Like a signal to start, the group of men dashes toward the direction of the woman in white with their weapons raised high in the air. Under the support of a body strengthened by the adjustment of the system. A blink of an eye is enough for those men to travel the distance of many meters.
With a loud roar of intimidation, a bandit with a missing ear swung his axe down at Xin Yue's leg while another appeared on the opposite side aiming for her head. Trying to block the young woman's ways of escape with two separate groups attacking in all directions of her path.
They smirk at each other in confidence of her defeat.
However,
The shining gleam of metal was inches away when a huge object flew out of the dark cave behind them and slapped the two attackers aside. Curling itself around her waist in a matter of moments. Xin Yue gave a loud yelp of surprise as the large tail of the serpent began to pull back into the safety of the cavern.
Just as the young lady sighs in relief at the familiar feel of scaly skin and scent of dry grass. A new wave of onslaught flew in lieu of the cold swords.
Numerous glinting shards of ice suddenly penetrated through the air to strike at the retreating creature. Miraculously avoiding the figure wrapped in the center of the target. Shattering sounds of broken shards rang out each time they came in contact with the snake's strong hide.
Like the falling of snow on a clear winter day it flutters down and lands with a soft touch. But with a touch of redness that stained the purity of its surface akin to the fluttering descent of plum blossoms at dawn.
"Be careful!" Xin Yue warned as she felt the slight tremors made from each impact. Although the icicles weren't able to penetrate the tough skin, it does not mean that there is no effect.
As a result of each continuous blow, cracks started to develop as scales began to fall off. Droplets of red liquid splatter onto her figure from the force of each abrupt twist and turn. Akin to hounds chasing after its prey, the normally beautiful sight of glittering ice now carries a chilling image as they strike with the intent to kill.
"Quick! Let me go!" Knowing that the serpent could hear her voice even from within the cave. The young woman smacked the palm of her hand rapidly over the end of the tail wrapped around her. Eyes reddening over the injuries appearing more and more on the serpent due to its intent to defend her.
Xin Yue pleaded for the snake to release her to the ground. "The only reason we can't retreat fast enough is because of me! Let go!"
However, as if unable to hear the begging of her voice, the grip around her tightened instead as the tail unexpectedly dipped low. Avoiding another surge of ice, Xin Yue instantly felt as if the balance of her body had disappeared when it suddenly pulled down from the air. It was at this same second that the glint of steely metal flashed under the reflection of the sun.
Clang!
Ember sparks flare between the collision of two durable surfaces whilst the shadowy figure in black leapt away from the borrowed force of the clash. Trying not to give the serpent another moment of a break or time to gather its thoughts, they dash forward again. Aiming clearly for the person trapped under the bindings of the creature, ice spears formed and flew anew.
It proceeds to break and form under the relentless battle of endurance between man and beast. Even with its increasing injuries the snake shows no signs of slowing down as the speed of its dodging rises instead. Similar to a rattle swinging back and forth, left and right.
Finally in the midst of this fast paced clash of strength and wits the man in all black did the peculiar action of retreating a few steps back.
Standing casually with his right hand placed inside the pocket of his pants all means of attacks ceased while he raised his left. Followed by the low sound of his laughter, the loud clap of his index finger against his thumb signals the finale of it all.
Succeeding the snap of his slender fingers, glittering dust of crumbled ice commenced to expand and connect as it freezes over the surface of the snake's skin. Binding its movements into rigid shakes of resistance, Xin Yue slowly slips from the serpent's grasp. Falling onto a rock in the middle of the lake, she dry heaved from the dizziness of the ordeal.
"I'm dying…." Pale fingers clutch onto the wet rock as Xin Yue breathed heavily in order to push down the rising surge welling up her throat.
Experiencing the live version of this rollercoaster is already enough to make up for the years of not attending rides. Immobilized from the confusion, the young woman reached out her hand in an attempt to search for the paralyzed snake's tail. 'I need to help,' she thought while trying to fight off the blinking black spots in her vision.
There!
Able to grasp onto the object in front of her, she revealed a soft smile that immediately froze on her lips. Hovering over her to block out the glare of the sun, the man in black arrived at an unknown time with his hand now clenched around hers.
"You…." 'Rotten piece of shit!! How dare you take me on a rollercoaster ride from Hell?! I [beep] swear that if I ever recover my [beep] strength to see you again I'll rip all your hair off! [beep] [beep] [beep]!!!!'
Is what she wants to say. But unfortunately, her weak body doesn't have enough energy to say anything more than a simple, "you." Pitiful eyes upturn with tears as they direct themselves at the man with an unfocused light.
Seeing that look of passion directed at him, the man furrowed his brows before moving to lift the girl up. Phoenix eyes carefully took in the disheveled appearance of her fatigue self and trembling limbs.
Xiao Fanyu wanted to open his mouth to speak when suddenly, from the depths of the lake came splashing out with its mouth open to show venomous fangs are groups of colorful water snakes. Heading straight for the man with a loud hiss, they successfully forced him away from Xin Yue as they engaged in an intense brawl.
At the same time those snakes appear, a verberating crack of ice sounded out from above as the snake slammed its tail powerfully over the surface of the water. Sheets of encasing ice break under the mighty slam of the tail. Freeing itself from the leftover bits of coldness, the serpent's tail encloses around the waist of the young woman before pulling away with haste.
"Wait!" The man yells while giving chase only to be pushed back by another barrage of glinting fangs. Dark pupils dim with a murderous glow as he witnesses the delicate figure disappearing into the depths of darkness. The sight of falling tears sliding off those pale cheeks of her had him clenching his fists in anger.
"Brother Xiao!"
Catching up from behind at this time is Xiao Fanyu's bewildered group.
"Why did you run off by yourself?" Seven asked while panting out of breath.
"... …" Gathering a burst of energy on the palm of his hand, the young man turned to his teammates in a dispassionate voice. "Get rid of them all first."
_____
"Bleh!!" Vomiting at a corner of the cavern, Xin Yue kneeled weakly over as droplets of sweat dripped onto the floor. "Hold on.." She mumbled to no one in particular as the second wave of bile broke out of her mouth. "Shit! Bleh!"
… …
"I swear I'm putting that guy on my blacklist from now on!" Although she couldn't see his face very well from the glaring backlight of the sun. But she remembered his smell! How to explain it?
The scent and touch of ice that brought along the faint tint of fresh pine.
If someone were to ask her, "what is the smell of ice like?" She could only answer, "not too sure.
The smell of cold wind and mist?"
And if someone were to ask, "what does that smell like?" She could only pull out a knife to explain, "kinda like the feel of cold steel on your neck?" Then slit their throats with a loud laughter towards the sky!
That's how angry she felt right now.
Anyways, the point is she'll definitely remember that guy if they were to meet again!
"Are we being chased?" Wiping her lips with a piece of leaf on the ground, Xin Yue staggered up to lean at another location away from her pile of undigested food.
Slanting a glance at that area of the cavern, the large serpent turned its sight away to move towards the nest. "Not right now. I have my subordinates hindering them." The humans outside the cave are very strong, especially the one with the strange ability. If it wasn't because of that human's restraint, perhaps the fight would have ended long ago.
Dragging its bloody body towards the nest of eggs, this trail of crimson left a very gruesome image behind.
"You're injured!" Gasping in shock at the excessive amount of blood oozing from the wounds, Xin Yue tried to wipe it with the edges of her dress. "Those people outside definitely came here for certain purposes. I heard it! They said something about a map…"
"Come here child." The voice of the serpent called in a fatigued tone, "stand next to me. Do you see these eggs?" Ignoring the state of its body, the creature calls to her instead. "Every one of these eggs belong to me," it said with a loving sigh. Slipping its tail into the dry hay, it came back out with another the size of a regular chicken egg. Shining with a silver glow comparably different from the rest, the snake placed that fragile object on the palm of Xin Yue's hand.
"This…?"
"Is also my precious baby." On the cold reptilian expression of this stoic creature, the young woman was able to sense a streak of pride and doting. Holding carefully onto the small egg radiating a thread of warmth, she couldn't help but to smile along.
"Please take care of it from now on."
Raising her head up with a jolt, the young woman widened her eyes in disbelief, "why?"
Peering in the direction of the entrance, the reptile's yellow pupils blink in a steady pace before turning back to the person beside it. "I cannot take care of this child any longer. He would be safer staying with you."
"But!..." Bright pupils collide with the slitted irises of the silent predator. Through this simple collision of sight, Xin Yue was able to sense the plea and desperation of this request.
Swallowing back the words on the verge of breaking out, she remained silent for a few seconds before replying in a low tone. "I can't promise you anything." In this world where even she has a hard time trying to survive, "but as long as I am alive..." She didn't finish the rest of the sentence.
"That is good enough for me, thank you." The enormous serpent rose half of its body up before curving down in a low bowing motion. "I will not forget the gratitude of this day."
As if on cue, a deafening eruption burst with a loud bang and shook the area of the whole lake.
"Wah!" Clutching the small object against her chest, Xin Yue yelped in fright at the power of this eruption. "What is going on?!"
"The ones outside are throwing explosives onto the lake." Nudging the girl forward with its head, the serpent spoke with a dispassionate voice, "go outside first."
Without thinking too much into those words, the young woman nodded before heading through the passage in haste. Leaving the snake by itself, the creature turned to face the round eggs of her silent children. "My babies…. mother has wronged you."
Lifting the end of her tail in hesitation, a swift swipe broke every last egg in the nest to reveal its empty insides. Only a few strands of sticky substances seem to imply the living past of those now barren eggs.
"… …" Sadness flitted past those cold irises so momentarily that it seems only to be a figment of imagination.