The Night Attack

A low snarl echoed around them, the location of its origin lost in the way that sound seemed to come from all directions. The allotted hour was hardly close to expiring yet already the vicious beast that prowled the woods at night were gathering for the fresh prey that stepped within it.

The dense, thick spirit energy aggravated their apatite and ignited their desire to feast. Fueled and egged on by this bottomless need to fill their stomachs the beasts became impatient. Gathering around the safe haven, ready to pounce once the allotted time ticked to nothing, eyes unblinkingly stared after their prey for fear of missing the moment to snatch it up.

Hui Se Ying didn't need to say anything as this happened under his watch.

They were martial artists, cultivating their bodies and senses to the peak of perfection. Even in sleep, their senses were sharp, their reactions not falling short to their fully awake selves. This being the case, without needing to be warned, the others were already aware of the situation.

Nastasia, on the other hand, was a light sleeper. Especially when camping outside. Sleeping out in the open always made her feel vulnerable. Thus, even though she was securely held in Li Yu Rong's arms, both his shifting movements and the animalistic growls that increase in volume as the beasts neared, roused her easily.

Stiffening at the vicious sounds and tense atmosphere, Nastasia cast a worried glance around the little group before resting her sight upon Li Yu Rong. "What is that?" She asked, voice groggy for having just awoken.

"Time to move." He simply answered.

"Oh..." Nodding, Asya started untangling herself from the blanket and attempted to stand up from his embrace. Li Yu Rong, the minute she began to struggle free wrapped her securely as he fluidly rose to a stand. "What are you doing? I can walk." She protested.

After depositing her uselessly struggling form into the cart, he said. "It's dark and difficult to see. Too dangerous." No matter the protests she made, he turned a deaf ear as he signaled the others to move on.

Even though he ignored her protest, Nastasia still tried to fight to get her way. Before coming to this world there were many outdoor activities that she participated in at night, or required her to brave dark caverns. Walking through a moonlit forest wouldn't hinder her in the least.

"I see just well!" She told him as she struggled to unwrap herself from that blanket that had been used to turn her into a human egg roll. "So let-"

A deep, gut produced, growl tore across them, send a rattling impact to echo in their bones. Sparks lit up the night as An Ying blocked a twenty-four-inch clawed strike with a sword unleashed from the sheath strapped to his back. Claws and blade met blow for blow as spirit engaged beast without the difficulty one would expect for not having his spirit energy to back him up.

Paoxiao and the other two Ying spirits positioned themselves around the cart like a barrier to prevent anything from breaking through. Li Yu Rong quickly stood at the side, running his fingers through the stunned Asya's hair. Comforting her.

"This is why you stay here for now. Once its morning, you can go around as much as your heart desires, as you did earlier." He promised, and then explained to her whose eyes remained transfixed on An Ying fighting the beast who nearly exceeded the height of a two-story building. "To protect the village and its secrets, this forest was erected to act as a barrier. The beasts were placed to act as it's enforcers. Yet, for the villagers to move about when needed, safe havens had been placed to ensure their safe travels.

"At night the beasts are more active, so we need to move quickly to find the next rest point. Ah but, even if we never find another one, the beasts shouldn't pose too much of a problem." He assured her as he took in the way she nervously bit at her bottom lip.

It was true.

He wasn't lying.

However, this truth only held its authenticity so long as they didn't run into a large group of beasts or run into ones in the upper levels of their cultivation. Like those in the celestial levels. Though few such examples existed here, and it was a rare occurrence to come across one, they did roam about and it was possible.

Hearing this explanation, Asya gave up her struggles to have her way. She couldn't fight and would only be a hindrance if she kept up her willful protests and got what she wanted. Wrapped securely in the blanket and unable to move from the tight packaging, Nastasia leaned against the back corner of the cart to keep her balance and not be jarred about.

She curled up and leaned her head against the wooden edge though it was uncomfortable, trying to minimize her presence. The last beast had appeared from the darkness as if it had materialized from nothing. Its blade-like claws had been pointed in her direction before An Ying deflected the blow with his sword. It was a predators nature to first charge after the weakest prey.

In her mind, the best thing she could do to help out in this situation, at least for the moment, was to draw as little attention to herself as possible.

Half an hour later An Ying finally caught up with the swiftly moving group, easily stepping into their formation and taking up a position at the rear. His taciturn face was speckled with blood. If it weren't dark and if his robes weren't black the blood that splashed there as well would be easier to see.

"Dead... or did it flee?" Li Yu Rong asked.

An Ying shook his head as he answered. "It fled after I managed to deal it a heavy blow. Its cultivation was a mid profound level. Had I not managed to deliver a near-fatal strike after blinding its eye, I can't say how it would have gone as without spirit energy it was difficult to match it."

Having the skirmish summarized in a few simple sentences, Li Yu Rong considered the information and then said. "Don't wash yourself of the blood and change yourself to walking upwind. With the scent of that beast's blood, it should deter the weaker beasts from making a move."

The profound level of martial arts cultivation was below the celestial level. Although there was a world of difference between the two and so it would do nothing to scare off the more formidable ones out there. Yet, the fact that it was in the mid-range of the profound level would work well in deterring the weaker of them and make cautious the brave and the stronger ones.

After the initial scare, the rest of the fast-paced night run until the next rest point was made without incident. Whether it was due the blood of the first bold beast to attack or some other factor, though howls called out close by and eyes shimmered in the moonlight as creatures prowled about them, none made a move to strike.

Even so, the atmosphere was tense and forest void of sound outside of the occasional predatorial snarl. It was unsettling. Especially the yellow blinking eyes that watched around them, waiting.

Although she was tired, Nastasia didn't dare allow herself to fall asleep.

She spent the night on edge, with Li Yu Rong's occasional gentle caresses and comforting words. For some reason, she couldn't help but feel that something out there, beyond the negligible intelligence of a beast, watched them as it gave off a feeling of danger.