Aboard the flying raptor, Xiao Xiao seemed to finally relax. As she fell asleep with her head resting on Yan Jin's shoulder, he couldn't help but feel bad for the child, being himself all too familiar with tragedy. But this was a dog-eat-dog world, and you had to eat to avoid being eaten. He was confident she would emerge stronger from this trial.
The wind blew harder, uncovering his face hidden behind long, frizzy black hair. His straight nose and dehydrated red lips came into view under the moonlight. The backlash from his actions in the forest had been catching up to him. He could endure with his regeneration bloodline abilities, but the damage was quite severe this time.
He had unsealed the first head of the nine-neonate hydra before his body was strong enough to endure it. He needed to make a statement to the Yan family, and it had been worth it.
Yan Fei, had been a warrior under his uncles command during his active service for the Yan Family. He would always flatter him, to coax him out some savings. Yan Jin, had always seen him as a dog but not traitor. He was the guard in charge of security the night of the incident and he did not hesitate to stab Yan Jin's uncle after pretending to help them escape.
He was the instigator of the hunt an active participant in the demise of his family.
His first human kill being one of his enemy made Yan Jin very happy. He had tortured a lot of information out of Yan Fei to understand that the incident that night was a lot more complex than it seemed. Either way he had crossed a name on his hit list and added a few more.
He could feel the inquisitive gazes of the Meng warriors as he entered a meditative state. From his fight with Yan Fei, he had found a direction for close combat archery.
First, he needed to consider the arrows as bullets. Since they could not gather sufficient momentum to pierce, enhancing them with blood energy could make them hit like blank bullets.
Second, with both his hands occupied with the bow and arrow, he needed to utilize his legs both for momentum and as a pillar, allowing him to shoot from any position. A perfect combination of dexterity, speed, and strength was essential.
Third, he needed a blood tool, specifically a bow, a sturdy and heavy longbow to boost bloodline coating.
Fourth, he needed speed—absolute speed to draw, to shoot, to dodge, and to think.
The look on their face was grim with traces of fear "The four warriors, on the other side, died under the claw of the Meng Princess. The signature is consistent. For warrior Yan Fei, I am not sure" said a younger warrior reporting to the four leaders. Yan Shao made a hand sign to dismiss him then he looked at the face of the other three who showed the same worry as him.
"Do you think he is back?" Yan Xu daring to say out loud what everyone was thinking. "We should not have done that ten years ago retribution is here" lamented Yan Yang the coward.
"Shut up! We did nothing wrong we found an opportunity and we seized it." Yan Yi the shrewdest whispered "There is no way he could have survive those injuries. Even if he did only Yan Fei could not advance to the next level, we are all at the purification level, I am one step from resonance... We are not the same." He said looking at the body of Yan Fei.
The body suspended body was pierced in the belly by an icicle that grew from the ground and bloom into an icy rose, that absorbed the blood instead of letting it drip to the ground. It was called "Death Flourish" a blood technique that Yan Jin's uncle was renown for.
"Either way! Whether this was a fluke or a warning we will..." Distracted by the sound of dripping water Yan Xu cut his word short and moved closer to the body asking, "what is this?"
--BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!! A loud explosion detonated on the scene why Yan Fei as it origin decimating everything in a 15 m radius.
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Yan Jin and Xiao Xiao had finally made it to Pine City. Pine City was a bustling metropolis nestled in a verdant valley, surrounded by dense forests of towering pine trees. The city exuded an aura of ancient grandeur mixed with vibrant modernity. As the sun set, the city came alive, illuminated by a myriad of lanterns casting a warm glow over its stone-paved streets.
The architecture of Pine City was a blend of rustic charm and imposing fortifications. High stone walls, reinforced with enchanted runes, surrounded the city, providing protection against both human invaders and demonic beasts.
The main gate, an imposing structure adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, opened into a wide thoroughfare lined with bustling shops and street vendors hawking their wares.
At the heart of Pine City stood the central market, a sprawling plaza filled with stalls and permanent shops. Here, one could find everything from rare herbs and mystical artifacts to exquisite fabrics and finely crafted weapons. The air was thick with the scents of exotic spices, roasted meats, and the occasional whiff of incense from a nearby temple.