18. Yuan Xiurong

"Ugh…damn it," As Shi Feng continued the trek, he suddenly groaned and held his side, he turned to look at Yuan Xiurong who in turn was staring at him after hearing her father groan in pain.

She walked to him and hugged his father as if show that she cared.

Shi Feng showed a soft smile at her daughter.

"Are you worried about this father of yours? Don't worry, I am fine."

Shi Feng then sat by the roadside and took of his dirty rug-like shirt. His blood-soaked bandage was seen by Yuan Xiurong who promptly covered her eyes at sight of the blood.

Shi Feng didn't have the time to appreciate his daughter acting all cute as he began unbounding the bandage.

A seven-inch-long gash could be seen on the side of his torso. The wound had inflamed as the 'poison' wriggled inside.

'Damn it, did I leave one inside?'

Shi Feng cussed inside his head as he brought out a knife that's as long as a middle finger and a thing as a cicada's wings. Biting onto a piece of cloth he tore from his shirt, Shi Feng clogged his veins on the left side of his torso body around the gash.

As the blood clogged, a bump appeared and without hesitation cut his body to extract a Human-faced Worm.

"NGH!" He silently groaned in pain as he bit the cloth!

Staring at the worm, Shi Feng crushed its head and immediately drank a medicinal concoction form his medicine pack. The pain gradually subsided and as his sweat dripped from his forehead.

He once again bounded his body with bandages covering the gash and tattoo on his back before wiping off the blood on his face and hands before facing Yuan Xiurong with a smile.

"Sorry about that, come on, let us go and continue our travels."

"Mm." she nodded her head and once again returned walking.

Though Shi Feng was hurting, he knows too well that he must hurry for end was about to come.

Shi Feng and her daughter had been traveling with a single destination. He had encountered a lot of hardship, but managed to overcome them without fail.

Despite his wound, his steps were steady and firm, by his side was Yuan Xiurong was by his side, just like always.

This was the third month of their journey since they passed the town where they met the cow-lady. They are only three mountains away from their destination.

For the past months, Shi Feng had been happy for his daughter was growing. No, she was regaining herself.

Her awareness and her reaction are becoming more varied. She may not laugh, cry, or even get angry, but her ways of showing her emotions is improving.

'Just four months ago she wouldn't even turn her head to me, this is good, her current state of being is improving.'

Shi Feng had a wide smile on his face despite the pain. Will he rest and wait for his wounds to heal? It is clear that he wouldn't as he continued to walk.

'I can no longer dally, these two needs more Scarlet Fruit, I can't stop for even a day. We must reach the Soul Transformation Academy before the November.'

Their journey continued. It was mid-July, only a few months before November comes.

'Sigh, I wish we could have a beast to ride on.'

But that is not possible, his movements must covert, avoid as much conflict with the bigger sects so he won't stand out. The mountainous path is not the only track he can take. But he took it in order to ensure he will be able to lay low.

He can't be in a state of complacency. He managed to escape the Ethereal Heaven Continent through the help of the Estize, but his safety is still unsure.

Holding a jade pendant, his vows will be met even if the price to pay is his life.

Night came and like always, he had Yuan Xiurong sit down on one side of a tree and handed her a silver and golden bell.

"You know the rules, okay? Ring the silver bell if any Savage Beast or Demonic Beast comes. If a human appears ring the golden bell, okay? Father will pick some Scarlet fruit for you to eat…oh you should also start wearing this."

Shi Feng handed over the jade pendant that was shaped in a lotus onto her daughter, "It's better that the two of you get along starting from now on."

His figure disappeared and momentarily left Yuan Xiurong. He wandered through the forest looking for fruits that could be plucked.

And as he moved forward, he heard a quiet pained groan.

Moving through the trees, his eyes turned feral as he saw the squalid sight below him.

Three men who were built like a bear surrounded a lady as one of them have their way with her body. She was crying as her hair was being pulled, her eyes no longer have any light as she had already given up on life.

From atop the tree, Shi Feng's figure descended, it was time to pluck the fruits. Drawing two scimitars, he made his move and beheaded two of the men impatiently waiting for their turn.

Slash!

Two heads flew, and then, the man who was having fun was dragged away from the lady

Shi Feng cut the man's penis off and covered his mouth stopping him from screaming out in pain. The man was crying in pain, as he held his junk.

Shi Feng stared at his eyes and asked him, "Where's your base of operation?"

Removing his hand from the man's mouth, a pitiful cry rang about.

He scrunched over as the pain overwhelmed his mind, and as he raised his head and looked at Shi Feng, he began to plead, "P-please, don't kill me."

Pak!

Shi Feng kicked his face and asked once again, "If you want to live, then answer my question, where's your base situated?"

"I-it's at a…" the man held no loyalty to his people which surprised no one. And after hearing it all, Shi Feng killed him by crushing his head.

Walking over to the lady whose body has been chastised and played with, Shi Feng could not help show a sorrowful expression. She had bitten her tongue while Shi Feng was in the middle of questioning.

"May your soul enter the Soul of Reincarnation."

He wished for her to be at peace, and with that said, Shi Feng went to pluck the "fruits" from the men he had killed.

Flicking his wrist, a burning oxcart wheel bearing a white skull appeared on his hands. The white skull's eye sockets glowed a ghastly red and then the bodies of the three men trembled that is until red lights arose from their body.

The skull devoured the red lights and stored it inside. The fruits were finally plucked.

Shi Feng was just about to move, however, he momentarily stopped as he felt his wound acting out once again. Forcing the feeling down and enduring the pain, Shi Feng moved again.

'Just a little more,'

He darted forward and moved once again.

Yuan Xiurong was a child whose soul is weak sat alone in the darkness with the light of a lantern by her side. She hugged her knees as she waited for Shi Feng.

She was patient for she was not distracted nor curious. She cannot speak nor can she actually feel, but for some time now she had been able to react to many things. She now recognizes Shi Feng and is growing with time.

Bzzz!

While staring at the skies, the pendant vibrated but she merely ignored it. It too hungers for the Scarlet Fruits her father brings back.

Usually, it would only take him an hour or so to pick out some fruit, but an hour had already passed and three hours came to be.

Yuan Xiurong felt her unfeeling heart beat wildly. It was unusual for her, but that beating of her heart drove her to stand and began searching for Shi Feng.

Like a growing child, she began to feel more complicated matters almost overloading her mind and perception. Staggering, she picked up the lantern and began walking.

She wanted to call out but she knows not how to make her voice come out. Yuan Xiurong could only grumble as she looked around.

She began to walk farther and farther away, and as she did a shout entered her ears.

"Rong'er! Where are you?"

It was Shi Feng's frantic calls. Yuan Xiurong responded and turned her head to the direction where she heard his voice.

And as she did, she found a large that had been silently stalking her from behind.

"Roar!"

A bear-like creature with black fur appeared before her. Its eyes glowed a menacing red light as it stood on both legs. It roared and attempted to take the life of the young child by swinging its claws.

Its bear claws were swung and Yuan Xiurong watched as it was about to come. She was accepting her death without her knowing what's happening.

Her aberration caused her to feel anything not fear nor bravery. Thus, she didn't run away nor did she tried to face it. She even forgot to ring the bells she was given.

Death was coming and she accepted it, but someone didn't. Like an arrow, Shi Feng darted forward and swung his scimitar.

"GET AWAY!"

Slash!

The paw was severed as it flew into the air. Shi Feng was inflamed with wrath to the being that attempted to hurt his daughter.

ROARRR!

The beast too was angered and it lashed out with another attack. But Shi Feng already jumped and piece by piece, he cut its body limbs before grinding it to the ground as he tore its body inch by inch!

BooM!

Its body turned to a firework of ghastly bits of flesh. Shi Feng's body twisted and with a roar drowning the beast's.

"SCRAM!"

A rain of flesh and blood abounded and tainted Yuan Xiurong's body. When Yuan Xiurong turned to look at her father, she felt the need to get to his side, she stretched her hands forward, trying to clutch onto him to settle her emotions,

But Shi Feng turned to her with an inflamed expression.

"Why did you leave!? I—, don't do that! I can't lose you too. Please, don't do that!!"

Shi Feng was crying as he hugged his daughter. He had been running around trying to find her since he returned and he almost saw her getting mauled by a beast.

His carelessness to his daughter almost dying, Shi Feng cried as his body screamed in pain. But that did not matter for the single fact that his daughter was safe is enough for him.

Yuan Xiurong however was stunned as she heard her father screaming, once more, the trepidation that had disappeared returned stronger than ever. She was hugged by Shi Feng and as she reciprocated the action, she did her best and fought her disabilities.

"I—sorry!"

"Huh? D–did you just speak?"

Shi Feng distanced himself from Yuan Xiurong and looked at his daughter's frozen expression who had just supposedly just spoken.

He was in disbelief, he wished for her to speak once more. To his relief, he no longer had to make that wish as Yuan Xiurong repeatedly spoke.

"Sorry—I—Sorry!"

Her tone remained the same, only the volume increased. She was doing her best trying to apologize to her father despite her inability to properly convey her emotions.

Shi Feng felt touched, he cried as he hugged his daughter. The blood on his body tainted Yuan Xiurong's clothes, and his newly gained wounds caused his body to ache, but that is nothing in comparison to the joy he is feeling.

That night, Shi Feng continued their journey. While his daughter slept on his arms as he continued to move, Shi Feng's dedication to this journey strengthened.

It mattered not if Shi Feng was in pain, all that matters is the fact that his daughter is getting better.

'This journey is about to end.' Shi Feng can see that he is nearing the end of this journey.