Beginning Beyond The Horizon

As the four Tanzanies and Bong, arrived at the first village with the last of the wounded, the orange sun hung above the reddish-yellow horizon, and they soon joined Michio. That morning, Michio had set out earlier than them, leading the three Tazanies and Bong to the campsite he arranged.

"Dinner is all ready," Michio said. 

U-ri walked over to the small campfire and sat down, starting to massage his thighs. "Ah... now I know how troublesome it is walking without Hajime," U-ri complained. "I guess I've become too lazy and started to rely on Hajime's wolves." He looked at Michio. "Michio...have you tried to contact Kaizen again?"

Michio handed U-ri a bowl of food and said, "I've tried, but Kaizen refuses to answer my call."

Abrafo grinned, "That arrogant shit... If Hajime hadn't been taken away by him, we wouldn't have bothered to call him." He stuffed a spoonful of food into his mouth and started chewing. "Just because he's only a few thousand years older than us, doesn't mean he's invincible. One day...I tell you...I'm going to beat him."

Michio looked at Abrafo and said, "You keep saying that, but we can't seem to defeat Kaizen. Remember? He's the creator of your sword."

"You don't have to remind me every time," Abrafo said, chewing his food grumpily.

Yul asked, "Michio, what is their lord's plan?"

Michio said, "Lord Baqar will take them back to the north gate of Maka City by sea."

U-ri asked, "Why not just stay here?"

Michio said, "I heard from Lord Baqar that after the soldiers from the second village arrive tomorrow, they will take a short trip to the second village and take a boat to the north gate of Maka City from there."

Yul said, "Let's go south as planned."

Bong asked, "So we are not going to Maka City anymore?"

Abrafo swallowed his food and said, "We are going to Maka City just to send the women and Fufu back, but now the situation has changed, and we have no obligation to send them back, so we set off according to our original plan."

"What a shame? I don't get to see Maka City," U-ri sighed in disappointment.

Bong said, "What awaits you in the south are records from hundreds of years ago. Why are you interested in the small library in Maka City?"

U-ri said, "Your idea is very good. At least thinking this way can ease my broken heart."

Abrafo said, "It sounds very awful."

U-ri replied, "Some people die for love, some people die for money, and I... I will die for knowledge."

"No matter how I look at it, dying reading a book is a terrible way to die," Abrafo joked. "What if you die before you finish reading the book?"

U-ri grabbed a small twig and threw it at Abrafo. "Only illiterate people like you don't know the power of knowledge." He turned to look at Yul who was awfully quiet. "When do you think we should leave?"

Yul said, "Tomorrow morning."

U-ri said, "We don't know when Hajime will come back, so we need better travel arrangements." U-ri looked around and spotted some horses. "Well... three horses should be enough for the five of us."

Bong said, "If you want to start early, you'd better go find the horse now."

Yul said, "Michio, you have a better relationship with them. It's best for you to do the talking."

Michio said, "I'll make arrangements." He stood up and left.

As the night deepened and people's voices gradually subsided, the pain in Yul's left shoulder kept Yul unable to fall sleep. On a moonless night, he sat alone and watched the campfire slowly die out. He counted the days since Hajime disappeared, and the more he counted, the more uneasy he felt. His mind kept wondering if something had happened to Hajime and his child that prevented Kaizen from answering their multiple calls.

"Can't sleep?" Fufu said, sitting down next to Yul and handing him a bottle of wine. "It might help you sleep."

Yul took the bottle of wine. "Thanks," Yul said.

"Sir Michio said that the five of you will leave for Zans City early tomorrow morning to learn more about Kinigan Island," Fufu said. She took a sip of the wine in her hand and looked at Yul. "Don't you want to go to the north gate of Maka City with us?"

Yul took a sip of the wine in his hand and said, "Going to Zans City was our original plan...and our time is also limited."

Fufu said, "But we haven't thanked each of you properly yet."

Yul said, "No need. Knowing you is enough. And there will always be a next time."

Fufu smiled and said, "You are right." 

Yul said, "Thank you for getting us the horses and supplies."

Fufu said, "No, thank you for saving so many of our people." She took another sip of wine. "I believe that when I wake up tomorrow, the five of you will have gone, so I will use this time to wish you a safe journey and no danger. When you come back, if you want to go back this way, please stop by Maka City." She looked at Yul, then at U-ri. "I made a promise to Sir U-ri... It's a pity that he didn't go to the palace library, but... like you said, there will always be a next time. By the way... I want to thank you for saving me and thank you six for everything you have done for us." She stretched out her left fist and gently hit Yul's right chest twice. "You will always be our friend, Sir Yul of Tanzang Kingdom." She stood up. "Good luck." Fufu walked towards a group of soldiers sitting far away from Yul and his friends.

Early the next morning, the four Tanzanies and Bong dragged their horses and started to walk out of the first village. It was foggy in the morning, and just as U-ri predicted the night before, the smoke from Mount Zin would soon catch up to them. It wasn't until they were far enough away from the first village that the four Tanzanies and Bong mounted their horses and began to ride south.

"Ah..." U-ri frowned. "It's such a shame that I am so close to the books and records in Maka's Library."

Yul said, "Lady Fufu said that you are welcome at any time, and she will fulfill her promise to you."

U-ri turned to Yul and asked, "Really? When did she say that?"

Yul replied, "Last night."

Michio asked, "So, did you talk to her alone last night?"

Yul said, "She came to say goodbye because she already knew we were leaving early this morning."

Abrafo said, "Why didn't she say goodbye to us, but only to you. What makes you so special?"

Yul looked at Abrafo blankly and said, "Because I'm the only one awake."

Abrafo chuckled, "Fair enough." Abrafo felt Bong's fingers pinching his left waist.

Bong said, "We are not that far away yet. You still have time to go back and say goodbye."

Abrafo knew that the next words that came out of his mouth would be words that must please Bong's ear, unless his left waist will turn purple and blue. Abrafo chuckled and said, "We have gone far enough. There is no reason to go back. Haha...hehe..."

"Hey...this is the first time I've seen Abrafo so obedient," U-ri teased. "No wonder there is an old saying, "No matter how strong a man is in front of others, he is as weak as tofu in front of his wife"... Hahahaha..."

Abrafo raised his hand and spanked U-ri and Michio's horse. The horse rushed forward, running away from the group of people. Abrafo, Yul, and Bong laughed.

"Wait!" Fufu's voice sounded from behind the two Tanzanies and Bong.

Fufu's voice made Yul, Abrafo, and Bong turned their horse around.

Fufu stopped her horse and smiled at the two Tanzanies and Bong. "I finally caught up with you." Fufu said with a smile.

"Lady Fufu, what are you doing here?" Yul asked.

Fufu smiled and said, "I have always wanted to travel outside Maka City, but I never had the chance. After a few hours of thinking, I decided to travel outside Maka City. I think there is no better travel companions than you all."

Abrafo asked, "Does Lord Baqar agreed to this?"

Fufu nodded. "I dare not leave our boundaries without my father's permission." She looked at the two Tanzanies and Bong. "But I am only allowed to stay for a few months. I must return to Maka City before the New Year."

Abrafo said with a smiled, "Then let's not waste time, hurry up."

Meng stood on a hill and smiled, watching the four Tanzanies, Bong, and Fufu riding past him. He stared at them with a strange feeling, because he had never experienced anything like this before. He didn't know what it would be like to ride next to them. Although he can transform himself into a human being, human feelings and emotions are still difficult for him to understand. He sighed.

"Soon, Zahog will reach your master, but you still have time," Goddess of Beauty approached Meng and said.​

Meng asked, "How long do I have?"

Goddess of Beauty said, "It depends on how fast Zahog can destroy the ten layers of protection and melt the nine layers of magic crystal ice." She looked at Meng. "Back then, the ten most powerful mortal kings risked their lives and built ten layers of strong protective layers around Kinigan Island, and the nine leaders of the nine dragon clans also risked their lives and built nine layers of magical crystals ice, freeze your master. Even his most beloved pet was imprisoned by Avalokitesvara in No Man's Land. Therefore, your master's only chance to be free is to need Zahog's help to destroy the ten layers of protection and melt the nine layers of magic crystal ice. I hope you won't have to wait too long. Good luck."

Meng asked, "After my master is released, you will no longer go to Dreake City to help me?"

Goddess of Beauty said, "Whether your master is free or not has nothing to do with me. I have no obligation to help him."

Meng asked, "Then why do you help me for so long?"

Goddess of Beauty giggled softly and said, "I am not helping you, but helping myself. As I said before, I would rather have the last descendant of my enemy suffering as a breathing man, rather than let him become a motionless corpse." She looked at the four Tanzanies, Bong, and Fufu. "It would be so much fun to see the last descendants of my enemy reaching out to grab his last hope, but never being able to grasp it."

Meng said, " "Don't underestimate the fighting spirit of mortals." He turned to look at Goddess of Beauty. "They will surprise you."

Goddess of Beauty smiled at Meng and said, "Oh... then how many people have you seen who are not from this world and are willing to die without regrets?" When she saw the expression on Meng's face, she giggled. "That's what I thought." She turned around and waved to Meng. "Happy freeing your master, little wooden deer." She turned around and vanished.