A Journey Against the World
Chapter 170

"Tiankong Town?"

"Yes, after this city we will reach Haiyang city. We will stop only to fill the supplies for tomorrow, maybe tomorrow afternoon we just arrived in the city of Haiyang," Xingxing explained again. Menma simply nodded softly assuring Xingxing everything, after all there was nothing she could say about Tiankong city.

The horse carriage continued to run, leaving the second largest city in the Hou empire. Because the city is quite large, the possibility of walking through this city can take hours to drive a horse-drawn carriage, especially because of the dense city of Tiankong.

Menma had no interest in the city of Tiankong, which she thought was now quick to meet with Emperor Wexin and then fulfill his promise to Xingxing of deliberate mediated paralysis. Once all is done he will soon return to Middle-earth overcoming a war that may stay a few more days.

Long as the horse continued walking, the carriage stopped in front of a simple shop that seemed to be a food vendor shop. Azura got off the horse she was riding, walked into the shop followed by two other soldiers.

"Do you often buy at this store?" ask Menma. His gaze continued to focus on the store made of wood, on the walls of the store was clearly emblazoned two simple sentences 'Warm Bread'.

"Not really, just at a certain time. It just so happened that the supplies ran out, and only this store could be trusted," explained Xingxing who also stared at the cake shop.

Menma was silent, not asking more. But in between her silence she saw a man standing at the door staring at her. No, it might be more appropriate towards Xingxing.

"What's wrong?" Xingxing asked back.

Menma shook her head slowly. "No" he answered briefly. There was actually something he wanted to say, but it didn't seem to be in the present time.

Not long after that Azura came out with two soldiers holding two baskets that might have contained some warm bread. Two baskets of bread were placed on the back of the train that served as a storage area for goods. Only then did their group resume their journey.

***

The sun was rising again, just above the head. It emits light and heat that is more intense than usual. The group of soldiers escorting Xingxing returned to rest at the behest of their master. Meanwhile Menma took advantage of the situation again, staying away from the entourage. But this time it was not alone but rather together with Xingxing. The two of them headed for the river which happened to be a short distance away from their resting place.

Arriving at the river, Xingxing washed his face merrily, as if he had only met water after a long time had never met. Menma only paid attention to what Xingxing was doing on the riverbank.

"The water is very cold. It feels like I'm taking a bath" Xingxing said as she continued to busie herself with the river water.

"Why not take a shower?" sahut Menma relax. He leaned his body under a tree as a shelter.

"But ...."

"I'll be on guard for you. Take it easy" said Menma again. Xingxing widened a sweet smile when she heard him.

"alright. I won't be sad anymore." Xingxing rushed into the river water then soaked without taking his clothes off. Playing water so cheerfully, sometimes he also released a laugh that made Menma shake her head to see her behavior. It was exactly like a 6-year-old boy.

But Menma's smile slowly faded when her ears heard the noise coming from the direction of the group. Even though he knew something seemed to be happening there, he still tried not to care. His eyes closed as he lived the wind that caressed his face. But not long ago he fell silent enjoying the cool breeze, strange noises came to disturb him.

Srak!

Bruk!

"Maah!" Zusami suddenly appeared with a slightly panicked looking face. Menma opened her eyes, but still acted calm as usual.

"Take the boy away!" zusami again. Xingxing who happened to be turning around could see Zusami's panicked look on her face, rushing up to the edge, wondering what was going on.

"What is this?!" xingxing asked after being close to Zusami and Menma. Zusami turned around, staring at the voice asking who turned out to be Xingxing.

"What's up?!" ask Xingxing again. But Zusami remained silent, while Menma still looked calm.

"Did something happen?! Tell me!" urge Xingxing again, but still no one answered the question. Upset at not getting an answer, Xingxing intended to head towards where his entourage was. But his steps came to a halt when Menma opened her voice.

"Wait here."

"You forbid me?! Explain to me what happened!" But Menma did not reply to anything anymore. Meanwhile, Zusami is still silent.

"If you don't want to explain, don't stop me from leaving." Xingxing stomped her legs in annoyance. Very upset with the attitude of Menma and Zusami who did not want to answer his question. He ran towards his entourage, but for a long time he ran, Azura came with Tsakuya.

"Azura, what-"

"Run, Princess!" Instead of answering the question, Azura instead embraced Xingxing on her shoulders. Bringing Xingxing running as far away as possible. Beside Azura, there was Tsakuya who also came running.

"What's up, Azura?! Why run!!"

"There's no time to explain it, Princess!!"

"What's really going on?!" Xingxing asked Tsakuya. He couldn't be quiet if he didn't know what was going on. Running around like being chased by death, what happened there? But the one who was asked was silent like Zusami and Menma. It seemed that it was indeed waiting for the right time to find out what had happened that made Azura and the others frightened.

***

"You know that?"

"What?"

"About that!" Menma nodded softly confirming Zusami's question. Zusami grabbed her hair in frustration, not expecting Menma to hide a secret of this magnitude. "Why not say from the beginning?" tanyanya's a little upset.

"I didn't expect him to be this fast in action" Menma replied casually.

"Isn't it your goal to follow the boy to look after him?"

"really. But my speculation was slower than his movement" Menma said calmly. Zusami is almost frustrated by it.

"You guys!" Azura appeared with Tsakuya and Xingxing. As Menma had expected, Xingxing would not leave for long. Azura stopped right in front of Menma, her breath hunting weakly.

"Why? You ask why? Run immediately!!" snapped Azura annoyed. He immediately ran still with Xingxing on his shoulders. Tsakuya agreed to Azura's words, and he hurried to pull Menma running after Azura. And so is Zusami.

Menma did not stop them, letting Tsakuya take him away as far as possible with the others. Although he actually knew what had happened, but he did not want to mess things up. After feeling they ran far enough, Azura stopped and took down Xingxing who continued to chatter along the way.

"Why do you keep running?! What exactly is going on!!"

"Azura, explain it to me!"

"Hurry up!!"

"Calm down, Princess. We take you away not without a definite reason, all for your good," Azura replied in between her fatigue. Xingxing grew increasingly sour-faced hearing a reply that sounded like a diversion. What he wanted was an answer, not a diversion.

"Give me the answer!!" urge Xingxing hard.

"There's someone who's after you. Ah, no, maybe it's more appropriate to target your body" Menma said calmly. All eyes were immediately on him, but the sharpest sight belonged to the girl he was talking about.

"Who?! Why is he after me? Is he my brother's man?" xingxing asked firmly, between fear and anger.

"No. He came of his own accord. I was also surprised to find out that if I hadn't seen her at the cake shop, the final result would have been a little different." Xingxing frowned not understanding Menma's complicated explanation. Why not just tell me the point? Thought Xingxing.

"I don't know him. But from his aura, he is not an ordinary human being" Zusami said. Zusami himself had seen the figure, a man in his 40s. It did look ordinary, but the dense aura of the man was even able to make him shudder in horror. That was why Zusami appeared earlier before Azura and Tsakuya. He wanted to remind Menma to leave immediately.

"He's dangerous!" Tsakuya chimed in. "I'm sure he wants you." Tsakuya looked at Xingxing fixedly. It certainly made Xingxing even more confused.

"Why does he want me?! Who exactly is he?! Did I ever offend him?!"

"It's not about offending. But about the power that's in you." Azura. "There's another reason why Emperor Wexin asked me to pick you up, because he doesn't want you to do anything."

"The body of the Moon is indeed a very step away from other special bodies. It's not wrong for him to step in to find you." Menma returned to voice while stroking her chin.

"Since then you have looked so calm! I think you know that guy?" azura's insinuation was sharp, and instead got a smile reply from Menma.

"Why do you think I'm so eager to follow your entourage?" Menma smiled sinisterly, her eyebrows raised next to show a sly look. Azura and Xingxing were instantly stunned because of his words. Although Menma's words were just an excuse, Azura and Xingxing were horrified to hear it.

"You! I guess you guys are a bunch of bad guys!" hardik Azura hard. Even he had already hidden Xingxing behind his back.

"Since when have you cared about humans?" Tsakuya retaliated, not accepting Azura's accusations. "I don't think lions like humans?!"

"Take care of your words, Tsakuya!" sela Azura was firm as she looked at Tsakuya fiercely. "We're not like you!"

Xingxing patted Azura's shoulder gently. "What's really going on, Azura?" whispered Xingxing quietly. Fear and worry about the situation now.

"They're bad guys, Princess," Azura replied half in whisper.

"You misunderstood us. We're following you because we're-"

"Want to get the Moon's body?! Isn't she?!" Azura interrupted Zusami's words. Though Zusami has not finished his speech but the hunt is cut with unclear accusations. Azura snorted cynically, she was sure that her guess was correct.

"Why are you lions so sensitive to us? Do you think we're interested in the Moon's body?" Tsakuya was upset. Where might he want to lose the debate with Azura his sworn enemy. Moreover, Azura had given up unreasonable accusations for him. What does Tsakuya care about human problems if not for Menma's wishes?

"You must want to use her as the girl's healer? Doesn't he have cold pulse disease!" Again. Azura. This time his fierce gaze was fixed on Menma.

"The body of the Moon is precious. But the Moon's body would be useless for cold pulse disease, think it's stupid! Who do you think you are talking to?! I am the greatest alchemist in the Heavenly World!" timpal Tsakuya is no less harsh.

"You think I believe the words of a lying bird like you? Hengs! You are all very cunning, like to use others for personal gain. All the inhabitants of the Heavenly world knew about it!"

"You!"

"Enough! What have you guys been talking about since? Moon Body? Utilizing? Cold pulse disease? What malsudnya! I don't understand!!" Xingxing who was already dizzy heard Azura and Tsakuya's rant finally let out a peeved scream. From the beginning he understood nothing, and now there was a quarrel that made him even more confused. But, again, no one wanted to explain to the girl. Again they were all silent every time Xingxing asked.

Silent.

"You have been arguing for too long, now that he is coming" Menma said, Breaking the silence. Right after that came the man they had been avoiding from behind a big tree. Suddenly they became alert after the appearance of the man.

Prok!

Prok!

Prok!

"Wah-wah .. interesting debate. But I'm not interested in your debate. You just hand over the girl and you can continue your debate again. I won't bother you" the man said after applauding. A wide smile meaningfully did not fade from his face. And his gaze was only on Xingxing.

"I finally met you." Menma was silent for a moment. "Lou Zhou?"

"Hem?"

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A/N: What?!

unek-unekin all your comments on this chapter 😜 sure deh many do not understand