Page 15: Run away
The forest was naturally noisy but not because of beasts that roams it but because of the fight that was going on. Wails and moans of agony came from those who were wounded while the sound of clashing metals keeps going on with those who were still fighting.
The number of guards fighting each other became matched thanks to Long Bai's efforts while Captain Waterfall and the Vice chief were still on stale mate. Long Bai on the other hand finally gained the upper hand against Captain White Sand. It was long and dangerous fight but eventually the one with many tricks had gone on top.
With Captain White Sand's alarming groan, everyone turned their eyes to him in haste. There, the forces that consists of the punitive force from Cinnabar City was surprised to see their leader on the ground on one knee while still trying to stand on both feet. However due to the fair amount of poison essence in his body that was interrupting his vessel networks, his normal control of his body movements has been interrupted. In every attempt he does, his body just keeps failing to do what he wants.
Long Bai on the other hand currently stands in front of the captain while pointing the tip of the rapier near the head that's going to be decapitated. Although it is not seen from the outside, Long Bai had also expend a lot of essence against his opponent. If he'll keep up, he might end up with trouble if something unexpected will happen. Right now, he was only thinking of ending the person in front of him. Its just that Long Bai was thinking of getting away of the place immediately since he started feeling something uncomfortable. He just can't explain it but his instinct says that if he won't get away as soon as possible, he would be in deep trouble.
With the rapier in the ready, he swings the sword to the Captain's neck however, before the slim metal can touch the skin of the target, a sword that came from nowhere stops it from doing what it was supposed to do. That moment of contact, Long Bai immediately retreats a few steps away from the owner of the sword that stopped his sword from taking the life of one captain ranked officer. With the safe distance he is able to get, he enabled himself to see and identify the person who stopped him.
An angry looking worn out man came to assist Captain White Sand. As a comrade-in-arms, Long Bai can see the camaraderie between the two with all the concern the other is giving. On the other hand, the vice chief just came in to Long Bai's position with some apologies. The vice chief has just apologized for not being able to stop his opponent from interfering. Long Bai knows that it is not something easy for him so he just let it pass. Instead, he immediately informed him to get ready to retreat.
"Vice chief, I have a bad feeling that if we stay too long here, something bad will take place. If we continue this fight, we might be able to take most of them but in exchange that is we will have our essence totally used up."
"You're probably right. That's what we have been aiming anyway, not to kill but just buy some time. The young lord must have been able to reach a good spot with the time we managed. I'll give the retreat signal immediately."
At the end of the conversation, the vice chief did ordered the guards to retreat and follow the rest. On the other hand, the two captain ranked officials did the same. Instead of issuing the guards to follow the guards who went to retreat, they went near the two captains to provide support. Those who were wounded were carried while the others who can still manage began to run.
The decision the two commanding officer of each group made sense when he said that they needed to retreat. In the first place, they are in a place where wild beasts can attack them anytime.
As each of the two party leaders stay on a standstill while the guards are prepping to skedaddle, officer Waterfall issued a warning to Long Bai.
"Brat! For whatever you have done in our country, you'll pay for it dearly. We will find you wherever you go! Even if you'll be able to seek refuge in another place, we will make sure to ..."
Before he could finish his statement, Long Bai was called by the vice chief to start moving.
"Lad! Run! We need to get out of here now!"
With a fast reflex, Long Bai followed wherever the vice chief was running to. Looking at the vice chief's face, horror has been plastered on his face. It's like he knows what is going to happen. Just a second later, Long Bai felt a very strong presence closing up on the place where they came from.
"Vice chief, what is going on?" Long Bai asked while assessing the surroundings.
"Just run! I'll explain once we get far from here." Vice chief replied while worrying about the guards who looked exhausted already.
Long Bai on the other hand, was not worried with his pace but instead was super curious about the event that's coming. Since he knows that he has the ability to escape with his movement skill, the worry that the vice chief is feeling has not been felt yet.
The escape lasted for 5 minutes. Long Bai and the others was able to reach a high place. With their current position, they can see a scene that's similar to a beast tide. Long Bai looked at the vice chief with an expression that's waiting for an explanation of what's happening. A few kilometers from their position, the trees that are standing straight can be seen falling in a uniform manner. It seemed like there are a line of bulldozers that came rushing toppling everything on the way.
"Lad, look. That's what will happen when a person's blood is spilled in this dead lands. The blood of a cultivator is the sweetest of all when it comes to the beasts here. Beasts of different kinds would be attracted to a cultivator's blood due to its rich essence. This is just one of the things that we fear here in this dead lands but do you know lad the most fearful thing here?"
The vice chief looked at Long Bai with serious eyes. Long Bai can't explain how he felt but the moment he locked eyes with the vice chief, he saw a glimpse of despair deep in the vice chief's eyes. It was so short but it was enough for him to notice it. He is sure that the thing he saw was a manifestation of trauma. Long Bai thought that the vice chief must have experienced something life threatening in this zone from the past.
"Will you kindly tell me?" Long Bai broke the silence with a surrendered expression.
"I see. You are still indeed young. Maybe the only ones who must be wary about it would be the old ones like me. Maybe the idea of it became just a bed time story to scare the kids. Tsk... Fine, I'll tell you. The thing we should be wary about in this place is not just about the number of beasts but also the 2 great beasts that rules over them. This area where we are right now is part of the southern beast's teritory. Although it sounds dangerous, it is also better than being at the northern cold desert but even with that, both places are still dangerous."
The conversation continued a bit longer due to Long Bai's many questions about the 2 great beast. While continuing their running after some short rest, the vice chief continued sharing his knowledge.
"The 2 great beasts; the grand tortoise of the south and the great white tiger of the north, together they keep the these lands under control. This is also the reason why this wide boundary of land has not been claimed by the two opposing countries. The two countries are afraid that once these lands would be claimed, the two great beasts may wreck havoc into their precious cities. The two great beasts are even stronger than the leaders of the two countries combined, they are beasts after all." the vice chief added.
Inferring from the vice chief's words, the 2 great beast must also be at the pinnacle cultivation of this world, the spirit condensation layer of the spirit tempering stage. After all, beasts are natural cultivators of essence in the first place so it is no wonder that the two countries would be afraid to it. Just thinking about it, Long Bai had this curiosity or wanting to see the two great beasts with his two eyes.
While the vice chief's group continued running towards the direction of the nearest city, the two officers from Cinnabar City and their guards are also escaping away from the multitude of beasts that are approaching. Like the first group, they know what is going on that is why even if many if them are injured, they still continued their escape without rest.
.
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Far away from trouble, the group of Yue and Shen Zhu were waiting for the ones who gave them time to escape. Currently, they are waiting near an open field that's covered in low- laying grass. They still have long way to cover before reaching the next city but according to Shen Zhu, the plains is a sign that they are close to civilization.
While waiting, Yue used the spare time to know more about the place and the city where they are going. With her inquisitive nature, she was able to solicit a good deal of information from Shen Zhu who never hesitated to share it. To Shen Zhu, those information were common knowledge after all.
After organizing all the information, Yue was able to understand a bit much about the place they are going. The City f Carcino is a growing mercantile place that's being governed by a council of big shot merchant families. Each merchant family have their own business line which makes the competition a bit crude. Those who can maintain their business in a harsh competition stands at the top. Because of this, each of these large families were able to monopolize the specific trade and gained ownership over it.
Yue learned that Shen Zhu's Blackwood Pavilion was supposed to be the leading pill trader in Carcino City but a few weeks ago, another business competitor started selling new products that seemed to have been caused by the interference of a cultivator from the Union islands. Right now, Shen Zhu admitted that the business has started to lose its supporters and its prestige since they cannot bring out a new pill to contend with it, which is why he ventured out to seek new herbs to experiment on.
With their current situation, Yue sees this as an opportunity for them to have a place in the City. If they can provide something that's valuable for the Blackwood Pavilion, they will be taken in as guests in their place. This way, they will have some connections and they won't have much struggle to fit in this society. Back at Merchant City, this kind of trend is just common in there. Without something good to offer to the people, the business won't last long unless there's something new every now and then.
While contemplating on the side, she heard someone from the scouts yelled about an approaching group st a fast pace. Without waiting further, Yue and the others climbed to get a good view and as they reached a high ground, their hearts rejoiced as they recognized the ones approaching. For not less than 30 minutes of waiting, their good companions have finally reach them. Just a second later, Yue and the others who were nearby first saw Long Bai appear near them like he had just teleported. While Yue and the other two were all smiles, the rest had their eyes wide with their mouths agape.