To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads...
Stirling hummed a little tune as he walked along the road. As he sang, he recalled his hometown, his family and friends. They must have been burning with anxiety because of his disappearance. A few tears fell. He paused and rubbed his eyes.
Stirling glanced around, checking his quicksand map. Before long, he had walked dozens of miles, and noon had arrived.
Stirling found a cool, shady spot and sat down to rest. After a quick meal, he opened his map to study it.
He felt puzzled and worried.
If he couldn't find a place to stay before dark, he would have to spend the night alone in this dangerous wilderness. Who knew what else lurked out there besides that hornet? If he had failed, he would undoubtedly be in trouble. After some thought, Stirling pushed on. Having faced the events in Rock Village, a fighting spirit filled every pore of his body.
he told himself. Since taking the Blood Essence Pills, Stirling's Aether skill has experienced rapid development. He called the warm flow inside him aether. And it was regarded as the original element for building an alternative universe.
Fueled by this flow, Stirling could run a mile without stopping. If he jogged, he could cover over ten kilometers with ease. After resting, he increased his speed and continued on the path. The path was about ten feet wide and looked like built by the government. This gave Stirling hope. A highway meant there was still a government somewhere. It was unclear why such misfortune had occurred within its jurisdiction.
Thinking of this, he rushed forward, almost trotting. After running a few dozen miles, Stirling saw a series of dilapidated buildings. These buildings sat alone by the road. They looked like abandoned post stations or empty houses. The setting sun cast a desolate glow over them.
Although there were no signs of life, the sight thrilled Stirling. Buildings here show that this road was once important. They suggest a town further down the way. At dusk, he spotted a village sign like Rock Village on the quicksand map.
Stirling grumbled; uncertainty was clear on his face.
After the Rock Village incident, he was on high alert in this kind of small village. Who knew whether another Monk Green lurked there? Stirling felt a small sigh of relief. Thank the Creator, the small red cross symbol didn't show up on the Quicksand Map.
He tightened the blade at his waist. Then, he hurried toward the village. He watched colorful clouds turn dark in the setting sun, piece by piece.
Night deepened. No matter what, he had to live here tonight. To his surprise, when he reached the village entrance, he found it desolate after all. He saw only collapsed houses and overgrown weeds, signs of long-term abandonment.
Stirling surveyed the village from the entrance and then took out the Quicksand Map. The map showed the village's condition. It showed that there were no shady areas around. He entered confidently.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The evening breeze grew stronger. The cries of strange creatures sometimes interrupted it, hinting at a night of fear. Stirling walked along the path for a long time, finding nothing unusual. Most houses had collapsed, with weeds growing inside.
After searching, he found a somewhat intact house in the village center. He drew his Tang Dao and pushed open the half-closed door with care. A cloud of dust billowed in as the door swung open. Stirling covered his face with his sleeve and squinted as he entered. In the fading light, he waved his sleeves as he looked around the house.
Weeds covered the house sparsely, suggesting the owner had left in a rush. Several plates sat on the table, piled with shriveled, hard fruit. They resembled dehydrated snacks. Stirling stole a quick glance before turning to the wooden door of the side room. To be safe, he lit a lamp and walked toward the bedroom. As he entered, a strong smell of mildew hit him. On the wooden bed, a quilt lay partly uncovered. This shows that the last owner likely left in a hurry. The bedside cabinet was open and empty. Stirling glanced at it before losing interest.
He planned to spend the night here and continue his journey tomorrow. To avoid trouble, he extinguished the oil lamp after sunset and found a corner in the living room. Leaning against the wall with his long blade in hand, he practiced the Aether Skill. He had used up all his elixirs, slowing his progress. But Aether Skill was his only reliable technique, so he couldn't slack off. He practiced whenever he could. Before he knew it, it was already midnight. Sitting in his corner, Stirling opened his eyes with a jolt. He pulled out the Flowing Sand map, unfolded it, and studied it in the dim moonlight.
Then, he heard subtle footsteps outside the room. As he pondered, a sudden creaking sound echoed through the silence. The closed wooden door creaked open, and a figure entered.
Stirling tensed his muscles, gripping his Tang Dao, and stared at the figure at the door. The man spotted him in the corner and said in a gentle tone, "Huh? Hello, friend. I'm passing through and would like to stay here for the night. Do you mind?" The man with a thick accent spoke and walked into the room carelessly.
"Where are you from?" Stirling asked without moving.
"Farfield City, William Dyson," the man said, pride clear in his voice.
"..."
"You don't know me?"
William paused, surprised by Stirling's silence.
"Why should I know you?"
Stirling felt confused.
"Farfield City! William!" he emphasized.
"No."
Stirling's left hand moved to the handle of his gun.
"You're not local?"
William seemed to think for a moment and asked.
"No," Stirling replied.
"Hey! No wonder! Who wouldn't know me, William, in this area around?"
William patted his chest with pride and sat down in the corner farthest from Stirling.
"Friend, what are you doing in Farfield City? Visiting relatives? Or fleeing?"
William was quite outgoing and kept questioning Stirling.
"I'm fleeing," Stirling admitted.
"Hey, this is a lousy world. Every outsider is fleeing. We're under the control of the Yearning Palace here!"
William chuckled.
"Friend, what brings you here so late at night?"
After a while, Stirling asked, "Which direction did you come from? Did you pass a place called Rock Village?"
William didn't respond, but turned to look at Stirling.
"I didn't encounter any," Stirling said calmly.
"That's good. I heard there were signs of the Blood God Temple over there, so I'm going to check it out."
William smiled.
"Blood God Temple? You're going alone?"
Stirling felt shocked.
"A mere Blood God Temple. A bunch of cowards who won't show their faces; nothing to fear!"
William waved him away.
"I almost forgot, friend; you don't know me. "
With that, he stood up and pointed at Stirling from a distance.
"Your timid mouse from the Blood God Temple! I can smell the rancid stench of your robes from here. Wait until I peel off your skin and dig out the evil organs in your chest, so you can know who I am. Now remember, I, William, Night Watch from the Farfield City!"