14 Chapter 14 – Shock and Awe

Three people started travelling towards the Clearwater village which was the border village of Qinglu city. According to Bai Wuji, people from Bai family were staying there to escort them back to the city.

They travelled for half a day before resting in a clearing under a tree. Zhu Xuan remembered there was a creek not far from here and went there to get some water to drink after informing them. He found the creek a distance away and started filling his gourd with water when he heard a booming sound.

He put the gourd away and started running fast towards the sound of the direction because that's where the other two are resting. He ran into the clearing within few moments, and suddenly stopped and stood there in shock. He saw Bai Ling and Bai Wuji are fighting against the Snow Tiger senior. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he thought, "What are the chances of meeting the snow tiger again and what are the chances that both of his past and present acquaintances are fighting each other."

He ran towards them and shouted "Wait, Stop fighting."

Bai Ling and Bai Wuji thought he was going to fight the tiger and retreated back a bit. They knew this demon beast was stronger than those warthog by many times and were only defending, so they were only slightly injured and were battle ready to support him at any time.

Zhu Xuan walked past them, Snow Tiger also stopped when it heard the familiar voice and looked at him. He walked close to the tiger and said with a big smile "Hahaha Senior, How are you? It's nice to meet you again."

Both Bai Ling and Bai Wuji stood there like statue with eyes wide open and mouth agape.

Ever since he came in front of them and saved them, Bai Ling started to have some interest in him and longed to know more about him. In the past few days, they familiarised with each other and she found he is a kind person and act decisively in what he feels right, but he was always calm and replied plainly like an old man who has seen many things in life and she couldn't see through him completely. So the sudden change in him, who is acting like a kid with a big smile, fascinated her.

Bai Wuji on the other hand was intrigued on how Zhu Xuan was talking to the demon beast like he had met his close relative.

In fact, Zhu Xuan was really happy to see the snow tiger and had a strange familiar feeling like the tiger a family to him. He probed with his Qi, tried to find its strength and found he still couldn't gauge its strength. "Just how strong is it?" he wondered.

The Snow tiger looked at him and then looked at the other two from Bai clan. It simply turned around and started walking away. Zhu Xuan had a big smile on his face and shouted "Thank you for letting them go. I will come visit you again when I have time Senior."

The snow tiger stopped turned its head, looked at him and transmitted a message "Get lost. Don't disturb me again."

Zhu Xuan gave a silly smile at its retort and shouted again waving his hand "Bye Senior"

Zhu Xuan saw the tiger disappear in the woods and walked back towards Bai Ling and Bai Wuji. Their eyes were still wide open and they looked at him like he was a rare animal. Zhu Xuan touched his nose with a silly smile.

Bai Wuji said astonished "That's a Dragon Horned Snow Tiger and you were talking with it". He was not questioning him; he is simply making a statement of how it is a rare thing to seeing someone talking to a demon beast.

Zhu Xuan thought, "So it was called Dragon Horned Snow Tiger. I still have a lot more to learn and I should do it once I get back."

He turned towards the direction the snow tiger disappeared, and answered to Bai Wuji with a smile on his face "Yes. That Senior protected me a while back when I was in trouble"

He walked and picked up the backpack, his face returned normal to his usual calm demeanour and said "Let's leave. We need to reach the village before sunset."

Both Bai Ling and Bai Wuji looked at each other and thought back to all about him since they met Zhu Xuan and felt that he is covered in a layer of mystery. Bai Ling got more and more interested in him and her eyes were becoming bright. She wanted to unveil this mystery around him and see through Zhu Xuan.

Two hours before the sunset, three of them walked out of the forest and looked at the distant Clearwater village. they are finally out of the forest, they moved fast and entered the village.

The village was not big, and it looked like it housed around 200 families. It was surrounded by stone walls height of about to defend them from the demon beast attack and soldiers were seen standing on top of the walls. In the centre of the village was a small market, where various demon beast materials and herbs are exchanged.

The three moved towards the Bai family resting place in the village and found few people were waiting outside anxiously. They were worried about the third princess who was was supposed to be back from the training in the mountain two days ago. But it's already four days and there was no sign of her, her uncle and the other Bai clan people went with her. They knew if something happened to her, the only result for them is death.

When they were anxious and busy discussing what to do, three people walked towards their direction. When they saw it was the third princess and Senior Wuji, they felt like they were lifted from a heavy burden and welcomed them with extreme joy.

Bai Wuji and the other were discussing about happened when Zhu Xuan who was standing on the side, walked up to the group and called for Bai Wuji "Senior Wuji, May I speak with you for a moment? I have something to discuss with you."

Before Bai Wuji could say anything, another lean faced man next to him berated Zhu Xuan angrily "Who are you kid? How dare you interrupt Senior Wuji while we are discussing important matters. Know your status and go stand by the side and wait quietly."

One could not blame him for looking down on Zhu Xuan. He had ragged clothes with unkempt hair and no weapons, and he was caring a big bag like he was a villager trying to sell his things.

Suddenly someone slapped the lean face man, and he looked in shock and confusion to find it was Bai Ling who is looking at him with extreme anger. He is confused and felt wronged at being slapped by her with no reason.

Before he could think further, Bai Wuji gave an angry stare at him and walked in front of Zhu Xuan. He cupped his hands and said respectfully "Sorry Young master Shen for my subordinate's unruly behaviour. He don't about you, please forgive him"

Zhu Xuan calmly replied "Don't worry about it Senior. It is no big deal. Is it okay if I talk to you now? I have something important to discuss."

Bai Wuji replied immediately "Of course Young master Shen. Let's go inside to talk". After he said that, he walked inside with Zhu Xuan, along with Bai Ling.

But the rest of the Bai clan members stood there speechless. What did they just see? Senior Bai Wuji was known to treat everyone equally. Even to the clan leader and elders, Bai Wuji always talked to them like they were in equal standing, knowing they are more powerful and influential in the clan. But they say he was respectful towards this young man.

Everyone was thinking the same thing with astonishment "Who exactly is this young man?"