The Forest Trip
Three weeks later since curing Zhanye...it's time for the...boring field trip as Beiyue would put it.
A week before the trip, Sima Guiyan was found killed in the city through an injury that burst from inside out and with signs of burns around his fatal wound that killed him. Nobody knows who dunnit, but Emperor ordered the city searched.
She and Beiyue went to school first though, to the school's aula where announcements are usually made for the whole school to know.
Here, it's where the annual winners of the Feat Contest to gather.
Lingyang College would always choose the winners of the competition to form a small group to gain experience. The group would be led by one of the stronger teachers in school. They would enter the Floating Forest for field training.
It can be said that the students that enter this group are all experts in their fields. In the forest, it would be the survival of the fittest.
The group this year has around 100 people. But there are only two people who came from the Imperial College; Huang Beiyue who was made to join the contest by a teacher due to her reputation, and Princess Yingye who was also just as skilled, even if she wasn't as fast. This is the highest number of people that joined the group from the Imperial College ever since it was founded. Because of this, Teacher Guo was very happy. He also invited the Northern Country's prince, Feng Lianyi who teaches the zither in the college, to lead the group with him.
Yingye DID say he's a Healer...
He was a Wind-Element Summoner.
However, Wind is the weakest element in this world that even if he's a 9-star Summoner, he has the strength of two-ranks less, and if they ever fight at full-power, it'd be a tie. So he really will compensate for that by all means necessary. He thus learned Breath Training(but not art, just basics), gained a strong body, and mastered all his skills as well as good ways to exploit wind in combat in ways nobody'd expect.
He was her first student, actually. He can do basics until recently as of six months ago no thanks to his weak body, that he could do Wind Breathing. Combined with ki and sorcery of course, to add devastating effects unlike when done normally which she herself does...and he's free to add more to the style as she only created nine herself.
xxx
From afar, Xiao Zhongqi was part of the group as well, having earned his spot here.
Frankly he was glad that the scandal of his family was off of him, his mother and sister, all the dirt fell on his father and Concubine Xue for that incident four years ago.
He just could NOT believe the audacity of that slag Concubine Xue and Xiao Yun!
While Xiao Yun's part was kept in-house, at least, the estate knows down to the youngest slave serving his family. Had the royal family known, the Emperor would order them all killed for sure!
Without Huang Beiyue's money which she hopes to gain by her mother helping Marquis Jing'an kill his royal aunt while poisoning Beiyue, she was in fact a talentless little shit who needs a massive amount of money to get stronger. Hence their conspiracy!
Grandfather would have helped her get a spirit beast, if not for that. She and Concubine Xue had brought great shame and nearly a noose on all their necks that he kept distance since from the ex-family favorite. Thank goodness!
His wealth was focused on him, Zhonglei and Rou. He and father hopes that before adulthood, they become Gold-Classes to help begin redeeming their fallen family, and grandfather hopes he wasn't as stupid as his father.
Xiao Qiyuan lamented that he accomplished great feats in war, and rewarded by the previous Emperor that the family gained status and fief, only for his moron of a son to lose it so soon! He lamented he shouldn't have retired so soon either! He felt that was his greatest mistake he didn't see what his son was doing for years he foisted his hopes on Zhongqi and his descendants to redeem the clan.
Redemption will happen when Zhanye or his son becomes Emperor perhaps. Stuff like this will take a WHILE to be forgotten.
That made him sigh. No sane noblewoman or daughter's official or a wealthy girl will marry him and Zhonglei. He'll marry a commoner girl who cares nothing for stuff he's known and must deal with. Grandfather would tell him to NEVER be like his father lest he kill him on the spot out of despair.
They have no more face to give, status, and lost their fief that Grandfather and the family sons must now take quests and other jobs to amass a fortune for future children.
Took him four years to clear his name, and foisted all blame on Concubine Xue. And as like child like parent, people justifiably - and unwittingly accurately - see Xiao Yun as just as treacherous as her mother when she started Lingyang nobody dared to be friends with her in fear she will repeat history, with herself being THE Concubine Xue and her friend the next betrayed princess. No sane man looked at her as bride material either, who'd want a girl from the loins of a treacherous woman? Its even worse when Princess Royal's vengeful maids revealed Xue's background...! Damage was on his father too as he committed adultery on his royal wife with her own maid who seduced him brazenly into concubinehood, while she was fighting in the front lines!
Was it a wonder that Princess Royal never touched him unless people started asking when she'll be with child?
And his sister Rou! She had pressure to become strong as the Xiao Family has no friends left. The friends he himself made in his two years in school distanced themselves as if he was a leper. Rou was friends and playmates with Lin Wanjun of the Prime Minister's Household, until THAT!
Enemies were everywhere who'd enjoy preying on them because of one sinful woman and her daughter conspiring with a treacherous clan. She was deeply afraid of coming to Lingyang this year, she just had no choice as unlike Xiao Ling who had completed her tutoring BEFORE the scandal happened, Rou can never get a home-tutor and must attend school. So she trained hard to protect herself.
And yet, for all his cultivation, he can never defeat his younger royal sister. Hell, she defeated Jin Guangyao without ki! And he's a Gold Class A! Poor guy didn't even stand a chance. He didn't even get to move! He, a mere Silver Class C can barely breathe before she finishes him off!
He was usually a common sight in annual camp and he was two years older than him.
Not this year. His sole misfortune was his sister who was just too skilled. She made up for where she lacks, in power.
But there's no way one can do what she could with just sole physical ability...there has to be a trick, somehow!
Not that he'd know how but for a normal person to be that fast and strong without ki...
He has to learn how somehow!
xxx
'Prepare to leave now!' Cang He's voice rang out clearly.
This voice which shocked the people's hearts immediately led the hundreds of masters on the plaza to raise their arms and cheer!
Setting off now! The Floating Forest, their road for the experience! Only the courageous people could step into this dangerous place! The mercenaries and the adventurer's heaven!
Floating Forest!
The warm-blooded cheers resonated above the Lingyang College. Numerous young men/women's hearts all trembled with excitement due to this arriving adventure!
Going out for experience, it wasn't like how the nobles would sit within the horse carriage when they go out for fun. All the Summoners called for their spiritual beasts. They all rode on their own and opened the road in front of them. The students within the Imperial College and the refining pharmacists were in the middle, riding the horses. In the end, were the masters of the martial arts.
'Hey hey, won't you let yours out?' Yingye asked Beiyue, hoping to get a ride on Dashuang.
'It might scare the other spirit beasts into retreating, ruining the Spirit Parade.' said Beiyue. 'Dashuang can't restrain his ki out of pride. He's very prideful he won't let himself allow anything less. If he comes out and flares his full force, the spirits are gonna hide.'
The only reason he concealed himself back when Zhanye was in danger was BECAUSE they need extreme discretion!
'I'll let him out to feed though. I had been in Seclusion to fulfill my end of the Contract, I can thankfully do so again.'
'Awww, I won't get to ride on it.' Yingye pouted. She wanted to ride on it!
'On the way home, maybe.'
The majestic line headed out form Linhua City and on the way there, numerous common people all rushed forth to see them go.
The Floating Forest was a vast and boundless deep forest. It ran through the entire Kaerta Mainland and deeply rooted within the center. Because magical beasts and godly beasts often appeared as well as all types of unknown dangers, this caused the problem of communicating with each individual country.
No one dared to cross through the Floating Forest by themselves on a horse and a sword. Even if there was a group of masters, it was extremely dangerous. Therefore, many people would rather revolve around the main road and spend more than ten times the time but would not cross through the Floating Forest.
Within Nanyi Country, the outside of the Floating Forest held the same amount of danger. The Misty Forest was revolved around by fogs for many years. Once they crossed through the Misty Forest, they would be able to reach the outside of the Floating Forest.
Towards the young and inexperienced masters, the Misty Forest was already dangerous enough. This forest was vast too. Often, there were mercenaries and adventurers who ventured in to search for materials and valuable ingredients. Therefore, there was a couple of roads which were comparably safe. Plus, before the Ice Spirit Bird had come here and released a powerful sense of pressure when the Buji'er Group ran afoul of them, and Princess Huang Beiyue saved them.
This led the Misty Forest to be frozen and a lot of the spiritual beasts to flee into the Floating Forest.
Therefore, the road into the Misty Forest was much safer and easier this year!
'In the front is the Moonset Valley. After we pass the valley, we will be truthfully within the Floating Forest.' Princess Yingye rode a horse and drove alongside with Huang Beiyue. She was afraid she didn't understand the path so she patiently explained. 'You flew all your way to who-knows-where so you probably haven't mapped the place yet.'
'Uh...'
Yingye giggled at her awkwardness. That was flat-out admitting it.
Floating light, as the name suggested because inside the forest, the plants were dense and it hid the sky. For many years, no light was seen that often. Therefore, within the forest, a super low-level spiritual bug named 'floating light' appeared. Their body would emit off intense and bright lights which will give light to the dark forest.
The rank of 'floating lights' was very low. They don't have an attack attribute. However, if a group of 'floating lights' appeared, there was some danger. These spiritual bugs liked to suck blood. If someone was to be surrounded by a group of floating lights, it would be a little frightening. The only deterrent was Sparrow Herbs. But only very few know this secret.
This was how the Floating Forest got its name. Inside, the higher-level spiritual beasts could be seen everywhere. Just outside of it, it was very dangerous. As the legend exclaimed, every place, there was either a godly or a wicked beast that occupied their territory. No one could cross a border otherwise there will be a world-shaking battle!
Within the Misty Forest, they met some spiritual beasts that weren't high in ranks. It was mostly the red and blue bats with high attack attributes that appeared in groups that they had seen . At this time, the professors would divide the students into small groups to attack the spiritual beasts. The professors would stand to one side, watching this. They would only go to save someone when it was life-threatening.
Huang Beiyue and Princess Yingye, was grouped into three with Xue Che, the childe of Anguo Gong. The Xue Family, like the Xiao and Mu Families before the latter two's fall from grace, became an Imperial Family when a relative married into the royal family. Xue Che is their cousin through Prince Jing's mother Consort Xue. Within the three people group, their strengths were quite strong. Because Xue Che is a known 4-star master and he liked to show off in front of Princess Yingye, therefore most of the times, it was him who was killing the spiritual beasts. Beiyue merely was a bystander while letting him and Yingye do all the work like a supervisor, even giving out tips and advices.
'Sometimes, you sound too old for twelve.' Lianyi would remark.
'...do I really?' she hasn't noticed. Even as a child as Yoriichi, she has been this way. She sees the world differently, because of her powers granted to her by her mark.
'Listen to yourself and compare yourself to a girl your age.' Lianyi stated wryly, sweatdropping.
'I dunno, I'm simply being me.'
'Socialize!' he said, dope-slapping her.
'...I'm teaching, doesn't that count?'
'No!' the other teachers sweatdropped at their antics. Really, the youngest princess is too eccentric and quite a mystery. She hardly talks in classes but when called to recite, she usually has answers nobody would think of, proving herself a wise girl.
But...would a sheltered princess know of stuff she does...? How?
Going in further, Beiyue released Dashuang, a majestic sight to behold. But! The mere sight of him caused all Spirit Beasts to retreat in their Pet Spaces in fright. The students and even teachers could not help but look at him in awe. To think Nanyi Country has TWO of the Wuling IN their Royal Family!
'You called, Master?' Dashuang spoke out. Him coming out made the summons hide in fright, as well as turn the area they're in into a Winter Wonderland!
'Time for your Seclusion, Dashuang.' Beiyue told Dashuang. 'Be home in two weeks unless I call you for an emergency!'
'Oh, it's that time already? Very well!' and the wuling flew away. He knew of the Field Trip. But he has been cultivating on the Black Jade his mistress possessed and it provided great nourishment for it.
'...there he goes...but Seclusion. Really?' Yingye piped up.
'Well, given my condition, I must compensate him by letting him out.' said Beiyue. 'He chose me as his master, fully-aware I'm not a cultivator. He chose me out of both respect and pride as one who defeated him without ki. He'll do what spirits do to grow and we don't know how they do that.'
'But by becoming his master, you gained cultivation and shot up like brother did.' Yingye pointed out. 'You shouldn't have worries.'
'Maa, I'm nothing like any Summoner who can actually keep their cultivation...something in me keeps draining my ki away and its affecting Dashuang as well, so we have to find other ways.' Beiyue shook her head. 'This is all we got. Not even the Principal can figure out what's wrong with my dantian. So I didn't bother enrolling in East College.'
'Awww...'
Indeed, it's known that she was born with a faulty dantian, and she compensated. And how, that she can defeat a Wuling AND Sima Guiyan!
She was still very respectable though! She was powerful even without ki! Indeed, she was just too good she must still be human somehow. If someone like her can cultivate, who can stop Huang Beiyue in the world? Nobody!
Beautiful, beauty surpassing her mother.
Powerful enough to defeat Nanyi's famed strongest warrior.
Skilled enough that she was capable of feats no royal would be caught dead doing and pioneered a new art, even.
Talented.
Her flaws to keep her human somehow, was her flaming birthmark that looked more like a tattoo unless one looked closer to see it really IS a birthmark that blemished her otherwise fairy-like beauty, her eccentric personality, and her inability to cultivate she was reliant on Dashuang. How strong she was spiritually, was dependent on him while still being drained every waking moment of her life.
They proceeded ahead.
Welp, nothing for now that travel is made easy. Dashuang scared off any beast!
By sundown, they pitched camp near a river.
This type of rule to experience has been passed down by Lingyang College for many years. Therefore, all the work needed to do such as lighting a fire, cooking, and setting up camps, were all distributed regularly amongst the people.
In order to prevent the students from being curious and going out to the Floating Forest by themselves, around the camps, there were a couple of professors who took turns in patrolling.
Beiyue was by the river, not doing any tent setting, fire-lighting and other tasks.
'Beiyue, what are you doing over there?' Yingye called out.
'Yingye, I'm gonna harvest some stuff down here.' said Beiyue.
'Ehhh?! But this river is known to be deep and the currents are strong!' Yingye sputtered. 'Absolutely not! I won't allow it!' she refused to let Beiyue go out of worry.
Beiyue did so anyway. She stripped her clothing, showing she has a sleeveless black suit underneath.
'Oh hell no! Beiyue no!' and splash! 'You crazy little...!'
'What's going on here?' Xue Che approached the distraught Yingye who was beside a pile of familiar clothes.
'Beiyue jumped in!' Yingye cried. 'Something about harvesting something but this river is very deep!' she frantically told him.
'She what?!'
Sure enough, Beiyue came out sopping wet, and made an icy stairstep she would never slip on, and she carried a large fish enough to feed at least twenty people, and threw it at Xue Che, expecting him to catch it before diving back in. But no normal person can do that, but her eccentric mind failed to register something so simple.
'Waaaaaah!' and he got buried under the large fish that was flailing about which was too heavy for him to even carry. 'Somebody get it off meeee!' he wailed as the struggle underneath, is real! The fish was big, heavy, and it's strong that he was getting smacked! How the hell was she able to catch AND hold it, was a mystery to the young adult currently getting whacked by the fish.
'What the hell is that?!'
'Somebody get that fish off Xue Che!'
Four more fish later...
'Princess, I get that ration-hunting is part of training, but inform us first!' Elder Nangong gently scolded. Princess meant well but danger is very clear! 'That river is fifty feet deep despite how deceptively shallow it looks because it's crystal clean!'
'I know. Those fish won't be able to survive there otherwise with a size like that.' Beiyue shrugged, completely missing the point as the students were now teaming up to carve out the fish for dinner after removing the scales and fins. 'By the way, that fish is to be cooked over a low flame. High flame will ruin that meat and make it dry and tough. Low flame will make it juicy and fluffy.' she instructed the older students. 'Its also easy to debone. Kinda like this.' she showed them the bone pattern using her ice magic. 'And be careful of the organs! If cut, the fluids from the organs will ruin the fish by making it bitter!' she said, showing the location through her magic.
'Yes~!' the other students called out.
Beiyue being a Japanese knows one secret about the fish. It's best as a sashimi. It was more deliciously flavorful as is. But these people might uh...get grossed at eating it raw. So she kept a chunk of raw flesh for herself to secretly eat it later.
'Well, I'll get changing...' and Beiyue went to the trees, creating a snowy wall for privacy.
'Jeez, what a willful girl.' Yingye pouted, hands on her hips in exasperation. 'She's too much of a free spirit! How'd royal aunt handle her is a mystery.'
'Well, she does what she knows she can do.' said Lianyi. 'She will do it if she knows she can. Her common sense is different from ours.'
'Yeah, she sees the world differently too.' said Yingye. 'Instead of a girl younger than me, I feel like talking to an elder most days.'
"Because I'm 88 when I died." Beiyue inwardly chuckled in amusement, overhearing them with her enhanced hearing.
xxx
In another timeline where the assassin was here instead of a godly swordsman, the camp encountered the unruly bunch from the Four Seas Army. Here, they have a quiet time because Dashuang's presence diverted away the Spirit Rebellion from them and in turn, making the army go another way away from the camp.
Dinner was very filling.
Sure everyone has rations, but they didn't get to use some of that tonight. Everyone ate the fish and was full with just the flesh alone! It's so juicy, oily and fatty, but not greasy. It was quite tasty and goes down the throat smoothly.
'Hah, I wish I had wine.' Beiyue lamented. Not far from her and Yingye's tent, was a makeshift clothesline where she hung her swimwear to dry. 'The moon is bright tonight, stars clearly in the sky. It's ideal for a drink.' she said, admiring the moon in the sky.
'No.' Yingye immediately put her down, glowering at her when they took their turn watching. 'To this day father is secretly hunting for the soon-to-die fool who got you into underage drinking! They're skilled at hiding!' she grumbled. Beiyue and Xue Che sweatdropped. As the princesses bickered though it was mostly one-sided scolding, Xue Che looked at the princesses. Between the pair, the younger was the superior one in everything. If only she wore flattering dresses like most girls do, how beautiful can she be? The only time she wore a dress, was when it was her first banquet. God, she was beautiful and exquisite that it was a shame she was blemished by that mark on her face!
Her petite, slender frame. That tiny waist. And her gorgeous silks she herself created that made her look like a celestial maiden who comes down at night. She favors dark colors that brings out her beauty and finally dresses femininely in school...though for het battle attire? Her eccentricity remains.
She was the topic of his peers in Lingyang School when the banquet ended. She was all the single ones can talk about. Those engaged had to make sure they were out of earshot of their fiancees or cause trouble.
And for snubbing her because of it, goodness knows Emperor was picky in who to allow to marry her because he himself wasn't sure who can make her feel like a maiden in spring given her eccentricity. The way she moves, talks and her body language, was that of how a male would do it, and she grew up mostly with royal aunt and her maids!
Later, when they can finally sleep...
Beiyue snuck out to look around. She was safe from the lights, thanks to her clothes.
She could feel her strength increase by leaps and bounds, though a trickle is being drained. Kinda like a hair strand's worth each day of her life, but a drain is still a drain.
For children, that drain is very significant, dooming them to a future in a world where martial arts is everything, they would have been the subject of scorn and laughingstock. Beiyue averted that fate by simply being her powerful self without ki. She avoided that by a hair. But with her drastic power increases thanks to Dashuang, it became insignificant in turn. But it was still concerning, by standards.
She found nothing about her issue in her black jade.
She also got Zhanye to keep her jade a secret. It was hers to begin with as it belonged to her late father and through fate, she obtained it. Only his bloodline can use it and her mother doesn't know. Her father left a record of himself speaking to 'my descendants, if I ever had any', he clearly wasn't expecting to love and have children because of how hectic his life was.
She was able to see him as a human, not as the bones with hair her mother brought home, and respectfully cremated afterward, an urn she now treasures, but gave to Beiyue in her room. It emits Cold Bone scent, an elixir that restores ki, given her condition and Huiwen thinks it's her father's way of looking after his child if he ever dies. It was a pill that turns a relative's corpse into a valuable recovery treasure for family members to use in such a manner. Nobody else knows the recipe of Cold Bone, it was a pill he created himself. But very few knows of this pill. If it became a widespread knowledge, good lord his work will be used in such an evil manner and he knew it!
So she has two treasures from her second father. His bones that helps her recover ki she loses by inhaling the elixir at night, and his black jade where his knowledge and ki he amassed was stored. He was an immortal whose cultivation was such that unlike most immortals who achieved immortality at a late age, he was so powerful and a genius he achieved immortality at his early thirties and stayed young and youthful for almost four centuries until he met her mother.
All his knowledge, was in the jade. His techniques, his knowledge...and about 50% of his power, plus ki he absorbed into it over the years that it qualifies as a WOW. It became known and sought after. So she does what he does too, absorbing ki into the jade when she has time. She didn't wanna drain away her father's work. She had fused it to her flesh, and exploits all the fighting the students do as a distraction to absorb massive amounts when she could.
She decided to look for ingredients needed to refine this pill.
'I knew you snuck out!' she got startled by Lianyi.
'Wha-?!'
'I felt your cold aura vanish from camp and going elsewhere...I followed to make sure you don't do anything crazy but where are you going?'
'Well, something I have to do on my own.' said Beiyue. 'I'm looking for certain ingredients.'
'Certain ingredients?' Lianyi raised an eyebrow.
'Yeah...its a mystery homework left to me by village elder.' said Beiyue, lying through her smile. 'I stayed with his village the whole spring while Dashuang cultivated by preying on the beasts around.' she wanted to refine Cold Bone pill and eat it herself. Her maternal bloodline will be OK then if she dies.
'And what is that homework?'
'Se-cret~' Beiyue smiled. Lianyi wore an exasperated smile.
'Fine, I'll chaperone you, but anything wrong, we go back, OK?' Lianyi told her. 'Thank goodness for Sparrow Herbs, the Floating Lights avoid us. Had we worn normal clothing, not even a grand master would dare to be here alone.'
'Yes yes.'
They thus roamed around. It was quite peaceful.
'...thanks to Dashuang, it seems camp this year is trouble-free but also troublesome for us because it's supposed to be a training camp, yet not a beast in sight at all.' said Lianyi. 'At this rate, we may have to venture further for training.'
'That would be nice. Its time for toddlers to learn how to run by being in a better playground.' Beiyue said.
'I hate to see your idea of a playground.' Lianyi deadpanned. Sometime later, he felt a boost from her spiritual power. It seems Dashuang was indeed, cultivating and hard at work.
Because of the floating lights, even though it was dark, they could walk stably with no need to worry about the situation under their feet. It was very quiet. They two walked very carefully in tandem. Due to how they smelled, the lights avoid them.
But they came to eventually feel pressure from a powerful beast. More powerful than even Dashuang!
They came out of curiosity and there it was!
But it was gasping heavily. A golden four-winged tiger with crimson stripes, and large fangs long enough to pierce a human heart. It was also bleeding heavily, lying on a pile of blue-green pressure of the mythological beast formed a light gold barrier around her. With such strong evil spiritual power in the barrier, absolutely no spiritual beast dared to approach!
The Golden Tiger looked a little weak, with half-squinting golden eyes particularly full of sadness and pain. She looked at her stomach from time to time and then made a pitiful whimper.
The blue-green vines wrapped half of her body. Out of the pile of bright green leaves, there emitted the earth-attribute vitality, which was constantly absorbed into the body by Golden Tiger.
With the nourishment of those vitality, she roared again, struggling painfully and rolling among the vines.
Feng Lianyi followed up and stood behind Huang Beiyue, whispering, 'What happened to her? Is she Wounded?'
'No, she is giving birth.' Huang Beiyue said calmly as she sees through her eyes and seeing through the tiger's body. However, it was gravely injured, making a painful decision to birth prematurely, lest the cub dies with her.
On hearing 'giving birth', Feng Lianyi coughed unnaturally. He secretly admired the little girl. At such a young age, she knew everything.
Huang Beiyue said slowly, 'She is having a dystocia. I never thought that mythological beasts would have dystocia as well. It seems that she is exhausted. If she can't give birth, she will die with the baby.'
'What should we do?'
Huang Beiyue glanced at him, 'You want to help?'
Feng Lianyi smiled with purple eyes glittering, 'Although mythological beasts are fierce and noble, they are smarter than ordinary spiritual beasts, and they are also grateful. If you help him, he will help you naturally.'
'I think so too.' Huang Beiyue said directly. She wanted to help that Golden Tiger. 'For now, let's think of the premature life within.'
Feng Lianyi smiled and said, 'Despite the thought, can you really help? She is very irritable now, and you can't break that barrier.'
'Just try it,' Huang Beiyue said. On second thought, she asked, 'The sound of your Guqin. It has a pacifying effect on spiritual beasts, doesn't it? Shouldn't it work for mythological beasts, either?'
'I've never tried before.'
'Then let's try it now. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' After that, she walked out from behind the big tree. Feng Lianyi immediately took out the Guqin, put it on his lap and played it slowly.
Hearing the sound, the Golden Tiger immediately raised her head and widened her half-squinting eyes. The strong anger in her golden pupils seemed to be substantive!
She angrily roared at the intruder and fiercely showed her teeth.
Huang Beiyue walked to the barrier without panic. Her black eyes encountered with the pair of golden eyes. But she didn't shrink back at all facing the powerful golden eyes!
Golden Tiger was stunned and suddenly said, 'Little girl, are you here to die?'
'Not quite.' said Beiyue, fearlessly approaching the tiger while Lianyi's song played. 'But its best to choose the premature life within you while we are in a race against time.' she said. 'What injured you that caused this complicated premature birth?' her words astonished the tiger. How did this little girl figure her out quickly? 'For now, we focus on delivery.' she took out the black jade that made the tiger nervous as Beiyue placed the jade on her belly, proceeding to do what she had done for Zhanye. Healing her injury and being a competent midwife. Lianyi took a closer look and he was stunned at what she has in her possession, knowing of it.
He can only wonder how she came across a relic that would launch millions of soldiers to obtain it!
'...you're...actually helping...normally, humans would take advantage of my situation and force a Life Contract.' the tiger was stunned, unable to grasp the unlikelihood of her situation. She cannot trust humans at all with good reason! She knows how Summoners work!
'In a world where strength is everything, being an orphan is a nightmare. Unlike humans, no beast would adopt somebody else's babies.' Beiyue would tell the tiger. 'Even if you die to give birth, a premature infant only has minutes-long lifespan before it falls prey to beasts older than it, or to Summoners who would raise it since young to be obedient.' the notion angered the tiger. 'So I am healing you for your child's sake.'
'...you're a rare human.'
'I've been called eccentric or odd many times.' Beiyue smiled ruefully as she stuck her hand in the tiger's cervix once she was done healing the injury.
Premature it may be, but big!
Animals were basically the same in body structures. Now the golden tiger's cervix was opened. Normally she would have been able to give birth to a baby beast by now. However, this baby beast was so large that it didn't look like an ordinary baby beast at all!
Huang Beiyue finally felt the baby beast after a while. She tried to correct the baby's position and bring its head down. She grabbed the two forelimbs of the baby, let its body curl up as much as possible, and slowly pulled it out.
During this process, a lot of blood flowed out from the golden tiger's body. It didn't get any relief even though she had continuously absorbed the vitality on the vine. Huang Beiyue couldn't help sweating.
Was this the extreme bleeding that rarely happens when a woman gave birth to a child? Uta never had the chance to give birth to their son and here she is, aiding another lady...a rather furry lady in childbirth. If only she knew she had skill for it, she would never have bothered looking for a midwife and lose her family.
Huang Beiyue's heart raced suddenly as she dragged the baby beast out. Phew. Her arms were slimy with blood and amniotic fluid. By looking at its sex, its a girl.
'Its a girl, milady.' said Beiyue softly, handing the baby to the tiger who licked her cub clean with all its maternal instincts out.
'...pregnant beasts are easy prey to those stronger than them in such a situation.' said the tiger in contempt. 'I am a Rank 4 Divine Beast and so is my child who gained nourishment and strength from me during her growth in my womb. I caught the eye of a Rank 6 hundred-eyed Frost Toad west from here when it saw me giving birth.' she explained.
The idea made the teenagers shiver. They're this close to such danger!
'While you have honor and can be reasoned with, this one clearly does not!' Lianyi gasped out in alarm. If the toad has no qualms attacking a birthing mother beast, what more of human children? 'Our camp is in potential danger from a divine beast all of us cannot hope to beat even if we teamed up for it! Based on our paths, we absolutely must not head west or we seek death!'
'The idea is terrifying.' Beiyue agreed. 'But are you safe here?'
'I'd like to think so, but as much as I want to flee, I cannot. My child cannot fly yet.' said the tiger gloomily. 'If it senses me here, your aid of me will be wasted.' that was fact.
'Then, will you trust me again?' Beiyue asked her. 'I will not contract you and your child. I will hide you in Dashuang's pet space. We will convince our teachers to move east from here.'
The tiger looked hesitant before relenting, and let herself and her cub enter Beiyue's Pet Space. Then she fused with her jewel again to provide nourishment for the pair.
'Beiyue, that jade...' Lianyi shook. 'Its a treasure relic that will cause unholy hell to obtain it.'
'...I know. I'm keeping it secret even from mother.' said Beiyue. 'It was a stroke of luck, hidden in a very unlikely place. Please keep quiet.'
'I will, for a trade.' said Lianyi. 'My silence, over knowledge I would want and need from within before I return to Beiyao this year. I will be fighting for my life soon.' he told her gloomily. He needs all help he could get and she is the key.
'Very well.' and the pair returned to camp.
It was the next day that Lianyi suggested a different course without revealing why because if he told, the teachers won't be happy to know they snuck out which was why he wants them to change course after breakfast using their own rations this time.