2 The beast

The roar filled the air and the earth shook with each step that the creature took. Trees were falling on its path making it possible for more light to show its mighty appearance. It was a purple mist lion, graded as a grade three magical beast, and had quickly noticed the smell of blood and come over. As its name suggests the purple mist lion looks like a lion but is slightly bigger with a hint of purple in its mane and a purple mist surrounding it. A purple mist lion is the weakest of grade three magical beasts but it's highly intelligent making it hard for even warriors that are in the early stages of the earth realm.

For Ying Yue, this meant that she had to run for her life. She quickly started to run backward with the help of a technique called Misty Shadow Steps. This was a movement technique she had learned in her past life, once fully learned it was possible to reach a running speed that is 500 times faster than a human without a movement technique can run. Unfortunately, she couldn't use the Misty Shadow Steps to their full potential in her new body. As her body had just been healed after being damaged on top of her being new to it she wasn't able to move it as she wanted. The Misty Shadow Steps also required a more tempered body and higher cultivation. In other words, it would be impossible for her to perform its full potential in her current condition, but she hoped that it would at the least help her escape the purple mist lion.

Making her way towards the sound of a waterfall, she hoped she could at least get some of the blood off her and then quickly smear herself with some of the extra rotten fruit to hide the smell of the blood that wouldn't be possible to get off. The purple mist lion was a tiny bit slower than her when she used the Misty Shadow Step, the gap becoming bigger between her. But it was not good enough. Its level was higher than her so her stamina would run out much sooner. At this rate, she would be killed by the purple mist lion unless she reach the waterfall and finds a hiding spot.

Finally, the glitter of light reflecting water reaches Ying Yue's eyes. She immediately jumps the last bit left into the water. The small lake underneath the waterfall was quite deep so she can immediately start swimming further into the lake. Then suddenly just as the purple mist lion was about to jump into the lake behind Ying Yue she sees a white silhouette flash by over her. She looks back and sees a young man clad in a white robe with a light blue collar and a dark blue pattern of small flowers on branches. His hair was long and left to go with the flow of the wind. The young man kills the purple mist lion with only one move and calmly looks back at her. Ying Yue is so stunned by the figure before her that she forgets to keep herself afloat. Just as she was about to be fully submerged in the water the young man grabs her and throw her up to the shore.

"Ouch!!"

Rubbing her sore butt from the fall Ying Yue stands up and looks at the young man.

"You didn't have to throw me that hard!! I'm just a poor person almost getting killed by the purple mist lion over there."

She says pointing at the purple mist lion.

"I could see that."

The young man responds, his gaze was cold.

"Look, I don't know what you were doing here. It wasn't my intention to disturb you. I just tried to keep myself alive. Even though my butt hurts like hell because you threw me like that I'm still grateful for you saving me."

"If I knew you would immediately start shouting I wouldn't have saved you from that beast and drowning. Also, is something wrong with your brain? It's common sense to be watchful of your surroundings don't just start fighting without making sure that nothing will happen."

"Well... not everyone thinks the same way as you..."

Ying Yue whispered to herself.

"What did you say?"

The young man says his gaze even colder.

"Nothing!!"

Ying Yue shouted, afterward letting out a small "tch". The young man ignored her "tch" and continued the conversation.

"Anyway. What is a small beggar boy like you doing in West Mist Forest?"

'Small beggar boy?!! I'll have you know that I was known as a goddess of medicine and martial arts in my past life!! The founder of the high and mighty Heavenly Dew Sect!! Also, I am currently the adored 5th miss of a noble! Though my current identity probably isn't worthy of this young master's notice if my guess is correct it is still not okay for him to call me that. Well, I'll guess I have to go with the identity he gave me. I need to keep that I'm alive a secret for now.' Ying Yue thought to herself. 'Ah, I need a name... let's just go with that.'

"My name is not 'small beggar boy! My name is Yun Che! You better remember it! And the only reason I am here is that I was betrayed by my parents and almost sold to become a slave. I might not seem that clever but right before I was bound by the slave contract I managed to escape with that very cleverness!"

"Is that so? My name is Ming Hyun Wo, I'm from the Pleasant Dew Sect. I was here meditating underneath the waterfall when you disturbed me. Well, pay that no mind, it's time I leave for town anyway. Though I do not like you, I can look past it because of your circumstances. As by the evidence of your appearance you do not seem to be completely lying."

Although the robe Ying Yue had worn when she was dragged into the West Mist Forest was something usually worn by young noble ladies it had now been made indistinguishable and torn by water, dirt, and twigs. Anyone could easily mistake it for being a commoner's robe.

"Now then that we have made each other acquaintance I would like for you to follow me to town. Don't worry I will protect you from the slave traders. I've never liked them anyway."

"Yes! Thank you, senior brother!"

Hyun Wo's right eyebrow slightly twitched when he heard the words senior brother, but he decided to ignore it and started walking towards the town instead.

"Ah!! Wait, senior brother Hyun Wo!!!"