With the invaluable 300-year Blood Ginseng safely secured within multiple layers of protective wrappings and hidden deep in his pack, Gù Tiānháo finally departed the vicinity of the spider's cave. He moved with even greater caution now, not only due to the inherent dangers of the forest but also because he carried a treasure that could incite fatal greed if discovered by the wrong people. His destination remained the outer edge of the Black Mist Forest, the first step in his calculated retreat towards civilization, resources, and information.
His journey back was methodical. He avoided backtracking directly, instead choosing a new, winding route, utilizing his improved Nine Mist Steps to cover ground quickly yet stealthily when needed, and relying on his sharpened senses to navigate the disorienting fog and avoid unnecessary confrontations with spirit beasts. The types of beasts gradually shifted, the formidable Level 3 creatures becoming rarer, replaced by more common Level 1 and 2 inhabitants of the outer forest regions – a clear sign he was heading in the right direction.
It was perhaps two days later, when the mist seemed slightly thinner and the oppressive silence of the deep woods began to be punctuated by more familiar forest sounds, that Tiānháo heard it – faint cries of distress, interspersed with angry snorting sounds and the thumping of feet. He immediately halted, melting into the shadows beside a thick tree trunk using Shadow Steps, his senses reaching out. The sounds were coming from a small clearing just ahead. Peering cautiously through the foliage, he saw a scene unfolding. A young woman, perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old, was desperately fending off a swarm of aggressive-looking rabbits. These weren't ordinary rabbits; they were Horned Rabbits, Level 1 spirit beasts known for their surprising speed, sharp horn-like protrusions on their foreheads, and vicious temperament when provoked or in large numbers. There were at least a dozen of them, darting in and out, trying to gore her legs or knock over the woven basket lying near her feet, which seemed to be spilling common medicinal herbs.
The young woman herself was surprisingly resilient. She wore simple, practical clothes of coarse linen, somewhat torn from the encounter, and her dark hair was tied back functionally, though strands had come loose, clinging to her sweat-streaked face. Despite her evident fear, she wielded a sturdy wooden stick with surprising dexterity, batting away the rabbits, her movements economical but clearly lacking any true cultivator strength. She was beautiful in a simple, unadorned way, with clear eyes that flashed with determination even amidst her panic. It was clear, however, that she was tiring rapidly and wouldn't be able to hold them off for much longer.
Tiānháo observed for a moment, assessing. Level 1 beasts, no real threat to him. The woman seemed like an ordinary villager or herb gatherer, unlikely to pose a danger. Intervening carried minimal risk and might even provide an opportunity to gather information about the nearby settlements or trading routes without revealing his own strength unnecessarily. A brief calculation, a flicker of something perhaps less pragmatic – the memory of helplessness, maybe – and he made his decision.
He didn't announce himself. Instead, he activated Wind Steps, bursting from the trees like a silent gust. Before the Horned Rabbits or the young woman could fully register his presence, he swept through their ranks. He didn't even draw his knife; a few swift kicks infused with 3rd Level Body Refinement Qi sent several rabbits flying with broken bones. He unleashed a basic Wind Palm strike, the sharp Qi scattering the remaining beasts. Faced with a sudden, overwhelmingly powerful predator, the rabbits' aggression vanished, replaced by instinctual fear. They scattered in an instant, disappearing back into the undergrowth.
The entire intervention took less than five seconds. Tiānháo came to a stop near the stunned young woman, his expression neutral, his breathing barely disturbed. She stared at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock, relief, and apprehension, clutching her wooden stick like a lifeline.
"Th-thank you, Young Master!" she stammered, finally finding her voice, offering a shaky bow. "You… you saved me. Those Horned Rabbits are usually timid, but they become fierce when they smell certain herbs… I ventured too close to their warren, I think. My name is Lin Xiao Yue." Tiānháo gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping the surroundings, ensuring no other threats lingered. "It was nothing," he replied curtly, his voice calm. "This is deep in the forest for an herb gatherer. Are you alone?"
Lin Xiao Yue quickly gathered her spilled herbs, her hands still trembling slightly. "Yes, Young Master. I live in a small village near the forest edge. The herbs closer to the village are becoming scarce, so I tried my luck a bit further in today… foolishly, it seems. I was trying to gather enough Fire Leaf Grass to sell in Maplewood Town." She looked up at him hopefully, her initial fear slightly eased by his lack of overt hostility. "Young Master, you seem to be heading out of the forest as well? Would… would it be too much trouble if I accompanied you? I fear I might encounter more trouble alone."
He considered her request. Traveling with an ordinary girl might slow him down slightly, but it would also make him appear less conspicuous than a lone, wary cultivator. She might also possess useful local knowledge. The risks seemed minimal. "Very well," he said after a moment's pause. "Stick close and do not stray. Let us go." Lin Xiao Yue's face lit up with genuine relief and gratitude, and she quickly shouldered her basket, ready to follow her unexpected savior out of the dangerous depths of the Black Mist Forest.