Long Aotian took a deep breath and plunged into the water again. He gestured for the ghoul to proceed towards the entrance of the water hole.
Ghoul nodded and swam up with Felia and Raijin in his arms.
Soon they both exited.
"Love, I found your friend," long shouted in excitement as he climbed out. But he was greeted by an empty cave.
"Xia?" he whispered, but there was no answer.
"Where did he go? Is he angry that I went alone," he mumbled, and he walked around. He could see water footmarks on the ground.
He squatted down and analysed them. The feet print was almost as long as his palm and wide as his wrists. Even the small toes prints were clearly imprinted.
"This foot print is definitely Xia's," he whispered. Then he noticed another imprint on it.
It was a shoe print rather than a footprint. He compared it to his own shoe print. It was vastly different.
Dread filled his heart.
As far as he knew Xia had been wearing his clothes for a while now. The shoe he was wearing was also his childhood one. All his shoes leave the same print. So... there was someone else in the cave.
He stepped further to the corner of the cave and found few blood drops on the floor. Swiping it with his finger, he sniffed it. It was clearly someone else's blood, not his lover.
His hands trembled in fear. 'What happened here? Did.. did Xia get hurt as well?' his thoughts turned turbulent. He ran around the cave searching for some other clue. But there was nothing much.
'My lover was definitely kidnapped!' His breathing quickened and his spiritual energy also went out of control.
"They dare touch this mighty dragon's mate. I will make sure they experience heaven's retribution," he shouted and dashed out.
The ghoul silently placed Felia and Raijin on the floor. With his spiritual power, he created a shield in case they might be in danger. Only after then did he follow after Long.
Long jumped up and his body partially elongated into a golden dragon. His nails became sharp talons and his teeth grew into fangs.
He leaped onto the rocky surface of the ravine walls and climbed up swiftly.
The ghoul watched all this with its mouth wide open. 'I should not fail my master,' it thought, and it also jumped. But its bony legs did not take him long. Before he could even react to the wall he plunged into the water. But he was much faster underwater. He launched himself up and started climbing fast.
Long gazed back to see the ghoul following behind him. "Catch up fast," he shouted and ran into the forest. He could not sense Xia's scent, but he followed along the scent of the blood he found in the cave.
There are multiple ways to cover up one's cent. He guessed that the assailant had done the same.
As he jumped on one of the tree, he could sense the scent getting closer. He grabbed onto the branch and peered in-between the foliage. He could only see the back of a silver-haired man and an old man. There was also that weird tree that kidnapped Felia and Raijin
'Did they hide him in that tree's tummy?' he thought as he clenched his fist.
He turned to the ghoul and whispered, "Wait for my mark. I will attack from the left. You attack from the right," he said decisively.
The ghoul nodded.
Both of them waited until the two of the assailants sat down next to a tree.
"Now," Long whispered and jumped down.
The silver-haired man noticed him immediately.
Long walked slowly towards him. As he got closer, he could smell Xia's fragrance from him. 'this bastard.. How dare he,' he thought
He summoned his sword and dashed towards him. His spiritual energy flowed though the body of the sword, making it fiery red.
Prince Gua summoned a light sword and launched at him. As soon as their sword clashed the land under them trembled and broke apart. Some pieces of rock flew around and hit the old man's forehead. He lost consciousness immediately.
Both of them retreated.
Long gripped onto his sword and faced the man with a firm glare.
On the other hand, Prince Gua felt his hand tremble from the peer pressure of the blow. 'This man is formidable.' He thought as he regulated his breathing.
"Might I know who you are and why you are attacking us," He said. As he stepped back his foot hit on something. He subtly gazed down to find the unconscious old man. 'Useless,' He silently kicked the old man out of the way.
Long gritted his teeth and charged. He was so angry that words escaped his mind. He just blindly charges at the repulsive man.
Prince Gua tried his best to dodge his attacks, but as time passed the man's attacks were becoming more powerful.
"Senior, if I have offended you please forgive this junior," he said respectfully.
"Where is my lover, Xia?" the golden dragon growled.
"I have not met anyone name such, respectful saviour," prince Gua whispered.
"Liar, I found your blood in that cave," Long shouted.
Only then did Prince Gua realize what this man was talking about. 'So he is my angel-san's lover, ah?' he gazed at him up and down. 'He is strong. No wonder he rejected me,' he thought as he wiped his now scarred cheek. 'But.... either way. My angel san will have to come to me for comfort,'
Usually when one injects their spiritual energy with a bad intent, the spiritual energy will cause havoc in the victim's body. Eventually the victim will die. Prince Gua injected only a small amount of energy in that angelic beauty's body. But still that energy will make him so painful.
'And when the pain is too much… he will grovel under my feet,' he thought and laughed out loud.
"Respected sir, what are you talking about? I have not seen anyone named Xia. And I was in the cave but when I visited there I saw no one," he said with a nonchalant shrug.
"Impossible." Long shouted.
'Riled up so easily. hmmm,' Prince Gua chuckled internally. "Maybe your lover ran away from you. You know that love is not permanent, and it's natural for one to leave....."
A swift sword slashed his jugular.
Gua Juan sidestepped and held the arriving sword in his hands. The pressure of the blow sliced all the fingers of his right hand.
"Agh," he moaned as he held his maimed hands.
"Now tell me, where is my lover?" Long roared.