A Failure's hopeful Journey

The group cleaned up the surrounding, Allan used his fire spells to burn the bodies to ashes. His flames were stronger than others because of his bloodline containing traces of the crimson phoenix.

The group made its way to their next target, Kojo and his team. They met Yuki and Neo on the way to the designated spot. They reached the ambush spot and took their positions. Fenny was also in her position. They waited, yet there seemed to be no movement around them. Time passed and soon an hour slipped by.

You Xi Wang used his Holo-phone and asked Fenny, "Any movements?"

Fenny replied, "None but Xi Wang, I get this uneasy feeling. What do you think we should do?"

You Xi Wang spoke, "Retre..." he was yet to even complete his word when he heard voices of struggle from the other side of the call. He stood up and shouted to his friends, "Fenny is under attack, let's go." and with this, he dashed towards Fenny's position.

Others followed him quickly. Very soon they reached the place where Fenny was camping. There were signs of trouble, but they saw no one around except for some signs of struggle. Just as You Xi Wang was about to say something, his Holo-phone buzzed. It was a video message from Fenny. He played it without a second delay.

A figure in the black cloak appeared. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "You bunch of brats, how dare you imprison my martial brother. You have two ways, the first is you send back Shane and I kill this girl or I make her my soul slave then you beg me but I get my man to ravage her and then throw her in the city in parts."

His tone was sinister and not was he bluffing. You Xi Wang nodded and said, "Very well, I will do as you say. Do not hurt her."

Kojo laughed in his hoarse voice and said, "You have till the sunset." and he disconnected the call.

You Xi Wang said, "Let's go to the den." Allan and Neo shared a glace and the former said, "Don't tell me you trusted that guy."

You Xi Wang said, "I am not that naïve, I swear to heavens if they touch a single hair on Fenny's head. I will make them experience the real darkness." his demeanor was so cold that all four of them felt a chill running up from their spine. They all looked at his back and felt like they did not know him anymore. You Xi Wang used to be a level headed boy, and this was the first time they had seen him say something like this.

Yuki took a step and patted his back as she consoled him, "It will be fine, let's go."

You Xi Wang nodded, and the group made their way to the den where they had Shane imprisoned.

...

Meanwhile, in a distant part of the forest, Kojo and his team were sitting in a damp cave.

Kojo turned to look around and saw Fenny sitting in the corner, her head on her knees with her hands covering her head. He smiled with a sinister light in his eyes. He said, "Girl, do you think your friends will come?"

Fenny looked up at him. Her eyes were red while her lips were shivering, she looked as if she was about to cry any moment now. As he saw this expression on her face Kojo felt ecstatic. He laughed out loud after a while he said, "Did you think it would be so easy for you to get away after killing my people? Humph... you green-horned kids, I will show you what happens when you mess with darkness." he looked away and said to his underling, "You guys, listen up. If they do not bring Shane back till sunset, you can have your way with this girl, although she isn't as pretty as that other girl. She can still make up for some time." he let out a sly laugh in his hoarse voice.

The underlings also laughed along. One guy then said, "Brother Kojo, why can we not have her now? It doesn't make any difference, right?" he had taken a liking to how cute Fenny looked earlier when they captured her.

Kojo shook his head, and said, "We need to pressurize them, and if they found anything wrong with her, they will never give Shane back to us. Remember to beat her a bit before we make another call. I want to see the look on that guy's face. Haha haha..." his sadistic nature made him laugh when he imagined the tormented look on You Xi Wang's face.

...

You Xi Wang and the rest made way into the illusion array, and immediately he waved his hands and cast a soul energy barrier with the system's help.

'System, scan this scum, I want you to find out if there is some kind of art which helped that bastard intercept our ambush.' he said to the system.

[Master, this is not as simple as it may seem.] the system replied.

'What do you mean?' You Xi Wang questioned in return.

[These people specialize in the soul cultivation, you first have to weaken them only then can I pry on the secrets inside his mind.] the system replied.

You Xi Wang and the others were now standing at the den's entrance. He was calculating the situation. He said, "Neo, Yuki, did you two found anyone following you when you bought him here?" they both shook their heads in denial.

After a few minutes of silence, You Xi Wang spoke in a calm manner, "Seems like that guy cannot see everything. He must have placed some seal on one guy in the team we assaulted. The same could be said for this guy, but he lost his cultivation and cannot use that seal. Come, let's have some fun." his last sentence made them all develop a chill in their hearts.

You Xi Wang entered the den, others were about to follow him, but Allan blocked their way and said in a low voice, "You guy should ready yourself for whatever you are about to see. It might be too much for you to endure, so only enter when you have the resolve to watch it till the end." after saying this he entered the den.

Neo said, "I want to see what will happen now, I have never seen Bro Wang like this did you notice Bro Allan gave off a somewhat scared vibe just now. Say Yuki, after waking up from that coma, Bro Wang has changed right?"

Yuki exhaled heavily and said, "Will anyone remains the same after suffering what he went through. Let's go, we need to support him with anything and everything. He would do the same for us without any questions." Snow who only got to know these guys recently was surprised after she saw the unity among the group.

They entered the den and saw You Xi Wang crouched and playing with the cubs while smiling. Everyone was confused when Allan said, "Xi Wang, the poison of pain-inducing leech has been detoxified."

You Xi Wang stood up and walked up to Shane, who was lying prone on the floor, panting heavily. He looked at You Xi Wang and said in a wary manner, "What do you want?"

You Xi Wang smile as he took out a dagger and said, "For now, your screams will suffice."