" Ahh…!!! H-el–ppp!!! …. Any–one..!!! Ahckss ….!!!!". A shrill scary voice resounded in the quiet manor.
Zhu Yin's eyes snapped open. Everywhere was still dark.
" What's going on?"
It has only been a few hours, and she had been disrupted from her practice. She picked a candle lamp, and walked out of the room.
Immediately she came out, the strong concentrated scent of blood hit her. The manor was silent, but ominous.
Zhu Yin walked forward, the lamp brightening the way.
" Ackks…!!! Ahh!!"
Zhu Yin hastened her steps. They were only two of them in the manor. Although she didn't treat her fairly, the caregiver had been the one there for her for the past five years.
In front of the Manor door which was opened ajar, Aunt Su, the caregiver, was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. A giant white wolf , which had blotches of red on its fur loomed before her.
" How come ?" Zhu Yin sucked in a deep breath. The wolf was eight feet tall, at least already in the silver level.
" I don't have my poison with me. How can I take it on?!"
As if aware of her presence, the wolf lifed its head and turned to face her.
The lamp in her hands fell to the ground, as she stared at its pitch pink eyes.
Zhu Yin's hands trembled as she struggled to regain composure.
Yes. Where they are is very close to the Gram forest. But no high level beast had ever been spotted around. Why is one here , today?
The wolf took a step forward, and Zhu Yin shuddered. Then in a split second, the wolf leaped forward, it claws glinted as the moonlight reflected on it.
Zhu Yin didn't have the opportunity to dodge, and was slammed to the ground. Pain erupted throughout her body, due to the slam .
The wolf stared into her eyes. It was like it was examining something. It wasn't aiming to kill her.
' Whatever it wants to do, I don't care. I can't die here. '
' Maybe it's going to work . Let me try it.'
Zhu Yin's hand which was slit by the sharp stones on the ground was bloody. She picked up a stone and harshly jabbed it into one of the wolf's legs.
" Seal!" A blinding multicolored light erupted from the point of contact. The wolf stared intensely at her , and Zhu Yin returned it with the same intensity.
Onyx coloured eyes stared into large pink ones. Neither of them backing down.
Slowly, the light covered the two of them enveloping them in a warm embrace.
After a while , it receded. Zhu Yin glared at the wolf , " Get off."
The wolf released an animalistic grin , before getting away . Zhu Yin sat upright, and looked at her dirty robe.
" How annoying! I just wore this, now I have to change it, "
[ Don't blame me. I didn't do it on purpose.] A rough feminine voice resounded.
" You didn't do it…. Wait! How can I hear your voice in my head?!" Zhu was surprised. She had tamed it, but she didn't expect that there was more to it.
[ Of course, it isn't the same with everyone. You are different. Look, all your injuries are healed.]
" That's true..," Zhu Yin examined her body which had healed without leaving a scar.
" Hey! What were you doing?" She asked.
The wolf walked towards Aunt Su, [If we don't hurry, she might not make it. ]
" Tch! Weren't you the one that put her in that state?!" Zhu Yin grumbled and stood up.
[ I didn't. I saved her . Another wolf wanted to take her away. ]
Zhu Yin walked forward, and pulled Aunt Su into a sitting position. She placed her finger under her nose.
" She is still alive. Quick, let's help her onto the bed. " Zhu Yin heavily carried Aunt Su onto the Wolf's back, and led them towards her room.
Aunt Su's room wasn't any different from hers. It was simple, and clean.
The wolf climbed onto the bed and crouched down. Zhu Yin helped her lie on the bed.
She was about to take off Aunt Su's clothes when she stopped and turned to look at the wolf standing beside her , " Are you a male or female?"
[ Can't you tell?] The wolf eyed her.
Zhu Yin lightly coughed, embarrassed, " Then since we are now comrades, I will call you Ya ling. I am Zhu Yin "
The wolf stared at Zhu Yin's smiling face mesmerized. [ Okay. ]
" Okay! Ya ling, can you recognize herbs?" Zhu Yin asked as she examined the wounds on Aunt Su's body.
[ Yes. ] Ya ling replied.
" I need two herbs. And I need it fast. " Aunt Su's wound was a large cut on her stomach, and teeth wounds on her legs.
Obviously the beast was attempting to drag her .
[ Okay, tell me. ]
" I need Ginseng. It is green in colour, has 3-5 serrated leaflets. Its length is up to two feet tall, and its roots are forked.
And I also need Huang Qi. It is a vibrant yellow colour herb, which has thick tender spears with tightly closed buds. "
[ Is that all ?] Ya ling was already at the door.
" Yes. That's all. Let's get it quick. " Zhu Yin also left Aunt Su's room and walked back to hers.
She opened the small box , and picked another small white porcelain jar.
" This should stop the bleeding. " Zhu Yin closed the box and kept it, before rushing back to Aunt Su's room.
She lit all the lamps she could find, heating up the room.
She filled a bowl she found with water, picked up a piece of cloth and soaked it.
She climbed onto the bed, and started cleaning up the blood.
Getting the wound clean, had made the bowl of water bloody. By the time she finished, Ya ling was back. The two herbs tightly held in her mouth.
" You did well." Zhu Yin stroked her fur , as she collected the herbs. There were like five stalks each .
Zhu Yin grabbed the mortar and pestle she had picked from the kitchen, and crushed the Ginseng, extracting its juice.
She used the liquid to clean the wounds surfaces, letting it sip into the wound.
Afterwards she crushed the Huang Qi into a paste , while Ya ling tore some fabric Zhu Yin handed her into strips.
" Okay let's bandage her up. " Zhu Yin carried the paste towards the bed, Ya ling following in tow with the shredded fabric.
They both got on the bed , and helped Aunt Su into a sitting position. Ya ling carrying most of her weight as Zhu Yin applied the paste, and bandaged the wounds.
After they did that of her legs, they helped her into another robe, and tucked her in properly.
Zhu Yin opened the jar she brought, and picked out one small sized brown pill, which emitted a herbal scent.
" I am sharing this with you. Better be grateful, Hmph!" Zhu Yin made Aunt Su swallow it.
Afterwards she sat at the table in the middle of the room and watched the woman.
[ You….] Ya ling stopped what she was about to say, after seeing Zhu Yin fast asleep.
[ What a weird girl! ]