"I don't think blood manipulation is something wicked. And I am not a criminal in fact I am professional gymnast from Korea. I recently learned martial art but I didn't even have my first match yet."
Hearing what wu yuan said brian totally dropped his guard. While Steven still wary of wu yuan. As first thing wu yuan did after he was questioned was raise his arms to prepare for a fight.
Even when he heard that wu yuan helped brian somehow. Steven felt something doesn't sit right with wu yuan. He made a choice that it is better to die by a beast then get back stabbed. So, he said
" sorry, but i won't be joining you too."
Hearing this. It seems wu yuan already expected this and nodded but brian still wanted to persuade Steven to join.
Just as brian was about to speak, wu yuan put his hand over Brian's shoulder and shook his head. Brian thought for a second before finally give up.
" I understand that you don't trust wu yuan but he saved my life 5 hours ago. I hope you will survive Steven."
Brian and wu yuan both were look for some kind a safe place to stay the night before they found Steven. Just as they were about to leave they heard a loud sound which made Steven cheeks go red.
"Growl.."
It was sound from Steven stomach. Which was the loudest growling sound of his life. When both brain and wu yuan heard it. They first though some kind of animal was near but when the saw Steven holding his stomach they dropped their raised guard.
Brian looked at wu yuan who took some plain meat from some kind of skin pouch. And threw it towards Steven. Surprised Steven caught it by reflex. When he noticed what it was. He was about to thank them. But
"We both don't know how to cook and we somehow ate it raw. Goodbye Steven."
Before Steven could thank them. Brian said those words before leaving. Steven with a some raw meet from some animal in his hand felt little lost and started to feel regret.
Both of them seem like good people. and even before Brian could say something, wu yuan already tossed the meat without a second of hesitation.
A little lost in his thoughts. Steven came back to himself pretty fast.
'It is useless to cry over a spilled milk..'
Steven looked around, it was same half open place and he was beside the same tall tree which he fell from. even though it was night time he could still somehow see better than what he expected.
'Did my eye sight improve? '
Steven contemplated which side he should go before finally decided to climb the same tree. Even though he fell it was purely because of panic.
And the wolf and the apes have already left this place a day before. So he thought it was better than roaming around aimlessly.so he put the meat in make shift torn cloth bag. And climbed the tree which had wide branch.
'Can I even eat this?'
Never in his life Steven ate raw meat. But due to hunger Steven took a small bites when he felt he would puke if he ate another bite he stopped.
After eating Steven throat became very dry. But he thought it is better to search for water in day light.
_____________________________
After they both left Steven. Brian and wu yuan found a big fallen tree which fell on a hilly rock. After making sure there were no animals near by. they made some space and sat down.
"You know, I thought you were an athlete and it turned of to be true but why did you learn martial arts?"
Wu yuan went silent and seem like he was thinking about his past. He remembered about Steven saying about scanning about his life. All he could think is back in his high school days when he beat a bully to half death.
He remembered it was because that particular bully made his friend quit school he hadn't beaten him out of rage or something but planned it out and even called an ambulance before handed.
[User : sei wu yuan.
Status: little tired.
Path : blood manipulation (advance level path).
Health : 10/10
Mana : null
Stats :
Strength : 0.9
Agility : 1.2
Endurance : 1
Path stage : 0
Path progress : null.
Path integration in 22 minutes]
Look at his screen his still thinks blood manipulation is not a wicked thing. He don't why but he always liked to help other. Even this evening when 4 normal coyotes were trying to kill brian when he thought he could defeat them he took out the sharpened knife and went for it.
When brian saw wu yuan lost in his thought he called him
"Hey, you alright?"
"Yes. I am just thinking of what that guy Steven said. I am not a blood thirsty guy. I don't think it is that simple."
Wu yuan said it when he saw some concern in Brian's eyes.
"About your question. I always felt I can go far in a martial arts career. I became gymnast cause only that was available when I was about to graduate. so, between job and being a professional gymnast I chose the later."
When brian heard wu yuan say he became professional gymnast out of choice he felt somewhat envy.
"Oh."
'He is the most gifted guy I ever meet. And the the way he killed those coyotes Calmly.'
" what about you brian? What did you do before all this sh**"
The answer came quicker then expected
"Nothing great as you.I had to quit my high school in final year cause of financial issues.
I did some part time jobs here and there. Before becoming a above averagely paid construction worker
Thinking back I wonder how my mom and dad are doing. I will survive this trail an..."
Wu yuan was listening carefully but when he hear of word parents. He asked without thinking.
"You got parents?"
"What do you me...."
Brian was about to ask wu yuan what does he mean by 'you got parents.' But half way he realized and before he could say something. wu yuan said
"Yeah. I am an orphan as long as I could remember. In fact I thought everyone who were chosen were orphans at some point without anyone close to them."
Brian was left speechless. He couldn't image a life without his parents. Wu yuan looked seriously lost in thoughts when he suddenly looked directly in Brian's eyes and said
" I will make sure you will survive this brian. This is my prom.."
"Shshhs" "uh uh" "woff"
Suddenly in front of them there was a rustling and some animal sounds coming from their front some distance away from them.
Both of them who were about to unwilling eat raw meat while talking. stood up and hold their makeshift weapons.
In less then a minute. They saw many hyenas coming their way. A cold sweat formed on their heads.
"RUN"
Wu yuan saw their were too many hyenas to count. They can't probably win and shouted
At brian.
Both of them made a run for it. But soon brian noticed Wu yuan is far behind him. It made him remember that he already advance to 1st stage of body cultivation. where as wu yuan didn't even start on his path. While wu yuan's thoughts were
'Fuc* . I was just about to make a promise. and Seeing him almost twice as fast as me. It seem I am going to hold him back.'
First time in his life he felt week. But looking back he noticed that even though the hyenas were following them, the gap between him and hyenas was increase.
Brian slowed down to wu yuan's speed and said.
"Sorry I forgot that all my stats are at 2."
Still running wu yuan didn't reply. But he felt that basic path does improve fast. Comparing he felt little sad that he will have to wait till he could even know about his path.
they continued to run for more than 10 mins. Wu yuan started to get tired. looking back he didn't see any hyenas anymore. Still they continued to run. Until they noticed a familiar man on top of a tree branch.
Subconsciously, they ran back to Steven. tierd wu yuan feel to the ground full of sweat and took quick breaths. By his side brian was way better than wu yuan. But he too sat down.
After a few more minutes. just when wu yuan about to get up he suddenly felt something and this feeling continued to grow more and more Which made him curl up.
"Auh.."
Brian noticing sudden change in Wu yuan got closer to wu yuan and asked in a worried tone.
"What happened wu? Are you alright?"
Wu yuan still in curled up can now feel the blood flowing in his body with each heart beat. It was becoming very uncomfortable feeling which doesn't seem to stop. When he heard brian he only uttered
"My path"
Before grinding his teeth.