Avatar: Fire Emperor Chapter 72 72: Forget-Sorrow Valley, unexpected situation

Although he had turned down the villagers' invitations earlier, this ti was different.

He needed information.

But after arriving at Noren's ho, Kahn didn't even get the chance to ask anything before being overwheld by the family's hospitality.

Hot water was prepared for him to bathe.

A steaming al was set before him.

Even his mount was led away and carefully tended.

The sheer enthusiasm left him caught off guard.

With no way to refuse, he could only accept.

At that point, Kahn had no choice but to remove his straw hat.

After a long-overdue bath, the dust of travel was washed away.

His appearance was revealed—handso, though still carrying a trace of youthful sharpness.

The sight clearly surprised Noren's family.

Kiyi, Noren's young daughter, clapped her hands in delight.

"What a handso big brother!"

Noren and his wife, Noriko, were also visibly taken aback.

They hadn't expected the disheveled traveler from before to turn out to be such a clean-cut and bright young man.

Kahn gave a helpless smile.

This hadn't been part of his plan.

Still, his appearance did seem to soften their attitude further.

Noren, as the head of the troupe, knew far more about Ursa and Aiken than the average townspeople.

But before Kahn could ask anything, Noren spoke first.

"At your age, what brings you here alone, asking about Ursa?"

"You know she's been gone for many years."

Kahn paused to consider his answer.

In the end, he chose honesty—at least, part of it.

"I was entrusted by a friend."

"I'm sorry, but I can't explain the reason."

"And I would appreciate it if you didn't ntion my presence to anyone else."

"It could bring trouble."

"I know that sounds suspicious."

"But I can assure you, I an no harm."

"If you're willing to share what you know about Ursa, I'd be grateful."

"If not, I understand."

Noren and Noriko exchanged a glance, both slightly surprised by his words.

After a mont, Noren smiled.

"The fact that you can say that so openly already tells enough."

"Especially since you brought this."

As he spoke, he picked up the mask Kahn had placed on the table.

His thumb brushed lightly over a worn scratch on its surface.

A complicated emotion flickered in his eyes.

"This was the mask Ursa took with her when she left."

"I never thought I'd see it again."

Noriko, curious, spoke from the side.

"If she could take the Dragon King's mask with her, she must have been quite a famous perforr."

During their conversation, Kahn realized Noriko wasn't originally from this town.

She had married into it not long ago and didn't know much about its past.

"Yes."

Noren nodded.

"She was one of the troupe's most well-known perforrs."

"But not because of her acting alone."

What Noren knew went far deeper than the scattered rumors Kahn had heard earlier.

He explained that Ursa and Aiken had grown up together.

They were childhood sweethearts.

Their bond ran deep.

It was said they had long since pledged themselves to each other, even discussing marriage.

Everyone in the troupe knew about it.

Not just because they were lovers—

But because they had trained tirelessly together to perform the leading roles in The Dragon King and Love.

And in the end, they both earned those roles.

There were even rumors that Aiken planned to propose to her on the night of the performance.

It sounded like the perfect story.

Romantic.

Inspiring.

And then, just days before the performance—

Ursa chose to marry into the royal family.

She left without hesitation.

That single decision shattered Aiken.

And it ruined the long-awaited performance as well.

No one in the troupe ever forgot it.

"…"

Kahn sat there in silence.

Partly because the story was so dramatic it felt unreal.

Partly because this was not the information he had co for.

I need leads, not gossip.

As if sensing his frustration, Noren finally shifted to more relevant matters.

But after listening, Kahn couldn't help feeling disappointed.

The details weren't much different from what he had already heard.

Most of it was speculation.

Rumors.

However, there was one additional piece of information.

A local legend.

It concerned Forgetful Valley.

According to the story, the valley lay not far from the town.

At the bottom of the canyon was a forest said to possess strange power.

Those who entered it after heartbreak could forget everything—

And begin a new life.

At that mont, Noriko suddenly spoke up.

"Now that I think about it…"

"A year or two ago, soone claid they saw Aiken and Ursa together."

"They said the two of them went into Forgetful Valley."

Noren shook his head imdiately.

"That's impossible."

"No one has seen either of them since Ursa left."

"Well…"

"If it were true, it would be a beautiful story."

"Beautiful?"

Noren let out a short, humorless breath.

"Forgetful Valley is a dangerous place."

"People go in."

"They don't co out."

The two began to argue lightly.

But there was no real tension.

It was more like the teasing back-and-forth of a close couple than a genuine dispute.

Kahn, however, had no interest in watching them.

Because the trail had ended.

All that remained—

Was Forgetful Valley.

Did he really have to go there?

Just from what he had heard, the place was dangerous enough.

And that strange legend only made it worse.

Based on everything he knew, in a world like this—

Legends were rarely just stories.

Night had already fallen.

The wilderness would be even more dangerous now.

Kahn decided to stay the night.

He would consult Iroh in the Spirit World first.

If possible, he would learn more about the valley before making a move at dawn.

Noren's daughter, Kiyi, seed especially fond of him.

With nothing pressing to do, Kahn spent so ti playing with her.

After all, the girl clearly had good taste.

She was lively, cheerful, and well-mannered.

Her upbringing showed.

Kahn disliked unruly children.

But well-behaved ones—those he didn't mind.

In a rare good mood, he casually taught her a few basics.

Simple breathing and focus.

He didn't tell her it was firebending.

She hadn't reached the age to awaken her bending yet.

But that day would co soon enough.

Kahn hoped she would succeed.

In this world, benders held far more control over their fate than ordinary people.

If she awakened her power, even these basics would give her a head start.

And if she didn't—

At least she wouldn't feel she had lost anything.

Later that night, Kahn returned to his room.

He entered the Spirit World.

This wasn't a safe place for lingering.

He didn't plan to waste ti chatting.

Straight to the point.

He explained everything about Forgetful Valley to Iroh in detail.

After a mont of thought, Iroh gave his answer.

"The situation there… may be tied to the spirits."