Chapter 103: The herb hunt
The next morning, the Medicine Hall buzzed with noise.
Elder Han stood with his hands behind his back, glaring at his four disciples like a general before battle.
"You’re going out to gather spirit herbs today," he announced.
"Not normal ones — the Azure Vein Lotus. It only grows near the Spirit Forest’s Mist Marsh."
Bai Guo blinked. "Isn’t that where everything tries to eat you?"
"Exactly," Elder Han said calmly. "Consider this a learning experience."
Li Ming sighed. "Every time someone says that, I nearly die."
Yun Rou adjusted her satchel with a small smile. "Then try not to die this time."
---
The four of them left the sect gates at sunrise. Mist curled between the mountains, glowing faintly blue with Qi.
Lan Yue walked ahead, blade on her back. "We’re not the only ones after that lotus. The forest’s full of wandering cultivators."
Bai Guo flapped beside Li Ming. "And beasts that like their food crispy or roasted — your lightning will be a hit."
Li Ming rolled his eyes. "You’re hilarious."
They descended into the forest, trees towering above them like giants. Spiritual energy drifted through the air, thick enough to taste.
"Stay close," Lan Yue warned. "The mist messes with your senses."
---
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
A massive shadow moved between the trees — scales glinting faintly green.
"Beast ahead," Li Ming whispered, drawing his sword.
A moment later, the creature burst from the fog — a Verdant Serpent, its body coiling through the trees like living jade.
Yun Rou gasped. "It’s guarding the lotus!"
Bai Guo groaned. "Of course it is."
The serpent’s eyes flared gold. It hissed — and the air exploded into wind.
---
Li Ming dodged aside, lightning sparking across his arms.
Lan Yue slashed upward, her sword cutting the wind apart.
The beast lunged again, tail whipping like a thunderclap.
Li Ming blocked it with his blade, the impact blasting him back into a tree.
"Ugh—! I’m fine!" he yelled, coughing dust.
Bai Guo transformed midair, feathers shining with Qi. "Time to roast a snake!"
He shot a burst of flame at the serpent’s face — but the beast turned, tail sweeping him away like a leaf.
"Okay, maybe not roast!"
---
Yun Rou pressed her palms together, forming a bright green seal.
"Binding Vines Technique!"
Spiritual vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the serpent’s body.
It screeched, thrashing violently.
"Now!" she shouted.
Li Ming charged, sword flashing.
Lightning crackled, mixing with fire as Bai Guo joined him.
They struck together — lightning and flame exploding against the beast’s scales.
The serpent roared and collapsed, smoke rising from its wounds.
For a moment, everything went still.
Then Bai Guo grinned. "That’s one spicy noodle."
Li Ming laughed breathlessly. "You’re never naming our kills again."
---
Lan Yue pointed deeper into the mist.
"There — the Azure Vein Lotus."
The flower glowed faintly blue, petals pulsing like it was breathing.
Qi shimmered around it, almost sacred.
Yun Rou knelt beside it, whispering, "Beautiful..."
Li Ming crouched, carefully cutting the stem with controlled Qi. "Got it."
But before he could stand — the ground cracked.
A cold voice echoed through the fog.
"So you found it before me, huh?"
Three silhouettes stepped out — cultivators in black robes, blades gleaming red.
The lead man smirked. "That lotus belongs to the Blood Fang Sect."
Li Ming straightened, eyes narrowing.
"Well," he said, lightning sparking at his fingertips,
"you can try taking it."
---
The forest went silent.
Only the faint hum of the Azure Vein Lotus filled the air.
Li Ming stood in front of it, sword drawn. Sparks danced across his blade.
Lan Yue and Yun Rou stepped beside him. Bai Guo landed lightly on his shoulder, feathers bristling.
The Blood Fang cultivator sneered. "Three Foundation ants and a bird think they can stop us?"
Bai Guo cracked his neck. "Correction — I’m a Core Formation bird."
The man laughed. "Then I’ll pluck your feathers first."
He raised his hand — red Qi erupted around him like fire.
"Kill them."
---
The first enemy vanished — then reappeared behind Li Ming.
Li Ming spun just in time, blocking a flaming blade with a burst of lightning.
Sparks exploded, shaking the ground.
"Fast!" he hissed, stepping back.
Lan Yue dashed in, her sword flashing silver. She deflected a second strike aimed at his neck, countering with a slash that split a tree clean in half.
The other Blood Fang cultivator grinned. "You’ll have to do better!"
He formed hand seals, summoning spears of crimson Qi that shot through the fog.
Yun Rou’s vines burst from the ground, blocking them midair with a crack of green light.
"Li Ming, now!"
---
Li Ming leapt forward, lightning erupting beneath his feet.
His sword glowed brighter than ever. "Thunderflow—Strike!"
He slashed — the air exploded with blue light.
The enemy screamed as the lightning slammed into him, sending him flying into a rock wall.
Another charged at him from behind, blade aimed for his back —
Bai Guo’s fireball hit first.
The explosion sent dirt and flame flying.
Bai Guo flapped proudly. "Who’s crispy now?"
"Focus!" Lan Yue shouted, clashing blades with the Blood Fang leader.
---
Their fight shook the forest.
Every strike from the leader sent waves of Qi cutting through trees.
Lan Yue blocked one, then two — but the third sent her flying back.
Li Ming caught her midair, landing hard. "You alright?"
She smirked. "He hits harder than you."
"Now that’s just insulting."
They pushed off together.
Lightning wrapped around Lan Yue’s blade while flame from Bai Guo surrounded Li Ming’s.
The two attacked as one — a spiraling strike of thunder and fire.
The leader roared, crossing his arms to block —
The impact blew a crater in the ground.
---
When the dust settled, the Blood Fang cultivators lay unconscious, robes scorched, weapons shattered.
Yun Rou exhaled slowly, lowering her hands. "That... was intense."
Bai Guo puffed his feathers proudly. "That was beautiful."
Li Ming wiped sweat from his brow, grinning. "We make a pretty good team."
Lan Yue smiled faintly. "Don’t get used to it."
They turned to the glowing lotus.
Li Ming picked it up carefully, wrapping it in silk.
"Mission complete," he said. "Let’s go home before something else explodes."
Bai Guo groaned. "You had to say it—"
The ground rumbled again.
A massive shadow moved behind the fog.
Li Ming froze. "Please tell me that’s just thunder."
It wasn’t.
Two glowing red eyes opened in the mist — huge, ancient, and furious.
To be continued...