Villain Path

Chapter 61.2. Outlandish bird

The hare told him about the lake, but did not specify where it was, so Shen, on reflection, decided that any lake would be suitable for his purposes. And he just had one in mind. On the slope of his peak, in a bamboo forest, he once noticed an eerie pond with black water. In principle, at its peak everything was black, like bamboo, or other (former) vegetation, but for some reason it was especially eerie near this pond, as if something otherworldly and unknown emanated from its waters.

The area in front of the black castle was still completely covered with dense thorns. Shen landed on the bridge, not far from where his immortal sword lay. Raising his sword, Shen replaced it with Muan's. (Because carrying three swords with him would be too much even for him.) Grabbing his sword with his right hand more comfortably, he tossed it into the air, making it hover horizontally, and, jumping from above, flew to the other side of his Cursed Peak.

Even though the day had just passed noon, when Shen made his way through the trees, landing in the black bamboo forest, it seemed like dusk had fallen on the world. The sunlight faded, the sky was clouded with thunderclouds, but not a drop of moisture fell to the ground.

Shen came to the shore of the black pond. Black bamboo sloped towards its waters, reflecting off the glistening surface of the water. From the side, Shen looked like a bloody stain against a dark background. He sat down by the water and put a comb next to him, which he accidentally grabbed from Muan's house. Comb felt quite ordinary, but for some reason Shen felt certain that it would be enough.

He rested his elbows on bent knees and rested his chin on them. So he sat for a long time, watching the measured swaying of the water in the wind. His eyes gradually closed, and when he was almost overwhelmed by sleep, the depths of water parted, and a human figure emerged from the depths.

Shen perked up and opened his eyes wide, looking at the creature that looked a little like a girl. She was completely black, like a charred firebrand. Black hair covered her figure, her eyes stood out against the general unsightly background and burned with a green otherworldly fire. The girl took a step towards him, and Shen suddenly felt sadness engulfing his heart.

It seemed to him that there was no underlying reason for this feeling, and yet with every step that brought the girl closer to him, he felt a melancholy in his chest. And when she stepped ashore, Shen felt tears flow down his cheeks.

The girl lifted the comb and began combing her long black hair. Shen continued to stare at her as his heart was torn to pieces. Then she leaned over to him, touched his cheek with her blackened hand and wiped the tears with her finger.

"Don't cry," she whispered softly. "Don't cry, everything is fine. This is fate."

Shen raised his hand and touched her hand, pressing her palm to his cheek. The black creature in front of him smiled sadly, grabbed his hand and put a ring on his finger.

As soon as that happened, Shen felt everything before his eyes began to blur, and the heavy eyelids closed.

«No! The hare warned me not to close my eyes!» But trying to subdue what was happening by force of will was pointless. Shen closed his eyes.

«Don't sleep! Don't sleep! Something bad is going to happen! Don't sleep! Don't sleep!»

Voices in every possible way sounded in his head. Shen opened his eyes and saw a dozen little fairies hovering in front of his face.

"I'm back in Pad Sallan?" he muttered, sitting down and looking around. "So my body is still lying by the black pond..."

"He woke up! Woke up!" the fairies squealed happily.