Walking inside the river, they follow the river current. Looking all around the surrounding, the cave became darker as they continued to journey deeper into the river. Water becomes colder and deeper reaching their neck level. The increase in the river current while the river passage became narrow made the river flow with high momentum. Zara, having it difficult to stay afloat gasped for air a lot while Thomas handled it with ease.
"We are gonna have a bumpy ride" Thomas said wrapping his hand around her waist to support her.
" We are going down"
Zara rolled her eyes. Having the intention to talk but due to the high velocity of the river make her accept her faith.
The narrow alley can only support a person at a time. Putting Zara in front him, he wrapped his hand around her waist tightly. Her head rested on Thomas' shoulder, holding onto Thomas' clothes tightly. Using his cultivation to surround them, reduced the effect of them hitting the unknown material of the cave wall.
"*Pah, pah, pah"
They continue to hit the cave wall, the narrow sharp bend of the river path with the high speed at which the river flow gives them a lot of bruise.
" I can't hold on anymore" Zara managed to whisper.
"Have got you"
Thomas tightened his hand around her. The twist and turn of the river makes both of them lose their essence quickly.
Due to the higher cultivation realm than Zara and his recent advancement to sword intent, Thomas still got high resistance to the river momentum and the continuous hitting of the cave wall.
After a few minutes, the speed of the river begins to slow down. Fresh air filled the cave.
"Hmmm"
Thomas breathed in fresh air as he was relieved of the hurdles they just overcame.
Zara trembled a little,as she had started to lose consciousness. Feeling the changes in the atmosphere, she smiles slightly.
The cave becomes less dark, a dim ray of light comes to their sight in a long distance ahead.
"We are almost out," Thomas thought.
The river becomes gentle,the narrow path becomes larger with small fishes and cramps in it whistling all around. Reaching the dim light, the cave entrance came into their sight.
"We are out" Thomas whispered in barely audible voice.
"Hmm hmm" Zara nods with a dazzling smile which can make a flower blossom.
Getting out to the open. At their back, a 100 meter mountain hill stood high with various grasses and trees on it. The river flows out underneath the mountain hill.
" How the hell did we end up inside this mountain hill" Zara thought out loud.
"We are in another region of the red mist Forest" Thomas said. Looking at the surrounding,
" The mist is still quite dense, " he thought.
"Let's get of the water"
He jumped and landed at the bank of the river.
Nodding her head, she jumped and landed beside him.
Sitting down in a lotus position, he swallowed a pill.
" We need to be at the top of our cultivation. We're still in the inner part of the red mist Forest. Quickly let us regain our cultivation."
"What!"
"We're in the inner part?" She gasped
" when are we going to leave this Forest?" Blinking her eyes repeatedly, she wanted to cry but there was no water in her eyes.
"Ah" squeezing her tightly, she yelled in frustration.
"Keep quiet" he said sternly, looking at her with a cold gaze. " Do you want to attract unnecessary danger to us here?"
Lowering her head in remorse.
" am sorry, am just being frustrated that forget about where we are"
" We'll leave this forest as soon as possible. Cultivate quickly and let us find a way out"
"Hmm, ok" nodding her head she sat down and cultivated.
A few minutes later, they are both in top condition. Standing up, all the bruise on their bodies had already been long gone.
Thinking for moment
" if we follow the river, all monster beast like to drink from the river"
Looking at the opposite of their position
" this is the best possible path" he said while pointing to the opposite direction of their current position.
Walking for another two hours, they heard a sound of two monster beasts.
" What sound is that?" She shivers looking all around with a panicking look.
Staring at the direction of the sound, he thought " what can possible make two monster beast fight each other"
Watching him staring at the direction of the sound, Zara had a bad premonition of fear about it. Not able to endure it anymore she asked
" Are you thinking of going to that place LordMaster?" she remembered she asked the same question earlier on but they found themselves in this situation.
Nodding his head, " according to the book I read, monster beasts are territorial animals unlike ordinary beasts who can live together in the same region. " Looking at her, seeing her shaking like a dead leaf. He felt pity for her. But he knows that fortune goes with danger.
" Don't worry, I'm going to look at them from afar"
"Hmm" nodding her head in relief she sighed.
" But if I see anything useful for me, I will try to get it," he said with a straight face.
She almost fell down when she heard the last part of his sentence. She gasped
" you are going to kill me before anything else." She thought.
Quickly, they approach the fighting scene with a light footsteps. Stopping a hundred meters away from the fighting area, in front of them. Rank 2 monster beast, the LIGHTNING COYOTE and the BLACK STONE BOAR were fighting rigorously.
They've both sustained a deep injury, the lightning coyote had an injury on its right foreleg while the black stone boar had a deep injury on its neck. Both of them are fighting with the last strands of power they had.
Thomas gaze landed at the back of a huge tree, below it was the rare STAR DEW FLOWER. He gasped in shock as he locked his gaze on it.
" I must get this flower by all possible means" he thought.
Following his gaze, Zara gaze landed on the star dew flower but she was not able to recognize it.
"Is the flower important?" She asked, seeing the way he looked at the flower.
"Yes. I'll go and get it, but be ready to leave anytime," he said, without looking at her.
Hiding his aura, he moved with stealth. Reaching twenty meter away from the monster beast, he calms his nave down. Waiting steadily, when they locked on each other's throat, he dashed towards the star dew flower with the maximum effect of the GO footwork. Picking up the flower, he dashed towards Zara position, not stopping.
Not sensing the aura of the star dew flower, both monster beasts look towards the previous position of the flower. Their eyes open in shock, looking around, they see a human escaping with great speed after reaching eighty meter away from them.
Instantly, they bolt after him.
Zara quickly joined Thomas who did not stop running. Looking back, she sees the monster beast chasing after them. She gasped, pouring all her essence into her footwork as they made their escape.
After sustaining a grievous injury, the monster beast watched as both Thomas and Zara escaped from them. Glaring at each other, the monster beast goes their separate ways.
Running for a good extra hour, they left the inner region. Breathing a sigh of relief as they quickly made their way out of the red mist forest.
" Wow, we are finally out." Zara yelled in joy.