The Fool’s Path to Power

Author: Evelyn

Chapter 1: Keeping Watch

Words : 1029 Updated : May 21st, 2025

Just outside the outskirts of Tenebrum, on the usually deserted White Tiger Mountain, a man and a woman were climbing up the mountain together. "Dummy, I really have to pee. Can you keep watch for me while I go?" Yvonne Lohan said, blushing, as they reached about halfway up the mountain. The "Dummy" she referred to was her adopted younger brother, Ian Palmer. Ian was tall and handsome, but his expression was vacant. It was clear he was a bit slow in the head. "Yvonne, keep watch... for what? There's nobody else out here in the middle of nowhere," Ian replied, sounding clueless. "Even if there's no one, you still have to keep watch, just in case. Got it?" Yvonne insisted. "Oh, I get it! You're scared some monster or spirit might come peeking at you, so you want me to keep watch!" Ian exclaimed, his expression suddenly one of realization. As soon as he mentioned spirits, Yvonne shuddered and got the chills. After all, they were standing right above the Demon Sealing Cave. There was an ancient sinkhole on the north side of White Tiger Mountain, down below the cliffs. The old folks in Tenebrum say there was a super-powerful and terrifying female demon sealed down there. That was why they called it the Demon Sealing Cave. The legend was so scary that hardly anyone ever dared to come up White Tiger Mountain. Just then, a chilly mountain breeze blew through, making the trees and bushes sway as mist drifted through the woods. Maybe it was just her imagination, but monsters could jump out of the woods any second. "Shut up! What do you know? Just keep watch like I told you. Why are you talking so much? If you keep running your mouth, I swear I'll rip it off!" Yvonne snapped, exasperated. She dragged Ian along to look for a kind of herb that might cure his condition. She'd taken Ian to the hospital plenty of times over the years, but nothing ever worked. Yesterday, Elijah Garner, a wandering doctor, told her that there was a plant on White Tiger Mountain called Intelligence Grass. He assured her that if Ian consumed it, it would cure him. Elijah, or "Dr. Garner" as everyone called him, was a single guy from the old part of town, and he was known for curing all sorts of weird old folks' illnesses. Figuring she had nothing to lose, Yvonne decided to trust him and come up the mountain to look for the herb. She didn't dare to come alone, so she brought Ian along to give herself some courage. "Don't be mad, Yvonne. I'll keep watch for you. I promise no one will peek," Ian said, backing down. "And you'd better not peek either!" Yvonne added. "I won't peek, but can I just look openly instead?" Ian asked sheepishly. "No way! If you even think about looking, I'll gouge your eyes out and stomp on them!" Yvonne snapped. "There's nothing to see anyway. Even if you let me, I wouldn't look," Ian grumbled. He was honestly a little scared of Yvonne, who was always threatening to rip his mouth or gouge his eyes out, so he just did as he was told and kept watch. "What an idiot. There's really no hope for him," Yvonne thought, and, unable to hold it anymore, she hurried behind a big tree. "Yvonne, I've always wondered. How come guys can pee standing up, but girls have to squat?" Ian suddenly asked, curious. "With your IQ, I wouldn't even know where to start!" Yvonne snapped. Just then, Ian suddenly spotted a pair of eyes staring out from the bushes nearby! "Who's there? Who's hiding in the bushes? Come out here!" Ian yelled. Yvonne, who was just about to pull down her pants, jumped in shock. She followed Ian's gaze and saw the bushes not far away shaking. "Are you... a person or a ghost?" Yvonne asked, her voice shaking.

The Fool’s Path to Power

Chapter 1: Keeping Watch

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