The sun sinking to the horizon colored the flower fields in warm tint of gold and orange. The pure, cloudless sky took on deep dark tones. This mysterious Spirit World was too much like an Earthly dwelling place. It was difficult to think of it as of an afterlife.

However, Hao Ning did not want to think about the trouble that had happened to him, while he was running in the direction indicated by Wu Zhe Kai. His rained feet carried the youth fast and smoothly.

He needed find the right place before the darkness covered the area. But, unfortunately, the place was called the "ocean of foliage" not for nothing. The landscape in front of Hao Ning changed only when the last ray of the sun disappeared beyond the horizon.

The sudden change in the environment struck the young man – it turned out that hills hid a lot behind their curves. Standing on a small hill, Hao Ning rested his palms on his knees and tried to catch his breath, examining the area that opened up to him.

Not a trace of flowers or herbs was now seen anywhere. They were replaced by dark soil, dotted with rocks and boulders of various sizes and types. Large, small, rounded, and pointed – like fangs they were sticking straight out of the ground and scattered in fragments at the feet of the visible hills. That was indeed the scenery that reminded all those terrible stories about the Middle World that Hao Ning had heard or read.

However, the sudden change of scenery was not the only thing that struck the youth. The sound of clanging of swords and hoarse screams reached his ears. That were the sounds characteristic of battle.

Hao Ning felt goosebumps running down his spine. His heart behind the ribs was beating like a scared bird. But, even though he felt uneasy, did not mean he was going to turn back. So Hao Nin made a deep breath and began slowly and quietly moving down the rocky slope. In a time he successfully reached the bottom. With a brisk dash, the youth found himself at a massive boulder that hid most of the view.

Hao Nin carefully looked out from behind the boulder. At that very moment, he needed all his willpower to restrain his voice and not give away his presence with a sudden scream. Right before his eyes a battle unfolded.

Two fought there: a man unfamiliar to Hao Ning and Wei Huan.

Shoulder to shoulder they were thwarting the attack of… some creatures that were beyond any description. Four-legged, covered with thick black hairs, eyes burning like scarlet coals. The creatures bared long fangs in their wolf-like muzzles. And the tongues were forked like those of the vipers.

The creatures moved sharply and quicklyю However, they could not break through the steady defense of two warriors. Despite even the prevailing numbers.

Hao Ning stared at Wei Huan's expression. Holding a sword that emitted a faint blue light the man was calm and emotionless. As if everything was just a... daily routine for him.

Well, maybe it really was. Hao Ning reminded himself that he knew nothing about this man.

The youth crouched down, trying to figure out the way he could help in a battle that was unlike any he had ever heard of. His breathing was quick but erratic as if Hao Ning was afraid of being discovered due to taking too many deep inhales.

And his fears were not unfounded. Even this excessive caution did not help. He was detected.

On the battlefield, all the senses are sharpened and tense. Every movement is caught and remembered, and any change is striking. That is why the impromptu shelter did not save Hao Ning. Very soon the long shadow hang over him.

The youth raised his head and smiled awkwardly. Well, what else could he do in this situation, right?

– What are you doing here? – wondered Wei Huan. The expression of the man was stern, but not hostile. – How did you get here?

– Wu Zhe Kai told me where you are. I didn't mean to disturb, – Hao Ning slowly straightened up, noting that the man no longer had a sword in his hand. – I didn't know you were fighting.

– That’s not the issue, – Wei Huan trailed off as if he was trying to find the right words to express his thoughts. – Did you notice anything on your way here? Maybe... anything barred your way?

– No, – Hao Ning shook his head. – I left the village and ran here. Was something supposed to happen?

– So you ran. That simple... – A smile flickered across Wei Huan's lips. – You are amazingly lucky.

Suddenly the man caught a glimpse of something aside and his eyes instantly acquired the usual steel sharpness.

– We shall talk later. Now it's the wrong time. I have to finish the job.

– What are those things?

– Yaoguai.

– Demons? – exhaled Hao Ning. – In the Middle World?

– Yes – nodded Wei Huan. – I’ll explain later, now just keep in.

– But, I want to help.

– You will. By keeping your head down, – grinned Wei Huan.

Hao Ning wanted to argue, but his fuse instantly subsided, as he saw the sword appear in Wei Huan's hand again. The blade got formed out of thin air. Literary. First, sparkles of blue appeared around the man's fingers. They circled like fireflies around his wrist. And then step by step those sparkles folded into the shape of a steel weapon.

– General Wei, we almost held the attack off. There is only a small number of beasts left, – an unfamiliar voice was heard from above the boulder.

Hao Ning lifted his head, meeting the calm look of gray eyes. That second warrior, whose name the youth did not yet know, addressed Wei Huan. When he noticed Hao Ning, he nodded politely. Hao Ning responded with the identical silent greeting.

– Drive them into a circle and scatter! – ordered Wei Huan leaving the temporary shelter. – Now, to the rear!

– Yes, General!

Without further ado, the warrior jumped off the boulder. Wei Huan followed. Hao Ning watched how the well-coordinated work of the two warriors put the plan into action, as they were herding the remaining group of demons into a circle. The Yaoguai hissed and growled, but all their efforts went in vain.

Wei Huan was gorgeous as moved through the battlefield. Not a single creature could escape his sword. His comrade, wielding a spear, played an equally significant role in the battle. The climax of their teamwork was a long chain that appeared in the same blue lights that had previously bestowed the sword on Wei Huan.

– Jin Yu Ming, be ready!

The blue flash blinded the demons and stunned them. Then thee chain bound the writhing creatures into a dense ring.

Wei Huan pulled one of the ends with all his might, and the trapped demons roared in fury.

Yu Ming spun the spear, bringing down cutting streams of wind on the Yaoguai.

– Yu Ming! – commanded Wei Huan again, as he threw both ends of the chain to the man.

Jin Yu Ming’s reaction was ideal. He threw his spear at the same moment as Wei Huan made a move. The spear hit the rings of the chain nailing it to the ground.

Wei Huan took advantage of this. The sword flashed in the air, slicing and cutting the demons, that had already been trying to free themselves. Their deafening final roar mingled with the sound of a chain falling to the ground.

Hao Ning watched bright blue luminous lights soar skyward and go out of sight. Little blue dots fading into the warm night air... All that was left of the demons…

The young man watched the pale light of the fading souls, his heart aching from the sorrowful understanding. Hao Ning finally believed that everything around was a completely different (non-Earthly) world.