The path to Whispering Peak was exactly as Lena had described: treacherous. It was a winding, rocky trail that ascended sharply into a densely forested mountain, far less maintained than the North River path Rylan had cleared. The sun, already high, struggled to penetrate the thick canopy, casting the ascent in perpetual twilight.
Rylan moved with purpose, his steps agile and light thanks to his enhanced physique and refined Foundation Establishment cultivation. Elara followed closely, her Qi Gathering energy making her more capable on the uneven terrain than any normal village girl. Lyra, however, moved with an almost natural grace, her resourceful nature and newfound Minor Mana Affinity allowing her to intuitively pick the easiest footholds and navigate the subtle shifts in the earth's energy. She carried a small satchel, already having gathered a few common medicinal herbs along the way.
"The Whispering Peak is named for the strange winds that always blow near its summit," Lyra explained, her voice carrying a hint of local lore. "And for the whispers people sometimes hear. Old wives' tales, perhaps, but it's always been considered a cursed place by the villagers."
Rylan simply hummed in acknowledgment. Cursed or not, it held the herb Lena's mother needed, and the promise of his next breakthrough. He kept his spiritual sense extended, constantly sweeping the immediate surroundings, alert for any threats. Elder Kael had mentioned aggressive Baron patrols.
They hadn't gone far when Rylan sensed movement ahead. Not the subtle presence of a beast, but the rough, disciplined energy of trained men. He signaled for Elara and Lyra to stop, pressing a finger to his lips. They instantly obeyed, melting into the shadows of the trees.
Peeking through a screen of thick bushes, Rylan spotted them: three figures in the distinctive, crude leather and iron armor of Baron Von Hess's guards. They were heavily armed with spears and short swords, their faces grim. One of them, a bulky man with a cruel scar across his cheek, held a primitive crossbow.
"Still no sign of that runaway," the scarred guard grumbled, his voice low. "Baron's furious. Said she stole a purse of his coin."
"Serves her right for trying to leave," another sneered. "These villagers think they can just escape their duties. We'll find her, or the Baron will make an example of the whole family."
Rylan's eyes narrowed. This wasn't about the herb. This was a patrol hunting a runaway, likely a peasant trying to escape the Baron's heavy taxes. It solidified his opinion of Baron Von Hess as a petty tyrant. And it presented a potential obstacle to his quest.
The guards continued to argue amongst themselves, their attention divided. Rylan saw his opportunity. They were positioned in a small clearing, slightly exposed. He didn't want a prolonged fight, not yet. He needed the herb swiftly and quietly.
He motioned to Lyra, silently indicating the precise location of the three guards. Lyra's eyes, sharp and intelligent, understood. She pulled out a small pouch from her satchel, carefully extracting a handful of dried leaves. With a swift, practiced motion, she tossed them into the air, aiming for a small fissure in a nearby rock face.
The leaves, infused with her nascent Mana Affinity, reacted, releasing a sudden, pungent cloud of smoke that wafted directly towards the guards. It wasn't a strong attack, but a potent, irritating distraction. The guards immediately began to cough, their eyes watering, cursing and rubbing at their faces.
"What in the blazes is that?" one choked.
As they were disoriented, Rylan struck. He moved like a phantom, a blur of motion. In two swift, silent movements, he was behind the scarred guard, delivering a precise, non-lethal strike to the back of his neck with the edge of his palm, infused with spiritual energy. The guard slumped without a sound.
The other two, still coughing and disoriented, barely registered their comrade's collapse before Rylan was upon them. He used his spiritual energy to amplify his strikes, rendering one unconscious with a sharp blow to the temple, and sweeping the legs out from under the third, who landed heavily and groaned, dazed.
Within seconds, all three guards were incapacitated, lying unconscious on the forest floor. Rylan quickly bound their hands and feet with ropes from his own makeshift pack, and gagged them to prevent any cries. He then dragged them deeper into the undergrowth, concealing them beneath fallen leaves and branches.
[Ding! Host has successfully neutralized Baron's Patrol (Minor Threat).][Reward: Minor Cultivation Essence +0.2 (Absorbed).][Note: Skillful use of stealth and decisive action minimizes resource expenditure.]
Lyra approached, her eyes wide with impressed surprise. "That was... efficient, Master Rylan," she said, a hint of genuine admiration in her tone. "My smoke potion merely distracts. Your speed..."
"Your distraction was key, Lyra," Rylan acknowledged, giving her a nod. He was not one to deny credit where it was due, especially to his Harem members. It built loyalty. "Now, we need to move quickly. The herb should be near the summit."
They pressed on, the silence of the forest now profound, broken only by their footsteps and the rustle of leaves. Rylan focused on his spiritual sense, searching for any unusual concentrations of energy, any sign of the rare herb Lena needed. Whispering Peak was living up to its name; a faint, almost ethereal hum, like distant voices, seemed to weave through the air. This was likely the "whispers" Lyra had mentioned, a natural phenomenon of concentrated spiritual energy at the mountain's core, perhaps.
As they neared the summit, the spiritual energy in the air grew noticeably thicker, almost palpable. And then, Rylan saw it. Tucked into a rocky crevice, glowing with a soft, pulsing light, was a cluster of delicate, sapphire-blue flowers. Their petals seemed to absorb and reflect the ambient spiritual energy, creating the ethereal glow.
[Ding! Target Herb: Moonpetal Blossom (Rare) Detected!]
This was the herb. Lena's mother would live. And with it, Rylan would gain his next Harem member and another surge of power. The Lustful Emperor was one step closer to his goal.
End of chapter 12