Chapter 14: The King of the Underworld Has Departed
A chilling sensation continuously seeped from the skin into Adai’s body. Owen’s life experiences profoundly shook his heart, and instinctively, he resolved that no matter what, he must avenge his uncle. “Uncle, can the last four moves of the Nine Decisions of the Nether Realm be practiced?”
Owen said solemnly, “No, absolutely not. The evil energy contained within those final four moves is far too potent. If this malevolent force infiltrates your body, you will be controlled by the sword, lose all sense of self, become its puppet—a demon of slaughter. Therefore, you must never attempt to use the subsequent techniques beyond your current level. Adai, have my eyes turned gray?”
Adai was startled and looked at Owen’s eyes. Indeed, they had been completely overtaken by a gray hue, appearing eerily unnatural.
Owen sighed, “This is the backlash from using the Hades Sword Technique beyond my level. Fortunately, I am near death and will never become a murderous demon. But you must be careful; do not easily employ the subsequent moves. Although I possess the ability to execute the fourth form of the Hades Sword Technique, my cultivation is insufficient to consecutively unleash Nether Flash, Nether Continuous Flash, Nether Slash, and Nether Shadow. The evil qi has completely assimilated my meridians. Were it not for my years of arduous cultivation of the Life-Generating Art, I would have long since lost my sanity. Child, nothing in this world is absolute; used for good, it becomes good; used for evil, it becomes evil. You must understand this principle.” Just as he finished speaking, the blue light on Owen’s face suddenly flared intensely. His expression changed abruptly, and with a gasp, he spat out a mouthful of blood tinged with blue amidst the red.
A Dai’s heart filled with urgent distress. He immediately accelerated the flow of his remaining Life-Generating True Qi into Owen’s body. Owen trembled violently, seemingly struggling against the deadly poison of the Wu Er Sacred Water. After a long while, the heaving of his chest gradually subsided, yet his eyes had grown significantly dimmer. Speaking weakly, he said, “A Dai, bind the Hades Sword to your chest. Quickly.”
A Dai hesitated for a moment. How could his kind heart bear to go against Owen’s final wish? Tearing open his outer garment, he used his right hand to sling the leather sheath diagonally across his body, tightening the belt until the hilt of the Hades Sword pressed firmly against his chest. As the icy energy flowed into his body, A Dai felt his spirits suddenly revive. His internal Life-Generating True Qi seemed stimulated, circulating rapidly. The energy that had been nearly exhausted grew somewhat stronger.
With the support of Ah Dai’s Sheng Sheng true energy, Owen barely managed to suppress the urge to vomit blood again. He knew that the deadly poison within his body was becoming nearly impossible to contain, and death was drawing ever closer. “Ah Dai, you… you must… promise… Uncle… never… abandon… the Nether King Sword. Master… its… first form… as soon as possible… Only then… can you… survive… in this… treacherous… world. As for… the last… four moves… of the Nine Nether Decisions… if your… life force… and sacred energy… can reach… a level… surpassing… the ninth layer of the Sheng Sheng Technique… you may… attempt them… However… be extremely… cautious… Never… allow… the evil energy… to backfire. The Assassin Guild… you… must never… recklessly… provoke. Their… power… is too great. With your… kind… nature… you cannot… contend… against them. Oh, right… Remember… the silver orb… you once helped me forge… to suppress… the Wu Er Holy Water… Keep it safe… Although… it cannot… completely cure… the Wu Er… Holy Water… if you are poisoned… by other… deadly toxins… you can use the same… method… to gather the poison… together… and expel it… from your body… What a pity…! My… cultivation… is insufficient. If I had reached… the realm… of the ninth layer… of the Sheng Sheng Technique… perhaps… I could have… completely consolidated… the scattered poisonous qi of the Wu Er Holy Water… onto the silver orb… After Uncle… dies… burn this house… along with… Uncle’s corpse… Use that… flame technique… you’ve always practiced… This will prevent… the venom… within Uncle’s body… from leaking out… and harming others. Uncle was born… here, and dying… here… counts as… returning to one’s roots… Good… child, don’t… cry… Uncle… doesn’t… like… seeing you cry. You… are a man… You must… be strong… Uncle… can no longer… take care… of you… You must look after… yourself… Do you… understand?” After saying this, Owen couldn’t help but spit out another mouthful of blood. His face was now covered with blue qi. Excessive consumption of true energy, combined with the invasion of deadly poison and the backlash of evil energy, meant that even a celestial god might not be able to save his life. Yet, after vomiting blood, Owen’s spirit seemed to improve slightly; a faint blush appeared on his blue-tinged face.
Ah Dai’s tears had long soaked the front of his clothes. He clearly felt that his uncle, who had lived with him for five years, was slipping away little by little. He could only keep nodding, promising to fulfill Owen’s final instructions.
Owen coughed up another mouthful of fresh blood, extended his hand, now turned blue, and gently stroked A Dai’s hair. The final flicker of life before death revitalized his spirit considerably. Smiling, he said, “Child, do you know? The five years I lived with you were the most peaceful and fulfilling years of my life. After leaving here, don’t run far immediately. Take all the food from home and first hide among the reef rocks for ten days before departing. The Organization will not let me go, and you must be careful in the future. Ah! By the way, you can use magic; at minimum, you’ve reached approximately the level of a junior mage. From here, head directly west until you reach the territory of the Red Hurricane Tribe. There, find a branch of the Mage Guild, register yourself as a mage, and wear a loose magical robe; they won’t easily discover you then. Moreover, mages receive stipends sufficient for your daily living. Uncle fled too hastily from the Assassin Guild back then, unable to bring any possessions; henceforth, you’ll have to rely solely on yourself. Return to your teacher, Goris, and cultivate quietly for some time, striving to master more techniques of the Nine Decisions of Nether. Only then venture out onto the continent; this will ensure greater safety. Besides my junior sister, the person I’ve wronged most is the master who raised me. If opportunity arises, visit the Tiangang Sword Sect. Whenever you encounter someone wielding a great sword like yours, show them extra courtesy.”
The ruddy glow on Owen’s face gradually faded. Completely blue blood continuously flowed from his seven orifices. This final flicker of life before death had entirely exhausted his remaining energy; he could no longer hold on. Trembling all over, he spoke haltingly: “Re… mem… ber… On… the… con… ti… nent… try… not… to… con… tact… three… kinds… of… peo… ple… First… are… cler… ics… Most… cler… ics… are… too… up… right… If… they… dis… cov… er… the… Neth… er… King’s… Sword… on… you… I… don’t… know… what… con… se… quenc… es… might… fol… low… Next… are… mem… bers… of… the… As… sas… sin… Guild… and… the… Thief… Guild… Greet… your… teach… er… Goris… for… me… and… apol… o… gize… to… him… I… stole… his… stu… dent… for… sev… er… al… years; he… must… hate… me… deep… ly… Ah… Dai… Although… Goris… isn’t… a… bad… per… son… his… rep… u… ta… tion… on… the… con… ti… nent… isn’t… very… good… ei… ther… Be… cau… tious… around… him… Don’t… tell… him… about… the… Neth… er… King’s… Sword… Un… cle… can’t… hold… on… any… lon… ger… With… draw… your… true… ener… gy… Burn… this… place… You… must… burn… this… place… Throw… those… bod… ies… out… side… in… as… well… Then… leave… quick… ly… You… must… leave… quick… ly… Ah! How… I… wish… I… could… con… tin… ue… liv… ing… with… you… But… Un… cle… must… de… part… You… must… take… good… care… of… your…” The final character “self” remained unspoken. Owen, the “Nether King” who had roamed the continent for decades, passed away suddenly. His face retained an expression of deep concern; even in death, he remained worried about the youth before him.
Owen’s hand gradually slipped from A-Dai’s face. A-Dai had become completely numb, his heart weighed down as if by a massive stone, an unbearable ache consuming him. Tears had flowed endlessly, and his heart had turned utterly cold. Only now did he realize how deep his feelings for Owen truly were. This uncle, who had cared for him with boundless tenderness and imparted all his knowledge without reservation, was gone.
In the sixth month of the Sacred Year 994, the King of Assassins, who had roamed the continent for decades, departed filled with bitter hatred and unyielding regret.
Owen’s corpse rapidly grew cold; the poison of the Peerless Holy Water had fully taken effect. His body had gradually turned a deep blue, and decay had begun spreading from the seven orifices of his face, leaving not a single trace of life. A-Dai stood up, wiping the tears from his face. Although he was unwilling to leave Owen’s remains, his mind remained clear under the chilling energy stimulation of the Netherworld Sword. He knew that what Uncle had worried about most before dying was him. He could not let Owen down; he must survive. Only by staying alive could there be any hope of avenging his uncle.
Thinking thus, A-Dai ran back to his room, wrapped the silver balls he had previously refined along with several changes of clothes into a bundle, and packed food from the kitchen together. Only then did he return to Owen’s side. He did all this while streaming with tears. How could a child merely seventeen years old bear the loss of the person dearest to him?
A pool of blue liquid had already melted beneath Owen’s corpse, his once-handsome face, now turned blue, grotesquely disfigured by the corrosive toxicity of the Peerless Holy Water. A-Dai roared, “No—!” His uncle was already dead; he absolutely could not bear to see his uncle’s remains further ravaged by the venom. With immense difficulty, he began chanting the incantation for the Fire Spell: “O fire elements permeating heaven and earth! Grant me the power of combustion. In my name, borrowing your strength, appear, scorching flames!” Amid A-Dai’s choked chanting, deep blue flames materialized in his hands. Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, he released the flames, which drifted forth and completely engulfed Owen’s corpse. Under the extreme heat of the blue fire, within moments, Owen’s body was reduced to a pile of blue ash.
A-Dai crouched on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. As he wept, he used a small porcelain jar and a tiny shovel to carefully gather the scant blue ashes scattered on the earth. After sealing the lid, A-Dai gently placed the jar into his bundle, then resolutely turned around, slung both packs onto his back, and rushed out the door. The three desiccated corpses still lay where they had fallen. Taking one last deep look at the home where he had lived for five years, A-Dai gritted his teeth, cast another Fire Spell, and under his command, vast sheets of blue flames erupted onto the rooftop. In an instant, the small courtyard became a sea of fire. With a light flick of his toe, A-Dai kicked the three bodies into the blazing inferno. Burdened with overwhelming hatred and sorrow, he ran off into the distance.
Xi’er was fuming at home. A-Dai’s outright refusal had deeply embarrassed him as the town mayor. After all, wasn’t his own daughter, Fei’er, more than a match for that foolish boy? Why had A-Dai never mentioned having a fiancée before? Xi’er couldn’t understand what this elder brother Owen was thinking, letting such an excellent marriage opportunity slip away. To make matters worse, Xi-Fei was still crying incessantly in her room, adding further to his irritation.
Bang, bang, bang! Violent knocking echoed through the house. Already agitated, Xi’er snapped angrily at the sound, “Who is it? Knocking so urgently—are you trying to hasten my death?”
“Dad, it’s me. Please open the door quickly; something terrible has happened.” It was Xi-Zhong’s voice.
Xier’s heart skipped a beat. He hurried forward, threw open the main gate, and found Xizhong looking utterly anxious. Gasping for breath, Xizhong said, “Dad, you must go see right away—something terrible has happened.”
Xier frowned. “What’s all this fuss about? In a small town like ours, what major disaster could possibly occur?”
In a rush, Xizhong replied, “It’s Uncle Owen! For some reason, his house has suddenly caught fire. My second and third brothers and I had just returned from fishing when we saw it. They’ve already gone to rally the townspeople to fight the blaze.
Xier was utterly shocked. “What did you say? Brother Owen’s house is on fire? Quick, let’s go see immediately!”
By the time they arrived at Owen’s house, the fire was already dying down. In this coastal town, where sea breezes blow year-round, combined with Adai’s highly skilled fire magic, the house had long been reduced to nothing but crumbling walls and ruins, with thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
Sheer stared blankly at the scene before him, pulling his second son, Shefa, who was busy fighting the flames, and asked, “Where are they? Your Uncle Owen and Adai—have they made it out?”
Shefa shook his head sorrowfully and replied, “I haven’t seen them, Dad. With the fire so intense, if they were inside, I’m afraid… I’m afraid their chances of survival are slim.”
Just as Sheer’s family mourned for Owen and Adai, several pairs of cold eyes from within the nearby crowd continuously watched them.
“Vice President, we just went inside to check. Apart from the few brothers who were burned to skeletal remains, we did not find the bodies of ‘Hades’ or the child you mentioned.”
The sarcastic voice brimmed with hatred, “It infuriates me! I never expected ‘Hades’ to possess such tenacious vitality. Even after being poisoned by the unparalleled holy water, he still managed to unleash the Hades Sword Technique. If only I had brought your entire team along from the start; we would surely have subdued him. ‘Hades’ might be dead, but the child who was with him must still be alive. Quick, split up and search! Even if it’s just a corpse, bring it back to me. The Hades Sword must not fall into anyone else’s hands.”
“Yes, Vice President.” Several figures quietly vanished into the crowd as the fire in the courtyard gradually subsided.
…
“Ah—” A Dai stood atop the wooden post, desperately slashing at wave after wave surging toward him. Half a year earlier, Owen had split the post down the middle, forcing A Dai to stand upon it and endure the pounding of the tides to train his lower-body stability. With the Tiangang Sword in hand, A Dai continuously parted each incoming wave to either side. His body was already soaked through by seawater; he kept venting his emotions, yet the sorrow in his heart refused to fade.
Boom—a massive wave swept the exhausted A Dai into the sea. He made no struggle, allowing wave after towering wave to cleanse both his body and the resentment festering within his heart.
“Why? Why did you have to kill Uncle Owen, why—” A Dai cried out in anguish toward the sky, but apart from the roaring waves, no one answered his question.
Ten days later, A Dai gradually emerged from the grief of Owen’s death. Owen’s demise had struck him deeply; a trace of resentment now lingered on his once-blank face. After eating a piece of dried rations, A Dai fastened his bundle and the Tiangang Sword to his body, touched the Nether King Sword at his chest, left the reef cluster, determined his direction, and headed westward toward the territory of the Red Hurricane Tribe. Perhaps Owen’s death had affected him too profoundly; every word Owen spoke before dying was clearly remembered by A Dai’s simple mind. Those were his uncle’s final instructions, which he must follow no matter what.
What A Dai did not know was that Owen’s dying words had saved his life. The assassins from the Guild had departed only the day before, after failing to find any trace of him.
Three days—it had been three days. A Dai finally reached the border of the Red Hurricane Tribe, but all the dried rations he had brought from home were now exhausted. Having gone an entire day without even a drop of water, his lips were cracked, and he stumbled into the city ahead in a daze.
On the streets, people dressed in mercenary attire were everywhere. Owen had once described to him the garments of various professions, so he knew that the Red Hurricane Clan was the birthplace of the Mercenary Guild. Here gathered countless mercenaries and mercenary companies. His goal was to find the Mages’ Guild; once he did, he would have money to buy food.
The city was bustling, far larger than Nino City where he had lived as a child. After walking only a few steps, the fragrant aroma of steamed buns wafted toward him. A-Dai shuddered all over and couldn’t help but look in that direction.
“Steamed buns! Selling steamed buns! Fragrant and sweet steamed buns, two for one copper coin! Selling steamed buns…”
Drawn unconsciously by the loud hawking, A-Dai approached. The vendor was a short, stout man in his forties with red hair that had thinned until only a fringe remained around his bald crown. With every shout, the fat on his face trembled continuously. Before him, bamboo steamers emitted rising clouds of vapor, clearly indicating freshly made buns. Seeing A-Dai approach, he smiled warmly and said, “Young friend, would you like some steamed buns? My buns are famous far and wide—fragrant and sweet enough to make you crave a second after just one bite.”
A-Dai gazed at the plump bun vendor and thought to himself, “His buns must taste wonderful; otherwise, he wouldn’t have grown so stout.” Buns had always been A-Dai’s favorite, especially since he hadn’t eaten anything for quite some time. Yet, not a single copper coin rested in his pocket—how could he possibly afford the delicious treats before him?
Swallowing hard, A-Dai shook his head.
The bun vendor had just opened his shop that day and hadn’t sold many buns yet. Although the somewhat dull-looking young man standing before him dressed plainly, the great sword on his back clearly marked him as a martial artist. Which martial artist didn’t carry at least some money? Especially enough for buying buns! Thus, upon seeing A-Dai shake his head, the vendor immediately exclaimed anxiously, “What’s wrong, young friend? Are you unsatisfied with my buns? Buy two—they cost only one copper coin each, perfect for breakfast. Or would you like to try one first? This one’s on the house.”
Hearing that it was free, A-Dai’s eyes instantly lit up, and he hurriedly nodded. The bun vendor picked a steaming hot bun from the basket and handed it to A-Dai. Accepting it with both hands, A-Dai took a bite that removed a third of the bun in one go. It had been half a month since he last enjoyed such a delicious bun. He devoured it ravenously, swallowing the entire bun within mere seconds. The fragrant aroma filled his whole being; with something finally in his stomach, A-Dai instantly felt much more energized. “Uncle, your buns are truly excellent—so soft and fragrant, absolutely delicious!”
Upon hearing A-Dai praise his steamed buns, the shop owner’s face lit up with pride. “Of course!” he declared. “Ask around; on all the nearby streets, my buns are renowned as the most fragrant. Why not buy a few? Even without any side dishes, my buns are delicious on their own.”
A-Dai lowered his head and said dejectedly, “I… I really want to eat your buns, but… but I have no money.”
The stout owner was taken aback. “If you have no money, what are you doing at my stall?” he muttered. “And you’ve already eaten one of my buns! My samples are for potential customers. What do you call this? Eating for free? Ah—never mind. My bad luck. Just go away and don’t hinder my business.”
A-Dai walked away with his head bowed, silently vowing that once he had money, he would definitely repay the cost of the bun he had just eaten.
“Wait a moment.” Suddenly, the voice of the bun shop owner came from behind. A-Dai’s heart skipped a beat; could it be that the owner was chasing after him again to demand payment? Turning around, he saw the bun shop owner waving his chubby hand at him, gesturing for him to come over. A-Dai walked back to the bun shop, still keeping his head lowered, and said, “Owner, I… I really have no money. I’m sorry. When I have money, I will definitely come to your shop to buy buns.”
The bun shop owner looked up at A-Dai, handed him a paper-wrapped package, and sighed, “Young man, you must be from out of town. You’ve surely fallen on hard times and ended up here. Here, take these buns and eat something first. We’re all just trying to make a living; it’s not easy. Take them.”
A-Dai stared blankly at the bun shop owner, his eyes turning red. Since Owen’s death, this person was the first to show him any care. His heart, which had grown somewhat cold due to Owen’s passing, warmed once again. Trembling, he said, “Thank you, thank you so much, Owner. You are truly a good person.” Taking the buns, he immediately unwrapped the paper and began devouring them ravenously; he was indeed starving.
The owner brought out a bowl of hot water from the shop and said, “Young brother, eat slowly, don’t choke. Have some water.”
In no time at all, Ah Dai devoured all five steamed buns from the paper wrapper in one go. Instantly revitalized, he drank the hot water, feeling a wave of warmth spread through his entire body. Gratefully, he said, “Uncle, thank you, thank you so much. You are truly a kind person.”
The shop owner narrowed his small eyes and smiled. “I wouldn’t call myself kind. I once fell on hard times myself. There was a bun shop I desperately wanted to eat from, but just like you, I had no money. Later, that kind-hearted owner took me in and even gave me his daughter’s hand in marriage. That’s how I got to where I am today. We could say we’re both wanderers who’ve known hardship; a few buns are nothing. Young man, where are you heading? How did you leave home without any money? Seeing you carry a sword, I assume you’re someone trained in martial arts?”
At the mention of martial arts, Ah Dai couldn’t help but think of the deceased Owen, and a shadow of sadness crossed his heart. “Uncle, thank you for the buns. Could you tell me where the Mages’ Guild is located?”
Upon hearing Ah Dai mention the Mages’ Guild, the bun shop owner’s face immediately filled with reverence. “Mages are highly accomplished individuals of great power. Our city is large enough to indeed have a branch of the Mages’ Guild. So, are you going there to find someone, or to seek employment?”
A Dai scratched his head and said, “Let’s just call it job hunting.” With his hunger satisfied and news of the Mages’ Guild in hand, A Dai’s sorrowful mood immediately lifted considerably.
The bun shop owner said, “Just go straight along this road, turn right at the second intersection, continue to the end, then turn left. After passing one more intersection, you’ll see it. Both the Mages’ Guild and the Mercenaries’ Guild are located there. Finding work there might not be easy, though. In my opinion, you’d be better off becoming a mercenary. Quite a few mercenary companies in the city are currently recruiting, offering relatively good pay; you could earn several gold coins a month at least. If all else fails, you could always come work for me here. It might be a bit humbling, but at least you’d have enough to eat. My wife stays home taking care of our child and can’t help me much, so I have to handle everything here myself.”
A Dai thanked the bun shop owner for his kindness and headed toward the Mages’ Guild following the directions given. He was determined to fulfill Owen’s dying words. Since his uncle had told him to register as a mage at the Mages’ Guild, there must surely be a reason behind it.
After turning a few corners, A Dai arrived at a major street bustling with pedestrians. Here, people carrying weapons, wearing light armor, and sporting mercenary company emblems on their chests were everywhere. Not far ahead, a tall building came into view. Atop its roof stood a huge emblem featuring a shield flanked by two crossed swords. Beneath the emblem were four large characters reading “Mercenaries’ Guild.” People continuously entered and exited the building, creating a lively and bustling scene.
A-Dai glanced curiously a few times and was just about to step forward when suddenly a man dressed as a mercenary approached him. This man was slightly taller than A-Dai, with a head of fluffy short red hair. He wore a set of brown leather armor, had a long sword hanging at his waist, and bore a mercenary emblem on his chest depicting a red-haired lion’s head, giving him a rather fierce appearance.
“Young brother, please wait,” the burly man said, blocking A-Dai’s path.
A-Dai paused in surprise and asked, “Me? Do you need something?”
The burly man laughed heartily and said, “Young friend, judging by your attire, you must be someone trained in martial arts. Are you perhaps looking to join a mercenary company? Our Red Lion Mercenary Company is quite renowned in this city. Join us! We offer a base salary of three gold coins per month. Should your mercenary rank improve in the future, your pay will increase accordingly. Additionally, you’ll receive a share of the rewards from each mission undertaken. This is truly the best compensation available.”
The man spoke so quickly that Ah Dai didn’t quite grasp his meaning. Shaking his head, he replied, “I… I don’t want to become a mercenary.”
Taken aback, the burly man frowned and said, “What? That can’t be right! Although you don’t appear to be a local, every young warrior who comes here aims to make something of themselves as a mercenary. Young man, if you don’t seize such an excellent opportunity, you’ll regret it later.”
Ah Dai continued shaking his head and said, “I’m sorry, but I truly do not wish to become a mercenary. Please let me pass.”
The burly man snorted and muttered, “What a useless lad.” With that, he turned and walked toward the Mercenary Guild.
A Dai couldn’t help but wonder: does not joining a mercenary band really make one useless? Oh well, no point worrying about him now; better head to the Mages’ Guild first. With this thought, he quickened his pace and moved forward.
The Mages’ Guild was likewise a tall building, situated right beside the Mercenary Guild, yet noticeably quieter, with few people coming in or out. Just as A Dai was about to approach, a voice called from behind, “Wait a moment, young friend.” A Dai turned around to see the same red-haired burly man from before, accompanied by another man. This second man stood about 1.8 meters tall, appeared to be in his forties, had a fair, clean-shaven face, black hair, and dark eyes that sparkled with keen intelligence. His demeanor was calm and composed, and on his back he carried a Tian Gang greatsword identical to A Dai’s own.
A Dai stood there, stunned, watching the two men approach. The red-haired man said, “Young friend, this is our Red Lion Mercenary Band’s vice-commander. He should be a senior from your sect, shouldn’t he?”
A Dai was startled. Seeing the sword hilt protruding from the stranger’s shoulder, he suddenly recalled Owen’s words and realized that this so-called deputy commander must belong to the Tiangang Sword Sect. His uncle had once said that whenever one encounters a member of the Tiangang Sword Sect, one must show them courtesy. With this in mind, he quickly bowed and said, “Greetings, esteemed elder.”
The middle-aged man with black hair smiled gently and replied, “Young brother, may I ask under which senior master you study? My name is Feng Ping; by generation, I should be your martial uncle.”
Martial uncle? A Dai shook his head and said, “I… I have no master, only a teacher.”
Feng Ping chuckled inwardly, thinking, “This naive kid must have never seen the world; he’s just stepped onto the continent to venture out.” Then he asked gently, “So, what is your teacher’s name?”
A Dai hesitated for a moment before replying, “I… I can’t say.” Owen had instructed him to be cautious while traveling and never reveal too much. He certainly couldn’t mention Uncle Owen’s name, and revealing Master Goris’s identity was even more out of the question.