Secrets of the Universe

"About that, the situation is quite serious, Jakey boy," divulged the old man.

He shakily stood up from the bed and faced the window side. 

"Most of the warriors are leaving. They went to the Astral sect to vie for a seat in one of their escaping ships," he went on.

Jake cocked his head, "A seat? How much?"

He knew that the sect was ahead of the rest of the continent in terms of development. Their possession of multiple ships wasn't unwarranted.

"A single common seat cost ten thousand(10,000) gold coins or ten energy crystals," explained the old man.

"Ten thousand coins?! That's a bit too large, isn't it?" mused Kaleyx.

She could be said to already be well-versed in the economy of the continent. This made her understand that amount was simply too large.

It could only be afforded by rich men.

"So that is why the people here have hopeless eyes," mused Kaleyx.

The old man sighed, but his tense facial muscle betrayed him, "Yes. We barely earn ten gold coins every day. How can we afford to pay ten thousand? And that is just for one single seat. I can't possibly pay for my family in that case!"

"True for an average family of five. That would be fifty thousand(50,000) gold coins," smiled Kaleyx.

"So, old man, you are staying, aren't you?" asked Jake.

The old man looked at the warm sun in the sky as he spoke, "Yes, my family have decided to stay till the end. At least, in that way, we will be together."

"How many years till the outbreak reaches the islands?" asked Kaleyx.

"Years? Hahaha, it is within months. Six months to exact," laughed the old man.

He explained the reasoning, "For the past few days, we have been finding the dead carcasses of sea demonic beats washing ashore. Sometimes, the dead bodies are still alive, they are zombies. The amount of zombies washing ashore has been increasing every day."

'That means it is already here. I reckon this island will be fully infected in a month. Yet, we are not the foremost island. Surely, the islands in front have already been corrupted,' analyzed Jake.

From the Kaleyx gave him, he understood that she also came to the same conclusion.

They needed to leave this island immediately. If possible, right now.

"Oh, that reminds me. Jakey boy, this one explicitly concerns both of you," said the old man.

"What is it?"

"Three days ago, a person arrived on the island. He had been going around asking for news of any surviving bounty hunter," told the old man.

Kaleyx frowned her face, "Bounty hunters?"

"Yes."

Jake had to ask, "What are his intentions?"

"I don't know, but from the way he has been acting. I reckon it's nothing good," replied the old man.

He went on, "Also, since the two of you are the only bounty hunters that came back. It is safe to assume that you are carrying the bounty, right?"

The room descended into silence.

He got no reply, but the silence, in itself, was an answer.

"Even with the hoods on, it is not hard to discern that you are bounty hunters. The person would have probably received news of your arrival by now," sighed the old man.

"How strong is he?" asked Jake while fiddling with a fruit.

He and Kaleyx have been on the road since, nonstop. The only time they stopped was to cultivate.

His plan was to at least rest for a day in the inn, but based on the answers he would get, his plans will change.

The old man's eye trembled when he thought of the person. 

He said lightly, "Very strong. I couldn't tell the exact stage, but his aura was solid. It froze me."

Jake blankly stared at the old man, "So a very strong [Realm 3] warrior?" 

"Yes."

Jake sighed, "What a sad life?"

Following the custom, Jake dug into his pockets and flung ten gold coins at the old man.

"Heh, Jakey boy, why ten gold coins," asked the old man as he caught the coins.

"Do you not want it or not?" hissed Jake.

"Of-Of course, I want it," protested the old man.

Knowing his job was done, he swaggered from his position to the door.

Before he left, he said, "I keep telling you. You, young people, gotta take it easy. Well, whatever, you can use the back door."

As soon as he closed the door, Kaleyx sighed, "That man is very strange."

"He is old," chided Jake.

"How old?"

"More than two hundred years old. In fact, three hundred is not a far stretch," chuckled Jake.

He had met the old man when he was in search of information about a bounty.

Since then, the ways of the eccentric old man had attracted his curiosity. They became friends much later.

Kaleyx changed the subject, "We are going, right?" 

She laid on Jake's, swimming in the temptation of sleep.

"Yes. It's too risky carrying the bounty around. We are not safe until we reach the sect," explained Jake.

"Ah. That's a shame. I was just getting comfortable. Now. my bones are soft," cried Kaleyx.

In a fit of determination, she jumped out of the bed and put on her shoes and her cloak.

She also understood Jake's mindset. 

Despite them being incredibly strong, they were not invincible. Especially right now that they a target on their backs.

"They were on a journey, a great quest. To find the yellow ball that hangs in the sky," chanted Kaleyx.

She continued her quote, "They hated it. Every day, the yellow ball mocks their mortality. So, when they find it, they would make sure to slay it." 

"What is it?" asked Jake.

Throughout their journey, he had grown accustomed to Kaleyx's unexpected songs and hums.

It was something she had picked up from her supposed 'mother'.

"The Journey to the Sun by Xipilli," responded Kaleyx.

"Hmmm...let's go."

"Okay!"