𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓━━━J. Cheng

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆-𝗢𝗻𝗲

030—Red Lotus III

After leaving that place, and heading off towards the nearby forest, [First Name] threw up. The stench of death and the unpleasant corpse essence still lingered around her and she still could smell them. Originally, whether it is spiritual essence or corpse essence, [First Name] could sense both much more sensitively than other cultivators as she had cultivated a path different from others.

Even if the corpse essence seemed normal to the others, for her, it would be enough to make her feel sick for days. This was one of the reasons why she never really liked using swords or any short-ranged weapons during night hunts. She disliked getting so close to a corpse and feeling its disgusting essence.

Although she hadn't gotten close to the corpses back in Lotus Pier, the stench was simply too strong.

The corner of her eyes were red and her hair was in a mess. Panting softly in that serene forest, there was only her that made any sounds. "Wuxian... Wanyin..." She wiped the corner of her lips and staggered backward until her back hit a tree and she slid down. Anxiousness filled her already weary heart. All sorts of thoughts appeared inside her head, only feeding more on her worries and fears. 'They have to be alive... They know how to take care of themselves...'

She tried to convince herself. But she really didn't know what to do... She didn't know what to believe either. She was merely grasping a thin thread of hope desperately.

Even so, she clasped her shaking hands together and tried her best to calm herself. 'If I stay here, there might be Wen cultivators that would patrol the area... I would be caught in my current state...' Her wounds are indeed healing, but she's still injured enough. Before leaving Cloud Recesses, she was repeatedly told to not do anything reckless. And [First Name] promised to heed those commands...

'But... Wanyin and Wuxian, they, they should be fine... right?' she stood up, but her legs were trembling. The feeling of dread and uncertainty filled her heart as it thumped within her chest.

She couldn't even trust her own thoughts now. Once doubt was planted, it was difficult to root out.

[First Name] swallowed, her gaze blurry as she supported herself by leaning against the tree.

Once more, she felt sick. She couldn't help herself from throwing up again as despair filled her mind, alongside with the sickening feeling of the corpse essence which seemed to clung and seep through every pore of her body.

She threw up so much, until only blood came out and until she was choked up with her tears.

"Wanyin..." She hoarsely murmured as tears slipped down her cheeks. The feeling of helplessness filled her.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Before [First Name] knew it, the moon had sunk and the sun once more rose to dominate the entirety of the land. The burning glare of the morning sun finally snapped her out of her daze as she sat against a large boulder.

She slowly lifted her hand, her palm against the sun as she tried to hide away from it. But the rays seeped through her fingers, and reached her dull eyes.

It was only then when words finally left her lips,

"... Where should I go?"

Too exhausted, injured and anxious.

She grabbed her sword, standing up with the support of the boulder. But her legs seemed to have fallen asleep after hours of staying still in a single position, making her lean at the boulder for support. She glanced at the vast forest, the sun creating horizontal shadows from the tree trunks.