(50) Merits
1024 Words
Zi Yingjun observed the soul cores he was able to collect on the first day. A single soul core is equal to ten merit points and a pair of horn or claw from demon beasts only costs five merit points. As of now, he is able to collect six soul cores and a few pairs of horns. Zi Yingjun glanced sideways when he noticed someone sitting across his spot with the fire between them. It was Zi Yan Yue. He thought she already took a rest. Zi Yingjun looked back to the house to see Jin Xuan Meng on the second floor window. He can tell she is grinning beneath her mask.
"Shouldn't you rest?" he asked and picked a certain soul core full of white mist. Zi Yingjun checked the cultivation and it was in Foundation Building of the third rank. The strongest among them. Inside the pearl, a sleeping figure of a butterfly made of ice. The insects in Spirit Beast Valley had mutated over the course of years. Zi Yingjun had seen many mutations and insects are no exception. It was because of the strong concentration of qi in the area that beings with strong spirit transforms.
"Yingjun, if I and Brother Wen are not engaged, do we have a chance?" Zi Yan Yue went straight. She propped her cheek on her arms that are crossed above her knee.
"Have a chance in what?" Zi Yingjun chose to act unaware. He secretly sent a portion of his consciousness into the soul core and tried to defeat the spirit beast.
Zi Yan Yue bit her lower lip. She shifted her position and knelt in front of Zi Yingjun. He finally raised his head after successfully subduing the spirit beast.
"Yingjun, its impossible you..." hesitation reigned over her voice. Zi Yan Yue froze when he flashed a gentle smile.
"Here. This is a soul core. It's suitable for your aptitude." Zi Yingjun showed her the soul core. He took her hand and placed it on her palm. With a look of obliviousness and kindness, Zi Yan Yue cant tell if he is purposely evading her questions. "We're going to look for more spirit beasts tomorrow. It will be better if you take a rest and let me guard for tonight."
"Miss Lovely, can I have a private talk with Zi Yingjun?" Jin Xuan Meng intervened after seeing that Zi Yan Yue is not giving them a time for their discussion. She still needs to return to their camp and Jin Lixing will wake up any minute from now.
Zi Yan Yue solemnly nodded. She kept her gaze on the soul core with a lost expression. Jin Xuan Meng sat down next to Zi Yingjun when Zi Yan Yue finally fell asleep.
"Why are you so reserved? Zi Yan Yue's serious to you." Jin Xuan Meng is a bit puzzled. If it were others, they will reciprocate already.
"Get on with it." Zi Yingjun lamented.
"Tsk. You're being like your father." she clicked her tongue in dismay. Jin Xuan Meng had heard Zi Xian got obsessed of Zi Yingjun's father but that man turned her down for so many times even when she was pregnant. Maybe, Zi Yingjun will grow up like his father too. But that no longer concerns her. "So, what are you planning in the third day?"
"Do you know the Dire Boar?"
"Oh, yes. It's the spirit beast that is difficult to hunt because of their speed but they have fragrant meat. Dire Boars are also delicious, ah." Jin Xuan Meng drooled. She had tasted one before and that single Dire Boar costs five lives of fifth rank Qi Refinement cultivator of their clan.
"Hunt as many as you can. You can reserve some for yourself but most of it should be given to me." Zi Yingjun thought of a plan on how to make Hei Clan lose. He doesn't need to race against time since time is on their side.
"Somehow, I know you're up to something bad." she narrowed her gaze just when she stood up. Zi Yingjun only smiled, not to her and not to himself either. A gust of wind passed by and made the leaves rustle. Before Jin Xuan Meng can leave, she heard him hum.
"The night is peaceful." he looked upwards where the moonlight weakly permitted through the leaves above. "But not for long."
Jin Xuan Meng stood there for a moment. She left in wonder, when will she find an opportunity to execute revenge on him? The way he controlled her is what she hated and he's the reason she lost her talent yesterday. Jin Xuan Meng deeply desired that day will come where she will overthrow him with her own scheme.
"Zi Yan Yue, follow that spirit beast. I'll take over the other two." Zi Yingjun instructed Zi Yan Yue. She nodded and headed right. He is confident she can take care of a Qi Refinement spirit beast. It can train her cognition and fighting prowess too.
He got ahead the Horned Beast Sheep. Zi Yingjun took out Bleak Night Sword. With one wave, the Horned Beast Sheep were engulfed in darkness. They stood frozen in place with their sight all black. Soon enough, they fell down with a loud thud. Zi Yingjun went down and easily broke the pair of horns with his own hands. His brows furrowed upon hearing a faint shriek nearby.
Zi Yingjun moved quickly and went to find Zi Yan Yue. He arrived in time to see a stranger carrying Zi Yan Yue carefully. Her knees were bruised and bleeding though. Hei Wen Zhu didn't notice Zi Yingjun watching them from above the trees.
"Hei Wen Zhu, this is ours now." Hei Si Yin smiled in satisfaction to see that the spirit beast turned into a soul core. "Its the beauty's payment for us, bothering to save her."
She leaned down to pick the soul core when a normal arrow was shot towards her. Hei Si Yin's hand was scraped. Both she and Hei Wen Zhu looked upwards. However, no one is above them at all.
- Writer
