Golden hair spread over his shoulders. His eyes were closed. His breathing is slow and calm.
Tian's eyes widened in surprise..
The he looked down.
His head rested against Kirin's chest. Tian shot up to his feet, leaves rustled loudly.
Kirin's eyes opened at once.
He sat up and glanced toward the sky first, checking the sun through the branches. Then his gaze shifted to Tian.
Tian stretched his arms over his head.
"Ah… good sleep."
His voice sounded casual.
Kirin watched him without speaking.
Footsteps approached through the bushes. Leon stepped out with several fish tied together with a thin vine. Water dripped from their scales.
"Your Highness," Leon greeted.
Tian's eyes brightened.
"Those looks good, nice timing, my stomach is growling."
Leon nodded. "I will prepare it."
He placed the fish on a flat stone and gathered dry branches scattered around the grass. He stacked the wood into a small pile.
"Lord Kirin."
Kirin walked over.
He lifted two fingers and tapped the center of the wood, a spark flashed, then flames spread across the pile of wood.
Tian crouched nearby and watched.
Leon cleaned the fish with quick movements. He used his dagger to scrape the scales away, then sliced the belly and removed the insides. He rinsed them with water from a small pouch.
He found small sticks from a nearby tree and pushed them through the fish.
Soon the fish rested over the fire.
The skin tightened as heat spread through the flesh. Left water from the fishes dripped onto the flames with soft hisses. The scent of the roasted fish made Tian's stomach growling again.
Kirin noticed but said nothing.
Leon turned them slowly so each side cooked evenly. The skin turned golden and crisp.
Tian leaned forward slightly, watching.
After a while Leon pulled one fish off the stick and handed it to Tian.
"Careful, Your Highness. It is hot."
Tian took it and blew on the surface before biting, the outside crackled, and the meat inside stayed soft.
He chewed and nodded.
"Not bad."
Leon handed another to Kirin and kept one for himself. The three sat around the small fire, eating the cooked fish to store up energy for later.
After finishing the meal, Leon scattered the remaining ashes and covered the fire with soil. Kirin brushed the dirt from his robes while Tian fixed his robes too, gently patting his belly.
"I'm full."
Kirin smiled. "We'll keep on moving now."
They continued walking.
Leon led the group while holding his sword in his right hand. Kirin walked beside Tian. The ground sloped downward as they moved through the forest. Fallen leaves covered the narrow trail. Birds called from the branches above.
After another hour and a half, the trees thinned and a small path appeared ahead.
An older man stepped onto the trail carrying a bundle of chopped wood on his back. His hair had turned gray and deep lines marked his face. His clothes were worn but clean. The wooden frame tied to his shoulders held several thick logs stacked together.
Leon stopped and stepped forward.
The man paused when he noticed them.
"The new General?"
Leon spoke first. "State your name."
The man shifted the bundle slightly. "I'm Bao, a former palace soldier."
Leon studied him for a moment.
Kirin stepped forward. "Bao, pay your respects to His Royal Highness."
The man's eyes widened.
He quickly set the wooden frame down and dropped to his knees. His head lowered to the ground.
"Your Royal Highness!"
Tian stiffened at the sudden reaction.
Bao kept his head lowered. "What can this humble man do for Your Highness?"
Tian glanced sideways at Kirin.
Kirin understood and spoke calmly. "Guide us to Niyang City."
Bao lifted his head slightly. "Niyang City?"
"Yes," Kirin replied.
Bao stood up and nodded quickly. "I will gladly guide Your Highness there."
He carried the bundle of wood to the side of the path and leaned it against a tree. He pulled a cloth from his waist and covered it carefully.
"I know a forest trail that reaches the outskirts of the city faster," Bao said.
Tian's face brightened. "Great," he said. "Then lead the way."
Bao nodded and stepped onto the narrow trail ahead of them.
They followed Bao along the forest trail. The path narrowed as the trees thickened. Branches blocked most of the sunlight and the air felt damp in the area. Leaves crushed under their steps while the sound of distant insects on the trees could be heard.
Leon suddenly slowed, his grip on his sword tightened.
"Stop," he said.
Bao halted immediately.
Tian looked at him. "What's wrong, Leon?"
Leon stared into the trees ahead. "Something is approaching."
Kirin turned his head in the same direction.
Leon spoke again. "A ghost animal."
Tian blinked. "What? Ghost animal? What's that?"
A rustling sound came from the bushes ahead, something stepped out onto the trail.
Tian's eyes widened.
It was a deer.
But its body had small holes. The creature stood nearly twice the size of a normal deer. Its skin was gray, while its head was slightly reddish with patches of dark spots around its legs.
Its eyes glowed with a dull red light. Its teeth were showing, having sharp edges, the black liquid similar to the ghouls' was dripping from its mouth.
The animal stared at them without blinking.
"That," Kirin said calmly, "is a ghost animal."
He glanced toward Leon. "You can handle it."
Leon nodded and stepped forward.
"Stay back," he said.
Tian, Kirin, and Bao moved several steps away from the trail.
The deer suddenly charged.
Leon rushed forward to meet it.
His sword flashed once, then again, and a third time. The strikes cut through the creature in quick succession. Black blood splattered across the grass.
The deer collapsed heavily onto the ground. Its legs twitched once before going still.
Tian grimaced. "The hell, that's disgusting."
The smell of rotting flesh spread across the trail.
He looked at Kirin. "Now there are ghost animals too?"
Kirin nodded. "Wuxian is responsible. He corrupts animals the same way he twists humans."
Tian stared at the fallen body. "This looks like something from a zombie movie."
"Zombie movie?" Kirin looked at him.
Tian winked at him. "You don't know it."
Kirin squinted his eyes at him.
Bao stepped closer but kept his distance from the corpse. "This is the first one I've seen in this forest in a long time."
Kirin's expression grew serious.
"Then Wuxian has become stronger."