On My Way: The Demon King Made Me His

Chapter 80: A Long Journey

Hawk packed everything for Huo and with Queen Regent's permission and  before Fiona reached back hell, they set out together for the long journey that awaited them. But under one condition; never let Huo know about his past until he regains his complete strength, do not let the past affect his health that is recovering well. And to this condition, Hawk had nothing to lose. To him it felt the best to not let Huo know about his past too since his father had to sacrifice his life for him. Letting Huo'er know about it could be the most dangerous thing for his own destruction and about Volca he did not give a damn about her business. He also did not wish to deal with the celestial royals, especially the Water Realm, ashamed and afraid of them. 

Hawk decided to take an enroute to heaven through less travelled paths that he always preferred.  But the route was filled with mounts and wandering beasts that ran away from the Beast Kingdom. He decided to be extra careful since he had the King with him this time. 

Huo had put on some black robes changing his royal hanfu to not get identified anywhere and let his hair be silver, since the Demon Huo'er has been popular having people who has never seeing his real self. People believed what they see and to the Demons Huo'er is a true demon on the surface. 

He carried a bag with him and sword close to him. He recently had trust issues with everyone he met. Feeling utterly lonely and powerless. He at any cost wished to gain  back everything that belongs to him. 

"Mixed martial art," he heard someone whisper in his ears. Huo'er jumped up and looked around to see who it was. But there was no one except Hawk on a horse behind him. 

"What happened your highness?" He enquired. 

"Nothing," huo said and looked straight in front of him. "Mixed martial art," he said out a little loud.

"You want to learn mixed martial art, do you?" Hawk asked the King. 

"Yes, I think I should," he said suddenly. It felt like something is asking him to learn something suitable for him. "Where are we heading to?" He asked the general. 

"To a mountain," Hawk replied. "It is beautiful, too powerful and it has a river with healing powers, it is a place people visit less, it is guarded by the stone statues and unknown power resources, it is an important place of Water Realm," Hawk accidentally mentioned the name of the place. 

"Water Realm?" Huo asked back. "Why would we go to Water Realm if we are enemies?" Hawk then understood that Huo'er has been mislead into thinking Water Realm is his enemy and not the in laws. 

"We are not enemies you highness, we had pretty good relationship between the Kings. We will discuss about politics later, first your health is what is important, please forget the rest,"  Hawk requested him. 

"I have got nothing enough to remember and forget what now?" Huo joked. 

"Apologies your highness," Hawk apologised. 

"Forget it, I was joking anyway, let's get there fast, wherever we are heading to, the darker it gets, the dangerous this route we have taken will he, I can sense the beats in the distance already, " he warned Hawk. Huo used his minimum powers to use his sense to spot things around him and led Hawk.  They failed to find shelter and took rest climbing on top of the highest tree in the woods as the night fell. The moon looked brighter. Huo watched the sky and sat there leaning back on a branch, alone while Hawk stayed on the ground guarding the the horses. He heard faint sound of a melody in the distance. It felt very soothing, relaxed his mind and he slowly drifted off to sleep. He kept hearing the music for a long time and then it stopped. He couldn't tell if it was a zither or a harp since it has been too faint to identify. It reminded him of his flute he had not touched for long. 

He was shocked. He sat up. He remembered that he used to play flute. He remembered it naturally but could not recall anything further. 

"I know how to play flute," he said. "I know how to play the flute," he repeated again. "Get me a flute," he ordered Hawk. "Get me my flute tomorrow, " he said and sat back. "So I guess I will remember everything like this slowly," he told himself and decided to get some sleep before they continue the journey to the Water Realm. 

The next morning. Hawk woke the King up with some hunted animals to roast and eat. Rabbit, and pegions. "Did you go too far?" Huo asked him. 

"Nah it right from this tree's burrow and for the bird, it was flying around. I saw one deer but it's too large for us two, so I let it go," Hawk answered him.

"No don't hunt those poor things, let it go," Huo became a soft heart all of a sudden. He heard the faint music once again. 

"Who is playing the instrument in this sense forest?" He asked. 

"Pardon, " Hawk said.

Do you hear it?" The music? Since yesterday, I hear them," Huo said. 

"I don't hear them but," Hawk said looking around, growing alert, what Huo said didn't feel right to him. "We better hurry and leave, the forest is packed with all sorts of living creatures and we better be careful and stay away from the traps, it must be some tree fairies trying to draw your attention with music, to follow the path and fall into their pit, beware your higness," he said and packed the bags and out them on the horseback. 

"Well I get it, but I don't think it's that, and we have almost reached the destination too," Huo said as he climbed on his black healthy mare.

"I managed to make a flute but it's not complete yet," Hawk said flashing the flute quickly to Huo'er.  He nodded his head and they started their journey once again.

The paths got narrower as they climbed the hill. Huo took care the horses well as they climbed up. It was getting colder and colder as they reached the top. Hawk gave King Huo the wolf skin to protect himself from the weather and put one on himself too. The paths were slippery and it was getting dark again. Huo and Hawk hurried to reach the top quickly before sunset. And after all the hardwork and tiring walk, they did reach the top right at the time twilight hit the hills. The sun hid behind the clouds, making the sky turn pink. It looked to beautiful to ignore. Huo'er sat on top of a small rock and admired the view. He couldn't believe the place has had reached is a meadow with rivers and water falls and forests. He liked the ambience. Hawk decided to put up a temporary hut for them to stay at nights while Huo did his training and treatment himself. 

Huo then after a long time heard the music once again. He understood that it is harp. He carefully listened to the tunes and it was the same ones he has been listening to since the previous day. 

"Do you hear them now?" He asked Hawk once again. But the Demon ears couldn't hear the Shenlong's instrument being played around. 

"Am sorry your highness but no I still don't hear them, I think probably because my ears are out of order because of my age and fighting, I must be impaired," Hawk said.

"Nooo... just forget it," Huo'er said and let the matter go. 

Hawk did very brilliantly built a small hut with two portions. Huo was mesmerised to see how General Hawk did it quickly and alone. 

"Thank you," Huo said and walked inside. "It is pretty spacious, " he commented on it. 

"Am glad your highness," Hawk said and sat down on the green grass. He removed the boots from his legs and took off his clothes to take some water from the river. 

"Be careful while you walk around, Water Royals may come and leave any time here, we must not let them know about our presence," 

"But I already know about your presence here," Huo'er heard a voice a girl. He did not care to ask the general though since he would hear it again with the demon ears that no longer works properly. 

"Do I know you?" Huo'er asked her inside his head. But he was shocked to see that he got reply and that he communicated with it. 

"We do not know at all, but you have come to my home and I should ask you about who you're?" She said back.

"I am a traveller with a company. I am sick and my meridians do not work well, I have come here in search of ailment for my recovery," he said inside his head again. 

"You are not allowed to trespass here, it is a punishable offense here in the heart of Water Realm," she informed him.

"Do I have no chance to live at all?" He asked her. He eagerly waited for her reply. It was interesting to know that there is someone he can communicate with though he had no clue who it is, where she is from or if she is trustworthy enough to discuss about his health to her. "Do I?" He asked again and he got the reply instantly.