A D-Rank Adventurer's Bizarre Reincarnation

Chapter 10 - Recovery

"Please don't be here..."

Bai Shuanyang thought as she ran frantically away from the group, intending to find Zheng Jin in the forest. As much as she wanted to convince herself that he already saw her message and that he is already safe, she can't help but feel anxious for Zheng Jin.

Not only that, she never thought that the Blood-clawed Infernal Bear would return to its cave that quickly, its rampage sending the other demon beasts nearer the city earlier than she had expected.

That inner disciple Kang Liu as at fault too. If he did not order too many camp breaks, they would have reached the cave much earlier and killed the Blood-clawed Infernal Bear's cub without being seen by its parent. This would give her more time to find Zheng Jin.

What's more, is that he actually knew a shortcut with few demon beasts roaming the area. This was revealed when they were trying to escape from the Blood-clawed Infernal Bear earlier. She did not understand why he led them in a trail where there were many demon beasts on their way to the cave when there is a better alternative in the first place.

But then again, there's no use thinking about what could have happened.

...

In Bai Shuanyang's head, she was afraid that her father might catch wind of her helping Zheng Jin, therefore putting her dream of returning to her kingdom at risk.

However, she could not ignore Zheng Jin this time. She dreaded being passive when Zheng Jin was being bullied by other disciples, and even going as far as acting cold towards him since he started talking to her again in hopes of driving him away from her completely...but letting him die in this forest was something she could not bear to do.

She then pushed her thoughts away as she focused on running towards the part of the forest where she saw Zheng Jin first.

...

After running all the way to the place where she had left her message, she did not find Zheng Jin around the area at all. She almost felt relieved as she thought that he might've already returned to the city, but the next thing she saw made her think otherwise.

What she saw was tracks near the tree where she had left her message, leading deeper into the forest.

She was about to go where the tracks lead when suddenly...

Raaagghhh!!!

A loud roar, which reverberated from far away, suddenly shook the surroundings. This sound, however, wasn't from the Blood-clawed Infernal Bear from earlier. Although the other demon beast poses no threat to her, the same could not be said for Zheng Jin...

Following the loud roar, Bai Shuanyang immediately ran towards it, going as fast as possible using her speed as an Awakened Mortal. She could only hope that Zheng Jin wasn't where she thought he was.

After running as fast as she could, she finally saw a Horned Fire Ape that had caught her attention earlier. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the demon beast feasting on a corpse, but upon looking more carefully at what it was eating, it just seemed to be corpses of Five-tailed Crimson Rats. As to how or why did the Horned Fire Ape catch that many, she did not know.

Bai Shuanyang was just about to sigh in relief when a long howl once again sounded from the distance. This time, it's another demon beast...the howl signifying that it was about to hunt.

Although she did not know if Zheng Jin was its target, she could not take any chances.

However, as she was about to go towards the source of the howl, the Horned Fire Ape that was busily eating suddenly noticed her, and immediately expressed its hostility. The demon beast became excited upon seeing a new prey, one that would surely taste better than the rats it had been eating earlier.

The demon beast's body suddenly went up in orange flames, now charging towards Bai Shuanyang with a tremendous amount of momentum. Bai Shuanyang, however, just stood still and waited for the demon beast to come.

"Hmph, I have no time to play around with you!"

Just as the Horned Fire Ape was about to reach her, wisps of bright, azure-colored flames formed in her hand, halting the Horned Fire Ape's reckless charge towards Bai Shuanyang. Then after just a second, Bai Shuanyang gently flicked her hands towards the demon beast, startling it to the point that it wanted to retreat then and there. It knew that those azure-colored flames weren't simple at all, as the flames in its body suddenly lost its luster when it appeared.

Unfortunately, the Horned Fire Ape would not have the chance to run, because just as soon as Bai Shuanyang's flame touched its body, the Horned Fire Ape writhed in pain as the azure flames engulfed its body, even extinguishing the demon beast's flames that clad itself earlier!

Then, without looking back, Bai Shuanyang continued her running towards the location of the howl, leaving the Horned Fire Ape to eventually turn into a mere pile of ashes behind her.

...

Bai Shuanyang kept on running, holding onto the hope that Zheng Jin was unharmed. She held her thoughts as she ran, when suddenly, another howl - this one of pain, sounded out from nearby. As she got closer and closer, her chest can't help but tighten as she saw traces of blood on the ground.

She had finally arrived at the location of the howl and was shocked by what she saw. A boy and a huge wolf were strewn across the ground, the latter died while the former crawled in a slow pace, saying something towards her that she could not hear before finally collapsing onto the ground.

"Zheng Jin!"

She thought as she hurriedly went to Zheng Jin's side, only for him to finally fall unconscious just before she reached him.

Zheng Jin is in a critical state. In addition to all his external wounds, she guessed that his internal organs might also be damaged, along with a few bones.

Without wasting a single second, Bai Shuanyang immediately started treating Zheng Jin's wounds, ripping parts of her robe without hesitation to use as bandages and carefully using the medicinal herbs she collected on her free time in this forest. Though she had a lot of herbs to use, she was not foolish enough to think that it will be enough to heal Zheng Jin. What she needed was something that had stronger regenerative properties, enough to cure even Zheng Jin's internal injuries.

Then, an idea flashed in her head. For now, she needed to go back to the sect, because there was no better way to cure Zheng Jin than bringing that thing to him.

Bai Shuanyang then carried Zheng Jin carefully, traveling non-stop until they had reached the entrance of the forest, the sun now setting on the west. But just as she was about to go any further, she remembered that she could not be seen with Zheng Jin.

Her father had eyes and ears everywhere in the Goldenridge City, especially within the Golden Dragon Sect. Moreover, considering Zheng Jin's status within the sect, she even thought that the elders would not give him any medicine at all...Not only that, if she was seen taking Zheng Jin with her in the sect, the outrage from the other disciples would be unimaginable.

In the end, she could only leave Zheng Jin in a remote area in the forest's entrance.

He will be safe here, she thought, as demon beasts from the forest never stray this near into the city. She only had to be quick to return to Zheng Jin, as seeing the state of his body, every second counted.

Without wasting further time, Bai Shuanyang made her way to the sect, not even stopping when the guards directed their stares at her, wondering why a disciple of the Golden Dragon Sect would return alone at this time of the day.

Then finally inside the sect, she had received many greetings, but not once did she respond. She just had one thing on her mind: get to her pavilion and get the Emperor Quillin's Essence Pill from her house. After she had finally made it to her house. She quickly took out a jade box from her closet and carried it with her as she made her way out of the pavilion.

Suddenly, a voice called out to her. It was the inner sect disciple from earlier, Kang Liu.

"Little sister Bai, wait!"

She, however, ignored Kang Liu as she continued to move without even looking at him.

"Little sister Bai, where have you been?! We all thought that the Blood-clawed Infernal Bear caught up to you and-"

Kang Liu then immediately ran in front of Bai Shuanyang, hoping to get her attention. He almost got into trouble, thinking that a princess died under her protection. Immortals above only knows how much relief he felt when he saw her.

"I was delayed by a demon beast. Please move out of the way."

Bai Shuanyang's cold reply immediately made him move to the side. Looking at Bai Shuanyang, her robes were indeed damaged, there was even blood on it. What caught his attention even more was an ornate jade box she had been carrying. Whatever was inside must be very precious, he thought.

"I-is that so...If you would like, I know a few things about-"

"No need."

Just as Kang Liu was about to offer his help in treating her injuries, he was immediately brushed off by Bai Shuanyang. How could he know that the blood on her robe was not from Bai Shuanyang or the demon beast she fought, but was actually from Zheng Jin?

"Tch, you b***h. To think that I almost got into trouble for you! Someday, I'll make you forget your arrogance and make you mine!"

Kang Liu thought as he looked at Bai Shuanyang's back, revealing a nasty scowl on his face. To think that he almost died and got into trouble with the elders in just a day just because of Bai Shuanyang... Her arrogance really irritated him! No matter...there would be a day that he would have his way with her. Kang Liu thought as he let her dark fantasies run rampant on his head, deluded with the thought of taking Bai Shuanyang for himself.

...

After making her way through Kang Liu, Bai Shuanyang once again exited the city gates, much to the confusion of the guards. She then continued on to where she hid Zheng Jin, relieved to see his breathing is now a bit more stable than before.

Bai Shuanyang then opened the jade box and quickly took a pill inside. It was actually an Emperor Qilin's Essence Pill! This pill was exceedingly precious, to the extent that only a Tier four alchemist and above can concoct such a pill. Not only that, the ingredients of this pill included the core of an Emperor Qilin, a demon beast that was an early level Earthly Sovereign!

Bai Shuanyang could not help but to remember something as she saw the pill. This pill was actually supposed to be her "parting gift" with Zheng Jin, which she chose herself when Zheng Jin declined her offer to choose any treasure he wanted. She figured that it might help Zheng Jin recover his lost potential, as this was the best treasure she could get her hands on.

Throughout the past two years, however, she did not have the courage to give it to him. After all, she knew that even a pill like this could not even begin to compare to the pain she made Zheng Jin feel that fateful day.

But now, she was finally given the chance to give it to Zheng Jin. Naturally, she would not miss this chance to atone for her sin, even if it was just for a little...

After taking the pill out of the jade box, Bai Shuanyang then placed it in Zheng Jin's mouth, silently hoping that the pill would be enough for Zheng Jin to recover.

Almost immediately, the pill began taking effect as the wounds all over Zheng Jin's body began to close at a noticeable rate. She even heard sounds of bones setting themselves, as she watched in awe as to how the pill worked in Zheng Jin's body. This pill really was amazing, copying the regenerative abilities of an Emperor Qilin, she thought.

Just as she was watching the reaction of Zheng Jin's body to the pill, she can't help but notice that he was still in a deep sleep. The pill might not be able to remove fatigue after all.

Bai Shuanyang, however, was not in a hurry. She wanted to stay with Zheng Jin until he recovered and gained consciousness. As a friend...a former friend, this small thing was the least she could do.

After a while, her gaze could not help but land on Zheng Jin's face. With a furrowed eyebrows and the weird angle of his lips, the face he made while sleeping did not change at all; she thought as he chuckled in her head. This made her think back...way back in her past.

She thought of how he taught her the things he knew about cultivation, how he would be strict in teaching her how to use her martial skill correctly, only to take her to fishing afterward, saying nonsense like "The secret to succeeding cultivation is a healthy mind. What use is it to be strong if you're having no fun at all!"

What Zheng Jin did not notice was that she knew all along. The only reason he took her with him to fish back then was because she had been crying too much when training. Ever since then, one of their favorite pastimes was to catch fish by the riverbank, which was coincidentally the place where they had first met.

When remembering the good moments she had with Zheng Jin, a smile could not help but show on her face. This smile, however, did not last very long, as she remembered how she threw it all away; not only hurting herself in the process but also breaking her friend's heart into pieces.

A lot has changed since then, but the same empty feeling that haunted her was still there, mocking her of what she had lost the day he left Zheng Jin for her kingdom. She could not anything about it, however, as she could not take back the decision she made all those years ago. Being with Zheng Jin today may have driven it away for a moment, but she knew that it would eventually return sooner or later...

With those thoughts, Bai Shuanyang quietly watched over Zheng Jin, her eyes trying to avoid seeing his face that made her feel guilt and regret for what she had done back then.

...

...

...

In a hidden area located within the entrance of the Forest of Nine Deaths, Zheng Jin could be found finally opening his eyes slowly as he regained consciousness.

What he did not notice was the rustling of leaves near him, Bai Shuanyang departing as soon as she saw Zheng Jin's wounds fully recover and regain his consciousness.

"It would be better this way."

Bai Shuanyang thought as she left, looking back at Zheng Jin before finally leaving.