Xuan Wok continued walking weakly through the dirty and muddy pathway that was etched into the forest bed of the Forever Woods. His battle with the four bandits was exhausting physically, but mentally he couldn't have been better.
He survived that. He survived getting ganged on by six people. Yeah sure he may have gotten help but he still survived! His morale was through the roof.
However, morale alone doesn't keep one on their feet. Fatigue quickly caught up as Xuan fell to his feet, unable to move further. He weakly moved his body to a shade underneath a tall tree, groaning a bit. He weakly took out a waterskin and began chugging water greedily. In hindsight it probably wasn't a good idea to chug so much water with broken ribs but Xuan could care less. He was thirsty.
After the big drink, Xuan sighed. The pain had been dulled earlier due to adrenaline and shock, but now it was coming with full force. And it hurt like a BITCH.
He began undressing his body to check on his ribs. His peachy skin didn't feel so good behind in the open, but he had to persevere. The wound needed to be checked…and things didn't look good.
There was a gigantic blue mark on where he had been punched by the bandit leader. Internal bleeding and fractured ribs were present with a hundred percent certainty.
"Fuck…I need to get Outta here…"
Xuan said and tried to move, only for the searing pain on his ribs to stop him entirely.
"AAAAAH!!!! FUCK-"
He cursed due to the pain, his voice echoing through the dense forest. Suddenly everything went quiet. Xuan didn't like where this was going. He wasn't a hunter, but he had heard tales from hunters before. "If everything in a forest goes quiet, fear for your life. Because a predator is on the prowl."
Xuan heard a slight ruffle from a nearby bush and quickly took out his sword, pointing it at the bush, ignoring the searing pain on his ribs. He had to hear with it, he had too.
'What the fuck is it!?'
Xuan's mind roared as adrenaline began setting in once again, his pain senses dulling. He was ready for whatever beast exited the bush…only for two humans to exit.
"Senior Sister, are you sure this is the way?"
"Yes, junior brother Lloyd, I am a hundred percent certa-...what's a mortal doing here?"
The two figures said. One of them was taller, standing at a height of 5'10. Still shorter than Xuan. He has long black waist length hair with two bangs in the front, the back of his hair tied to a ponytail. His skin had a pale complexion, his eyes serene, a shade of brown. He wore a traditional Cultivation dress.
The other was a woman, short, standing at a height of 5'5. Her hair was white and flowing, her hair a shade of brilliant blue, like a pristine cut of Sapphire. If the man from earlier had a white complexion, this woman was snow itself. Xuan felt his face heating up by just looking at her. She too wore a traditional Cultivator dress. However, one thing caught his eye. One thing that any aspiring Cultivator or would be Cultivator would immediately recognise.
The mark of the Eternal Skyfire sect. The majestic red phoenix was unmistakable. Xuan's breath hitched.
"He seems injured. He was probably attacked by bandits. Surprised he managed to get away."
The man, who he heard referred to as Lloyd said. The woman nodded.
"I see…hey mortal! How did you manage to get away?"
Xuan was surprised by her bluntness. Lloyd resisted the urge to face palm.
"Jade, don't be so tactless."
"Eh? What did I do wrong?"
The woman named Jade asked. Xuan sighed and spoke up.
"I was attacked by six bandits. I managed to kill two of them before their leader, a cultivator, managed to wound me. Thankfully there was another Cultivator here who seemed to have a grudge against their leader, and so I escaped using that as a distraction."
He said. Jade raised an eyebrow.
"A cultivator acting as a bandit? That's certainly strange."
Lloyd shrugged. This wasn't of their concern. The duo turned to leave but Xuan suddenly called out. He wouldn't survive here alone, and though the chances of the cultivators helping him would be slim, it was better than nothing.
"Wait!"
"Hm?"
"Y-you two are the disciples of the Eternal Skyfire sect right? Please, take me with you two to Jingzhou mountain."
Jade's eyes sparkled.
"Oh! You're trying to join our sect! How exciting!"
She said.
"Well I would love to help you but I cannot right now. We have a matter to attend too over here first."
She said. Lloyd nodded.
"And… what might that be?"
Xuan asked.
"Killing a demonic beast that's prowling this forest. Our elders and mentor thought this would be a good experience for us."
Xuan's eyes widened. He was in a forest with a demonic beast!? If he had been caught he would've died!
"You are free to follow us if you want, but we can't guarantee you safety."
Jade said. Xuan gritted his teeth. Both options seemed bad. He either went with the cultivators and potentially die to the demonic beast, or stay here and die to a random predator. He decided to take his chances and go with them.
Xuan tried to stand up, however the pain on his ribs prevented him, sending him back down again.
"Ack-!"
"Oh dear..can't really follow us like that can you?"
Jade said. Both she and Lloyd eyed each other for a moment before the latter sighed, moving forward and giving Xuan a pill.
"It's a healing pill. It's effects are self explanatory. Eat it and you can follow us."
Xuan nodded weakly, the pain too great for him to thank Lloyd properly. Xuan ate the pill and almost instantly, his wounds got better, his aching muscles healed, his bruises disappeared and even his broken ribs healed. This was magic! A miracle!
Xuan didn't get to ponder on this as Lloyd spoke up.
"Follow me mortal."
And so he did, not questioning the cultivator.