In Another Life 15: The King Of The Forest

Proofread by Yin Jing

Among the six races, Zerg is the most ruthless one, about to kill others whenever they want. Any underpopulated race with mercy would have been exterminated by other races in the mountains. Led by Patriarch ZangTian, Zerg is a match for the other races in the age-long battles.

All patriarchs look serious. Heaven knows that once he yields now, he will have to yield to them forever.

“Patriarchs, I know you are here for the sake of your people. Why get into age-long conflicts and xenophobia? For food? As a governor-general, I promise, if you are subjected to me, your people will never worry about food and drink on this land.” Heaven doesn’t mention the court.

“Humph, even though we fight, it’s none of your business. How dare you, an outsider ask for our subjection? Go to h.e.l.l!” says the patriarch of Zerg. With his murmuring something, Heaven feels a sudden tingling from the foot. He bends over the desk dizzily.

“Patriarch ZangTian, no! The discussion is not over yet.” Blurts Seaman.

It doesn’t matter for other races. But for the populous Bear in need of food, it does. Seeing that Heaven has collapsed, Seaman can do nothing but shake his head helplessly --- the venom of the blood spider is incurable.

“Patriarch Seaman, as you know, granted that he can survive from the venom, he will also go mad. Now that he is doomed, the discussion is meaningless. Farewell, I shall take a leave.” The Dwarf’s patriarch sets out to leave.

“Wait. Who says I’m doomed? And I’m not mad! How can such a bug poison me? You really belittle me!” Heaven slowly raises his head.

Actually, he is also at a loss --- with a strike of dizziness he was unconscious, but for an instant a certain refres.h.i.+ng air woke him up!

Heaven doesn’t know the reason. In general, only if a soul becomes a deity can it cast off the Six-Realm bondage. Under that circ.u.mstance, it will be protected by the Universal Spirit.

Some of these souls become G.o.ds, and others become devils. So long as they break away from the six realms, they are immortal. For them, neither severe injuries nor poisons will work. That’s why h.e.l.l dare not meddle in their business.

As for Heaven, he should have owed his immortality to Ox-headed and Horse-faced’s mistake. However, as an ordinary man without supernatural power, he just maintains such immortality unconsciously with the help of the Universal Spirit --- he still presumes the poison is too shoddy to take effect!

The stunned patriarchs look at Heaven in astonishment. They exchange an excited look, then nod simultaneously.

Without saying anything, the Centaur’s patriarch fetches out a gold bow --- in a second an arrow swooshes through Heaven’s heart!

That is the greatest treasure of Centaur. But this time, the rarely-used bow is used for Heaven.

It doesn’t let the target down. When the arrow penetrated Heaven, it was slightly diverted by a sudden white light that rose from Heaven’s precordium. But it is enough to let him spit up blood. Aching and exasperated, Heaven shouts in rage, “s.h.i.+t! I will never let you off!”

Reclining against the table, he glares at the Centaur’s patriarch.

With a serious look, all the patriarchs get up and slowly walk up to Heaven. Heaven is really contrite. Why did he ignore the tricker’s advice? If so, at least he can enjoy a longer life! Now it’s too late to do anything. Alas, tricker, I am sorry that I have no energy to tear off your letter! It seems that those races will get the goods on you. You are bound to be subject to them forever.

The patriarchs eye one another, then all of a sudden they kneel down and say in chorus. “We pay our respect to the king of the forest.”

Am I insane in pain? Seeing the kneeling patriarchs, Heaven says to himself. Otherwise, how can I begin to hallucinate?

“My Lord, you don’t know about this!” Seeing Heaven’s vacant look, the Bird’s patriarch says in excitement. “Long time ago, the G.o.ddess of Nature left our six races an oracle, saying that we’re supposed to wait for the king of the forest to come. According to the oracle, he or she is the one that neither the blood spider’s venom nor the gold bow’s attack can kill. ”

“But what if you meet a detoxification specialist with a breastplate? So is he or she also your king?” Heaven queries in pain.

“The venom of blood spider is invincible, so is the arrow of gold bow. Your Grace, you are the one we keep waiting! Eventually you come here!” Seaman’s eyes well with tears of delight.

Gosh, I was nearly scared to death! With a b.u.mp, Heaven pa.s.ses out.

The King of the forest! What a distinguished person! Since that, the six races keep serving Heaven with aphrodisiac tonics like precious ganoderma and ginseng. Heaven is so nourished and satisfied that he wants s.e.x all the time. He keeps thinking of Ruyan and Ruyu!

In order to rea.s.sure the tricker, Heaven sends a guard to report to him. Lying on bed, Li Tian puts the erotic desire aside, and starts to consider the future development.

The six races have already paid allegiance to him, so it’s time to deal with those bandits. Why can they coexist with the powerful six races?

Heaven summons all the patriarchs, and asks politely: “Why are there still bandits roaming around this area region, regardless of your powerful people?”

“My Lord, you don’t know.” Says Wan Shan, the Lizard’s patriarch. “The leaders of these two groups of bandits used to be a couple. They disagree with each other, thus respectively set up their own organizations. Both of them are superb martial artists proficient in tactics. Although they keep to themselves in peacetime, in wartime they will help each other. They get along well with all the races, taking advantage of our internal conflicts to develop. Our six races fight against external enemies together, but we also feud internally --- for the sake of food!” When it comes to food, the Bear’s patriarch is a bit dispirited.

“Don’t worry. You can tell your men that as long as I’m the governor-general of Chaodu, I’ll solve the food problem for you.”

“A great lord! On behalf of the six races, I appreciate you, the king of the forest!” Says Seaman, then he kneels before Heaven.”

“Raise, please raise. Don’t mention it, because we are a family!” Still suffering wounds, Heaven can do nothing but show his grat.i.tude through words.

Seaman bursts into tears. He stares at Heaven excitedly. “My Lords, you won’t know how many battles we have launched for the sake of food! And now your words enable nearly two million people in the forest to become a united family! Just as the G.o.ddess’s oracle goes!”

“What? Two million?” Heaven is so startled the he almost falls off the bed!

Gosh, how can he find so much food? They will eat him out of house and home!

After pondering, Heaven replies. “All right. The food supply can be guaranteed. But you should give me something in exchange. Every speciality in the mountain is OK.”

“My Lord, please rest a.s.sured. In such a large mountain, there is nothing more common than speciality! If specialities can be exchanged for food, people in all the races will take action.” Says the Dwarf’s patriarch.

“Good. Now your six races are subjected to me. Those bandits shall pay their allegiance to me or perish. Now that you have a good relations.h.i.+p with them, send them a message and observe their reaction for me.

“Please count on us! Bears can wipe out their small stockades without effort. You just need to wait for the news. Within three days they will come here, otherwise I will be relentless!” The pugnacity of Bear is epitomized by the patriarch!

As expected, within two days, the two leaders of bandits appear in front of Heaven. Indeed, threatened by Heaven’s soldiers and the six races, if they do not choose to surrender, they will die!

They walk over to Heaven’s bed, holding their fists and saluting: “Guo Jing and Huang Rong, pay their respect to the governor-general!” They say simultaneously.

Oh my G.o.d, Guo Jing and Huang Rong? Their names sound the same as those of the hero and heroine in The Legend of The Condor Heroes (a famous Chinese martial arts fiction)! Gosh, what a coincidence!

Heaven looks at them. Guo Jing is a burly man, while the woman seems spirited.

“Please raise. Forgive me, I am too weak to get out of bed and greet you! Seaman told me that you are masters of martial art and tactics, so I wonder whether you would like to join us?” To attract people with talents, Heaven must show his politeness!

Guo Jing glances at Heaven. “My Lord, you don’t know, it was the oppression of those corrupt officials who drove us to revolt. What’s worst, we are wanted by the court since we have been well-known as ‘the Emperor of Force’ and ‘the Empress of Force’ in the underworld of the Great An. I’m afraid that my submission may have put you at a disadvantage!”

f.u.c.k, only a fool would let such good bodyguards go!

“Hha!” Heaven says with a laugh. “Please feel a.s.sured. Whoever follows me is my compatriot. Why should I comply with the Great An’s convention? What I want is to reconstruct Chaodu and to transform it into a prosperous land. As for me, the emperor of the Great An is nothing. I don’t buy his story.”

Heaven’s word terrifies Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Even Seaman is petrified, let alone Heaven’s two guards, who nearly get fainted!

Even though they are bandits, they dare not loosen up. How can they believe a governor-general should say such treasonous words!

Having perceived the impact of his words, Heaven continues. “In my heart, whoever follows me is my brother or my sister. I will spare no efforts to give you, my people and my compatriots, a good life, regardless of the most severe trials!”

Alas, such a word will be more appealing if it is said by the tricker!

At this moment, all people in the room kneel down in front of Heaven. Each of them bursts into tears excitedly. They chorus “my Lord, may I follow you forever!” Gosh, have they rehea.r.s.ed it? Otherwise how can they say in union?

Thanks to the good air quality in the mountain, a few days later, Heaven gets back to his feet. Now he realizes why there are many monks and taoists keen on setting up temples in mountain --- the pure air is natural, the vegetable is fresh, and the inhabitants here are unsophisticated, who take everything you loosen up seriously!

Good days don’t last long. A few days later, the tricker sends a messenger to the mountain. The emperor is about to pick up a Crown Prince. Thus officers of or above the rank of governor-general must return to the capital to attend the ceremony.