11 Danger in the Forest (2)

They tumble into the chill misty air by the cliff.

Gravity tugging them down at full unforgiving force.

Malbeno strikes his dagger into the solid walls of the cliff, leaving deep marks on the walls. While Ruthless grabs unto some vines beside him that are hanging from above.

The assassins from above look downwards, all they see is the misty precipitous height that never reaches the end, nothing they can do, they seemed to return.

For Malbeno and Ruthless, things are not looking great, Malbeno is turning weaker and the vines that Ruthless is holding onto are breaking.

Then, Ruthless grabs Malbeno and jump.

Yes. Again.

------------- Back at the camp------

It is 5 in the evening.

The participants have all returned from their hunt while soldiers are ordered to collect and count the prey and total up the scores.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Li shouts frantically as he scampers over to the emperor who is nodding in satisfaction at his children's hunt results.

"Li, you have never been so frantic, you already are getting older." Aron Quint's voice is joyful and even jokes about Eunuch Li.

"Your Majesty, the Dark Prince from Northern Curio, and Princess Ruthless are missing!"

The emperor stiffens his smile, "Dark Prince and Ruthless are missing? Send out more soldiers immediately to find them, do not alert the others, do not allow a single wind to pass out. Tighten the security of the camp!"

"Yes Your Majesty!"

The Emperor turns back behind the last sunlight, he looks into the forest, expressions shadowed.

The Dark Prince cannot die on the soil of Southern Lasombra, or else there may be war, especially when it is still International Month, the others will definitely call their ambassadors back and give Southern Lasombra a name of backstabbing as their prince died on our land.

As for Ruthless, it will be a chance to prove her worth.

The emperor puts his hands behind his back.

Soft footsteps further and further away from the forest.

-----Back at the cliff

This feels familiar. Falling down from a cliff. This

break-neck-speed-that-will-tear-my-clothes-and-my-limbs seems forever and painful.

Splash! Follows by another splash.

The impact completely knocks Ruthless out and Malbeno was already knocked out when they were still falling. The last thing that comes to her mind as her eyes linger on his face, oh well, at least,

he is hot.

"Meow, meow..." Ruthless feels something ticklish on her face.

She snaps up immediately, looking around, it is dark. But Ruthless is trained to live in darkness. They are washed onto the shore with Malbeno, just now... was a kitten nudging her face.

Ruthless ignores it and goes over to check on Malbeno, his body has cooled down but is still weak.

Two fingers placed on his wrists, Ruthless's curvy eyebrows scrunch up.

Severin Blaze Poison.

A poison that takes effect every month that will burn the body internally, the poison will not burn literally but the poisoned one will have to endure the terrible pain from burning and the burning feeling will last for at least a whole week.

There is a cure, Jackfrost Seven Colored Lily's blooming petals, Chillbite Stone, and a scale of an ice dragon, or...

Something else.

Those materials were very rare, Jackfrost Seven Colored Lily only blooms on the mountain of Western Cohen Kingdom's coldest and most dangerous Vanish Hill that never stops snowing and the only reason she remembered this is the ridiculous amount of medicine needed.

Trust me, one thing that Ruthless truly is weak at, is medications.

Chillbite Stone can be found in Firmament Dome but it has not been seen in 10 Thousand years.

As for ice dragon, no one knows where dragons live, there had been legends, even if you encountered an ice dragon, you will need to tame it to get the scale as dragons love their scales very much and no one has managed to tame dragons in a thousand years.

So it is literally impossible to make the antidote for the poison.

Ruthless found somewhere suitable to rest after finding a cave, she drags Malbeno over with the kitten trailing behind.

She sets up a fire and leaves, bringing back a rabbit and throws it over the fire.

The intoxicating aroma of barbequed rabbit wafts throughout the cave.

Malbeno shuffles uncomfortably, and sits up, walks over to Ruthless reaching out a barbequed rabbit thigh and start eating.

"Why did you save Beng Dian?" Malbeno looks into Ruthless's eyes.

Fire is crackling. Wind is blowing.

Ruthless packs the things around, clearing the bones and setting up a pile of dried grass to sleep on. The kitten that followed her earlier trails behind everywhere she goes.

She stands up to go outside, Malbeno pulls her wrist, a thought hits him, so smooth...and small... "Answer me."

Woah, mind your addressing please, Ben Gong is not so close to you yet.

Ruthless looks up at Malbeno, "why does Beng Gong need to answer you? You just need to be grateful and return Beng Gong back the favour, that's all you need to remember."

She escapes Malbeno grip and leaves.

Malbeno looks at his left hand thoughtfully...

That night in the cave is a peaceful night.

However, dangers' fangs have reached their mouth closer and closer toward them. Or not.

Next Morning.

"How did you help me suppress the poison?" Malbeno asks after seeing that Ruthless comes back.

"I have a pill that can cure any poison, but it cannot cure your poison, only to suppress. "

Ruthless went out to familiarise the area and brought back edible fruits with the help of the kitten, it is more familiar with the surroundings.

They will probably need its help to get out safely from this place.

Of course, Ruthless is not going to tell him that she has a bottle of it, she does not trust him.

He is very dangerous.

Very very.

"That pill is very precious, you have one more favour to owe me, Dark Prince. "

Oh well, screw the rites and politeness. Ruthless shrugs, addressing each other with 'you' and 'me'.

Ruthless sits down and hands him some purple fruits, morning dew has decorated the fruits to a hungry colour, inviting them to eat them up.

They finish the fruits and wash separately at the river they fell into, one will bathe while the other wait nearby in case of sudden circumstances.

The assassins might come back for them.

They have to be careful, or one wrong step will result in falling into a black hole.

And never resurface.

However, Malbeno will never admit that he was... when hearing the splashes of Ruthless when she was bathing.

That girl is only 11. He tells himself.

Calm down, my brother.