Chapter 314 - One Hundred and Fourteen - We try to fight back (1/2)
”What are you doing?”
Three of the four visiting students had unsheathed their weapons, the fourth being a failed alchemist who had yet to admit to his incompetence. When Tor had agreed to bring them here due to threats Caprian had made towards his family who were subordinate to his own, he hadn't ever imagined that the others would go so far as to draw weapons on Institute students! Hadn't they thought about the consequences if they were caught?
But then, Tor realised bitterly and far too belatedly, Leon lived far from the eyes and ears of the outer school's Teachers, feeding these bastards fearlessness! This was his mistake, he should not have listened to Caprian's threats. Hadn't he already washed his hands of his fanatically loyal father? And his older brother would likely be protected by Caprian's older brother, he already knew that their relationship was that good, very unlike the toxic one he'd formed with Caprian over the years. And as for his mother... his heart was torn, but he knew she would be disappointed with him if he just stood back and ignored this, using her well being as his excuse.
He withdrew his long knife. He wasn't a Martial Artist by any means, he'd been an alchemist before being accepted into the Beast Tamer's School, so his weapon skills were basic and mostly defensive. Still he could be a meat shield for his friend for a short while, right?
”Leon, run!” He said, placing himself in between Caprian's group and Leon. Xiao Xiao leapt to his side without being summoned, ready to fight with him. Tor was humbled by the Cooshee's loyalty. ”Go now, we'll hold them off!”
But Leon hesitated. He'd hoped that words would settle things with these people, so he was taken aback when they suddenly withdrew sword and whip to use against him. Had he become too complacent, too protected in this world that he'd thought he'd acknowledged as being cold and violent as individuals strived to be the most powerful on the often lonely and sometimes bloody path of cultivation? He'd thought he could endure it having experienced the harshness of the Shattered E Isles outside the umbrella of the Institute and away from Jin Li's sheltering arms. But being faced with these cruel individuals holding weapons with the intent to harm and plunder, he once more fell into an internal panic and felt fear and powerlessness in his bones.
A flash of white and black crossed his vision and snapped him out of his daze and he found himself staring at Li Ming's massive behind. The Coeurl roared, its voice echoing around the trees and foliage, sounding mighty and fine. Leon stepped lightly to one side and placed a hand on Li Ming's leathery, scaled leg. That's right, he wasn't completely powerless, he still had Li Ming!
Caprian flinched and rushed to hide behind a thick tree, gasping for breath even though the distance was not great. The two Martial Artists who'd formerly been behind Caprian also faltered, but the Beast Tamer showed no fear, simply narrowing his eyes and fl.i.c.k.i.n.g his whip at his side. His last Beast had not long died, the useless thing, and he had yet to hunt for a new pet. This Coeurl had not long reached a.d.u.l.thood and seemed not bad. It would do at least until he could obtain something more impressive. He flicked his whip once more before stepping forward, swung it above his head and let the vicious length fly towards the beast.
The white and black striped Coeurl was a sheltered Beast, it had not known true discomfort. When these people threatened its Human, it's first thought had been to act as Wu Ye would! It had never imagined that the long vine like thing wrapped in circles upon waists could actually hurt so much when it was stretched out and used like this! Red blood seeped from its front paw and it yelped miserably, but before it could lick the wound, the thing hit its shoulder and it screamed once more!
”Li M-Ming!” Leon felt its pain as if it was his own. The blue of the Cooshee seemed to streak over, its jaws snapping at the Beast Tamer. The whip was used to block those sharp teeth from making contact. At this point, the Martial Artists had regained their wits and hurried forward. One swung its sword at Xiao Xiao, while the other rushed forward to threaten Tor, not yet able to get to Leon.
Xiao Xiao yelped, unable to avoid completely the flurry of attacks from both the Beast Tamer and Martial Artist it faced. Tor cried out for it, but he was unable to help it, struggling to defend himself as it was. Leon had stuffed a couple of One Heart pills into Li Ming's mouth without thought and now could only look on at the chaos to occur during that moment of inattention.