Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

Everyone whipped their heads around before seeing the Viridescent Treant slowly emerging from where it was. 

"Oh come on!" Xuan Yin shouted.

None of them stayed any longer and quickly ran as the monster rose up. Having sensed a disturbance in the air, it knew that it could only be the return of those thieves!

And it was right!

"I thought it got over its tantrum! Damn it!" 

The archer gnashed her teeth in frustration as she focused on escaping this peril. Ming Yue gave her a look before glancing back at the Treant, who looked around for any sign of movement. 

Quickly understand, she pulled Xuan Yin away, hiding behind a trunk with her and their three pets. She looked at the archer and put a hand to her mouth.

"Don't talk, it doesn't know where we are yet", she whispered.. 

Xuan Yin nodded before the hand was pulled away from her mouth. She took in a deep gulp and turned just enough to peek from the side of the tree. 

The Viridescent Treant was rampaging everywhere, smashing down trees, ripping them from the ground, and tearing through the forest. Its eyes moved from one side to the other, searching for them. 

But as it continued on its path of destruction, the treant wasn't any closer. In fact, it went farther and farther away, stomping towards the east where the lake would be. The entire group watched it go off. 

The furious roars and thundering steps slowly grew quieter until it was nothing more than low echoes. 

A heavy sigh left the archer's mouth as she finally relaxed and stepped out of hiding. 

"Hah, at least it's gone. We should get out of here before it comes back."

Ming Yue nodded. 

"Let's go."

Together, they waved as quickly and quietly as possible, getting farther away from the Treant. They didn't stop except for a few small breaks to catch their breath. None of them would feel safe until they were out of the Primeval Forest. 

In a day's time, they made it out, looking back at the forest.

"Ah, I didn't think I'd be so glad to smell such plain air. Any more of that sweetness from the forest and I really would've puked."

Xuan Yin took in a deep breath as did everyone else. Safe to say, none of them wanted to come back to the Primeval Forest anytime soon. 

It was then that they camped for the night, feeling drained from the journey out.  Sitting by a small wood fire, the pair ate their dried rations, sharing some with Xiao Yin and the other beasts. 

They ate quietly, rethinking the events that have just transpired. And in those few moments, Xuan Yin couldn't help but smile but snickering a little bit. Ming Yue looked at her strangely.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked. 

Although she knew that her friend was quite friendly and chatty, it was very weird to see her suddenly start laughing. Xuan Yin looked at her before putting her hand up to ver her mouth. 

"No, no, there's nothing wrong. I just... I've had quite a few adventures on my own but it seems like when I'm with you, they just can't compare!"

She looked at the fire, continuing her words. 

"I mean, come on! Angering a rank 8 beast and practically escaping death from it twice. Just that practically trumps anything I've done! Now you add in the Nuwa Clan? Forget that they're a clan, we met fairies! Actual fairies! Think of the things I can tell my descendants!"

There was a bit of excitement in her eyes, some pride, and confidence. Xuan Yin then pointed at Ming Yue. 

"And you, my god, you have some monstrous talent! You'll almost reach the Boundary Stage! Once you pass that it's the Sky Realm! There are barely a hundred Sky Realm Experts and do you know who the youngest one is?" she asked her. 

Ming Yue shook her head. 

"No", she replied. 

But she thought back to the sect leader of Clear Spring Mountain, who was one of the youngest to reach that very realm.

"It's me! I just broke into the Sky Realm right before I left for the Demon Continent! I'm twenty-eight years old now! And you! You're barely twenty! You might as well overtake me!"

She was excited, very excited. 

"Tagging along with you was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made!" she said. 

From there, she continued to talk and ramble on whilst Ming Yue thought about what the archer said. 

"Then at this rate... would I become the youngest then?" she thought, "No, it wouldn't be so easy. I have to prepare well for it, make sure my foundations are solid."

No matter what, she didn't want to grow complacent. 

"Hey!"

Ming Yue suddenly stopped her thoughts and looked at Xuan Yin. 

"No matter how strong or how much a genius you might be, don't forget to rely on your allies and friends. You have me, right? And even if I'm not there, you have those two." said the archer, pointing at the owl and fox. 

"So when we go back home, we're going on some more adventures, right?" she asked her. 

Ming Yue nodded. 

"Of course." 

They both exchanged a smile before finishing their food. Night soon passed and the group was well on their way back. When they returned, the camp was still as busy as ever though there weren't too many people. 

"Let's head to the infirmary first, drop off the herbs first."

After saying so, Ming Yue led the group there, a three-story stone building with a signboard over the door. Written on it were the words, "Cerulean Fortress Infirmary", which came as a pleasant surprise. 

"Is that the name they decided on? Cerulean Fortress... Not a bad name." 

Xuan Yin repeated it with a satisfied smile. Ming Yue also found the name fitting. After all, this was built to keep control over the Cerulean Serpent's Lake. 

But when they walked in, this optimism was changed to surprise as the infirmary was practically empty. That would've been a good thing since there were no patients meaning no injured but, there were only two other people there.

And when they saw Ming Yue, they quickly walked up to her.

"We greet the Fairy of the Moon and the Hell Court's Archer!" 

Cupping their fists and lowering their heads, the two greeted them. A pair of young men, unlike the usual elderly doctors, they must have been apprentices or juniors. 

"What happened? Why is the infirmary empty?" asked Ming Yue. 

The two apprentices looked at each other before one of them answered. 

"Currently, most of the masters are out on an expedition south of the fortress. They've left in multiple groups to search for more reliable sources of herbs. They plan to make a medicinal garden here which is the reason for their search."

Xuan Yin then chuckled. 

"You can tell them not to look anymore. We've got enough in our rings to start this garden ten times over!" she gloated. 

The two juniors revealed a look of surprise. 

"We'll lead you to the storeroom." 

They then turned and opened the doors in the back, bringing them through a hallway where another set of doors waited. It was large and heavy, made from wood and metal. Putting a hand on each side, the two men opened them. 

A small breeze came through before everyone entered. 

Within the storeroom were dozens of shelves, racks, and pots, all of which were nearly empty. What was left could probably fill a few baskets combined and this was meant for an entire fortress.

"Alright then, let's pile it up!" 

"Here you go." 

Without wasting another second, the both of them began taking out all of what they had in their spatial rings. What they took out had caused the two juniors to permanently open their jaws. At the end of it, there was enough to fill the room and even have some leftover!