The Green Veil country was full of vast green lands, hence the name Green Veil. Most of the country was just fertile, green land. When traveling from one place to another, one could see an endless trail of green. Not a piece of soil was without any crops, trees, or grass.

Edward and Robert were crossing the green fields one after another, heading to the south-east. At the southeast border of the country, straight east to the Tulip Village was the Lake of Tears. Edward and Robert planned to head straight to the west after finishing their investigation of the Lake of Tears.

Currently, they have come very close to the salt lake. Edward and Robert were running near their full speed during the whole journey. Although they could've used horses, they are many times faster than horses, and also, Edward decided that this would be a great way to train their speed and stamina. Continuously running throughout the whole journey is a form of training according to Edward. Since the very first day they left the academy, they have been traveling in this manner.

After the crossing vast green lands and a mountain range, they were finally near the Lake of Tears.

"I can see the lake. We've arrived at our destination.", Robert shouted.

"Yeah. Let's see what this lake has in store for us."

They soon appeared in front of the lake. Normally, This place would have some cultivators hanging around for training and cultivation, but after the previous cases of disappearance, people have stopped coming here.

The reason cultivators came to this place was because the lake was a great place for cultivation. The surrounding air was magically refreshing, and looking at the lake water had a wondrous effect of calming people's minds. The entire environment was soothing and mystical.

People did not drink the water here, because it was salty. What was amazing about this lake was that this lake was not like other salt lakes. Although the lake water was salty, no one could see any trace of salt even after analyzing the water or the lake. Many people tried to find the source of the salt and tried to even separate the salt from the water, but nothing worked. It was as if the water was magically salty by nature. Like tears of humans, the water was always salty and warm. Even during the winter, it would remain warm like newly shed tears.

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Thus, the lake gained the name 'Lake of Tears'. The lake was around a hundred kilometers long, but its length wasn't its greatest trait. The greatest trait of this lake was its depth. People have tried again and again to find the bottom of the lake, but none came up with any result. It was not a matter of cultivation realms. It is said during the ancient times, many powerful cultivators came to find its bottom, only to return in disappointment.

In the end, this place became a revered location for cultivators. Cultivators do not come here anymore only due to the cases of disappearances.

At the moment, Edward and Robert were standing on the lakeshore. They were enjoying the view, staring at the beautiful lake in awe.

"It is true. The lake really can refresh a cultivator's mind.", said Robert after taking a deep, refreshing breath.

"Hmm", Edward nodded. For some reason, he seemed distracted.

Actually, from the moment they approached the lake, Edward started to feel anxious and uneasy. When he finally gazed upon the lake, for some unknown reason, he started to feel a tearing pain in his heart. It was as if he had just lost someone very close to him. He suddenly felt an endless wave of sorrow drowning his mind. He felt like shouting with all his might, he felt like kneeling on the ground and cry his heart out. He did not know what was happening to him.

"What's happening to me? Why am I feeling like this?", he shouted in his mind.

"Edward. Are you ok?", Robert asked as he suddenly noticed that something wasn't right.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm Ok. I'm Ok.", Edward said while trying to force himself to calm down.

"Well. If you say so.", Robert did not try to probe anything. He understood that Edward would tell him when he wanted to. That's just how Edward was.

"Ok then, I'm gonna check out the water.", said Robert. Then he jumped into the lake.

Edward remained on the lakeshore, trying to calm his mind and understand what was happening to him.

"Stop. Just Stop.", he murmured.

It didn't stop. He could feel more and more sorrow devouring his heart. It was like an endless abyss, swallowing Edward's entire mind.

The wind blew past Edward's face as if whispering songs of the distant past, trying to remind him of something. Edward had a feeling slowly eating away his heart, like he was about to remember something yet he couldn't remember.

At that moment, heavy splashing sounds were heard. Edward looked at the lake. What he saw completely alerted him. The lake water was turning into a giant vortex and swallowing Robert. Robert was trying several methods to free himself from the vortex, but he was still slowly getting swallowed.

"Robert!", Edward shouted. "Hold on, I am coming to help you.", he called.

Edward jumped in the lake and started swimming toward Robert with every bit of his strength. The vortex was hindering his path but pushing with all his power, Edward somehow managed to reach Robert. It was at this moment that the vortex started to spin like crazy, and in a few moments, it closed, taking Edward and Robert into the lake, drowning them into the bottomless Lake of Tears.