MARD Chapter 28 Willow Marsh (Patreon)

The forest was alive with the sound of rustling leaves and the soft crunch of footsteps on the dirt road. The morning sunlight broke through the canopy in thin golden shafts, painting the trail in uneven patches. The air smelled of moss, wet bark, and the faint aroma of blooming flowers.

They had been walking for an hour now. Issei at the front with Mei, Wu Ying and Wu Lan just behind, and Wu Xiao perched happily on Luna’s back, humming a tune as the wolf padded along with easy grace. They made their way north, headed toward the edge of the Willow Marsh, their next destination on the long road to Hengshan and then the capital.

For a while, the only sounds were birds and the faint jingle of their armor. Then, perhaps out of boredom or restlessness, the group started to talk to pass the time with Issei deciding to speak more about himself.

“You know,” He began, rubbing the back of his neck, “since we’ve got a long road ahead, I guess I should tell you all a bit more about myself.”

Mei turned her head curiously, her golden eyes gentle but interested. “You’ve never really talked much about your past,” she said softly.

Wu Ying shrugged. “He probably didn’t think we cared.”

Wu Xiao tilted her head. “I care! Tell us, big bro!”

Wu Lan glanced back, adjusting the strap of her quiver. “It would be good to know more about you, Issei. The most I knew is what you told us when we first found you lost.”

Issei chuckled awkwardly. “Alright, alright. But don’t judge me too harshly.”

That earned a smirk from Wu Ying. “Can’t promise that.”

He laughed nervously, then took a deep breath. “Well… back in my world, I had a dream. A goal, actually.”

The group listened as they walked, the rustle of leaves punctuating his words.

“My dream,” Issei said with a proud, almost nostalgic grin, “is to become the Harem King.”

The reaction was immediate.

Mei blinked as she couldn't believe that the man she admires would reveal this so openly. “The… what?”

Wu Lan was the first to recover, her expression unreadable but her tone frosty. “…Excuse me?”

Wu Ying’s eye twitched in disbelief. “You want to be what?”

Issei winced. “Look, I know how it sounds—”

Wu Ying’s face twisted into a glare. “You think?”

Wu Xiao looked between them, utterly confused. “Wait, what’s a Harem King? Is that like a royal title?”

That question broke the tension like a stone through glass. Wu Ying turned to her sister in horror. “Don’t you dare answer that—”

Issei scratched his cheek, smiling sheepishly. “Uh… not exactly. It means having a lot of beautiful women who love me and who I love back. Basically… a lot of wives, and malinking one big family.”

The forest went completely silent except for Luna’s steady footsteps.

Then Wu Ying’s voice cut through like a whip. “What kind of stupid dream is that?!”

Wu Lan’s face turned red as she glared. “Unbelievable… men really are hopeless!”

Mei looked somewhere between scandalized and fascinated, her cheeks warm.

Wu Xiao blinked, still not understanding. “So… you want a big family with lots of pretty girls?”

Issei nodded. “Pretty much.”

Wu Xiao’s face lit up like a lamp. “Oh! Then that means if I’m beautiful, I can be one of them, right?”

Issei froze. “Wait, what—?”

Her bright smile didn’t waver. “Big bro said he loves beautiful girls! So if I’m beautiful, I can marry him!”

Wu Ying’s head snapped toward them so fast it was almost a blur. “WHAT?!”

Wu Lan’s face went from red to crimson. “XIAO!”

Mei’s mouth fell open, her cheeks burning as she stammered. “W-Wu Xiao, you can’t just— you can’t say things like that!”

Wu Xiao blinked innocently. “What? You said he wants a bunch of wives. I don’t get all that complicated stuff, but I like big bro. He’s nice, funny, and cute when he gets flustered. Issei saved us. Why can’t I marry him?”

Wu Ying’s jaw dropped. “Because you can’t! That’s why!”

“Why not?” Wu Xiao tilted her head, genuinely confused.

“Because I said so!” Wu Ying barked, her cheeks burning.

Wu Lan crossed her arms tightly, refusing to make eye contact. “And because it’s inappropriate!”

Wu Xiao pouted. “That’s not a reason! You’re just being mean. I bet it’s because you two want him for yourself.”

“That is not the point! You are simply too young!” Wu Lan yelled angrily.

“How am I too young? Chan Li was Wu Ying’s age and she married the farm boy next door to her house.” Wu Xiao says as she remembered that she was 15 during their wedding in their small village and was only two years younger. “If anything you're already pretty old, Big Sis and you're still not married.”

Wu Lan knew she couldn’t refute her and instead glared at Issei.

Issei, caught in the middle of the chaos, waved his hands defensively. “Whoa, hold on! Time out! I didn’t say anything weird! She just misunderstood, okay?!”

Wu Ying pointed accusingly at him. “You and your stupid dream are giving her bad ideas!”

“I didn’t do anything!” He protested, looking helplessly at Mei for backup.

Mei, still pink-faced, looked down shyly. “I… don’t think he meant to. It’s just…” Her voice trailed off, barely a whisper. ‘I wish I was as brave as Wu Xiao.’

Issei blinked, wanting to know what she said. He opened his mouth to respond, but Wu Ying interrupted again, glaring daggers at him.

“From now on,” she declared, “no more weird stories or dreams around Xiao. Got it?”

Issei raised both hands in surrender. “Got it, got it! No more weird dreams talk.”

Wu Ying huffed and turned away, her long braid swaying sharply as she walked ahead. Wu Lan followed, muttering under her breath, “Unbelievable…”

Wu Xiao stuck her tongue out behind them. “You’re both just jealous.”

“WHAT WAS THAT?!” Wu Ying shouted over her shoulder.

“Nothing!”

Luna huffed, clearly amused as her ears twitched, while Mei covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Issei sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Why does this always happen to me?”

Ddraig’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, rich with amusement.  (Because you speak before thinking, partner. As always.)

‘You’re not helping,’ Issei thought irritably.

(On the contrary, I’m enjoying this.) The dragon’s laughter echoed faintly, making Issei groan.

Still, after the argument died down, the group’s pace slowed back to normal. The forest grew quieter, only the sounds of their footsteps and birds filling the air once more.

Wu Ying walked ahead, pretending not to look back at Issei even though she clearly did.

Wu Lan sighed softly but couldn’t hide the faint hint of amusement tugging at her lips.

Wu Xiao hummed happily on Luna’s back, completely unbothered by the chaos she’d caused.

And Mei, quietly walking beside Issei, cast him a sidelong glance, her expression soft but thoughtful. She didn’t say anything out loud. But in her heart, one thought lingered clearly. ‘If he ever decides to ask. I would gladly say yes.’

—-----------------------------

The path continues to stretch endlessly ahead, the sunlight flickering between the leaves. Soon the forest began to change gradually as they continued to travel north.

The ground, once firm and dry, started to soften under their boots. The scent of pine and wildflowers faded, replaced by damp earth and stagnant water. The shafts of sunlight filtered through an ever-thickening canopy, was starting to be muted by the mist that began to curl around the trees.

Even the air grew heavier, humid, thick enough to cling to their clothes and make every breath feel weighed down.

“Looks like we’re close,” Wu Lan murmured, glancing at the map she held. “The forest ends soon. After that, we enter the Willow Marsh.”

Wu Xiao, still riding comfortably on Luna’s back, wrinkled her nose. “It already smells weird…”

Wu Ying smirked. “That’s the smell of adventure, little sis.”

Wu Xiao pouted. “Smells more like rotten mushrooms.”

Issei chuckled, though his eyes scanned the horizon warily. “She’s not wrong. The air is also getting thicker here. Feels like walking into a sauna.”

“What’s a sauna?” Mei asks.

But the group pushed through a final stretch of dense underbrush before the trees opened up — and the world before them changed entirely.

The forest ended abruptly at the edge of a vast expanse of wetlands.

Mist rolled over the ground like a living thing, curling around the roots of gnarled willow trees that rose from the murky waters. Their drooping branches hung like curtains, brushing the surface of the swamp below. Pools of stagnant water reflected the pale sky above, their surfaces broken only by ripples from unseen creatures.

A chorus of croaking frogs, buzzing insects, and distant bird calls filled the air in an eerie symphony.

Wu Ying whistled low. “Well… this looks cheerful.”

Wu Lan crouched by the edge of the marsh, touching the muddy soil with her fingers. “The water’s shallow for now, but it’ll get deeper the further in we go.”

Issei looked around, scanning the endless mist. “Any idea how far it stretches?”

“According to the map,” Wu Lan replied, pulling it out again, “the marsh goes on for several Li before we reach dry ground again. Hengshan lies just beyond it.”

Wu Xiao groaned dramatically. “Several Li?! That’s like… a hundred puddles!”

Wu Ying rolled her eyes. “We’ll manage. Try not to fall in every single one.”

Wu Xiao crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks. “I won’t! Probably.”

Mei stepped forward, her expression softening as she gazed at the willows swaying in the mist. “To me the place looks very beautiful,” She whispered.

Wu Lan nodded. “It is. But beauty can be dangerous. The place looks pretty unpredictable as we don’t know what beasts and dangers are hidden from us, not to mention the uneven ground will make it hard to cross. So let's stay alert.”

Issei took a deep breath. “Great. So it’s both a swamp and a death trap. Just our luck.”

Ddraig’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, deep and steady. (Beasts that dwell in marshlands are often very good assassins. A perfect place for you to test your awareness, partner.)

‘Yeah, because I needed more things trying to eat me,’ Issei thought dryly.

The dragon chuckled. (You’ll thank me later.)

Issei sighed aloud, earning a curious look from Wu Ying. “Are you talking to the giant lizard again?”

“Dragon,” Issei corrected automatically. “And yeah. He says this is a ‘great training opportunity.’”

Wu Ying smirked. “Figures. Even your dragon’s a workaholic.”

The group started forward, following the faint path of dry patches and winding roots that served as a crude trail through the marsh. The water sloshed beneath their boots with each step, ripples spreading in lazy circles.

Mei walked close to Issei, gripping her staff tightly. “It’s hard to see too far ahead…”

Wu Lan nodded, her gaze sharp. “Since our visibility’s poor. We’ll move slowly. If anything feels wrong, speak up immediately.”

“Understood,” Issei said.

As they made their way deeper, the mist thickened, swallowing the edges of the landscape. Every sound seemed amplified, the splash of water, the buzz of insects, the creak of old wood. Yet through it all, the group moved together in practiced rhythm, their steps measured, their eyes alert.

Wu Ying broke the silence with a grin. “So… who wants to bet we run into another giant monster?”

Wu Lan groaned. “Please no…”

Mei shivered faintly, though she smiled despite herself. “I think I’d prefer no monsters.”

Issei laughed softly, the sound echoing faintly in the fog. “Yeah… but when’s the last time things ever went easy for us?”

The sisters shared a knowing look and Wu Lan let out a small sigh.

The willow trees swayed in a ghostly rhythm, the mist danced between their trunks, and the faint glimmer of a haze in the air made the whole place shimmer faintly as if the swamp itself was alive.

Mei then remembered something that travelers had told her during her time at Meihua Crossing and finally spoke, her tone thoughtful. “Be careful where you step. The Willow Marsh isn’t just water and mud. Various Travelers say that the willow trees can move.”

Wu Ying raised a brow. “Move? Like… walking trees?”

“More like the ground starts shifting.” Mei replied. “People say the paths here rearrange themselves. Travelers lose direction, circle endlessly, or vanish altogether.”

Wu Xiao gulped. “You mean the swamp eats people?”

Wu Lan whispered, “Let’s just make sure it doesn’t eat us.”

Issei smirked slightly. “Guess we’ll have to see who’s tastiest.”

Wu Ying glared at him. “You volunteering to find out?”

“...Pass.”

Their laughter echoed through the mist as they pressed on, unaware of the faint ripples forming deeper within the marsh, or the unseen eyes that watched their every step.

—------------------------------------

The deeper they went, the more the world around them changed.

The air grew damp and heavy, thick with the scent of rotting vegetation and stagnant water. Their boots sank into soft mud with each step, making a squelching sound that none of them could get used to. Mosquitoes the size of coins buzzed endlessly around their heads.

Wu Ying kicked at the water with visible irritation. “Ugh, I hate this place already. My boots are ruined.”

Wu Xiao groaned from atop Luna’s back, holding her nose. “And it smells so bad! Like dead fish!”

Wu Lan tried to maintain her usual calm, though her brow furrowed. “Endure it. Complaining won’t make it smell better.”

Issei trudged ahead. “I’m starting to miss Meihua Crossing. At least nothing there tried to stick to me.”

Mei carefully stepped over a patch of reeds, clutching her staff tightly. “The ground keeps moving… it’s like walking on a sponge.”

“Let’s stay close,” Wu Lan warned. “And try not to wander. Father said that marshes can swallow you whole if you step in the wrong place.”

Despite the warning, the group kept walking in a loose line, eyes darting to every rustle and splash. Strange croaks and buzzing echoed through the mist then there was sounds that didn’t quite belong to any known creature.

Hours passed like that, the sky above turning a muted gray under the constant veil of fog.

By the time the sun’s light dimmed, the group was covered in grime. Wu Ying was the first to break the silence again.

“I swear, if one more bug lands on me, I’m setting this whole swamp on fire.”

“You’ll boil us all alive,” Issei replied dryly. “Also, pretty sure the gas in the air would explode.”

Wu Ying shot him a glare. “Then maybe it deserves to.”

Just as he was about to respond, something huge buzzed past his ear, the sound deep and heavy.

A shadow darted between the trees, wings large enough to stir the mist. Then another.

Wu Lan’s eyes widened. “Incoming!”

From the fog came a swarm of massive insects, each the size of a dog, with glistening black carapaces and sharp, spear-like mandibles. Their wings beat so hard the wind rippled across the water.

Wu Xiao screamed, clutching Luna’s fur. “Why are they so big?!”

“Focus!” Wu Ying shouted, drawing her sword in one smooth motion.

Issei stepped forward, summoning the Boosted Gear and releasing his qi as the insects descended.

“BOOST!”

The air cracked with power as his gauntlet flared to life. One insect lunged, but Issei’s punch shattered its head midair, splattering acidic green ichor across the muddy ground.

Wu Lan loosed several arrows in rapid succession, each one glowing faintly with qi as they pierced through wings and shells.

Wu Ying spun gracefully, her blade slicing through another insect that came from behind. “Keep your guard up! Don’t let them swarm!”

Mei stood near the center, swinging her staff as it began to glow with her qi. A pulse of golden light erupted around her, pushing several insects back but the sight of their twitching legs and writhing wings made her blanch.

Her vision spun. “They’re—so big…” Before anyone could react, she fainted, dropping backward.

“Mei!” He called out, catching her before she hit the ground. He glanced up just in time to see another insect diving straight for them.

“Boost!”

He swung with his free arm, the impact sending a shockwave that threw the creature back into the water with a splash.

Wu Lan quickly moved in front of them, her arrows raining down in a protective arc. “Get her out of range!”

Luna growled, leaping forward with Wu Xiao still clinging to her back. The silver wolf’s claws slashed through another insect mid-leap, scattering its remains across the muddy ground.

Within minutes, the air was thick with buzzing, then slowly silence. The last of the monstrous insects crashed into the muck, unmoving.

The group stood still for a moment, breathing hard, the stink of acid and rot filling the air.

Issei knelt, checking Mei’s pulse. “She’s just unconscious. Probably fainted from shock.”

Wu Ying sheathed her sword, shaking her head. “Can’t blame her. Those things were nightmare fuel.”

Wu Xiao slid off Luna’s back, looking pale. “I think I’m gonna faint next…”

Wu Lan wiped her brow, her tone weary. “Everyone take a minute. We need to recover before moving on.”

The group took a moment to catch their breath, the eerie quiet of the marsh closing in again.

That was when it started.

At first, it was subtle — faint pinpricks of light flickering through the mist. Then more appeared, drifting lazily between the willows like floating embers. They shimmered with soft blue and white hues, glowing brighter the closer they came.

Wu Ying narrowed her eyes. “What now…”

“Fireflies?” Issei suggested, though even as he said it, he knew they weren’t. Fireflies didn’t move like that in slow, deliberate circles, weaving around them like curious ghosts.

Then came the whispers.

Soft at first, distant, with unintelligible murmurs. Then it got clearer. As faint, echoing voices that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.

“Come closer…”

“Don’t leave…”

“Stay…”

The group tensed up even more as they wondered where these voices were coming from.

Wu Xiao’s voice trembled. “...Big bro… I don’t think those are bugs.”

Wu Lan drew her bow again, her eyes sharp. “Everyone, stay alert. Those lights aren’t natural.”

Issei’s grip tightened on Mei as he scanned the fog. 

Ddraig’s deep voice resonated faintly in his mind. (Be wary, partner.)

A chill ran down Issei’s spine.

The lights continued to circle them, growing brighter with every pass. The whispers rose into soft, haunting tones, neither welcoming nor hostile, but… beckoning.

Wu Ying lifted her sword slowly, the faint reflection of blue light dancing across her blade. “Everyone, weapons up. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

And as if answering her, the mist thickened. The ground beneath them rippled, and the willows began to sway against a wind that wasn’t there.

Something was watching them. The silence stretched for several long seconds, the whispers continuing to come from the mist.

But then, just as suddenly as it had come, the strange presence withdrew.

The faint traces of qi that hung in the air dissolved, and even the sound of the swamp seemed to return, the croak of frogs, the hum of insects, the distant drip of water. It was as if whatever had been watching them had simply… lost interest.

The group remained still, listening, waiting. When nothing happened, Wu Ying finally exhaled and lowered her hand from her sword. “…It’s gone,” She murmured.

Wu Lan looked around, scanning the tree line. “Or it’s hiding.”

Issei shook his head. “No, it’s gone. I can’t sense anything anymore. Whatever that was, it left us alone.”

The collective sigh of relief that followed was almost comical.

Wu Xiao, still trembling slightly, immediately turned to her sister. “Can we please stop now? I don’t want to walk another step! This place is horrible!”

Wu Ying hesitated. Her expression softened as she looked at her little sister’s mud-streaked face and trembling shoulders. Mei, who had collapsed earlier from exhaustion and fright, still lay unconscious in Issei’s arms, her breathing steady but shallow.

Wu Ying rubbed her temples and sighed. “Fine. You win.”

Wu Xiao blinked. “Really?”

She nodded, her tone softening. “Yes. We’ve traveled far enough today. Issei—open a portal to the World Marble. We’ll rest for now.”

The sound of collective relief was almost instantaneous.

“Thank the heavens,” Wu Lan muttered, stretching her sore legs.

“Finally!” Wu Xiao cheered, nearly jumping onto Luna’s back again.

Issei nodded, raising his left hand. The Boosted Gear flared, forming a swirling blue portal in the air. “Alright, let’s go home.”

One by one, they stepped through.

The transition from the humid, eerie air of the marsh to the clear, clean atmosphere of the World Marble was like emerging from underwater. The moment their boots hit the soft green pasture, everyone let out a collective groan.

Unfortunately, their appearance also came with the sound of squelching.

Wu Ying grimaced, looking down. Their clothes, boots, and armor were caked in mud, reeds, and worse, the remains of insects that had clung to them. The once-pristine grass beneath their feet was now splattered with swamp muck.

“Ugh…” Wu Xiao whined. “We smell awful!”

“Because we just tracked half the marsh in here,” Wu Lan said dryly, flicking a leaf off her armor.

Issei sighed, glancing down at his ruined boots. “Great. Ddraig’s gonna complain about this later.”

(I already am.) The dragon’s rumbling voice echoed as he placed a hand to his nose. (Your turning my home into a bog, partner.)

“Yeah, yeah,” Issei said, too tired to argue.

He quickly looked at Mei, who still hadn’t woken up. “I’ll take her somewhere clean to rest.”

He carefully carried her toward the house. Her head rested lightly against his shoulder, strands of her brown hair brushing against his chest.

“Poor Mei,” Wu Xiao murmured, watching them. “She’s completely worn out.”

Wu Lan turned toward her sisters. “Alright, let’s get cleaned up and prepare the bath. If you track more mud in our home, you’re cleaning it.”

Wu Xiao groaned. “But I’m tired!” But she obediently went to the bathing area they had prepared. Luna barked once, tail wagging, before trotting into the bathing area too, apparently just as eager to get clean.

Wu Ying sighed, pulling her hair free from its braid. “That wolf’s smarter than you sometimes.”

Wu Lan shot her a sidelong glance, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t be too harsh. She held it together better than most.”

Wu Ying hesitated, then nodded quietly. “Yeah… I guess she did.”

Wu Lan then gathered a few towels and soap bars from their supplies. “We’ll take care of the laundry after. Try not to splash each other too much.”

Back at the house, Issei gently laid Mei down on a chair, setting a pillow under her head. She stirred faintly, her expression softening as her breathing eased. He stayed there for a moment, quietly watching her.

She looked very peaceful. Then, after making sure she was resting comfortably, he stepped back outside, the clean air washed over him like a welcome embrace.

Wu Ying’s voice broke through his thoughts as it was coming through the bathing area. “Hey! We’re going to leave some hot water for both you and Mei! Don’t you dare not get clean after this. Once we're all clean and well rested, we're going to start our spar and practice our Martial Skills and then start cultivating. Don’t you dare miss out.”

He looked over his shoulder with a grin. “I wouldn't dream of it.”

She gave him a skeptical look before turning back to scold Wu Xiao for splashing Luna with water. The faint sound of laughter echoed across the World Marble as the group cleaned off the remnants of the swamp, the tension of the day slowly fading.

Done. Tell me what you think and if I made any mistakes.