To run, You first you need to learn how to crawl

Her body was trembling, her bandaged arm was soaked in blood, her face had dirt and scratches all over, but her green eyes were alive.

She heard once and understood. Regardless of the man's actual words, posture or how threatening he acted. It did not matter that he was a level above her either.

After his words she understood. 'This man will guarantee our safety today.'

Zhi Rui used her good arm to comb her hair in a carefree fashion in front of the man.

Zhun Xuying was still struggling to get up but then she heard the man's words, she relaxed and looked at his face. 'This man just lost any chance to gain the upper hand.'

She just sat there bandaging her feet, observing how her miss will eat him up.

Zhi Rui composed her breathing and erratic heart, the hot air around her did not bother her anymore. in a careless manner she spoke

"You'll come back with us, kill the last bastard and assure our exit from this forest, and only then, I may release whoever you want."

Izaya tilted his head, he thought he needed to intimidate more.

He towered over her, the smell of blood was strong but he did no look elsewhere.

"Do you think you have a choice? I can kill you here and then go back alone."

"If I die, whoever you want to free will face the consequence of the slave mark. And don't pretend to know otherwise if you were so sure of it. killing me would be the first action you took."

Izaya reached for Zhi Rui's neck "You're right, but I can still torture you until you releasethe mark."

Zhi Rui eyes went cold "Try it, and before dying I'll self destruct every slave under my mark."

Izaya stopped his hand mid-air, his chest tightened, he could feel the threat in her tone, this is a person who meant every word.

Izaya started trembling he turned around and kicked the corpse of the fat guard.

He took a deep breath and looked at the moon through the tree crowns.

He put his hands on his forehead 'I'm losing her again.'

Zhi Rui observed every reaction he did, judging it was the right time she softened her expression and with her bloodied arm she reached for his hand, and spoke

"I swear on my blood, when this is over, whoever you want to free, will be freed"

Izaya didn't react, the only thing on his head was his daughter, he didn't care about oaths, he knew better than to be so naive. But her life was in this woman's hands.

...He had to take it.

Izaya shook hands with her.

Zhi Rui gently smiled.

"Hilda, carry Zhun Xuying, I'll be this mister's prisoner."

"Alrighty." Avoice came from above.

Izaya turned his head up and saw that a deep golden feline eyes were staring at him from the treetop, he couldn't believe she came without him noticing.

Zhi Rui ignored his surprise and started walking forward with arms on her back as if they were bound.

---------------

When they reached the place of the carriage, the bonfire had burned out, there was only the sound of splat sounds and muffled grunts, Izaya looked at the woman in front of him

Hearing the noise, he knew exactly what was happening so he looked at her to see any sign of alarm. if she failed to keep her calm they would have to risk a head-on fight. But to his surprise, she did not even twitch

He walked over to the carriage where the noise was coming from.

Zhi Rui still showed no sign of agitation.

"Uohhh" Was the first thing they heard put of the man's mouth, when reaching the place

Izaya looked at the scene, the thin guard had tied up a woman around forty years on the tree trunk and seemed to have just finished his fun.

The guard looked his way.

"This one is mine, level one newbie you can choose an elderly or a man, well there's no elder in that carriage but, there are some males. Feel free to use them."

Izaya did not saw any reaction from the woman in front of him, so he answered normally.

"Sir, this one is the leader, the other one stayed behind with our companion."

The thin man smiled."Companion? just call him fatass, alright newbie now that I finished here, I'll take that one to the masters, you stay and bring this carriage back alright?"

"Yes, sir."

The guard walked over to hold Zhi Rui, Izaya just let her go and distanced himself.

The thin man suddenly heard a whizz he turned around fiercely, he looked at the ground beside him. a black arrow was deeply sunk on the ground.

He reached his fingers to his face, feeling the blood. he screamed

"Prepare to fight-"

But Zhi Rui smashed his head the moment he turned around.

A direct swing from a level one with a heavy mace is still a threat to level two.

The guard fell on the ground. Disoriented he reached with his hands to the injury bleeding on his head, Hilda, Zhi Rui, Izaya and Zhun Xuying watched as the men tried to stand up only to wobble and fall back again

Zhi Rui smirked.

The people around watched as she raised her mace,

the man started to crawl as he could not get up..

"Goodbye, waste"

With a dull sound, the guard head was smashed.

Zhi Rui looked as HIlda let go of Zhun Xuying and went directly to the squirming corpse to loot.

Zhun Xuying went to get healing pallets on the carriage, ignoring the unconscious woman on the tree.

Izaya also walked to the carriage to look for his daughter.

Zhi Rui took a pallet and felt her arm itch signal the healing commenced.

She went to the carriage's ceiling and lied down. she only saw the night sky and stars.

'Now we only need to go out of this forest. and the night is complete.'

Zhun Xuying went and took the driver position, Hilda sat beside Zhi Rui on the ceiling and Izaya stood on the ceiling guarding the rear.

Zhi Rui looked at him "These are white elk horses, you'll fall if you stay standing."

Izaya didn't look back

"I'm a beast-man this much won't be a problem for me."

"Oh."

Zhi Rui left him be, she was just closing her eyes for rest When she heard it.

"Will you look at this? if I came five minutes late, these white elk horses would have made my trip in vain."

Zhi Rui shot her body up looking at the source of the voice, her eyes trembled, her stomach churned at the sight of the man's uniform. through clenched teeth, she spoke.

"A rank three?!"