Rise of The Demon General

Amon didn't find the recipe from a lucky encounter. He had actually used his private wealth to get the recipe. A wealth that he gained from San Guo's drug trading operation of the Thousand Dream Powder. The pill was indeed very rare, the recipe was even more so. It was San Guo who had acquired the recipe from a black market auction, under Amon's request.

Amon had stopped exposing Madam Lin to the airborne drug that weakened her womb since before the White Cloud Tournament. After dabbling for a long time with medicine, Amon could also make some sort of assessment. He figured that after such a long exposure, Madam Lin's womb might have been permanently damaged. Even if he stopped exposing her to the drug, she would still not be able to bear a child.

This womb-strengthening pill could change that, though. Amon had learned about this pill from one of the medicinal books he read, and thus tasked San Guo to find it.

However, he didn't do this out of the kindness of his heart, nor was it because of guilt. He did this as a peace offering. He figured that although Madam Lin should be unable to prevent him from going to the royal academy, she could still make it difficult. He was also worried that her motherly instinct might cause her to become irrational and come searching for him in Qishurg City. She might create a complicated situation for him there. Amon hoped that this pill could distract her from him. If she could have her real child, then perhaps she might forget about him. After Amon left this estate, she would have outlived her usefulness. Amon wished that she no longer bothered him.

"If you take this pill weekly, your womb should become strong enough by half a year. You can then have your own…"

Madam Lin's hand swiped through and smacked the small box away. "I don't need another child!" She exclaimed.

The box fell to the ground, and the pill rolled out. Siau Miu chased after it, she knew how valuable the pill was.

'Hm… This time it's harder than I thought. Woman's emotions are indeed unpredictable,' Amon thought.

Amon feigned a sad face. Madam Lin's chest was heaving rapidly. It appeared that she was in turmoil. She stood up and then left without another word.

Amon watched her back as she left. That strange feeling was there again, but it lasted only an instant. Amon didn't think too much about it.

*

The next morning, Amon had settled all of his affairs. It was easy because most of his valuables were inside his black space ring, which was always on his body, so there were not many that needed packing.

He left instructions to Siau Miu. Despite Madam Lin's refusal to accept the womb-strengthening pill yesterday, Amon told Siau Miu to still give the pill to her on a weakly basis. Whether she consumed the pill or not, that was up to her. Amon hope that she would calm down and start taking the pill after a period.

Amon went to the grand hall where the others were supposed to be gathering.

When he arrived, he saw Lin Bubai and the three other youths that were supposed to go with him, Lin Baxiong, Lin Fen, and Lin Anwen, were already there. Aside from them, another three adults who Amon had not seen before were there, two men and one woman. Lin Weida was not around.

"Who do you think you are? Making us all wait?" Lin Baxiong uttered with displeasure.

Lin Weida only said to come in the morning before noon. This was not yet noon, so Amon didn't see why he was considered late. But Amon thought arguing about it was too childish, so he simply stood there and looked at Lin Bubai, awaiting his instruction. Baxiong was upset for being ignored.

"All right, since everyone is here. You can depart early," Lin Bubai said. He then introduced the three adults in the room beside him. "These three are the escorts who will accompany you four to Qishurg City. This is Lin Siaumau, Lin Toru, and Lin Siuni. Lin Siaumau is a Peak Transformation stage. Lin Toru and Lin Siuni are intermediate Transformation stage."

'Only transformation stage?' Amon thought. Amon had hoped for the escorts to have at least one cultivator from the Martial realm. But then again, cultivators of the Martial realm are usually prideful. Unless it was an important or a personal task, they won't involve themselves. Escorting a bunch of youths certainly didn't seem like an important enough task. Not to mention the youths presented here were those considered to be not the most important ones in the clan.

"All of you have to listen to their instructions," Lin Bubai continued. "Do not wander away from the group and do not act on your own. Is this clear?"

"Yes, sir!" The youths, except Amon, uttered.

"I wish you all luck then," Lin Bubai said.

"All right, follow me," Lin Siaumau said. "We will travel along the paved road to Qishurg city. Scouts patrolled this road regularly, so there shouldn't be that many spirit beasts. But still, stay close! We never know if a strong spirit beast decides to wander into the road."

The three adults led the youths out of the grand hall. But before they passed through the door, they stopped, because someone was standing there.

"Madam," The three adults greeted while bowing.

Madam Lin walked forward. They all moved aside to let her pass. She came towards Amon.

'Is she trying to make a ruckus at the last minute?' Amon thought with worry.

Madam Lin stood before Amon. Amon's mind was thinking of the possible arguments in preparation if Madam Lin used her authority to try to keep him from leaving the estate.

But while Amon was thinking hard, Madam Lin unexpectedly came forward and embraced him. Amon was taken aback by the action. Madam Lin hugged Amon so tightly that Amon could hear her heartbeat.

He felt weird. The hug brought him very unfamiliar feelings. He felt warm. He felt safe.

"You will always be my son," Madam Lin whispered softly beside Amon's ear.

She then released her hug. She looked him in the eye and said, "Go, but come back safely to me."

It took a beat before Amon could reply, "… Yes, mother."

Madam Lin let him go and stood by the side.

Amon gave her another look before he dismissed all the weird feelings in his heart. Emotion was always his enemy. He just never expected that someone could still evoke such a feeling in him. It was right for him to leave. It would be dangerous if he stayed with this stepmother of his any longer.

He walked forward. The three adults that were waiting for him resumed their walking after seeing Amon was done saying goodbye to Madam Lin. The other three youths were annoyed by the scene, but they didn't dare say anything with Madam Lin around.

Lin Bubai came to Madam Lin's side as she watched the group that moved further away.

"Do you think he will come back?" Lin Bubai asked his sister.

"He will," Madam Lin replied.

Lin Bubai sighed internally. He wanted to tell his sister to not put too much hope. The look in the boy's eyes didn't seem like one that was planning to return. But he didn't have the heart to say it out, so he just stood beside her in silence.

*

Lin Siaumau led the others out of White Cloud city then they traveled East, which was the direction of Qishurg city. The paved road they took was rather wide. They travel with a light run, at a speed that didn't require them to burn too much aether. Hence, they could run for the whole day and not be exhausted in case dangers came their way.

Although rare, some travelers were seen along this road. They were mostly running by foot as well, and all of them were cultivators. Civilians weren't safe enough to travel outside of cities.

None of the travelers use steeds. Not because there was none, Amon had seen people use horses inside the city. It was because if they rode a horse outside of the city, it would most likely not survive if they encountered a spirit beast. Additionally, most cultivators could run faster than a horse.

During the travel, Lin Siuni gave the youths pointers on surviving in the wilderness. The youths had gone outside the city for missions before, but only for a short time and never far from the city, so Siuni wished that they were not careless. Her advice was mostly general precautions to take care of in the wild, nothing that Amon hadn't known.

"There are checkpoint stations along the road, we can resupply there if needed," Lin Siuni said. "The stations are usually guarded by strong cultivators. If any of you happens to get separated from us, you should head to one of these checkpoint stations to look for help."

"If they get separated from us, then they are dead already," Lin Toru uttered with a laugh.

"Be quiet, you all!" Lin Siaumau reprimanded. "We never know if a spirit beast is nearby. Your voice might attract their attention. No more talking from now on."