Chapter 93: Daring Escape

Zen leapt through the trees. He looked back at the two remaining bandits who were chasing him and quickly closing in the gap between them. If he was at full health, perhaps he could have escaped them but his foot injury was hampering his movement. He was thankful that he was leading them in the opposite direction from where Kun and Cong had ran to.

“Shibi, they seem to be catching up.” Zen said. “You better leave.”

Shibi ‘ooked’ in defiance before presenting Zen with something.

“M-My storage stone?’ Zen smirked as he took it from Shibi’s hands. “You took it from Cho when you fought him, didn’t you? Your more sly than me! But how do I use it?”

The bandits chased after Zen. Then a shirt flew from Zen and hit Ch in the face. He pulled it from his site only to be bombarded with more clothes. The volume of the clothes increased and soon both bandits were trying to navigate through the stream of clothes flying their way.

They kicked the last of the clothes away only to see that their quarry had disappeared. They stopped, looking around in confusion. Zen had disappeared!

Zen kept running across the forest floor, using the shadows cast by the trees as cover as he moved on and on. After making sure that he and Shibi were safe, he doubled back, hoping to meet up with Jao Cong, who he hoped at this time had been able to meet up with Geyi Kun.

He moved on and on and on… but to no avail. He could not spot neither Geyi Kun nor Jao Cong. He stopped, and began looking for clues. There were no signs of Geyi Kun but he was sure he had found signs of Jao Cong. It seems that he had lost his way and in his confusion, had begun to head west…

Xi and Cho landed on the ground, facing each other.

“Seems like we’ve lost our hostages,” Xi said. “And Yang was killed by that masked woman.”

“Not all is lost,” Cho said. “We still have what we’ve gained and even more important, we know where to look for the Snow Ram. We head west.”

Xue Shaonu sat atop of her giant bird, the Snow Dove. Its white feathers blended well with the clouds above, where snow peacefully drifted from. The Snow Dove’s sharp, silver eyes scanned the forest floor.

“Mistress,” the Snow Dove said, “I have spotted that human boy, he is with two others.”

“What human boy?” she looked around, her vision not even a third as good as her beast’s.

“I believe his name is Hue Yi.”

“Ah, take me to him.”

Hue Yi was walking ahead, followed by both Jao Fuu and Deng Ai. They had to stop when a giant bird landed in their path with a blast of cold air. Hue Yi and Jao Fuu were already ready for an attack but relaxed once Xue Shaonu alighted from the bird.

“Hue Yi.”

“Xue Shaonu?” Hue Yi tilted his head in wonder. “What’s going on here? Are all the academy students in this forest?”

“I need your help,” she said. “I and my group are in danger. We were taken in by bandits but were able to escape. However, we are now all scattered in the forest. Can you and your friends help me find my comrades.”

“Wait in line!” Jao Fuu said, stepping forward and hugging Hue Yi’s arm. “Hue Yi is going to help us find my brother, so find your own senior.”

“I don’t see why I can’t help you both.” Hue Yi said. “Where are your comrades, Xue Shaonu?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where are the bandits?”

“I don’t know.”

‘Wow, she sure knows a lot,” Jao Fuu said.

“Give us the details of your party, Xue Shaonu.” Hue Yi said.

“Well,” she thought. “The most vulnerable ones would be Geyi Kun and Jao Fuu as they posses the least of fighting ability in the group. In addition…”

“What?” Jao Fuu said. “My brother is part of your party?”

“Brother?” Xue Shaonu tilted her head.

“Yes! My name is Jao Fuu, twin sister of Jao Cong.”

“I see,” Xue Shaonu nodded.

“W-Where is Wang Zen?” Deng Ai said. “I thought he was with Jao Cong.”

“He was… I mean, I’m sure he is. My escape from the bandits would not have been possible without him.”

“That idiot!” Jao Fuu aid under her breath before looking at Shaonu. “Looks like we’ll be working together from this point on.”