'Jiu Lin…? How come he is here? I thought he went to join the traders? Wait no…. Where am I?' Hu'er looked around and saw trees. There are so many trees around them. There is also a river nearby. He is standing on the end of the river. Jiu Lin should have seen her when he looked towards her…. But he turned his back and now looked down. Hu'er wanted to get closer to Jiu Lin. She wants to see what he is looking for and why he didn't greet her. Before she can even walk there, she is suddenly vanished and teleported besides him.
A strong premonition came to her. She's not where she is supposed to be…. It's not in the book's memory. There is no such scene like this as far as she can remember. It only means she is dreaming. Dreaming something that she needs to find out what.
She looks up to see Jiu Lin looking down with cautiousness and worry. 'Why…?' He then looked back. It's where she came from. She also looked at it and saw nothing. She glanced at Jiu Lin's face and finally realized that she couldn't see what he was seeing. Jiu Lin's expression was full of hatred and sadness when he looked towards where she was.
It means there is something there that she couldn't see. 'Does that mean there is also something below that I couldn't see?' This made her panic.
Jiu Lin suddenly spoke. "I'm sorry Hu'er. I couldn't keep my promise." His eyes are full of sadness. She never saw him look like that. She didn't like it. Jiu Lin should never feel sad. She wanted to touch him but her hands couldn't grasp him. She can feel needles poking her heart, shattering bit by bit as her eyes filled with tears. "Jiu Lin…"
As a tear escaped her eyes and landed down. The scene went dark. The sound of the river flowing down the stream was so loud that she could help but looked down. However she only saw darkness. She couldn't see the beautiful water earlier. Now she knew why Jiu Lin was worried. It was because he couldn't see that below him was just full of water. She felt relieved. Jiu Lin wouldn't look there if he didn't have intentions of jumping down. Not that she knows it's safe. Her heart calmed down.
But before it can fully turn normal. It suddenly became noisy. Shouts, orders, and other loud noises made her snapped the other way where the noise came from. Bloodbath that's what it is.
She stood there frozen, watching her tribesmen get slashed and bitten by these unfamiliar beastmen. Some were transformed and using their best nature fought with bigger foxes. While the others are holding arrows and knives, slashing them down.
The fox tribesmen are overwhelmed by its enemy number that even if they are stronger than them, they could just hold on to keep the other tribesmen a way to survive.
"I will jump first. Wait for my voice before telling everyone that they could jump off." Hu'er immediately looked at the beastman who spoke. She didn't know who this beastman was but his words made her realize why they were in this place.
She wanted to say that they don't need to worry, they can jump. It's safe. But also knew that they wouldn't be able to hear it.
The beastman jumped. After a while, they didn't hear anything from the other side. She looks at Jui Lin's worried face. She can hear the fights getting near them. It seems like the enemies didn't want anyone to escape. She looks down, for some reason, the scene zooms in to the beastman who jumped first which is now sinking down, fainted.
Her eyes went wide. No one will be able to tell Jiu Lin to jump down now. And the beastman who volunteered to go first will now drown to death.
A beastman who looks like one of the small leaders in their tribe stepped up, "We don't have time. Let fate decide. Five beastmen jump first. We will count to 15 and another five will jump. Remember once you land safely in the water, make sure to swim away so the other beastmen who jumps next won't squash you to death. Check *** situation. If it's safe, it's best to try and inform us." She didn't hear the name, but she knew that this might be because of some restriction.
"Yes!"
Five names were called in which was like a buzz in her ears. The five that were called stepped up and they decisively jumped. Not one of those five is Jiu Lin. Since Jiu Lin's name wasn't called, Hu're became nervous.
She saw the five that jumped plunged into the water. One of the beastmen even looked and dove to find the first beastmen. While the other four shouted that it was safe to jump down. Hearing that, another five were called again and they all jumped in without hesitation. Hu'er finally saw the first beastman was found and now the beastmen is trying to save him. She saw that one of the beastmen seems to know what he is doing. She sighed in relief and focused back to Jiu Lin.
After five turns, there are only ten beastmen left. In the next batch, Jiu Lin's name was called. But before he can jump down another beastman whose name didn't get called jumped with the four. Jiu Lin stepped up and didn't jump down.
The beastman who was incharge turned grimmed. "If all of you go back alive… Make sure to tell the tribe leader."
They all disdain the beastman who didn't follow the order and jumped down on his own. "Yes."
Hu'er is already crying silently. She made sure that the beastman's face will be remembered. She hates him. How dare he? Whether this scene happened now or later, she would never forgive him.
In the next batch, Jiu Lin's name was of course included. But without hesitation. Jiu Lin threw the leader down. The four beastmen left looked at him in surprise. He said, "Since he wanted to report ***, he needs to be able to live so he can tell on him."
"Thank you." another beastman whispered. Jiu Lin hummed.
Hu'er pursed her lips. She knew that Jiu Lin was just making up nonsense. He wanted to stay back and save that leader. She couldn't blame him…. He is Jiu Lin.
Waiting for sometime. "Let's jump," Jiu Lin and the four beastmen jump at the same time.
They were already jumping when a knife was thrown at them. Hu'er saw it. She saw it pass by her slowly and plunged into Jiu Lin's flesh. "Jiu Lin!"