Alam Mandala
a difficult request

When the sun started to slightly rise again, they finally set off towards the forest. Along the way, strange sounds were increasingly heard, but Bing Jiazhi was neither afraid nor astonished by the sounds.

Even so, Zhu Nan and Zhu Han told him some types of ferocious beasts that were very strong and were often hunted as pets. Although Bing Jiazhi did not care, they both enthusiastically told it and competed for the attention of Bing Jiazhi.

They wanted to show their seniority in front of Bing jiazhi and strengthen their trust in themselves.

As they told it, suddenly a roar sounded from a distance. Although it sounded far away, it was already very close to their place.

Zhu Han and Zhu Nan drew their swords and prepared for the possibility of a beast coming.

The sound came from the snow wolf, which had white fur. They were supposed to be out at night and in groups, but for some reason they made a noise in the morning like this

Although they were easily defeated, they had strength in numbers, thus being able to make people hurt.

Compared to the brothers, Bing Jiazhi looked calm, not even he drew his sword.

“Kakak...” call Zhu Nan while looking towards the sound source. In times like these, his mind was useless, as if it stopped working. With Zhu Han by his side, he was able to youngly take the right advice and steps.

“Snow wolves are not powerful creatures, but because of their large numbers, it makes them difficult to fight. If the number is only ten, we can still fight it, but more than that, we should run without the slightest sound, because they have very sharp hearing. One more, they can smell fresh blood from a distance, we should not be hurt.”

“Their distance from us is not too far away, but they do not yet know our whereabouts. Therefore, it would be nice to step back and find a safe place. Although I feel they are not much, but they can call their friends from a long distance.”

“Come us..”.

Zhu Han's words were cut short when he saw Bing Jiazhi calmly walking past them, without even holding any weapons.

“Bing Jiazhi, we have to retreat.”

“I want to fight,” replied Bing Jiazhi without turning her head, and she finally disappeared into the grove of trees.

Zhu Nan and Zhu Han were confused by Bing Jiazhi's attitude, not knowing what he was going to do now. They were both very curious, but they did not step forward out of fear. Even if they were experienced, they would never take rash action. Anything could happen in this forest, even they could disappear for a moment without them noticing.

Within a few seconds, there was the sound of the wolf again. Zhu Nan looked at her brother. “Do we have to catch up with him?”

Zhu Han looked at the distance for a moment. “We have to catch up to him. We can't leave him here. Whatever happens, as his seniors, we will protect him with our own lives.”

They then ran forward. A few seconds past the trees, they finally arrived at the empty ground.

When Zhu Nan set foot, he did not know what to express to the events that were happening in front of him. Five wolves were lying lifeless with blood flowing from their necks, it only happened in one slash.

Although Zhu Nan knew Bing Jiazhi had power over him, but it was impossible in just a few seconds that he was able to kill those wolves. This incident made him wonder how strong Bing Jiazhi was and how experienced he was in fighting.

Zhu Nan then looked at Bing Jiazhi who was at the mouth of the Cave. There, he walked while holding a sword that had been stained with blood. In front of him, a boy sat hugging his knees and his body trembled in fear.

“We are not wrong to defend him,” said Zhu Han who had arrived beside Zhu Nan.

“She is harder at guess.”

“He is like that.”

...----------------...

“The wolf I killed,” Bing jiazhi said.

The boy was just crying and shaking. He could no longer move backwards, as his back had reached the cave wall. I don't know what has happened, making him so afraid of Bing Jiazhi and assuming he will kill him.

Bing Jiazhi walked over, and his hand rubbed the boy's hair. “Where is your sister?” Bing jiazhi then looked at the cave. “Did he go to the cave?”

“I won't tell you!”

Bing Jiazhi was silent for a while, then said, “I'm not the person I used to be, you can trust me right now. If you're with me looking for your sister, you can meet her.”

“No! You're gonna kill us! My brother said, the one who holds the sword is not a good person, they will do anything to achieve their goal, even to kill pregnant women and small children! I don't believe you!”

“We are not bad people.” Zhu Nan came with her brother. He approached the boy, then squatted in front of him. “We're not who you think we are, we're not bad people. Show me where your brother went, we'll take you to meet him.”

Hearing the soft voice of Zhu Nan, the boy looked at her for a while and hesitantly said, “What can make me trust you guys?”

Zhu Nan smiled faintly. “If we were bad guys, then you wouldn't be breathing this time.”

The boy was surprised by Zhu Nan's reply, then thought about it. Right, what he said was indeed true, if the three people in front of him were bad people, they would definitely kill him this time.

The boy then looked into the mouth of the Cave. “my brother went in there to fetch water. I've been waiting for him for a long time, if you're willing to help me, please get me to meet him. I'm very worried about him now.”

“We will go there.” Bing Jiazhi.

Zhu Nan nodded. Zhu Han had no other choice but to follow them. After all there was nothing they needed to do, other than to search for monsters and beasts.

...----------------...

This afternoon, the sunlight looks more yellow than before. The dark clouds slightly covered the light, yet it did not detract from the beauty of the atmosphere this afternoon. A gentle wind blew from the south gently. Long grasses swayed and yellow Tabebuya flower petals continued to fall on the sides of the snow village road.

Xue Yan walked among the tall grass barefooted, but that did not make her feel any pain. Holding an umbrella, he walked slowly.

When he arrived at one of the Tabebuya trees on the edge of a deserted village, he fell silent. Then close the umbrella. His little face looked very mature and very serious.

Under the tree, an old man wearing a robe stood up. He did not move in the slightest when Xue Yan arrived.

“What can I do for this useless life? If I die, I'm afraid it's not something I want. If I run this life, I'm tired of it all. I came to get what I wanted. Dear sir, can you grant it?”

The gentle wind shook the yellow flowers, and made them fall.

The man let out a long sigh, as if Xue Yan's request was hard to grant. But... It was so, Xue Yan's request would not be possible for the man to be realized, because humans were created to be born, feel pain and then die. No one can take the road out of it all.

Xue Yan slightly moved her lips. He was disappointed to have come here to ask. He reopened his umbrella and said, “Honored sir, you cannot answer and fulfill my wish, let me alone look for him.”

Then he walked away from her.

“Until any time, you won't be able to find him, “Seru the man, made Xue Yan speechless.

“Because you didn't find it, you said it.”

Xue Yan then left from there