Immortal Druid

[POV: Roo]

Every creature within the vast, breathing wilderness possessed a rhythm to its existence, a pattern that governed its waking hours and guided its purpose. From the smallest burrowing insect that traced familiar tunnels beneath damp soil, to the towering, self-proclaimed pinnacle of bipedal excellence that was Roo, routine defined them all. Roo’s mornings began unfailingly at dawn, when pale light stretched across the canopy and painted the world in quiet gold. At that sacred hour, he rose onto his powerful legs and commenced his disciplined training in the Way of the Bound Sky Strider, a martial art he considered both unmatched and invincible.

Yet that certainty had begun to crack recently.

“I CHALLENGE YOU TO AN AWESOME BATTLE—!”

“Entanglement,” the silver-haired pointy-eared ape said flatly, barely glancing up as he tapped his wooden staff against the earth.

The ground had answered instantly. Roots erupted like coiling serpents, binding Roo’s legs, tail, and torso in an unyielding grip. He strained, muscles bulging with effort, but the more he resisted, the tighter the roots constricted.

By the time he finally snapped them apart with sheer persistence, the strange ape with pointy ears had already vanished, leaving behind only silence and the faint imprint of something Roo could not quite understand.

This had not been a single occurrence.

It had become a pattern.

Each time Roo sought him out, eager for another glorious clash, the result remained the same: a brief declaration, an incomprehensible word, and total immobilization. The flaw gnawed at Roo’s thoughts as he resumed grazing, his powerful jaws tearing through grass while his mind churned with uncharacteristic doubt.

Still, routine demanded continuation.

Roo avoided the region marked by thick, thorny vines, an unmistakable boundary encircling the territory of the pointy-eared ape. Even Roo, who considered himself unstoppable, chose to circle around them rather than test their bite.

Recently, however, that area had grown busy.

Strange apes had begun to gather near the thorny perimeter, clad in unusual garments and carrying long, gleaming metal sticks. They spoke loudly, often in disagreement, their voices carrying across the forest.

“I heard the Hermit Sage hasn’t accepted a single visitor in years!”

“That’s because you fools lack sincerity. True masters recognize true intent.”

“Intent doesn’t matter if we starve waiting here. I say we gather what we can from herbs, fruits, anything of value, and leave.”

“You would abandon enlightenment for berries?”

“I would prefer survival over delusion!”

Roo observed them from a distance, ears twitching as their chatter filled the air. He did not understand their purpose, nor their fixation on the elusive pointy-eared ape. What he did understand, however, was opportunity for a hot-blooded battle.

Three of them had strayed slightly from the others.

That meant three challengers for Roo!

Roo’s powerful legs coiled beneath him, and his chest swelled as excitement surged through his body.

“HRRRAAAH-CHH! GRAAA-KOOO!” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the trees as he issued what he believed to be a formal and honorable challenge.

They did not respond appropriately.

One turned, confused, barely managing to register the incoming blur before Roo descended from above. The impact was devastating. Roo’s muscular shoulders collided with the unfortunate ape, launching him into the air before gravity reclaimed him with a brutal thud.

The second attempted to react, raising his metal stick defensively, but Roo’s tail swept low and fast. The strike took his legs out from under him, sending him crashing face-first into the forest floor.

“So fragile!” Roo thought, genuinely perplexed.

The third, a female, reacted with far more urgency. She drew twin blades, her stance tightening as she attempted to track Roo’s erratic movements. But Roo had already leapt again, bounding between trees with explosive agility. His feet struck bark and branches in rapid succession, his body becoming a blur of motion.

He struck.

Not with claws, but with the padded force of his limbs.

Each hit landed with a sharp, echoing smack, leaving vivid red marks across her face and arms as she struggled to keep up.

“I DON’T EVEN NEED TO USE MY CLAWS ON YOU!” Roo declared triumphantly.

“Oh heavens, it talks!” she yelped, panic breaking through her composure.

Her distraction cost her everything.

Roo’s tail snapped forward, striking her across the face with decisive force. She collapsed instantly, joining her companions in unconscious stillness.

Silence returned.

Roo stood among them, chest rising and falling as he surveyed the battlefield. After a moment, he lowered himself and sat directly atop the trio, his weight pinning them in place as he entered deep contemplation.

There had been speed.

There had been strength.

But something still felt… incomplete.

After several long minutes of reflection, Roo nodded to himself and rose, satisfied for the moment. Without another glance, he bounded away, leaving the fallen challengers behind.

When they awoke, groggy and disoriented, they did not linger. Panic overtook curiosity, and they fled without hesitation, abandoning whatever ambitions had brought them there.

By midday, Roo had moved on.

He traversed the forest with steady momentum until he encountered a familiar presence lounging beneath a shaded cluster of trees. A young tiger flicked its tail in visible frustration.

“This is unbearable,” the tiger muttered. “I can’t even sneak into the pointy ears’ territory anymore. Those thorny vines block every path. How am I supposed to ambush him in his sleep now? It’s boring!”

Roo’s expression hardened immediately.

“FOOL!” he roared, his voice shaking nearby leaves.

The tiger flinched, ears flattening.

Roo advanced without hesitation, delivering a swift, punishing strike that sent the young predator tumbling across the ground.

The tiger scrambled to its feet, only to be met with another blow.

“W-What was that for?!” the tiger cried, voice cracking.

Roo did not relent.

“REFLECT!” he bellowed, striking again.

The tiger yelped, stumbling backward.

“REFLECT! TRUE STRENGTH COMES FROM CONFRONTING YOUR CHALLENGES HEAD ON!”

Another hit landed, and the tiger finally broke, tears welling as it turned and fled into the undergrowth, its cries echoing faintly as it disappeared.

“The younger generation is getting lazier by the day, hah~! I should whip that tiger more to shape!”

Roo did not concern himself with age or hierarchy when it came to friends. Anyone who could stand, move, and survive at least one exchange was a friend, which in Roo’s understanding translated directly into a sparring partner.

The young tiger had qualified, though barely. There had been something off about that one. A predator by nature, yet it hesitated, complained, and sought advantage through concealment rather than confrontation.

Roo could not understand that contradiction.

Dusk settled over the forest, casting long shadows that stretched like dark fingers between the trees. The air cooled, and the sounds of the day shifted into the quiet murmurs of night-bound creatures. Roo slowed his pace, scanning his surroundings for movement, for presence, for anything worthy of engagement.

That was when he saw it.

A massive, coiling form lay partially obscured among the undergrowth, its scales dark as polished obsidian, its body thick enough to crush saplings beneath its weight. Its eyes gleamed faintly in the fading light.

“OH, OLD BLACKIE! I CHALLENGE YOU—”

“No, you don’t,” the great snake replied calmly, already in motion as his long body slipped toward a narrow opening within the wall of thorny vines.

Roo halted mid-step, his entire posture freezing as confusion overtook him.

“WHAT IS THIS!?” he demanded, his voice cracking through the evening air.

Old Black’s body flowed effortlessly through the hidden passage, his scales brushing against the vines without so much as a scratch. He paused just beyond the threshold, his head turning slightly as he regarded Roo with something resembling amusement.

“Hah~! I guess you really don’t know,” Old Black said, his tone carrying a lazy satisfaction. “It’s for those who wish to give tributes to the sage. A secret path the sage allowed for us to come and go as we please to his domain. Word around is, the sage doesn’t really like you that well, so the local wildlife decided to leave you out of the loop.”

The words struck Roo with unexpected force.

“WHAT!? BUT WE’RE BEST FRIENDS! WE ALWAYS SPAR—”

“Stop, stop shouting,” Old Black interjected, his voice tightening slightly as he resumed slithering forward. His massive body moved with quiet authority, weaving between predators and prey alike. None challenged him. None even flinched.

Respect followed him like a shadow.

Roo lingered at the edge of the vines, his thoughts churning as he watched the snake’s retreating form. Around him, the forest carried on in a strangely unified rhythm. Creatures moved with purpose rather than fear, their paths crossing without immediate violence. It was subtle, but undeniable.

Something had changed in recent years.

The forest had grown. Trees stood taller, their canopies denser. Creatures once rarely seen had begun to reappear, stronger, healthier. The very air carried a weight that Roo could feel but not name, something that pressed gently against his skin and stirred a restless energy within his muscles.

“I suggest you be on your way, Roo,” said Old Black. “Or maybe you want to come along?”

“OH, COME ON!” cried Roo as he complained. “I DEMAND A CHALLENGE, OLD BLACK! COME BACK HERE!”

“You always shout, Roo. That’s why you are having a hard time making friends.”

The voice descended like a soft current, smooth and measured.

Roo turned sharply.

Perched upon a sturdy branch above him was the Wise Owl, her feathers layered in muted tones that blended seamlessly with the encroaching night. Her eyes, sharp and unblinking, reflected a depth that few in the forest could match.

In this land, two names carried unquestioned weight.

Old Black.

Wise Owl.

They stood at the pinnacle, acknowledged by all who lived beneath the canopy.

Old Black’s low chuckle echoed faintly from within the vine passage. “What are you doing here, Owlette?”

“Oh, stop that, you old snake,” Wise Owl replied, her head tilting slightly. “I’m a grown owl now.”

Old Black’s body shifted deeper within the hidden path, though his voice remained clear. “You are a stickler of balance, someone who took it upon herself to protect the forest. Isn’t this sage upsetting this balance by staying here? The qi in the atmosphere has doubled over the years, and I’ve never felt closer to breaking through the next realm, a thought I’d only consider if I snuck into the Emerald Verdant Forest. Shouldn’t you be condemning him? Oh, is that why you are here? I see, and here I thought you were going to give tribute like me.”

Roo’s ears twitched rapidly as he struggled to follow the exchange.

“Tribute?” he interjected, stepping closer to the thorny boundary. “You? Should I give one too?”

“Oh, I just brought you here because it’s funny, so don’t think too much about it,” said Old Black, his tone unapologetically amused. “But yes, I’m giving a tribute. After all, this sage is now the master of this forest, and I owe him a favor for looking kindly on this old snake.”

His body coiled slightly as he continued, his voice lowering into something more reflective.

“See, it’s in my nature to be cruel, to enjoy the hunt, to feed on that instinct, and he respected it. Many cultivators would see me as a demonic beast and nothing else. Sad, narrow views. So I am here to give him tribute to show I acknowledge him too.”

“It’s indeed an admirable outlook to see things for what they are,” said the Wise Owl, “but the sage has been confused lately. He asked me for advice and even offered a home to his tree, and that is why I have come. I hope I can ease his worries and fears. To be frank, I admire him, the way he handles things and the way he was before.”

Old Black slowed his movement, listening.

“Balance is a very delicate thing, and it is a good thing,” Wise Owl continued. “To be able to accept your place in nature is a gift in itself, and he understands that in ways none of the cultivators can. But recently, the sage has been eating less, and his walks around the forest have been reduced. It worries me.”

Roo followed alongside them, his powerful strides oddly restrained as he kept pace with the procession. His ears flicked occasionally as their conversation flowed over him like a language he could not quite grasp. Words such as balance, fear, and worry held little meaning in his world. When confusion arose, Roo met it with motion, with impact, with the clarity that came from exertion.

In his mind, the solution was simple.

If the pointy-eared ape was troubled, then he only needed a proper battle.

They moved deeper into the territory, passing through the hidden path within the thorny vines. The moment Roo crossed the threshold, something shifted. The air felt heavier yet gentler, as though it pressed against him while simultaneously easing the tension in his muscles. Despite the number of creatures moving together, their presence made almost no sound. Leaves did not crunch. Branches did not sway. Even Roo’s usual thunderous steps softened into something muted.

It was as if the forest itself acknowledged them.

Or perhaps it was yielding.

They reached the center, where an enormous tree sat.

Old Black lifted his head slightly, his tongue flicking as he tasted the atmosphere.

“It never fails to amaze me,” he remarked. “The concentration of qi and faith has become so potent it has become sacred ground in such a short time.”

…

..

.

[POV: Guo Yimu]

Guo Yimu stirred from his sleep, the quiet stillness of early evening wrapping around him as he opened his eyes. The modest interior of the workshop-cum-sleeping quarters greeted him. For a brief moment, he lay still, letting his thoughts settle.

His gaze shifted.

Li Ming rested nearby, her breathing steady and untroubled. Strands of her hair fell gently across her face, unmoving in the calm air. Since Xing Ning had left, the space had grown quieter, leaving only the two of them to occupy it.

Guo Yimu exhaled softly.

A lesser man might have been tempted by such a sight, might have allowed his thoughts to wander into inappropriate territory.

Guo Yimu was not that kind of man, not so lustful he’d force himself in a woman so one-sidedly.

He had standards.

He sat up, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders as he reached for his straw sandals. As he adjusted his robes, he paused briefly, noting once again the strange comfort that clung to them. They remained clean, untouched by dust or sweat no matter how much time passed.

Senior Wo Li’s spell.

It was convenient in a way that bordered on absurd.

“I should really ask him to teach me that,” Guo Yimu muttered under his breath. “Calling him a sage wouldn’t even be an exaggeration at this point.”

He stepped outside, intending to relieve himself, but the sight that greeted him halted his movement entirely.

A procession.

Animals of various kinds moved together in quiet formation, their presence calm yet deliberate. At the forefront, a massive black snake slithered with unsettling grace, its sheer size enough to send a flicker of caution through Guo Yimu’s mind.

“Is that a demonic beast?” he murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Greetings, neighbor.”

The voice came from above.

Guo Yimu blinked and looked up, only to find an owl perched neatly on one of the wooden beams. Its eyes met his without hesitation, sharp and aware in a way that immediately dismissed any illusion of normalcy.

He rubbed his eyes.

The scene did not change.

“…Right,” he said slowly, lowering his hand.

His attention shifted again, scanning the procession until something particularly bizarre caught his eye.

A bipedal creature stood among them.

It had a long, muscular tail, powerful legs, and a face that resembled something between rodent and beast, though it matched nothing he could recall from memory.

“What manner of beast is that?” Guo Yimu asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

The creature turned.

Its eyes locked onto him instantly.

“I CHALLENGE YOU TO A GRAND FESTIVAL OF SWEAT AND BLOOD!” it roared, its voice exploding across the clearing. “LET’S EXCHANGE THE MOST HEART-POUNDING MOMENTS OF OUR SPECIES! SHOW ME YOUR POWER! DOMINATE! CONQUER! FOR I AM ROO!”

Guo Yimu’s thoughts derailed completely.

Recognition struck like a slap.

Was that the creature Xing Ning and Senior Wo Li had mentioned before?

“…Motherfucker—”

He did not finish the sentence.

Roo moved.

The distance vanished in an instant as a powerful leg swung forward with terrifying precision. The impact connected squarely with Guo Yimu’s face, sending him airborne before he even had the chance to react.

The world spun violently.

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