Is it a date?

Ryu made a proposal to go with her, but Cahya didn't give a prompt answer, she took her time considering the options. She bitted her lower lips looked to the side, it was a cute expression, then she looked back at Ryu.

"You suggestion may look good, but I am not confident that if we work together I will get more exp than working alone, working together we can go after the bigger prize, but slpit in half could reduce the gains. Are you 100% sure that you can protect me while I take the big bird down?"

"No, you misunderstood me. I will not do the quest for the feathers, you can take all of them for yourself, as am offering myself to go as a bodyguard." Ryu said after he understood the hesitation of Cahya. He was not going after a quest issued by the sect, he was looking for an auto-trigger quest to help Cahya.

"You don't want the reward? Are you inviting me to date then? Sorry but I am focused on leveling now, I can't have a boyfriend until I reach at least level 10." Cahya said, jumping to a foregone conclusion.

"I am not inviting you to date. You may look attractive, but I am after acquiring exp too." Ryu said, thinking if this still counts as a rejection. He remembered Anne, Cahya said she doesn't want to date someone until level 10 to focus on her cultivation, while he had done exactly that, he went for a love affair and deviated from cultivating for several weeks. He didn't regret his time with Anne, however, the contrast on cultivating focus had shamed him.

"You just said I am attractive, how can this not be a date? Maybe I can open an exception and let you go with me, as my bodyguard." Cahya said, her cheeks turning slightly red and her eyes shinier than ever.

Ryu went with Cahya to a region on the mountains where the birds could be found, he was confused if he ended up, unaware, on a date or if it was just two persons doing a quest, one way or the other he achieved his intention, he was just missing a quest.

The way to the mountains was long, but they went chatting the whole way, which made the time pass unnoticed. Ryu asked about the lessons he lost, and the progress his colleagues had been making, he ended up learning that they were still on level 5 and the lessons were about instructions on low-level quests.

Cahya told about the struggle the new disciples were facing, the quests issued by the sect were getting harder by day, in theory, they could fetch an endless amount of resources for a quest, but in reality, those resources were becoming scarce.

With winter approaching, it will become countless times harder to find a quest, so the disciples were desperately trying to reach level 10 to have a chance with a quest that is not something like collect herbs or fetch water.

The desolate location of the sect doesn't provide a good environment to cultivate, this is the reason for the sect don't count with good reputation.

When they arrived at the mountains, Ryu saw the ground with loose rocks with sharp edges and a slippery floor, the place was a death trap. Guided by Cahya they went to a higher portion close to a cliff, Ryu was getting worried, if he had to fight in a place like this his movements would be sealed.

"Giving up in you promisse, this is not as bad as it look? Besides you can't abandon a lady in the middle of a date." Cahya said in a jocking tone teasing Ryu.

"I will stand for my kiss." Ryu sent the teasing back.

"At least you admited it." Cahya said turning her face away to hide the smile and the red color on her face.

It wasn't long until they arrived at the place, there was a hole on the mountain where a flock of birds lives. Cahya told Ryu she would get closer and use her wind skill to shake the birds, making feathers fall, and the birds scream and fly attacking her, but a pack of wolves would take the opportunity and approach to attack at the same time, he will stay down and deal with them.

Cahya climbed the rocks and entered the hole, a deafening noise came out of it barely a moment after she went in, several birds of different sizes went out flying. The birds' fly was unstable like they were suffering from seizures.

Ryu was looking at the birds flying in circles, when he heard a howl from the other side of the mountain, in sequence another howl and other. The sound of the wolves was getting closer, in response, Ryu gave a sinister smile with the corner of his mouth.

-------------------------------------------------

Quest: Protect Cahya from the wolf pack while she collects feathers.

Reward: 420 exp

------------------------------------------------

A group of gray wolves came running from behind a corner, there were easily more than ten wolves, they came in a rush heading straight to Ryu. He remained standing still while they encircled him and the first one jumped from behind, aiming for his blind spot.

Ryu barely stepped aside and kicked the wolf in the air sending it flying, the wolf fell to the ground rolling and crying. This pack of wolves was no match for him, they were just regular animals even in these slippery rocks he could deal with them without sweating.

A second wolf came from his side, since the pack refused to learn with the first one Ryu decided to go harder, he dodged with a step front and turned to back with his sword ready slashing in an upward arc, the wolf landed on the ground dead and a pool of blood formed under it.

This time the pack has learned its lesson, they retreaded and kept staring at Ryu. Ryu found their behavior strange, 'why have they not fled?', but he was expecting something more than just this pack, for a quest with 420 exp reward he would be disappointed for such an easy task.

The sound of screaming birds paused and the wolves kept staring at Ryu from afar, a few minutes later a wolf much larger than the rest came walking leisurely. This wolf had two times the size of a regular wolf, his fur was silver and his legs had a larger quantity of fur making them appear larger and stronger.

'At least a worthy opponent', the wolf leader was still at the rank 0, but from the aura leaking from its body Ryu was able to tell that it was on the verge of a breakthrough, it was a peak rank 0 beast. Ryu had defeated the Iron Skin Boar, a rank 1 beast, in a fair match, but this feat was only possible because of the traits of that beast, it evolved focusing only on defense making its attack slow and weak.

A warm sensation started to spread in Ryu's heart, he was excited to fight a worthy opponent on his level range.