The Stream

Chaos erupted as soon as the corpses were set free.

All the guards and cultivators drew their swords and rushed to stop the corpses as Zhu Huiqing pulled Meng Mei in the opposite direction.

“I have to get you to a safe spot!” He yelled as they ran away from the conflict.

“No! You have to help them!” Meng Mei demanded, her heart pounding with fear. What if Meng Yong got hurt? Or Lai Huang? The guards back there were good, but they weren’t as good as Zhu Huiqing.

“You have to go back!” Meng Mei demanded as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

“Not before you’re safe!”

Zhu Huiqing didn’t let her argue any longer as he tugged her back towards the tents where they were staying.

They burst into Madam Meirong and Meng Guoyao’s tent, only to find it empty. Zhu Huiqing let out a curse and hurried to drag Meng Mei back outside.

They raced back towards the middle of camp, Meng Mei assumed their next stop was the reception or lounge tent.

Their progress was halted by a walking corpse blocking their path. Meng Mei couldn’t hold back her fearful sob as she looked at the monstrosity in front of her.

Zhu Huiqing drew his sword and cut it down in a single strike. Right before her eyes the corpse crumbled into dust and the yao energy dispersed into the ground.

“Keep moving!” Zhu Huiqing ordered as he tugged Meng Mei along.

Meng Mei had no choice but to follow his lead.

The next person they ran into thankfully wasn’t a walking corpse, instead it was Meng Weiyuan. He was battling against a serpent with a human head. It kept darting forward to bite him but he would parry it and push it back.

As they drew near he finally found an opportunity to cut off its head. Similar to the corpse, the serpent dissolved into nothing in a matter of seconds.

“Young Master!” Zhu Huiqing called once the serpent had been slain.

Meng Weiyuan spun around and his expression crumbled into one of relief.

“Meimei! Guard Zhu! You’re both alright!”

“Yes, we ran as soon as I realized what was happening.” Zhu Huiqing confirmed, “Where is the sect leader? I need to tell him who’s behind this attack.”

Meng Weiyuan’s expression clouded.

“You must’ve not seen him. He and Madam Meirong were right in the center when the beasts were released. He’s taken charge and is dealing with them there. I’m afraid you won’t be able to talk to him until this is over.” Meng Weiyuan shook his head.

Zhu Huiqing’s expression clouded over.

“Then I need to find somewhere where guniang will be safe.” He said.

Meng Mei had crowded against his side so she didn’t feel quite as exposed. Meng Weiyuan just nodded in agreement.

“We can—”

He was cut off by a loud screech. The three of them looked to the sky where a large black bird was circling. The previously clear sky had become gray and cloudy.

“There’s too much yao energy here. No matter how pure the forest was before, it’ll soon be crawling with corpses and beasts.” Meng Weiyuan’s face was grim. “We need to find a place to fend off the attacks.”

“We don’t have enough time to set up a protective circle.” Zhu Huiqing informed him, his face mirroring Meng Weiyuan’s.

“Is there a stream nearby? That would work just as well.” Meng Weiyuan asked. Zhu Huiqing shook his head.

“I don’t know, I haven’t left the grounds.”

Meng Mei cleared her throat. Both men were too busy discussing potential plans to take notice of her however. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. She’d been scared stiff.

She tried again.

“—stream.”

Meng Weiyuan turned to look at her. “What did you say meimei?”

“I said,” She cleared her throat again as the words got stuck. “I know where there’s a stream.”

Meng Weiyuan and Zhu Huiqing shared a surprised look before they both turned to look at her again.

“Lead the way.” Zhu Huiqing ordered. Meng Mei nodded and took a step forward, only to collapse.

“Meimei!”

“Guniang!”

Meng Mei stared down at her legs in surprise. She could see the tremors making their way through her body now that she was paying attention.

Meng Weiyuan noticed the problem first, and with a grimace he leaned down so that he could scoop Meng Mei up into his arms.

“Bear it for a little while.” He grunted as he adjusted her so that he had a more secure hold. “Just tell me where to go.”

Meng Mei nodded in understanding as the two men took off. She whispered the directions to the stream in Meng Weiyuan’s ear the whole way there.

They encountered a handful of beasts and corpses as they hurried towards the stream. Luckily, Zhu Huiqing was a skilled enough swordsman that he could deal with them all on his own.

It took them much longer than usual to reach the stream due to the interruptions.

When they could finally hear the familiar soft gurgling, both men sighed in relief. They wasted no time in jumping into the water. They didn’t stop moving until they were safe in the middle of the stream.

“They won’t be able to reach us as long as we stay in the stream.” Meng Weiyuan reassured Meng Mei as he set her down. “The running water is a natural deterrent. We’re safe here.”

Meng Mei nodded in understanding. Though when Meng Weiyuan moved to put some distance in between the two of them Meng Mei’s hand shot out to stop him.

“No, stay.” She begged, her voice trembling. He looked down in surprise at the hand that had a firm grip on his robe and back up and Meng Mei. When he saw the expression on her face he nodded in understanding.

“Alright. I’m not going anywhere.”

Without another word he stepped closer and took her hand in his. He gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Don’t worry meimei. Nothing will happen as long as guard Zhu and I are here to protect you.”

Meng Mei chose to believe him.