38 Entering the second trial. (1/2)
After spending a bit more time traveling, increasing their pace slightly, Jing Yimu and Li Yang reached Time's March. Time's March was slightly different from Soul's Rest, in that the buildings in Time's March were made out of a strange type of stone that was a murky gray in color. The craftsmanship on the houses was rather crude, with each building being carved into a rough square shape. While walking through Time's March, Jing Yimu was chatting with Li Yang.
”That building over there is the library, each of the four towns in this Cursed Realm has one. Not only does it contain a lot of information that is hard to find for normal people, but there is also a golem, a type of puppet, that knows almost everything about this Cursed Realm.”
The library Jing Yimu was pointing at was the only building not made in the same way as the rest of the buildings in the town. It was made out of a type of silver wood that shimmered under the sun, it was round in shape, resembling a cylinder with a square roof decorated with blue lanterns. The outside of the library was carved with a crane flying towards a bright moon.
Jing Yimu did not bring Li Yang to the library, instead bringing him around as he bought food, checking with Li Yang what he liked better. They had traveled together for over a month, and Jing Yimu found himself getting fonder and fonder of the child he had picked up. Looking away from his poor affinity, his determination and talent for combat made him a perfect disciple.
Jing Yimu finished buying a large amount of food, storing it in a new interspatial ring, a ring that contained a separate space that only the owner could access. He himself barely needed to eat, he could even go years without eating if he so chose to. But Li Yang was different, as his cultivation was too low to manage such a feat, forcing Jing Yimu to stock up on food for Li Yang. After stocking up on food, he gave the interspatial ring to Li Yang and helped him set up a mental imprint on the ring, making him the owner.
”You simply need to put in a strand of your consciousness into the ring, and then you will be able to take out what you have put inside. Time inside it moves slower, but it still moves, so make sure you check the contents from time to time.”
Jing Yimu slid the copper ring onto Li Yang's right middle finger and explained how it worked and how to use it. He made Li Yang test out the ring a few times, secretly enjoying the excited expression Li Yang wore as he tested out the ring, taking the food in and out.
”Thank you, Master Yimu!”
Li Yang stopped playing with the ring and gave Jing Yimu a deep bow, speaking with a voice that was trembling with excitement. On the inside, he found it rather convenient, as he had been lacking an interspatial ring ever since he had been reborn. Now he did not need to worry about being unable to carry things around. Jinwu was also very interested in the ring, copying Li Yang when he bowed to Jing Yimu.
Jing Yimu had already asked about Jinwu, but Li Yang gave a simple excuse, saying that it was a weak Demonic beast that his father had captured for him. When Li Yang bowed, Jing Yimu let out a slight chuckle and pat Li Yang on the head a few times, speaking in a cheerful voice.
”No need to thank me, it is my duty as the master after all. I will head to the site of the trial, I don't know how long I will be gone, so wait patiently.”
After he finished his words, Jing Yimu pointed at the library one last time, before turning around and heading towards the exit of the town. But before he could make it very far, Li Yang dashed forward and grabbed onto the sleeves of Jing Yimu's robe, speaking in an almost pleading voice.
”Wait, Master Yimu! I wish to go with you, I want to at least try to help you gain the emblem!”
There was no way Li Yang would let Jing Yimu go and take the trials without him. If he did that, it would look very suspicious if Jing Yimu came out and Li Yang had snuck away to take the trial while he was gone. Because of that, Li Yang had already prepared his words ahead of time. Jing Yimu furrowed his brows slightly after hearing Li Yang's words, reprimanding him slightly.
”These trials are not playgrounds, they can easily become dangerous.”
Li Yang had already expected words like that, so he stood his ground and looked at Jing Yimu with a determined expression, acting as if Jing Yimu was his future goal. The eyes he used to look at Jing Yimu contained a subtle mixture of pleading, loneliness, and determination, digging straight into Jing Yimu's heart.