Rin didn't want to be a disciple to anyone. She simply collected the sword from Silver. 'Damn it's heavy' ,Rin thought.
"I guess I should say thanks" , Rin shamelessly said.
She did not know how to use the sword. 'Don't worry, I will dump you somewhere when I leave this place' , Rin smirked inwardly.
"Don't think about leaving it somewhere. I will find you", Silver said in a grave tone.
'How did he know I was going to leave it somewhere? He is just unbelievable' , Rin scoffed at her thoughts."Then we will take our leave then" , with that Rin turned to leave.
"Do we have to climb that stairs again?" , Bokie whined as he sat on the floor out of desperation.
Silver said nothing. With a single gesture, Silver released his qi in measurable waves , pressing against the fabric of space until it parted, revealing a silent portal.Rin just opened her mouth in shock.
'How in the world is he able to do this? He is very powerful yet he wants a useless cultivator like me to be his disciple. Nope, I just think there is something wrong with his head.' , Rin shook her head at the thoughts.
Silver told them to go ahead. Rin nudged Bokie who was still sitting on the floor to go. This was the first time Rin was entering a portal , not just any portal but a magical one. The moment she stepped through, her senses shattered. The world twisted violently, her stomach lurching as if her insides had been turned inside out. She stumbled out the other side, collapsing on her knees, retching uncontrollably while the ground beneath her spun. Bokie seemed not to be affected but Rin was the opposite.
"Wh what in th.... " , she could not finish her sentence before vomiting everything she had eaten, cold sweat soaking her robes. Bokie just burst out laughing. It was a hilarious sight for him. The mighty finally falls.
"Awww, the food I just ate, all gone because of that stupid portal", this was not how Rin imagined crossing realms . It had cost her lots of food she had eaten. She just did not want to think about it.
"Err, Rin, I think we are out of River Jade" , Bokie pointed to the gate where people had lined up desperately waiting for their turn.Rin used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth , eyes focused on Bokie now.
" It's a good thing, we do not have to pass through those lousy guards nor jump a freaking wall", Rin dusted her clothes. It had become a habit even when her dress was clean.
"Let's move into the wilderness, time for some adventure" , Bokie smirked.It was time to show Rin the world of immortals.
They walked for over an hour picking fruits on the way. Rin claimed to be hungry even after eating at Silver's palace. They grew tired and decided to halt for a while. They sat on the ground munching berries.
"Shhhhhh, did you hear that?" , Bokie shushed Rin .
"Hear what? " , Rin was confused . She could not hear anything. It was midday , the sun was up at its fullest but with the trees providing shade, everything was fine.
"It is the sound of a snake" , Bokie said with a dead serious face.
"You're being paranoid. There is nothing here. Come on eat up", Rin handed a handful of berries to Bokie.
They brushed off the topic and continued eating the berries. Bokie was sure he heard something.
"Shit , I can hear it and I think it is right behind us" , Rin was literally shaking. Bokie was trying to turn his head but he was also shaking.
"Let's turn our heads together to see what it is" , Rin suggested. Bokie just agreed.
"Are you ready?" , Rin breathed out. Bokie gave a slight nod patiently waiting for Rin to give the sign.
"I mean , ready ready? " , Rin was stalling and Bokie knew it. This was a matter of life and death. Whether they would live to see the sun tomorrow morning was up them.
"Just get on with it" , Bokie snapped. Even in perilous times, he had the guts to be angry.
"Okay , okay, in three , two ,one" , Rin said in a low voice and slowly , they turned their heads.
A pair of green glistering eyes stared at them then the creature hissed. It gave them a look that said, 'Heyyyy , you two look lovely and I am going to eat you up to fill my belly'. Rin swallowed a lump of saliva down her throat.
It was a quick and automatic response both Bokie and Rin gave, " Run!".
"Ow , ow an ]d ouch again. What the hell is with these branches" , Rin yelped in anger as the branches whipped against their faces as they tore through the forest, undergrowth tearing at their legs.
"Don't slow down!" Bokie shouted, breath breaking
"I'm trying- !" Rin gasped, nearly tripping over a tangled root. The sword Silver gave her was weighing her down because it was heavy.
"Clumsy as always" , Bokie muttered under his breath and he noticed the woods fell apart behind them.
Trees shuddered as something massive which was the snake slid through them. Bark split. Leaves rained down.
"Tell me it's bot following us" , Rin said , anic cracking their voice
"...It's right behind us," Bokie said hoarsely.
The air grew heavy as their vision blurred due to the creature's killing intent flooding the forest.
"Why isn't it attacking?!"
"Because it doesn't have to," Bokie snapped."It's herding us!"
The serpent's head emerged between the trees ahead, eyes glowing with cruel intelligence. It had cut them off.
"Left - LEFT!"
They veered sharply, branches snapping, hearts pounding loud enough to drown out of reason.
Rin stumbled, barely catching themselves."I can't keep this up!"
"Don't be silly. Run or die!" Bokie yelled .
"A river!" Rin shouted, desperation igniting hope.
The roar of rushing water cut through the forest , wild and violent. The ground sloped sharply downward, slick with moss and fallen leaves. " Don't stop -jump!" Rin yelled.
Behind them, the serpent hissed in fury,coils crashing through the trees as it realized their intent. It hissed in anger once more , turned around and left in exasperation.
They burst from the treeline and leapt.
Cold water swallowed them in whole. The impact knocked the breath from their lungs as the current seized their bodies,dragging them under. Stones slammed into their sides;water filled their ears, mouths and noses.The river carried them away, tumbling , spinning all sense of direction.
They finally surface far downstream, coughing and choking, the forest was distant - and the killing intent was gone.They clung to a half submerged rock, shaking , soaked to the bone.They swam upshore and reached the bank where they lay down.
"...We're alive," Bokie whispered.
Rin did not answer.That was a close shave they both knew. Rin breathed out in relief. She was too young to die,
"What in the world was that? " that was all came out of Rin's mouth.
"That was a three eyed black jade serpent" , Bokie replied.
"Three eyed!" Rin said in disbelief because she was sure she saw two.
Bokie sighed in pity and said, " The third eye is hidden."
"Then it is good we jumped into this river.It can't swim. Such a dumb snake" , Rin muttered under her breath.
"It is ,should I say allergic, okay, It is allergic to water. Water would kill it" , Bokie said.
"Really, then it is really easy to kill" , Rin said in amusement. "The next time I see one I will just pour water on it" , Rin mused.
"Only few people know about this" , Bokie said and got up to continue their journey.They thought after escaping the serpent was the only danger . However, there was more to come.After walking for about thirty minutes , the ground gave a soft whirr beneath their feet.
"What -?"
A net shot up from the leaf covered earth, steel threads flashing as it wrapped around them mis-step. They crashed together,tangled as the net snapped tight and yanked them into the air.
"Not again" , Rin thought