within it.
The three of us then departed.
We left behind this land destined for decline.
Besides the Holy Spring, the greatest gain I felt from this expedition was Ke Ya's transformation.
I had a premonition that in the life to come, Ke Ya would become my most capable partner!
As the sky gradually darkened, we decided to rest here for the night and return to the settlement tomorrow. I had Ke Xin lead the way to a nearby cave, where we spent the night.
When the night was at its deepest, I lay on a bearskin, silently recalling the day's events.
When we were searching for supplies during the day, I not only found useful items but also saw the faces of each corpse.
To my relief, among so many bodies, most were from the Kasa tribe.
There were only three bodies of outsiders.
I didn't know whether to feel fortunate for their survival or mournful.
Most of the stranded individuals previously captured by the Kasa tribe had survived, but they had merely transitioned from being slaves of one tribe to slaves of another, still lacking human dignity.
I remembered a girl named Chen Nannan, whom I had been close to at the company, when I was looking at the list earlier.
I wondered how she was doing now.
I hoped she was still alive. After all, as long as one lived, there was always hope for escape.
Gradually, I drifted into sleep. That night, my sleep quality was exceptionally good; I didn't even have a single dream.
The next day, we returned to the settlement.
During the two days we were away, Shangguan Yao and the others had been peaceful; nothing had happened.
Upon my return, during my morning exercises, I would also call Shangguan Yao and the others to join me.
After all, I wasn't Superman; I couldn't protect everyone all the time.
In the event of an emergency, self-reliance was the most dependable.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. This morning, as I was about to call Shangguan Yao and the others for their usual training, I found Shangguan Yao already awake, clutching her stomach in pain.
There was a bloodstain on her leg...