Escape From the Ascetic

Raising both hands, one towards the Ascetic and one towards her, the ground rumbled forming two serpents made from the underground tree roots. They were incomplete, smaller than the previous ones and their bodies were already breaking apart. 

"Leave! Now!" he shouted. 

One serpent went straight up, opening its jaws to swallow the Ascetic. The other slithered underneath Ming Yue, taking her away as quickly as it could. 

"Wait, but yo-"

 Her hand was outstretched, almost reaching for him before getting whisked away, Moments later, the serpent that had engulfed the Ascetic was torn in half. The man himself looked unbothered by it all. 

He just turned, staring in the direction that his target had gone before looking down. 

"Trying to save her, are you?" he asked. 

More roots had shot out of the ground, wrapping around his ankles. They tightened up, trying to pull him down to the ground but he didn't move at all.