"So when do you think that we should move again?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but do you really think it's just been a coincidence that they have been finding us no matter where we have hidden, no matter the location? I mean, we haven't had a place of sanctuary since we left the mountain where we met and trained with your parents, Ainsley."
"I'm not certain, but I do know that it can't be a coincidence. I just can't figure out how in the world they are tracking us. It doesn't make sense to me in the slightest. I just have no clue. So just think with me for a second real quick. We have switched out clothes multiple times, we no longer have our phones or any other form of technology, and we have been cultivating every chance we get for the last six months. Not to mention the last 2 and a half years of hell we went through training with my parents. And even though we haven't broken through any new realms since we left the mountain, I can tell I'm stronger than I used to be. So how exactly do they continue to not only track us but even keep up with us? I mean, all three of us have been moving at full speed ever since we left. Not only that, but we have been moving through areas with practically no visibility from above, and they can't even be accessed by vehicle, so they have to track us by foot. Care to give your thoughts, Aldrian?"
"I mean, the only possibilities I can think of are that one of us is a traitor or that there is a tracking method we have overlooked. Though there are issues with both of these. I mean, with option number one, that would mean we can't even trust each other. Not to mention, how would they even get the information to those that keep finding us? Also, would any of us actually be foolish enough to try some of the attempts that have been tried against us? Then we have the second option, which is somehow just as confusing because while we may not be the smartest in the world, we are all some of the smartest in the country. And we have not only not been able to lose them but not even how they are tracking us," Aldrian said as he finished speaking, sighing and starting to rub his head.
"WAIT!" Violette shouted as she jumped up excitedly. "What if, and I know this might be crazy, BUTTTT what if they were tracking us somehow through some weird cultivation thing, since we are all still new to this? It would be a really smart way to track us!" She looked at both Ainsley and Aldrian.
"THAT... That could actually be it!" Ainsley stood up excitedly. "Okay, Violette, Aldrian, what are your cultivation levels currently?"
Aldrian stood up quickly with an excited look on his face. "Well, I'm not that far, but I actually just broke through to the organ enhancement stage of the Body Strengthening Realm last week, and I'm almost ready to break through to the soul foundation stage of the Mortal Soul Realm. What about you, Violette?"
Violette looked around. "I actually decided to focus on soul cultivation instead of body cultivation, and so I am currently still in the first stage of body cultivation. But I'm in the Soul Ascension stage of the Mortal Soul Realm. Though it shouldn't take me all that much longer to break through to the next realm. What about you, Ainsley?"
"I am currently in the organ enhancement of the Body Strengthening Realm and am almost ready to break through to the flesh replacement stage. All that's left is to gather some of the energy of heaven and earth, and then I can proceed. Of course, before I break through to the next stage, I'll also have to take time to let my body prepare with some physical training as well. Also, for soul cultivation, I am in the Energy Gathering stage of the Mortal Soul Realm, though I am still early in that stage as well," Ainsley replied. Violette nodded.
"Of course, I mean, you did get a cultivation pill. I wouldn't expect any less from you!" she said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, you're doing great, no surprise there, lol."
"Seriously, Aldrian, did you really just SAY lol, like what!" Ainsley said as he slapped Aldrian's shoulder. Aldrian laughed.
"Well, yeah, I guess I did. But let's just ignore that for a second and focus on your idea that might just save us. So what do you got?" he said as he looked over towards Ainsley.
"Okay, so I think that either we are leaving behind basically footprints everywhere we go in the cultivation world. Maybe some of the unused energy of heaven and earth that we weren't able to use in our cultivation, since we have been cultivating everywhere we've made camp, and this leads to them being able to keep tabs on us constantly no matter what we have done to throw them off of our trail. So basically, we have sabotaged ourselves at every turn. Either that or in my and Vi's first encounter with them, they put some kind of spiritual tracker on us that we can only see in the cultivation world when we focus on the energy surrounding us. So, to fix this, Vi and I both need to do a scan of the energy surrounding us and get rid of anything that could be leading them to us.
Is that okay?"
Aldrian looked over. "Of course, man. Let's go ahead and get started. The faster we get them off us, the better." At that moment, Violette stood up.
"Actually, no, that isn't true. We actually should head in the opposite direction of where we are going and then find a place to rest after a couple of hours of moving at full speed. And at that moment, we get rid of whatever they are using to track us. Not only will that put them further away from where we are going, but they will also probably keep heading in the direction we were going. So, we should have a much safer getaway, as we head to the ocean like Ainsley's parents told us to." Violette finished speaking and turned around to look at both of them. "So, do you guys agree?"
"Yes, that is a great idea. Let's pack up camp and get moving!" Aldrian said excitedly. Ainsley got up and started packing up at a leisurely pace.
"Of course, no need to rush. We don't want to alert them that we have figured anything out. We should definitely keep with our pattern of resting and cultivating for a couple of days and then moving for about a week before resting again. So, I think this is some pretty perfect timing for figuring out a plan of action. I mean, we are only a couple of hours away from our normal move time. I also think we should move for about a week like normal before losing their tracking methods, or that would also be suspicious. Then, we can make a loop, and we should also move at a 90-degree angle clockwise this time so that we don't just go the opposite direction after we get rid of the trackers. Instead, we can go 90 degrees counterclockwise, or left, because they will know that typically when a person is in a state of panic or they have to quickly make a decision about a specific direction to go, they will go right, because the majority of people are right-handed, and surprisingly, that dictates a lot of people's decisions once they are put in a physically and emotionally stressful situation." As Ainsley finished speaking, Violette nodded.
"That's true. I didn't even think of that. Heck, if we followed my plan, we would have been likely exposed. Nice plan, Ainsley!"
"Thanks! You too, I wouldn't have the chance to think of any of this if you didn't bring up that they might have been using a cultivation-based tracking method!"
"Yes, yes, you both did great. Now let's go ahead and keep packing. I've already packed like half our stuff while you guys stood there complimenting each other and slowly speaking out your ideas instead of just forming a bridge of thought using some of your spiritual energy. I mean, I know that it costs energy and we should save it, but still, it doesn't take much, and it is a much faster method of communication! Like just know this entire monologue I'm complaining at you guys with hasn't even taken a second!" As Aldrian finished his message, he laughed and just kept working. And just like he said, that was all said in less than a second using a thought bridge between the three of them.
"True, it's just I still suck at creating those thought bridges," Ainsley retorted.
"Right, so do I. We can't help that you are a natural at this!" Vi responded. "I'm still confused at how you're better at this than me considering you just started being able to form them."
"Yeah, but I mean there is only one way to get better, right? You've just got to practice," Aldrian said as he picked up his backpack. "Okay, and that's everything, so we should go ahead and go. It's not like a couple of hours off of our three days is really going to make a difference."
"That's true, let's go!" Ainsley said as he began to move quickly through the woods, and the other two quickly joined him and started running at full speed. "Don't forget over this week of running we need to look for the tracker with our spiritual sense. If we don't find anything, then next stop, we need to rethink how they're finding us." As Ainsley said this, he thought to himself, I wonder what mom would do if she were here?
"Sir! They've started moving!" A man ran into a large tent with an elaborate set of décor.
"Hmm, really, it's a few hours earlier than scheduled. Well, it probably isn't important. Quickly, follow them!" A man in a full beige suit said this as he stood up, waved his hand, and their entire camp of thirty tents and multiple different large brick fireplaces just disappeared. "Alright, everyone, attention, attention! I need all of you to listen to me, please! It is time to move again. I know everyone was expecting a couple of extra hours of free time, and I'm truly sorry. But if I so much as hear a complaint, you'll die a slow and agonizing death from yours truly. So just get moving, and don't forget, let's enjoy the pursuit." The man said this with the biggest smile before maniacally laughing and slowly walking in the direction his troops ran.