19 Delay 1

The blizzard was coming heavier, covering almost all of the rock surface. Fortunately, Neel didn't have any problem with all of that as he stood fixedly on the highest spot. He looked at the black creature crawling from the snow bed, it showed a disgusting scent and formed something. It seemed like a big cat. Neel couldn't see how the creature looks like and how the black creature was covered by black energy and yellow-red eyes as he kept glaring at Neel as well.

Neel tilted his head and finally spoke indifferently, "You are following me and how could you are still alive?" Sighing, why did he forget this black creature was still under control of his uncle? He should have known that geezer could easily resurrect this black creature. Frowning his brows, he complained to himself that he really needed his soul stone as soon as possible. He continued, "What's your purpose coming here?"

With a raspy voice, the black cat said, "Master sent me a message, to tell you that it's useless to get back to the clan. You are not a king anymore, but my master is. Even though you find the soul stone, you couldn't fight back master's power." The cat squinted his sharp eyes as he preparing to fight Neel. "He also told me to eradicate you."

Unexpectedly, he dashed his four legs towards Neel, while Neel reflexly went backward avoiding the cat's claws. Preparing his lighting on his palm, Neel was getting ready to strike the cat, yet before he could do that, the cat was already behind him and scratching his back. "Aghh!"

Neel fell down, crashing to the ground, but he quickly rolled and got up from the snow. His blue power coming out from his body as he gritted his teeth. His blurry eyes shining slightly as if his concentration increase to another level. He jumped and was heading to fight back, he quickly showered the cat with his quick lighting.

BURST!!!

The cat slowly and precisely avoided his attack. He smirked as he underestimated Neel. "You may not know, but master gave me a new power. My speed is much faster than before and I could see your move easily due to my red vision. I think it's better for you to die quickly." Dashing towards Neel left unguard body. Neel bent down and spun around so he couldn't be attacked from behind again.

Blood coming out from his back, drenching his white shirt, and he knew those claws wasn't an ordinary claw he confronted back then. Sh*t! Gasping roughly, something affected his body. They both fighting on the blizzard without any intention to stop. Meanwhile, almost all of the area turned white mix with black and red color. It was from the black creature trace and his wound.

...

Sarah woke up feeling cold, she shivered and she realized her other warmer which was Neel, was missing. She searched for Neel, but there was no sign of him. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she stood up and looked at the entrance which showed the view of heavy snow. Her heart kept beating fast like crazy, she unintentionally felt something suffocated inwardly. She thought, what was going on to her?

She held her heart and gasping, she lifted her head and saw a man in short white hair coming inside the cave. He didn't wear any shirt as his fair skin glowing even whiter. She thought it was just an illusion, when she blinked once again, the man who she thought was a human, was in fact, a wolf. Eh? What just happened? Was she dreaming again?

Neel walked inside weakly, his power to rehabilitate was a little slower when he didn't have soul stone. So, he really needed to rest. His white fur was covered by blood and he got a slight scratch on his cheeks. His huge body fell down as he panted heavily.

Tump! Tump! Sarah's heart was hurting, she walked to the wolf side and held his head. "What on earth? What happened? Who did this to you?" Her tone was worried, she was also surprised by her own words. He was a demon, why should she be worried? Wouldn't be great if he died? So, se could be free?

Yet, despite that, she remembered that she always had been saved by this wolf, so she thought him as a savior. Even though she knew he was a demon, she wasn't sure about his nice act, perhaps, it was a fake? What was on her mind was the demon who always embrace evil. That was how she thought at that one moment. But, now seeing him weakly, she didn't know how to describe it.

Demon supposed to be strong and unbeatable, right? Except, when a hero came and defeat them. Then again, Sarah began comparing movie and reality. Ah! She shouted at herself that she needed to stop doing that.

When she lost in her own world again, the wolf shook her hand and interrupted her mind, he said, "Less talk, please, just leave me alone for a while." As he held on his mess up breath, trying to ease the pain on his back. Grunting and moaning hard, he let his slight power covered his body. Hearing his harsh words, she shut her lips tightly.

Trying to back away a little far from him, Sarah halted her steps when suddenly she witnessed the first time ever how his power protected his body and she couldn't help to be amazed by it. How beautiful, she thought.

It was like she was being hypnotized, she was mesmerized by the lights. Her curiosity reached her limit on how the blue power was like fireflies hovering on him. She couldn't help to reach her hand trying to touch it, but instead of that, she accidentally touched the wolf's face again. Hot burn!

"Ouch!" She held her palm, feeling the heat sensation. How could this wolf be so hot? It wasn't like he got a fever, right? Feeling confounded, she just standing there, watching Neel suffering on the ground.

In truth, his body turned hot due to his lighting power. He tried to repress it so it couldn't go out freely. Fighting and struggling his inner strength, he screamed, "Aghhh!!! Aghh!! Hahh... hah..." His fur turned wet due to his perspiration, and his saliva unintentionally coming out from his mouth. He hanged his tongue out feeling hot.

He recalled the battle when he tried to counter-attack, he got another scratch from it. Before he could finish his last blow, the black cat ran and vanished. From that, he realized that the creature he fought was a clone. The real body was watching him somewhere. If that clone was that strong, how about the original one?

Neel cursed his incapability and weak self. The cat claws had this kind of poison. He didn't know what it was, but it made him numb stupidly. Due to this, he could stay in this position for a few days, and which mean he would stay in here with her for a couple of days. What about her? Would she run and escape when he paralyzed in this situation? He muttered, "Don't run away."

Flinched by his words, Sarah was caught red-handed again, how did he know what she was thinking before? Trying to act calm, she suddenly got an idea, using her chance, she answered, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I promised you already, to repay you back." Hesitatingly, she continued, "Plus, can I have one request?"

Squinted his eyes slightly, he responded, "What?"

She honestly blurted out, "Can you release me when we arrive in the Haocun Kingdom? I mean I don't want to be bound and serve you forever, from my point of view, I'm just repaying my debt to you, right? You saved me twice, in return, I will repay you equally twice. Meanwhile, In this short time, not only I become your eyes, but I will also taking care of you, helping, obeying whatever you ask me until you finish your matter. I will follow you the best I can. So, it's even, I don't see a better fair proposal than this one."

Her heart slightly ached she didn't know why, but it wasn't like the first minute ago. Inhaling, she crouched down looking at Neel's eyes, she secretly pitty, that he couldn't see her well-played expression. "Of course, it's only the task that I'm capable doing it. So, umm, please, don't make to many difficulties."

Neel didn't respond to her words and kept panting heavily. He heard her continued, "Look, let me tell you one reason that you should let me go. I know that you have some business there just like me, It would be better for us not to bother each other business and separate in each our own way rather than I'm becoming a lingering burden to you. How about it?"

'You are already my burden.' He thought inwardly. Hearing her words, he rolled his eyes, if the matter was as simple as that, he could say 'yes' to her request immediately. But, it wasn't like that at all. He could sense that she was waiting for his agreement words so that later she had an easy. But, he didn't fall for her trick, yet when he detected her heartbeat, it showed normal condition, did she told the truth or not? It was the first time, he couldn't define the truth or he was just not in the best condition.

In reality, he was indeed felt terrible right now. He was confused due to his mind was a mess and he couldn't think straight. He commented, "You... you are a daring woman, aren't you? Ughh... I said we'll see and discuss it later when we arrive. I may or I may release you, depends on your performance to satisfy me."

'Satisfy?' Slightly annoyed, she said, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean, I will think about it aga-aghh!!!" He didn't answer her as his power kept pressuring him, making his body trembling, his tongue stuck out as his nose scrunched, he tried to speak to her who was in shock. With a weak voice along the end of the words, he said, "Hahh... We...We'll be staying in this place for four or five days. A... Are you fine with that?"

"Eh? Five days?" Shocked on her eyes, she tried to ask him again when suddenly he passed out. Her heart who was beating nonstop finally calming down, holding her heart, it finally showed a normal beat.

Taking a seat next to him, curling on her knees, Sarah glanced to the outside looking trouble. She mumbled, "What should I do in these five days alone? How about foods?" Another chatterbox coming on her head, they said, 'just run!'. But, how about her promise to him? She tilted her head down gazing deeply at the trembling wolf's body.