A Fantasy Love Story Across the Warring States Period

Chapter 15 Flying Beast Crisis and Mysterious Aid

Wanru and Huanmo embraced tightly, but before they could even savor the joy of their reunion, the enormous flying beast opened its blood-red maw and let out a deafening roar, as if it wanted to devour them instantly.

Wanru's heart clenched, and fear overwhelmed her once again like a tidal wave. Instinctively, she gripped the beads in her hand even tighter, as if they were the only thing that could give her a sense of security at that moment.

"Huanmo, what... what should we do?" Wanru's voice trembled noticeably as she looked up at Huanmo, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

Although Huanmo's face was still pale, his eyes revealed a firm resolve. He shielded Wanru behind him, staring intently at the flying beast, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Even so, how much of a chance did they have against this enormous and menacing flying beast? Wanru knew in her heart that Huanmo alone could not possibly contend with this flying beast, and she herself was utterly powerless.

The flying beast seemed to sense their fear, letting out another roar before pouncing. Huanmo swiftly dodged to the side, pulling Wanru aside. The beast missed its target, its massive claws carving deep furrows in the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"We have to find a way to get out of here. These flying beasts are too ferocious," Huanmo said anxiously as he dragged Wanru along as they ran through the city streets.

Wanru followed Huanmo closely, her gaze never leaving the bead in her hand. "This bead might help us, but I... I don't know how to use it." She was extremely anxious; the bead was right in her hand, yet she didn't know how to use it to resolve the current crisis.

Just as they were fleeing in panic, a group of soldiers suddenly appeared in front of them—the same team that had escorted Wanru earlier. The leading general was taken aback when he saw them, then a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Hmph, I was just looking for you! Hand over the bead!" the general shouted. Clearly, even in this critical moment when flying beasts were rampaging, his greed for the bead had not diminished.

Wanru and Huanmo stopped in their tracks. They were now in dire straits, with a greedy general demanding the pearl in front of them and a ferocious flying beast in hot pursuit behind them.

"Don't even think about it! This bead is our lifeline, we absolutely cannot give it to you!" Huanmo glared at the general and responded without backing down.

When the general saw that Huanmo dared to disobey his orders, his face darkened, and he waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to step forward and snatch the beads.

Wanru felt a wave of despair. She never imagined that at this critical moment, she would have to face such coercion from these people.

Just as the soldiers were about to reach them, the flying beast pounced again. This time, its target seemed to be the soldiers, its massive body crashing down like a small mountain.

The soldiers panicked and scattered in all directions. The general was also terrified, his face turning pale. He turned and ran, no longer caring about snatching the beads.

"This is truly a stroke of luck!" Huanmo was overjoyed upon seeing this and took the opportunity to run in another direction with Wanru.

However, after dealing with the group of soldiers, the flying beast quickly set its sights on Wanru and Huanmo and chased after them again.

"Why is this flying beast targeting us so intently?!" Wanru cried out as she ran.

Huanmo didn't respond. His eyes darted around quickly, trying to find a place to hide from the flying beasts. Suddenly, his eyes lit up when he saw an abandoned temple not far ahead.

"Quick, let's hide there!" Huanmo said, quickening his pace, and Wanru also tried her best to keep up.

They rushed into the temple, which was filled with an old and decaying smell. Huanmo searched around for something to prop up the door, while Wanru leaned against the wall, panting heavily, still clutching the beads tightly in her hand.

Soon, Huanmo found a thick wooden stick and placed it across the door. But how long could this flimsy protection hold off the flying beasts? They had no idea.

Just then, a soft light suddenly shone in the temple, the source of which was the bead in Wanru's hand.

Wanru looked at the bead in surprise, only to see its light grow stronger and stronger, gradually forming something like a shield in front of them, enveloping them within it.

"What... what's going on?" Wanru was both surprised and delighted. She hadn't expected the beads to work on their own.

Huanmo watched this scene with surprise and delight. "It seems that this bead really has magical power. Perhaps we are saved."

Before they could celebrate for long, the flying beast had already caught up with them outside the temple. It rammed the gate with all its might, each slam causing the temple to tremble slightly, and cracks began to appear in the wooden pole that lay across the gate.

Wanru stared nervously at the door that was about to break and the constantly flashing shield, her heart pounding in her chest.

Just as the door was about to be smashed open, a melodious flute tune suddenly drifted from outside the temple. The flute music was gentle and ethereal, as if it possessed a magical power. Upon hearing the flute music, the flying beast suddenly stopped its charge, and the ferocity in its eyes gradually faded, replaced by a somewhat bewildered look.

Then, the flying beast slowly turned around and flew towards the direction from which the flute music came, quickly disappearing from their sight.

Wanru and Huanmo were both stunned. They looked at each other and saw confusion and relief in each other's eyes.

"Who is playing this flute? And why can it make the flying beasts leave?" Wanru asked softly.

Huanmo shook her head. "I don't know either, but in any case, we're safe for now."

They had just breathed a sigh of relief when the light inside the temple suddenly began to flicker, the light from the beads in Wanru's hand gradually dimmed, and the shield disappeared.

"Oh no, it seems the power of this bead is about to run out," Wanru said anxiously.

Just then, a figure dressed in white slowly walked into the temple. The person was tall and slender with delicate features, and held a jade flute in his hand. He was the one who had just played the magical flute music.

"Are you alright?" the man in white asked softly, his voice as ethereal as the sound of his flute.

Wanru and Huanmo watched him warily, unsure whether he was friend or foe.

"Thank you for your help earlier. May I ask who you are?" Huanmo asked.

The man in white smiled slightly. "Who I am is not important. What's important is what you plan to do next. The power of this bead is almost exhausted. It can't save you a second time."

Wanru's heart tightened. She looked at the dull beads in her hand, then at Huanmo, her heart filled with confusion.

"I...I don't know. We just want to survive and find a way back to the modern world," Wanru said, choking back tears.

The man in white sighed softly. "Returning to the modern world? That's no easy task. However, I might be able to help you in a small way."

Upon hearing this, Wanru and Huanmo's eyes immediately lit up with hope.

"Really? You can help us go back to the modern era?" Huanmo asked eagerly.

The man in white did not answer directly, but slowly said, "In this Warring States period, there is a mysterious place where many unknown secrets are hidden. Perhaps you can find clues to return to the modern world. However, that place is extremely dangerous, and few who go in come out alive."

Wanru and Huanmo exchanged a glance. They knew that this might be their only hope, and no matter how dangerous it was, they had to try.

“We’re willing to give it a try. Please tell us where that place is,” Wanru said firmly.

The man in white looked at them and nodded. "Alright, since you're so determined, I'll tell you. That place is in the far north, called the Misty Forest. Once you're inside, be careful and cautious; everything will depend on your fate."

Wanru and Huanmo kept the white-robed man's words in mind and decided to set off immediately to the misty forest to find clues to return to the modern world.

Just as they were about to leave the temple, a sudden commotion of horses' hooves came from outside. It sounded like a large group of people were heading towards the temple.