1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
Rajawali Wing

Ilalang dancing in the night wind. It shakes the melody of nature that soothes the soul of the Wanderer. The night is still dark, the stars shine far above the horizon. However, a moment of silence seemed to rush in forcefully, whipping a broken heart with ferocity. If only a pair of hearts can end happily, then no one needs to feel lost.

- - -

After a clash of eyes with Zhang, Shuwan ended it just like that. I can't give Zhang any more hope. Can't! His mind is confused. There was a sense of trying to knock Shuwan in the heart, but he could not open it. The ice wall in his heart was thick. It's not that easy to get knocked down.

Shuwan stood up, and monitored around where they were resting now. “Jiao, Yu Hao, you rest. Zhang and I will be on guard first,” Shuwan said.

Jiao and Yu Hao did not reply. They immediately obeyed Shuwan's words to rest first.

Zhang continued to look at Shuwan, even though Shuwan had now turned his back on him. No more words could be spoken from his lips. His blank gaze now stared at the only fire that warmed them at that time.

Ssh.... Ssh...

Suddenly a noise came from behind the grass. Shuwan realized it, because from the beginning he had been on alert.

The voice sounded increasingly closer towards Shuwan and the others.

Uh... This sound... Inner Zhang was aware of the existence of other living beings trying to get close to them. Disappear? That voice was clearly near. How could it possibly just disappear? Something is strange.

He then looked towards Shuwan and noticed a snake trying to attack him. “Shuwan watch out!” Zhang immediately pushed Shuwan to the point of falling face down in his arms.

Shuwan who noticed the surprise attack from the snake that had been stalking them instantly focused his attention on the swarm of snakes that surrounded them.

“They're too many! Jiao, Yu Hao, wake up! There are many dangers here!” Shouted Shuwan trying to wake Jiao and Yu Hao who had just fallen asleep.

When Jiao opened her eyes, “A-what was this? Ahhh... Why, why so many snakes?” Jiao scared.

Overly panicked, Jiao stepped back, and subconsciously stepped on the tail of the snake that was at the limit of her vision.

“Arghh...” shouted Jiao with her floor after her leg was bitten by a snake.

“Jiao!” Yu Hao panicked. He slashed at the serpents that surrounded them fiercely. Trying to grab Jiao who was starting to be helpless.

Shuwan and Zhang were also surrounded by dozens of snakes in another corner not far from where they were making fire. They instantly became panicked because Jiao was bitten by one of the snake hordes.

“How is this? Why are they endless?” shuwan.

“It... It's a venomous snake. Jiao might be in danger. We need to get out of here and treat Jiao!” hatch Zhang.

Yu Hao managed to grab onto Jiao's body, “Jiao held on,” Yu Hao held Jiao on his back, and continued to slash at the snakes that harassed them.

As they grew exhausted from the invasion of the snakes, there came an eagle hovering above the horizon. He made a very loud sound. Shows his class as a dashing bird.

Rajawali? It's ‘kan it's midnight, how could there be an eagle flying in the night sky like this? inner Shuwan was confused.

The eagle stared intently at the snakes that attacked Shuwan and the others. He then sped down sharply and swooped down, as if wanting to charge at the prey before his eyes.

Unexpectedly, the eagle helped Shuwan and the others drive the snakes away with his killer instinct.

Shuwan and the others were stunned by the savagery of the eagle. In a short time the eagle managed to finish off and drive away the snake of the thatch. He flew closer to Shuwan. By reflex he thrust out his right hand. The eagle rests in Shuwan's hands and acts like a tame pet.

“Who sent you? Why are these nights here?” shuwan asked the beast that had slaughtered the snakes. He looks tame, even though he is very ferocious when finishing the snakes.

The eagle rests in Shuwan's hands to tidy up its feathers, after which the bird looks at Shuwan for a moment, then re-expands its wings, darting freely back to the horizon.

Zhang and Yu Hao who saw him were simply astonished and filled with confusion. However, no words were spoken.

“Hei! What about Jiao? Howsoever..”

“Take it easy Yu Hao, I have the antidote, and I will treat it,” Shuwan said.

“Shuwan, why is Jiao still unconscious?” ask Yu Hao.

“Calm Yu Hao, the medicine has just been taken. It took him a while to realize. His condition is safe now. So, don't worry,” Shuwan replied calmly. “Better now we leave this place. Worried if the snakes will come back,” Shuwan.

In the still dark atmosphere, they left the place. Tracing the gravel dirt road.

After walking for so long, their steps now felt even heavier. The sweat had poured down the body with the sun that had begun to rise from the eastern sky, leaving souls exhausted from lack of rest.

“Gemericik water... I can hear it,” Zhang said with complete confidence and fiery vigor.

“True, his voice sounds close,” Shuwan chimed.

With their quick steps towards the source of the sound, and sure enough, lay a clear watery river that was tempting to immediately be gulped.

“We will rest here,” Zhang said.

Soon they gulped down the water in the river with satisfaction. Eliminate the thirst that has burned their esophagus during overnight trips.

Jiao who was rested on the tree trunk slowly began to recover her consciousness. “Shuwan,” call Jiao down.

Shuwan immediately turned to Jiao and brought the water placed on the leaves for Jiao to drink. “This, drink it,” Shuwan said as he thrust the water-filled leaves.

Jiao drank it voraciously. He seemed so thirsty after a night of unconsciousness. “Drink quietly Jiao, in front of us there is a clear river for you to drink as much,” said Shuwan who chuckled at the thirsty Jiao.

“E-eh... Sorry, I must look pathetic and troublesome,” he said with a downcast face.

“You are indeed troublesome, who told you not to be careful,” chirped Yu Hao, walking closer to Shuwan and Jiao who were talking.

“Tskk.. Yes I'm sorry. Are you satisfied?” jiao hatch.

“Hem.. Someday you'll have to pay it back. Do you know my body is so tired after carrying that heavy body of yours,” Yu Hao sneered.

“A-what? Weight? Hey, I'm a very slim tofu! How could you call me heavy?” yu Hao firmly.

“Do you want proof? I can show my back as well as my legs that were bruised from exhaustion,” Yu Hao tried to undress.

“T-wait... Don't do such a perverted thing!” jiao's face flushed red because Yu Hao was still teasing her.

“Why? Or do you actually like me? That's why your face became red as if you were feverish,” Yu Hao brought his face closer to Jiao's face.

“Don't be too confident! Who likes you?” Jiao turned her eyes.

“Ah... That right? But it looks like your mouth is lying..” Yu Hao was inexhaustibly teasing Jiao whose face was already like a tomato.

“You..” Jiao pushed the face of Yu Hao who continued to approach towards her.

Meanwhile Shuwan just laughed at the two friends. Seeing the two of them fighting was like looking at myself and Zhang... Uh... Why am I thinking about it? Really sucks.

Unknowingly, Shuwan looked at Zhang who was still sitting by the river, and suddenly Zhang looked at him.

Damnit damnit! Shuwan turned his eyes away immediately after a chance encounter.

When he noticed his arm, Sguwan only realized that there was a feather tucked in his clothes.

This feather.... Rajawali's last night. Why did the bird come to me? Who does that bird belong to? Is the bird a creature? Ah.. Nope-no... Inner Shuwan was filled with confusion.

He continued to watch the feather, and after he finished looking at it, he put it back in his clothes hoping to find the answer one day.