Chapter 8, compelled to leave

The next morning, when Ah Dui woke from his slumber, he did not cry or fuss anymore. Under Owen's watchful gaze, he quietly gathered the few pieces of clothing that Goriss had bought for him when he first arrived here, packed them into a small bundle, and included the remaining eleven silver balls he had crafted the day before. He also picked a basket of fruit and sat quietly to eat.

The fool choked with emotion and said: "I, I will definitely not run away, Uncle. After I finish learning what you have taught me, will you really let me come back?"

Adao said: "Magic! The teacher has taught me several spells." Reflecting the nature of a child, Adao immediately showcased his talent, reciting the incantation and unleashing a fire spell. A blue-green flame ignited in his palm, instantly illuminating the room.

A-Dai, not holding back, picked up the basket and began to eat. In a short while, the remaining fruits were completely cleared away by him. With food in his stomach, A-Dai immediately felt much more energetic. Looking at the handsome middle-aged man in front of him, whose face bore a gentle smile, he couldn't help but ask: "Uncle, why are those people trying to kill you? They even gave you the Wuer Holy Water. The teacher said that Wuer Holy Water is very valuable. Are the people chasing you very wealthy?"

The last glimmer of hope for Ah Dou vanished. He harbored a desire for Goriss to return quickly and rescue him, yet he also feared that Goriss would be killed by Owen upon his return. With these complex emotions, he led Owen into the thick fog. Little did he know that from that moment on, he would never see his teacher—the Fire Mage Goriss—again

The man in white shook his head and insisted, "No, take me there now; this is very important for the uncle. Didn't you say that you would let the uncle leave first thing tomorrow morning?"

A fool stood up from the chair, looking at Irving, who seemed like a different person from just a moment ago. He took a few steps back and stammered, "Uncle, what do you want to do?"

The man in white felt a stir in his heart and asked, "A-Dai, do you know what kind of fruit we are eating?"

The man in white knew that the child before him could not possibly lie, yet from his words, there was no hint of any possibility of resisting the evil forces. "What were you doing before you encountered Goriss?" he persisted, not losing hope and continuing to inquire.

Ah, Mie Yi, you have been in the organization for quite some time now, which is not like your usual self! As an assassin, it is crucial to calmly analyze the situation. I understand your inner thoughts; unnecessary sacrifices hold no meaning. However, have you considered that with the nature of the "Underworld King," how could he possibly allow you to return to deliver a message? If he had the ability to kill you at that moment, you would have also become a lifeless corpse. The phrase "the Underworld King's sword strikes, leaving no one alive" is not just a saying. I understand your inner thoughts; unnecessary sacrifices hold no meaning. However, have you considered that with the nature of the "Underworld King," how could he possibly allow you to return to deliver a message? If he had the ability to kill you at that moment, you would have also become a lifeless corpse. The phrase "the Underworld King's sword strikes, leaving no one alive" is not just a saying. Do you not understand what effects the Wuyi Holy Water can cause? Although the "Underworld King" possesses profound skills, can he still easily deal with you after being eroded by the continent's deadliest poison? Do not forget, you are the elite of the extermination team within the organization. Perhaps, after you leave, the "Underworld King" will no longer be able to withstand the poison in his body and will fall into a coma. Although the "Underworld King" possesses profound skills, can he still easily deal with you after being eroded by the continent's deadliest poison? Do not forget, you are the elite of the extermination team within the organization. Perhaps, after you leave, the "Underworld King" will no longer be able to withstand the poison in his body and will fall into a coma. If you can hold on a little longer, you might be able to bring him back. Mie Yi, this time you have made a grave mistake.

Is this how it is? Please explain the entire process again

The man in white nodded and said, "Not bad, you have achieved such results after only one year of practicing magic, which is quite remarkable. You can be considered a junior magician." He pondered to himself that if he had only practiced magic, then logically, he should not possess the ability to resist the evil aura of the Underworld Sword. However, the facts were evident; the evil energy had not harmed A-Dai at all. The Underworld Sword could be said to be the most malevolent weapon on the continent, and to be unaffected by it must have a certain reason behind it. With this in mind, he pressed further, "A-Dai, have you not learned anything else besides magic?"

Ah Dui lowered his head and remained silent, placing the paper he had written on the stone as well. A few drops of tears fell, instantly soaking the letter. He shouldered his small bag and walked out of the room, with Owen following him. He saw Ah Dui standing dazed in front of the wooden house, silently gazing. A wave of compassion surged in his heart, but years of training had made his resolve exceptionally firm. He would absolutely not allow a moment of weakness to lead him to make a wrong decision. "Alright, Ah Dui, we need to set off early."

Ah Dui let out a sound, touched the blessed bun of silver and tin in his arms, and called out to the wooden house: "Teacher, Ah Dui is leaving, please take care of yourself! Ah Dui will definitely return to see you as soon as possible." After saying this, he knelt down on the ground and respectfully bowed three times to the wooden house before standing up.

The fool said: "Uncle, is the fruit I ate called the 'Fruit of Rebirth'? Teacher Gliss's notes do not mention it, so I see you know. Isn't the Fruit of Rebirth wonderful! But why does my stomach hurt after eating it?"

A fool stood there in a daze, and the scene of the two men in black turning into mummified corpses in the woods suddenly appeared before his eyes. His body involuntarily trembled as he said, "It seems, it seems that you are a bit more formidable."

This is a dimly lit large room, where the light is exceptionally faint, making it difficult to see objects just one meter ahead. In the room, nine individuals stand; they are the nine who survived the initial pursuit of "Hades" Owen. They stand quietly in the center of the room, their heads bowed, and not a single sound is made. The entire room is filled with an eerie atmosphere.

A fool scratched his head and said, "Vitality? What is vitality? I don't know!"

Ah Dou said happily: "Yes, it's Teacher Goris. Uncle, do you know the teacher?"

The man in white looked at Ah Dui's clear gaze, feeling a warmth in his heart. For many years, he had only seen deceit and treachery, with every moment of life spent on guard against those around him. Yet, in the presence of this kind-hearted child, he felt that everything could relax, allowing him to return to his true self. "Little friend, if you can refine the silver ball that restrains the unparalleled holy water, then your teacher must be an extraordinary person. Could you tell me his name?"

Owen felt a surge of joy in his heart, and the expression on his face immediately relaxed as he said, "Fool, Uncle will never harm you, nor does he wish to kill your teacher, Gliss. As long as you come with me, Uncle guarantees that your teacher, Gliss, will be able to live safely. Although you will be separated from Gliss for a while, once you have learned Uncle's skills, you can come back to see him again"

The man in white shook his head and said, "I do not know your teacher, but I have heard of his name; he is indeed a remarkable alchemist. Why is he not here?"

Upon returning to the room, Ah Dai noticed that about half of the fruit in the bamboo basket was gone. He turned to the man in white and asked, "Uncle, why don't you eat a bit more? Is this fruit not tasty?"

The ethereal voice seemed to come from all directions, "Mie Yi, have you completed your task? Mie Liu, have Mie Shi and Mie Shi Yi already perished?"

Ah Dui shook his head and said, "I don't know. That day, I originally intended to come in and gather food for a day, but as soon as I entered the forest, I smelled a particularly strong fragrance. Early in the morning, I was already very hungry, so I followed the scent and started looking..." Ah Dui recounted his experience from that day. Although his expressive ability was not strong, the things he described were already understandable to the person in white.

A fool said cheerfully: "Of course, my teacher is called Goriss"

Ah Dui proudly said: "Yes! The teacher is the most remarkable one." With a slight change in expression, Ah Dui continued: "Unfortunately, the teacher has gone out to search for some special materials. The teacher prefers to avoid strangers, so, sir, you should leave early tomorrow morning. The deadly poison of the Wuwu Holy Water is controlled by the silver ball. As long as you maintain your true energy, there should be no problem for several years."

Oh? Since you are not his match, how is it that you were able to return alive? Under the Sword of Hades, there have never been any survivors

Owen smiled faintly and said, "As long as you take me to the place where you saved me back then, I will naturally find a way to take you out."

Owen said gently: "Well, I just mentioned that I have never had a habit of lying. As for when you will meet my requirements, that depends on your own efforts."

Owen nodded and said, "Sure, I will also leave a letter. Please bring me some paper and a pen."

Ah Dou nodded, yawned, and said: "I am so sleepy! I am going back to sleep. Uncle, please do not casually pick and eat the fruits; many of them are poisonous. Last time, I accidentally ate two fruits, and my stomach hurt for a long time, feeling hot and cold. It took me a while to recover."

Owen's expression changed slightly, and a layer of frost suddenly appeared on his face. "Ah Dui, I have a question for you. Who do you think is more formidable, me or your teacher, Chris?"

Stepping out of the fog, Ah Dui deeply felt how much he cherished life here, where he did not have to fish, could enjoy delicious fruits every day, and received the "care" of Teacher Golis. Everything here was deeply etched in his mind

On the fifth day after Owen and Ah Dai left

The fool lowered his head; although he was slow-witted, he understood that being a thief was not a glorious thing. After stammering for a long time, he finally recounted his past experiences.

Owen let out a cold snort and said, "I will honestly tell you that my title of 'Lord of the Underworld' is not without reason. The number of people who have died at my hands is no less than eight hundred, if not a thousand. Although I cannot exert my full strength due to the need to restrain the immense poison of the Sacred Water of No Two, dealing with someone like Goriss, whose magic is not particularly profound, is a matter of a single strike. Do you believe it?" With a casual wave, the white fighting spirit flashed and vanished, and the edge of the chair silently lost a corner. Do you believe it?" With a casual wave, the white fighting spirit flashed and vanished, and the edge of the chair silently lost a corner

The man in white felt a stir in his heart and said, "A-Dai, will you take me to see the fruit forest?" He was now filled with immense excitement, as the vast life force contained within A-Dai was incredibly important to him. Although his life had been saved, even at his peak, he could not be certain of defeating his enemies, let alone when he could only exert half of his power! Revenge was something he could not forgo; for him, it was a deep-seated hatred that could only be washed away with blood, yet he had already lost the ability to seek vengeance. However, just when he was in despair, a piece of such pure and unblemished gold appeared before him. He believed that if the righteous energy within A-Dai did not dissipate, with his own abilities, and after a period of training, A-Dai would surely become the second King of the Underworld to fulfill his wishes. He was not at all worried about A-Dai's character; this child before him was the kindest person he had ever seen. All he needed to do was to understand the source of the vibrant life force within A-Dai.

Ah Dou thought for a moment and said: "No, not at all! I just eat some fruits every day. The teacher brought me a few steamed buns, and I haven't eaten much else."

Ah! How is this possible? Adai, how can there be such powerful vitality within you? Even the "Underworld King," who remains unaffected by everything, was momentarily stunned by the pure and overwhelming righteous energy emanating from Adai. The vibrant life force contained within Adai is something that a child of his age should not possess.

Fool, come here and let me take a look at you

The man in white smiled gently and said, "Indeed, they are very wealthy, and not just ordinarily so. My uncle was accidentally poisoned by them. Otherwise, they wouldn't dare to send just a few people to chase after me." As he spoke, he instinctively touched his chest, and a glint of cold sharpness flashed in his eyes

Owen pondered for a moment, then wrote a letter. After finishing, he picked up a stone from outside and placed it on the bedside. "Ada, are you done writing? We need to leave. Your teacher will know you are safe after reading this letter. If all goes well, perhaps in a few years you will be able to return and reunite with him."

Owen couldn't help but smile wryly; if something as extraordinary as the fruit of enlightenment could appear so casually, it wouldn't seem so precious. He never expected that someone would actually refuse his request to take them as a disciple. This was something that countless people sought but could never attain! However, his hopes were entirely pinned on this child before him. If the child did not choose to follow him, although he could survive, his own wishes would remain unfulfilled. "A-Dai, won't you reconsider?"

A fool thought for a moment and said, "Alright then, let us go now"

The man in white smiled and said, "I will be leaving early tomorrow. Idiot, how long have you been with your teacher? Is he good to you?"

The man in white smiled wryly and said, "That can no longer be explained with just a good word. Let's go back first." The fruit of rebirth, the fruit of rebirth, if I had found you before I was poisoned, perhaps I could have broken through the bottleneck my master mentioned back then. Then who would I have to fear? Alas, I never expected that the fruit of rebirth, which seizes the creation of heaven and earth, would actually grow here

Ah Dou nodded and said: "How terrible they are! They actually gave the uncle such a highly toxic thing. If the uncle were to be poisoned to death, he wouldn't be able to eat steamed buns anymore. Uncle, you must be careful!"

Ah Dou glanced at Owen, shook his head, and said softly: "Uncle, when are we leaving"

The man in white smiled slightly and said, "No, this fruit tastes very good; it is the sweetest I have ever eaten. However, my appetite is not large, and half a basket of fruit is already enough for me. You should have some too." The more he looked at A-Dai, the more he found this silly child in front of him quite adorable. If it weren't for him, he probably would have already succumbed to the immense poison of the No-Second Holy Water and truly descended into hell to meet the King of the Underworld. Having killed so many people, he could not dare to say he could go to heaven.

Although the ethereal voice remained calm, Mie Yi was already drenched in cold sweat. He tried to keep his voice steady as he explained: "My lord, the 'King of the Underworld' was once our leader. He said that for the sake of our past struggles together, he would let us off this time, which is why we were able to return alive"

Indeed, my lord, we originally pursued the 'Underworld King' all the way to a vast forest in the Valyrian province, where we had gained the upper hand. Just as we were about to succeed, ... ... . '' Mie Yi recounted the entire process in detail. ``This is how it is; the bodies of Mie Liu, Mie Shi, and Mie Shi Yi are now outside.''

The man in white listened in astonishment to A-Dai's account and sighed, "It is truly fate, indeed fate! I never expected that the reincarnation fruit I had searched for all those years would end up in your stomach."

The fool was taken aback and said: "Uncle, what’s wrong with you? Why does your complexion look so poor? Is it that the poison from the Wuer Holy Water has flared up again"

Oh, Ah Dui did not think much and took a few steps forward, approaching the person in white. The person in white extended three fingers and pressed them against Ah Dui's pulse point. In an instant, Ah Dui felt a wave of peaceful and warm energy entering his body, making him feel warm all over, an indescribable comfort.

Owen broke the silence and said to A-Dai: "Isn't it quite difficult for you to walk with me?"

After listening to Ah Dui's account, the man in white felt somewhat puzzled. Given the character of the Mage Flame Sorcerer Goriss, it was impossible for him to kindly take in Ah Dui and give him the incredibly precious Nine Transformation Essence Pill. Goriss must have some special motive. The function of the Nine Transformation Essence Pill is merely to expel impurities from the body's meridians and to strengthen them; it does not have the capability to resist evil energy. Even ordinary monks and *Tu* *Shu* of the Holy See would find it difficult to withstand the evil energy emitted by the Sword of the Underworld. Moreover, the Nine Transformation Essence Pill only serves to expel impurities from the body's meridians and strengthen them; it does not have the capability to resist evil energy. Even ordinary monks and *Tu* *Shu* of the Holy See would find it difficult to withstand the evil energy emitted by the Sword of the Underworld. And Ah Dui is so young; it just doesn't make sense

The fool shook his head and said, "No, uncle, I cannot go with you. If I leave, it would be so pitiful for the teacher to be left alone! Unfortunately, I have already eaten that fruit and cannot spit it out. How about we go to the orchard again tomorrow? Perhaps there are still some left?"

The man in white was taken aback, "Goris? The Sorcerer of Infernal Flames, Goris." He certainly knew this person; he was one of the few master alchemists in the Heavenly Gold Empire. However, in his impression, this Goris was not a good person. Although he had not heard of any particularly evil deeds committed by him, he practiced dark magic, and those who cultivate dark magic generally tend to have a sinister disposition.

Owen felt a twinge of reluctance in his heart; he truly could not understand how a mage of the Fire Sorcery could inspire such unwavering loyalty in this child. What he did not realize was that A-Dai had endured too much suffering from a young age, and as long as someone showed him a bit of kindness, he would remember it deeply. Owen nodded and said, "I have never gone back on my word, so you can rest assured. Moreover, as long as you come with me, we will be together every day, so why should you worry? However, I must make it clear beforehand: if you try to run away halfway, I will return here directly, and I need not explain what will happen to your teacher, Chris."

The foolish one lowered his head in grievance; how could he bear to part with Goriss? After a long pause, he finally spoke through tears, "Uncle, I will go with you, but you must not harm the teacher, alright?"

Ah Dou shook his head and said, "No, I don't need to think about it anymore, Uncle. I will absolutely not leave Teacher Gelisi. The teacher has been so good to me; how could I abandon him?" Although he had a good impression of the middle-aged man named Owen in front of him, he would never leave his teacher just because of that fondness.

As Owen had indeed stated, when A-Dai brought him to the place where he had fought with the man in black, he quickly recognized the direction. After a half day's trek, he led A-Dai out of the Enchanted Forest. Upon exiting the forest, A-Dai once again saw the sunlight; the intense light made him somewhat uncomfortable. Although his body was warmly illuminated by the sun, his heart felt exceedingly cold.

Adao retracted the flame, thought for a moment, and said: "Oh, by the way, I have memorized all the notes from the teacher about alchemists. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to produce a silver sphere for you today, Uncle. I haven't learned much else; Adao is quite foolish." As he spoke, he lowered his head

Uncle, I, I do not know the way out of the forest. Since I came here, I have never gone out.

Ah Dui was momentarily stunned, his eyes reddening, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground, pleading: "Uncle, Uncle, please do not kill Teacher Goris, I beg you. You can make me do anything, just don't kill the teacher, okay?" With Ah Dui's pure and simple nature, how could he possibly contend with the 'Underworld King' Owen

Ah Dou nodded and said, "I, I will definitely study hard. I..." As he thought about not being able to be with Ge Li Si for a long time, he couldn't help but burst into tears.

Owen gently stroked his chest and said solemnly, "I am not doing anything. If you do not come with me, I fear that your teacher, Goris, will end up like Mie Liu and Mie Shi. Fool, you must think carefully: will you come with me, or will you watch your teacher Goris meet an untimely death?" Owen could see that Goris held a significant position in the eyes of the child before him. He was left with no choice but to intimidate the fool; this child was truly too important to him.

Seeing the satisfied expression on A-Dai's face, the man in white said, "By the way, A-Dai, what have you and your teacher learned?"

The man in white said: "Fool, wait a moment, the uncle has something to say to you"

A deep voice replied, "Your Majesty, the mission has failed. Although the 'Underworld King' was poisoned by the deadly Holy Water, he was still able to wield the Underworld Sword. We are no match for him"

Owen did not dissuade him, allowing A-Dai to sit on the ground and vent his feelings. It was unclear how much time had passed, but A-Dai seemed to have cried himself to sleep, leaning against the wall, with a few glistening tears still on his face. Owen sighed softly, picked A-Dai up, and placed him on the bed. He smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking to himself that he, Owen, had actually fallen to the point of intimidating a child. My lord, all of this is because of you! Just wait, when my disciple A-Dai steps into society, your end will be near. Owen sighed softly again, picked A-Dai up, and placed him on the bed. He smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking to himself that he, Owen, had actually fallen to the point of intimidating a child. My lord, all of this is because of you! Just wait, when my disciple A-Dai steps into society, your end will be near. Lily, rest in peace; your elder brother will surely avenge you.

Upon entering the orchard, the man in white continuously inquired about the effects of each type of fruit. After more than an hour of questioning, he did not find what he was looking for, and could not help but feel somewhat disappointed

Forget it, fool, let us go back. They have already walked deep into the orchard, and even with the judgment of the white-clad individuals, it is difficult to discern the direction.

The fool glanced at Owen, and in his young heart, the good image that Owen had originally established was naturally gone. Like Uncle Li, he could only feel disgust towards Owen. "Uncle, can I leave a letter for the teacher?"

The man in white shook his head, sighed, and said: "It is not the poison of the holy water acting up. Fool, the old man's name is Owen, remember that. The fruit of rebirth you consumed was very important to the old man. However, it has already been eaten by you. The old man hopes you can become my disciple, as cultivating this true energy of the old man will yield twice the result with half the effort after consuming the fruit of rebirth. Are you willing to leave this place with me? The old man has many wishes to fulfill, but you also know that my power is currently limited by the holy water, making it impossible for me to accomplish those things. Therefore, the old man hopes you can inherit my teachings and help me fulfill those wishes in the future. Are you willing?"

The man in white said anxiously: "Ah Dui, quickly tell your uncle, have you eaten anything like heavenly materials or earthly treasures? Did Goriss give you anything special to eat?"

Sweat continuously flowed down from his forehead. After a long while, Mie Yi finally said: "My lord, I, I know I was wrong. Please give us a chance to redeem ourselves. Let us go back to that forest once more, and we will definitely bring back the 'King of the Underworld' to see you." He had witnessed the methods of his lord, and even they, who were not afraid of death, were filled with deep fear.

Although Ah Dou felt somewhat confused, he quickly brought the paper and pen in front of Owen, while he himself began to write a letter to Goriss beside him

Adao said: "It has been almost a year now. The teacher rescued me from Nino City, and he has been very kind to me. Ever since I followed the teacher, Adao has never gone hungry again. Now I have delicious fruits to eat every day. When the teacher goes out, he even brings back steamed buns for Adao."

A fool hesitated and said: "But, uncle, it is already dark now. How about I take you tomorrow morning instead?"

Back in the wooden cabin, Ah Dui sat cross-legged on the largest chair and said to the man in white, "Uncle, I am going to meditate now. You should rest early as well"

The two individuals exited the wooden cabin and, under the guidance of A-Dai, made their way directly to the edge of the fruit forest. The surroundings were completely shrouded in mist, making it difficult for the moonlight to penetrate; it was pitch black all around, and they could only see a meter or two ahead. A-Dai cautiously cast a fire spell, controlling the flames to remain red in order to prolong its duration. With his current magical power, he could sustain it for quite a while. "Uncle, once we enter the mist, we will be in the fruit forest. You must stay close to me; it is easy to get lost inside." A-Dai carefully released a fire spell, controlling the flames to remain red in order to prolong its duration. With his current magical power, he could sustain it for quite a while. "Uncle, once we enter the mist, we will be in the fruit forest. You must stay close to me; it is easy to get lost inside."

Owen took a deep breath, slinging his broad sword behind him, and said: "Let us leave now. I know you hate me for ruining your life, but for me, this was unavoidable."