The Journey to the East The Journey to the Future The Journey to the End

Chapter 25

To make up my late update, I shall update twice today.

Ling's POV

After the initial tightness and wobbliness, you would get used to wearing Wanwan's creation. You won't suffer from any humiliation, everyone thinks you're a girl. Except for when I wobbled all the way down the stairs, with a whole group of men surrounding you once you reach the foot of the stairs. At least Wanwan got to be happy. She was on the brink of tears when she saw me in her creation. So adorable. This is happening in my head so no one knows, right? If not, whoops.

The ball was over in about 3 hours, we returned to the accommodations and changed out of our ball gowns, before packing up and preparing to leave. I was definitely unwilling. My stay here was so pleasant. Zilong's orders to get back to Cadia Riverlands. What choice do I have?

We dragged all our belongings out the castle where Princess Silvanna waited. She bowed her head upon our arrival.

"Thank you for your visit, it was lovely to have you here," she thanked Zilong as a formality. I bet she thinks we're a nuisance and wish we'd leave, the sooner the better. Never mind, her hospitality made it a very very very enjoyable stay. That's three verys so you know how enjoyable is was. All the formalities done, Princess Silvanna then clapped twice for the carriages.

"I won't be following you then, hope you have a smooth journey," she said her goodbyes and we waved ours, before boarding the carriages which took us all the way to Azrya Woodlands. We got off and the rest was by foot. Long, long, long way by foot. Knowing that Yu Zhong and Luo Yi (I'm ashamed to have a sister like her) could be around here somewhere, we made sure that we don't let our guard down.

Before long, we were already tired, Zilong probably regretting his choice to leave immediately and not rest first.

Sstttsss.

The sound of rustling leaves like a sudden slap in the back, causing us to jolt to full consciousness again.

Sstttsss.

There it goes again. We readied our weapons, knowing it might be an ambush. Well if we know they are ambushing it's not really an ambush. 

Something was off though. The ground quaked as sounds of hundreds of hurried footsteps rushed into the bushes. This isn't Yu Zhong. Nor could it be Luo Yi. Unless they cloned themselves a hundred times or so. This was very worrying. So far we haven't crossed anyone except for Yu Zhong and Luo Yi. Actually, we didn't really cross them or anything. Unless you count being a team of elite warriors (A/N: Which probably pose no danger) that protects Cadia Riverlands. Or being a horrible little brother? Otherwise, nope.

"Brother, what's going on?" Chang'e asked, worry present in her voice.

"I honestly don't know. We have to move before they surround us," he replied, not calmly at all.

So we got a move on it. We continued following the trail, aware that they are in the bushes and if we go through the bushes we would get sliced up into tiny little fragments. I shuddered at the thought of that. Every step we take, hundreds will sound, along with rustling leaves. We all took a step backwards, same thing. We tried half a step forward before walking backwards again. The sounds matched. Not the right time to joke, but I think Zilong knows what he's doing. After that, we ran. They ran, though I think it's difficult to run through bushes, crouched down, with the possibility of getting stampeded by your fellow clones or comrades. (A/N: Is that the word?) 

Just as we almost got out of the dimly-lit forest to the pond of sorts, a rain of arrows landed in front of us, nearly hitting us on the head. Definitely not Yu Zhong or Luo Yi, they don't use arrows. We turned around to see a guy.

"CHARGE!"