Chapter 12
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Chapter 12 – Weapon Forest
When the door to the Weapon Forest swung open, Mu Xiaofeng and his companions knew they were in for more challenges. Even though Mu Xiaofeng had grown much stronger over the past six years, his opponents had also improved. They were no longer the naive children he had once faced.
The three of them stepped into the Weapon Forest, a place filled with massive trees and thick grass. The sounds of various animals echoed around them, and the forest was brimming with all kinds of weapons. After walking for a while, Zhang Wenyu suggested they stop. Mu Xiaofeng turned to Zhang Wenyu and Qin Bao Yi and said, “We’ll be here for a while, so let’s find a spot to settle down first.”
Zhang Wenyu picked up a short sword from the ground. It emitted a faint glow that quickly vanished. After a moment of thought, Zhang Wenyu said, “If I’m right, the weapons here are just ordinary. The better ones should be deeper in the forest.” He then snapped the short sword in half and added, “I heard yesterday that there’s a treasure trove in the center of the Weapon Forest. It’s rumored to hold very powerful weapons and is guarded by mysterious creatures.”
Qin Bao Yi examined the broken short sword and asked, “So, we need to head deeper into the forest?” She glanced at Mu Xiaofeng, seeking his opinion.
Mu Xiaofeng looked at them with excitement and said, “That means everyone will be heading towards the center of the forest for the good stuff. Let’s move quickly and keep up. If you’re tired, we can rest nearby.” He was happy at the thought of potentially running into Qiao Zi, though he wasn’t sure if it would happen.
The three of them headed towards the center of the forest. Almost all the students in the forest had noticed and were also heading in that direction, creating a chaotic scene with imminent battles.
Zhang Wenyu led the way, keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings to detect any threats early. Mu Xiaofeng and Qin Bao Yi walked slightly behind, as Qin Bao Yi couldn’t keep up as fast, and Mu Xiaofeng took on the responsibility of protecting her.
After they had been walking for some time, Zhang Wenyu sensed movement in the trees ahead. He raised his hand, signaling for them to stop. Mu Xiaofeng and Qin Bao Yi immediately gripped their weapons, ready for a fight.
Zhang Wenyu focused on the large tree in front of him. Suddenly, a boy’s voice came from above, “Looks like we’ve been spotted. Another group here to meet their end. How many is this now?” Three boys jumped down from the tree, armed with swords and shields and clad in shining armor, appearing to be seasoned warriors. They looked at Mu Xiaofeng’s group with disdain, confident they could easily defeat them.
Zhang Wenyu, however, was not impressed. “Stop boasting. Your armor is still pristine, and you don’t look like you’ve been in any fights. Seems like you’re just good at bragging,” Zhang Wenyu said coldly. The three boys’ faces flushed with anger, and they charged at Zhang Wenyu without further words.
Zhang Wenyu quickly retreated, observing the boys’ movements. Meanwhile, Mu Xiaofeng leaped forward, swinging his heavy sword down. The boys, unable to dodge in time, raised their shields to block the attack. But Mu Xiaofeng had trained hard for six years and was determined to be the best. His strike overpowered their defenses, knocking them aside.
Before the boys could recover, Zhang Wenyu moved in, striking their wrists and forcing them to drop their weapons. A massive flame tiger appeared in the air, larger and more majestic than the one from six years ago, with Qin Bao Yi smiling beneath it.
Mu Xiaofeng approached the boys, pointing his heavy sword at them and sneering, “Get lost. You’re no match for us. Come back and brag when you’ve trained more.” The boys, stunned by the strength of Mu Xiaofeng, Zhang Wenyu, and Qin Bao Yi, picked up their fallen weapons and fled.
Mu Xiaofeng sighed as he watched them run away, wondering why he had to encounter such weak opponents. He shrugged at Zhang Wenyu and Qin Bao Yi and said, “Let’s keep going.”
As they continued, Mu Xiaofeng hoped to bump into Qiao Zi but knew it might not happen anytime soon. After a day of traveling, they encountered several other groups. Some greeted them and moved on, some ignored them, and others fought but met a grim end.
As night fell, Mu Xiaofeng found a large tree to rest by. He gathered firewood and built a fire while Zhang Wenyu kept watch over Qin Bao Yi. Mu Xiaofeng told them, “You two rest first. I’ll keep watch.”
Zhang Wenyu shook her head. “Let’s take turns. It’s too hard for you to stay up all night alone.” Qin Bao Yi nodded in agreement. Mu Xiaofeng smiled and let them rest while he stood guard, scanning the surroundings. Zhang Wenyu and Qin Bao Yi soon fell asleep peacefully.
As Mu Xiaofeng watched over them, he smiled at the moonlight filtering through the forest. He wondered if Qiao Zi was looking at the same moon. Then he realized Qiao Zi was a girl and probably asleep by now. He chuckled to himself.
Mu Xiaofeng practiced his swordplay under the moonlight, effortlessly swinging the heavy sword. Midway through, he heard a sound and became alert. Not sensing any immediate threat, he quietly called out, “Who’s there?”
A figure emerged from the woods. It was Yun Jie, who had been defeated by Mu Xiaofeng six years ago. Seeing her, Mu Xiaofeng asked cautiously, “Yun Jie, what are you doing here? You didn’t come here to ambush us, did you?”
Yun Jie had grown since their last encounter, and her face had thinned, likely due to years of training. Unhappy with Mu Xiaofeng’s suspicion, she replied, “Mu Xiaofeng, listen up! First, we don’t have any major conflict. Second, we don’t have deep hatred between us. There’s no need for a fight. And third, even though I’ve trained hard, I’m not sure I can beat you.”
Mu Xiaofeng relaxed a bit but remained cautious. Yun Jie felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze and looked down. Realizing his rudeness, Mu Xiaofeng averted his eyes and asked, “So, what are you doing here at this hour?”
Yun Jie looked up and stammered, “Well, our class is resting nearby. I came to patrol and noticed the fire, so I came to check it out.”
Mu Xiaofeng nodded, and an awkward silence fell. Then Yun Jie said, “Mu Xiaofeng, do you know there’s a treasure trove in the center of the forest?”
Mu Xiaofeng nodded, indicating he knew. Yun Jie continued, “I know what’s inside the treasure trove and hope you get a chance to see it. I’ll head back now. My friends are still waiting.”
With that, Yun Jie turned and disappeared into the shadows. Mu Xiaofeng pondered her words, intrigued by the treasure trove. He knew that reaching it wouldn’t be easy, and even entering it would be a challenge.
