Return of the Mythic Bloodline

At first, I thought my father had sent you to spy on me, but judging by your clothes and that room inside the tree, you must have been living here for quite a long time.

"So tell me, Raj, how did you manage to reach the center of the Forest of Cursed Gumiho?" she asked, looking at me as we sat down by the side of the bonfire.

She was a sharp lady. I needed to mix some lies with the truth since I couldn't tell her that I was teleported here from another world.

"Even I am looking for the answer to this question. I was just living a peaceful life with my family, but the next moment, I was here," I replied, my voice filled with sadness.

"Hmm... That's a rather unconvincing lie," she said in a cold voice.

"It's totally up to you whether you believe me or not. I'm not forcing you," I replied in the same cold tone.

"Alright, I will believe you for now. Then tell me, which family do you belong to?" she asked, folding her legs.

"Umm... Which family? What does that mean?" I asked in confusion.

"Hey... Don't play games with me. It's getting annoying," she said, her tone growing sharp.

"I really don't know what you're trying to ask by 'which family'," I replied, trying to convince her.

She sighed, then spoke again, "Show me your attribute. Don't tell me you can't show that as well."

"My attribute... There is no harm in showing you that," I said, raising my hand upward.

Small golden lightning emerged from my palm.

She looked at me in disbelief, and a tear rolled down her face.

"Ex-excuse me, lady. Why are you crying?" I asked awkwardly as I closed my hand.

"So, a member of the Thunderbane family survived. Thank goodness," she mumbled as tears filled her eyes.

I didn't speak for a few minutes, giving her time to settle her emotions.

She finally spoke, wiping off her tears, "Sniff... I apologise for showing this unsightly view of mine."

"It wasn't unsightly. You were looking adorable," I mumbled.

"Quit your nonsense," she snapped as her cheeks turned red due to embarrassment. Then, in a calmer tone, she spoke further, "Didn't you say you also have a lot of questions for me? Ask away, I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities."

"Ah, I almost forgot. Tell me everything you know about this forest. Don't miss a single detail," I asked as my voice turned serious.

"I don't think I know more about this forest than a person who actually lives here. But I can tell all I heard and read about it. According to the books I have read, there are a total of four zones in this forest — each zone is a territory of a god.

The first zone came under the ruler of this forest — the God of all Beasts, Gumiho.

The second zone came under the God of Hunt and Stealth — Vyaghra.

The third zone, under the God of Strength — Jambavan.

And the fourth zone, under the God of Protection, or Guardian God of Deer — Ruru.

I also heard the rumours that the power of these gods is so vast that only one of them is enough to bring down an entire empire, but they committed a sin against a higher god and were cursed to suffer for eternity.

There were rumours that this forest had a fifth zone as well — the Neutral Zone — and within that zone exists a legendary treasure said to cure any injury or disease no matter how extreme."

"Woahhh, you really know a lot more than the person who lives here," I replied, my voice carrying the hint of shock and amazement.

She chuckled and spoke further, "Many people came here, trying to get their hands on the treasure, but none returned. Even the emperor once sent a group of a hundred elite knights, but except for one, all of them were wiped out in the first zone. The one who returned later committed suicide due to the trauma he had suffered. After that, the emperor put a ban on entry into this forest."

So there were three more gods here besides Ruru.

"Did you also come here for the treasure?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, I had a disease I wanted to cure, but instead, as soon as I entered, I was attacked by Gumiho. We fought for some time, inflicted heavy damage on each other, but at last, it sealed my Soulforce, so I had to flee deeper into the forest," she said, clenching the robe with her fists.

I was about to ask another question but got interrupted by a noise coming from the bushes.

We both immediately jumped and stared toward the rustling bush.

"Is it a beast?" Nymeria whispered.

"Let me check," I said as I slowly moved toward it.

The bushes rustled even more violently, and Ruru came out of it.

"Those—those blue antlers and starry eyes. The description I only read in the book. It—it must be the mystic deer, Ruru," Nymeria stuttered in disbelief.

"It's not an easy opponent. Get ready to fight," she shouted as Ruru came bolting towards us.

"Where have you been for the past few days, Ruru?" I chuckled as she hugged me.

"Dear God of Six, what am I witnessing?" she gasped, looking at us.

"Oh, you don't have to be on guard against Ruru. She is a calm-natured and harmless being," I said as Ruru licked my face.

"But—but all the creatures here were cursed and mindlessly violent. So how is she so calm?" she asked, staring at Ruru.

"Oh, that. I know a method to free them of their curse. When I cured Ruru, she became my best friend. Isn't that right, my lovely Ruru?" I said, patting her head.

"Woah, you are incredible, Raj," Nymeria responded as she slowly tried to touch Ruru.

"Hehe... I'm not that special," I replied, a little embarrassed.

"By the way, I was meaning to ask you another question," I said, my voice turning serious. "What is the significance of this mark on our forehead?"