The two didn’t slow even after leaving the City. Instead, they circled the towering City wall, heading directly toward the sprawling forest that stretched beside it.
Trailing just behind, Jin Yu eyed the dense woodland ahead before speaking.
"I thought we are meeting that man?"
"Yes," Seer replied and came to a stop just at the edge of the forest. "But the City lord's being secretive, he wanted to meet here."
Jin Yu also stopped beside him, gazing deep into it, but his eyes looked distant
"Missing your lover already?" Seer teased.
"Not your business." Jin Yu gave him a glare and moved ahead.
Seer snickered and galloped past him. "You are too cocky, I wonder what she saw in you."
He didn't wait for Jin Yu's reply, he raced into the forest.
But Jin Yu still replied anyways, a mocking smile on his face. "I tell you It's my unparalleled looks. Hiding your face all day, I bet you can't get a woman."
Seer chuckled up ahead, shaking his head as if pitying Jin Yu's ignorance. "I'm afraid your confidence will take a hit, if you see how many women will die to be my partner."
Jin Yu scoffed and replied. "Keep bluffing."
"You really don't believe me?" He stopped and looked back at Jin Yu, then smiled. "Wait till we reach the central lands, you'll see for yourself."
"Whatever." Jin Yu replied and looked up at a very tall tree not far from them, towering over twenty feat, more precisely, the figure on it.
He then lowered his gaze, looking at Seer. "He really is a sneaky bitch"
"Shhhh" Seer put a finger on his lips. "He can hear you." He cautioned.
"Oh?" Jin Yu raised a brow, unfazed. "I thought he's deaf."
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Sigh!.
"You are hopeless, Friend." Seer dismounted before looking up at the tree.
"Apologies City lord, please let's get started."
The City lord, looking as handsome as ever, gazed down at the two like a Deity looking down on mere mortals.
Then he flew down, calm and elegantly.
"Kids," he began, sparing them each a fleeting glance. "All I need is a token from that realm, get it immediately and come out, in two days."
Jin Yu's face remain unmoved, but his mind rang in alarm.
A token?
Seer smiled and replied. "No problem Elder, I trust City lord will keep his end of bargain too"
"That's already done." He replied flatly.
Seer nodded in satisfaction."That's good, then we won't keep City lord waiting."
The City lord gave Seer an unamused gaze then his eyes flitted to Jin Yu.
Jin Yu who had his eyes set on him since he arrived didn't flinched, instead, he continued staring, as if trying to burn the City lord's image into his mind for the second time.
And for a moment, his previous quest flashed in his sight, reacting to the tension between the two.
Unfinished Quest!
Host MUST take back his Dominance!
[Reward: ?????]
[Penalty: ?????]
The City Lord didn’t spare another glance, his gaze drifting elsewhere, too disdainful to even acknowledge him.
With a casual flick of his wrist, a round black object appeared in his palm, pulsing faintly with power.
He tossed it a few meters away, but instead of falling, it hovered midair, spinning slowly
Then— CRACK!
A sharp fracture split it cleanly in two, halting its motion. A beat of silence followed, and then...
FHRROOOOM!
The two halves began to expand, each side stretching outward in opposite arcs before curving back in, joining seamlessly into a full ring.
A low hum vibrated in the air as the newly formed circle pulsed with spatial energy. A pitch black hole formed at its center, rippling, trembling, and twisting, as if a great invisible force was trying to tear open the void.
Only after a long moment did it stabilize, but still humming with suppressed power.
Jin Yu and Seer watched, a flicker of intrigue in their eyes.
Another of the same round, black object appeared in the City lord's hand, he threw it to Seer who caught it effortlessly.
The City Lord then crossed his arms behind his back and rooted his stance. With voice devoid of emotions, he spoke. "I'll wait for you both here."
Seer nodded, kept his steed and without a word, walked close to the Portal.
Jin Yu gave the City Lord another stare before moving forward. He dismounted and kept the horse in his orb.
"I hate how willingly you are doing this." he spoke as he stepped beside Seer.
Seer gave him a smile. "It's fun, Friend, fun."
The City Lord stared at them, unbothered.
FOOOM!
The portal made a low humming sound as they stood in front of it, it distorted around them and twirled in a circular motion as if it was trying to suck them into itself.
Their images distorted as they finally entered the black hole before disappearing.
----
Creak!
Their bones creaked in protest as a crushing pressure descended on them, trying to mash them into paste.
Spatial turbulence came in waves, threatening to rip them apart.
Both men instantly created a protective dome of Qi around them, minimizing the pressure drastically, but even at that, the chaotic void rippled at it violently, trying to break through, and they had to continuously infuse their Qi to reinforce the barrier.
"Aren't portals supposed to be instant?" Jin Yu frowned as he asked.
"Those are small range teleportations, ones that cross a very long distance takes a while and aren't friendly"
"Fuck that boy toy, he didn't say a thing about it"
"Don't worry friend, we should be out in few seconds"
And indeed, a few seconds later, the space in front of them started swirling, a black hole with faint spills of light formed in it.
"Now" Seer said and they both stepped in. Vanishing instantly.
Millions of miles away, deep within a dense, shadow-choked forest, three groups sat in tense silence before a looming mountain cave. Their expressions were cold, eyes sharp with wariness.
Every sense was on high alert, sensitive and locked onto the other groups like coiled snakes waiting to strike.
Their gazes clashed in the air, heavy with unspoken hostility.
