Jin Wei and Chen Zin sat in the bustling local restaurant, their breakfast laid out before them; fresh dumplings, congee, and steaming cups of tea.
"Slow down, Master," Chen Zin sighed, sipping her tea, "You're acting like we haven't eaten in days."
Jin Wei, her cheeks stuffed with food, waved her hand dismissively. "Mmph, you don't understand, Zin'er. This city's food is amazing!"
Chen Zin rolled her eyes, silently thinking, 'This woman, no worries in the world.'
Suddenly, a deep, earth-shaking roar erupted from somewhere outside, its intensity shaking the walls of the restaurant.
"GUAARAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
The entire restaurant froze, the noise sending chills down everyone's spine.
*crack* Plates clattered as people turned toward the entrance, eyes wide with panic. There was a moment of eerie silence, and then chaos broke loose.
"Beast! There's a beast!" someone shouted, and it was as though a dam had burst.
People scrambled from their seats, toppling chairs and leaving their meals behind in their hurry to escape.
People flooded out the door, their screams filling the air as the restaurant quickly emptied. The waiters, once calmly serving food, were now caught in the wave of panic, trying to avoid being trampled.
*baam* Tables were overturned, and Jin Wei, still holding a dumpling mid-air, blinked in confusion at the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
"What's happening?" she asked, still oblivious as she popped the dumpling into her mouth.
Chen Zin, already alert, narrowed her eyes toward the entrance. "A beast. A loud one, by the sound of it."
Jin Wei, swallowing, stood up and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Beast? Here? Why would a beast attack a city this early in the day?"
Chen Zin stood beside her, as a sword with a red hilt appeared in her hand.
"Maybe it's because you delayed us for the Phoenix Sovereign Inheritance festival, Master."
Jin Wei rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "You're still mad about that?"
"Just a little," Chen Zin muttered.
Mei Yu walked toward the door "If that beast wakes up, every spirit beast in the forest will run away in danger creating a beast tide."
Letting out a sigh, Zhang Yuan patted Ming Yuelin's head "Lin'er get up... we need to check on them. The city might be in danger."
With a reluctant nod, Ming Yuelin let go of him and Zhang Yuan stood up from his seat glancing at Mei Yu.
"Yu'er, you handle things... if beasts came here."
She nodded her head "Yes, My Lord..."
His gaze then fell on Ming Yuelin "Lin'er, come with me... it will be a good training for you."
Ming Yuelin gave a faint nod "Yes, master..."
At this time, Xue Hua stepped up, her face expressionless "Master, allow me to come with you. I can also fight."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuan shook his head "No, Hua... after breaking your profound core, you have just started cultivating so..."
But Xue Hua persisted "Please Master, let me fight."
Zhang Yuan let out a sigh "Ok then, use your gauntlets... and I will also mask your demonic energy, so others won't find out about you."
She bowed her head in gratitude, as she also wanted to see the fruit of her training in real-time combat.
"Thank you, Master."
...
*thoom* *thoom* The ground trembled violently as hundreds of creatures stampeded towards the city, forming what everyone feared: a beast tide.
At the forefront were the horned war boars, their tusks gleaming as they charged recklessly, trampling everything in their path.
Behind them, shadow panthers leaped across boulders and through trees, their glowing eyes locked on the city.
Overhead, a swarm of crimson-feathered wyverns screeched as they flew in tight formations, flapping their wings violently, sending gusts of wind that scattered leaves and dust.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!