29 Trees. (1/2)
*CLAP*
”Aye, now that you have your axes, we can start work!”
With a booming yell, the man floating in the air declared with utmost potency. Confusion sprang out everywhere as people paused with incredulous expressions.
However, he didn't seem to care as he fluttered to the floor, rattling the ground with a thud. Then, with a steep stride, he started to head north.
”Follow me, or you'll regret it!”
”Work? Why are we working?”
”Maybe it is something else... No, it couldn't be what I'm thinking...”
Standing by himself with a shimmering axe, Su Min rubbed his chin and thought that it was about time that the girl would wake up; unless she could sleep through all this racket...
'Should I bring her with me? It should be pretty safe here though...'
As he was thinking this, a plod erupted out of his hut as a teary eyes girl stammered out. She had dark circles under her eyes, and with a panicked expression, she swept the area and looked for someone. She seemed that she was about to break down...
”Ah...”
Su Min sighed as he walked up to her, and without delay, she noticed him. She, with a scamper, ran up to him and grabbed hold of his jacket, speaking with a whimper.
”I had a nightmare...”
Deciding not to say anything, Su Min rubbed her head as he gazed at the sky. It seemed like a natural habit from him to do so. However, soon, a firm decision soon planted itself in him.
He crouched down, and with a whisper, he spoke with a smile.
”Hey, I have to go somewhere for a while, so I can't bring you with me. Would you be fine if I left you here for a while, hm?”
The girl quivered as tears started to well in her eyes, but just at this moment, a sudden step broke the tense air.
”Hey, how about I babysit her?”
”...Yin Zan?”
...
...
”Goddammit! We're cutting down trees!”
”These aren't trees!”
Around ten kilometres north from their compound, a stark and overwhelming scene laid itself out in front of the group. A limitless expanse, expanding without care, enveloped the horizon in a thick jungle of trees.
There were three types of trees in this jungles, each smaller than the last.
The largest pierced into the sky with a trunk as thick as two people, galloping with a vigorous age. It's beautiful green leaves and branches that seemed to hold the sky struck everyone to the very core.
The bark of the tree glimmered with a strange metallic nature, and, due to some unknown transformation, sparkled gold!
Next to such behemoths, smaller, more petite trees stood as well. They were about the size of an oak tree, but their lustre surpassed that greatly. Like it was a rule, these trees also sparkled, but it was a sparkle of silver! They were about half the size of the golden trees, but they still seemed out of this world.
Going down the ladder, the last type of tree was about the size of a palm tree; although it was like a small baby compared to the golden tree, it contained a strange nature as it glowed bronze.
”Hehe, different, eh? Well, this forest is going to be your home until you reach 3rd step in Martial Condensation.”
Many gulps were heard as he spoke the word Martial Condensation; it was clear that word had spread about the manual.
”As you lot are weak, we won't ask a lot! All you have to cut is one bronze tree! ”
The tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate as the man said something that seemed so simple that it was eery. And, indeed, it was strange.
”It shouldn't be too hard, right?”
”Mhm...”
The man's grin seemed to widen as he looked at the hopeful expressions of the disciples, and, licking his lips, he spoke once more.
”Once you're finished, just go to the collection area 500 meters back. Of course, you have to bring your log back. You'll get all the information you'll need from there, so ask them and not me!”
”Oh, and, there isn't a time limit to this task, Hehe.”
Finishing, the man grabbed the axe on his waist and walked into the forest, disappearing from their view without a pause.
'Cut down the tree?'
Standing alone, Su Min swayed the axe by his side back and forth, feeling it's weight. It was strange, but as he moved it a resonating shiver ran through his arm.
'The Ancient Fist Art?'
Through a surreal instinct, the way he moved the axe started to change, and before he knew it, it followed a law he knew. The law of the Ancient Fist Art. It was the passive law of the art, not like the first and second fist forms he performed in the tournament.
Following this, his chest seemed to open without his command and suck in a strand of gold.
*SWEEP*
A tremble broke through the air as Su Min moved the axe, cleaving it. And with a light shimmer of gold, a streak of wind pierced out of the axe and darted into the atmosphere.
'W-what?'