Chapter 16: The Giant Nation, A Different Feeling

Entering again, they were still by the river, and before them was a peach grove.

Looking at the peach grove, Feng Yan and Chen Hao walked straight in; in the afterglow of the setting sun, the light fell on the head of a golden‑haired girl on the cliff, and she was hopeful. From the moment the two entered the country, she thought, "I hope they don't die in the Deng Forest."

The peach grove was extremely beautiful, but they discovered some inexplicable things: outside the grove pink peach blossoms were blooming, and looking inward there were some unripe peaches; as for the deepest part, they could not see it. "Hey! Feng Yan, look, there's a huge staff in the middle!" Chen Hao shouted. The two looked up; the staff pierced the sky, standing in the center. "Could it be the staff that Kua Fu abandoned back then?" Feng Yan muttered softly. A rustling sound came from the grass. "What sound?" Feng Yan shouted. Before Chen Hao could notice anything, he was already bound by that thing, which dragged him straight into the depths of the peach grove! Feng Yan didn't think further, grabbed his sword and rushed to slash. Upon impact it didn't break; instead golden sparks flew. "What? What's happening? Isn't this a plant?" Feng Yan shouted at Chen Hao. "Are you stupid? This is a game; inexplicable things can be explained! Release sword qi!" Chen Hao said. Feng Yan leapt, directed a red sword qi at the thing, and it finally snapped. Chen Hao slowly freed himself and looked at the thing that had bound him, "It's a vine, but its hardness is excessive; even your red sword couldn't cut it." Feng Yan took out a map, looked, "Beyond this peach grove lies Ju Ren Guo." Feng Yan closed the map and said, "Hey, what's up with my badge?" Chen Hao's badge flew up, emitted light toward the vine, and then its data appeared on the back of the map.

"Steel vine, because it grows beside the small river in the Deng Forest, has gained unnatural power and its hardness is reinforced," Chen Hao read. "What is this? It almost ended our game!" "You forgot the part after that; it also attacks anyone who enters the Deng Forest, giants excluded." "Really? Will there be more things blocking our way later?" Chen Hao asked. "There's nothing we can do. However, you can keep the vine I sliced with sword qi as a weapon for self‑defense; if you don't want that, there's another method…" "What method?" Chen Hao interrupted Feng Yan, and Feng Yan said, "You can use the Adventurers' Book to instantly create a duplicate of my weapon, and then…" "Get lost!" Chen Hao shouted, cutting him off.

They kept moving forward; although the vines kept harassing them, thanks to Feng Yan's vigilance they proceeded slowly. Eventually they reached a small river and stopped. The river was red, flowing slowly like fresh blood, and around it many steel vines gathered. "How do we cross this?" Feng Yan asked Chen Hao. Chen Hao shook his head, indicating he had no idea. Feng Yan smiled at Chen Hao and said, "Chen Hao, then I'll trouble you a bit…" Before finishing, Feng Yan kicked Chen Hao. The vines, hearing the sound, rushed forward. Chen Hao turned and ran, cursing, "Feng Yan, you worthless traitor…" "Alright, alright, say whatever you want; I have a plan." Saying that, Feng Yan held his sword, which emitted a faint red glow that grew increasingly dazzling. "Right, now!" Feng Yan shouted, leapt, and swung toward Chen Hao. As the light vanished, Chen Hao returned, muttering, "Next time, can you at least give a warning? You scared me to death!" "Can't you see you're fine? At least the effect was decent," Feng Yan said breezily. "No precedent!" Chen Hao replied. They continued onward.

"They've already walked halfway," the young lady still standing there said, and her attendant reminded, "Princess, the sun is setting, let's return first." "No, this is the only time in decades that outsiders have entered that Deng Forest; I can't leave!" The attendant dared not look up, fearing he couldn't take his eyes off her beautiful face. The Princess said, "Then we continue, but we should change location."

"Yes!" the Princess said slowly as she walked away. The man standing behind stared dumbfounded for a moment, gave a self‑deprecating laugh, thinking, "Seems the Princess is still very beautiful, I just hadn't realized." So he followed her.

Feng Yan and Chen Hao kept moving forward. Chen Hao opened the map and said, "We've reached the halfway point of this peach grove." In front of them stood the massive staff, column‑like, erected in the middle of the grove. Here, there were no steel vines. Feng Yan walked up to the staff and gently touched it, imagining the myth of Kua Fu chasing the sun and the staff he finally abandoned, now becoming this peach grove. Chen Hao watched Feng Yan's actions, standing there unsure what to say. The sky gradually darkened; Chen Hao looked up and said, "Strange, the notice didn't mention any day‑night cycle." Feng Yan tried to say something but forgot in an instant, feeling odd. The sword behind him emitted a faint humming; Chen Hao was startled, eyes widening as a wisp of white smoke rose from the blade, growing larger and coalescing into a shape. Both Feng Yan and Chen Hao exclaimed in unison, "It's you!" The spirit looked at them and said, "Thank you both for bringing me back to my place. Now I should return to the staff." Feng Yan, puzzled, asked, "Aren't you General Di Fangjie of Ju Ren Guo? How did you end up here?" The spirit's face smiled kindly, far from a battlefield general. He said, "I was originally a fragment of Kua Fu's lingering soul. Unable to let go of my people, I split a fragment before death, and with the sword's spiritual power you wield, I returned to my people, taking the name Hou Fangjie. That's enough explanation; I must go now. Farewell, everyone!"

The spirit flew into the staff, and then the ground began to tremble. The staff rose visibly, inch by inch, until the shaking stopped and its true form was revealed: beneath the staff was a statue of Kua Fu! The statue seemed to be running, and the staff he held was only a part of it! The two stared at the statue, speechless. On the other side, the Princess and her attendant heard the sound, stopped, and also saw the statue. "Is that the true form of the staff in the middle of the Deng Forest?" the Princess asked. "Yes. After our ancestors chased the sun and died, the Deng Forest appeared before our tribe. We all knew the staff in the middle was the ancestors' staff, but no one knew where the ancestor's body was; it had long become this statue." "Let's go, we must return to our tribe. With the ancestor's statue appearing, and two outsiders, we need to discuss strategy." the Princess said and left.

Feng Yan and Chen Hao stared at the statue. Chen Hao asked, "Should we keep moving forward?" "I don't know," Feng Yan replied. Then a voice emanated from the statue: "You two brought me back to the Deng Forest, and my soul has returned here; I will now send you to Ju Ren Guo as a token of gratitude." After hearing this, the statue thanked them, saying, "Thank you. So, who should I thank? Kua Fu? Or Di Fangjie?" Chen Hao looked at Feng Yan, at a loss for words. The statue smiled and said, "Hmm, you may call me whatever you like; it's just a name. However, Feng Yan, I have something to tell you." "What is it?" Feng Yan asked. The statue said, "There are two swords, one red and one Black Sword. The Black Sword is sealed within the red sword; the seal has now been broken, but I must warn you: do not use the Black Sword lightly. You cannot yet wield it properly, nor can you fully unleash its power. Remember, the Black Sword must not be used indiscriminately." Feng Yan nodded, "Alright, then jump onto my hand; I'll see you off." The statue placed its hand on the ground; they leapt onto it, and the hand lifted them onto the staff. While on the staff, Chen Hao asked, "We are now on the staff; how do you intend to send us?" The statue laughed, "You'll find out soon." Feng Yan whispered to Chen Hao, "I have a bad feeling; something bad is about to happen."

"Then… are you ready?" "Ready," the statue said, flinging the staff toward Ju Ren Guo. Feng Yan and Chen Hao clung tightly to the staff, fearing they would fall, and screamed in terror. With a booming sound they arrived at their destination. They lay on the ground, slowly stood up, and Feng Yan exclaimed, "What kind of delivery method is that? I almost died of fright!" "Isn't that right? Ugh~~" Chen Hao spat on the ground. "Hey, that's interesting, and it has this function," Feng Yan said. Chen Hao stood up and replied, "You still have the nerve to comment on the function, but the physics engine is truly impressive." "Must be Adventurers from afar," Feng Yan and Chen Hao looked toward the voice and saw a giant covered in gold and silver, looking like a newly rich man. "Looks like you two are newcomers," the man continued, circling around them, "Seems you have some status." Feng Yan observed the man: his body was plastered with gold and silver, yet he was gaunt, his forehead protruding, eyes bulging, looking half‑dead. Chen Hao couldn't stand it any longer and kicked him; the man fell to the ground, stayed down for a while before slowly getting up.

He got up, opened his mouth to curse, but instead said, "Ah, Princess, you came personally. Could it be that you are the ones who destroyed the staff in the Deng Forest?" He turned to Feng Yan and Chen Hao and said, "Hmph, you're finished; our Princess is here to avenge me!" Then he showed a disgusting grin, saying, "Right, Princess?" The Princess ignored him, saluted Feng Yan and Chen Hao, and said, "Thank the Adventurers for helping my Ju Ren Guo solve the ancestors' riddle. It's getting late; please rest at the Wanggong." Feng Yan looked at the Princess, who wore hunting attire, exuding great vigor. She bowed her head; Feng Yan couldn't see her features clearly. The Princess performed the bow; Feng Yan stared at her golden hair, thinking, "She must be a beauty, hahaha…" "What are you thinking, Feng Yan~~" Chen Hao, seeing no reaction, kicked behind him, "I say, you're disturbing my…" "What? Disturbing what?" Chen Hao replied, "Everyone's gone far, you're still standing here, I'm impressed, let's go see what this country is like."

They followed, and saw that the surroundings were all the same buildings, the same houses, built merely for warmth and shelter, nothing extravagant. They followed the Princess all the way to the Wanggong. The king was an elderly giant with a white beard, looking exceedingly kind. Dressed in red, he resembled Santa Claus. The king spoke, "Two travelers from afar, what brings you here?" "Nothing in particular; we are just travelers, an Adventurers." Feng Yan said, "In your country I feel harmony, friendship, equality; it's the best nation I've encountered here." The king smiled, "It's getting late; please rest. I will have the guards guide you; you may spend the night in the Wanggong."

"Two, we're here. If you need anything, just call me," the attendant stepped back. Feng Yan and Chen Hao sat on the bed. Chen Hao recalled the people of the country; they seemed happy, the houses simple, except for one lavish house belonging to the most ragged yet most reliable person. Both he and Feng Yan disliked such people, though they didn't know why—perhaps they loathed hypocrisy. He said to Feng Yan, "What do you think of the person we first met?" "It reminds me of the deceiver Yang Xin!" Feng Yan replied.

Meanwhile, the king quietly summoned the Princess. The Princess had golden long hair, wore formal attire, exuding great vigor; her blue eyes seemed to read others' hearts, adding a touch of tenderness. Candlelight illuminated her face. The king said, "Our ancestors left a legacy; on a future day the nation will welcome two Adventurers, and you will also learn where you come from." The Princess, of normal human height unlike the giants, had been rescued from the battlefield between Ju Ren Guo and Lilliputian Kingdom as an infant; the giants took her to the main camp. Since then, battle reports from Ju Ren Guo brought good news, then their generals were betrayed, yet they still regarded her as a heavenly blessing, so the king titled her Princess. Eighteen years have passed. "But you also have a name, Ni Jingwen, which I've never told anyone, but now is the time," the king said.

"So what should we do? Just ask them for Ju Ren Guo's treasure?" Feng Yan said helplessly. Chen Hao replied, "Didn't you notice the Princess is about the same height as us?" Feng Yan understood, said, "We…" before finishing, they woke up.