Chapter 84: Retreat
Golden Yuanbao understood imdiately.
Its massive wings spread wide, generating a powerful downdraft that fanned the flas across the flower patch. The fire spread rapidly along both sides of the stone path, consuming the colorful blooms one by one.
The smoke thickened.
Outside the canyon, the chaos among the Honey Wine Winged Bees intensified. Their cries grew louder and more frantic. Those closest to the canyon entrance began retreating, their wings now a sickly pale yellow, their movents sluggish and uncoordinated.
Even the smoke alone was enough to weaken them.
Mingxi watched with calm, calculating eyes.
She had gambled correctly on two counts.
First, that the flowers were the source of danger to the bees. Second, that burning them would produce smoke potent enough to carry the sa threat even at a distance.
Both had paid off.
"Golden Yuanbao, slowly move toward the entrance. Don't rush."
"Lei."
Golden Yuanbao complied, drifting forward at a asured pace, staying low enough to keep within the smoke layer that was now drifting outward.
Little Silver Flower pressed itself flat against Mingxi's shoulder, its tiny wings tucked in, a small Barrier already forming around the three of them — thin, nearly invisible, sealing out the smoke and any airborne toxins.
Mingxi gave it a light pat of approval.
Good beast.
As they neared the canyon entrance, the wall of compound eyes that had seed so overwhelming before was now in full retreat. Hundreds of Honey Wine Winged Bees scattered in every direction, abandoning their siege formation entirely.
A few of the weaker ones had already dropped to the ground, wings bleached completely white, unable to fly.
Mingxi did not feel particularly victorious.
These were creatures that had only been protecting their ho. She had taken their hive, stumbled into their territory, and now driven them off with their own natural enemy.
It wasn't sothing to celebrate.
But survival wasn't sothing to apologize for either.
"Let's go."
Golden Yuanbao needed no further instruction. The mont they cleared the canyon entrance, it accelerated, climbing steeply and putting distance between them and the valley as quickly as possible.
Below, the smoke continued to billow from the canyon.
The remaining bees gave no pursuit.
Mingxi exhaled slowly and leaned back against Golden Yuanbao's neck, finally allowing herself one mont of rest.
Her legs had recovered fully thanks to Silver Flower's Holy Healing, but the accumulated tension of the past hour sat heavy in her shoulders.
"Luo Luo?"
Little Silver Flower peered up at her with its large pink eyes, one tiny claw still gripping the half-eaten honey block.
Mingxi looked at it for a mont, then smiled.
"I'm fine. Just tired."
She reached over and broke off a small piece of the honey block, placing it on her tongue.
Sweet. Clean. The fatigue in her limbs softened almost imdiately.
She really needed to figure out how much of this honey remained in the Ti Realm.
If even a small piece could produce this effect, the full beehive she had stored away was an extraordinary find.
Her Grandma's health had only just stabilized. Sothing that could replenish energy and aid recovery — that was worth more than most things she could have brought back from this Mystic Ground.
Assuming she could actually get back.
The thought quietly reasserted itself, as it always did when she let her guard down.
Today was March 31st.
The last day of the Changheng Mystic Ground's opening.
She still had no idea where the exit was.
Mingxi sat up straighter and looked out at the horizon beyond Golden Yuanbao's wings. The twin moons were already fading as midday approached. The sky above the Mystic Ground had that sa heavy, saturated quality it always did — beautiful in a way that felt slightly wrong, like a painting trying too hard.
"Golden Yuanbao."
"Lei?"
"Let's find higher ground. I want to get a full view of the terrain."
If the Mystic Ground was closing today, there had to be so sign of it — a change in the passage's energy, a shift in the sky, sothing.
She intended to find it before it found her.
Golden Yuanbao angled upward without hesitation, carrying them toward the highest ridge visible on the horizon.
Little Silver Flower finished its honey block, licked its claws with great dignity, and then turned to face forward as well.
Ready.
User Comments
0 comments from readers