As soon as the fourth-tier Fang Claw beast landed in front of them, both guards sprang into action. Their swords slashed through the air, aiming for the beast's neck and legs, while Qing Rui gathered her Qi and sent out a powerful Wind Slash at the same time.
Wu Zheng, however, had already started to ran in the opposite direction.
The attacks connected with the beast, and dust exploded into the air as all three slashes struck. Without waiting to see the result, the group immediately turned and ran, sprinting in the opposite direction.
But as the dust began to settle, it was clear their attacks had barely touched the creature. Its fur had been cut in places, but its thick skin was unscathed, and its crimson eyes glowed with fury. The beast sniffed the air, its keen sense of smell locking onto their trail in an instant.
"We do we do?" Qing Rui shouted, panic evident in her voice. Her legs burned from the exertion, but the fear of being caught drove her forward.
One of the guards, struggling to keep up, said between ragged breaths, "Run… we… can't… do anything else!"
Wu Zheng, slightly ahead of them, turned his head. "But can we really outrun it?"
As if to answer, a guttural roar echoed from behind, sending chills down their spines. The sound of the beast crashing through the forest followed close behind, shaking the ground with its massive weight.
The two guards exchanged looks, their expressions grim. Without a word, they slowed their pace and stopped, readying their weapons.
"Miss, go on," one of them said, his voice calm despite the situation. "We'll hold it off as long as we can."
Qing Rui hesitated, her eyes wide. "But—"
"No time," the guard cut her off. "You must go. We'll return soon."
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Qing Rui bit her lip and nodded. She turned and continued running alongside Wu Zheng, her heart heavy.
The sounds of battle erupted behind them as the guards engaged the beast in a fierce fight. Roars and clashing steel echoed through the mountains as the sun dipped low on the horizon.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Wu Zheng and Qing Rui reached the base of the mountain. They hadn't stopped running since leaving the others behind, their breath coming in heavy gasps.
"They're still fighting," Qing Rui said, glancing back.
Wu Zheng's voice was steady. "They're skilled. They know what they're doing."
Qing Rui said nothing more, though worry still clouded her thoughts.
Suddenly, Wu Zheng came to an abrupt stop, his eyes scanning the forest floor.
"What are you doing?" Qing Rui asked, coming to a halt beside him. "We can't stop now. If that thing follows us, it'll catch up in no time!"
Without replying, Wu Zheng knelt down, plucking a cluster of purple flowers from the ground. He crushed them in his hands, releasing their potent aroma into the air.
"This beast tracks by scent," Wu Zheng explained. "We can't outrun it. We have to hide our smell."
He smeared the crushed flowers over his arms and legs, masking his scent with their overpowering fragrance. Qing Rui quickly caught on and did the same, covering her entire body in the pungent flower paste.
Once they were done, Wu Zheng nodded toward the nearby mountain. "We'll climb. The higher we go, the harder it will be for the beast to find us."
Qing Rui, feeling a glimmer of hope, followed him as they began their ascent up the next mountain, praying their strategy would buy them enough time to escape.