Chapter Nine - The Holy Ground
Little One and Addo supported each other as they continued their journey through the forest.
Their bodies were exhausted, and every step seemed to demand more strength than they could afford to give. The poison coursing through their bodies had weakened them considerably, and the journey was becoming increasingly difficult.
Yet neither complained.
They had already endured too much to give up now.
Besides, they had made a promise.
They would find a way into the world of cultivation. They would become strong enough to change their fate.
And, above all, they would survive together.
As though some deity had finally heard their prayers, they eventually emerged from the dense forest and arrived at a large clearing.
People!
Little One's remaining eye widened.
After days of wandering through that dreadful forest, they had finally encountered other human beings!
For a moment, she simply stood there, staring at the gathering before her. It almost felt unreal. After spending so long surrounded by trees, strange creatures, and the constant threat of death, seeing so many people in one place was almost overwhelming.
She wondered whether she was dreaming.
Then Addo gently squeezed her hand.
She turned towards him and saw the excitement reflected in his tired eyes. He was looking at the same gathering.
"We finally found someone," he whispered.
His voice was weak, but his smile was bright.
Addo looked considerably worse than he had when they first left the physician's lair. His cheeks had become hollow, his skin was pale, and dark patches had spread across his body. Even standing upright seemed to require considerable effort.
Nevertheless, he gave her hand a gentle tug and led her towards the clearing.
Little One followed.
Dozens of youths had gathered there. Some stood in small groups, chatting among themselves, while others sat on the ground or quietly observed their surroundings.
The moment the two newcomers approached, several people noticed them.
One by one, the conversations died down as the youths turned to stare.
Little One immediately became uncomfortable beneath their gazes. She had never seen so many people gathered in one place before. Excitement stirred within her, but it was accompanied by a familiar uneasiness.
She instinctively moved closer to Addo.
"A sickler on the verge of death and a little cripple!"
An arrogant voice suddenly rang out.
Little One turned towards its source.
A girl of about fourteen stood among the youths. She wore beautiful pink garments and carried herself with the unmistakable bearing of a wealthy young miss. Her chin was raised, and her expression was filled with disdain as she examined the two newcomers.
After a moment, she strode towards them, followed by several youths.
"You there! Who are you? What are you doing here? And how dare you come to this place?"
Her questions came one after another, leaving little room for an answer.
Little One stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. Everything had happened so suddenly that she hardly knew how to respond.
Instead, she decided to ask the questions that had been troubling her.
"What is this place? Who are you people? And how can we leave?"
"How dare this little cripple—"
The girl was about to launch into another tirade when a young man stepped forward.
"Freiya, do not act as though this forest belongs to you."
The youth appeared to be around sixteen years old. He wore a faint smile, and his expression suggested that Freiya's behaviour was nothing new to him.
"Shut up, Luobe!" Freiya snapped.
Luobe merely smiled, seemingly unbothered by her outburst.
He then turned towards Little One and Addo.
"Now, tell me. How is it that you don't know where you are? Surely, you must have known what this place was before coming here."
Addo quickly stepped forward.
"We had our reasons for coming here," he replied. "We didn't come of our own choice. We were brought here against our will."
"I see."
Luobe's expression changed slightly. He examined their condition for a moment before speaking again.
"This forest is known as the Pathway of Ascension."
He paused, perhaps expecting a reaction.
When neither of them showed any surprise, he continued.
"But I suppose you already know that."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Now that you're here, I suppose you deserve to know a little more. The place we're standing in is called the Holy Ground. It is a trial pathway established to give people like us an opportunity to begin their journey into the world of cultivation."
"Cu-cultivation?"
Little One repeated the word.
Her remaining eye widened as something stirred within her.
So this was it.
This was the place Addo had told her about. The place where they might finally find a way to become cultivators.
For the first time in days, a genuine spark of hope flickered inside her.
"What do you mean by people like us?" she asked eagerly.
"People who have no means of entering the cultivation world," Luobe explained. "Those without powerful families, connections, or the resources needed to begin their journey. For people like us, this forest is often our only opportunity."
His explanation was somewhat vague, but Little One hardly noticed. Her thoughts were already racing ahead.
She hurriedly asked another question.
"What do we have to do to become cultivators?"
"Ha! As if a little cripple and a sickler like you could become cultivators!"
Freiya, who had been ignored for some time, sneered from the side.
Her words were sharp and deliberately insulting.
Luobe ignored her.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure about all the details," he admitted. "But I do know that anyone who wishes to pass through the trial must make certain preparations. You must be whole in body, mind, and soul."
He paused and glanced at Little One.
"I cannot say much about your situation, little one, but..."
His gaze shifted towards Addo.
He examined the boy's pale face, thin frame, and uneven breathing. His expression gradually became more serious.
"Looking at this brother of yours, I'm afraid it may already be too late for him."
Little One froze.
Addo's smile faded.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Little One took a step forward.
"What do you mean?"