27 Through the Mountains part 3 (1/2)

”A wolf?”

Xun Lan startled asked when she left the tent and saw Xion Zhelan and Zhu Tai standing looking at the horizon from the direction the howls came from.

”It sounded like one. But this kind of beast was not supposed to be so far from the mountain peaks.”

Xiong Zhelan, which had the best senses before Nero in the group, heard the howling while they were far away. He was surprised because when he made this journey before, he only saw dangerous beasts in the highest parts of the mountain.

He hadn't slept for even a second because he was worried and curious about Nero, who was more than a few hours away from the camp. He really wanted to go check out what kind of thing Nero was doing, but he wanted more to have a good relationship with him because he was sure his sister would appreciate someone like Nero very much.

When Xiong Zhelan heard the howling, he immediately thought that Nero might be in trouble, but he also could not just leave Zhu Tai and Xun Lan to go look for Nero, that no one did not know where was. Letting the two coming with him to look for Nero in the direction of the howls also seemed like a wrong decision.

”Perhaps they are just young wolves from the Qi Refinement Realm who have separated from the pack for some reason and have descended far from the highest parts of the mountain.”

Zhu Tai knew from his master's expression that the situation was not so simple, but he still tried to see things positively.

”Heh? Look over there!”

When Xiong Zhelan exclaimed and pointed away at the horizon, everyone could see a black 'dot' that seemed to move towards them. As the landscape there was almost flat with few rocks and trees, it was not difficult to see distant things even further for cultivators who had better senses than ordinary people.

”Is it Nero?”

Xun Lan was the first to ask, but Xion Xhelan was already sure that it was him because the 'dot' moved very fast, and soon they realized that 'it' was a person the closer he got.

Everyone was impressed with the speed that Nero ran and could not even see the movements of his legs. Xiong Zhelan was by far the most impressed as he was sure that even he, a cultivator of the Martial Warrior Realm, could not run as fast as Nero. Xiong Zhelan was sure that Nero should have not only a mysterious cultivation technique but also a movement technique.

In less than a minute after the group saw the 'dot' on the horizon, Nero was already in front of them, breathing hard because he had run on the limit of his body.

”We do not have time! There's a pack with over a hundred wolves chasing me, and they'll probably be here soon.”

Nero did not want to waste time, so he got to the point while picking up the backpack and bag that he was responsible for, making it clear that the situation was critical.

”It's all right. Come on, just take the essentials and leave the tents. We have to be quick.”

Everyone understood that the situation was not a joke and Xiong Zhelan gave the order making the group grab the backpacks and bags to run away from there quickly.

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A few minutes later, the group was already far from the camp, but they could still clearly see the wolves arriving there as they were on a high ground closer to the mountain peaks.

”That was close! Phew!”

Xun Lan was the first to show relief while she still had her hand on her belly, breathing with difficulties as the whole group ran as fast as they could. Everyone was happy to have left the camp in time and could see the wolves destroying the tents.

”Let's try not to get away from each other from now on as we never know what dangers might arise.”

The group did not stop to rest and continued towards the mountain peaks where the valley's exit was located.

The terrain was increasingly filled with stones and rocks. The road was small as an ancient trail almost faded, and in the front, they could see a small crack in the mountain where the passage was.

After more than five hours walking, the group arrived at the crack and saw a trail that passed through the middle of the mountain, but they could not see the other side of the trail because the path had curves and the inner walls of the mountain prevented the view of the other side.

”It looks pretty sinister.”

Xun Lan couldn't help commenting on the gloomy air on the trail inside the mountain had. Everyone in the group had similar thoughts except Nero, who found the dark trail enjoyable.

”That will be the most dangerous part. Be very careful on the trail, and never go far from me. We can do it without problems if we are quick and cautious.”

Xion Zhelan warned, and the group slowly entered the trail. He had problems with a wolf and a bear when he first came for this path, but he had no injuries as the creatures were alone and at the same level of strength as him. But he knew that there were beasts much stronger than he in these mountains, so being careful was not an exaggeration.

A wild beast could have cultivation, just like people. These beasts absorbed Qi from nature in many different ways and passed through the same Realms. Between a fight of a person against a beast at the same level, a lot could happen, but most of the time, the person had more advantages because of intelligence.