Chapter 26: Ye Tian in Peril

Chapter 26: Ye Tian in Danger

Do you know what a beast tide is? Do you know its terrifying power? Ye Tian had once witnessed a herd of wild bulls stampeding across the grasslands of the Western Territories. Thousands of wild bulls, unstoppable wherever they passed—even tigers and lions fled before them. Ye Tian had seen a pride of lions, caught unawares, trampled into bloody pulp.

So what would happen if the monsters leading this tide were even larger than wild bulls? Ye Tian dared not imagine, nor did he want to. "Go that way!" Burton commanded, directing the group to escape into a narrow crevice in a nearby canyon, where a path barely wide enough for one person twisted along.

"It's too late!" The beast tide was nearly upon them, and the makeshift barricade of goods would not hold. "Is there any spell to dig a large pit in the ground?" Ye Tian asked.

"There is—Earth Split, but it only makes a small pit, nowhere near enough to stop the whole beast tide!" replied a nearby mage.

"It's enough!" Ye Tian exclaimed joyfully. "In front—at the head of the beast tide, dig as many as you can! As long as we can halt their advance, we should be able to handle the monsters one by one!" His words made Burton's eyes shine. "Mages, prepare! Earth Split, target: the front of the beast tide!"

The mages immediately began chanting, and within moments, magical spheres shot out, blasting a series of irregular pits into the ground before the charging beasts. Thud, thud! Like dumplings falling into soup, the monsters at the front all tumbled into the pits, while those behind could not stop in time, trampling over their fallen comrades in a frenzied rush.

"Keep going!" Ye Tian shouted urgently. He leapt out, wielding a large sword he had picked up. "Secret Golden Vajra Sword! Divine Palace's Punishing Cleave!" Behind him appeared the wrathful visage of a golden guardian, who swung a giant sword downward.

In an instant, everyone nearby felt as if the very space had been split apart. The powerful sword intent cleaved the ground in two. "Marta, my brother!" Burton, locked in battle, could only shout, unable to assist. Ye Tian spat blood and collapsed, but the beast tide finally halted, their advance checked by the sword that punished demons and gods alike. Even these monsters sensed a deep, primal fear and turned, fleeing the area.

"Hurry, pack up and move!" Ye Tian said, propping himself up with his sword in an attempt to stand. "Watch out!" he cried, his body lunging to shove the still-dazed Parisstin aside. At that moment, a thick tail wrapped itself around Ye Tian.

"Beast, let him go!" Burton yelled in alarm, gathering all his battle aura and striking with his sword. The tail, however, was incredibly agile—twisting aside, it avoided the earth-shattering blow and quickly retreated, taking Ye Tian with it.

Burton was stunned, staring blankly at Ye Tian's disappearance. "That scared me to death," Parisstin whispered, feeling as if his soul had nearly left his body. "Red Wolf, pack up, let's go—leave this place." Parisstin turned and issued the order: "Withdraw, retreat!"

"Retreat! You dare say retreat?" Burton grabbed Parisstin, pulling him close and enunciating every word: "You actually want to retreat!"

Parisstin saw the bloodshot eyes of Burton and grew fearful, but stubbornly insisted, "If we don't retreat now, what happens if the beast tide comes back? Besides, we still have to look after the caravan!" Before he finished, Burton released him.

"I'm going to find him," Burton declared.

"You dare!" Parisstin was terrified. Burton was second only to the Sword Saint; with him, his own safety was guaranteed. If Burton left, who would protect him? "I order you not to go!"

"Not to go? Why?" Burton asked.

"What use is it? That fellow might already be dead," Parisstin replied. "Unless you want to leave the mercenary company, I won't allow it." He added, "Don't forget my father took you in—otherwise, you'd be dead!"

Burton looked up at the sky, where the stars shone brilliantly, cold and lonely. "Ha...ha...hahahaha!" Burton covered his face and laughed, "Do you know what his last words were?"

"What? What did he say?" Parisstin was baffled.

Burton fixed his gaze on Parisstin, speaking slowly: "His last words were just two: 'Run now.'"

"So what?" Parisstin didn't understand.

"So what? Yes, so what. Someone who only ever cares for themselves could never grasp the meaning of those words." Burton raised his hand to his forehead, "Leave the mercenary company, is that it? Fine, I agree."

He removed the badge from his chest, stroking it a few times with reluctance, then handed it to the stunned Parisstin. He left his sword behind, turned, and prepared to depart.

"Wait, Vice Captain Burton!" A priest nearby, exhausted from healing others, stood up.

"What's wrong, Parker?" Burton asked.

"Take me with you." The priest removed his own badge. "I need to thank him—for my two brothers."

Burton was surprised. A mage nearby also took off his badge.

"Hey, hey, what are you all doing?" Parisstin shouted in panic, "Are you planning a mutiny?"

"You’re mistaken, Parisstin. I am simply doing what a person ought to do," the mage said. "Better to die awake than live in confusion."

"Ha! How could I not join in something like this?" A warrior hefted his giant sword onto his shoulder, his badge in his hand. "He might already be dead; maybe none of us will survive!" Burton said gravely.

"Then we'll help bury him—or die together. That way, we'll have company on the road to hell," the warrior laughed.

"Ha!" Burton laughed as well. "Alright, let's go!" He plunged into the forest, followed by the mage, priest, and warrior, leaving Parisstin standing bewildered.

As for Ye Tian, the moment the tail wrapped around him, he sensed danger and struggled desperately to break free. But before leaving, the tail slammed him hard to the ground. Ye Tian was dazed, all his strength instantly drained.

The tail carried Ye Tian swiftly forward, knocking over countless trees. His already exhausted body suffered many injuries, internal and external alike. Finally, after one violent collision, Ye Tian lost consciousness.

In a haze, Ye Tian felt himself slipping into a narrow passage, so tight it made his whole body uncomfortable. Breathing grew more difficult. "This is bad, looks like I'm about to be eaten." Even in his muddled state, Ye Tian realized where he was.

"Heh, old man, I'm sorry. I will find you. I'll cook for you, lots and lots of good food, and never complain about your drinking again." Ye Tian thought to himself. "Old man, wait for me, I'm coming to find you." His breathing was labored, his mind ever more clouded.

"Don't sleep, whatever you do—don't sleep." In his confusion, Ye Tian clung to this thought.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!" That was the last sound Ye Tian heard before death approached. "So noisy!" He closed his eyes.