One day in the past- IV

Clang

Her sword threw across the ground from the impact caused by the monstrous hound's body. It growled at her ferociously. She may be a teenager but, she wasn't a weak mortal girl either. She faced many life and death situations as a sword cultivator before. So instead of being scared and helpless, her mind started to calculate what she should do next.

Her opponent was five times larger than her. Its red eyes were raging with an angry fire while its sharp canines glistened dangerously. It transmitted its full weight on the front paws to pounce at her at any second. The hound didn't have a tail, ironically representing that this ferocious beast wasn't a type to wag its tail for anyone.

Ji Yan mentally calculated the distances from her to her sword and the beast. True. Even an average core realm cultivator is faster than an average mortal. However, this monster wasn't an average dog either. It could easily match her speed with its current spiritual power.

Therefore, she knew if she tried to grab the sword now, the beast would surely pounce on her neck. She had to come up with something soon.

However, before she plans anything suddenly, a yellowish thing passed her at the speed of the wind and attached to the hounds' eyes. It stuck to the beast's eyes like a leech, covering its visual field. She identified her pet ershu at first glance. A sudden fear wrapped her heart but, this isn't time to show a dramatic worrying gesture. She knew if she fights side by side with her spiritual pet, they have a chance to win.

Ji Yan took the opportunity and sprang without making any noise, grabbed her spiritual sword, slashed the neck of the monster, and jumped back to her previous position. As the hound screamed in pain, Ershu retreated to a safe distance.

Ershu was a type of metal spiritual beasts. The specialty of metals was their deadly attacks. It was clearly visible with deadly gashes around the monster's eyes. All of these happened within a few seconds.

However, it was enough to break the monster hound's focus. Both Ji Yan and ershu attacked it from every direction mercilessly. A one-party surely had to die here. They knew it was that hound's life or theirs. If you don't want to become the prey, you should become the predator.

The hound was so weakened and laid on the ground motionless. She took her sword, pointed it to its heart, ready to pierce through it.

However, she made a terrible mistake there.

The hound's eyes looked so sad and brimmed with tears. It slowly whimpered as it knew that was its last moment. It shivered pitifully, crawling into a small ball of fluff. Ji Yan felt pity. She dropped her sword, called her spiritual pet, and turned back to go on her own way.

She couldn't go further peacefully. A huge red beam erupted behind her. The monster lifted into the air. Its gashes started to cover up. Every wound in its body started to heal. Within a few minutes, it landed on the ground, restored completely into its previously healthy form.

She never heard about a creature that can restore faster like this. What in the hell was that demonic dog? Both she and her pet were exhausted. Ji Yan knew that this time, they have no chance to fight against it.

All hopes of living seemed to shatter in front of her eyes. However, she was a cultivator. She couldn't just give up and die. If she was about to die, she would try to drag down this monster with her. So, she wouldn't die in vain.

Her grip daringly tightened around the sword hilt. Her pure white Taoist robes that dyed from her pre-spilled blood danced on the slight breeze giving her a look of the angel of death. She lifted her arm and gave a powerful blow to the beast who pounced on her.

Another round of ferocious battle started. All of them fought violently. However, Ji Yan felt her body gradually getting weaker with each second passed.

Then something surprising happened. The beast just vanished into thin air.

She didn't do anything. She was sure her ershu didn't either. What in the hell just happened.

A figure of a young man appeared behind the grove in front of them. He looked tired. He was holding an axe with his right hand. Ji Yan knew he wasn't just another woodcutter as she saw his white and blue immortal sword sect uniform.

Usually, swordsmen don't carry axes around, so she guessed he might've summoned it from his spacial ring. If he owned a spacial ring he was definitely a nascent or higher realm cultivator. probably a nascent.

In both ways, he was senior to her. So, Ji Yan bowed to him respectfully.

"Greetings, senior." He nodded. "That was such an impressive swordplay Shimei." He sounded honest.

She felt so happy from getting praised by a senior. However, at that moment, she was more curious about what happened to the beast.

"Shixiong, Do you know what happened to the monster just now? He suddenly disappeared into thin air."

"He died."

"How?"

"Well, that beast was a '*Penghou.' A tree spirit. Usually, they aren't this ferocious. I think the demonic energy here made it cruel. You cannot kill it unless you cut the tree it linked to or pierce its heart completely."

"So, that's why it was revived."

"Yes, and that was the reason I sensed an energy disturbance here. As soon as I saw what happened, I searched for a tree that gives off turbulent energy waves. I found It and cut it down. So it died."

It was a new thing for Ji Yan. Being a cultivator was very interesting. You learn something new each day. She turned to the senior brother and bowed again.

"Many thanks for helping us, shixiong. However, I think we must leave now. I have a mission in a nearby village." With that note, she picked up her spiritual pet to leave.

"Is it okay if I ask the name of this Shimei?" The boy asked before she disappeared through a transportation array. "Ji Yin. And, shixiong?"

"Xie Ra. I hope we'll meet again. Safe journey, meimei."

She smiled. Then, the smoke of the short-distance transportation array covered her vision.

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*Shimei- little sister disciple.

*Meimei-little sister.