Sun was high in the sky when Wu Feng woke up. He blinked his eyes a few times before he recalled where he was.
He swiftly sat upright before looking around. The others haven't awoken yet. They were lined up under a tree shade like sardines on a stall.
"Catch this!"
Wu Feng heard a voice from the side. He reflexively raised his right hand to cover his face, facing the direction where the voice came from.
Pa!
Something got caught in his palm. He looked, it was a crimson fruit with a nice fragrant. He took a bite before saying, "Thanks. You moved us here?"
"All of you slept like a log. Spare me the watch duty tonight. I am very sleepy."
Ren Guang walked over. He bit on the red fruit, then chewing slowly to savor the sweet juicy taste.
After the battle yesterday, the five kids have become as close as long-time friends.
The other three woke up one after another not long after.
Yang Xiu still had drool on his face. They laughed when looking at his sleepy face.
"What is today's plan?" Wu Yong asked after they had finished washing up in the creek and ate their lunchtime breakfast.
Wu Leng Jing took out a paper. On it was drawn the route they had taken yesterday.
"I have read the general area here from the sect's library. We are still very far from the dangerous places inside this forest. So we can try to head a little deeper to test our fighting strength."
Zhang He looked at Wu Leng Jing with different light in his eyes. "You are awesome. When did you go to the library? Haven't we just arrived at South Pilgrim Hall the day before tomorrow?"
"One should have general awareness of the place they stay at. I just did what normal people should." Wu Leng Jing calmly replied.
Zhang He choked on his tea. "Normal..."
"Hahaha, that is the way he is. Bringing him is as convenient as bringing a map that can talk." Wu Feng laughed loudly.
"I am not just a map..." Wu Leng Jing muttered.
Ren Guang watched with an amused smile. "Is there a record of spirit beasts that inhabit this forest?"
Wu Leng Jing nodded. "There was. But it was not comprehensive. Only seventh level and above Qi Condensation spirit beasts were recorded. There was no map either."
Wu clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Tsk. They could have given us one each so we did not have to find it in the library."
Wu Leng Jing gave him a sidelong glance. "They knew someone with a thick skull like you wouldn't read it anyway, so better placed it in the library to not waste paper."
They laughed hearing the sarcastic remark. But none of them other than Wu Leng Jing even bother coming close to where the library building was located.
"Alright, let's go. We will follow the creek's flow upwards to find the source. Keep vigilant in case we encounter a strong beast."
Ren Guang stood up and patted his hands.
They walked carefully among the tree shadows, using the chance to practice their movement and concealment technique.
Along the way, they encountered some third level Qi Condensation spirit beasts and occasionally fourth level Qi Condensation spirit beasts. They fought them easily when the number of spirit beasts was small, but they retreated like ghostly shadows without alerting the spirit beasts when they encountered a large pack.
They never encountered spirit beasts that can see through their concealment by tracking their heat like the Golden Mane Mantises from before, so they can smoothly advance until they arrived at a waterfall from where the creek flowed.
"Beautiful." Yang Xiu sighed.
In front of them was a fifteen meters high waterfall. There were many flowers with eye-catching colors along the cliffs, on the left and right side of the waterfall. The roaring sound of water contrasted with the sparkling current calmly running downstream. A rainbow bridge was floating above the white mist at the foot of the water pillar.
"How about we rest here tonight?" Wu Feng suggested.
"Agreed. This place is relaxing." Zhang He walked to the water, intending to wash his face.
"Wait, be careful!" Ren Guang ran to him.
In a moment of carelessness, a black shadow shot out from the water.
"Aah!" Zhang He reflexively jumped back, his hands guarding in front of his body.
The shadow was faster. It successfully bit his left hand.
Ren Guang swung his sword to cut the black shadow.
It was a meter long black snake. The body was cut in two, but the fang in its mouth still firmly attached to Zhang He's left forearm.
Wu Feng quickly thrust a knife to the snake's head then pull the fangs out. Then he collected the snake's body into a spare qiankun pouch.
Ren Guang quickly came over, then took out a clean handkerchief to loosely tie Zhang He's wound.
"Aah..." Zhang He moaned with a pale face.
"Eat this." Wu Leng Jing produced a fragrant black pill from a jade bottle.
"Let's move. We can't stay here." Ren Guang instructed.
They quickly move, backing away from the river bank.
"It hurt..." Zhang He groaned. Beads upon beads of sweat fall from his forehead.
"Oh no, he is poisoned."
Wu Leng Jing gasped then added, "It seems my pill is not that effective."
"Let's turn back." Ren Guang said anxiously.
They agreed and move as fast as possible. They took turns carrying Zhang He on their back.
Meanwhile, the sun had started to sink on the horizon.
They felt there was something heavy inside their chest.
Cultivators at the Qi Condensation realm are almost as weak as mortals. Even at the peak of Qi Condensation realm, they were only a few times stronger than ordinary mortals. Only at the Foundation Establishment realm would cultivators gain qualitative change that sets them apart from ordinary mortals.
They can not directly emit qi outside of their body, and can not treat others with qi.
That is why the kids felt very anxious. Whenever they heard Zhang He groaned, they felt their own powerlessness.
"Hang in there, Zhang He. We will soon get back at the sect."
"Drink this."
One by one they offered nutritious medicine and encouragement. Zhang He did show any sign of improvement, but they successfully slowed down the toxin.
When night fell, the forest became a lot more dangerous.
"That was the third fifth-level Qi Condensation realm we spotted. Shall we continue?" Wu Leng Jing transmitted a message with a frown.
"We have to continue. Who knows when Zhang He's condition will worsen." Wu Feng replied with a heavy tone.
Ren Guang took a deep breath.
"We have made a big mistake. We can not make another mistake. It is always more dangerous at night inside the forest. We will take a rest temporarily and continue before dawn."
Yang Xiu hissed with annoyance. "It was just fifth level spirit beasts! We can still kill them!"
"Right, we can still go on." Wu Yong also showed support.
Ren Guang glared at them from the tree branch. "And who can guarantee that we will not encounter sixth or even seventh level spirit beasts?"
"Who can guarantee that Zhang He's wound will not worsen if we fought a hard battle?"
He added with a fierce tone.
"All of you listen to me now! If you care for your comrades then we rest here for a few hours!"
They finally relented. They took fallen tree branches to make small encampments to shield them from view below a tree.
They placed Zhang He that was panting heavily on flat ground.
"Keep his wound lower from his heart." Ren Guang instructed.
Wu Leng Jing fed Zhang He another black pill with some water.
"Stay alert. Be ready to move anytime." Ren Guang added.
They rested for a few hours. But a sniffing sound beyond the encampment startled them.
"What is that?" Wu Feng transmitted a message. At the same time he used Shadow Step to leap to a tree branch above.
"Not good. Seventh level Qi Condensation Black Hedgehog Bear, it seems. There were needles on their back." He sends another transmission after a short observation.
They drew a sharp breath.
"One?" Yang Xiu asked with a trembling voice.
"Three."
"We are so dead." Wu Leng Jing gave a short remark.
Yang Xiu asked with uncertainty in his voice. "Why are there seventh level Qi Condensation spirit beasts this close to the forest border?"
"It is the start of summer. Those bears must have been hungry after waking up from their hibernation in the winter. There were many easy prey for them here." Ren Guang replied with a deep frown.
"So, we are dealing with three hungry bears? This will be troublesome." Wu Yong let out a hollow chuckle.
He always suffers in the hands of bears because of his clan's mischievous brother and sister, although those were just ordinary bears that lived in the forest near their clan's mansion.
"Leave." At this time, a weak voice sounded in their transmission network.
"All of you leave." Zhang He said again weakly.
"What are you saying? We will not leave you behind!" Wu Yong transmitted angrily.
"No one will be left behind." Ren Guang chimed in. Then he brandished his standard issued sword.
"Ready for battle!"
"Brothers..." Zhang He teared up.
"Leng Jing, carry him. Me and Wu Yong will cover our back. Sorry leader. Can you help us? Yang Xiu and Wu Leng Jing should go first."
Ren Guang was startled. He looked towards the shadow on top of a tree branch above. "You... Alright. Yang Xiu, go with Leng Jing and Zhang He. Cover them."
"Alright." Yang Xiu slowly moved towards Zhang He.
Wu Leng Jing lifted Zhang He carefully then he tied him on his back with a rope.
"Careful, brothers." He transmitted before vanishing into the darkness with Shadow Step.
"Leave it to us." Wu Feng replied.
Below the tree, Wu Yong silently drew his emerald shield and standard issued sword.
The Black Hedgehog Bears seemed to have determined that there were preys behind the cover of tree branches. They roared loudly with glee.
Ren Guang took a stance with a sword in hand. He took a deep breath then asked, "are you ready?"