They decided to keep on, but since they were looking out for the undead, they had to change formation. By consequence, the pace slowed down tremendously. Guang Jin and Zun Xunhue traveled above the trees looking for any bird type of undead in the sky.
Guang Jing watched the sky with attention but his mind was focusing on Zhi Rui and Zhao Lin Right below. Though he convinced himself Zhi Rui Can't harm him; His mind did not feel relief.
Xunhue Looked at Guan Jing's serious expression and felt the urge to scream from frustration. Her cultivation was stale, with this mission she hoped to get some benefits from level three leader. She wanted to get closer to him, but his butt like serious face and the incidents happening did not allow for the right mood. Xunhue sighed and tried to start a conversation.
Zhao Lin Bellow them, sighed. After meeting the first undead, Zhi Rui's mind went up to the clouds. Zhao Lin already saved her from hitting a tree, three times. Looking at Zhi Rui's dazed faze made her eyebrows glue together. but before she could speak anything she heard a dull 'thump' and looked bellow.
The twins were walking on the ground Han Feng had Just hit his head on a tree. Zhao Lin laughed. Han Feng looked up with indignation written on his face.
Han Fei his brother grinned and walked closer "What's is it? Why are eyou so distracted?" He asked.
Han Feng looked up. Seeing Guang Jing above the trees he spoke, almost in a whisperer. "We already got what we wanted, we shouldn't be getting our nose in this undead case!"
Han Fei sighed and patter his brother's shoulder.
"Look, you can't be this unambitious we got a little wealth, but it'll be gone in a jiffy and our cultivation will grow stale. Eventually, we'll need more. If we could receive some merits with this, the sect will give us more attention, understand?" He Fei said clearly, He looked as His brother crossed his arms looked at the ground.
He smiled with resigning."But, if it bothers you this much, we can go back. We're brothers after all. If something is bothering you I shouldn't selfishly impose my will. So if you want to give up, then we'll stop advancing."
Han Feng heard the soft words and was touched."No, we'll keep going. Luck does not come for the coward after all." He said with a smile. They looked at each other and laughed together. When Han Feng turned to look for undead Han Fei who had a sincere smile, scoffed, chuckling in mockery. 'It was a god's gift that someone so gullible was born as my twin brother.'
As they went ahead, Zhi Rui snapped her mind back to the present. The people around felt her movements and looked at her.
Zhi Rui, without a word. Jumped to her right, she jumped through the trees. on the third she jumped on the ground.
The others followed her with caution.
An undead monkey sat at the bottom of the tree. He was skin and bones, it had no innards, only its green flame in his eye socket remained.
They gathered around the animal. Zhi Rui stared deep into its eyes, entranced. This time everybody understood that she was reaching some kind of understanding using tha flame. Or she was simply being bewitched by the thing. They did not know for sure.
Xunhue Gasped. She pointed at the place near the monkey's nape. Guan Jing saw it and his eyes glimmered, the Han brothers went into a frenzy.
"This is a four-leafed turtle clover!" Han Feng exclaimed. He turned to Han Fei "With one of those We'll have enough for the best cores for level three!"
Han Fei sighed and slapped his head."Idiot we still need to share with the group. Besides it wasn't even us who was supposed to look in the ground that found it."
With those words, everybody looked at Zhi Rui. Guan Jing scoffed inwardly. "Every treasure found in the forest is to be shared in the group."
Zhao Lin's face scrunched up. It was common sense that a treasure found by luck belongs to the person that found it.
Xunhue suddenly held Zhao Lin's hand, she looked smilingly at her. Guan Jing gave her an imperceptible nod. Zhao Lin understood the underlying meaning. Whatever Zhi Rui found is to be shared, but if she did found something it'll be given back to her.
Zhao Lin looked at the dazed Zhi Rui. Thinking about how someone so talented suffers through a lot of ordeals out of other people's envy.
Soon as Zhi Rui' eyes gained clarity, Guan Jing reached for the monkey's nape. before she could do anything Guan Jing took a bright green clover in hands.
He looked her in the eyes "I will be responsible for the keeping and sharing of the valuables found by the group. When we go back to the sect. you'll get your part."
Zhi Rui looked dumbfoundedly at the group, besides Guan Jing, Xunhue was smiling at her and the twin's brothers were nodding.
'So childish' Zhi Rui chuckled and nodded.
Zhao Lin saw Zhi Rui nodding without a fight and scoffed. 'It's absurd how spineless a person can be.'
They kept on, and again Zhi Rui dazedly tagged along.
---------
After three hours of searching they found around ten more undead of all kinds of insects, humans, birds. each had some kind of valuable resource
.
The sun went away. They had to sleep. Zhi Rui pitched her tent and entered without a word.
Cross-legged she looked inside her core. Observing attentively at the snake's remnant spirit. Zhi Rui willed it and her inner energy enveloped the spirit. She could feel it's will. The image of green fire in the eyesockets of the undead came up her head. Zhi Rui widened her eyes and with a deep breath she willed it and her inner energy gently tried to connect with the snake's remnant spirit. Slowly as the time passed Zhi Rui's energy started to wear down. The backlash of not acting on her wishes limited too much her energy.
When the last drop of inner energy was consumed Zhi Rui felt it. She suddenly understood everything the snake was. from it's birth to its death. Zhi Rui thought it and the spirit moved accordingly.
She smiled brightly, she wasn't ordering or forcing it anymore. The spirit moved with its own will and total obedience. It became hers, to do whatever. Curses, blessings, etc...
Zhi Rui though about her own Ying tree ability. and the ghostly green fire. she went in a daze again, as the images overlay one another. WHen she was almost reaching clarity. Her mind was forcefully brought back to the present.
"It's your turn to guard the camp." Guan Jing said from outside.
Zhi Rui opened her eyes coldly. her killing intent coming like tide-waves through her throat. Yet, she swallowed it all down. Her body instantly weakened. She bit her lips. Blood seeped down. She got up and went outside. She breathed in deeply trying to get as much fresh air in as possible.
'it's no use.' She thought.
'It's not in my nature to be rational after all.'