"That was way easier than expected," the second man said as he dusted himself off. He tossed a spatial pouch to one of the wardens. "Thanks. We’ll take it from here."
He turned toward their sealed wagon, walking with unhurried steps.
"You promised this would be the st time" the warden who caught the pouch said, peering into it with a frown.
"We’ll be suspected if we do this again. At least, anytime soon," the other added warily.
"Rex. We won’t pass through Jadeleaf for another three months. That’s enough time to cool things off, right?"
The warden with the pouch nodded. "Yeah… that’s better."
"Good." The man gave a satisfied nod, climbed onto the wagon, and soon disappeared into the woods with his companion.
Hidden in the mist, Min Li leaned closer. "What do we do now, Master?" he whispered.
"Stop whispering, Brother Min. They can't hear us," Haozi said pinly.
Min Li shot him a gre. "Brat, I told you not to correct me again. Do you want to get spanked?"
"You didn’t say I couldn’t correct you anymore, Brother Min," Haozi replied calmly. "Besides... I’m Brother Yu’s brother now. Do you dare spank me?" He looked Min Li straight in the eyes, his expression fearless and defiant.
Jin Yu: "..."
Min Li: "..."
"You… you arrogant brat! Where did this attitude come from?!" Min Li huffed, visibly flustered. "I’m the first disciple. By seniority, I have every right to discipline you!"
Jin Yu blinked, watching the argument spiral with growing speechlessness.
But Haozi only smiled smugly. "I got my arrogance from you, Brother Min. You’re my role model. And you’re only my senior because your stage is higher. Once I surpass you... I’ll be your senior."
"YOU LITTLE—!" Min Li nearly choked on his own breath. "Young Master, do you see how this brat talks back?! Give me permission to knock some sense into him before he gets any bolder!"
Jin Yu gnced at Haozi, caught off guard. He’s really this bold now?
Meeting Jin Yu’s gaze, Haozi blushed and quickly looked away. "...You told me to man up. To act like your brother. Isn't this what you meant?"
Jin Yu’s lips twitched, then curled into a grin. "Of course. Be fearless...like me. That’s when you’re truly my brother."
Haozi’s eyes lit up. He turned to Min Li with a grin that practically screamed 'You heard that?'
"…"
"…"
"Hmph! Foolish!" Min Li huffed and turned his head away, unable to retort.
Jin Yu shook his head helplessly, still smiling. "Let’s go before they get too far."
"What about the wardens?" Min Li asked, gncing back at the two men now crouched beside the road, counting silver like beggars.
"We’ll come back for them," Jin Yu said coldly, not sparing them a gnce as he spurred his horse forward. The others followed, vanishing into the mist.
Deeper into the woods, the air grew heavier, and the road twisted into overgrown paths rarely tread by common travelers.
The trees leaned in close, swallowing the trail in shadows.
Not a soul in can be seen in sight except the wagon ahead, trotting steadily, its riders rexed as if on a casual journey.
“So… are we just going to keep following them?” Min Li asked, a slight edge of boredom in his voice.
Jin Yu thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Let’s do something else. We confront them.”
“Confront them? We’re not heading to the base anymore?” Haozi blinked, confused.
Jin Yu gave a cold smile. “We are. Trust me.”
“I trust you, Master!” Min Li nodded seriously.
With that, Jin Yu removed the veil concealing their presence.
A soft shimmer passed over them as their silhouettes became visible once more.
He then tapped into the full might of the stallion beneath him. With a powerful gallop, he surged ahead like a streak of silver lightning, leaving Min Li and Haozi trailing in his dust.
In mere moments, Jin Yu caught up with the carriage. The men at the reins must have noticed his rapid approach, as the carriage slowed, but didn’t stop.
Jin Yu circled in front of them and halted a few meters ahead, cutting off their path.
The carriage horses screeched to a halt. The two men stiffened, their eyes narrowing as they stepped down cautiously. They tried to keep calm, but the faint surge of their auras betrayed their nervousness.
Subtle, like a silent warning fre.
Jin Yu didn’t spare them a gnce. Instead, he gently patted Rainbow. “My daughter… why have you been so quiet tely, hmm?”
Rainbow stirred, her petals swaying slowly like a sleepy wave. She didn’t respond much.
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
(Emotion provoked: Rage)
The men’s expressions twitched, their fury simmering under thinly stretched patience.
“Is something the matter, friend?” one of them asked, trying to keep his tone civil.
Jin Yu ignored them, his brows knitting as he examined Rainbow. “What’s wrong, my cutie?” he whispered, bringing her closer to his face.
She fluttered her petals weakly.
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
(Emotion provoked: Rage)
“Rainbow… are you sick?” Panic crept into his voice. “Did something happen to you?”
He sifted through his memory. There hadn’t been any attacks. There was also no signs of injury. But then—he froze.
“Wait... the pill.” His eyes widened in arm. “Where’s the soul tempering pill?”
He gently moved her petals aside, searching.
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
(Emotion provoked: Fury)
“What’s the meaning of this?” the first man finally snapped, stepping forward. “Why did you block our path?”
Jin Yu didn’t even blink. “Rainbow… don’t tell me you ate the pill. Where’s your mouth?! Spit it out before I spank you!”
Rainbow turned a bright shade of pink and shyly folded her petals.
“You brat!” Jin Yu gasped. “Did you eat it?! Wait...what am I saying, you can’t talk. Nod twice if you did.”
To his horror, she nodded.
“What the—?! You silly thing! I told you to keep it safe, not gobble it down like a snack!” He gave her petals a light smack, exasperated.
Rainbow turned a soft gray and drooped, clearly sulking.
“Hey, I didn’t mean it. Sorry.” Jin Yu softened. “Nod twice if the pill is hurting you.”
She didn’t respond.
“…So it’s not hurting?”
She tilted her head but didn’t nod.
“Okay, nod once if—”
Ding!
Influence+5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
(Emotion provoked: Killing intent)
The sudden wave of influence points froze him mid-sentence.
By the time he looked up, the two men had already stepped down fully, swords drawn and expressions tight.
Just as the two men raised their weapons with growing impatience, the sound of galloping hooves echoed behind them.
Min Li and Haozi finally caught up, panting heavily from the chase.
“Master!” Min Li called, “That speed… You almost killed us trying to keep up!”
But then he noticed the tense standoff, two armed men gring daggers at Jin Yu.
Yet Jin Yu didn’t even gnce at them. He was still hunched over Rainbow, muttering in distress.
Min Li blinked, then frowned. “Wait... Is Rainbow sick?”
“Maybe she’s bloated?” Haozi added, peering closer. “She looks kind of… slow.”
The two men with swords visibly twitched, clearly confused by being ignored.
“Excuse me,” one of them said, voice taut with anger, “what is the meaning of this?”
“Shh,” Min Li waved him off casually, eyes on Rainbow. “We’re talking.”
“Master, what happened?” Haozi leaned in. “Did she fall? Eat something weird?”
“She ate the soul tempering pill!” Jin Yu snapped.
“What?!” both excimed.
Rainbow drooped even further, petals curling as if embarrassed under their combined gazes.
“She nodded twice when I asked!” Jin Yu cried. “She ate it! Now she’s acting drunk.”
Min Li scratched his head. “You mean the same pill that’s worth more than this forest?”
Rainbow gave a soft swirl of her petals as if to say: Oops.
Haozi leaned in, whispering, “Should we make her puke?”
“Her mouth doesn’t even exist!” Jin Yu groaned, pulling at his hair.
The two swordsmen, now fully ignored, were shaking.
“Are you… seriously ignoring us?” the second man finally hissed, aura rising.
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
Ding!
Influence +5,000
(Emotion provoked: Killing intent)
Min Li raised a brow. “Who are they again?”
Haozi shrugged. “No idea. Probably forest guards or something.”
“Shut up!” one of the men shouted, unable to hold back anymore. “Leave the road now!”
Min Li blinked at them, then turned to Jin Yu. “Master, want me to beat them or do you want the warm-up?”
Jin Yu finally looked up, expression cold as ice.
“No,” he said softly. “Let them swing first. I need more of their intent.”
