5 Chapter 5: Hunting and the Meeting
On a brisk cold night 4 teens have surrounded a horned sheep and are planning to attack, at least they where before a rustle in the bushes alerts the sheep to danger and prepares to charge at said bush.
...
You see I've come to regret my decision of volunteering to be bait. I had stretched out my body and prepared my self mentally for the coming trial. All I need to do is stand still, let Nie Lie shoot the beast and hope I don't get hit before the beast goes down.
Nie Lie gave the signal and I walked out of the bush. Remembering what I can about the beast, from a book 'I' read some weeks back, the first thing that comes to mind is that it's a highly territorial beast which will kill any threat to defend that territory. knowing this I decide to stare down the horned sheep so as to draw it's attention away from the others.
I stare at the beast and it stares back at me, these were the most stressful moments of my new life so far. Those 5 seconds we lock eyes for felt like hours due to the threat this beast could become at any moment.
As if an arrow from a bow the beast charges straight ahead, with a conviction unexpected from a mere beast. Waiting for a bolt that never came the beast was within an arms reach of me before I dive to my right trying to avoid injury. I ran with all the force my legs could muster, jumping a small ditch, I pass by Nie Lie seeing he hade yet to even shoot one bolt and Du Ze fumbling about with the weapon my heart sank.
All I could think was why?
Why did you not shoot the beast? Was that not your duty? One might I add that you volunteered for. Maybe it was him being petty for earlier in the day or is it he just didn't have the shot?
Feeling it's breath on my neck I launch myself to the right with my left leg, roll on the ground and run straight into the thicket of trees. Bobbing and weaving through the undergrowth I arrive to a clearing soon after, not sensing Nie Lie, Du Ze or Lu Piao, I pull a dagger out from inside my robe. I had previously dipped the blade in the drug Nie Lie made just encase I was in this position, squared off we stand eyes locked, the beast charges and I charge right back at it.
As we're about to clash I again roll to the right, pick up a stone and throw it at the beasts anus for a critical hit. After the sudden and unexpected violating of its anus I stab it between the ribs and the beast goes down, the adrenaline from the chase soon fades off so I lay with back back resting against the sheep, seconds later Nie Lie and crew arrive.
"Nice archery skills there my friend, perfect shot if I do say so my self" I say with a slight bit of sarcasm and an undertone packed full of venom.
"I'm sorry, the beast gapped the ditch so I couldn't get an accurate shot" Nie Lie replied, hand held out, looking very apologetic.
I grasp his hand and pull my self up.
"So what are we needing from the beast? Times awasting."
'He was probably testing me, I don't blame him as I would have as well but that doesn't mean I have to like it.' My thoughts on this matter concluded as there is money to be made.
"All we want is the horns, neck fur, demon crystal and it's demon spirit."
After saying his bit he carves up the beast with methodical precision, handing Du Ze the body parts, he washes the blood off his hands and we evaluate the haul.
"5 demon spirit coins for the horns and demon spirit while we will get 3 demon spirit coins for the neck fur" Du Ze said in amazement at how 'easy' it was to make 13 demon spirit coins and at how fast it was as well.
"We are going to need large amounts of money so we aren't going to sleep tonight" said Nie Lie.
We spend the next hour hunting the horned sheep as a group, seeing as there is four of us I get Nie Lie to agree with me to split the group up into 2. Lu Piao and I are in a group with Du Ze and Nie Lie in the other, our combined hunting efficiency had seen us kill 150 horned sheep. After selling what parts we could we had earned a total of 1400 demon spirit coins in one night, little need be said at how happy the group was at this and our future gains.
...
We had spent the last 3 days and nights hunting in the training grounds and those few days where tough to say the least as not only have I not slept but I'm hunting 100+ demon beasts a night by my self, not only that but I take time to train my body, cultivate, practice inscription and spending 4 hours each day in the school library learning what I can from the books available.
Browsing the selves, choosing some books I return to my table I come across a book titled 'Ancient Remedies and Cures' sitting there. Looking around to find nobody else is in the library as it has been for most of this day and that got me wondering on who placed the book there and why.
After placing the books in my hands on the table I take a seat and open to the first page. to my surprise there is note in the book and it reads as follows.
***
My dear grand nephew in this book is a number of arts, technique's and alchemic products I have deemed necessary for you to know. I have also been informed by a friend that a young lady from a noble family has been suffering from a 'disease' and that she is in your class. Having reviewed the young lady earlier in my time in the city I want you to get close to her and use the first technique the 'Daoyin Technique' to heal her.
You should gain her favour because of this and subsequently gain a 'backer' of sorts among the nobility. Use this knowledge and time well because I will be calling on you soon enough and I need you to be ready.
I'm sorry I can't deliver this note to you personally and that I had to leave so suddenly. I have been told I can return in 6 months so until then be safe my boy.
***
Flipping the page to find the very technique I had been looking for, for the same reason as in the note, is siting right in front of me but I can't come to terms with how my mysterious Grand Uncle seems to know of Xiao Ning'er and the exact technique I would to cure her need.
Ever more questions that need to be answered. Knowing there's else I can do but take advantage of this boon to better myself I read and practice the Daoyin technique. Thankfully there are notes on how to use the technique, tips and tricks to improve upon the technique as well as diagrams on what to do depending on the severity of the injuries and their possible locations. For the remainder of the week Ye Xing, Nie Lie, Du Ze and Lu Piao would continue their 'no sleep schedule.'
...
Day 6 of hunting...
"Nie Lie I'm soooo tired" complained Lu Piao slumped against a tree.
"I'm also tired and need to sleep for a bit" said Du Ze between yawns.
"I'm also tired and want to sleep but all our hard work in the last couple of days was it worth it I assure you, after all we've earned 21 thousand demon spirit coins. We can do a lot with this kind of money!" replied Nie Lie in his ever chipper mood. "You guys go sleep I'll look around for a bit. Also I will cancel hunting tomorrow as I have other plans."
"One more thing where is Ye Xing?" asked Nie Lie but all he got was a snore from Lu Piao and Du Ze mumbling about him leaving some time ago.
...
In a clearing a couple of hundred meters away 2 teens stood apart from one another. This of course would be Ye Xing and Xiao Ning'er.
"What are you doing over there?" called out Xiao Ning'er defensively.
"I was hunting in the area and felt soul force gathering in this clearing. Naturally I came over and I was indeed surprised to see you seated there cultivating. I mean you no harm my lady" having said such words Ye Xing proceeds to raise his hands to eye level as a sign of peace.
Xiao Ning'er stares at Ye Xing in silence, not sure of her next move but her thoughts where disrupted by the words that would next come from Ye Xing's mouth.
"When night falls both your feet feel as if they are on fire right? Every night at midnight it would feel as if you were being hit by hail. Training your soul force would be impossible most times right? Going by this it should be the Arctic cold disease if I'm not wrong"
"How... how did you know?" asked Xiao Ning'er with concern in her voice.
"The disease or your injuries?" Ye Xing replies with another question, keeping the conversation going, so as to give himself more room to engage her attention.
"Both."
"Well I can see the injuries on your feet and the cold energy in the area is above normal by quite some margin. Going by this I went through my memories for things with similar effects and going by the fact you are a woman, training at night, the most probable result is injury or inscription and I see no inscription on the ground" Ye Xing practically lectured at her trying to convince her to trust his words.
...
