Ishiki enters the Gang region.
Without wasting any time, he heads straight toward the location of the inheritance.
Soon, a massive mountain comes into view.
Countless spiritual masters have gathered around it, their eyes filled with curiosity and greed as they await the chance to enter the inheritance.
Ishiki glances at the crowd and observes.
Among these people, there are hardly any who can rival him.
After all, he is a Rank 3 Spiritual Immortal.
A smirk plays on his lips and he looks for anyone who can give me information about the inheritance.
He casually approaches a nearby man and asks, “What do you know about this inheritance?”
The man turns toward him and replies.
“It belonged to an ancient Spiritual Immortal. From what I’ve heard, the inheritance contains numerous secret chambers and spirits. There are supposedly many valuable treasures hidden inside as well.”
Ishiki listens quietly before turning his gaze toward the enormous mountain.
A wide grin spreads across his face.
So, this is the Crow Master’s inheritance.
He recalls the information he has gathered about this place.
The Crow Master’s inheritance is said to contain countless treasures, but its greatest prize is the Crow Spirit—a Rank 3 Stark Spirit.
Interesting.
Ishiki’s eyes gleam with anticipation.
I’ll claim that spirit for myself.
Without another word, he begins walking toward the Crow Master’s inheritance, already imagining the benefits it will bring him.
…
At the entrance of the Gang region,
Aomi and Níng finally arrive.
The region stretches before them, with towering mountains rising in the distance.
Among them, one mountain stands out from the rest, surrounded by numerous spiritual masters who have gathered for a particular purpose.
Níng’s eyes immediately light up.
She points toward the mountain with excitement.
“Hey! That’s the inheritance, right? Let’s go and get some spirits!”
She turns toward Aomi with a wide grin, practically unable to contain her excitement.
Aomi glances at the mountain.
He observes the gathering crowd for a moment before giving a small nod.
“Let’s go.”
Without further delay, he begins walking toward the inheritance.
Níng quickly follows beside him, her steps considerably more energetic than his.
“So, what kind of spirits do you think we’ll find inside?” she asks, looking up at him curiously.
Aomi continues walking without changing his expression.
“Spirits that other people want.”
Níng blinks.
“…That’s your answer?”
“Yes.”
She stares at him for a moment before puffing out her cheeks.
“You’re no fun, Aomi!”
Aomi ignores her complaint and continues toward the mountain.
Níng hurries after him, already imagining all the treasures and spirits waiting for them inside.
For her, this inheritance is an exciting adventure.
For Aomi, however, it is simply another place worth investigating.
And with the two of them heading toward the same destination, the Crow Master’s inheritance is about to become considerably more lively.
…
Inside the caves,
Aomi narrows his eyes as he observes the numerous tunnels stretching into the darkness.
The inheritance is far larger than it appears from the outside, with countless paths branching in different directions.
He quietly studies the surroundings before a thought crosses his mind.
I can use my Winter White Fox.
Aomi reaches into his pouch and carefully summons his spirit.
The little fox appears in a flash of light.
Aomi pauses.
A flicker of surprise crosses his face as he looks at the tired creature.
He crouches down and gently asks, “Hey, are you okay?”
The Winter White Fox barely responds.
Instead, it climbs onto his shoulder and curls around his neck, looking as though it might fall asleep at any moment.
Aomi raises an eyebrow.
Just how tired is this little fellow?
He reaches into his pouch again and takes out several spiritual stones, holding them in front of the fox.
The Winter White Fox’s ears twitch.
Its half-closed eyes slowly open as it stares at the stones.
A moment later, it begins absorbing their spiritual energy.
Gradually, the exhaustion disappears from its face.
Its ears perk up, and its blue eyes regain their usual sparkle.
Aomi watches quietly.
So, you were just hungry.
He gives the little fox a gentle pat on the head before looking toward the branching tunnels again.
But just as he prepares to move, a sudden realization strikes him.
Aomi freezes.
He glances around the cave.
Then he looks behind himself.
Then toward the tunnel they came through.
“…”
His expression slowly changes.
Wait.
Where is Níng?
…
The winter white fox gets down.
Aomi looks confused but before he gets the hold of the situation the fox sniffs around searching for something or someone and runs.
Aomi chases it and in a corner he finds Níng.
Oh she is here—
He quietly steps closer picking up the winter white fox.
Aomi observes the surroundings.
Something feels strange.
Níng is quiet.
For someone as loud and energetic as her, such silence is unusual.
His gaze slowly drifts toward the tunnel behind him.
Then he freezes.
Twelve bodies lie scattered across the ground, their blood staining the stone floor.
The walls and the path ahead are painted red, leaving the entire tunnel in a horrifying state.
Aomi’s eyes narrow slightly.
He hesitates.
For a moment, he simply stands there, observing the scene in silence.
His Winter White Fox lifts its head from his shoulder, sensing the change in his mood.
Yet something within him urges him to look further.
His gaze moves beyond the fallen bodies.
And there, standing in the blood-soaked tunnel, is a familiar figure.
Aomi’s expression shifts ever so slightly.
He opens his mouth, his voice quieter than usual.
“Níng?”
Níng turns toward him.
Her eyes are watery, her face stained with tears, and blood covers her clothes.
The spear in her trembling hand slips from her fingers and clatters against the stone floor.
For a brief moment, she simply stares at him.
Then her face crumples.
“Aomiii!”
She rushes toward him, but her legs give way before she can reach him.
“Aomiii!”
Her voice echoes through the tunnel, breaking beneath the weight of everything she has been holding inside.
She reaches toward him with trembling hands, as though she needs to make sure he is really there.
“I—I…”
The words refuse to come out.
Instead, she lowers her head and cries harder, her tears dripping onto the bloodied ground.
Aomi stands still for a moment, caught off guard by the sight before him.
He has seen countless deaths throughout his life.
He has walked through mountains of corpses and watched people perish without so much as blinking.
But seeing Níng like this—
He slowly approaches her.
“Níng…”
He sits down leaning in but, she tackles him in a tight hugg.
She looks up at Aomi’s face.
Her eyes are squinted and her cheeks are wet with tears.
She is biting her lips while sniffling and her words come out shaky and hard to understand.
” A-Aomi…
Th-they soo mean a-and I lost you i-in the way.”
She wails again shifting closer as her hands tightness around him.
Aomi freezes.
Everything has happened so suddenly that his mind struggles to keep up.
He sits there, staring at Níng as she cries before him, unable to find the right words.
Then, a memory resurfaces.
A familiar voice echoes in the depths of his mind.
“Aomiii~!”
Little Aomi turns around as Seo runs toward him.
His face is wet with tears, his little body trembling as he desperately reaches for her.
The moment she arrives, he throws himself into her arms and begins wailing even louder.
“B-big sis! I-I was lost, a-and I thought I lost you!”
His words come out between hiccups.
“I-I thought I couldn’t meet you anymore! A-and I would be lost forever!”
Seo’s expression softens.
She gently picks him up, brushing his messy hair away from his forehead.
A cool breeze swirls around them as she blows a little cold wind against his tear-stained face.
Then, she smiles.
“Oh, really? Don’t worry~ I can find you whenever I want. My little boy could never lose his big sister!”
She sits down and settles him on her lap, cradling his small body against hers.
Aomi continues to sob, clutching her clothes as though letting go would make her disappear.
Seo gently strokes his hair.
“Aww, Aomi~ I already told you, didn’t I? I can find you whenever I want.”
She leans forward and plants a soft kiss on his forehead.
“So you don’t have to be afraid anymore, okay?”
Little Aomi slowly raises his head, his eyes still brimming with tears.
Seo smiles at him once more.
“Your big sister will always find you~”
Aomi finally speaks when he slowly pats her.
His voice comes out like cool breeze in the cold snowy mountains.
” Don’t worry Níng…we are friends untill you want.
So, I will find you no matter where you are…like now.
I did find you right?”
Níng nods shakily, pressing herself closer to him as she continues to sob.
Sniffling, she hugs him as tightly as she can.
“Okay. You’ll stay with me no matter what, alright? You’re my only friend.”
She buries her face to his shoulder clutching him and Aomi just stays quietly putting a hand on her back while looking at the dead bodies.
A thought comes in his mind.
What happened here?