Iris and Flav's mission 5

Sun shone through the trees, hitting the three with its warmth. The deeper they entered, the thicker and more diverse the trees became. The beasts' ranks also rose drastically making the three more cautious.

"What do you mean by "the difficulty will increase?" Iris asked evenly.

"Umm-how do I put it?" Joanna scratched her head trying to explain. "It's like before we were in easy mode. The monsters, terrain, traps, and whatever we might have encountered wouldn't pose a threat. However, until we reach the check point where the Academy's array is located, everything around us is a danger. Look there," Joanna pointed at a hemlock-cedar tree that had a huge X shape through its bark.

"This tree was described to me by the Principal as he said: once we see it we should be even more careful and assume everything is a danger to our lives. From here on out it's a do or die." Joanna said with utmost seriousness. If even her, a ghost cultivator who could barely interact with physical objects was scared, the situation was more frightening than they would imagine.

"I think we are close to the first checkpoint," Flav suddenly interjected and drew Iris' attention.

Iris checked the map and noticed how according to the distance they walked, Flav's estimation was correct. If they stayed at their current pace they would reach the first checkpoint in 2 hours. 'He has a good sense of direction.' she noted, remaining silent.

Joanna felt that Flav's change of subject was weird and the way he acted as if familiar with the terrain caused some doubt to emerge. However, Joanna decided to not think about such things, after all, Flav didn't seem the type that would do stuff that harmed his friends.

Joanna glanced at the two and remembered their interaction detecting something which made her smirk mischievously, 'This guy is really trying, huh? It seems courting Miss Iris is too difficult for him though,' she thought, rubbing her chin inwardly. 'Sigh, I wanna tease so much but,' a chill ran down her nonexistent spine when she thought of the consequence. 'If I did I would die 8/10 times, I am sure of it.'

Flav noticed Joanna's peculiar gaze which hardened his eyes, "What are you thinking about, ghost?" he asked.

"N-nothing," Joanna replied, eyes down.

Flav gazed at her a few more seconds before deciding to ignore her.

"You look absolutely beautiful today!" He told Iris.

Iris didn't react as she got used to his words but this didn't stop Flav from trying.

He looked around and saw a red flower, "You are also blooming like a flower." Flav's eyes shined as he said that.

'Huh? He's actively pursuing her? I thought he was the kind to subtly hint but was all shy about it and stuff. It seems I was wrong,' Joanna thought in amazement.

"Even flowers can't compare to-," Flav stopped and looked to the side, his eyes flashing a cold glimmer. "I'll be right back. You can continue without me," he said and left the two, surprising them.

Where was he going? What's happening? Why did he suddenly leave? Many thoughts ran through the two's minds but they didn't ask.

Iris wasn't the kind to meddle in others' business and Joanna was too scared to antagonize Flav in some way, ending up dead, so she wouldn't mention the subject when he comes back.

Flav sprinted deep in the forest and stopped after five minutes of running. He stood still as if waiting for someone.

"You can come out now," Flav said in an unusually cold and commanding voice. It was different than when he talked to Joanna or when he was serious.

Swoosh, Swoosh, Swoosh!

Three blackgarbed people appeared in front of Flav kneeling on one knee. They were looking on the ground, not daring to look up at Flav who stared back at them, his hands clasped behind his back.

"What are you doing here?"

"We are here to report, young master!" One of the three who appeared to be a man replied.

"It's already that time, huh? Do it already. I don't have time for you."

"Yes, young master! Since the last time we reported three things had changed in the clan.

One: one of the neighbouring clans tried to invade us after finding out the clan's scheme in subduing them and failed miserably after trying to retaliate. Other than that, the third elder's daughter was poisoned from an unknown assailant and this issue is still under wraps. The elders and the clan head had hushed all information regarding it and we barely found out. It seems they have some candidates in mind regarding the opposition. Thirdly, the clan has managed to get a "treasure".

The issue is the amount of man-power the clan put to keep this confidential obstructed us from gaining any useful info about it. It is treated more significantly than the attack incident. I deeply apologize for the lack of info that I submitted to the young master. Please punish me in any way you see fit." the man prostrated.

The other two followed, "Please punish us in the way you see fit, young master!"

"This is indeed concerning. You did nothing wrong so no punishment will be administered," Flav said to the three prostrating people. "But the third matter is very obscure. Fine, if they want to play that way I will bite," he muttered to himself with furrowed eyebrows.

'The third elder helped me back then so I should try to help him back with his daughter's situation. But, I have no experience in alchemy nor do I know what her illness is so this will be for later. Though that "treasure" must be something powerful. I need to find out what it is exactly so my plans won't be thwarted. Also, it seems those fools weren't powerful enough to fight back even after I warned them about the subjugation. Doesn't matter, if they at least helped kill some of the Patriarch's men then it's enough.' This is for the best, Flav concluded.

Flav noticed that he had been lost in thought and the three were waiting for commands. "Continue what you have been doing and try to recruit others. Only take those who have been personally screened by all three of you and only ones with talent. I don't need traitors. Lastly, try to find any information about that "treasure," understood?"

"The young master's command is our duty to obey!" One of the other two replied with confidence. He was also wearing black clothes from top to bottom but his weapon of choice seemed to be a rapier.

"Good," Flav nodded and relaxed his demeanor. "Now that business is done, do tell me how the first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth elders have been these days? Are they doing well?"

The last robed person answered with a soft but nervous voice. "Yes very much so, young master. The elders had been amassing power and trying their best to prepare for your return."

Flav scratched his chin. "Tell them not to overwork themselves. They are "good" people and should enjoy their lives. After all, they were the only ones who supported me when 'that' happened."

When Flav uttered the word 'that' his voice dropped in accordance with the atmosphere, the biting cold followed with the intense but concentrated release of Flav's qi which made the three shiver. This is who the young master truly was!

"How is the Patriarch?"

The three could hear the venom dripping from each word Flav uttered and with it the oppressing feeling Flav released increased. "H-he is good and is nurturing the others like usual," the first man gulped and courageously said with nervousness.

"Hmm," Flav hummed for a while, immersing himself in his emotions, not noticing the qi he was releasing and only after looking at the barely composed three did he realize what he did and immediately retracted his energy.

"Sorry about that…" he said embarrassed. "Anyway, you can leave now." Flav shooed them away after feeling how frightened the three were, their backs were filled with sweat and although he couldn't see it, he felt that they wanted to run away.

'I should be careful from now on. I didn't even realize what I did back then, if it was somebody else they would have passed out or even died from my bloodlust.' he thought while admiring the forest.

The surrounding trees encompassed the wild life in the forest like a parent protecting their children from outside dangers. The smell of fresh air and beautiful scenery calmed Flav's running emotions and returned him to a peaceful state.

Seeing how effective it was Flav decided to wait a while before he returned to Iris and Joanna.

After a few minutes Flav strolled back to his group but in his way a sound caught his attention.

SCREECH, BOOM!

What he saw was an enormous black hawk with slits for eyes. But that's not what really grabbed his attention. No. It was the transparent Joanna who looked almost dead and Iris who had blood on her hands streaming down the double-edged white sword she was holding.

Flav narrowed his eyes, 'What the hell happened in the time I wasn't here?'