Tina-san, ni hao! Well, I did have a look at your FFs, but with horror and joy at the same time, I discovered that you were really hardworking ^^ I would like to download all of them, but it's also quite time-consuming and I sometimes find the site here little confusing. Do you still have your stories saved in Word or something? If so, you can send it to me by email, that would be easier for me and I wouldn't have to go through my chaos in the folders first to find the Zips. I would love to read them, but you know, I don't have the time either, especially since we're moving soon. But well, then I don't want to withhold chapter 9 from you and watch out, the men will soon get reinforcements ^^





Chapter 9

But none of the three would have thought that they weren't so miserable at all.

There was still a lot of confusion here. The throne was still splintered, and after his defeat the conqueror made no effort to restore it.Everywhere here, too, there were overturned columns and you could see swords, armor and other weapons and clothing, but also jewelry and other things that people carried with them. But no trace of the owners.

“Someone must have taken care of the dead,” said Wind. “Probably the monk who stood by the survivors of the undefeated city and was the only one of these poor people to survive the battle of the sword saint against the conqueror.” Cloud nodded again. He thought back to the time he had spent here, how often had he stood here and bowed his head when the conqueror spoke to him and gave him his orders. Now he was free. Nevertheless, he was standing here again and the memories came up in him as if the experience had just happened yesterday. He remembered his last great mission: to bring the master the undefeated sword of Fong, the king of the undefeated city.

He also remembered going out with hawk and bat to strike on the king's birthday and bring Fong's head to the conqueror.A great festival was going on while he sat on the roof of one of the tallest houses built in the undefeated city. At that time, the hawk and bat had the task of bringing a colorless and odorless poison into the feast, from which most of the population also died and the wind in the Cyrrus cave was also administered by the two. When Fong was asleep, Cloud crept into the king's bedchamber and, without much effort and without Fong being able to defend himself very well against him, parted his head from his shoulder and wrapped him in a white sheet. He also remembered the scene when they were looking for survivors in the city in order to get rid of the last witnesses and possible insurgents. He still saw the little boy trying to hide between the baskets and begging for his life when the three spotted him. He left it to his two assistants to kill the boy, but the crying and screaming of the unfortunate echoed in his ears for a long time.

"Cloud, what is it, we want to go to the sword grave now? We won't find the two lost swords here!" Zhang tore him from his thoughts. Cloud stayed there for a few more seconds and saw Little Sun how she greeted him after his return from the undefeated city and demanded from him the colored stones she was collecting. Then he went with quick steps to his two companions and soon they reached the sword tomb, where the rule of the conqueror came to an end.

It looked exactly as they left it. Everywhere the swords that the conqueror had collected in his countless battles were strewn untidily on the ground. When Master was still ruling, they were still neatly lined up and formed a circle. Cracks opened up everywhere and cooled lava tried to fill these cracks. Fireflies still buzzed through the gloomy place, in the center of which there was once a kind of obelisk, but which was pretty much destroyed by the fight five years ago.

"How long has it been since someone last set foot in this inhospitable place? Certainly no one has been here after us!" said Wind, looking for the two swords. He did not find her, nor did Zhang and Cloud. They remained missing. Disappointed and a little discouraged, the three found themselves in the throne room. They were now finally without advice and even the wind couldn't think of anything anymore. Then a voice came to them from the main gate, which was supposed to straighten out the further course of the journey.

"You won't find them here. They are gone from this place of cruelty. I can only tell you the approximate direction. Where exactly they are is also unknown to me." They turned to the stranger. And what they saw confused and pleased them at the same time, at least wind and cloud, because the two knew the man. "The Buddha! This is the Buddha!" called Wind with joy and immediately set out to greet the old friend. "I thought the curse of the gods killed you after we left you.You were gone when I was looking for you! "Wind was very excited. The Buddha put on his mysterious smile and looked at him with his shrewd and opaque eyes. His hair was already white, but otherwise he seemed to be fine." It is true, the gods have boiled me, that had spread all over my body and that were supposed to consume all my strength, punished because I told the conqueror too much about the future at that time. But one being was lenient and tears cleared the poison in my body and made the boils go away. I was completely healed and there weren't even any scars left. I live in the village where Little Pigtail, you know, Master Wind, whoever is meant, has his adoptive parents. You gave me a warm welcome. But I had to come here to show you the way, because I am not unaware that the world is in great danger. "

Meanwhile, Zhang, staring at the man with open mouth, is that supposed to be the Buddha?The Buddha who helped the conqueror find wind, cloud and frost? He didn't doubt it, but he didn't know how to act, he seemed like a holy man.

"Haha, my friend, have no fear of me, I am only a person whom the gods have bestowed with a special gift. I know your sufferings and I am sorry for the great master who was killed by the demons. He was a good friend of mine and we talked a lot before you came to the temple. "Zhang was confused, how did he know that his master was murdered in cold blood by the demons? But he did not try to find an answer, but nodded to the Buddha and heard what he had to say.

"The two swords are no longer together. They have been separated. One is not far away, the other is probably already in their possession the demons. Believe me, both are not ownerless. Only the sword-bearer knows exactly where they are. it is unknown to me.But your next destination should be the Cyrrus Caves, where the fruits grow that heal all wounds and diseases and make you stronger. I think you won't regret stocking up on a few, especially since only one of them will satisfy the greatest hunger. But you should hurry because the demons have already sent scouts to look for you. "

They listened to him for a long time as he gave them advice on the way, they wished him all the best and said goodbye to him. When they turned back to greet him one last time, he was gone, as quickly as he had come. Zhang's awe of the man grew and he vowed, should he meet him again, to follow him on his way as soon as their mission was accomplished. But now they had to find the Cyrrus Caves. Wind knew the way very well, he had already walked it twice. When he was still a child of about seven years and he had accompanied his father on his last trip, where he saw his mother die when she threw herself into the roaring waters and where he told his father "Run, wind, run!"Don't stay here! "He was swallowed by a roller of fire and dragged into the gruesome cave. The second time should be the death of the hawk and bat and the cave dweller. It was originally intended that he should die, but he is escaped death once more. Now he started a third time on the journey to the cave, which took away what he loved most: his family.

Zhang knew from Wind's story that he cursed this place inside and was sorry to see it like this, lost in thought and silent, he led them both. The way was not far, they crossed a path cut by human hands, over which a huge statue of Buddha loomed. There were characters on the walls that were supposed to warn all those who got lost here. Zhang felt nothing of evil spirits, he looked down into the raging river that flowed next to the mountain. Indomitable he writhed through vast mountains, but that shouldn't bother him in the course of the journey.They went on like this until the wind stopped. You were there. There in front of them was the entrance to the Cyrrus Caves. Wind hesitated, because even though the dragon was dead, the terrible memories of his dead father still came to him. "If the conqueror hadn't found me, the wolves would have eaten me ..." he muttered and went inside. Cloud and Zhang looked confused because they didn't understand the meaning of his words, but followed him with a shrug. Wind stopped in the huge cave, which seemed to be supported by huge stone pillars. He looked for the remains of the hawk and bat and also those of his father. They were gone. Instead, an unusual silence spread around them. The air was electrifying, something was waiting for them, they could feel it. Zhang felt it the most, he shook himself and drew his sword. Unconsciously, the three stood back to back so that three pairs of eyes could look around the cave.Nothing could escape them like that, it was said. They tried to make out what was causing this restlessness in them, but nothing moved, not even a rat scurried across the stony ground, although one would think that this must be a suitable place for the little rodents. The only thing they heard was: silence. And that was even more uncomfortable. They tensed all of their muscles and finally the reason for their nervousness came rushing towards