Jin stood outside his camp, draped in a long cloak that reached his calves, wearing special shoes made from plant leaves and roots, and a similar thick hat to protect himself. He tapped his staff against the ground impatiently.
"If this rain persists, we'll lose our chance to locate the creature," Jin remarked.
"Grant fifteen minutes to gather so guards," Wuyi retorted.
"Fifteen minutes we might not have," Jin countered.
Wuyi road through the encampnt, unarmored, regretting his decision to drink the previous night and allowing all the Qi masters to do the sa.
His headache stemd not from a hangover but from seeing the state of his warriors; he was faring better than most. Many were still inebriated.
He had recently paid them with the earnings received from Lady Xueyan, boosting both his popularity and authority even among newcors. This, however, had also facilitated their current state of drunkenness.
Yun Ming was seated at the camp's entrance, visibly bearing the signs of a hangover. "Feeling the effects of last night?" Wuyi asked.
Yun Ming shook his head. "Still drunk," he replied, raising a cup. "Care for so?"
Wuyi gestured a decline. "No, thank you. I need four sober warriors, preferably Qi masters or Qi adepts."
Yun Ming shook his head again.
Wuyi felt his patience dwindling. "If they're drunk while on guard, they'll answer to ," he warned.
Yun Ming stood up and suggested, "Perhaps it's best you don't check on them right now."
Wuyi locked eyes with him, his tone mild yet tinged with irritation. "Is it really that bad?" he asked.
"Do you want them to think you're indifferent? You healed one, yet we still lost seven mbers of the faction under your command." Yun Ming, his bloodshot eyes steady, responded, "This isn't the ti for strict discipline, don't you think?"
Wuyi Sighed. "If Demonics from the Forest attack now, we're all dood."
Yun Ming shrugged. "So what? It's not like you will die. We both know that."
"We're better than this," Wuyi asserted.
Yun Ming took a long sip from his cup. "Are we, though?" He chuckled darkly. "You've gathered a band of misfits—rogues, prisoners, and poor, broken warriors—and taught them cultivation, forging them into sothing aningful. And now you expect them to behave like the Celestial Immortal Legion?"
Wuyi exhaled deeply. "I am not that demanding. I'd be content with the Infernal Immortal Legion. Still, discipline is non-negotiable."
Yun Ming snorted. "Save your discipline for tomorrow. Show so compassion today. Let them grieve. Besides, I doubt even a beast would dare harm you, not with the protection of those red-black..."
Wuyi frowned. A strong command entered Yun Ming's mind, nearly sobering him up as he realized his mistake—he had almost revealed Wuyi's secret too easily. Knowing that Yun Ming had indulged in wine after a long ti, Wuyi dismissed the ntion of his summons.
"We've already mourned. We visited the temple, for goodness' sake. A band of outlaws and killers, shedding tears. Had I not witnessed it, I would've found it laughable." For a mont, Wuyi appeared youthful, perplexed, and frustrated all at once. "We're in the midst of conflict. We can't pause to grieve."
Yun Ming took another sip of his wine. "Can you fight every single day?" he questioned.
Wuyi pondered briefly. "Yes," he replied.
"Then you're a freak who should be sealed in a dungeon. The rest of us can't. Give it a break, Young Master Black."
Wuyi stood up. "You're the Chief Qi master of the group. You need to pay attention to things. We need another Guardian now that Cai is no more—should we consider elevating Xuanli?"
Yun Ming squinted his eyes. "Discuss this with tomorrow," he warned. "If you dare bring it up again today, I swear by the Spirits, I'll thrash you until you can't stand. Is that clear?"
Wuyi gave a teasing smile, realizing Yun Ming was more drunk than he had expected. "You can try."
Yun Ming, visibly irritated, responded, "I can, and if you don't leave alone, I will really give it a try. Even if you win, I am sure I can land so punches. I am certain of it."
Wuyi considered teasing this righteous subordinate of his more but then decided against it since Jin was still waiting for him. He spun around and left. He found Zhen in a drunken state as well. Even the young attendant Dong was sprawled on the floor of Wuyi's tent, covered with a rug and holding a chicken leg.
Wuyi observed them for a mont, contemplating an outburst but decided against it, as no one was sober enough to care. He attempted to don his Qi armor himself and realized with all his attendants around, he had been spoiled; he could barely put on the armor himself. Opting for a tunic. He wore his cloak above it.
Jin had readied the horses.
And so it was that Wuyi found himself riding alongside his beastmaster, Jin, isolated on the path that andered along the river.
Jin guided them westward along the riverbank for leagues, on a path that gradually narrowed and beca indistinct, until they had crossed the area where they had battled the Flying Serpent. The path vanished altogether. No more farmlands were in sight; the last villager's hut was leagues away, and Wuyi couldn't even detect the scent of burning wood in the crisp spring air.
Instead, it carried a chilly undertone of lingering winter. Lady Xueyan's words rang true; this land had been reclaid by the untad wild.
Occasionally, Jin would dismount in sunlit clearings and unsheathe his short stick, its tip adorned with silver and jade. He would then take out his beads and chant incantations, glancing nervously at Wuyi, who remained stoic atop his steed. Each ti, he would place a withered, thorn-laden twig of Spirit Ward on the ground.
The twig seed to point in a specific direction, as if pulled by an invisible force.
They continued their journey.
"Do you enjoy employing mystical arts to track these creatures?" Wuyi finally broke the silence. They were riding single-file along a well-worn trail, the old leaves compressed underfoot. The path was easy to follow, but the road had disappeared. By any standard, they were deep in the wilderness.
"With the blessings of the heavens and nature," Jin replied, eyeing Wuyi as if expecting a rebuttal. "However, my mystical arts led us to the wrong creature. Now, I'm searching for the person—or people or demonic—responsible."
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