12 A Day of Firsts

Seeing as Hong Wu had to find food in the forest anyways, she decided to stay at the camp. By staying, Yan could also help Hong Wu master Shrouding Fog by observing her spell technique and giving Hong Wu pointers. After a week of relentless training, and no small amount of frustration, Hong Wu was finally able to effectively use the Shrouding Fog spell. "Maintaining the spell longer than three minutes is beyond me at this point, but at least I won't be defenseless anymore."

"Good," Yan proclaimed, tossing Hong Wu a short wooden spear.

"What's this for?"

"Ya can use the spell now right? Time for some real practice."

Hong Wu didn't argue. Technically, the goal for cultivating was to become something beyond the average human, to ascend to a divine being. That meant that cultivators wanted to live longer to be sure, but the true goal was lording over the rest of existence. It was for this reason that most cultivation spells were used for battle.

Hong Wu had yet to fully grasp this. For her, cultivation was just a means of surviving. Just as serving Madam Ji in the past offered the possibility of seeing tomorrow, cultivation was the new way of going through the motions. Because of this, Hong Wu felt that a field test of her new powers was pointless. 'As long as I can do it, what is the point of belaboring the issue?'

However, Yan was adamant in this. Hong Wu felt grateful for all of Yan's help the past few days and did not have the heart to refuse her. Heading into the forest, the pair came upon a young deer. The lazily grazing buck's antlers were just starting to come in. Luckily they were downwind, and the animal had yet to notice them. Using their Shrouding Fog, the girls slowly crept up on the deer. By the time they were less than three meters away, the deer's head jolted up into an alert position, its keen animal instincts warning it of some vague danger.

Sweat coated Hong Wu's palms, her heart beating like a drum. The animal was staring directly where she was standing, almost as if it knew she was there. Before the beast had the sense to bolt away, Hong Wu needed to make a move. Pushing off with her right foot she lunged forward thrusting her spear at the deer's flank.

As the spear came towards the deer, it let out a terrified cry as it scrambled to move out of the way. The spear wounded one of the deer's hind leg, but missed its main target. 'Dammit!' Hong Wu thought to herself, turning to give chase.

Even with its wounded leg, it would be hard to outrun her prey. The first few seconds of any encounter during a hunt were crucial; one needed to maintain the initiative. The animal was just about to escape when Yan seemed to pop out from nowhere and sink her spear deep into the deer's flesh. The deer fell with a whimper, making futile efforts to struggle. With a practiced motion, Yan drew her bone dagger and cut the animals neck ending its life.

"I almost had it!"

"No ya didn; it woulda got away."

"Hmph" Hong Wu pouted.

"Next time, get behind it before makin ya move. Don just rely on the spell to hide ya."

Hong Wu was upset that her first hunt almost ended in failure, but not enough to ignore her friend's advice. Taking it to heart, Hong Wu promised herself 'Next time for sure.'

After carrying back the deer back to camp, the two shared a meal of roast venison. Then Hong Wu bade Yan farewell. Hong Wu had already spent a lot of time in the woods and stocked up on rations. Her main goal now was to head back to her house and use the black rock to continue her cultivation.

Leaving the trees Hong Wu encountered Cang Rong along with a few of the girls. "Hanging out with the animals now are we?"

Hong Wu aloofly brushed aside the comment making her way towards her home. Irked by Hong Wu's attitude, Cang Rong jumped in front of Hong Wu blocking her way. "You and that wild bitch should just stay in the woods and get eaten by wolves. You heard what the Junior Patriarch said. He only wishes to surround himself with beauty, and you?"

Cang Rong's eyes scanned Hong Wu up and down, her gaze lingering on the scar. "Do I even need to say it?"

The girls following Cang Rong half-heartedly masked their giggles. Cang Rong herself looked very smug. Hong Wu on the other hand seemed almost bored, promptly retorting, "Guess that leaves you out too fatso."

As soon as she said it, Hong Wu felt a wave of various emotions. First was regret, then fear. Hong Wu had never stood up for herself like this before, and it came as much a shock to her as everyone else. Before she could dwell on her remorse, Hong Wu felt an exhilaration and liberation she had never felt before. Never had she retorted to someone in this way. Perhaps it was her newfound power, but she was starting to feel more confident in herself and started to embrace this change.

Cang Rong's expression immediately fell hearing this; the girls giggling also cut off their laughter, showing expressions of shock. "You stupid, ugly whore's bastard! I'll teach you to say that to me!"

Cang Rong made to swing at Hong Wu, but she was easily able to evade. Enraged, Cang Rong madly lashed out at Hong Wu, her flailing arms only reaching contact with air. "Now you've gone and done it!"

Reaching into her robe Cang Rong Pulled out a polished, iron knife. The blade reflected Cang Rong's menacing aura, as if thirsty for blood. Seeing the weapon Hong Wu's face became serious. Retreating, Hong Wu made a few quick hand motions before blending into her Shrouding Fog technique. Like a bull chasing a matador, Cang Rong rushed ahead stabbing where Hong Wu had just stood. Sidestepping the attack, Hong Wu circled around Cang Rong and drew her bone dagger across Cang Rong's arm.

Cang Rong let out a high-pitched wail as she dropped the blade and covered her wound. Hong Wu stepped out of the fog her expression cold and unfeeling. Cang Rong and the other girls were horrified by the bloody act that had just occurred. After a brief moment of standing still, everyone but Cang Rong, who was still rooted in fear, sprinted to their homes to hide away.

Hong Wu, eyeing the blade on the ground, announced, "Nice knife, think I'll take it."

Picking up the blade and admiring it gleefully, Hong Wu turned away heading back home with a song in her heart.