The Untamed 2: Deranged Minds

Chapter 49 (Part I)

There was the large plane made of black lava and granite, and at the very end stood, just as the majestic beast it had always been, the grand Scorching Sun Palace. Standing there under the great pillars of the entrance to the Nighless City, Wen Ning's whole body trembled. This place felt like a vast monster, waiting patiently for its pray to step forth, so it could devour it. Its pray named Wen Ning, Wen Qiong Ling.

"Senior Wen, are you alright?" Si Zhui's kind voice was able to somewhat calm him.

Even though he did not want to take A-Yuan to this ominous place, he was glade that A-Yuan was beside him. He was the uncle. He was the one who's supposed to protect A-Yuan. But in this place, he was nothing but the helpless child waiting for his sister to come back to their little house safely after serving his majesty. He was the child who stayed indoors, reluctant to go out so not to be mocked by other disciples for his awkwardness. He was the child that hoped again and again that the two young masters would have something fun to do, so they would not have time to pay attention to him or his sister. His excellency showed them kindness. But Wen Ning wasn't stupid. He knew that kindness only extended only far as his sister's usefulness laid. The moment they angered him, the earned kindness would vanish.

A memory of his sister's face swept his mind. Unlike his cowardly face, it was brave, hardened with determination. But that was also just a determination to survive. She was also really young, but she had to toughen up, put on a brave front and serve his excellency with no mistake, so her little brother could survive. Furthermore, the base of the grand steps that led to the Scorching Sun Palace, wasn't that where his sister's ashes were scattered? "A-Jie..." a slight whisper escaped his lips.

"Senior Wen, if you are tired, we can rest a little." Jing Yi said. "We really have been walking for a while now."

"He's the ghost general. How could he be tired before us?" It was a Nie disciple that came along with them. Seeing Jing Yi's death glare, he decided to swallow the rest of his opinions. At the end of the day, sect leader Nie had really asked them to look after these three really well.

"I... I am okay." Wen Ning said not wanting to be a burden to others. "There is no good place to rest around here. I do not want to delay the mission. Let's hurry up and search here, so no one have to be in this place for any longer than necessary. And... and it will be beneficial if we could take information back to master and Hanguang Jun as soon as possible."

As hard as it was, he clenched his fists and took step after another into the Nightless City. Jing Yi and Si Zhui looked at each other. They could clearly see that Wen Ning was feeling very uncomfortable. But neither of them wanted to protest and question about it. So, they followed closely determined to be there if Wen Ning needed them.

They kept on walking. Si Zhui and Jing Yi accompanying Wen Ning from either side and the Nie and Lan disciples that came with them, closely following behind, not wanting to be left alone or be lost in this god forsaken place. Either because of the gloominess that still lingered in this place or because of the heat of the harsh sun and the surrounding lava mountains, they started feeling tired very quickly. Wen Ning felt like the plane was vaster than he remembered. The Scorching Sun Palace seem not to have a mindset of letting them reach it.

Jing Yi gulped some water and realising that the water sack only contained a few more mouthfuls, handed it to Si Zhui who was struggling to even keep his eyes open. He gladly took it and stopped to drink it. "Senior Wen, where do you think that we should search?" Si Zhui asked, in between two gulps.

Wen Ning thought for a while. Of course, they did not possess enough time to search the vast ground of the Nightless City. They also had to focus on two things. Clues about the whereabouts of the killers and they also had to somehow find the kind of spells the killers were using. He really didn't want to break the party up in this treacherous place. But if they were to find something, he felt like dividing is the only way. "Ah, Lan Jing Yi, if you... if you really don't mind... could you take some disciples and search the grounds... well... well... to find out any signs of anyone living here?"