Soul Fire (GUARDIAN BL)

Chapter 28. "There is always a price to pay for power"

Beyond the earth, normal people thought nothing was there, people with great knowledge have made a decision that only pitch black emptiness was the only thing there.

Of course, none of normal people knew about that Dixing. The ones that knew wouldn't be able to tell the tale since their time was at an end.

Lowest Dixingian, other one species could handle such a place, living in the deepest depths of hell, immense painful coldness. Not a living human, animal or thing would survive. Not a single life source or any warmth.

Uneventful, Zhao passed his journey, flocks of birds, big and small, black crows gathered thick around the forest covered with cloud of black mist.

The passage of the portal Bowl had created opened into a dark and broad, dark forest covered with mist. The dark walls were lined with bright flames sitting in its wooden holder. Circles of around a hundred dark, hooded figures stood on the firm earth. Everything of theirs were cloaked by the translucent black fabric, excluding their eyes, which were lowered towards the ground.

Short while, during the following night, unannounced albeit not completely important unexpected celestial visitors presented.

The eldest bade Bowl and Zhao to step forward, an echo of terror still lingering on Zhao's grief-stricken face he doesn't any idea why Bowl bring in such a place. The hooded Dixingian bowed deeply and then the eldest approached Zhao.

The eldest leader of Dixingian was a wiry middle-aged man with a weathered face whose appearance spoke of days of agility long gone, his hair as grey as his beard and his patched-up clothes rather ragged and not much different from his younger companions.

"Your Highness, I see the worry on your face." the eldest Dixingian bowed deeply when he had ended and his two companions followed suit dutifully. They had lingered behind and only dared to glance stealthily at Zhao, the look of awe painted on their faces when they found themselves for the first time in their young lives so close to the mountain spirit God, a fact that had seemed completely unheard of for thousands of years ago.

"I guarantee Your Highness safetiness in our place. We might be strong, but we are not dangerous." the eldest reassured Zhao.

Bowl noticed Zhao's stiffness and silence as it leaned in closer and whisper on Zhao's ear, "Lowest Dixingian living in this place peacefully longer than you or I have been alive. He knows what lies after death, however unrealistic. He's the one who said we're heading to war."

"Your Highness, it has been thousands of years since you graced us with your divine presence. You are our Savior. And Savior of this world. You are a Celestial God." eldest Dixingian spoke, his words utterly surprisingly Zhao.

Zhao swore up and down, he had never layed eyes on this place before today, yet the way the eldest man reacted bug him. What did this eldest man know and what were Zhao ties to this Dixingian?

"Well.. ah my good eldest.." Zhao addressed opening his arms in a generous gesture and continued, "Do not despair. You have suffered so much and help shall be given to those in need I guess." he tilted his head sideways, a benevolent smile on his face and a look of relieve and gratitude simultaneously dawning on the eldest face, immediately followed by another set of deeps bows.

"Thank you, thank you, Your Highness." the eldest Dixingian was the first to find his voice. "We are forever grateful for your kindness and will be forever in your debt.
Surely we will be ready to make any bargain you might wish for the future in return for such generous aid."

Zhoa being not use to such generousity, awkwardly smile and said with a shy tone, "Ve-very well.., this shall be decided in due time. What we have here then?"