78 Hui Ziwang shows his face (2/2)

”...You could be better,” Liu Sumeng replied bluntly.

A flicker of annoyance caused the Demon King's eyelid to twitch. ”We'll see about that,” he said. But despite the words that left his mouth, he had already given up on besting the Ivory Sword Saint on martial prowess alone. The birds descended in a black cylindrical swirl, like a descending midnight hurricane.

”Sumeng!” Yuan Xuelan called out in warning.

The dark shadow came down and Liu Sumeng jumped out the way just in time to watch Hui Ziwang's body be completely consumed by the black birds. After the dark hurricane touched the ground, the birds dispersed like frenzied tendrils unraveling from the main, massive body. Hui Ziwang was nowhere in sight.

Demonic energy fluctuated and the ravens began to shimmer with a strange power. Realization struck Liu Sumeng and he grabbed Yuan Xuelan's wrist. ”We need to take cover!” Was all he shouted before taking the younger cultivator and ran.

He dragged Yuan Xuelan to the spring and jumped in. The cool water enveloped them. Feathers that sang through the air above them like a barrage of needles, but everything was muffled within the pool. A shimmering silver moon could be glimmered from even the depth of the spring and Yuan Xuelan thought that at that moment, the world was deceptively calm. Unlike the murky pool of Zu Village, this spring was so wonderfully clear that he could easily make out the Ivory Sword Saint even below the surface. His inky hair floating like a black veil. Liu Sumeng still wore a grave expression and Yuan Xuelan found himself wondering if the Ivory Sword Saint was still upset.

Why wouldn't he focus on anything important? Liu Sumeng had his gaze veered toward the surface, watching for the coast to clear. Yuan Xuelan could no longer resist. It must have been the youthful rage of impulsive thoughts that tickled his inspiration when he pulled the Ivory Sword Saint farther down, closer to him. He drank in Liu Sumeng's surprised visage and resisted the urge to kiss him.

'Are you angry with me?' Yuan Xuelan's lips mouthed.

Liu Sumeng's expression was incredulous. He looked a little annoyed, Yuan Xuelan lamented.

He was given no response when Liu Sumeng finally pulled them back up to the surface. Destruction was evident in their surrounding. Trees were toppled and even stone wore dents in them. The ground was littered with a carnage of midnight feathers and Hui Ziwang was nowhere in sight. Only a subtle trace of demonic power was left behind.

Liu Sumeng climbed out of the pool first. He was still looking around, double-checking that the coast was clear. Yuan Xuelan could not feel the same urgency until he was reminded of Peng Jipei who was being chased off by the giant dog. ”Sumeng,” he called for the Ivory Sword Saint's attention.

The dark eyes turned to him and he almost hesitated. ”Peng-ge, we have to go find him. Please?”

He almost expected some sort of protest. But Liu Sumeng only nodded, ”Alright.”

”Oh,” Yuan Xuelan ended up responding stupidly.

The tiangou was a giant creature and left a path of destruction in the foliage that was difficult to miss. But after taking a few steps, Liu Sumeng was looking in a direction different from the path left behind by the beast. There was a narrow road, mostly untraveled aside from forest animals and was shrouded by surrounding greenery.

He looked at Yuan Xuelan with a complicated expression, ”Xuelan…”

Yuan Xuelan held his breath. Whatever emotion was wreaking havoc in his gut was difficult to name but he felt that it was akin to dread. ”You think he went down that way?” Not a question but a statement.

Liu Sumeng hesitated before saying, ”Yes.”

With the tiangou's superior sense of smell and terrifying speed, even someone like Peng Jipei, who was known to be quick on his feet, could not simply throw it off his trail. The implications were clear.

After a short stretch of silence, Liu Sumeng continued, ”We can…separate.”

”No!” Yuan Xuelan exclaimed. His shoulders sagged and he felt defeated. ”No…let's stick together. I'll…follow you.”

Liu Sumeng seemed surprised at the vote of confidence. But it only solidified his resolution. He nodded and lead Yuan Xuelan down the narrow forest trail.

Only a few steps and it slowly became obvious that someone else had just traveled this trail. Yuan Xuelan's heart rapped against his ribs. He had come down here before, but not often. Trying to ignore his chaotic emotions he tried to recall the familiarity of this path.

After a while, realization slowly began to dawn on him. They were headed towards Auntie Cao's gravesite!