The road was very narrow, but wide enough, so that three or four riders could pass at the same time.

As in this moment, the long file made by the riding guards was extending for fifteen horses, as every one of them, had one or two companions by their side, several at their back, and at their front, while traveling the road that was clearly not used very often, as the grass could hide and hinder a man's foot. Though, from their previous passage towards the villagers, the road was far more suitable to travel, when compared to the first time they had to traverse it. However, the faces of the dozens of guards, were showing small signs of relief and mild happiness, as the close-to-death adventure they had been put thru, was over, even as they stood in the face, of the long journey back home.

Even so, not everybody was pleased and cheerful, as there were several others in the middle of the long group that even as their faces did not express much, their true emotions could beg the difference.

“Trees, trees, and more trees.”

“Yes, a lot of trees, it will be like this for most of the journey.”

One such individual was, in fact, the young boy that was riding with Hubert at this very moment, as he was spacing out, as though his mind was not entirely united.

[Trees, trees, what the hell. It is been half a day, and all I have seen are these darned trees, does this forest have an end to it?]

[From your cowardly friend it will not. Just take it easy, and take some weak breaths in, cultivate to show some diligence to your training, it might come in handy when you are doubted.]

[Aaa, this is driving me mad, but alright. It is not like anything important is happening. Outside of the annoying bastards that keep looking at me.]

As for whom he was referring to, it would not be hard to understand were it for the fact nobody was truly looking at him at this very moment, although if one could look attentive at all that were present, it could be observed, that every so often, both Zuger and Square were giving the boy deep and sharp glances, from time and time, oblivious that he could register their actions, as they could not hide the strong intent of observation.

Yet in this moment, both of the former bandits were riding one next to another, as black chains were eloping on their wrists and ankles. Although even as they appeared to be two mutes, the small movements and signs on their faces, were an easy indicator, that they were communicating between themselves, as their act, was just but an open show to be enjoyed since the beginning of the journey, as the old man that was following Rowen and Adrian, was constantly monitoring and scrutinizing them.

However, all of a sudden, both Zuger and Square gave themselves out for a moment, as Levis’s expression changed without any warning, but they immediately understood the cause of his impulsive reaction, as once they glanced further ahead, the small section of a river could be seen, while it seemed that they would need to traverse it, before continuing their journey.

Though once arrived at the river, one by one, the guards alongside their horses began to traverse the water, which was reaching the bellies of steeds.

“We rest here for an hour, take care of the horses and recoup your strength for the second march!”

With a shout from Adrian, as the last guard was now on the other side of the river, all of them, began preparing their own food, while also attending to the horses, whilst trying to relax, as the journey back had just begun, despite, their sore bodies that were still recovering from the battle against the bandits.

At the same time, Rowen was feasting alongside old Wan, Adrian, Hubert, Levis, and the two “bandits” that were near them.

“So–, how long this journey will take before we arrive?”

As he was more than just curious, Levis throw out a question at the group, hoping one of them would answer him, as he had no idea for how long he was supposed to watch the trees, that were at every turn of the head.

“That depends, on our speed, as how we are right now, it will take a month to reach Green city.”

“A month! That long?”

“Yes, this is a big group, so a fast speed is a hard thing to achieve, we rest during the night, moreover it is not like we are in need to kill the horses just to reach our destination. But if you want to know, we will reach for the first Village and Towns in a few days from now, and in—.”

“Ten, young master.”

“Ah, yes ten days we will reach the first city, Rud.”

“The first city!? Is it big and full of people?”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Yes, take the camp and then multiply for a hundr–, no two hundred times, and you can understand how big it is.”

“Two h-hundred times, the camp! That-, is really–, big.”

“It is just a small city, nothing to be awed at. Now eat, as we will part soon.”

“Yes.”

Just as Rowen had said, the time to rest was over in a blink of an eye, as before Levis could do anything other than eat, they began their march once again thru the shady forest.

Although, once the sun was almost gone, they were once again forced to stop. Though this time, the guards and Rowen himself, had to raise their own tents for the night, that was just ensuing over the forest, which was growing extremely dark, as the foliage and branches of the trees, were blocking whatever light from the stars and moon was trying to reach for the ground.

As for Levis, after the feast with the group, he had to rest alongside Huber and Adrian in the same tent. While the two “bandits” were in another tent next to theirs.

[Hand in the ground, time to start cultivating. If I keep just the hand and not the whole arm in the ground they will not find anything strange with me, right?]

[Yes, that is—, just about right, yes.]

[ [Although, having his hand in the ground is already sufficiently weird. Hopefully, the white hair boy, will not look too deep at his behavior.] ]

[ [---.] ]

[---.]

“Levis, Levis, wake up, it is time to go.”

“Ah, yes, just a moment.”

“Hmm?”

However, as he was wakened up by Hubert, Levis's spirit was rather fatigued, as his session had not been as flawless and smooth as he had aspected, mostly of his own uneasiness from leaving the village, as he felt himself being in an unfamiliar land, despite not being all that far from the village, in reality.

However, the hand that Levis remove from the ground, became a bizarre scene, as Hubert could not do anything else but to look in puzzlement, despite that, he remained silent, as he knew by experience that the boy had a rather strange behavior, that did not make much sense, as in the end, it was simply dismissed, as being nothing more than his anxiety and stress at play.

The following days, were just as bland, as the trees were truly without an end, as in his doubt, he repeated the same question to Hubert and Adrian, if they were lost or not, and if they were actually moving ahead and not in circles.

“No, this is the road, it might not look like one but is the right one. And we know our location thanks to the comparison of the star maps and the compass.”

“Stars? Comparison?”

“Yes, well, all we need to do essentially, is to walk east with a small inclination towards the north, and to make sure, that we are verifying the sun‘s position in the morning and sunset, as well as the north star and the south cross stars.”

“I-I think—, no, I do not understand what you are saying.”

“I will explain it to you at a later moment when I will have the time. Now excuse me, I need to complete my round, of the convoy.”

“Hubert?”

“No, it is better, if you do not ask me, as I have just the very minimum of understanding here, just so I do not lose myself, but if you want to know, it is better to wait for that fool's explanation."

Though Adrian gave a simplified overview of their navigation system, Levis was confused as, he did not understand how they could use the stars, to steer the journey in the right direction, though, in his endeavor of asking Hubert, he was left empty-handed, as he appeared to be, just as lost as him, in truth.

Time passed, and just as the first day, the second day was about to end, when Levis’s eyes became wide in stupefaction, at his newfound discovery, which startle him, more than anything that all his journey to this moment.

“Ah! We have finally left the region!”

“The region?”

“Did you notice? The increase in energy in the surroundings?”

“Yes!”

“This is the real world. Or rather how energy exists outside of the place that you have lived up till now. I do not know why-, well nobody does--, in fact, but the place where the Kingdom, the Prairie and the Border Mountains meet, has a very low density of energy in the air. Outside of this place, you will find the amount to be three to a hundred times denser. A hundred might be an exaggeration, as that will probably be a blessed spot, that some monster holds possessions, just for himself.”

“That much. Does that mean, you can cultivate faster?”

“Well-, that is not–.”

“No. The cultivation speed depends on the person, not the place. It can help you so that you will have no shortage of energy, but if you can not use it, you might just be in a city made out of gold, with nothing to eat. Do not attribute the lack of energy, to your shortcomings in your cultivation, that will become a mindset, which will evolve into a mental block, hard to surpass. And Andrian, pass the orders, we make camp up a head in that clearing.”

“Yes, Captain!”

Yet, as the strangeness of the region in which Levis had been living for almost thirteen years was explained by Hubert, led Levis to throw out the question, of a faster cultivation speed, which was explained by Rowen, as he had been listening to their conversation, while wanting to clarify the picture, of what a cultivator truly was, against the mere cultivation itself, that could lead him to self-doubting and a harder road in his life.

[This is no problem. More energy is more helpful than less energy, right?]

[Yes, good for you, but just as the soldier brat said, keep a strong mental fortitude, or else the power will end up controlling you, and not the other way around. This is a kind of problem, only you, will have to deal with.]

[Strong mind, a powerful will. Got it]

[I hope you did.]

[But.]

[But what?]

[Why have I not seen any beast, like that snake till now? I could have used the excuse to hunt them, and devour their dantians.]

[Do you really think it will be that easy? And the reason you have not seen any animal, is because of two things, can you arrive at them?]

[No, tell me.]

[Ahh-, the first is your big group, no animal will attack a big pack for no reason, and the second is the white hair boy's doing, as he scares everything that is approaching your group, this is probably, so that you little fools do not lose time with things that could distract you from the journey.]

[So that is why.]

[If that is all, now continue with your training.]

Though after the first increase in energy density, the increment continue to be gradual and slow for three additional days, but before he could start to go crazy from the unchanging scenery, the sight of a village appeared in their sight, which made not only Levis but the majority of the guards, to have a rise in their moral, from the long march they had just experienced.