A week had passed as Yu Lin and He Lan stayed cooped up in the cage. They were not allowed to leave the cage, causing Yu Lin to make a two chamber pots for her and He Lan, which they kept at a corner. She also created wooden pails for them to wash themselves with water.

Yu Lin was getting worried about whether her parents, and Chief Chu were coming for them, but each day she felt her mother’s presence just a little closer to them. She didn’t know how they knew where she and He Lan were, however she did know that wherever they were, they were quite a bit away from Glorious Forest for it was taking them a very long time to get to get to her and He Lan.

Yu Lin had also learned that the troll brothers would also leave once every two days to get food and would only give the two small kills but other than that, they would just constantly hack away at the rock while mumbling to themselves. The dark witch had not returned yet, and if she did during the time Yu Lin and He Lan slept, the two didn’t noticed. Chang Sheng Huo had also not come out of the rock for days, which left Yu Lin to only try whatever she could to break the wood, just in case the troll brothers were lying to her.

She tried using fire, however there was no reaction. She tried using water to wear it down, used electricity to burn it, and tried to use blunt force however whatever she did nothing happened to the wood. No matter what she did the Kijin wood, took no damage. Yu Lin would scream out of frustration, causing He Lan, who was fiddling with the lock, to jump.

Yu Lin plopped down while crossing her arms. ‘What am I going to do? Where is that unknown man who claims to be the heroic Chang Sheng Huo?!’ She clenched her teeth. Just as she thought this, the room suddenly grew a bit brighter due to a light. Yu Lin stood up from where she was sitting and ran to the end of the cage. She squinted her eyes and smiled when she saw the light emitting from the orb.

“About time you showed up! What happened?” She yelled. He Lan raised his eyebrows as he turned around. When he saw the light, his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

“Sorry about that. I used up a lot of energy to speak with you that day. I also need to rest, you know!” Chang Sheng Huo yelled back. Truthfully though if he had only talked with Yu Lin then he would be able to recover energy to talk to her everyday, however, because he had used his energy to subdue her he had to rest for a longer period of time.

“Who are you talk-?” Before He Lan could finish his eyes suddenly fluttered closed as his body hit the ground. Yu Lin turned around and gasp when she saw He Lan.

“Tia-”

“It’s alright. I only made him fall asleep. He’ll be fine,” Chang Sheng Huo’s voice rang out, “besides, it will be easier for us to talk this way.” Yu Lin glared at him but just let out a sigh as she couldn’t help but agree with him.

“Fine. Anyways, what do you know about Kijin wood?” Yu Lin quickly asked.

“Kijin wood? What do you me- oh yeah, I remember. The Kijin wood that is resistant to anything, and everything? If it’s that one you are talking about then I do know quite a bit about it.”

“That’s right, that wood. Do you know any of its weaknesses?”

“Weaknesses?”

“Yes, any weaknesses?”

“Kijin wood has no weaknesses. It’s resistant to anything.” Chang Sheng Huo blurted out. Yu Lin’s jaw dropped before it closed, her body trembling as she balled her fist.

“You, don’t speak to me for a whole week and this is all you have to say?!” Yu Lin yelled as she let out all her pent up anger. “I waited for you to come out just to see if maybe you can help us. If you don’t even know the weakness to Kijin wood, then all of us might as well die here!”

“Woah! Hold up little girl. I just said Kijin doesn’t have any weaknesses, I’ve never said that I couldn’t help you get out.”

“How do we get out then?!” Yu Lin roared.

“Calm down! Calm down!” Chang Sheng Huo yelled. Yu Lin clenched her teeth and closed her eyes before taking in a deep breath. After a moment she reopened them and stared at the orb.

“Now tell me sir, how do we get out?” Yu Lin smiled, however the smile did not touch her eyes. Chang Sheng Huo cleared his throat.

“Now then, allow me to explain,” he started as Yu Lin held back the urge to yell at him, “first of all, the Kijin wood does not have a weakness, however that does not mean it is indestructible. Did you know that one of the best factors of the Kijin wood is its ability to absorb chi energy.”

“Absorb chi energy?”

“Yes, that’s right. Once a Kijin wood absorbs chi energy from another creature, it will grow stronger and stronger until it is as strong as it can be. People used to give Kijin wood their chi energy, and then build fences with the wood.” Chang Sheng Huo said in a matter of factly tone. Yu Lin thought about it for a second before frowning.

“That doesn’t hel-” Yu Lin stopped talking as she remembered the incident she had with the Kula roots, when her chi energy kept growing and growing until it was about to burst her chi center and body along with it. “Don’t tell me…”

“That’s right. I knew you were smart.” Chang Sheng Huo chuckled. Yu Lin grimaced at Chang Sheng Hua before clearing her voice.

“Do you know how much chi energy it will take to make one burst open?”

“Hmm… judging by the ridges on the Kijin wood surrounding you guys, I would say at least three days worth of chi energy, well at the level you two are at anyways.”

“Three days worth?!”

“That’s right. The Kijin wood surrounding you guys are pretty old which means that it has absorbed chi energy before, and has grown strong overtime. You guys can just keep compiling chi energy on as Kijin wood does take a while to absorb chi energy, however make sure that you guys do it constantly or else it would just absorb all the energy and leave you having to start at the beginning again.” Chang Sheung Huo said.

Yu Lin placed her hand on the bar and started to exert her chi energy onto it. Her eyes widened as the part where her hand was on, started to glow a faint purple.

“This…” Yu Lin smiled, amazed.

“What? You…” Chang Sheng Hou was also shocked when he felt that Yu Lin’s chi energy. ‘I have never felt chi energy like this before… what type of energy is this?’ He thought. Yu Lin took her hand away and nodded her head.

“Looks like you are right.”

“Of course. Don’t you know I am th- wait, someone’s coming.”

The orb suddenly disappeared as the loud noise rang out. Yu Lin felt a chill go down her spine as the view of a white haired, grey skin woman walked in. She swallowed hard as she tried to calm her beating heart.

“Uughh…” A hoarse voice groaned. Yu Lin looked down to see three people with ropes tied around their necks, as the dark witch pulled on the rope, dragging them across the cave with her. She gasped, and her eyes widened as she felt her heart clench itself beneath her chest. She watched as they pulled on the rope, gagging. Yu Lin’s jaw trembled as she balled her fists. The dark witch felt a presence looking at her and she turned her head. When her eyes landed on Yu Lin, who was standing so still it was as if she was a statue, a smirk crept up on her face as she continued walking into the cave.

Yu Lin’s legs gave way as she fell to the ground when she felt the malicious, heavy pressure from the dark witch directed towards her. She struggled to breathe, taking in short breaths, as the pressure weighed down on top of her. The dark witch, seeing this reaction, let out a laugh. She stood there watching Yu Lin, entertained at her suffering for a while. She watched as Yu Lin’s face turned pale, before turning her head and continuing walking deeper into the cave.

Yu Lin took in deep breaths, color returning to her face, however she didn’t have time to relax in peace as she heard the voices crying out in agony. The screams continued to ring out and although Yu Lin wanted to cover her ears, she didn’t. She sat there, hugging her knees as she rocked back and forth, her eyes glinted with a murderous intent. ‘Don’t run away from this Yu Lin… face the reality before you… know how cruel she has to be to do this… know that if anything happens, you won’t feel a drop of guilt towards her.’

It felt like forever before this scream died out, however another one soon followed after. Yu Lin sat there the whole time with a dark look on her face before closing her eyes, and uttering a small prayer to the two people who, she knew, just died. When she opened her eyes she saw the dark witch standing besides her.

“Follow me.” The dark witch said with an authoritative tone. Yu Lin didn’t move as she continued just looking up at her. The dark witch cocked her head, annoyed. “Didn’t you hear me little girl? Do you need me to brea-”

“I… don’t speak the elf language.” Yu Lin interrupted her. The dark witch raised an eyebrow.

“What? An elf child that doesn’t speak the elf language?” The dark witch let out a laugh, an amused expression on her face. “Didn’t your parents teach you anything?”

“My mom… wishes for me to live among the humans and that is why she has not taught me the elf language.” Yu Lin quickly lied, however her calm tone and relaxed face made the lie believable.

“What?” The dark witch exclaimed, surprised. “A dark elf mother who wants her daughter to live among humans? Hahaha! What is she trying to accomplish by doing that?” The amused expression quickly disappeared from the dark witch’s face, and what replaced it was a dark expression as she wrapped her long, thin fingers on Yu Lin’s shoulder. She leaned in so that her mouth was next to Yu Lin’s ear. “Don’t worry little girl… I will lead you on the right path, to become what female dark elves should be..” She whispered, before backing away with a smile on her face. Yu Lin looked at her with cold eyes.

“What female dark elves should be?”

“Yes. What all of us should be.”

“And… what is that?”

“If you are so curious, then follow me little girl.” The dark witch turned on her heel as she walked out of the cage. Yu Lin glanced at the door of the cage before getting up and following the dark witch.

After a few steps away Yu Lin heard the door of the cage shut closed, however she paid it no mind as she walked five paces away from the dark witch. Soon they reached a red curtain. The dark witch cast a glance behind her and smiled.

“Come.” The dark witch said before flapping the curtains away. Yu Lin closed her eyes and took in a deep breath preparing herself, before following behind the dark witch.