Li's companions trudged through the dense undergrowth of the Qinxu Forest, their spirits weighed down by worry and exhaustion. For three long days, Li had remained unconscious, his breathing shallow but steady, his body unresponsive no matter what they tried.
Mei Ming leaned heavily on her staff, her face pale and lined with fatigue. Her magical reserves had been stretched thin during their battle against Lu Heng and his creations, leaving her unable to summon the strength necessary to defend them further. The twins, Lei Yun and Lei Chen, alternated between carrying Li and scouting ahead, their worry for him matched only by their dread of what might lie in wait.
Xiao Ping and Yu Yan trudged along in silence with both of them thinking separate thought as they followed Li's companions. Xiao Ping was still quite fearful of the power Li had wielded. In his mind, he felt there wasn't much difference between Lu Heng and Li. Yu Yan on the other hand felt that Li's continuous unconsciousness was a burden. Although he was still fearful of the power Li had showcased, she wasn't as fearful as Xaio Ping. Her major concern was in getting out of the forest but Li's state was proving a hinderance.
Zhang Wei took the lead, his blade at the ready as his sharp eyes scanned for threats. "We have to get out of this forest," he muttered, his voice tight. "Every moment we linger puts us in more danger."
"But how?" Lei Yun panted, shifting Li's weight on his shoulder. "We've barely made progress. Mei Ming can't walk much farther, and carrying Li like this… it's impossible to keep up our pace. Those two Xaio Ping and Yu yan are not lending any helping hand at all."
'But I cant carry him, I'm just a girl' protested Yu Yan as she looked around furtively, trying to avoid the piercing gazes of the other four.
'And you Xaio Ping? Asked Wei Ming expressionlessly. Xaio Ping simply looked away without saying a word. His fear of Li was deeply etched in his face for all to see.
'Let them be Mei Ming. We have always managed among ourselves before they joined us. And if not for them, we would not have had a confrontation with Lu Heng just yet.' Said Zhang Wei 'Our focus is on how to get Li out of this forest. I don't like the way he twitches every now and again as if he is fighting a battle within.'
'Our immediate concern is getting him to elder Han alive. But I can see the strength of you two waning. Everyone will assist in carrying Li, whether you like it or not.'
"Not to mention," Lei Chen added grimly, "we're running out of food and water. If this keeps up…" He didn't finish the sentence, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Mei Ming clenched her fists. "Don't you think I know that?" she snapped, though her voice cracked with frustration more than anger. "But we can't leave him here. Li risked everything to save us. If we abandon him—"
"No one's saying that," Zhang Wei interrupted firmly. "We're not leaving him behind. We'll rest for a while and then keep moving. We could as well return to that cave and rest, that is, if we can find it."
'I believe I can,' replied Mei Ming 'remember that thousand year old Gincheng? I think we found it close to here. If we can get to the location, then I can retrace our steps to the cave'.
As they pressed forward, the oppressive forest seemed to close in around them. Shadows shifted unnaturally, and the occasional distant howl of beasts sent chills down their spines. Their nerves were stretched taut, and every step felt heavier than the last.
'Looooooook' shouted Xaio Ping
Beneath a withered tree, its branches gnarled and lifeless, lay the shriveled remains of a human figure. The body was twisted unnaturally, its flesh sunken and pallid as though all vitality had been drained from it. The face, frozen in a rictus of terror, was unmistakable.
"Bai Fu," Yu Yan whispered, her voice trembling.
"Lu Heng…" Zhang Wei growled, his grip tightening on his sword hilt. "He must have done this before we fought him. He drained Bai Fu's essence just like he tried to do to us."
Lei Yun knelt beside the body, his expression somber. "It looks like he suffered," he said quietly. "I can't imagine what it must have felt like."
"We don't have time to linger," Zhang Wei said, though his voice was heavy with disgust. "Let's move."
As they resumed their slow march, Li remained oblivious to the world around him.
Zhang Wei glanced over his shoulder at Mei Ming, who knelt beside Li's unconscious form. Her face was pale and strained, her magic reserves drained from their earlier battles. She carefully adjusted the makeshift bed of leaves they'd created for Li, her hands trembling as she worked.
"How is he?" Lei Yun asked, crouching next to her.
"Still breathing," Mei Ming replied softly, brushing a strand of damp hair from her forehead. "But he's completely unresponsive. I don't know what's wrong with him, and I don't have the strength to figure it out."
"We can't keep carrying him like this," Xiao Ping muttered from where he stood, leaning against a tree. His face was pale, and his hands fidgeted nervously. "He's heavy, and we're barely moving. The forest is crawling with beasts, and we're sitting ducks."
"Are you suggesting we leave him behind?" Mei Ming snapped, her tone sharp despite her exhaustion.
"I didn't say that!" Xiao Ping shot back, though he looked away under her glare. "I'm just saying we need to think about survival. What happens if we run into more of another ferocious beast?"
"Then we fight," Zhang Wei said firmly, his voice brooking no argument. He stood at the edge of their small clearing, his sword drawn and ready. "No one gets left behind. Li saved our lives. We owe it to him to protect his."
"We're running low on food," Yu Yan interjected quietly, his eyes darting nervously around the clearing. "We haven't eaten since yesterday, and Mei Ming needs to recover. If we don't find something soon, we'll be too weak to defend ourselves."
Zhang Wei nodded grimly. "You're right. We'll need to search for food. But we can't all leave Li unguarded."
"I'll stay with him," Mei Ming volunteered immediately. "I'm too drained to be of much use anyway."
Lei Yun and Lei Chen exchanged glances before Lei Yun spoke. "We'll go with you, Zhang Wei. Xiao Ping and Yu Yan can go the other direction. Make sure not to engage any large beast. Be cautious, we can't afford to have any other person injured."
Xiao Ping frowned but didn't argue, while Yu Yan simply nodded, his expression uneasy.
Zhang Wei sheathed his sword briefly and began gathering his weapons. "We'll split into three groups," he said, his tone authoritative. "Mei Ming stays here with Li. The twins and I go in one direction while Xiao Ping and Yu Yan go in the other direction. Stay alert, and don't stray too far."
Leaving Mei Ming behind to watch over Li, the group set out into the forest, their footsteps careful and deliberate. The oppressive atmosphere pressed down on them, every rustle of leaves or distant cry of a beast setting their nerves on edge.
Lei Yun carried a small blade, his eyes scanning the undergrowth for edible plants or signs of game. Beside him, Lei Chen kept his bow ready, though his quiver held only three arrows—a stark reminder of their dwindling resources.
Xiao Ping and Yu Yan trailed behind, their expressions tense.
"You've been quiet," Lei Chen said, glancing back at the two.
"It's this forest," Yu Yan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It feels… wrong. Like something's watching us."
"Probably is," Lei Yun muttered. "But there's no use panicking. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you."
They came across a small stream, its clear waters a welcome sight. The group quickly refilled their canteens, the sound of trickling water briefly easing their tension.
"Finally, something's going our way," Xiao Ping said, his voice tinged with relief.
"Don't jinx it," Lei Yun replied, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
As they continued their search, they stumbled upon a small patch of wild berries. Lei Chen knelt to examine them, his brow furrowing.
"They're edible," he said after a moment. "Not much, but better than nothing."
The group quickly gathered as many berries as they could, stuffing them into their pouches.
"It's not enough for all of us," Zhang Wei said, his voice heavy. "But it'll keep Mei Ming going for now. Let's head back."
When they returned to the clearing, they found Mei Ming sitting cross-legged beside Li, her eyes closed in meditation. She opened them at the sound of their approach, relief washing over her face.
"You're back," she said, standing slowly.
"Not much luck," Zhang Wei admitted, handing her a small pouch of berries. "But it's something."
Mei Ming accepted the food with a grateful nod, though her eyes lingered on Li. "Still no change," she said softly.
The group ate sparingly, their meal silent save for the occasional rustle of leaves. The tension among them was palpable, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on their minds.
"We'll set up watches for the night," Zhang Wei said once they'd finished eating. "I'll take first watch. Lei Yun, you're next. Everyone else, get some rest."