After constant killing the stragglers of the groups, it had come to the groups' notice that they were being preyed on by an unknown assailant.
Most people believed that it was Yin Yun the person who they chased and wanted to drive him into the open while others wanted to go back to regroup.
Due to the conflicts of interest, it had been placed to a vote where an overwhelming majority voted to continue with a trap to drive him out of the shadows.
Fewer people left the group and those that did were confident in their strength. LingYue noticed this as his hunt for them had drastically gotten more challenging.
After weighing his options he aimed to hide in the shadows and wait to see, but as he was retreating another group suddenly appeared behind him as they shouted and rushed towards him; caught unaware he had no choice but to go head-on against this smaller group before the main group came to corner him.
He dived into the group with gusto, his hands throwing as many Jadeite Thorns as he could. This left many fatally wounded as he had aimed for all vital areas such as the eyes, nose and throats of his enemies.
A burly man within the group lunged forward as he swung his pick axe towards LingYue's head, shouting as he placed his full might behind the swing. He aimed to kill and wanted to leave no room for survival.
LingYue contorted his body with the flexibility of a snake, as he threw himself out of the way of the deadly blow, which then landed in the chest of the person behind him, his foot planted directly on the handle of the axe as he swung his dagger taking both the man's eyes.
Before LingYue could catch his breath, a solid blow blew him into the air, knocking all the wind out of his lungs.
As he tumbled haphazardly over the ground he soon slid to a stop; his body beaten and bruised by the blow that hit him.
As he looked up he saw a snickering Kong Xiaobo as he limped over to LingYue like the cripple he was.
"Those movements look vaguely familiar. . ." Kong Xiaobo stated as he closed in; his hand in a clawed gesture as his fingers flexed.
LingYue knew it was now do or die, he didn't have any fae-like abilities like the others. Aside from sharp and sturdy claw-like nails on his hands and feet, he had nothing.
He couldn't conjure water, ice or illusions like the folklore of the snow fox clan, he didn't have any strong backer nor expert elite watching behind him. . .
The only thing he had was a starving hunger for strength and the suffering he faced up until now, all he had was a strong will to progress onwards against all odds for revenge, for his mother, friends and lastly for himself.
Kong Xiaobo sneered as he looked at him,
" Young Master Buhei wants your head, will you give it over or will I have to take it?"
LingYue was desperate but his will was firm as he stared Kong Xiaobo in the eye and said through gritted teeth, "Come take it then, ya crippled Ol' Whore. . ."
Kong Xiaobo's eyes widened as veins began to bulge on his neck and face as he said, "good! Good! GOOD!!"
He was so infuriated that this boy Yin Yun would dare go against him that he nearly spat blood.
He raised his hand as he struck down in a clawed grasping motion!
[ Feral Crane's Agile Claw Third Movement: Grand Severing Claw!]
The wind could be heard whistling as his hand shuttled towards LingYue's head.
LingYue was waiting for this very moment when Kong Xiaobo was overcome by anger using all his strength to launch a deathblow.
He launched himself upwards with all his strength as he tore the cloth open around his face while sacrificing his left arm to sink his teeth into Kong Xiaobo's throat.
*Skkrrttt*
* KKKKKKSSSHHTTT*
Almost simultaneously LingYue's arm was crippled while his fangs sunk deep into the throat of Kong Xiaobo; his grip on the throat was like a lion holding a gazelle as he twisted and ripped the flesh right off!
Blood drowned the area as it showered over the two, their clothes dyed a darkened red. Kong Xiaobo touched his throat in shock at the suicidal-like attack as he grasped his throat...
He stumbled while gurgling as he coughed, his mind full of realization that only a fae could have fangs like this but the spectators didn't notice the fangs only that Kong Xiaobo's throat was bitten out from Yin Yun's desperate attack.
Kong Xiaobo wanted to alert everyone as he pointed towards the now severely injured LingYue as he tried to make words but nothing came of it, only unintelligible gurgles as he soon fell while his blood pooled beneath him...
***************
LingYue stood there panting as he clutched his left arm, his vicious eyes and suicidal attitude made the group step back, noone wanted to trade their life with his, even the famed Kong Xiaobo's life was taken in a suicidal attempt when he was full of confidence.
Seeing that the crowd was moving, LingYue looked at Kong Xiaobo's body feeling somewhat glad to be able to take his life, his revenge wasn't finished as yet but he was on the right path. His eyes moved over the man's body as he saw a small parchment of rolled paper sticking out of his robes, he grasped it quickly before slinking into the shadows as his red eyes kept watch on the group.
He made his way through the tunnels, noticing they weren't following him as of yet, he took a few turns before crawling through a small opened area he had made prior as a hideaway.
This was just one of the many he made as a way to escape pursuers if it was ever needed.
The adrenaline soon ebbed away, the pain began to assail him as his body spasmed, he placed a cloth in his mouth to hush himself lest he cries out.
He was covered in bruises and cuts while his left arm was partially mangled.
He was injured, couldn't collect any more Jadeite Iron and now he was on the run as well, so he lacked food and safety.
He stayed still as he waited for his wounds to heal, due to lack of sustenance his injuries healed noticeably slower.
The first week passed as he could still hear patrols looking for him, their feet trampling the ground beneath them as their voices echoed through the cavernous mine.
Soon the second and third weeks passed, and things had gotten better, his injuries, as well as the sounds coming from outside, became a lot quieter. . .
By the time the 4th week came, all but his arm was healed but he was starving, his body wasting away as he suffered in the total silence of the mine, aside from his eyes fully adapting to the darkness, he heard nothing...he saw nothing, just endlessly passing the time.
By the 5th week, his eyes were sunken and his body completely fatigued, the only reason he was still alive was due to his steel-like will, fearful of him passing away in his sleep, he hadn't slept for the past two days...
As he stared at the ceiling of the small area, he remembered all the things that had passed, all the people he met, all the humans he killed,
"Is this how I die?" He asked himself as he felt a peacefulness wash over him...
It came suddenly and without warning...
he felt it beckoning towards him...
"No!"
" I refused!"
" I'm not done, I refuse to die like this" he clamoured as he dragged his body with all the strength he had looking for anything that could satiate his hunger within the darkness.
And in an inconspicuous corner laid his first prey. . .