'Next stop, Trucehaven Village.'
They ran down the hillside, anxious to arrive at their destination which was just within their sights. As they reached the bottom, just an arm's length away from the dirt road leading to the inside, they were faced with an obstruction. There was an invisible barrier surrounding the village!
'What is it now?!' yelled Alice in frustration, kicking up a dust near the barrier.
'Ugh, why can't anything ever go smoothly? lamented Daiki, slumping down onto the grass, already tired of this shit.
(Author: His thoughts, not mine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
'Of course they can't since one of us probably has the protagonist role', mumbled Seo-Jun shaking his head at the ground with his arms on his waist.
Everyone decided to ignore his words since he kept spouting weird non-sense and they had a lot more on their plates than to pay attention.
Jason stepped forward, placed his palm on the invisible barrier and knocked on it, then shrugged his shoulders, 'Worth a shot.'
Just as he turned to his companions, the barrier began to rumble causing the ground beneath them to shake.
They were barely able to keep their footing when a thunderous voice, resonated from all directions from nowhere, 'Answer these three questions. You will be allowed in if we deem you worthy otherwise you will be sent on your way. Resistance will be futile and will only lead to death! Nod if you understand.'
They looked at each other once before nodding at the disembodied voice.
It let out a satisfied laugh, 'Ho ho, Good' (Alice: I'm sorry author, but are you trying to describe Santa Claus or something? =_= )
The voice sent shivers down their spine, 'Where are coming from right now? Who sent you here? Why? I want the young man who knocked to answer.'
Jason immediately stood at attention, 'Ah yes, of course. Uh...well, we're coming from the Forbidden Forest at the top of the hill. Uhm...we were just sent here by someone called Helda, well originally it was by these beings who called themselves collectors. I don't really know what to make of them, there were dragons, a fox, some weird sludge lead by an annoying something that I don't want to bother with. And we were sent here for...well, for information. That's all I know.'
As soon as he was done a loud thud was heard, much like the voice and the barrier rumbled again. They saw a small bearded old man, with a face weathered by the long years and wearing white Taoist robes scurry their way, tumbling about. 'Really?! What you just said, was it really all true?!' the old man asked in a squeaky voice.
Jason uncomfortably replied, 'Yeah...but who are you?'
The man answered, overjoyed, 'Oh, I'm the one you just spoke to. Pardon the mystery but it was for the safety of our village. To scare away those with ill-intentions, you know. But it's really great! The prophesized heroes are here!'
'Huh, what prophesy', asked Seo-Jun horrified at those troublesome words as he jerked back his expression visibly distorting with widened eyes which he quickly corrected. He knew that whenever a prophecy is involved, it only means trouble for the protagonists and his companions.
'Ah, you'll know in due time...but please come in, come in', the excited old man said, pulling Jason by the arm.
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
The barrier was apparently disabled as the group effortlessly entered. The scenic view of the Murim-style village of Trucehaven unfolded before them, nestled in a lush valley surrounded by towering mountains. The path leading into the village continued as a narrow dirt road, flanked by tall, swaying bamboo and cherry blossom trees whose petals fluttered in the gentle breeze, carpeting the ground in soft pink hues, as they went further inside.
The village itself was a picturesque blend of traditional architecture and natural beauty. Thatched-roof houses with wooden beams and paper sliding doors lined the cobblestone streets. The buildings, though modest, were adorned with intricate carvings of sword-wielding immortals and painted with earthy tones, blending harmoniously with the surrounding nature.
Villagers in simple yet elegant white and light blue Taoist robes moved about, some carrying baskets of fresh produce while others tended to small gardens bursting with vibrant flowers and herbs. However, what was strange that contrary to what you would expect when coming upon such a sight, not a single person was carrying a sword.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming jasmine and the faint sound of running water from a nearby stream that meandered through the village.
Children laughed and played, chasing each other around ancient stone lanterns and across wooden bridges that arched over the stream. Elderly men and women sat on wooden benches outside their homes, exchanging stories and sipping tea, their faces marked with the lines of many seasons spent in peaceful contentment.
Despite being in the middle of nowhere and the unfriendliness to outsiders demonstrated by the barrier, it was lively. The village square was a hub of activity, with market stalls set up under colorful canopies. Somehow, the shops sold everything from handwoven textiles and pottery to exotic spices and medicinal herbs, even in the absence of merchants.
The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling street food wafted through the air, making their stomachs rumble in anticipation.
However, as they delved in to the village, they were met with the stares from the unsuspecting villagers, on the arrival of these outsiders. Wherever they set foot, the liveliness died down, replaced by an uneasy silence.
In the center of the square stood a grand pavilion, its curved roof adorned with intricate dragon motifs and hanging lanterns that swayed gently in the breeze. It served as a meeting place and a stage for performances, where musicians played traditional instruments, and dancers moved gracefully to the rhythm of the drums who immediately stopped all actions as the group came in to sight.
The villagers greeted them with hostility, their displaying the opposite of the spirit of Murim.
The old man, kept glancing back uncomfortably, giving an apologetic smile, 'Please don't mind them. It's been over a thousand years since we've had any outsiders. Our village was secluded from the world after the Great War ended and the goddess disappeared. We'll explain everything soon'.
They jolted at his words, startled at hearing about this again.
'Again, about that Great War and the disappearance of this goddess!' sighed Zhiren.
'I knew it would be important. Couldn't she have given more detailed information on it? What's up with all the restrictions?' grumbled Seo-Jun.
The old man brought them to the entrance of the grand pavilion and lead them up the stairs. He opened the sliding door and respectfully bowed, cupping his fist on one hand with the palm of the other, 'Greetings to the Chief!'
'At ease, Lao-San. What's the matter', said a calm youthful voice, yet seeming to carry the wisdom of many centuries. Inside was a young Taoist wearing snow-white robes standing by the window with his hands behind his back.
He had a handsome baby-face, yet his feature and demeanor carried with it a heroic and strong air. He was the only one in the entire village who carried a sword by the side, his appearance truly capturing the essence of what one would expect in Murim.
Lao-San straightened and gestured at the group, 'Chief, they're here. Finally here! These youngsters were sent here from the Forbidden Forest by the one named Helda and the higher beings. That means it's time! The prophesized heroes are finally here!'
The chief turned around with a composed and calm expression however his bright eyes were unable to hide his excitement. He gestured to a wooden bench at the side.
He said with a warm smile, 'Please, have a seat. It seems we have a lot to talk about'.
To be continued...
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Seo-Jun: Why didn't you tell us more? Even if there were restrictions couldn't you find a way around them and tell us something since it was important. You were there to provide information, right?!
Helda: Maybe if you stopped trembling in a corner and asked, I would've. ╮(╯▽╰)╭
Seo-Jun: *Jaw dropped* Touché
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