I'm really not the Saviour! (我唔係救主囖!) [danmei/BL xuanhuan]

55 - I'm sorry

A/N: One (or maybe two) chapters and the epilogue left.

CW: death, gore, horror

***

They burst out of the portal, into the cool darkness of the pine forest.

Tsaam Lei had been napping just in front of it; he leapt up with a yelp of shock as four people piled on top of him. "What the heck?"

Gong Lau Yan seized him by the scruff of his neck. "Siu Lei! Did any demons come through here?"

"Huh? Yeah, one or two... Or five..." Tsaam Lei dangled in her hand, his expression becoming thoughtful. "Come to think of it, a few came through here, huh? And I don't think any came back..."

"Why didn't you hinder them?" Chan Bik screamed.

"Hey, hey! My job is to look after this forest! I didn't sense any ill intent from them towards this place so I let them be!"

"Which way did they go?" Gaam Yuk Ying interrupted.

"West, mostly. Some went north."

"I'll check to the north," Gong Lau Yan said. "The three of you should stick together and head west. Keep our little Sage Star safe."

"Grandmaster..."

"We can't rely on A-po right now," Gong Lau Yan ordered. "She's... Something only she understands has her distracted right now."

"Why now?" Chan Bik cried. "We need her!"

Gong Lau Yan laid firm hands on her trembling shoulders. "You're a direct disciple of one of the Ng Dzeung, our Drifting Star. And the Jade Exorcist and Sage Star are with you. If all's well in the north, I'll join you soon. Don't despair."

Chan Bik gritted her teeth and steeled herself.

"Go."

They scattered. Tsaam Lei, grumbling, picked himself up from where Gong Lau Yan had dropped him on his rear.

"Gong Dze really cares about this realm, doesn't she? She could just look after her river but no, she's got to get involved with these humans." He sighed. "Should I have told them about that woman with the weird eyes, Old Man?"

There was a shiver amongst the pine trees, and a shape appeared from the shadows, a huge, deer-like form that surely could not fit between the trunks, with a mask-like face.

Lo Ma Luk made no sound.

"I suppose it's a pity." Tsaam Lei sighed again. "I did like those kids."

*

The Cheon countryside spread out before them, verdant hills peaceful under the afternoon sky. There was no sign of any disturbance, no trace that a demon army might have passed by. Chan Bik ran steadily, Cheng Baak-hap on her back. Gaam Yuk Ying was a little behind, oblivious to the beautiful landscape they ran through, although his complexion had improved a little.

"Stop, Bik Bik, they obviously didn't come this way."

Chan Bik halted, turning right. "Then we should go north."

"Not so much," came Gaam Yuk Ying's flat voice. "North-west."

"North-west?"

"Mount Faa..." Cheng Baak-hap said. "Do you think...?"

"But why?" As she began to run again, Chan Bik frowned. "Don't they need food? Why would they attack a place where there are cultivators?"

"Teem Djeung Baak."