19-й уровень ада

Глава 26

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lihua smiled instead of getting angry: "You say we are different, and it is true that our behavior and the rules we follow are different from those of ordinary people. However, we can't just use our abilities at will. The five major groups are scattered all over the place, and we are too busy to patrol and deal with emergencies. Not everyone has the leisure to waste their abilities to obtain the benefits you mentioned."

"Patrol? Emergency?" Xiao Yang interrupted.

“Thousands of years ago, the five great witch clans made a pact to protect this world. From birth, we learn various witch languages, and after mastering them, we are assigned to a region. Our duty is to patrol our assigned area and use all our abilities to nip potential disasters in the bud or minimize the damage they cause. However, as the Earth's air becomes increasingly polluted, our abilities are also affected. We are now less than one percent of our ancestors' abilities, and our population is gradually decreasing due to intermarriage with ordinary humans, making it increasingly difficult to control disasters. Once a disaster escalates, it will be beyond our control. As you know, various natural disasters occur around the world every year, mainly due to human greed. They crave the convenience of their own lives, recklessly destroying nature without realizing it, and even dragging us down with them.”

Yang was speechless at what he heard. He was completely dumbfounded and said awkwardly, "Saving the world? Witchcraft? Lao Zhang, are you delusional?" He looked at Feng Qi, trying to reach a consensus, but found that Feng Qi was unexpectedly silent.

"I came here to find my sister."

Feng Qi looked up. "Is this another story about looking for your sister?"

Zhang Lihua knew that his previous lies had made Feng Qi no longer trust him, and said with a wry smile, "Old Feng, I have nothing to say if you doubt me, after all, I was the one who deceived you first. But we have a rule that we cannot reveal our identity to ordinary people."

“I have no interest in your identity. Whether you’re a water sorceress, a wood sorceress, searching for treasure, or looking for your sister, it’s none of my business. But I’m very interested in your motives for insisting that we both come up the mountain with you. Can you give me a reasonable explanation?” Feng Qi’s voice wasn’t loud, and his speech wasn’t particularly fast, but Xiao Yang looked around anxiously. Even someone as oblivious as him could sense Feng Qi’s anger.

“My sister is six years younger than me and is a freshman in college. She’s been smart since she was little, and she learns everything faster than me. The elders value her highly, saying that geniuses aren’t just from the Water Witch Clan, but Wood Witch Clan can also produce geniuses. But a month ago, my sister disappeared.” As he said this, Zhang Lihua’s eyes gradually turned cold, and the smile on his lips slowly disappeared: “We are Wood Witches, and we can find traces as long as we get close to trees, but after my sister disappeared, I couldn’t sense any trace of her at all.”

Zhang Lihua walked to the edge of the cliff, his fingers lightly touching the trunks of the trees on the cliff edge, his eyes slightly lowered: "I remember that my sister was reading before she disappeared. How could someone as mischievous and playful as her stay at home reading for several days? We thought she had grown up and changed her personality. I found the 'Zhicheng Local Chronicles' in the book she was reading, and she had marked the sentences related to this mountain with her pen."

"So you came looking for her? Just because of her doodles in a book? How can you be sure she's here? What if it was just something she drew out of boredom?" Feng Qi suddenly remembered the girl who had been appearing in his dreams lately—could she be Zhang Lihua's sister? But he immediately dismissed the thought. He was still resentful of Zhang Lihua's deception and couldn't believe anything he said.

“As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, I’m willing to try, as long as I can find her! Actually, I’ve been here once before. Last time, I was certain my sister was here, because the trees along the way seemed to be sending me signals. But I can’t go any further.” Zhang Lihua opened her eyes and looked at the precipice hanging precariously in the air: “This place has been shrouded in a water-based illusion, specifically designed for sorcerers. I know there’s definitely no cliff ahead; I could walk a bit with my eyes closed. But what lies beyond that? I’m not sure, and I can’t take the risk. I know this illusion won’t work on ordinary people, so…”

"So you dragged us into this to help you?" Hearing that he had been used, Xiao Yang was not furious at all. Instead, he smiled and stared at Zhang Lihua with wide, curious eyes.

“I admit I intended to hide it. If you turn back now, I have nothing to say. But to my surprise, I actually met someone who is a wood shaman like me.”

The remaining two were stunned.

Wood Witch? The same one?

Feng Qi subconsciously looked at his palm, then thoughtfully met Zhang Lihua's gaze: "I've been extremely ordinary since I was a child."

“You have the blood of a sorcerer in you. Perhaps it was the water sorcerer named Yu Ye who guided your blood to awaken as a sorcerer.”

"Don't talk like it's a Japanese manga."

"I never read comics."

"Just because I can see that cliff like you?"

"And another thing, you can dream about the birch tree."

Feng Qi was taken aback: "That girl is your sister?"

Zhang Lihua said sadly, "Yes, ever since you started having dreams after arriving here, the women in your dreams have all been my sisters."

"How did you know I was dreaming?" Feng Qi persisted.

“Because I’m just like you, tormented by that nightmare every day and night.” Zhang Lihua gave another bitter smile. “I didn’t know that before, until last night, when I learned from your sleep talking that you had the same dream as me. Ya Hua’s aura only spreads through plants and trees. The fact that you can sense her aura means that you have the ability of a wood sorceress. It’s just that you were raised as an ordinary person since you were a child and don’t know how to use your abilities.”

"I am an orphan."

"Maybe it's Old Zhang's illegitimate son whom he's been keeping hidden away!" Xiao Yang, who was left out, retorted by arranging flowers, drawing glares from the other two. Under pressure, he awkwardly changed his tune: "You have no sense of humor at all. I meant maybe."

Zhang Lihua spread his hands: "I've said everything I can say, Lao Feng, are you still going to continue with me?"

Feng Qi raised his eyes and looked at the cliff face expressionlessly: "You should ask Yang Bo. Since we are both sorcerers and were also deceived by this so-called illusion, it is Yang Bo who can lead you through this path."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yang Bo loudly declared his position: "Nonsense! Do I even need to say it? Keep going! Old Zhang is looking for his sister; of course I'll help if I can!"

Faced with Yang Bo's enthusiasm, Feng Qi was speechless. This carefree young man probably didn't realize the danger he was willingly entangling himself in by agreeing to help. Just as he was about to try to dissuade him, Yang Bo waved his hand dismissively and said in an old-fashioned tone, "Old Feng, I'm not trying to be mean! When one is in trouble, all lend a hand! Besides, we're brothers, we should help even more. I'm just showing you the way!"

"Saying this, he grabbed Feng Qi, walked up to Zhang Lihua, and said with a grin, "Let's go! Let's go find my sister!"

Feng Qi looked at Zhang Lihua and noticed a hint of pleading in his usually calm eyes. Startled, he nodded slightly, "Let's go! Maybe we can uncover the mystery of my origins!" Hearing this, Yang Bo laughed heartily and slapped Feng Qi, making him stumble a few steps. "That's right! Good brothers only last this life! I didn't expect you to have such a sense of humor at a crucial moment, Lao Feng!"

Feng Qi sighed inwardly, wanting to say, "Yang Bo, you're a reporter, an uncrowned king, where did you learn so much江湖语语 (slang and jargon) from...", but looking at Yang Bo's excited face, he held back and could only exchange a glance with Zhang Lihua, who was equally helpless about Yang Bo's boastful words, to express their sympathy.

The three reached a consensus and continued on their way. The formation was slightly changed, with Yang Bo still leading the way and Feng Qi bringing up the rear.

To Yang Bo, the road ahead was no different from the ones he had walked before. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and strolled forward leisurely, humming a tune now and then. The two behind him, however, were far from having an easy time. Every step they took felt like torture.

As Feng Qi watched Yang Bo get closer and closer to the cliff edge, his heart pounded louder and louder. Even though he knew it was an illusion, he couldn't stop trembling all over. Zhang Lihua, who was in front of him, wasn't doing much better. His back muscles were all tense, and his gray T-shirt was soaked with sweat.

Yang Bo wasn't stupid; he naturally sensed the tension in the other two. A mischievous thought crossed his mind. As he stepped forward with his left foot, he clearly heard the two holding their breath behind him. A smirk played on his lips, and he simply leaped across. To him, it was just a slightly sloping path, with the same trees and tall grass on either side. As he landed and turned around triumphantly, a roar erupted behind him—Feng Qi's voice: "Yang Bo!"

Yang Bo rubbed his hands in his jeans pockets and, seeing the unusually grim expressions on Feng Qi and Zhang Lihua's faces, stuck out his tongue: "Please, don't be so nervous, okay?"

Feng Qi found it difficult to describe his current feelings. He saw Yang Bo standing suspended in mid-air, a little over a meter away from them who were still on the edge of the cliff, with a sheer drop below. Yet Yang Bo was playfully jumping around, testing his and Zhang Lihua's nerves. He knew that the scene before him was indeed the illusion Zhang Lihua had described, but he couldn't stop his senses from reacting. He glanced at Zhang Lihua, whose face was as pale as his own.

Zhang Lihua's expression was much calmer. He said in a barely audible voice, "Feng Qi, you can try closing your eyes." Feng Qi was taken aback and asked, "Why don't you close your eyes?"

“Closing my eyes allows me to avoid the obstruction of illusions, but at the same time, it makes me feel very unsafe, especially walking in this forest. It’s easy to get lost if I’m not careful. I’ve tried it before, but I’ve found myself lost in the jungle. If I weren’t a wood-type sorcerer, I might have starved to death in the deep mountains.” After saying this, Zhang Lihua stretched out his hand: “If you’re willing, you can close your eyes and hold my hand as we walk. Walking like this should help you overcome your fear.”

He spoke sincerely and acted in a friendly manner. Feng Qi smiled, shook his head, and said, "No, we'll just follow Xiao Yang closely." With that, he passed Zhang Lihua and followed closely behind Yang Bo, keeping his head down and carefully following the direction and rhythm of Yang Bo's steps.

Feng Qi and Zhang Lihua walked with trepidation, fearing they might slip and fall. They hoped this stretch of road would end as soon as possible. Yang Bo, however, was fed up with the monotonous scenery, which hardly changed on either side. He complained constantly, glancing back at the other two every now and then, and when he realized they hadn't reached the end, he would grumble a few words.

Suddenly, Feng Qi stopped in his tracks. His breath caught in his throat, and he felt an overwhelming sense of oppression, very similar to what he had dreamt of. His gaze began to glaze over, and he seemed to see the running girl before him. Zhang Lihua also noticed something amiss and quickly grabbed Yang Bo, urgently asking, "Xiao Yang! Where's the nearest tree? Take me to touch it!"

Yang Bo was completely baffled. Seeing the pale-faced Feng Qi and then the anxious Zhang Lihua, he pointed to the right in a daze.

Zhang Lihua groped around next to Yang Bo for a long time before finally touching the wrinkled tree trunk with trembling hands. After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes in pain. Feng Qi, who had recovered by then, saw that Zhang Lihua's expression was not right and went over to comfort him. Zhang Lihua was already unable to say a word, and could only let Feng Qi touch the tree trunk as well.

Feng Qi touched the tree trunk with a puzzled look. The suffocating feeling that had just subsided returned, and it seemed to be getting worse. Fragmented images flashed through his mind, overlapping with his dream.

He saw a young, energetic girl running through the forest; she was clearly purposeful, following something. Then, three men appeared. Feng Qi had previously suspected that the three men were them, but judging from the current situation, his previous guess was incorrect.

Three men spotted her, and the tallest one seemed to be saying something to her. She ran over to him with joy...

Suddenly, the scene shifts, and the lush green forest is replaced by a blood-red sky. On a barren platform, devoid of any vegetation, a woman is bound to a wooden stake like a sacrificial offering, her skin cracked. Her hair is matted with congealed blood, and her features are obscured in the shadows of the sun…

Then came the running away, the constant running away, desperately trying to shout, but unable to utter a single word...

Brother, I'm sorry...

Brother, I'm sorry...

Brother, I'm sorry...

The soft, sweet voice echoed everywhere, like a demonic sound, making Feng Qi's head feel like it was about to explode.

Yang Bo sensed something was wrong and reached out to touch Zhang Lihua, who was still lost in her grief. Zhang Lihua, seeing Feng Qi slowly sliding down the tree trunk, her features trembling and contorted, knew that Feng Qi was about to succumb to her sister's energy and quickly swung Feng Qi's hand away from the tree trunk.

Chapter Five: Genius

(five)

"What is that? It's so clear, like watching a high-definition movie!" Feng Qi asked, panting heavily as he supported himself on his thighs.

Zhang Lihua looked at Feng Qi with a complicated expression: "Wood-type wizards are connected to plants and can see things that happened a few days or even a week ago through plants. If the wood-type wizard's own obsession is attached to the plant, it will be preserved for even longer. My sister is a rare wood-type genius. Her will is not something that ordinary wood-type wizards can withstand, especially you. You have never undergone special training and are easily disturbed by these images and sounds."

Feng Qi thought about it and agreed, saying with a sigh, "It seems you'll have to teach me some witchcraft that can resist your sister's abilities, lest I be disturbed and go insane, which would be a burden to you."

Zhang Lihua said apologetically, "I'll tell you a few of the most basic ones later."

After calming down, Feng Qi found himself sitting under a large rock. The surrounding scenery was no longer a precipice, but a real path, trees, and forest.

Knowing Feng Qi's doubts, Zhang Lihua explained, "We've already passed the part of the road where we were deceived."

Feng Qi could hardly believe it. They had only walked for less than ten minutes and they had already crossed the border?

“I can’t guess the reason either. Logically speaking, the spellcaster should be quite capable to be able to set up a sleight of hand specifically targeting sorcerers. But the distance is so short, it seems to be just to deceive one’s own kind. I just can’t figure this out. Are there any water-based sorcerers who are this outstanding?”

"How is Yu Ye?"

“Yu Ye? I have never met the little girl you mentioned, so I have no way to compare her to her. However, the Water Witch Clan declined more than ten years ago, and the glorious era of the Witch Jing Ling is gone forever. Among the current clan members, there is no one who can shoulder the heavy responsibility.”

"Jing Ling?"

Zhang Lihua looked longingly at her: "Yes, Jing Ling, the legendary water witch queen, and the era in which she lived, a time of great talent."

Yang Bo asked Feng Qi curiously in a low voice, "What is Lao Zhang saying?"

"Gossip," Feng Qi replied casually.

"Who is Jing Ling?" the question continued.

"Just listen, I don't know either."

"Jing Ling is the patriarch of the Wu tribe. She learned all the practical Wu language at the age of ten and could manipulate most of the ancient Wu language by the age of sixteen. Not only the elders of the Water Wu tribe, but also the elders of the other four Wu tribes acknowledged that she was a rare genius in thousands of years."

"Another genius? Where do so many geniuses come from in this world?" Feng Qi suddenly found it funny that Zhang Lihua used the word "genius" to describe people so often, and asked with a hint of disdain.

"Jing Ling is indeed very powerful. Twenty years ago, before the witchcraft competitions of the five major witch clans were banned, she won the championship every year since she started participating at the age of 7. At that time, the most outstanding wind-element witch was Chen Yiting. They were betrothed since birth and were the golden couple of the witchcraft world..."

“Old Feng…” Yang Bo secretly tugged at the corner of Feng Qi’s shirt: “Old Zhang is such a gossip.”

Feng Qi remained calm: "It seems Jing Ling is his idol."

Ignoring the lack of cooperation from the two beside him, Zhang Lihua sighed, "What a pity, what a pity. Back then, Jing Ling suddenly retired for some unknown reason and disappeared without a trace. Ten years later, the ten elders of the five great witch clans issued a warrant for Jing Ling's arrest. In the end, it was the Earth Witch Nianyu, who had just become the judge, who found Jing Ling. But for some reason, when he found Jing Ling, she was already dead. Her death was said to be very gruesome; she was bitten by a wild beast and bled to death. A generation of witches left so inexplicably. It's such a pity. Since then, the Water Witch clan has declined and has never produced an outstanding witch again."

"So, you're surprised to see this illusionary magic array appear?"

"It's easy to use illusions on ordinary people, but it's extremely rare and difficult to use illusions specifically against sorcerers, unless the sorcerer himself has very powerful sorcery abilities. As far as I know, there are no such powerful figures among water sorcerers."

"What about Yu Ye, whom I mentioned?"

"Maybe it's her, but I'm not sure."

Feng Qi recalled the scene that had flashed through his mind earlier: a woman bound to a lifeless platform. The woman he saw didn't seem to be the same girl who had been transmitting information to him in his dreams. After some consideration, he decided to tell Zhang Lihua, even though it might upset him: "Old Zhang, besides seeing your sister, I also saw another woman."

"woman?"

"Yes, a woman bound to a wooden stake like a sacrificial offering, the stake standing on a high platform devoid of any plants or animals."

"What!" Zhang Lihua exclaimed angrily, "Who dares to treat my sister like this!"

Feng Qi was taken aback: "You didn't see it?"

Upon hearing Feng Qi's words, Zhang Lihua immediately understood and hurriedly asked, "What else did you see?" Feng Qi recounted everything to Zhang Lihua, from the running girl to the bound woman, and then to the three men. After finishing, he felt a little uneasy under Zhang Lihua's probing gaze: "What's wrong?"

“You see more than I do,” Zhang Lihua said bitterly. “You haven’t been trained, yet you can see more than I do. Your abilities are superior to mine.”

"Why bring this up now! I don't think that bound woman is your sister, but I can't give any reason why, it's just a feeling." Feng Qi suddenly thought of something and quickly asked, "Does your sister have long or short hair?"

"Not too long, not too short, about shoulder length."

"That's it! The woman has short hair, just past her ears!"

Feng Qi's words relieved Zhang Lihua, but he was immediately puzzled: "If she's not my sister, how did the image get transmitted?"

"Perhaps it was my sister who saw it?" Yang Bo, who had been ignored again, tried to interject.

These words were like a wake-up call. Feng Qi and Zhang Lihua both looked at Yang Bo, then locked eyes. They both saw the same thought in each other's eyes.

"Did Yahua see something that caused her to disappear?"