章 15: MianMian Protection Squad
Jiang Cheng cursed through clenched teeth, "That idiot!"
Its snake-like head pulled back, its yellow and black fangs parted wide as it lunged for its back. Wei Wuxian flicked his arm. Wen Chao's sword flew with the speed of an arrow. However, as it was covered in black scales, the blade of the sword sent off a trail of sparks before it plummeted into the water.
The beast seemed to got distracted by the shine of the sword in the water. Wei Wuxian pushed down with his legs and lept into the air onto one of the shore.
Suddenly, he heard Jiang Cheng call out, "Watch out!" Wei Wuxian spun around only to see a clothed back, Chun. Her hand met Zhuliu's, the clash emmited a small circle of light as Chun stood her ground and Zhuliu got slightly pushed back "How did you-" Zhuliu's gaze shifted to her hands. Upon a much closer and focused look, it was giving off a very faint glow of icy blue and gold. He reluctantly backs away to Wen Chao's side.
Arrows shot through the air as though they were rain, clinking as they hit the beast's scales and its shell. There was no use, not a single arrow had proven a fatal hit. The large head waved left and right. The descendants of each prominent clan built up the courage to defend the other disciples against the beast.
Lingjiao saw Qingyang and orddered the soldiers to grab her down as she held the branding iron "Chun! Help!" the girl immediately turned around to see the awful woman "Not on my fucking watch" she tackled Lingjiao to the ground before kicking the two soldiers down "Up on your feet, time is crucial" a few Wen disciples saw this and went for the two.
Wei Wuxian grabbed the bow. Three arrows were left in the quiver. He set them onto the bow all at once, drew the string to the fullest, and aimed.
MianMian let out a scream "Qingyang, don't waver under these people! Defend yourself!" She skillfully fights with her hands as she kept an eye for her brother but a sudden step from Qingyang caused her to take a few hits.
The tip of the iron was so heated that it sizzled and shone with red light. Wei Wuxian saw what was happening and immediately shifted the direction of the arrows and let go of the string.
The three arrows shot out at once and hit each of the three people who fell onto the ground. Lingjiao suddenly grabbed the iron that had fallen. Gripping MianMian's hair but Chun pulls the sobbing girl using herself as a shield.
Nobody was near the three. There were no more arrows on Wei Wuxian and there wasn't enough time to grab someone else's. He threw himself over the two girls with one hand landing forcefully at her chest.
Having undertaken the strike, Lingjiao heaved up a mouthful of blood and flew backward. However, the tip of the iron had already pressed onto his chest.
Chun finally processed what was going on after she caught the odor of clothing and skin being scorched, along with the horrifying scent of cooked meat. Below his collarbone, near his heart, came a pain that drowned out everything else.
He gritted his teeth, but still couldn't hold back the aching roar, finally letting it out of his throat "Wei Ying!" Chun made him lean on her.
Lingjiao flew out, blood spurting everywhere, and wailed as soon as she hit the ground. Jiang Cheng's palm went toward the crown of her head. Wen Chao screeched, "JiaoJiao! Quick, get JiaoJiao back here!"
Zhuliu frowned slightly. He didn't say anything as he hurried over, fended off Jiang Cheng, and carried Lingjiao back
She threw herself into Wen Chao's arms, still retching blood as she bawled her eyes out.
Jiang Cheng chased over to fight Zhuliu. Wen Chao saw that his eyes were bloodshot and had on a terrifying expression and with the beast still raging, it wasn't a great situationfor anyone.
Wen Chao finally began to fear, "Retreat right now!"
Those who served him had been holding it up with much effort, waiting for him to give orders of retreat since a long time ago. Hearing those words, they hopped onto their swords and flew away at once. They disappeared within the blink of an eye. All of the disciples and servants followed closely behind him. Xue shouted, "Stop fighting! Let's go!"
The disciples had never intended to continue the fight anyway but dashing along, as they arrived at where the hole was, they found the vine that they had used was now in a pile on the ground.
Yaliang fumed, "Those dog-thieves! They cut off the vine!" without the vine, they had now way of climbing up the steep dirt wall.
Huaisang cried, "They're blocking up the entrance!" Deep underground, all that was left was a couple of burning torches, igniting the young faces.
A while later, Zixuan's cursing broke the dead silence, "That hell of a couple can really do such things, can't they?"
One of the boys murmured, "It's alright even if we can't get out… My father and mother will come find me. If they hear of this, they'll definitely search for me here" A few of the people agreed.
Chun who had Xue on her side and Wei Wuxian leaning on her broke their hope, "They must think that we're still undergoing indoctrination at Qishan. How could they possibly search for us… Besides, after the Wen Sect's people ran away, they definitely won't tell the truth. They'll definitely make up some excuse… And we can only stay down here… along with a beast…"
"Without any food?" someone asked.
As Jiang Cheng slowly walked over, Wei Wuxian happens to hear the 'without any food' part of the conversation, "Jiang Cheng, there's a piece of cooked meat here. You want to eat it?"
Jiang Cheng, "You really haven't learned your lesson, have you? Just what situation do you think we're in? You don't know how much I want to sew your lips together"
Wangji's eyes landed on them. Immediately after, they landed on MianMian, who followed behind them, at a loss as to what to do. Tears stained her face as she continued to sob, hands clenching her robe as she said 'I'm sorry' over and over again.
Wei Wuxian plugged his ears, "Hey, stop crying, alright? I'm the one who was burned, not you. Don't tell me that you want me to cheer you up?" Chun pushed him over to Jiang Cheng and hugged Qingyang "Don't listen to that idiot, it must've been frightening to be targeted like that. I won't let anything happen to you" Xue caught sight of her limp right arm with a few thin blood trickling "What did you do?" he carefully held her arm making her flinch "You shouldn't have mentioned it. Now I can feel it" The girls circled around MianMian and began to sniffle together "He-Here, this is all I can give for now" Wei Wuxian and Chun gladly accepts it.
Jiang Cheng, "Young Master Lan, where are you going? The beast is still waiting in the pool"
Wangji, "Return to the pool. There is a way to leave"
After the boys had heard that there was a way to leave, even the crying stopped.
Ling Wu, "What is it?"
Wangji, "There are maple leaves within the pool" Although the sentence sounded rather strange, Xue understood at once.
Atop the dark pool that the beast dwelled in, there were indeed a few leaves red as fire, flaunting how fresh they were. When they came up the mountain, they had also seen the sight of leaves drifting along water in a creek.
Xue realizes the point, "At the bottom of the pool, it's likely that there's a hole connected with water from the outside. That wouldn've brought in the maple leaves in the forest creek"
Yaliang, "But… How do we know if the hole is large enough to let people through? What if it's really small and it's only a slit?"
"And the beast is still watching stubbornly over the pool" Ling Wu stated as Huaisang fans the wound of Wei Wuxian "If there's hope, then let's move. No matter what, it's better than waiting for our parents here and doing nothing. So what if it's watching over the pool? We can just lure it out"
After some negotiation, a while later, they quietly peeped at the beast.
Most of its body was still soaked in the pool. The long body of a snake extended from its turtle shell. It approached the shore, dragging the corpse back into its dark, castle-like shell.
Xue tossed out a torch. It crashed into one corner of the cave. The sound was especially exaggerated within the dead silence of the underground. The head of the beast slid out of its shell at once. Instinctively attracted to things that gave light and heat, it slowly extended its neck out.
Xue gives a thumbs up as Jiang Cheng noiselessly dove into the water. The moment that he had dived, the ripples disappeared immediately. Everyone stared at the water, glancing at the beast at times. The beast hesitantly circles around the torch, debating to itself. It moved its nose close that got slightly scorched by the flames.
The neck of the beast shrunk, water vapour shot out with rage from its nostrils, putting the torch out.
At this point in time, Jiang Cheng just happened to have swum out of the water and took in a deep breath. Sensing that its territory had been intruded, it shook its head and plunged toward Jiang Cheng.
Noticing the situation at hand, Wei Wuxian bit his finger and drew something illegible on his palm. He slapped his palm onto the ground. As his he removed his hand, a fire as tall a person sprouted from the ground.
Surprised, the beast turned around and looked over. Jiang Cheng used the opportunity to climb ashore, shouting, "There's a hole at the bottom, not too small!"
Ling Wu, "How small is not too small?"
Jiang Cheng, "About half a dozen can pass at a time!"
Wei Wuxian shouted, "Everyone, listen up. Follow Jiang Cheng and swim into the underwater hole. Those who aren't injured watch out for those who are, those who can swim watch out for those who can't. Half a dozen can pass at a time, so nobody rush. Now, go!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the flame that had sprouted slowly died down. He backed off ten-or-so steps but Chun was just in time on finishing her array that was placed slightly far from the group as a circle of flame danced around her.
The beast's golden eyes appeared reddish through the light of the flames. Burning mad, it waved its limbs and climbed toward the fire, dragging above it its mountain of a body.
Jiang Cheng, Xue, and Wei Wuxian looked at her, "What are you doing?!"
She rolls her eyes "Should I state the obvious?! Get them everyone out!" the monster was lured out of the water. Wei Wuxian runs to her and added energy to the fire making it taller.
"Don't you fucking dare!" Xue wasn't even able to step a foot to their direction. Jiang Cheng was instructing and guiding the other disciples.
Wei Wuxian took the arrown on his arm to protect Chun. It was the Lan Sect disciple from earlier. Perhaps realizing how fearsomely agile it was, his hand had slipped and the arrow had lost its aim. Chun was ticked by this "Back off! Don't cause any more trouble!"
Jiang Cheng and Xue hurried the two "Let's go!"
"We will!"
There were still three disciples who couldn't swim, the last batch. "Go with them, the fire won't easily die down" Chun urged since she knew that they had to act quick.
"Chun leave it be! We need to go" Xue called out "Jiang Cheng! Take my brother out of here! We'll follow once you guys are out! I know how to swim so we won't be long" Jiang Cheng and Xue reluctantly complied, if it wasn't for her burning gaze they would've stayed a little longer. Wei Wuxian pulled the arrow out of his arm and the blood that came out was more than expected as it streamed down to the water.
Oh no!
You have got to be fucking kidding me!
The scent of blood had provoked the beast. Its neck suddenly grew in length faster than ever and its fangs had opened wide!
Chun leaps, missing Wei Wuxian's clothing but somebody shoved him to the side. WangJi had pushed him out of the way. The jaws of the beast had closed, biting down on his leg.
Wangji's face was still expressionless. He had only frowned slightly. Judging from the size and the bite strength of the beast, it could easily be turn a person into two pieces.
After it had bitten someone, it would shrink into its shell, no matter if the person was dead or alive. If it dragged Wangji inside, then he'd most likely never come out again.
Chun's ribbon whips onto the creature's eye "Wei Ying! Be ready to grab Wangji!" combining her ribbons made it easy for her to lasso it around the thing's neck as she sunk her energy infused feet on the ground "Please fucking work" with enough energy she forcefully pulls it's neck that loosened the grip on Wangji's leg.
She winced after exerting her injured arm but nonetheless pulled out a dagger from her boots slicing her palm letting the blood drip on a torch before throwing it at a different direction
They started running as Wei Wuxian had Wangji on his back. Without having any rest, they didn't even know how long they've run. After unable to hear anymore sounds, they slowed down and lowered their guard.
They sat on the ground and concern were evident on Wei Wuxian and Chun's face Wangji's injury had gotten worse
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット