Lufis POV

“So, um, can someone please explain to me why I am tagging along?” Edward asked as he trudged up the mountain cliffside, following behind us.

Elder Luidong, upon reaching the top of the rocky incline, turned back to face Edward. “Instead of thinking about the negatives, you must think more about the positives. As a wise man once said: “The more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in battle.””

Edward sighed, resting on his knees as he reached the top of the hill. “I feel like I could be much more productive by reading in the library. As Monk Guan, the librarian who is a wise man that I know, says, “A book is like a house of gold or a garden carried in one’s pocket.”.”

A touch of a smile blossomed on Elder Luidong’s face. “True, a book can be compared to that of man’s best friend, guide, and teacher. However, as another wise man once said: “Studying is like climbing a mountain,””

“Of course, reading and studying takes effort, but what does that have to do with me being here?” Eward tilted his head, thinking in afterthought. “Wait. Elder, are you trying to be literal here?”

“What do you mean?” Elder Luidong chuckled wryly. “Want to hear something interesting Edward? Make sure to learn this one; take it deep to heart, and then apply it to life and the current situation you are in. As a wise man once said: "It's better to walk thousands of miles than to read thousands of books.”

Edward flopped to the ground in defeat. “Well, um, got nothing really to say to that. Hey Lufis, mind throwing me a lifeline, or provide some supporting backup? I would really appreciate it. Like really please. Don’t do this to me.”

I grinned “Your on your own, Ed. You got into this yourself; you dug yourself a really deep hole, that turned into a tunnel, which then collapsed with you in it. You were the one who decided to proverb battle an Elder. Did your survival instincts not warn you that you had zero percent chance of success? I am afraid to say, it’s too late to save you, sorry.”

“Now, now children, we must continue on with our treck.” Elder Luidong said as Edward clutched his heart and fell to the ground.

Drinking from my canteen, I continued up the path after Elder Luidong as he began to move ahead.

Earlier today after my training, he had told me that he would appreciate it if I accompanied him on ann expedition to exterminate a shizishou, a monster regional to the Acutalis Mountains. These beasts normally stay far away from monks, but recently a certain bold Shizishou has been straying closer and closer to the Sanctuary, hoping to feed off the herds raised by the monks. Thus Elder Luidong had self-elected himself to deal with the pesky beast.

Though I have no idea how Edward ended up coming with us. I will have to ask him later.

The stone mountains were bathed in a smoky fog, which dampened the various mosses, causing them to proliferate on the jagged cliffs and rocky boulders. The terrain was uncharted and slippery for a lack of better words. The seemingly constant scenery of moss covered rocks blended together, forming an almost otherworldy terain I could have never dreamed off. On the other hand, Edward’s trousers will probably have permanent mud stains on the knees after how many times he has fallen now.

“Hey Edward, look over here!” I called, turning around.

“I’m here, I’m here. What do you want, Lufis, buddy old pal?”

That buddy sounded a little vehement.

“Look down there! You can see the waterfall crashing down below!”

Edward peered out into the mist. “I can kind of see what you are talking about. You mean the big one on the other side from us, right? Fun fact, if I remember correctly, the river the waterfall forms into at the bottom of this drop is actually quite deep. The monks estimate it is around 12 feet deep.”

“Really? Wow, for a river in the mountains I would never have thought it could get that deep.”

Does it even qualify as a river though? Well, who am I to judge, I can't even see the water down below.

“AHHH!!” Edward shouted as a hand suddenly touched his shoulder.

“Boo?” Elder Luidong said as he retracted his hand back into his robe. “How about we take a moment to rest here? I need to go over a couple of things with you two before we continue on, and in the meantime we can enjoy a light snack while we are at it.”

Giving us a moment to sit down on some of the many mossy rocks around us, Elder Luidong closed his eyes to the sound of the waterfall in the distance.

The crashing and low roar of the water was a comforting sound, and even I was getting a little tired from all the walking throughout the day, especially after having my regular intense training earlier this morning.

Morning . . .

“Hey Lufis!! I get that you really like to sleep on rocky stone, but I thought you might want to know that Elder Luidong has gaodians, and if you don’t want it and would prefer to go back to your nap that is fine. I will gladly eat it in your place so as to bring balance, as a friend should.”

I snapped up, blinking. “Of course I want my gaodian.” I said, grabbing the mountain shaped pastry topped with sugary snow.

Edward laughed, choking on his gaodian as he pointed at me. “Oh my gosh, look at your hair” He hit his chest as he breathed in the delicious pastry. “It looks like field grass on a windy day, it’s pointing all over the place! Wait, to go with your blonde hair maybe a better simile would be that your hair looks like the rays of the sun, though just curled at the tips in different directions.”

“Mmphh” I said, biting deep into the pastry. The soft, buttery texture melted in my mouth, rejuvenating my spirit.

“Elder Luidong,” Edward said as he cleared his throat,”What is it that you wanted to tell us?”

“I just want to go over some basic procedure and rules before we engage the shizishou.”

“First,” Elder Luidong began as he raised a finger, “If, for some reason, any of you get seperated from me, do not panic. Remain alert and watchful. If you are separated, head to the top of the waterfall that falls into the chasm below.”

“Second, I want you to each carry one of these.” Elder Luidong said as he reached into his robe and pulled out two sheathed short swords.

“In the worst case scenario, I would rather you both be safe than sorry. Lufis, you sell yourself short, but I am confident that you can best a young shizishou on your own, though it will be a very hard battle. Edward, I trust that you can take care of yourself.” Elder Luidong reassured as he handed us the blades.

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief, looking at Edward as he waved his weapon in the air. He could fend for himself? The mud on his clothes told a different story. Elder Luidong must be referring to some secret special power found only in nobility.

Wait, is that even possible?

“Any questions?” I shook my head and Edward did likewise. “Then let us be off.”

Trudging along the rim of the cliff, we made good time. The waterfall was getting louder and louder, becoming a constant roar that it soon became impossible not to hear. I felt much better after our break, rejuvenated by the yummy gaodian in my stomach, and the light shortsword at my side gave me a sense of comfort. Glancing over, it seemed that Edward was also doing much better than before. In fact, he hadn’t fallen in the last thirty or so minutes we had been walking.

Suddenly, Elder Luidong’s hand flashed up, signaling us to a stop. Instinctively, I dropped down into a crouch, and was glad to see that Edward had done the same. Looks like he does have some survival instincts.

Motioning us forward, Elder Luidong pointed past the thicket wehere we were taking cover behind into the clearing ahead. There, lying in the middle of the clearing surrounded by what looked like sheep bones was the shizishou. Its fur was rugged yet thick, and looked like it would provide a good layer of natural armor. The enormous lion-like creature’s fangs were massive, and could easily be the size of my forearm.

Bringing his finger to his lips, Elder Luidong stepped out silently into the clearing. I had to blink twice to make sure it happened, it was so silent.

Elder Luidong reached into his robe and then . . . wait . . . what just happened? Rubbing my eyes, I was shocked to see the beast slumping forward, into the peaceful embrace of death, as Elder Luidong wiped the blood of his thin elegant sword. The only sound was that of a bone as it fell off the edge down into the canyon below as the shizishou slide further onto the ground.

“Did you see that?” I turned, addressing Edward.

He turned to me, his eyes wide. “I wish, that was an instant overkill!! He was like, “Waaaa shing!” with his sword, and it just gave up.”

Standing up, Edward and I stepped into the clearing. “That was epic Elder! I don’t really see why you wanted Lufis and me here though, looks like you got everything under control. We didn’t need the sword nor were we separated.”

Elder Luidong looked up in a flash. “You fools, when did I tell you that you could leave your spot? That was merely a cub, so the fathe-”

Time seemed to slow as a shizishou three times as the one lying before us sprang from the rocks to my left, straight at Elder Luidong, who brought up his sword to defend against the massive claws that were the size of the cub’s fangs. The momentum of the shizishou’s pounce threw Elder Luidong backward, right off the cliff. The shizishou, still having too much momentum from its own pounce, followed suit off the cliff.

“Elder Luidong!” I shouted, rushing to the edge of the cliff. The mist made seeing the bottom of the chasm impossible and the roar of the waterfall only obscured any of my cries.

"Elder!!!" I shouted again, to no avail.

Edward placed his hand on my shoulder. “Come on Lufis, it’s okay. You and I both know that Elder could easily survive that fall and I have no doubts that he can take down that beast.” He turned back toward the dead shizishou. “Man, karma hurts though. Why did I have to jinx us like that!!”

I stood back up, taking one last look down into the chasm below. “Well, I guess now we head to the waterfall.” Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck quietly stood up. “Hey, uhm, Edward, are you feeling what I am feeling?”

“Uh, not quite Lufis. I think I am probably experiencing a lot more goosebumps than you. Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?” I ask, slowly turning around.“Oh. I see.” I stammer as a shizishou cub walked slowly out of the rocks, growly softly.

Now that I was closer, the sheer size of the shizishou made my legs feel like jelly. And the creature gleefully noted that, nodded its head, and decided that it would be a good idea if Edward and I personally inspected the insides of its mouth. Up close. Very close.