After two days of well-deserved rest and recuperation where the group only slept, ate and played around exploring the many tunnels inthe cave, they prepared to leave the safety of the cavern. Their packs were filled with rare herbs, and meat that could last them weeks or even months, the basilisk eggs securely tucked away in Li's and Zhang Wei's spatial pouches, and their spirits cautiously optimistic. They were ready to face the many danger the knew lay in the forest.
"We've rested enough," Zhang Wei announced, tightening the straps of his pack. "The forest won't explore itself and the herbs wont harvest themselves."
The others nodded, also eager to go about exploring the forest. They had done an inventory of their haul and saw that they had about three extremely rare herbs and several rare herbs that would fetch them a lot of sect points.
'How long is the mission? Lei Yun suddenly asked as they started packing and arranging the herbs amongst themselves. Zhang Wei took all the extremely rare herbs and a few of the rare ones then divided the remaining ones between Li, Mei Ming and the twins Lei Yun and Lei Chen. This was something they had all agreed on just to be on the safe side in case of any mishap. They all knew that as tough and harrowing as they previous days had been, they had it relatively easy as there was no one competing with them in the cavern except the beast. The forest would be a different story entirely, so they had to be prepared.
'Fifteen days' replied his twin lei Chen 'don't you read at all? It was on the noticeboard.'
'Well, I've forgotten' his brother sheepishly replied
'We've already spent about five days. Let's be careful in the remaining days' instructed Zhang Wei
'Noted boss' the others chorused as they trouped out of the tunnels with Zhang wei and Li leading the way. When they go to where the carcass of the basilisk was supposed to be, Li and Zhang Wei exchanged knowing glances and looked away.
'What happened to the basilisk carcass?' asked Lei Yun
'Other beasts must have eaten it' replied Mei Ming innocently before Li or Zhang could recount the cooked up story they had earlier come up with in case they were asked. Li coughed as he realised that Mei Ming's explanation was even more plausible than their own far fetched story.
As they got to entrance of the cave, Zhang Wei motioned to the others to be quiet as he stealthily moved to the entrance and peeped out into the dense forest. It was mid-afternoon as the forest was drenched in sunlight. He scanned the surroundings with his cultivation and observed that there did not seem to be anybody or beast lying in wait for them.
'Its safe. Let's go.' He declared to the others and they filed out behind him, also looking around and excitedly, glad to be under the sky again. The cavern had started getting too stifled for them.
As they re-entered the dense, sun-dappled forest, the familiar rustling of leaves and distant calls of spirit beasts greeted them. They'd travelled only a short distance when they heard approaching footsteps. They quickly hid behind a thick tree close to them and peeped behind the leaves of the thicket surrounding the trees.
Emerging from the shadows of the forest were Gao's group, visibly weary and dishevelled. Seeing that the approaching footsteps belong to other sect members, Zhang Wei motioned for the others to come out of hiding. Li, remembered the group from when they were splitting into groups at the edge of the forest. He felt an instinctive dislike for the leader of the group without being able to explain why.
Gao Fen, the leader of the new group, forced a tight-lipped smile as his eyes swept over Li's group, noting their healthy appearances and confident postures.
"Well, well," Gao said with feigned warmth, spreading his arms. "Looks like we aren't the only ones still alive."
Lei Chen frowned but remained silent. Zhang Wei stepped forward, offering a neutral nod. "Gao Fen. You survived."
"Barely," Gao admitted, his tone bitter. "The forest hasn't been kind. We've only managed to gather... a few things." He gestured vaguely toward the small, unimpressive bundles carried by his team members.
His second-in-command, a wiry, sharp-eyed cultivator named Wu Han, stood just behind him, silently appraising Li's group with calculating eyes.
"We're stronger together," Gao suggested smoothly. "How about we combine forces?"
Zhang Wei exchanged a glance with his companions. Despite his wariness, the idea of extra numbers was tempting, given the unpredictable dangers of the forest.
Before he could respond, Li spoke up, his voice low and cautious. "Are you sure about this? Something feels off. I don't like that Gao fen, he looks...dubious"
Zhang Wei gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I think there is strength in numbers but we'll keep our guard up. If they try anything, we'll be ready."
Reluctantly, Li nodded, though unease still coiled in his chest like a waiting serpent.
The combined group trekked deeper into the forest, pushing past thick undergrowth and stepping over twisted roots. They saw some herbs as they thronged along but Li's group did not join in the clamour by the other group to pluck the herbs. They maintained a dignified presence as they thronged along.
Mei Ming spotted a purple leaved plant beside a cropping of rocks. She nudged Li by with her elbow and the two of them walked leisurely to it. As Mei Ming bent to pluck the plant which was a purple hued thousand year old ginseng, they heard a loud shout from behind them
'That's ours' a voice roared closer to them causing Mei Ming to instinctively stop in her track to uproot the plant. I, standing beside her and noticing her hesitation, bent and uprooted the plant and in the blink of an eye, put it away in his spatial ring, looking up at the charging figure disdainfully.
'Are you deaf? Shouted Wu Han, Gao Fen's second in command. Wu Han was a wiry, sharp-featured young man of about fourteen years with a perpetual sneer etched into his thin lips. His hollow cheeks and sunken eyes give him a gaunt, almost skeletal appearance. His greasy black hair hangs in uneven strands around his face, often obscuring his piercing, narrow eyes that gleam with malice. His complexion is sallow, marked by pockmarks and faint scars from past battles.
'Are you blind? Replied Li as he looked as Wu Han with disdain 'We saw the plant first and got here before you. So I don't understand why you are shouting'.
'You must be courting death' Wu Han replied menacingly as he drew out his sword from its sheath and rushed towards Li. Li also unsheathed his sword and took a fighting stance, pushing Mei Ming away as he waited for Wu Han to arrive. Blood was already coursing through his veins as his eyes suddenly flashed red.
Gao Fen saw the red flash of Li's eyes and was petrified. The red flash reminded him of something he had read long ago and the whispered rumours about the boy without a surname called Li.
'Stop acting foolish Wu Han' Gao Fen snapped causing his second in command to halt in his stride suddenly and almost falling as he was just a few feet before Li.
'But….' Wu Han, protested as he looked at Gao Fen, bewildered. This was the first time his leader had stopped him in the forest. They had always used this tactic to rub others of their herbs since the mission started and Gao Fen had never once stopped him.
'But what? Shouted Gao Fen 'didn't you see that they saw the plant before us. So sorry Junior brother Li. Theres actually something wrong with him. He behaves impulsively sometimes.'
Li did not respond but watched Wu Han wearily. He maintained his stance until Wu Han sheathed his sword and moved away.
Zhang Wei who had been watching the entire scene like a predator walked up to Li and touched his hand softly. Li's tense stance relaxed and he sheathed his sword.
'Told you I don't trust this lot' he whispered to Zhang Wei as he looked back and helped Mei Ming up from the squatting position she was in since he pushed her out of the way.
'Yes, and we will be more watchful. That was well played' Zhang Wei praised Li
Li then passed the thousand year old ginseng plant to Lei Chen who while trying to put it in his pouch, mistakenly caused some of the plants to spill out. This caught the attention of Gao Fen and Wu Han who exchanged greedy glances and then looked away nonchalantly. The other members of Li's group did not see Lei Chen's gaff or the greed of the other two as they were busy trying to ease Mei Ming's frayed nerves.
The two groups then continued on their way as if nothing had happened. But Zhang's group warily hung together leaving a noticeable gap between them and the others.
They soon reached a sparkling waterfall pouring into a wide, calm pool. The cool, misty air was a welcome relief after the oppressive humidity of the forest.
"Let's rest here," Zhang Wei suggested. "We could all use a bath and a fresh start."
The others agreed eagerly, and soon they divided into pairs, each heading to separate parts of the waterfall for privacy.
Li chose a spot near the pool's edge where he could still keep an eye on the general area. He dipped his hands into the cool water, splashing his face, but kept his senses sharp.
Meanwhile, Lei Chen wandered toward a secluded corner behind some boulders, away from the others. He set down his spatial pouch carefully before slipping into the water, sighing in relief as the cold enveloped him.
From the shadows, Gao Fen and Wu Han watched silently.
"This is our chance," Gao hissed, his expression twisted with greed. "You saw his spatial bag. It's packed with valuable herbs."
Wu Han smirked, his fingers already weaving an incantation. "We'll take him out quietly. No one will hear a thing over the sound of the waterfall."
Gao nodded, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Be swift. I want that bag."
With practiced stealth, they advanced, suppressing their spiritual auras to avoid detection. As Lei Chen rinsed his face, utterly unaware, Wu Han silently completed his spell.
A faint, sinister shimmer spread through the air as ghostly vines made of dark, crackling energy shot toward Lei Chen, wrapping around his limbs like hungry serpents.
Lei Chen gasped, his body instantly paralyzed as icy power seeped into his veins. His eyes widened in shock as he saw Gao and Wu Han emerge from the shadows, murderous intent burning in their eyes.
"Did you really think we'd just let you keep all those treasures?" Gao sneered, drawing his blade as he advanced.
The roar of the waterfall drowned out Lei Chen's desperate attempts to call for help as darkness closed in around him.