Chapter 7: A Gathering Storm
The night stretched on as Bai Yuan and Ling Xi moved swiftly through the dense foliage, leaving behind the battlefield littered with the unconscious and fallen members of the Crimson Serpent Hall. The eerie silence of the forest was occasionally interrupted by the distant howls of spirit beasts, their cries echoing through the trees.
"We need to find shelter," Ling Xi said, her voice calm but firm. "If the Crimson Serpent Hall has reinforcements, they'll be hunting us soon."
Bai Yuan nodded, his gaze scanning the surroundings. His Tactical Awareness was still active, feeding him subtle alerts of movement in the distance. Fortunately, nothing posed an immediate threat. "There should be a cave system nearby," he said. "It was marked on the map I found earlier."
Ling Xi arched an eyebrow. "You memorized the map?"
Bai Yuan smirked. "Wouldn't be much of a genius if I didn't."
They moved quickly, guided by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy. After nearly half an hour, they reached a rocky outcrop, where a dark opening led into a cavern hidden behind overgrown vines.
"This should do," Bai Yuan muttered, stepping inside first to inspect for any lurking dangers. After a quick sweep, he gestured for Ling Xi to follow. The cave was spacious, its walls lined with faint traces of spirit minerals that glowed softly in the darkness.
Ling Xi exhaled and sat against the cave wall, pulling out a small medicinal bottle. She poured some of its contents onto a cloth and began cleaning a cut on her arm.
Bai Yuan leaned against a boulder, watching her with a smirk. "Didn't take you for the reckless type."
She shot him a glance. "We all get careless sometimes."
He chuckled. "True. But we made it out alive, so I'd say we're doing alright."
As they rested, Bai Yuan turned his attention inward. The fight against the Crimson Serpent Hall's leader had given him valuable insight into his current strength. His Reinforced Qi Strike had worked better than expected, and the flow of his combat instincts had sharpened further. But he also knew he was still far from reaching his true potential.
[Analyzing Current Status…]
[Minor Internal Injuries Detected. Suggested Healing Process Initiated.]
He felt a faint warmth course through his body as the nanobots worked to mend his wounds. The sensation was oddly soothing, and within minutes, the dull ache in his muscles began to fade.
Ling Xi glanced at him. "You're healing already?"
Bai Yuan smiled. "Fast recovery runs in the family."
She narrowed her eyes but let it slide. "So, what's next?"
Bai Yuan looked toward the cave entrance, his expression turning serious. "We need to figure out why the Crimson Serpent Hall is operating in this area. That bandit group we fought before wasn't a coincidence."
Ling Xi nodded. "You think they're working together?"
"Possibly," Bai Yuan said. "And if that's the case, then something bigger is going on here."
Silence stretched between them for a moment before Ling Xi smirked. "Looks like you're getting caught up in something troublesome."
Bai Yuan sighed theatrically. "Why does trouble always find me?"
She chuckled. "Maybe you just have that kind of face."
He grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The night passed without further incidents, but both cultivators remained alert. They had survived the Crimson Serpent Hall's ambush, but this was just the beginning. The storm brewing in the shadows was only getting stronger.
And Bai Yuan had no intention of being caught off guard.