"What about here?" Yin Hu pointed at the forest in question.

His focus was on the quickly drawn out map before him. Studying the pointy shaped trees Jun had drawn out with dexterity and speed he did not expect. Everything looked professionally drawn. A hidden talent. That had to be it. Maybe he could use that as an outlet for her to recover from killing, fights, and dealing with the odd hustler that showed up.

What he didn't see was Jun reeling back in abject shock at the suggestion.

"A-Ancestor, you couldn't mean—"

"This place seems like a good loop around the whole battlefield. A great idea." Yin Hu kept going.

He could already imagine it. A general with his army not going the expected paths, but rather crossing a massive river thought impassable. All to get around the enemy armies and blockades. Hit them from behind. No one suspecting they would go through the most hazardous stretches with great ingenuity.

Yin Hu would do the same. Cross this forest area, which didn't seem to be that large from what Jun drew. Lose anyone that would be chasing after them. Mostly because they wouldn't believe he would enter it in the first place.

Then loop around the forests back into the righteous bloc's territory. Sneak into a large city. And act like they were travelers or merchants. Were wandering cultivators a thing in this world? He would need to make sure before he chose a path. It wouldn't be ideal to claim that and learn they hunt or kill wandering cultivators, or force them into clans or sects.

Monopolies tended to be very cut-throat. Especially large companies and any attempt to stand on the witness stage against them.

"Say, Jun," Yin Hu nodded to himself. Thinking of a dozen possible backstories they would carry with them. Just in case. "What do the righteous bloc think of the Hu Clan or wandering cultivators?"

Jun choked.

Shui shifted. Raising her head and blinking at them. Stretching and letting out a massive yawn as well. Sticking a fist into Jun's side. The older girl seemed not to notice.

"Ancestor! Even the hegemonies and major clans dare not to tread the Bleak Forests. It's a death trap."

Yin Hu smiled at her. "That's the point. They don't know it's possible, just because they haven't tried it yet. It will mean we won't have to deal with any Demonic Cultivator insects bothering me. I tire of swatting flies and gnats. Rather not deal with them at all."

"What…I…?"

"I'm assuming you have a general idea of where this bleak forest is?"

Jun nodded. Unable to verbally respond.

"Good. We will enter and head due East with the sun—"

He let his senses enter his spacial rice bag. Searching for anything that would help point them in the right direction the whole time. A compass maybe? Or were there better tools for mapping? He had no clue what was what when it came to that world.

Yin Hu's intention was to give it to Jun as a tool for her to use. Really cultivate her cartography abilities. He smiled as he found one. A strange looking compass with no letters or word markings on it. Always pointing north. As large as his palm and covered in jewelry and gold bits. Even a couple Qi stones too.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Holy Compass of Begreri's Treasure - Follow North until its final destination. Then follow it once more south until its final destination. Then follow lastly east and west until you reach Begreri's treasure. The greatest treasure ever collected.

It was a strange one. But did its job well enough.

"Here," Yin Hu pulled out the compass and handed it to Jun. "Take this. You'll be our guide towards the righteous block. We will follow your guidance unless I see something I find interesting."

Jun reached to grab it. The moment he put it into her palm, her eyes blanked out. Turning white. She started to tip over. Unable to control her body and consciousness. Shui had to jump to catch her before she tipped over completely.

The older girl dropped the compass. Immediately coming back into consciousness a moment later,gasping for air. Scrambling to look for something or someone around her, head turning left and right. Unable to find anything, her eyes locked back onto the compass.

What the hell happened? What's going on?

Yin Hu wanted to ask. But his persona made it impossible. He was already supposed to know what was going on with the compass. Giving her a nuke level item without knowing what it could do was negligent at best. Especially if it could hurt her.

The issue was that he hadn't felt anything at all when touching it.

He picked up the compass again. Nothing happened. He didn't feel anything or see anything. The world didn't shift. No new personalities. No reason for his eyes to go white and tip over unconscious. Everything was perfectly normal and calm. As calm as the strange foggy, ink darkness around them could be.

Jun extended her hand's for the compass. Palms up, head bowed low. "This is a great responsibility, Ancestor. It warms my heart to know that you believe I am worthy. Thank you."

Yin Hu blinked at her. Face impassive as he put the compass into her hands without saying anything else. There were too many strange things happening around them. With more piling on top. He would lose brain power attempting to make sense of every little oddity and weird phenomena every time a new one appeared.

All he could do was make a mental list. One he would think about at some point later. His memory was good enough to remember every single detail he committed to it without much difficulty. He just needed to find the motivation to remember.

"We have a plan," Yin Hu said as he nodded to himself. "Loop around the town's surroundings and then head towards the Bleak Forests. From there we make it to righteous sect territory. Find a large city,and then I'll reevaluate what the plan after would be."

Jun audibly gulped, but nodded nonetheless.

Shui shrugged. The little girl didn't know much about what the Bleak Forests were or what it meant in the long run during their attempted relocation.

"Good."

The girls joined Yin Hu as he stood from his seat.

"Let's get a head start. The quicker we leave this place the sooner we arrive at our destination."

Both girls nodded.

He stepped off the porch and into the dark, ink-like fog, finding that he had no issue with visibility or any form of resistance. Almost a transparent mirage. It moved and shifted with him, making space and leaving him comfortable.

Even if it was a mirage, being surrounded by black ink would make anyone feel uneasy. It was par for the course.

"I don't like the fog," Shui said. "It's scary."

"Fog? What fog?"

Yin Hu turned to the little conversation between the two girls. Trying to hide his expression. Shui was huddled close to the older girl. Looking back and forth as though she could see what he was seeing. Giving him more reason to believe it wasn't just his eyes. But that left a strange question.

How can she see it but Jun doesn't? Why? What's the difference here?

It was more that he needed to figure out. Was it a special ability that Shui had that Jun didn't? Did Jun have a cultivation disability? Or maybe a perception disability? Did it have to do with their Spiritual Roots and their elements? Or was it a purity thing?

Yin Hu had no clue. But he would need to figure it out in case he needed to help Jun overcome it. Or nurture Shui if she was special.

He had so much on his plate already. This was why large clans and sects had a ton of Elders. It was impossible to develop disciples by oneself if they intended to make them nukes. An emperor's children would have dozens of tutors, masters, teachers, disciplinarians and more. Making sure they were excellent in all important subjects and topics.

While he only had himself.

Another item to the list. Elders. Clan Elders to help out when necessary.

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