“Old man?”
I got down on one knee and extended my hand to help him up. The old man shivered and slowly raised his head. A hint of color returned to his sunken face as he stared at me in surprise: “Youngster…you…why did you come to a place so full of evil?”
I pointed to the emblem on my shoulder, “I’m from Ba Huang City and here to complete a quest. Old man, why are you here?”
The refined old man started to tear up and replied in a trembling voice, “I was a blacksmith from Jiu Li City and came here in search of some rare ores. Who would have thought that when I slipped off the mountain, I would fall into this d*mnable place. I don’t even remember how many years I have been here. I thought I would starve to death but plants started to grow on my body. It supplied nutrients to me so I survived by being a monstrosity. I… instead of staying like this , I would rather die! Child, do you have a sharp sword? Could you do a good deed and please send me on my way?”
I clenched my fist and shook my head, “No. Wait for us to kill the monsters, then I will bring you with me so that you can see daylight once again. Old man, you stay here and wait for a bit.”
The old man widened his eyes, “No! Child, you can’t go deeper. I can feel something horrifying deeper inside. I can feel his edge…You must not go, otherwise you will never return.”
I shook my head, “Don’t worry. We came as a large group and we will certainly remove all the filth. Old man, all you have to do is wait here.”
The old blacksmith nodded then looked at me and said, “I can’t help you much. But your weapons and armor, I can repair them. Even with the passing of many years, my skills shouldn’t have left me.”
“Sure!”