Thud, thud, thud, thud.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The sound of footsteps echoed as a group ran across the forest. A group of four –A beautiful woman that looked around late thirties or early forties, a younger but equally stunning version of her carrying a girl of about four years old, and the only man among them, who seems to be in his late twenties. Even though they were all covered with mud, blood and sweat, he still emitted a regal aura, hinting that he is or was someone of nobility.
It was obvious they were tired, panting heavily with sweat trickling down. They had likely been running for a few hours. They made a turn and hid in the branches of a tall tree, but they knew this wouldn't save them, they were just using this recuperate before they had to fight or run again.
"Damn senior!, did he think he was the only one in this forest?. He did not even care about the others, he just killed the pregnant mate of the Bloodfang tiger and left like that." The man complained bitterly as he was powerless to protect his family against such a powerful foe.
Even if they all fought together, they could only fight it to a draw. And that was before it began entering the rampage mode from the pain of losing his wife and children. Now if they fight it, they will be at a disadvantage and since the beast has more stamina than they do, it will lead to an eventual loss.
"Chi Jung, shut up!. If that old fool hears you and comes here the Bloodfang tiger will be the least of our problems." The older woman scolded, completely ignoring the fact that she insulted the expert herself.
"How are we supposed to get out of this situation?" The younger woman asked.
Everyone immediately turned silent. After sometime, in which everyone was deep in thought thinking of a solution, the younger woman and man called Chi Jung exchanged a look before nodding their heads in understanding.
The older woman suddenly sensed a change in mood, she stared at the younger woman "Ya'er, why do I have a bad feeling about the next thing that is about to come out of your mouth." She said half jokingly, but seeing the look in her daughter's eyes she turned fully serious –because she sensed something bad was about to happen.
"Mother, can you use the movement technique?" Hua Ya, the younger of two women asked
"You know what would happen if I use the technique, Hua Shim-" she bit her lip at her brother's name, then sighed, " he would be able to sense my location, and it would only be a matter of time before they come." Hua Zhenlan, the older woman said, then sighed "even if I could, I would not be able to get all of us out of here, I could only carry an additional person."
" Yes, we know. That is why we want you to take our Xianyan out of here. And about your brother, The chi family should be able to protect you when the time comes." Chi Jung said solemnly.
" You guys must be joking, we need to think of a plan to get out of here the Bloodfang tiger is catching up. Tsk, tsk, tsk you people really don't know when to be serious." Hua Zhenlan said in denial.
" Please mother, you know this is the only way. The Bloodfang tiger already has our scent and will continue tracking us as long as we are in the forest. I want Xianyan to have a life – I already lived mine." Xua Ya said sadly.
"Since I don't want Hua Shiming to track me, I haven't used the technique since the extermination of the sect, if I use it for such a long distance it would have severe repercussions. If I die…. who will take care of Xianyan." Hua Zhenlan said
"I'm not even sure I can make it out of the forest. Due to all the running, we have almost made it to the center of the forest and I fear from here to the end of the forest is too great." She added, to which a pill appeared in Chi Jung's hand.
"This is the Origin Nourishment pill, even in the upper echelon of my family, it is rare. But due to my position as the patriarch's son and talent I was able to acquire one. Its purpose is an all round boost, cancelation of backlash or reduction in your case –since there is a limit to what the products of this realm can do for you, though it does have a little side effect which happens after use. I think it should be enough to get you out of the forest without dying. Take it, a dead man has no need for such treasures." Chi Jung said with a sad smile as he handed her the pill.
" The Bloodfang tiger is almost here and since I'm using the technique for the first time in a while, it is going to take some time to activate, we'll all be dead by the time it has activated." Hua Zhenlan tried countering.
""We also know that, that is the second reason we are staying back– to buy you time." Hua Ya replied gently.
"Why can't one of you do it instead?." Hua Zhenlan asked with tears in her eyes, her usual fierce nature gone, even though she knew the answer.
"Mother, you know better than I do that we did not learn the movement technique so as not to alert your brother." Hua Ya answered, she held her mother's hand "You can do this."
Now both women were completely crying. Hua Ya held Chi Xianyan close to her chest as if she would disappear any moment, riddling her face with kisses as she cried. The child was happy to get special attention from her mother, but she couldn't understand why she was crying so she also started crying. The only in the group who was crying was Chi Jung, he believed shedding tears would be a sign of weakness and though he could not protect his family, he had to be strong till the end.
"I can't... I really can't." Hua Zhenlan replied, shaking her head as she tried to pass the pill to one of them. "Learning the technique is simple, I can teach"
She tried to convince them not to let her do this, to let one of them do it instead. Even though she knew it was impossible to teach them a movement technique in mere minutes –It had taken her years to learn it.
"We might have only one chance at this, we can't leave it to probability or lesser odds. Moreover, you have the highest cultivation, which gives the best chance of survival." Chi Jung analyzed, before his voice softened as he took Hua Ya's hand. "Also, we wanted to go together."
"No, no, no Nooo!" Hua Zhenlan screamed not caring if the Bloodfang tiger heard her.
"Mother, do this and I will only ever ask one other thing from you." As Hua Ya was saying this, they heard growls.
"It is almost here." Chi Jung said standing up preparing to fight.
"Mother, it is time, we have to do this now." Hua Ya said, trying to snap the dazed Hua Zhenlan out of it.
Hua Zhenlan also stood up looking a bit lifeless and empty as she collected the now asleep Chi Xianyan from her mother.
Hua Ya brought out a sword as she quickly ran to her husband's side to support him. An ancient looking scroll appeared in Hua Zhenlan hand as she glanced through the content with a look of determination. She has experienced such tragedy before so she was quick to accept reality and she would do anything for the child to survive. If it was up to her she would have chosen to die with them but she couldn't be selfish, she has to live... For the child's sake.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud
They heard the sound of heavy footsteps as the Bloodfang tiger finally appeared, it stopped fifty meters from the couple. It was preparing to attack anytime with its two massive tusks that distinguished it from the opposite gender. It resembled a tiger, but it was about 1.7 meters tall, had black scales with thick bulky bear legs, and a thick, long, partially scaled tail with a spiky tip. The eyes were almost completely red, from going into rampage mode.
As the Bloodfang tiger was about to attack, Hua Zhenlan's finger started glowing white brightly which started moving very slowly towards the rest of her arm.
---
In an underground cell in a place very far but also near, it could not be measured by the normal prerequisite used for calculating distance.
A man, pale and so malnourished he was almost bones, was sitting in a meditative position with his eyes closed –he was chained up, it was obvious he had been there for a while and had not seen the sun for a long time.
Suddenly he opened his eyes and he showed an expression of extreme pain, as he said in a low and dried voice showing it had been a while since he last spoke. " Why,.... why….. Zhenlan, you really shouldn't have...."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"