If Anything Happens … Scream!

Mei Chao Bing and Yun Bei Fen stopped in the middle of the valley to rest for the night. By now, Yun Bei Fen had learned to sense spiritual energy rather well and was even able to use it to make his sword raise into the air even though he still couldn't fly on it. He also had a spiritual beast albeit he had chosen one that would be rather useless for defending him. This was probably as much as he could do in preparation for their time in the border region. After this night, they should finally make their way over to the gathering place.

Mei Chao Bing looked at his little bunny that was currently teasing Xiao Hui with a long blade of grass that he had picked at the roadside. It seemed his little bunny was having fun. Mei Chao Bing got up when he had managed to make a fire and went over to leave a kiss on Yun Bei Fen's forehead. "I'll go and find something to eat for us. Will you be alright for the time being?"

Yun Bei Fen looked up and nodded. "Mn, don't worry about us. Xiao Hui and I will just wait here for you."

Mei Chao Bing nodded and wanted to go but still hesitated in the end. He leaned down again, giving Yun Bei Fen a kiss on the lips this time and smiled. "Alright, then I'll go now. Should anything happen, after all, just scream. I'll hurry back as fast as I can."

Yun Bei Fen nodded and then continued to play with the spiritual beast. He couldn't help but pause when Mei Chao Bing had left though and gave a sigh. "Ah, Xiao Hui, it's really a pity that Mei Chao Bing had to leave. It's much better with him around, don't you think so?"

The spiritual beast raised its head and blinked its eyes at Yun Bei Fen. Then, it turned to look in the direction where Mei Chao Bing had left. Its nose twitched and it scuffled closer to Yun Bei Fen, rubbing its head against his knees.

Yun Bei Fen laughed and picked the little bunny up, putting it onto his lap and once again petting its fur. "Mei Chao Bing seemed really worried when he left just now. The two of us have to get stronger soon so that he will be at ease when he has to leave us for a while."

The spiritual beast curled up on Yun Bei Fen's lap and just let him pat it. In that way, the two of them waited for Mei Chao Bing to return.

A quarter of an hour went by and Xiao Hui opened its eyes, its nose once again twitching. This time it lifted its head though and flattened its long ears. It made a soft sound and tapped Yun Bei Fen's hand that had already stopped moving.

Yun Bei Fen was startled out of his dream and looked around. Mei Chao Bing still wasn't back but the small fire he had made was still burning next to them. Not much time could have passed since he left.

Yun Bei Fen looked down when something nudged his hand again and found his spiritual beast quivering on his lap. "What is it? Did something happen?" He picked it up and lifted it in front of his face. This little thing seemed to be afraid.

Xiao Hui looked to the side where the leaves had rustled before and another quiver ran through its body.

Yun Bei Fen didn't know too much about spiritual beasts but seeing the little thing this frightened, he couldn't help but shiver himself. There wouldn't be anything scary around, would there?

He got up from the ground and uneasily looked around. He couldn't see anything but with the little spiritual beast shaking in his arms, he couldn't help but wonder if he just wasn't able to pick up on it. He hesitated and finally tried to sense the spiritual energy in his surroundings. At first, he only saw the usual light shimmer but when he extended his senses further, he noticed one spot about half a li away that glowed brightly like a little sun.

Yun Bei Fen's eyes widened and he pressed Xiao Hui up against his chest. This thing was just as bright as Mei Chao Bing. If it was anything that wanted to attack them, then there was no way for him to defeat it. Especially since he hadn't even learned how to use his spiritual energy for anything other than making his sword raise into the air. He simply didn't know how to attack!

He took a careful step back only to step onto a twig. It broke with a surrounding crack. Yun Bei Fen flinched and Xiao Hui shivered even more. In the shrubs, a low growl sounded.

Yun Bei Fen went rigid. He still remembered how Mei Chao Bing had told him to scream if anything happened. This was probably the moment when he should do so? Unfortunately, his whole body was shaking, including his teeth. He really didn't know how to scream for help. This thing … Couldn't it just go and search for food somewhere else? Xiao Hui and he certainly weren't very tasty!

Yun Bei Fen's eyes filled with tears but he forced himself to take another step back, carefully looking around to see if the thing was already coming over. He still couldn't see it but the growling seemed to close in on them. If he didn't do anything now, then it would really be too late!

Yun Bei Fen stared ahead and finally whirled around, running in the other direction with trembling legs. He took a shallow breath and finally gave a yelp. Unfortunately, his voice wasn't very loud. He wasn't too sure if Mei Chao Bing would be able to hear it wherever he was now.

Yun Bei Fen panicked even more and stumbled down from the path and into the meadow, sinking into the grass up to his knees. Oh no! What if there was also something in the grass? He wanted to use his spiritual energy to sense any dangers but running with his surrounding glowing made it even worse.

He stumbled and fell to the ground. Xiao Hui tumbled out of his arms and came to lie a few steps away from him. At the very least, Yun Bei Fen was so surprised by the fall, that he yelled out in a louder voice.

In the forest next to the meadow, Mei Chao Bing stopped with a hand still on his sword. He had just hunted down a suitable prey and was about to process it but … that had sounded as if Yun Bei Fen was in trouble. He only took another glance at his prey and then pulled his sword out of its body, jumping onto it and rushing in the direction where the sound had come from. Never mind going hungry and leaving his prey to the spiritual beasts. As long as Yun Bei Fen was safe nothing else counted.