Chapter 625

Chapter 625

Rushing water flowed in a beautiful melody over and around rocks in the riverbed below. A cool breeze blew between the trees that provided shade, making the scene idyllic for a picnic or other relaxing activity. Had it not been for the current circumstances, of course.

Chidi could sense figures on the other side of the river, probably hidden behind trees. Their energy was restrained, such that he could barely discern them from their surroundings. If he were to approach closer he might determine more details- numbers, cultivations, and the like- but merely spotting them was the important part. He had to stay hidden himself, along with Aconite. Without Velvets training, they wouldnt have gotten far and Chidi wouldnt be useful for anything more than being a foot soldier.

Not that combatants werent important, they were simply the most common, and it was difficult to stand out among them. That was especially so of someone with a cultivation like Chidis, merely in Spirit Building. He could step into Essence Collection at nearly any moment, but that was still relatively low by the standards of the upper realms. Fortunately, Yaitis wasnt terribly important- that was why the war for control of it primarily involved weaker cultivators, and both sides were generally willing to let it play out. There were certainly stronger cultivators involved, but the vast majority were below Life Transformation. The group that the two scouts spotted seemed to be hovering around Spirit Building and Essence Collection.

That gave Chidi and Aconite a good reason to be leaving as soon as possible- outnumbered against people with matching or greater cultivations, they couldnt hope to emerge victorious if a battle started. They might not even be able to run away quickly enough.

The two of them returned, reporting to Captain Tiras the approximate numbers and cultivations, as well as the location.

Crossing the river there would likely be dangerous, Chidi said, Though the river itself is more dangerous elsewhere. We spotted beasts that could easily attack us and reveal our locations, allowing ourselves to be attacked in an even worse position.

We dont need to approach them at all, Captain Tiras shook his head. Were here to prevent enemy intrusion by defeating as many groups as practical and getting ourselves killed along the way isnt good for us or anyone on our side. The fact that they were in hiding indicates they knew we were near, but well avoid that area for now.

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Aconite was traipsing in the woods next to the trail the squad was following. Chidi was with her, keeping tabs on her as she dug up roots or plucked flowers, a delicate process for one without hands. There were various pouches dangling from Aconite that each type of thing went into.

Are all of those really poisonous? Chidi asked.

To lesser or greater extents, the growled wolfspeak sounded much friendlier to his ears than it would to most.

Though now she was far off, chasing after that archer. Chidi could only do his best to defend himself, calling upon all the techniques he had been taught and pushing the limits of his cultivation. Perhaps he was skilled enough- perhaps his opponent was merely playing with him. Either way, he managed to survive for a minute without being injured. That had been his limit, as he received a searing cut on his cheek, just under his closed eyelids. Hed been injured before, even by blades, but the hostility behind the attack cut deep, slicing along the bones in his cheek.

You think youre something special, kid? Some sort of sword genius that can fight with his eyes closed? the woman mocked. Youll find out thats not true soon enough, if you dont fight with all your strength.

Sadly, that was what hed been doing this whole time. None of his thrusts had connected with even a hair or the edge of the womans clothes. She wasnt anywhere near as skilled as either of Chidis parents, or as strong, but they had never tried to kill or seriously harm him.

Hed have to go for surprise. You want to see my full power? Then Chidi shifted his stance. He hoped that the leafy branches he felt in front of him were thick enough to provide some cover. He needed every slight advantage he could get from confusing his opponents senses. As for his full power? Hed already done that. But he had watched how the woman attacked and evaded, and he was familiar with the sound of her tensing muscles and the flow of her energy. It was several orders of magnitude slower than others Chidi had seen.

He stepped forward, thrusting out with his sword. His eyelids opened, hoping for the usual shock value. Perhaps in a battle it wouldnt be as significant, since the woman likely didnt care if she killed a cripple or not. He was an enemy combatant either way. But it could distract her from his blade, and the scenery behind her. That was a weakness of people with sight, relying on it and focusing their senses so strongly in one direction.

She brushed against a tree and stepped on a slightly slippery patch of mud, and Chidis blade finally connected just barely, the tip of it barely piercing into her shoulder as she continued backwards. And then Chidi felt another pain, not from a blade but an arrow. The archer.

Unlike the sword, which came and went, the barbed arrow cut deep into his thigh and then huhg there, an unbending rod that rubbed against his muscles even as he pulled back. The whistling sound of a sharp blade caused Chidi to duck, causing the arrow to bat against a nearby bush.

He wanted to just yank the arrow out, but the barbs prevented that. At least, prevented that being easy. Chidi thought about Aconite possibly being in trouble, and even though he doubted his ability to defeat the opponent in front of him he knew he couldnt give up. He had to win or at least delay until the squad could come help him. Though that also assumed them winning.

Chidi felt every bend of muscle inside his body, and widened the wound in his thigh with his energy to pull the muscle away from the arrow as he yanked it out. He didnt quite do it perfectly, and the wound definitely got new cuts on the way out, but not as badly. Chidi just barely deflected an overhead swing with his other arm, leaping back to avoid being bisected as it turned into a horizontal sweep.

Such a large movement would give his opponent an opening to move how they wished, but it was the only way to save himself right then. Chidi breathed deeply, listening to his opponent walk towards him. And something else. A familiar and heavy plodding. Though it was only loud to his senses, familiar with it as he was. And likely more trained in his senses.

Chidi stepped forward, showing obvious hesitation. At least he couldnt give away Aconite with his eyes- that was apparently a thing people did. Hopefully his ears didnt twitch much as he feinted. The real attack was of course, the wolf from behind, and the woman realized it only after fangs sunk into her whole lower leg and she was yanked backwards. Chidi slashed out, and was surprised to find his blade passed her guard and cut into her ribcage, the womans defensive energy suddenly focusing on the wolf.

Whatever poison was on those fangs was fast acting, because Chidi could feel the woman slowing down even as she tried to slash at Aconite behind her. He stepped forward, grabbing her wrist to stop the counterattack as the wolf pushed down on her and then the fangs were able to reach her neck.