Misty Rain of the Old Times

After the beast tide receded, the giants in Sun City did not show much jubilation at surviving the disaster. They were busy treating the wounded, cleaning up the battlefield, rearranging fortifications, and moving the houses destroyed in the previous battle. They were busy with their own tasks, not exactly orderly, but not chaotic either.

It seems they have long been accustomed to these beast tide attacks, one small attack every three days and one large attack every five days. Having experienced them so many times, they have become numb to them. For them, it is just a daily routine, and they know when to do what.

After descending the city wall and weaving through the crowd, Remo led Chen Xuan and the others into the city, accompanied by Luo Ke. The rest of their hunting team stayed behind to clean up the battlefield, where some had been injured or killed. Neither of them felt much sadness or anger about it. It wasn't that they didn't care or were indifferent; they had simply become accustomed to it after experiencing so much. Perhaps tomorrow it would be their turn to sacrifice themselves.

Based on Chen Xuan's brief contact, which lasted less than an hour, it turned out that although they had established a city, they lived more like a tribe, usually in small groups, and only united to face major events like beast tides.

Being in the city, everything was enormous—the buildings, tools, weapons, and people—making Chen Xuan and his companions appear incredibly small.

Two palm-sized leaves alternated beneath Chen Xuan's feet, providing him with a foothold, as if he were walking in the void, at the same height as Lei Mo, while Du Juan and Su Roujia floated around him under the gentle embrace of his true essence.

Somewhat disheveled, Remo carried a chipped bone knife on his shoulder, his body stained with blood and bearing numerous wounds several feet long, but he seemed oblivious. Turning his head, he looked at Chen Xuan, who was strolling through the void beside him, and exclaimed in surprise, "You can actually fly? Is this flight? Are there many people like you in the Outer Heavens?"

After the battle, they had plenty of time to talk. He asked a series of questions, showing great curiosity about the legendary Outer Heaven. In turn, Chen Xuan also had a lot to learn about their underground giant civilization.

With a smile, Chen Xuan shook his head and said, "This isn't flying. What we call 'lightness skill' is that. At a certain level, you can move through the air with just a little support and leverage, and even use the void for leverage is not impossible. Anyway, I'm still far from flying. There probably aren't many people who can do what I do. I haven't met a single one yet."

That being said, Chen Xuan's methods are actually not much different from flying in the air in the eyes of ordinary people.

Upon hearing this, Lei Mo looked on with longing and said, "You're so amazing! I really don't know how you people from the Outer Heavens do it. At most, we can only ride some birds of prey, but we can't do what you do, walking around like this. I really want to go to the Outer Heavens and see for myself."

"If we can come here, you can naturally go out too. You'll have the chance," Chen Xuan said with a smile. If giants like Anxiang and the others appeared in the outside world, it would cause a huge sensation, or perhaps even more panic.

Luo Ke chimed in from the side, "Uncle Lei, I've always heard you and Chen Xuan talk about the Outer Heaven, but I've never heard of it before?"

“Luo Ke, you’re too young. There are many things you don’t know. Actually, I’ve only heard a few rumors about it. I’ve never really met anyone from the Outer Heavens. Who would care about that? Keep up the good work and become a warrior like your brother as soon as possible. Then you’ll naturally come into contact with many things,” Remo encouraged her.

Then he looked at Chen Xuan and shook his head, saying, "We can't get out, but it's not impossible."

He stopped talking at this point, seemingly because it touched on a taboo topic he was unwilling to discuss further, or perhaps he couldn't or dared not speak about it.

Unable to get out? Could it be that some reason has trapped them forever deep underground? What would happen if they got out? He didn't say, and Chen Xuan didn't pry, but he did say that it wasn't absolutely impossible to get out. Perhaps certain conditions would be met, or perhaps once one's strength reached a certain level, such concerns would no longer exist.

So he pondered for a moment and said, "Nothing in this world is absolute. As long as you strive in a certain direction, there will always be opportunities. For example, you went to the Outer Heavens, which is where we came from."

Remo, however, was optimistic, saying, "Actually, it doesn't matter whether we go to the Outer Heavens or not. I've lived half my life already, and I've lost that desire for exploration and curiosity. Let the younger generation take care of it. Besides, it's not bad here. I'm used to it. It's vast and boundless. I only know a tiny fraction of where I live. The Outer Heavens are too far away for me."

That's true. Everyone's pursuits are different. Most people are just curious and won't feel obligated to go and see a place they've never been just because they've heard about it.

Du Juan and Su Roujia couldn't understand a word they were saying, so they remained silent.

The oppressive atmosphere had dissipated after the war, and the elderly and weak giants who had taken refuge came out of their houses. Accustomed to the frequent attacks by beast tides, they naturally returned to their normal lives. Chen Xuan and his group swaggered through the streets, attracting the curious gazes of countless giants. Some even followed closely to take a closer look, extremely curious.

If Remoloc hadn't intervened, those kids probably would have grabbed Chen Xuan and the others and played with them, which infuriated Remoloc and the others, who kicked them. However, the kids just laughed and weren't afraid at all.

Having witnessed Chen Xuan's methods, those children were incredibly audacious. What if they angered Chen Xuan? Fortunately, it seemed that Chen Xuan and the others didn't care, which made Lei Mo and the other two secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Passing by a 'huge courtyard,' Chen Xuan pointed at the entrance and said speechlessly, 'You actually keep these six-legged beasts? Aren't you afraid of being killed? You should know that most of the beast tides that swept through the land before were these kinds of creatures.'

Under a towering tree, over ten feet long, a six-legged creature lay prostrate beneath the door of the house, its neck bound by a huge rope. As Chen Xuan and his companions passed by, they let out two low growls.

To this, Luo Ke laughed and said, "Chen Xuan, you mean those beasts? We call them tree-licking dogs here. They live in the forest, clinging to large trees. They usually feed on tree sap and resin, but they occasionally eat meat, so they're omnivores. They're very ferocious and extremely aggressive, especially if their habitat is damaged, such as if they see you cutting down trees. They'll launch a fierce attack in packs."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan immediately understood. It was indeed a fitting name. No wonder the camp at the entrance was attacked by this group of creatures; they must have seen him cutting down trees.

Then he thought again, and something didn't seem right. He asked in surprise, "As far as I know, they seem to be afraid of daytime, or rather, sunlight. Why would they be active during the day? Like before, most of the beast tide consisted of these creatures you call tree-licking dogs."

The licking dog pack that attacked the camp retreated at daybreak, hence Chen Xuan's question.

Upon hearing this question, Remo immediately laughed and said, "Chen Xuan, you're right. They do dislike daytime, but not because they're afraid. They won't die if they appear during the day; they just naturally dislike being active during the day. To put it another way, it's like how we sleep at night; daytime is their sleeping time. Look, now that it's daytime, that beast seems listless. It growls weakly, and doesn't even seem to want to stand up. So, precisely because they're nocturnal, we keep them to guard our homes. They mainly serve as a warning system. Otherwise, despite their fierce appearance, they could easily kill a child if they weren't afraid to bite."

After hearing his explanation, Chen Xuan finally understood this creature. So that's how it is. Its daily routine is so regular. It goes home as soon as it gets light. The people in the camp are really lucky. Otherwise, they don't know how long they would have to fight.

So, if you don't understand something, you should ask the natives. Guessing on your own will always lead to inaccuracies. Yu Dingbo and the others are still thinking that lighting fires to deter these creatures from attacking again is probably not going to work. They hate daytime, not fire. Of course, fire is something that many creatures naturally fear and repel, so it's not entirely ineffective.

Then Chen Xuan asked curiously, "Since this kind of thing is so ferocious and aggressive, you still dare to keep it as a guard dog? Are you able to tame it?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Ke immediately laughed and said, "Chen Xuan, what are you talking about? If you can't tame it, you can cook it! Catch it, beat it if it disobeys, discipline it a lot and it'll become docile. What can it possibly do? Or just kill it and eat it. One is enough for a family for several meals. And Chen Xuan, you may not know this, but if you raise it from a puppy, these kinds of animals are actually very loyal and affectionate." Chen Xuan was speechless. So raising these things is so simple. Often, the simplest and most brutal methods are more effective. No wonder its name has the word "dog" in it. What's the difference between this and raising dogs outside?
Chen Xuan had been planning to get a dog for a long time, but he hadn't actually done it yet.

Looking back at the listless dog licking the tree in front of that house, Chen Xuan had a sudden thought and asked, "Luo Ke, do you think the meat of this kind of animal is still edible?"

"Of course, actually the taste is not bad. It's just that their blood looks disgusting. Once the blood is drained, the meat is pinkish-white and tastes best when roasted," Luo Ke nodded seriously. She even looked at the tree-licking dog in front of that house and swallowed, making the tree-licking dog shudder involuntarily.

This Loke is probably a foodie. Speaking of which, she should be considered a beauty in Attack on Titan, with so many people admiring her. I won't ask her. Different people have different aesthetic standards, and it wouldn't be good to offend her.

The city was very large, and the giants, with their towering physiques, walked very fast. They had walked for over a hundred miles and still hadn't reached their destination. Its area definitely exceeded that of the capital of Jing Kingdom, but its population was estimated to be less than one percent of that of the capital.

They chatted along the way, and Chen Xuan used his senses to quickly gather information from all aspects within his range. After a while, he gained a great deal of understanding of this giant race.

Putting aside their relatively primitive physique and lifestyle, they are actually not much different from people outside. They live by hunting, and almost all of them join hunting teams after reaching adulthood, generation after generation, until they retire when they are old and weak. However, hunting is a very dangerous thing, and half of them do not live to a ripe old age.

In addition, they also make tools, but they can't make fine ones. They have almost no pursuit of art or perfection. Furthermore, they don't have any way of passing on civilization, such as schools. Ninety-nine percent of them are illiterate and don't care about such things at all. After all, they can survive by hunting, so what's the use of learning?

However, they do have a written language, which they express through totems and pictures. Unless one is pursuing medicine or becoming a wise person, almost no one would actively learn it. They would rather spend that time learning hunting experience from their predecessors.

They do have the habit of raising livestock, but not much. The livestock they raise are usually docile and huge, with a clear purpose: either to provide help or to be eaten. Pets are almost non-existent.

After walking for nearly half an hour and still not reaching their destination, Chen Xuan had a general understanding of the giants' basic situation. Thinking of something, he asked, "By the way, Captain Lei, Miss Luo Ke, have you ever seen a kind of tiny black insect? They appear in swarms, and wherever they engulf, whether it's vegetation or animals, they are devoured, leaving not a trace. They practically leave nothing but barren land in their wake."

Upon hearing Chen Xuan's question, Lei Mo's expression immediately changed drastically, filled with terror. He hadn't been this afraid even when facing the beast tide. He exclaimed, "Black mist? Chen Xuan, where have you seen black mist before? Tell me quickly!"

Not only him, but a large area of ​​the surrounding street fell silent. The giants all looked in this direction, their expressions panicked, and some even had despair in their eyes.

"Tell me quickly, Chen Xuan, where have you seen it? It's something even more terrifying than the beast tide, and it's only limited to the Netherworld Clan..." As Lei Mo finished speaking, Luo Ke also urged him in a panic.

But before she could finish speaking, Lei Mo interrupted her, saying in a deep voice, "Luo Ke, calm down." Then he apologized to Chen Xuan, "I'm sorry, Chen Xuan, Luo Ke lost her composure. It's mainly because the black mist was too terrifying."

So that's what they call the black mist insect? This reaction is a bit too much, but considering how dangerous those insects are, leaving nothing but desolation in their wake, their reaction is understandable.

Then Chen Xuan grasped another key phrase: the Netherworld Clan. Were they even more terrifying than those insects? He hadn't seen the warriors and guardians of the Giant Clan for a long time. Could they have gone to fight the so-called Netherworld Clan, perhaps deep underground? Could the departure of the beast tide be related to the so-called Netherworld Clan?

Despite having many questions on his mind, Chen Xuan didn't show them on his face. He calmly said, "You don't need to be nervous. We just happened to encounter them on our way here, so we wanted to ask if you knew anything about them. They're quite far from here, so don't worry about them suddenly appearing."

"How far?" Remo asked quickly, extremely concerned about the question, while many giants around him listened attentively, waiting for his answer.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xuan said, "It's more than 50,000 li away from your city, but I didn't pay close attention to the exact distance."

"How far is 50,000 li?" Luo Ke asked, somewhat bewildered, clearly having no idea.

After a moment's thought, Chen Xuan said, "Let's put it this way, at our current speed, it will probably take us about ten days to arrive."

Chen Xuan fell silent. It seemed so far, yet it didn't seem so far at all? With the physique of a giant, walking five thousand miles a day was like child's play, so was fifty thousand miles really that far?
Of course, that's not how you calculate it; you have to consider various factors along the way.

Upon hearing this answer, all the giants on the street seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and quickly calmed down.

Remo breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That scared me to death! It was a false alarm. Being this far away isn't a big problem. The chances of the black mist reaching Sun City are very small; otherwise, we might have to consider relocating the entire city."

The entire city relocated? No, could they even move? Chen Xuan was taken aback. It wasn't that he was worried about whether the giants could leave, but rather that if people could leave, could things underground also be moved? Although he didn't know what was underground, the so-called Netherworld Clan should be related to the underground tremors, right?
Then he asked, speechless, "Are those tiny insects really that scary?"

In response, Luo Ke said, "Chen Xuan, since you've seen it, you must have witnessed the destruction caused by the black mist, right? Everything was devoured. Even our clan's guardians, once engulfed by the black mist, would only meet their end. The key is that there are too many of them, they are everywhere, and there is simply no effective way to deal with them. Isn't that terrifying? Moreover, nothing grows where the black mist is; it's impossible to survive. So, faced with the black mist, unable to cope and destroying the environment, what can we do besides migrate?"

Now that you mention it, Chen Xuan understands. No wonder they were so terrified when they heard about those insects; they were clearly a moving natural disaster.

To be honest, even if Chen Xuan himself were overwhelmed by those insects, he probably wouldn't be able to completely eliminate them even if he ran away and exhausted his true essence. As for these giants, their speed meant they couldn't escape the range of the black mist, and currently, they didn't have any large-scale attack methods.

He wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "That's true, it's best not to face that kind of thing."

With no need to worry about the threat of the black mist, Remo and the others calmed down. After about fifteen minutes, he pointed to a magnificent building ahead and said, "Chen Xuan, we're almost there. The Wise One is there. He'll be very happy to see you. He can answer any of your questions, provided he's willing to."

...(End of chapter)