Rush back - Day Thirteen

Tian Long set off as soon as the sun had hit the horizon as their would be able to barely make it back within the timeframe they were given by the elder. Thanks to rushing a little faster, Da Xin was awake most of the time however she wasn't crying like he actually thought. In fact, she was actually crying out in enjoyment as if she was having fu which encouraged Tian Long to continue to go. He had tried to run faster however after a certain degree Da Xin owuld start crying in fear as her instinct warned her of the danger of going any faster. Tian Long taking the hint kept at the maximum speed he could with Da Xin still enjoying it.

Thanks to the upgrade in speed Tian Long managed to shorten the amount of time needed to make it back to the meet up point to a couple hours. Tian Long could only hope that Jian was awake when he arrived as he didn't want to wake up Jian from his sleep.

Along his way through the forest Tian Long found tens of carcasses belonging to the snow leopards however it took him some time to deliberate that they were actuallly snow leopards as they were so badly mangled that he nearly couldn't tell what kind of animal they were from the first look. Although he was saddened that someone could do something so cruel he couldn't stop on his journey to burn every single carcass that he came across as time was running short.

Arriving at the dead mans land area Tian Long could see Jian in the distance sitting at the fire. The closer Tian Long got the more that he was astonished as their were tens of beast carcasses, some were even starting to rot. Some of the carcases even had flies around or directly on them. As he made his way over he also noticed that the atmosphere was a little too heavy and solemn. Instinctively he felt that something had happened to Jian as his domain usually made the surrounding atmosphere feel oppressive

Hearing some footsteps Jian slowly turned his head around and noticed that Tian Long had returned, and with a baby? Not bothering too much with the details he then just sttod up and then waited for Tian Long to arrive which didn't take too long.

Tian Long looked at Jian with an anguished face as he saw the loose sleeve hanging by Jian's side.

"Ji...Jian, what happ...happened" Tian Long's sentence was broken up by trying to hold in the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes as he knew what losing an arm means to those who practice.. well, just about anything. Anything that Tian Long could think of needed both arms to work at full capacity.

Seeing those eyes and hearing Tian Long speak, Jina once again felt the sadness that he had been holding back wash over him.

"I let down my guard. Just as I had left the forest one of those damn snow leopards had attacked me from behind faster than I could react. The only thing that my domain registered was a blur and that is only thanks to my excellent perception as my domain does not pertain to detection." Jian said it in a way that it made it sound as if he was telling the story of another person.

Tian Long was originally wrathful of the leopards as they had done something to his friend however when he thought back to the leopards he had seen back in the forest he had a suspicion that Jian might have been behind it.

"Jian, do you know anything about those snow leopard carcasses in the forest?" Tian Long decided to forego subtlety as eh didn't have the time.

"Snow leopard carcasses? Nope. Don't know anything about them other than my new hatred for them after what they done to me." Jian replied as he genuinely had no idea what Tian Long was talking about.

Tian Long looked into Jian's eyes to see if he lied however it seemed that he was worried for no reason. Sighing in relief mentally Tian Long then asked Jian to hold the baby while he ranked up before they left for the academy. Nodding Jian took the baby with his arm which he struggled with at first however he quickly got the hang of it.

Tian Long quickly sped over some distance and then transformed back into his true form.

'Proceed with rank up' Tian Long mentally told the status board.

Tian Long was then covered in a resplendant white light that blinded those that looked. Tian Long's form gradually became bigger and longer. Tian Long's rank up only took an hour, Jian during this time just talked to the baby about random nonsense to keep himself occupied. Knowing that it was time to leave Jian met Tian Long half way and then made his way on top of Tian Long's head and then sat at the top whilst using his domain to press himself down to Tian Long's body. This was a new way to use his domain that he learned to use after the incident, although the expenditure of energy would be massive, it was better than falling off into the air free falling to his death.

Thanks to this Tian Long could also go faster than before cutting the time needed to make it back into just sixteen hours as they weren't going to be taking breaks which woud tax both Tian Long and Jian mentally and physically.

The way back was much easier as they met less trouble as those that had messed with them last time knew not to try anything. By the time it was dark they had gotten back at the area of the academy where they left from before. Tian Long had to be extra careful this time as he was bigger than before making it more difficult to sneak to discreet locations. Thanks to proceeding more carefully he managed to avoid a few elders who 'felt' something was wrong.

As soon as Tian Long transformed back into his human form he rushed alongside Jian and Da Xin back into the academy. With the help of the token from Elder Sui getting back in was easy and they didn't have to go through all the difficult procedures they would normally have to go through. However they still nedded to have a mandatory search done, when the guards chanced upon the box they asked what was inside it.

"Inside the box is a herb that Elder Sui personally asked us to procure for her, if it is opened up the herb will die and become unusable losing all its efficacy." Jian thought up this excuse right away as it was also technically the truth.

Hearing that it was a herb personally asked for by Elder Sui they knew that it must be important and if they damged it they would be in for hell if she knew it was them that had done it. Handing back the box they quickly let them inside and from then on it was a rush against time as they had only one day to prepare the herb and then give it to Sarah to increase her chances of living.