Few hours after the hunt concluded, the forest grower darker signifying the dusk of another day coming to and end. Dai yaun returned to the massive tree roots, where the rabbit, now lifeless lay secured within his vine having retrieved the strange creature from the pit trap and taking out of the net, dai yaun took a look at the giant rabbit noting the cold weight of the scarlet scale on its forehead.
As dai yuan observed the dead rabbit, he lamented his foolishness of not coming with a knife, having to struggle with his axe to butcher and d-scale the rabbit, made him annoyed as his planned for the wooden axe wasn't for butchering or digging but for fighting and honing himself during the curse of his journey.
The depth of the jungle was utterly black, requiring to squint his eyes before making out things around him, the only saving grace to his sight being the firefly illuminating the surrounding once in a while as the make their way to god knows where.
Going over to the root of the giant mahogany like tree, dai yaun gathered dry, dead branches pilling them in a small clearing near the base of the giant tree. Using his axe blade and piece of flint he kept in his satchel, he struck consecutively until the kindling spark caught.
The fire sputtered to life growing rapidly, thanks to his agile hand quickly clearing the surrounding from any immediate leaves avoiding the fire from spreading out.
"though, I doubt the forest would really catch fire" muttering, dai yaun watched as the fire grow higher and higher casting a brief stark illumination across the dark surrounding before dying back down.for that moment the gloom retreated revealing the thick and muscular roots where he stands.
"did you see that" someone asked interrupting the silent darkness, causing whooshing sound to reverberate through out the forest as other cloaked figures come to a stand.
"is that what I am thinking it is"
"i think you are thinking, what I am thinking he is thinking it is" said a third voice in amusement
"shut up" the leader said
"i think that's a fire…." the leader continued placing his hand on his chin unseen in the dark environment.
"leader… do you think it is that cursed kid"
"well….I don't…."
"let's move towards that area" the leader interrupted the first guy before he could finish, as he sprang into movement, thanks to the glowing crimson silk serving as a beacon for the other guys to follow him, if not they would have been lost already.
Dai yaun unaware of his mistake cleaned the bizarre rabbit quickly, his hands moved daftly and in efficient manner. He impaled the dressed carcass on a sturdy green branch and propped it over the flames. The heat began to work its magic, the skin of the magical beast sizzling and popping, releasing a strange but savory aroma into the night air.
The fire provided a small island of comfort in the vast, hostile dark. He ate the cooked meat in silence, staring at the blazing flame as he munched on the rabbit meat.
After his meal, dai yaun ensured the fire was contained but still burning low. He settled his gear near the base of the giant tree, tucked into a nook of the roots that offered slight shelter from any potential dew. He laid his weapon within easy reach. The flame flickered gently over his face as he closed his eyes, the silence of the woods returning, and soon, he was asleep.
The dawn rose slow and colorless, a period of the day identified by the feint brightening of the jungle environment, gray mist curled through the trees, going with the scent of damp moss and pine trees. Beneath the root of the gigantic tree, dai yaun stirred from his fitful slumber, his back ached from the cold hard earth, stretching out his arms open dai yaun robbed his still dizzy eyes as he reminisced about the previous day.
"how I wish i could get a bottle of water.." mumbling silently dai yaun reached for his satchel to retrieve the remains of the roasted rabbit, when suddenly he paused as something shifter ever so silently behind him.
That moment shattered with the faint crunch of a twig behind him.
His body froze. His instinct screamed louder than thought. Without hesitation, dai yaun rolled aside, as the edge of a silver gray arrow head whistling through the space his neck had just occupied. The strike bit into a tree, splitting bark like paper.
"who is that…" he whispered under his breath as he turned around from where he lay prone on the ground, eyes narrowing.
From the fog, shadows emerged ten men cloaked in black. Their steps were silent, while their killing intent feels cold and suffocating. The insignia of the Zhou clan's inner guards glimmered faintly beneath their sleeves.
Even withoutany cultivation, Mo Lianglong could still recognize the sigil. These weren't random hunters, these people were after his dear life.
"mother fu*ker.. who the hell is after my life" muttering so silently dai yaun retreat step by step back into the deeper region of the forest.
"Orders are clear. Bring his head back. No mistakes." motioning with his hand forward, the leader of the assassins spoke, voice deep and devoid of emotion.
A faint metallic hiss followed his words, as the others drew out their short sabers from the scabbed hanging on their waist, each of their blade glimmers with faint saber qi.
"damn the wu clan" dai yaun cursed, staring at the cold saber qi shimmering on the assassin blade.
"giving these guys spirit grade weapo, do you really hate me that much"
The weapon in the Blackscale village are of two type mortal grade and spirit grade, mortal grade weapon are made entirely from raw steels without any mixture, just pure steel in it beauty. While the spirit grade weapon are made by combining different spirit beast part with metals and other materials, giving them the ability to develop faint traces of spirit qi by themselves.
Actually in the hands of mortal, one can say that the two weapons type are of similar usage, only minute difference, but in the hands of cultivator who care able to channel and utilize spirit qi, that would be an entire different story.
Dai yaun, clenched his fists, his body trembled in fears as realization downed on him that most of these guys are probably cultivators, although they might be low stage cultivators due to how unimportant he his to them. But oh boy cultivators are cultivators after all.
Without further thought, dai yaun turned around and bolted into the mist.
The assassins followed.
The forest erupted into motion, as the cries of startled beasts echo in the darkness, the sound of boot tapping on the floor and slicing of branches all mixed together. Dai yaun's breathing caught in his chest, as every muscle in his body were screaming as he leapt over fallen logs and darted through thickets. Thanks to his familiarity with the surrounding from the previous day pursuit.
Behind him, the assassins' footfalls were calm, measured like hunters closing in on certain prey.
Dai yaun's only advantage was the terrain. He ran without any rhythm, running erratically as he weave through narrow gullies and twisted roots.
Suddenly dai yaun disappeared behind a covering of thickets, after the assassins followed him in they lost sight of him, searching all over the couldn't discover him.
"Split into two groups," one assassin barked.
Their formation shifted as they divide their self into two group of five some returning the way they come while the other group moved forward into the thicket.
Few minutes after they left the thicket, dai yaun gritted his teeth and forced himself out of his hiding place, a hole below where the assassins where previously standing.
Dai yaun was lucky as the place was perfectly camouflaged by the darkness of the environment, for it where in the outside world where every where is bright, he would have been dead by now, his body impaled by their sharp sabers.
For once, since coming into the jungle dai yaun felt like prostrating and giving thanks to the darkness.
Swish!
Before he could rejoice in his fortune, a glint of metal flashed from his right.
As a throwing knife grazed his shoulder, drawing blood. He stumbled forward almost returning back into the hole he came out off, pain flaring through his arm. The scent of blood mingled with the forest's damp air.
Holding his hand dai yaun, sprinted out of the bush as he ran forward, following his instinct dai yaun crosses logs and pits, without stopping for once
"Cornered rats run hardest," one of the assassins snigger, the group turns out to be five who had left earlier to trace their way back, but having not moved far away and with the faint sound of hurried breath alerted them and brought them back.
"after him" he said as their form blurred forward in pursuit, keeping a close distance on dai yaun sorry figure as the run across the jungle.
Dai yaun's mind raced. The ground dipped sharply ahead,showing the start of a narrow ravine he had glimpsed earlier. It was risky, but so was standing still or going back. And thus he dashed for it, while ignoring the protests of his battered body.
He dove down the slope just as a arrow cleaved through the air behind him, cutting a strand of his hair. Rocks and dirt flew as he tumbled, rolling painfully before slamming into a moss-covered boulder below. Dai yaun's vision blurred for a second,as the world spin in dizzy circles.
A muffled groan escaped his lips. Blood trickled from a cut across his forehead.
Above, the five assassins gathered at the ridge one of them holding a drawn bow in his armed nuked with a steel arrow, their eyes cold as they looked down at the fallen youth.
"Careful," one warned as he looked at the edge of the ravine. "This part of the forest is unstable."
"The ground is soft from old burrows."
Another scoffed. "He's not escaping again."
Tucking their blade tight, the assassin stepped forward as they began their descent.
Dai yaun, shakes his head forcing his vision to focus on his surrounding. His right arm throbbed from the fall. He pressed a hand against the rough boulder, steadying himself.
In the faint distance, he could hear faint growls of beast echoing, low and predatory. Perhaps beasts lurked nearby..
Dai yaun, dashed forward through the clearing illuminated by the jade like moss hanging from the wall of the ravine, thanks to his strong physique despite the constant bleeding from the cuts and bruises, dai yaun only felt slight weakness and aching, but nothing more than which he could not afford to move forward.