Chapter 17 : The Path to the Aurora Kingdom
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Ling Huai wrinkled her nose as she caught a whiff of herself. The scent of sweat, dirt, and dried blood clung to her, making her grimace. Before she could say anything, the Omen shot her a sharp look, his lips curling in distaste.
"You stink. Go freshen up," he said bluntly.
Bai chuckled, shaking his head. "Not even a hint of subtlety."
Ling Huai huffed, crossing her arms. "I was going to wash up anyway!"
She stormed off toward a nearby stream, grumbling under her breath. The cold water shocked her skin at first, but as she scrubbed away the grime, she felt a deep sense of relief. The tension in her muscles eased, and the cool sensation revived her slightly drained spirit. She dunked her head into the water, letting it wash away the exhaustion of the past few days.
As she wrung out her hair, a thought crossed her mind—why did Bai and the Omen smell just fine? She had been fighting, running, and sweating just as much as them. Maybe it was some technique she hadn't learned yet.
"I need to ask about that," she muttered, stepping out of the stream.
When she returned to their resting area, Bai and the Omen were talking in hushed voices. Their expressions were serious, and though she couldn't hear what they were saying, she could tell it wasn't meant for her ears.
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you two whispering about?"
The Omen barely spared her a glance. "Nothing you need to worry about yet."
Bai smirked, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. "Maybe if you prove yourself, we'll let you in on the secret."
Ling Huai huffed, feeling left out. "Whatever. It's probably something stupid anyway."
The Omen ignored her comment and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Enough wasting time. Let's leave this hellhole of a forest."
Ling Huai's brows lifted. "Where exactly are we going?"
"The Kingdom of Aurora. The capital city, Bethany," the Omen replied.
Ling Huai blinked. "Odd how both the kingdom and the capital have female names."
Bai chuckled, while the Omen's smirk grew slightly wider. "That's not the only odd thing about it," he murmured.
She felt a shiver crawl up her spine at his tone but ignored it. "How far is it?"
"If we take the shortcut, seven days," the Omen said.
Ling Huai perked up. "That's great!"
"But," he added, his gaze darkening slightly, "the shortcut is dangerous."
Ling Huai hesitated. "How dangerous?"
The Omen smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "That depends."
She pursed her lips, not liking how vague he was being, but she had no choice. They needed to reach the competition in nine days, so they couldn't afford to waste time.
The Journey Begins
The group set off, moving in the southeast direction. The first few hours were quiet, the dense forest stretching endlessly around them. Ling Huai walked in silence, her senses on high alert.
Ling Huai took charge of dealing with small and mid-sized beasts, cutting them down swiftly. Bai and the Omen watched her every move but did not step in. Occasionally, they gave her pointers, pointing out flaws in her movements or areas where she could improve.
"Your stance is too rigid," Bai commented as she slashed at a beast.
"Too slow," the Omen added, easily dodging a claw attack that nearly caught her off guard.
She gritted her teeth and adjusted her footing, determined to get better.
As they traveled, she used the ancient plant language the Omen had taught her to gather useful herbs. Some were for cooking, others for medicine. Every beast she killed, she stored in her pouch for future meals.
When night fell, they found a cave to rest in. Bai and the Omen gathered firewood, while Ling Huai prepared their meal. She carefully roasted meat, pairing it with leaves that enhanced the flavor. To balance the meal, she offered them summer apples—fruits that replenished lost Qi and aided in comprehension.
"Not bad," Bai admitted after taking a bite.
The Omen hummed in agreement. "You're getting better."
Ling Huai grinned, proud of herself. "Of course!"
The next few days passed in a similar manner. They moved deeper into the forest, and the beasts grew stronger. Yet, oddly enough, they didn't attack as much. Some even followed her from a distance.
"Why aren't they attacking?" she whispered one evening, watching a particularly large beast watching them from afar.
Bai shrugged. "Who knows?"
The Omen, however, seemed thoughtful. "It's… strange," he muttered.
Their journey took a dangerous turn on the sixth day when a powerful beast lunged at Ling Huai, its massive claws aiming to crush her. She barely had time to react. Just as she braced herself for impact, Bai and the Omen intervened.
The Omen's body blurred as he appeared before her, effortlessly deflecting the attack. Bai, meanwhile, struck the beast with a quick, calculated blow, forcing it back.
Ling Huai's heart pounded as she scrambled to her feet.
"Are you okay?" Bai asked.
She nodded, her hands clenched into fists. "I need to get stronger."
The Omen glanced at her but said nothing.
The Final Day
By the seventh day, Ling Huai was exhausted. As they took a break, she dropped onto the ground with a groan. "I thought you said this route was dangerous," she muttered, glaring at the Omen.
The Omen merely shrugged. "It is," he said in an odd tone.
Ling Huai frowned. "Then why does it feel… easier than I expected?"
The Omen looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I think," he said slowly, "the beasts are wary of you."
A chill ran down her spine. "Why?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he simply smirked. "That," he said, "is something you'll have to figure out on your own."
Ling Huai wasn't sure she liked that answer.
As night fell and they prepared to leave the forest the next morning, she found herself staring up at the sky, feeling a strange sense of anticipation.
What awaited her in Kingdom Aurora?
She didn't know.
But she was going to find out.
End of the chapter 17.
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