Chasing You (Arc 8+)

Beneath the Heavens (XXII)

A large beast walked into the clearing of the forest. Even without having to focus their eyes, they could make out its distinctive features from afar. Easily twenty times the size of a regular human, the beast's body had the shape of a tiger. Covered in black fur from head to tail with shiny obsidian colored spikes jutting from beneath the sleek fur. Faint blue stripes ran opposite its frame, curving towards its spine and on its back were two massive dark grey coloured wings that showed signs of decay. The beast had its mouth hanging open, exposing its razor-sharp asperous teeth. The ominous pitch black eyes centered onto the figure in Xiong Teyi's arms with its saliva dripping from its mouth.

An Zhangyi could feel the immense fear in Fu Yemu's body that originated from the marrow of his bones. His limbs were locked tight, his back drenched in sweat as he continued to gaze. His (FY's) emotions were like a conflux, a chaotic clashed happened. Fear, distress, panic, disquietude, and dysphoria were coalescing.

He wasn't able to determine whether it was because he was very shocked or that he was too afraid, but he could not repress the tremors in his body. He hardened his gaze at his mother who was now in a protective stance.

A shadow suddenly rushed out and Fu Yemu was unable to stop it in time. His hands grabbing the empty air as he watched the small shadow fly like an arrow to Xiong Yanzi's location.

Fu Aozi yelled, "Mother!"

His small steps came one after another, unstopping. Xiong Yanzi snapped her head and faced their direction. Her irises constricted and the blood on her face drained quickly leaving a pallid colour on her fair skin.

She swung her arm as her expression became lugubrious and desperate, shouting at them, "Xiao Ye, Zizi, leave! Don't come here!"

Hearing the seriousness in her voice, Fu Yemu regained his senses and ran forward. Picking up the frantic Fu Aozi in his arms and caging him, he stopped his momentum. His face dripping with sweat as he made eye contact with his mother. He could only see the drowning emotions of despair in her eyes; no glimmer of hope could be detected in her two honey brown eyes.

Coming to an understanding, he resolutely turned around and darted off down the hill with Fu Aozi thrashing around in his arms. He beat his brother's arm, resisting with all of his might, "Brother!"

Opening his mouth, he firmly bit down on Fu Yemu's arm, drawing blood. Gritting his teeth, he refrained from his instinctual urge to toss his brother out of his hold. But before he could even get far enough, a loud crack echoed from behind and caught him off guard. Fu Yemu saw Xiong Yanzi's body flying like a kite and crashed heavily through the trunk of a tree. His heart dropped and his feet stopped moving. Standing like a statue, he stared at his mother.

After breaking two more tree trunks, her impetus from being savagely slapped by the beast finally came to an end. Blood spewed out from multiple parts of her body, dying her blue robes a deep scarlet shade.

Rolling on the ground not far away, was a small body in red robes with gold threads. Their long dark hair was splayed all over the ground as they remained motionless in their spot. A small pool of blood formed underneath them.

Xiong Yanzi shakily stood up, wiping the blood that continuously pours from her mouth. "Run! Don't stop until you're out of this mountain!"

Fu Yemu flinched and backed up, but the fear had striked deep in his heart and rooted him where he stood. Xiong Yanzi quickly leaped to the side and grabbed the body on the floor. She screamed at him, "Run, Xiao Ye!"

His eyes reddening, he finally reacted. Facing his back to his mother, Fu Yemu dashed forward as he felt his chest being strangled. His mind was empty as he couldn't process anything that he had just witnessed.

Seeing them get farther away, Fu Aozi began to beg Fu Yemu but it fell onto deaf ears. Unrelenting, he tried to wriggle his way out of his grasp and run back to Xiong Yanzi but with his feeble strength, it was like he was an ant trying to push an elephant. He remained contained within Fu Yemu's embrace with his legs kicking air.

The overwhelming feeling of being powerless to do anything broke in and he started wailing helplessly. The hysterical cries from Fu Aozi echoed throughout the chilly night air as they journeyed down.

"No! We can't leave mom there!"

"Mom! Older brother, we have to go back!"

"Older brother, stop!"

"Mom! Mom!"

...

Fu Yemu's eyes stung as he raced, his grip ever tightening around Fu Aozi's small frame. Biting his bottom lip, he stopped the desperate cries from escaping his mouth. The tears slipped down his flushed cheeks, blurring his vision. Taking hurried breaths of the biting wind, his lungs burned.

He ran and ran, even when his legs felt weak, he did not stop. Running past everyone, he directly rushed toward the only place he knew to seek help.

Fu Yemu burst through the door and fell down to his knees. His crying face was a horrific mess, ruining his menacing features. Sobs broke through as he tried to explain to his father, "Mom... Mom's in the forest... She needs help! Dad, please... Please go save her..."

Fu You walked up to him and tried to placate the disturbed Fu Yemu, "Calm down, Xiao Ye. What happened to Ah Yan?"

Fu Yemu mumbled, "A black beast... With black eyes and grey wings..."

Still slightly shocked by what he heard, Fu You did not immediately respond to his son. He opened and closed his mouth for a moment before collecting himself. Gently patting Fu Yemu's head, he gave an assuring smile, "Don't worry, Xiao Ye."

Relief washed over him as he watched his father's strong and dependable back leave out the doors. He hugged Fu Aozi and the two of them uncontrollably cried their hearts out, murmuring incoherently from time to time. Hearing Fe You's footsteps get farther, Fu Yemu held a speckle of hope that Xiong Yanzi's chances of surviving would increase. The terrifying pressure he had felt from that beast was traumatizing.

The loud confident voice reverberated throughout the Qingcheng Fu Sect, "Go contact the to other three sects. Tell them, Qiongqi has awakened!"