Fire Flower Petals

[ Weicheng's POV ]

Our eyes were about to burst as Lady Suan Ming cut her wrist and drew on them like it's a piece of parchment. We were about to stop her from doing so, but the runes are protecting her.

"I can't believe this" Princess Xiao said in horror. She's holding her mouth while the other is still gaping at the scene.

Lady Suan Ming closed her eyes as she drew the last petal on her arm. The four jars with blood of 3 offerings started floating as it encircled her. Meanwhile, the runes around her lighted once more.

She is sealing her soul in the Night Pavilion. So, the fire element was actually her blood. She actually sacrificed her soul for this. Master Pu who is always calm started creasing his head too.

Lady Suan Ming started chanting as she waited inside the runes.

Blood kept on flowing on Lady Suan Ming's wrist as she seared in pain. Her blood dropped to the last jar as her wrist started glowing and it formed a four-leaf flower.

"That-" Ji Wok stuttered

"The Fire Flower Petals" Master Pu finished off the sentence.

Ku Ji is still in awe as he asked what does it means. He probably is not aware of the event. Since this ancient legend is widely kept. I have to give an award for Mu Lin for introducing me this. I grew up in the mountain ranges and learned the legends through medical books and ancient history, so I was able to answer him.

"The Fire Flower petals are a soul tampering curse. The fire flower only accommodates clean blood, meaning blood who are clean of intention. As the soul is directly sealed into it by the contract you agreed upon." I started off as they listened. "This is a soul contract between her and the night pavilion."

"In each leaf is equivalent of 30 minutes. As it will burn her wrist if the petal mark appears in red. The Night Pavilion is giving us 2 hours to reach the top" Master Pu continued. "Or else..."

"Or else?" Princess asked

"Or else, The night pavilion will seal her soul and burn it into ashes"

After the four petals started to dry on her wrist; she gained consciousness. The runes were already broken as we assisted her to stand up. We watched how the barrier lowered down. Indicating the soul was accepted and that the time started to tick off.

The vast field welcomed us.

The weather suddenly changed as the rain started to pour. I looked at Lady Suan Ming, her lips started to turn pale.

"This is not good," Ji wok said, trying to cover Lady Suan Ming.

Because of the fire flower petal, the whole body of Lady Suan Ming burned in a fire inside. The drops of rain made it more unbearable for her. I took my cape as I started wrapping it off of her. We saw a huge tree as we settled there for a moment, looking at how the heavy rain poured.

Eun Jo and Master Pu lighted a matchstick and covered it also so it will create more warmth in her body.

"The night pavilion is tricking us. They are intentionally consuming our time by these setbacks."

The rain, however, stopped as we continued on, the next thing we know is we are at a riverside.

"You've got to be kidding me," Princess Xiao said in exasperation "How can we even help lady suan ming this time?"

Master Pu and Eun Jo both looked at me "Weicheng can't swim too"

I saw them all looked at me, Ji wok even smiled "You sure, is the weirdest martial arts student I have ever known."

"Give me a break, Ji wok!" I said, looking at him in disbelief.

He shrugged and flick my forehead.

"Stop flirting here" We heard Tae Hua groaning in annoyance; we just shrugged.

I breathed as Master Pu took his cape and swam to the other side. We were all shocked to see him going without us.

"Master!" Eun Jo shouted in disbelief, but our master just continued swimming across. The moment he arrived at the other side, he walked down the sand as he gathered woods. We looked at each other and smiled. They started throwing all their capes as they followed Master Pu.

"Princess, please assist Lady Suan Ming's condition." Tae Hua said as Princess Xiao smiled.

While they tried going back and forth to gather the woods, Ku Ji and I started making the wooden raft. We tied it using our waistbands to hold it in.

"We need more" I said to Ji wok as he started taking off his waistband. He was about to finish when he saw me looking at him. He immediately turned around and threw it on the ground as he went on again.

"What's wrong with him?" I make face as I returned to Ku Ji who also got the waistband on the other. When we finished off the raft Lady Suan Ming, Princess Xiao and I rode the raft. While the 5 men started swimming and pulling off the raft.

When we reached the other side, I heard Tae hua started his unintended remarks. "Your weight just added to the raft. You should've learned to swim. As a guy, how can you even protect yourself ?"

I just winced as he kept on blabbering about it as if I put the whole empire into danger. Princess Xiao stopped him from being so inconsiderate and immature as she started settling off the disputes by ordering us to keep quiet.

As if not hearing, he continued on squabbling, when Lady Suan Ming dropped to her knees and held out her wrist.

Princess Xiao run to her side and assisted her. She took her arm and rolled up her red sleeve. The first fire flower petal appeared on her wrist. She screamed in pain as the Princess took a medicine pill out of her robe and pushed it in Lady Suan Ming's mouth.

"This will help her numb the pain" Princess Xiao said helping Lady Suan Ming walk. "But, this is temporary"

We walked in the forest until we reached the last barrier. This should be the last one and we can enter the Night Pavilion.