******* Surrounded **********
I realize too late. There're no trees to hide behind in this area. Some are small. Or with branches that aren't wide enough. I won't be able to take shelter like the other time.
I keep running. At this cultivation stage, I can do it for hours at an average speed, which is much faster than a normal human's. But I don't think it'll be enough to outrun the hyenas. At top speed, I can't hold too much time.
I see one after a while. It's still far away, but it's approaching. And other silhouettes are appearing.
I'm getting closer to a hill. Hopefully, there'll be somewhere to climb or hide. Maybe, there're trees to take shelter in. Shit, there're more and more of them.
It doesn't make sense that there are so many just for me. Maybe, they think I'm invading their territory. Or that I'm a threat. My individual strength is above theirs. Do they prefer meat from higher stages? I'd better not think about it. It's not very encouraging.
They've halved the distance. In a few minutes, they'll catch up to me. I don't see any trees to climb. But there's a cave in the distance. I don't like the idea much. I'd be trapped there. Like the students on the ledge were.
I head toward there anyway. It's as good a direction as any. I'll go in if I don't find anything better. I don't even know if it's deep.
I keep looking around as I run with all my might. I can't find anything else. I've sped up. Otherwise, they would've caught up with me already. That means I won't last much longer. In the end, the cave seems like my only option. At least, we can defend ourselves.
Just before entering, I call out to Ning. I've pulled her away from Rong a while ago, and ordered her to stay still, ready. Rui too. It's a signal we agreed on. More like I imposed it. She appears in my arms. Her hair falling over me. Her eyes looking at me in confusion. Her breasts shaking as I run inside. Her skin warm and arousing.
"Shield at the entrance as soon as we pass through," I order.
My tone is serious and authoritative. Or so I pretend. She looks at me strangely. She turns her head towards the cave, which we're about to enter. She looks beyond, wondering what we're running away from. Her frightened face tells me that she's seen them. They're close. I can almost feel their breath.
She prepares herself, very nervous. She's shaking. Obviously, she didn't expect it. Ning begins to concentrate her energy. As soon as we cross, she begins to move her hands. Creating strange shapes with them. Qi seals.
It takes her longer than usual. She doesn't work very well under pressure. Or she's simply scared and nervous. Finally, she creates the barrier a couple of meters inside.
"Well done. I may call you again. Be ready," I praise her, before sending her back.
I turn around for a moment before deciding what to do. To my surprise, the hyenas have stopped outside the cave. They're sniffing around. I summon the girls, I want to know their opinion.
"There's surely something inside," Yi suggests.
"An animal more dangerous than them?" Yu fears.
"We'll have to investigate," Song suggests.
"Hopefully, there'll be a way out," Liang adds, much more optimistic than the rest.
"Take the twins with you. They tend to be noisy, but they've learned to walk silently. Even if it's to attack each other from behind," Shi praises them, while making fun of them.
They look at her without knowing how to react. Yi sticks her tongue out at her. The other three stay, observing the situation. And preparing some traps. Or so they say.
With the twins, we advance through the tunnel. They're in front. Crouching. Even dressed, their swaying buttocks are very sexy. I don't know what I'm thinking. It's not the time.
The tunnel divides into two. One is narrow. The other is wider. I summon Rui.
"Inspect that side. Don't go too far in. Be careful, there could be something dangerous. Try not to make noise," I order her.
She nods and obeys immediately. She doesn't look at or greet the twins. They don't say anything to her either. They don't like her. I guess because of what the others have explained to them. Although, they shouldn't have anything too personal against her.
We continue forward. Slowly. In silence. Finally, we find a wide area a little further ahead. We look from a distance. We can't get any closer. There're several bronze bears.
Their name is due to both the color and the hardness of their skin. I remember that they recommended the students not attack them, to stay away from them. They may be equivalent to stage nine. Seventh at least. The horn on the forehead looks dangerous.
There seems to be a tunnel on the other side. Maybe an exit. It would be good news if there were no bears in the way.
The twins look at me and point back. To get us out of there before they discover us. That's what we do. It's too dangerous. We're between two fires.
When we get back to the fork, Bang Rui is waiting for us. I tell her to speak quietly.
"It's a narrow tunnel. It barely fits one. No more than ten meters. Easy to defend, but no escape. It ends in a cave, not very big. Like the slave room," Rui reports.
I nod and send her back. I approach the entrance again. The hyenas are still there. There're several pieces of pottery and broken glass scattered on the floor. It seems that the girls has broken a couple of things from the ring. It won't do the hyenas any good.
"We've put some qi on the sharpest ones. It will hurt," Song smiles, satisfied.
"There's a room with a narrow entrance a little further on. We can hide there. There're bears on another path. There might be an exit behind them," explains Yu.
"We can wait in that cave. Sooner or later, they'll leave. We have plenty of food," Liang suggests.
"Maybe, we can do something more fun," Shi adds mysteriously, smiling mischievously.
