The cool evening breeze caused the forest to sway in its wake as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, leaving long, eerie shadows on the ground. Not far from the chaos was a hidden cave, where Gerald paced back and forth, his boots crunching against the rocky floor. His rugged face was creased with worry.
"Where is that boy?" Gerald said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "What if he's gone off after spiritual beasts and got himself killed? It's just the kind of careless thing he would do!"
Mei Feng sat with her legs crossed and let out a big sigh. She seemed calm, which was very different from how Gerald felt. "Relax, Gerald," she said in a steady voice.
"Bai Cheng is smart. He won't do anything too risky. Plus, he knows the forest better than most people."
"He's just a kid with no spiritual energy!" Gerald shouted, raising his hands. "Being smart doesn't make him invincible. What if he meets something—or someone—he can't deal with?"
Mei Feng raised an eyebrow. "If you're so worried, we'll wait a few more hours. If he doesn't come, we'll search the forest ourselves. But for now, sit down. Your pacing is giving me a headache."
Gerald grumbled but leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "If he doesn't come back soon, I promise I'll pull him out of whatever trouble he's in."
Bai Cheng was very far from the cave. He crouched low in bushes near a small stream.
There stood his dog, a little brown mix, with a very good nose and quick movements; its ears stood up, while its tail hung still. Bai Cheng stroked its head silently, saying softly, "Come on, boy. We should hurry. Those bad guys may find me; worse, reach Gerald and Mei Feng first.
Bai Cheng exhaled and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Alright. Shen Yue's next. That icy witch is no joke, but I've got to deal with her before she deals with me."
His mind ran with all the terrible possibilities. This wasn't like Jia Ling; Shen Yue was an altogether different animal—one sharp, calculating, and unutterably lethal. And doubly so if she is an ice technique user.
He continued crawling along the bank, looking out for signs of her, the air growing frostier with every step. Rubbing his arms. Great. Ice vibes already. She's close. Just what I needed.
Frosty Run-in
The water sparkled under the moonlight, calm and peaceful. Suddenly, a figure jumped out of the river, splashing ice-cold water everywhere. Bai Cheng jumped back, slipping on the muddy bank but managing to catch himself just in time. "Damn!" he shouted, shaking water off his arms.
Shen Yue stood on the river like it was solid ground, her long, silver hair flowing down like a frozen waterfall. Her sharp features and bright blue eyes made her look otherworldly. Frost crystals sparkled on her fingertips.
"Well, well," Shen Yue said, her voice as cold as the air. "You are still alive, aren't you? I'm impressed, mortal. But your luck stops here."
Bai Cheng wiped his face and smiled. "I'm still here, Ice Queen. I have to say, your timing is quite dramatic. Did you practice that entrance, or is it just how you are?"
Shen Yue's lips twisted into a sneer. "You can tease me all you like, little boy. You've avoided my friends, but you won't get away from me. I will freeze you in place."
"Oh, no, I'm really scared," Bai Cheng said, pretending to shiver. He smiled slyly. "But shouldn't you be more worried about your hair? It looks like a glacier hit a mop."
Her eyes narrowed, and the frost around her hands got stronger. "You're trying to make me angry. It won't work."
Bai Cheng shrugged. "Make you angry? No, I'm just saying the truth. You look like a snowstorm messed up your hair."
"Enough!" Shen Yue shouted, pushing her hand forward.
The water around her moved quickly, turning into sharp pieces of ice that floated in the air like frozen daggers. Bai Cheng's smile faded when he saw at least twelve projectiles pointed directly at him.
"This is better!" he yelled, moving to the side as the first shard flew by his ear. "Now we're getting somewhere!"
Shen Yue smirked. "Let's see if you're still smiling when I'm done."
The ice shards flew at Bai Cheng in rapid succession. He ducked, rolled, and scrambled for cover, the projectiles slicing through the air with deadly precision. One grazed his sleeve, tearing the fabric, and another slammed into a tree, leaving a frosty crater.
"Hey, be careful!" Bai Cheng yelled, jumping behind a rock. "Do you know how tough it is to find good clothes out here?"
Shen Yue lifted her arms, and the river behind her moved with her. "Run all you want. You can't stay hidden forever."
Bai Cheng looked out from behind the rock, his breath showing in the cold air. "Not hiding, just planning. Big difference, Frosty."
"You're only prolonging the inevitable," Shen Yue said, her voice laced with cold amusement. "But I'll admit, you've got guts. Too bad it won't save you."
She waved her hand, and a wave of icy mist rolled over the riverbank, creeping toward Bai Cheng. He coughed, his lungs stinging from the chill.
"Alright, alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to get serious."
He looked at his dog, who was sitting close by, watching him closely. "Okay, friend, here's the plan. You will distract her while I find a way to stay safe. Does that sound good?"
The dog tilted its head and gave a soft bark.
"Great. I'm happy we understand each other."
As the cold mist got thicker, Bai Cheng ran from his hiding place, moving side to side toward the riverbank. Shen Yue saw him right away.
"Foolish move," she said, summoning another barrage of frost shards.
Bai Cheng grinned despite himself. "Oh, I've got plenty more foolish moves where that came from.
Let's dance, Ice Queen."