The forest behind them shook violently as Lin Xuanji sprinted with a speed he absolutely should not possess. His limbs moved in perfect rhythm—twisting, sliding, leaping over fallen logs with impossible balance.
He was screaming the entire time.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE BECAUSE OF A SALAD INGREDIENT!"
Ruolan ran right behind him, clutching the bag with the materials like his life depended on it—which, in fairness, it now did.
Feng Xiao dashed with bursts of flame, hopping between roots like a fiery rabbit.
Ling Xueyin glided forward without breaking a sweat, her robes somehow never touching a single leaf or branch.
Behind them, a massive roar shook the forest.
Ruolan cried, "S-Sect Master, what is chasing us?!"
"How should I know?!" Lin Xuanji shouted. "SYSTEM, WHAT IS IT?!"
(Host. Target: Ironhide Forest Boar.)
"A BOAR?"
(A Rank-2 Spirit Beast.)
"WHY DOES A RANK-2 BEAST WANT A PLANT!?"
(It likes the taste.)
Lin Xuanji nearly tripped. "This is the dumbest reason to die!"
They reached a slope. Lin Xuanji's foot slipped on the dirt—his body twisted again with subconscious martial memory, and he slid down the slope perfectly, landing in a crouch.
Ruolan skidded after him, flailing and screaming.
Feng Xiao jumped with fire-enhanced steps.
Ling Xueyin simply walked through the air and floated down.
Lin Xuanji scowled. "Not fair."
The roar returned, closer—too close.
Ruolan whimpered. Feng Xiao clenched her teeth.
Ling Xueyin's eyes narrowed. "It accelerated."
Lin Xuanji snapped, "OF COURSE IT DID!"
They ran until they burst into a clearing.
Trees ended.
Grass spread wide.
And at the far edge—
A monstrous boar emerged.
Its body was covered in metallic gray plates, tusks glowing faintly with qi, red eyes burning with hunger. It stomped once, and the ground trembled.
Ruolan nearly fainted.
Feng Xiao whispered, "That's… big."
Ling Xueyin's gaze sharpened.
Lin Xuanji said the only thing a sane person would:
"NOPE. RUN."
The boar lowered its head.
It charged.
Lin Xuanji grabbed Ruolan and threw him aside—
instinctively—
in a movement so sharp he didn't understand it himself.
The boar tore past them, a gust of wind lifting dirt into the air.
Feng Xiao yelled, "It's coming back!"
Lin Xuanji looked at the herb in his hand.
The herb looked at him.
It squeaked apologetically.
He threw it.
The herb flew like a tiny green meteor.
The boar's red eyes locked onto it instantly.
It changed direction mid-charge—
—and crashed through a tree trying to catch the herb.
Ruolan screamed. "Sect Master! That's too dangerous!"
Lin Xuanji yelled back, "THE HERB IS THE TARGET, NOT US!"
Feng Xiao gritted her teeth. "We need to escape while it's distracted!"
"Agreed!" Lin Xuanji grabbed both disciples. "Move!"
But the moment they took three steps—
The herb bounced off a rock, ricocheted, and landed at Lin Xuanji's feet.
Ruolan blinked. "Why… did it come back?"
The herb squeaked and clung to Lin Xuanji's shoe.
The boar froze.
Its eyes glowed brighter.
Slowly… it turned toward them again.
Lin Xuanji whispered, "System… why did it come back to me?"
(It trusts you.)
"TRUST ME SOMEWHERE ELSE!"
The boar stomped.
Its tusks sparked with qi.
It charged again, tearing the ground as it moved.
Ruolan covered his face. "We're going to die!"
Feng Xiao prepared flames, but her hands trembled. "I can't output enough heat!"
Ling Xueyin finally stepped forward.
She raised one hand.
Just one.
"Enough."
Her sleeve fluttered.
A gentle breeze stirred.
The boar crashed toward them like a falling mountain—
but the moment it entered the Grand Elder's reach—
It stopped.
Completely.
Its legs locked.
Its breath choked.
Its qi scattered.
And its massive body collapsed sideways like a felled tree, sliding to a halt.
Ruolan fell backward in shock.
Feng Xiao stared with wide eyes.
Lin Xuanji's jaw dropped.
Ling Xueyin lowered her hand as if she had merely brushed away dust.
"It was loud," she said calmly.
Lin Xuanji threw his hands up. "LOUD?! YOU KNOCKED IT OUT BY MAKING THE AIR MOVE!"
(Host. Grand Elder used minimal force.)
"I KNOW THAT'S THE PROBLEM!"
Ling Xueyin looked at him. "Shall we return now?"
Lin Xuanji pointed at the unconscious beast. "What about… that?"
"We leave it," she said. "It will wake sore and confused."
Feng Xiao nodded weakly. "I don't think it wants herbs anymore…"
Ruolan picked up the squeaking plant. "S-Sect Master… it seems grateful."
Lin Xuanji stared at the herb in his hands.
"Of course it is," he muttered. "We survived because of it."
(Mission complete.)
"Great. Wonderful. Fantastic. Can we go home before anything else tries to eat me?"
Ling Xueyin nodded and led the way back.
Lin Xuanji followed, still clutching the herb like a bomb that might explode from gratitude.
The forest returned to silence.
The peak awaited.
And somewhere, fate quietly prepared the arrival of the third disciple.