The scorching sun was at its peak. But the cold air overpowered its heat.
We were in front of the Bloody Valley forest. A place that looked different and created an eerie aura from within. As if the gusts from within the valley were the breath of a giant ancient creature.
It had been a week since spending three days in the small town near the river and meeting Rastella.
I managed to get the Mental Pill for Shun Jin. And now, it was the day she had to experience hell on earth.
"What is this place? Why does it make me want to vomit when I get close to it?"
Shun Jin held her nauseous stomach and covered her mouth, feeling a very unpleasant smell. Not only that, I'm sure she felt strange things from her senses of hearing, sight, touch, and taste when standing in front of Bloody Valley. You can imagine what would happen if Shun Jin entered it without any preparation. She would go mad.
"Bloody Valley used to be just an ordinary valley. However, at one point, a curse arose from within. Many villagers around it used to believe that if they didn't offer a child under 12 years old to something living in this valley every month, their village would be cursed. Their village would experience many misfortunes such as crop failure, madness, or deadly plagues.
"That's why this valley is called Bloody Valley. There's a lot of dark Qi in there. The result of screams and fears from sacrificed children. The result of human offerings to the evil spirits guarding this place."
Shun Jin looked a little scared hearing my story.
"So... in this valley... there's something dangerous living there? Making this valley a cursed valley? A giant evil spirit?" Shun Jin asked innocently. She seemed to believe and not believe my story at the same time.
"Hah... it's natural that you don't believe it. At first, I was just like you. Bloody Valley got its name because it has been happening for a long time. And the Devil Cult managed to use this place as a training ground for their new recruits.
"You will meet that evil spirit, and it will tear your body apart. But you must remain calm, Shun Jin. What you see in there is just a shadow. What you feel in there is just a shadow. What you hear in there is just a shadow. Never let that shadow defeat you. If it manages to defeat you, you will die."
Shun Jin shivered slightly hearing that. She tightened her grip on her sword.
"Wait. Before that, crazy man. You said this place is a training ground for the devil cult's new recruits, right? Will I meet one of them?"
Shun Jin asked, hearing my story about meeting Rastella who was targeting her in the town near the river yesterday, Shun Jin seemed to be on guard.
"Don't worry. You will meet those regretful spirits in there. Not only the failed devil cult children, but also the sacrificial children from the surrounding villages."
Narrowing her eyes, Shun Jin seemed dissatisfied with my answer.
"That's not what I mean. I mean, are there any devil cult members guarding around here? What if we get caught while walking in Bloody Valley?" Shun Jin pouted.
"Ah, they don't use this place anymore." I answered briefly. Making her head tilt in question.
"Why?"
"Because I destroyed their base around here seven years ago. Rebuilding their hideout near here would be asking for death because information about them living around here is already known by orthodox sect alliance. That's why when we stayed in the small town, you saw many orthodox sect disciples living there, didn't you? Even though their sect is quite far from the town."
Shun Jin nodded in understanding. She also understood why there was a Hunter Pagoda so close to the Bloody Valley.
"By the way, one more thing, is that evil spirit still alive?"
I shook my head and also nodded, confusing Shun Jin.
"Those spirits are astral beings separate from the mortal world, Shun Jin. They can be killed if they manifest in our world, but we cannot kill them in their own world. The moment you step into the Bloody Valley, you are on the border between the spirit world and the mortal world."
Shun Jin gulped. "So... do you have any advice before I enter this dark, terrifying place?" She pointed into the forest, whose trees already looked horrifying.
The bushes in the valley were black with blood-red spots. Just like the bleeding white wood, the bleeding purple leaves, even the soil in the Bloody Valley seemed to bleed and shriek terrifyingly.
I closed my eyes, "You just need to stay there for one week, Shun Jin. Then, survive. The Qi you breathe there will not only tear apart your flesh and break your bones, it will also poison your dantian. Therefore, while in the Bloody Valley, you must remain focused on cultivating whether sitting, walking, running, or sleeping. Turn the dark Qi you inhale through your nose into your strength. I'm sure it will be difficult for the first three days, but after that, you will get used to it."
Shun Jin seemed hesitant to enter the terrifying valley before her. The valley truly looked different from any place we had both passed through these past few months. Like a gate to another world.
"Um... alright... I just need to focus on purifying the Qi I breathe throughout my one-week stay there, right?"
I nodded.
"Yes, besides that, stay vigilant because the living creatures that reside there are filled with monsters and dangerous, unusual beasts. Even someone with a Nascent Soul cultivation level would find it difficult to fight them."
Shun Jin nodded. She had often seen me kill monster beasts nor spirit beasts. She knew how to avoid and hide from them.
"Is that all?"
"Ah, and one more thing."
"What is it?" Shun Jin seemed tired of my explanations.
"That spirit will only whisper at night. So don't fall asleep."
Shun Jin's eyes widened. "Then how can I survive there for one week without sleep?"
I shrugged. "You won't even think about sleeping. Trust me, because I was there for a month without sleeping once."
Shun Jin shivered slightly in fear. Nevertheless, she clenched her fists.
"Alright, I'll remember everything you said, crazy man. I will survive for one week in there and come out stronger than before!" She seemed optimistic, but her optimism quickly turned to pessimism as she took one step into the Bloody Valley.
She immediately walked backward and squatted down in fear, hugging her knees.
"Impossible! Impossible! Impossible! It's too scary in there! The moment I stepped in, my whole body immediately shivered and told me to get out of there as fast as possible!"
I shook my head with a long sigh.
"There's no other way if you want to become stronger quickly, Shun Jin. Strength is paid for by time, but strength is also paid for by sacrifice. You must be brave enough to sacrifice to become stronger."
Shun Jin looked up at me. She cried silently in fear while hugging her knees.
Should I just cancel this plan and train Shun Jin the old way?
Just as I was about to tell Shun Jin to give up, she stood up.
Her gaze, though still trembling with fear, had a burning fire of revenge that was brighter than her fear.
"Alright, I'll try it one more time... But before that..."
Shun Jin reached into the pocket of her robe.
"If I don't come back, I want you to keep this for me, you crazy person."
She gave me a small, circular blue jade necklace with a crane carved into it. She wore the same necklace.
"I'm giving you this not because I'm going to die, hmph. I will survive, I will prove to you, crazy man, that I will become stronger and avenge my father dead!"
I accepted it and immediately put it on. It was a rather beautiful necklace.
"You spent the money I gave you on this, huh?"
Shun Jin dodged the question, turning her face away and playing with the dirt with her foot. She even whistled softly.
"I-I didn't know what to spend the money on, so I bought this necklace for a hundred bronze coins each. It's cheap, really. There were more expensive ones, but I chose the cheapest one for you, crazy man. You should be grateful to me."
Whether she wasn't used to living frugally, or because she used to be from a noble family, I wouldn't give Shun Jin a lot of money again next time.
"You're just like Ye Jing."
I lightly flicked Shun Jin's head, and she immediately rubbed it.
"Ow! That hurts, you crazy person!" She looked at me like an angry child being punished.
"Naughty children like you need to be punished so you don't carelessly squander your allowance again later."
Shun Jin scoffed, mocking me. I smiled faintly.
"Go. I'll wait for you outside."
Raising her slender sword, Shun Jin nodded.
She took a breath before stepping back into the Bloody Valley.
"I'm going."
And she stepped into it with courage and strong determination.
Before she came back again and hugged her knees, crying in fear. After three times, she finally dared to step deeper into the Bloody Valley.
***