Severing Time & Space

Spotted Snow Lion, Part II

What appeared before his eyes was, first, a massive paw that was probably about the size of his head. It was covered in sharp claws. He looked up, past the snow-white, fur-covered leg and onto the snarling face mere inches away from him. A thick mane of hair surrounded a powerful face that was majestic and imposing. Wu Jian froze as dark yellow eyes filled with rage and bloodlust stared him down. He was so frightened that his body nearly shut down and he almost fell.

Wu Jian had read a lot. Some of those books contained knowledge about magical beasts. He had even read one recently that described magical beasts found in snowy climates. That was why he knew what this creature was.

Spotted Snow Lion.

It was a creature that was born with a Hunger Realm cultivation base, completely skipping the Body Forging Realm that Wu Jian was currently at. This must have been the magical beast that had reached the Anima Realm’s ninth subrealm.

I’m dead! I’m so dead! I’m gonna die! This thing is going to kill me!

While Wu Jian watched his life flash before his eyes, the Spotted Snow Lion raised its other paw as though it was going to swipe its claws across his face. Wu Jian was tempted to close his eyes. Yet just before it could attack him, a ball of snow slammed into its left flank. The creature roared in shock. It lurched forward, stumbled past Wu Jian, and tumbled off the cliff.

A fall from this height was more than enough to seriously injure and maybe even kill Wu Jian, but it wasn’t enough to do more than irritate the Spotted Snow Lion. It landed on its feet and swiveled its head around to find its attacker.

“Over here! I’m right here!”

Another snowball pelted the lion in the face; it growled and turned around to find Wu Meiying blowing it a raspberry. Wu Jian thought it was almost comical. A young girl was pulling down her eyelid and sticking her tongue out at a creature four times bigger than her. If the situation wasn’t so frightening, he might have laughed, but all he felt in that moment was fear for Wu Meiying.

“That’s right! Come and get me, you stupid lion!”

“Meiying! What are you doing?!” Wu Jian shouted.

“Providing a distraction! Hurry up and grab that lotus!” Wu Meiying shouted back.

Wu Jian wanted to say something, to yell at her to leave, but the Spotted Snow Lion pounced at that moment. He screamed in terror. He was certain Wu Meiying was dead, but somehow or other, she avoided the attack. Had he blinked and missed what happened? That was what it felt like to him, even though he was sure his eyes had been wide open the whole time.

The Spotted Snow Lion seemed as surprised as Wu Jian.

“Jian! Hurry up and grab that lotus! I can only avoid it like this for so long!” Wu Meiying screamed again, this time a touch of desperation tinging her voice.

The Spotted Snow Lion turned to face her and pounced once more, and once more Wu Meiying dodged by the skin of her teeth. Wu Jian was certain he was seeing things, but it almost appeared as if Wu Meiying was moving before the lion actually pounced, as if she knew what it would do before it even did.

In either event, after missing her for the second time, the Spotted Snow Lion snarled at her. The hairs of its mane stood on end. Wu Jian barely had a moment to ponder what was happening before dozens of needles shot from its mane and penetrated the ground Wu Meiying had just been standing on. Not only did they hit the ground, but they blasted holes in the trees. It was a miracle his friend had avoided that attack.

Mei would be dead if that attack hit her… I have to do something!

Realizing he couldn’t afford to remain there, Wu Jian grabbed the lotus, pulled it out of the cliffside, roots and all, and stuffed it into the bag they had brought. He tried to quickly climb down, but he lost his footing about halfway and landed on his backside. Pain jolted his back. He yelped and rubbed his tailbone.

“Ow…”

“Jian! Look out!”

Heeding the warning, Wu Jian scrambled out of the way just as a pair of paws slammed into the ground where he had been. He gulped, body frozen in fear as the Spotted Snow Lion turned to him. Wu Jian had once said that his father was a lot like a lion, strong and intimidating, but now that he was face-to-face with a real lion, he could honestly say that he would rather deal with his father. His legs shook with fear, breath coming out in ragged gasps. He thought he might piss himself; he was so scared.

The lion crouched down on all fours, the hairs of its mane prickling. He realized what was about to happen. This was the attack that had nearly done in Wu Meiying.

“Come on!”

Wu Meiying grabbed his hand and jerked him away just as the Spotted Snow Lion launched its attack. He didn’t look back as hundreds of bristling strands of fur penetrated the ground and cliff face. The howl from the magical beast echoed in his ears, causing a chill to pierce his heart.

“We… we have to get away from this thing!” Wu Jian shouted.

“I know that! Don’t worry! I’ve got a plan!” Wu Meiying shouted back.

He had no idea what her plan was, but he trusted her enough to let himself get pulled along behind her.

The lion chased after them. Its roars seemed enraged and vicious. He had never heard something so angry-sounding before, and he wondered if maybe it had been the silver lotus’s guardian. He had read that magical beasts were even more interested in natural treasures like this than humans. They required these natural resources to cultivate. By consuming the bounties of nature, they could increase their cultivation base like a human.

The sound of blood pumping echoed loudly in his ears. Wu Meiying’s ragged breathing matched his own. His chest hurt, a sharp pain that felt like needles stabbing his lungs, but he didn’t stop following his friend as they ran.

They raced through the forest, but he had no idea where they were going. Wu Meiying was leading him, and she would jerk him about whenever she made seemingly random turns, which forced the lion to slow down lest it skid across the snow and lose sight of them.

But this deadly chase came to an end all too soon.

They found their backs against another cliff.