The Untamed 2: The Unlikely Hero -Book 1-3

29. Regrouping

REGROUPING

After the massacre of Baofeng the cultivators had all parted ways. Vowing to all send emissaries out to figure out a time and place for them to reorganize. Nie Huaisang had ordered everyone to return home. A massive effort was being put forth from all the clans to regroup and plan for a much more organized hunt.

The parting was short and sweet. Liu Yang and Huaisang had shared private words in which he left blushing more than anyone had ever seen him before, his face hidden behind his fan. Chang Su had acted especially odd in his interaction with her as well. His face looked carefully set as he boarded the boat to return to Qinghe with the rest of the disciples.

Huang Jin hadn't really paid attention to much as they bowed and made way with the formalities. She had felt incredibly guilty as she made one last bow to Liu Yang. Her soft smile set on her lips. Huang Jin smiled meekly back and lowered her eyes. The trip back was also very dull and gracefully eventless. For her it had felt like they were running, tucking their proverbial tails between their legs.

The whole trek back the only thing she could do was run through countless plans, upon plans. The moment they got back, she was going to figure all this out. She wouldn't rest until she did.

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It had been three months since the massacre and their rushed departure back to the Qinghe Nie sect. Ever since their arrival Huang Jin had been studiously trying to train herself to have some type of control on the Yin Iron. Every morning, she would rise and begin her training with her usual meditation, and warm ups. But, as the days progressed, she could be seen on the training grounds, a whirl of resentful energy constantly around her.

After she had seen that Wen Ruohan had been able to control the resentful energy, and harness it, she had been attempting to do the same within herself.

It had been painstaking at first.

Having to try and release the tiniest bit of hold on it, and try to focus enough to control it. She had to try and prick the tiniest hole, and keep it that size without letting the cracks begin to form. It was like trying to plug a whole in a dam with sand.

The first month had been hell for her. Her temper had been short with almost everyone.

She wasn't used to being like this. Constantly having the resentful energy just at the tipping point exhausted her and made her feel like she was just irritable all the time. Everything got on her nerves. The curse mark was getting worse now. It was almost always just showing on her skin even with the longest robes she could fight in. Chang Su had been having to treat it every other day now. She didn't have long to track down the demon and kill it. Months...maybe.

Every day got better and easier though. She had had a breakthrough sometime later with the talismans to track the demons. With the advice from Wei Wuxian those many nights ago she had finally produced a talisman that could be copied 10 times off of one original and still have the same powerful effects. It took a massive amount of power to write it but she could write three a day and still do her evening training without feeling wiped now.

Most everyone had taken to avoiding the smaller training field on the outskirts of the grounds. It had been one only used by new inductees for testing and was the least cared for of all of them. That being said it was still beautiful in it's construction. Surrounded by the rocky dry mountains on two sides and a large man made wall on the other. It was perfect for Huang Jin though. She didn't have to worry if she lost control for a few seconds and it kept prying eyes from distracting her.

She had become so used to the resentful energy within her peeking out that she barely worried trying to hide it anymore from the other cultivators. It was like a fine black mist that seemed to hover around her skin.