Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

As they drew closer to the village, a few of the demon children noticed the Hua Xiong and Ming Yue. 

"Look, Sister Hua Xiong is here!" 

They all ran up to her with bright expressions on their faces, excitement in their eyes. 

Crouching down, Hua Xiong showed a warm smile to them, patting one of them in the head. 

"Sister is still a bit busy right now. When I'm done, I'll go and play with you all. Is that okay?" she asked. 

Some looked down in disappointment, others looked at her and nodded.

"Okay, we'll wait", they replied. 

Just then, Ming Yue looked to Xiao Yin and Hei Yue, who locked eyes with her. She gave a slight nod and the two beasts moved up to the children. She then walked up to them and crouched down with a small smile. 

"I know you can't play with her right now but maybe these two could play with you for a bit."

Their long faces quickly turned into big smiles as the mismatched group of children and beasts began running about in the village. 

Looking at her, Ming Yue and Hua Xiong shared a look before moving along. 

"Thank you."

She thanked Ming Yue in a manner of gratefulness, the latter nodded.

Finally entering the village, there were a fair number of things that she noticed about the village. 

It wasn't extravagant or amazing in any way but it was well maintained and clean as well. The wooden houses were small but large enough to fit a family of three. There were various facilities from a communal eating area to a small pond and a well too. It reminded her of many things, one of them being her own home. 

The older members of this village met Hua Xiong with open arms while some stood back and looked at Ming Yue. Some with curious eyes and others with wary stares. 

"This way, the Forest Keeper lives here."

Hua Xiong lead the way, taking her to the back of the village where a small hut stood. On the outside, it was the least impressive one but what truly mattered was what was inside. There was a slight pressure emanating from within, not hostile but felt as if this being was of another caliber. Like Elder of Heaven's Gate, the power she felt was faint but that small bit was enough to show the gap between her and the Forest Keeper. 

By the hut were various pots and baskets filled with dried medicinal herbs, there was a faint sweetness to them. 

"A doctor?" she thought.

"Let's go in."

Hua Xiong opened the door gently and brought Ming Yue inside the little hut. When the door closed behind them, they were met with a strong medicinal smell, a flowery sweetness with notes of bitterness. 

At the center of the hut was a large cauldron of boiling water from which she saw hundreds of different herbs swirling around. 

Sitting cross- legged by the pot was an elderly demon, perhaps ancient even. His body was that of a tree's, with roots and leaves for limbs and hair. He wore no clothes, revealing his lanky figure to the two.* Ming Yue didn't even know what kind of demon he was but she was shocked to say the least. She had never seen such a being before. 

"Senior Shu, I have returned and brought someone back."

Hua Xiong sat down on her knees in front of the cauldron. 

It was silent fro a mintue before the demon moved, turning his head to looked at her and Ming Yue. Opening his eyes, Ming Yue found them to be filled with an indescribable amount of experience and wisdom. 

"Reminds me of the Ancestor from the Yao Clan", she thought. 

After looking at two, he went back and closed his eyes once more. 

"I know", he replied with a quiet and mellow voice, "I was watching over you."

"Yes, my guest and I have dealt with the problem but we were too late. Both beasts have been killed."

Senior Shu sighed before he looked at Ming Yue. 

"Come and sit, please."

She complied, sitting next to Hua Xiong and watched quietly. 

"So then, Hua Xiong, why have you brought a guest over?" he asked.

"She knows who I am and how I came to this continent."

"I see, do you trust her?"

Hua Xiong nodded. 

"Good, good."

Elder Shu then turned to Ming Yue locking eyes with her. 

"You must be here with questions about Hua Xiong and her time here."

Ming Yue leaned forward. 

"Yes, I had been looking for her ever since she had been taken by a man named Dai Mian."

"And this Dai Mian?"

"I have yet to find him but I have been hunting down his personal disciples."

"Ah those people..."

"Yes."

"I see, then now that you've found her, what do you plan to do?"

"I plan to bring her back, unless..."

Ming Yue then looked at Hua Xiong, whose face carried a complicated expression, one filled with conflicted thoughts. Then she realized it.

"You don't want to go, do you?" she asked.

Hua Xiong hesitated for a moment but nodded yes.

"At least, I don't want to leave now. Not at a time like this, Elder Shu still needs me, this place still needs me."

Ming Yue then turned to the Elder. 

"Indeed, I do need her."

"It has to do with the war, doesn't it."

Elder Shu let out a long sigh. 

"Indeed, it does. I have been the Forest Keeper since the beginning of the calamity. After several thousand years, I am reaching the last sparks of my life. And yet, I cannot leave the forest in good conscience for this war threatans the forest itself. The leader of the Demon Armies, Kong Zhi, along with his three kings have been trying to take control of the Boundless Beast Forest, monopolize it to capture the beasts for war. I could not allow such a thing to happen."

"Like the Totem Asura..." said Ming Yue. 

"But with my waning strength, there is only so much I can do. That time was when I had only half of my strength. Of course, that was until I found Hua Xiong", he explained.

"My mind is connected to the forest itself, the central region is under my watch. Months ago, I found her unconscious and laying on the ground. I did not know how she got here but it was because of her that I am still able to move."

Hua Xiong then spoke. 

"I was able to prolong Elder Shu's life and heal some of his injuries. At the same time, I helped heal a few of the older beasts and maintain the village."

"Her kindness and earnest attitude had made many of the old monsters both appreciate and accept her. Which is why I made my decision to have her take my place", said the elder.

Ming Yue immediately thought back when she saw Hua Xiong earlier.

"The green glow in her other eye..." She muttered.

"Indeed, the other power within her was strong and overtook much of her emotions. As I began to give her my powers, a balance was found", he explained.

"But then what about her memories?" 

Both Elder Shu and Hua Xiong had complicated looks before the former spoke.

"This... I do not know. The loss of her memories could be caused by a number of things. In this matter, I cannot help with."

"Is that so..."

Ming Yue thought carefully before talking.

"If you do not want to go, then I have no right to stop you. I only hope that you are safe and well. Knowing that you are alive puts me at ease."

Hua Xiong smiled but her eyes still showed the pain of knowing her sect was gone. 

"Please, stay here for a bit, at least a day or two. I... I want to know more of what happened", she requested.

Ming Yue nodded.

"Of course."

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