Majid trained for 2 days and nights straight, only slept about 4 hours a night. His mind woke him up, as it was anxious. His problems persisted, though his Viscera improved, it was still lagging behind the others, but at least not by much, and he was working out more ideas. His senses level though proved to be problematic as he expected. it took it 2 days to breakthrough, only increased once before he slept last night, a quest notice popped up in his mind, informing him of its completion. The system at least kept his word, as it analyzed his plans, it started to give quests accordingly. It was sincere in that sense, that it wanted to help him. Unfortunately, he didn't receive any free choice rewards. Instead, he received some adult content, it just that he wasn't in the right mood to use them though.
He can't keep worrying though he has to move on, maybe that was normal, he could already feel great changes. The levels' growth doesn't have to be the same. And if his senses really grew faster than this, maybe it would be a problem instead. The noises would disturb his life, and sleep would only be possible underwater like he saw in one of his favorite movies.
He took a meal with Foxes like usual, there was still a lot of meat remaining, the ape was just that big. And the good part, its body didn't show any signs of decomposition, but it started to lose its nourishing quality. That's a problem he needs to worry about, it was crucial for his next plans. On the bright side though, a weak was finally over, since Fiery started her recovery, she could use more rest but she was fine now. He decided to let her rest another day before he brought the subject of training.
After the meal, he started his training again, 'maybe I should be satisfied with what I have achieved so far', and he wanted to work on his other findings.
"koff! koff..." his throat was sore, indeed, it's been a long time, he tried to swallow a bit of saliva but there was nothing. Though his skin was hydrated from the source, his other organs were dry. He contemplated many times wither to drink from the spirit source or not, as it looked clear and fresh. He had a hunch that it have some anti-bacterium microbial... properties. But how many times he showered there along with the foxes, and all the sweet dissolved in there. As he thought of drinking it, nausea rose from his spin and vibrated on his head.
It seems I have to go back there, he became traumatized, he stopped himself from going for weak, but he has to go now. Water could fix any trauma after all. Just in case he asked the foxes if they knew of a place, but they were newcomers as well. He looked around for another spring for 2 hours, but he found nothing. So he could only go back there.
He has some preparation to make though. First, he went to the Ape body and a cut circular piece of skin. After he treated the skin with fire, he bored holes on the edges and passed a strip though. When he pulled the strip it, the edge shrike into a knot, it looked like a pouch. It wasn't an efficient way to hold water but was the only one waterproof, he could think of.
'It's time to make my uniform' He collected some fresh leaves and plants, he took his robe off and rubbed the greens on them. Then he gathered straws and braided them with each other into a basket shape. He stuck some small leafy branches and greens on it, it wasn't fancy but it does the job. He made his camouflage suit, he was ready now. 'This would make me more suspicious though,' he looked his robe then his hand, at what was supposed to be his helmet. 'I hope this sh** won't make me more conspicuous as well'. He takes off after he put his helmet on, slowly moving between the shadows and shrubs, he made extra care not to leave any trace behind.
A good tree was ahead, he hid behind it and popped his head, his eyes roamed in the area, he was near the spring. Though nobody was in the view, he has a foreboding feeling, they were setting an ambush for him. Though a part of his mind said it was ridiculous, he can't ignore his feelings, a little bit of caution won't hurt anybody.
Long-time passed, no soul made a move. He rushed to the spring, his face turning left and right. Water splashed around wetting his clothes as his hand trusted in the spring, sinking the pouch. His mouths let out fast breaths, while bubbles trickled to the surface leaving space for water. Once the bubbling stopped, he dashed away like no tomorrow, as if the starter pistol was fired for a sprint.
Far from the spring, a deep breath escaped his mouth, his pace dropped. Though he was moving carefully, he was relaxed enough to think back about what happened here. Nostalgia about his first days especially his training with Fiery. It was a decisive moment in his life, when he decided to fight the Ape, and started his training. 'I might as well pass by there'.
Faint whooshes found their way to his ears, he shrank into a nearby corner like a turtle. He froze in his place, he heard the sound from the same direction again, he moved stealthily in that direction. The shadow of a boy could be seen, he was moving around as though he was training. weighing his options, he approached more, until the face started to clear, it was Teemao. A gasp stopped midway on his throat. A face he knew, he wasn't happy to see it in the least. 'What is he doing here,' It was suspicious. 'Don't tell me he betrayed me,' he could only think of the worst, he shrank even more in his place, his head roamed the view. A wave flashed past him, he brushed it off as a wind blow, as he looked away 'let's leave this place, I have a bad feeling about this'.
'ding ding' he jerked senseless, he wanted to curse as he realized what had happened, but he stopped himself from doing it out-loud, 'Really system! playing pranks at this time!'. But when he looked at the screen that appeared his breath stopped, and his legs gave out. He looked at it with his bulged eyes ready to faint.
Quest:
You have been discovered by an enemy, survive this ordeal.
Clues:
-You don't need to fight to survive.
-Teemao didn't betray you.
Reward: free choice.
Looking at the clues he relaxed a little bit at the good news, but suspicious rose in his mind.
'But how the heck does the system knows that,' it was ridiculous, but he wanted to believe it. 'Either this is some super-intelligent analysis, or there's something I don't know about this system yet'. it wasn't the time for that though, so he stopped 'Since it said it, I can trust it,' the system never played tricks on him, what should he do now.
His gears started to roll, if he doesn't need to fight does that mean the enemy is weak, 'should I run away'. Looking at the reward though, the reward he so much waited for, it was a good clue, refuting this idea, the system won't give it for something easy. And the feeling from before must be a sensing technique, someone weak couldn't do something like that. His memories confirmed that the technique needs a soul as powerful if not more than his soul, the thing weak cultivators rarely have. 'But why the enemy didn't act against me yet,' it confused him. Was the enemy not hurried since Majid didn't try to run, or are they closing on him stealthy right now? He stopped his mind from wandering in the dark, back to do some logic exercise. Cases clashed against each other eliminating the weak, and drawing out conclusions. If he could survive even though he doesn't have to run, that could only mean... 'yes that's it!' he nodded, he doesn't have to run. 'I shouldn't act suspicious for now,' he looked at himself, it was a mess, he took off his robe and helmet and hid them in a corner. Then he looked at Teemao, at first one would think he was just training, but the more he looked at him the more convinced the boy was anxious. He looked at the second clue again, and he knew what to do.
Teemao was training in the forest, a kick after a punch, a step after another. Sweat ran down the sides of his face, not because of the training though, he was stressed. When he discovered he was suspected, he spent some time in his room, what should he do, it was a difficult situation for a boy of his age. He even considered selling him out, since the young master had already left. But in the end, he dismissed the idea. Not only because he felt bad about it, but knowing their secret, would they spare him, they would even punish him for hiding it till now. So his only choice was to shake their suspicion.
He started to come to the same place he met Xiaode, the place where they saw him wait for him. He trained there for a while then looked for herbs before heading back. The problem was that his pursuers were different, they were careful this time. If he wasn't alert he wouldn't notice at all. Things were getting serious, but he can't do anything about it, he has to keep acting. He came again today, the fact that someone is watching him from the shadows bore on his mind.
'ROARRR...!'
Teemao jerked from where he stood before he hit the ground, his eyes bulged from the shock, but also the person he saw in front of him. The person in question was on the ground rolling laughing his as* off. As his laughs died out, Majid stood up and walked up to him.
"I got you haha, am your father Mao Ji got you!"
He grabbed Teemao hands and pulled him up, as their heads crossed he whispered something in his ears. His eyes gave a meaningful stare before he continues his laughing.
This was his conclusion, either they are related to Xiaodie' death, but they didn't know him personally, or the enemy doesn't have anything to do with his family. Since Teemao is involved, the latter case was less likely. How they figured out Teemao knew something, was something he couldn't guess. But one thing was sure. Teemao knew he was followed. In that case, he decided to probe the truth from him as soon as possible. If they really don't know him, he has a simple task to do, make sure they wouldn't figure out who he is, avoiding them would only blow his cover. Whatever the case meeting Teemao first is crucial to set things right. If he let his enemies act first Teemao might make a mistake, and everything would take the wrong turn.
'I need to know everything before they show themselves...'