Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Feng Jiao Xue moved swiftly through the dense forest, her white robes flowing like mist in the dim light of dawn. The mountain behind the Feng Clan’s territory was steep and covered in ancient trees. their gnarled roots twisting along the uneven path. It had been a long time since she last visited but she still remembered the way to the secluded chamber where her grandfather was cultivating.

Or at least, she thought she did.

Feng Jiao Xue’s frown deepened further and further the more she walks.

"I told you this place was guarded" Huang Jin De sighed in her mind. "It’s why I didn’t come too close. It’s more likely you’ve already entered the range of the array. I have never been good at this confusing things it’s more that old turtle’s thing"

"It’s fine, if there’s anything entrance, there is bound to be an exit" Feng Jiao Xue calmly assured.

However, that was easier said than done. The further she went in, the heavier the air became with thick with a strange and unseen force. Her steps slowed as an uneasy sensation crept over her skin and unsettled her gut. Something was wrong, definitely wrong.

She paused as her sharp eyes scans the area. The path ahead looked the same as it always had, towering pines, jagged rocks, and the occasional wildflower blooming in the shade. Yet, when she turned to glance behind her, a frown tugged at her lips.

The scenery was exactly the same. She was back where she started.

Feng Jiao Xue took out her sword and formed an X mark on a tree before she continued walking.

She pressed forward with deep calculating narrowed eyes. Minutes passed. Then half an hour. No matter how far she walked, she always ended up at the same spot, a lone pine tree with an X mark along its trunk.

Her fingers twitched at her side, tempted to summon her qi and tear through it. But if this formation was placed here it meant someone, perhaps even her grandfather, had taken great care to keep outsiders away. If she forcefully disrupted it, it could send a warning to whoever had set it. That was the last thing she wanted.

And, array formations don’t just trap but also kills. Thus far, it doesn’t seem to want to kill her but if she use force, that could easily change.

It wasn’t a particularly aggressive formation, but it was strong enough to trap intruders without them noticing. It worked subtly, weaving confusion into the mind of the person trapped inside, making them unknowingly walk in circles.

"It’s likely that the formation is meant that way to prevent members of the Feng Clan to be accidentally killed." Huang Jin De muses. "Or your grandfather is just blindly arrogant that he doesn’t think he needs an array to kill his opponents..."

"Either way, it works alright for both of us. I hate array" she mumbles kicking a pebble away.

"Whoever invented this things is a convulted geniuses that should never have existed." She sighs.

Huang Jin De chuckles. "You’ll hurt a certain turtle if he heard that. But it’s meant to exist as the porpuse is really necessary"

"So is math. Just because it’s useful doesn’t mean it has to be loved. It can be hated and wanted at the same time"

"For a genuis you sure don’t sound like one"

Feng Jiao Xue tested the edges as they talk in her mind, moving in different directions, but each attempt brought her back to the same place.

The thought of looking for the core and breaking it instead crossed her mind numerous times but Forcefully breaking the array would alert whoever placed it, and she had no interest in drawing attention to herself.

She stopped for a bit and thoughtfully tapped a finger on the tree as she rest to consider her options instead of mindlessly wondering when a familiar voice called out.

"Sister Jiao Xue?" A sweet and soft voice hesitantly called near her.

Feng Jiao Xue turned sharply just in time to see a figure walk just outside the dense treeline, his white hair catching the faint sunlight filtering through the leaves. His fox ears twitched atop his head, his tail swaying slightly behind him.

"Mo Tianze?" Feng Jiao Xue asked her brows wrinkling as confusion was clearly written in her face.

She hadn’t sensed anyone following her. How had he found her? Why, did he find her?

"Sister!" Mo Tianze hurried toward her, relief evident on his youthful face. His molten golden eyes, always so bright with curiosity, were clouded with concern. "You left early this morning and didn’t tell anyone and haven’t returned and I was worried."

Feng Jiao Xue arched a brow. "So you followed me?"

Mo Tianze hesitated. His ears flicked and he looked slightly sheepish. "I...I just thought... I wanted to make sure sister was safe . And then I caught the smell of mint, fresh roses and sweet, and also incence... and thought it was you since you smell like those."

"My smell?" Feng Jiao Xue asked flicking his nose his nose making Mo Tianze scrunched his nose, twitching them like a bunny nose.

He nodded. "Yeah. It’s faint, but it lingers all over you." His nose wrinkled slightly. "Aside from the incense. sister does not smell like burning wood and ash."

Feng Jiao Xue glanced around. This is a forest, there’s no way that there could be incense here and if this is an illusion, then they would certainly not have a scent and even if smells can be added into the array, why use an incence instead of the smell of the wood?

If he could smell it then he could probably lead them out without disturbing the formation.

"Can you trace where the scent is coming from?" she asked.

Mo Tianze’s tail flicked, the fluff shifting slightly. "Mhm! Leave it to me!"

With that he moved ahead, sniffing lightly at the air. His movements were careful, his ears twitching every so often as if listening for something.

Feng Jiao Xue followed, watching as he guided them through the trees with practiced ease. He walked ahead but would glance back every now and then to make sure she was keeping up.

"Are you cold?" he asked at one point, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Feng Jiao Xue blinked. "No."

Mo Tianze still looked unconvinced. "You can tell me if you are." He hesitated, then quietly added "I can share my warmth." He hugs his tail and offer it to her. "It’s really warm"

She almost laughed. Almost.

Instead, she let out a soft breath. "I’m fine."

Mo Tianze hummed but his tail brushed against her sleeve, as if to reassure himself that she was still close.

They continued moving in silence until Mo Tianze suddenly perked up. "I think we’re almost out!"

He took a few more steps forward ears twitching, then turned back to her with a bright grin. "Here! Just step through this spot, and we’ll be...!!!!"

His foot caught on a root and with a startled yelp, Mo Tianze tripped forward. His arms flailed as he tried to catch his balance, but instead, he tumbled directly into Feng Jiao Xue.... hands on her two plump apples in her chest...

She caught him by the waist and before they could both fall she easily steadid his weight with ease.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Wide, round golden eyes met calm black fan shaped ones.

Mo Tianze stiffened. His fluffy ears twitched wildly, and his entire face turned red as he stumbled around while trying to stand upright. "I-I didn’t mean to-"

Feng Jiao Xue sighed and straightened him. "Be careful."

Mo Tianze quickly stepped back, ears drooping slightly from embarrassment. "I-I will. Sorry."

He cleared his throat, obviously trying to recover. "A-Anyway! I was right. The exit is just past here!"

Feng Jiao Xue stepped forward and sure enough, the air felt different as she crossed an invisible boundary. The lingering haze of the array faded, and the path ahead was clear once more.

Mo Tianze let out a small sigh of relief. "See? I told you I’d get us out!"

Feng Jiao Xue looked at him. "Thank you."

His tail flicked, and he rubbed the back of his neck, looking pleased but flustered. "It’s nothing! Just... next time, if you’re going somewhere tricky, can you at least tell me first, sister?"

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t respond immediately.

Mo Tianze pouted slightly. "I really was worried, you know."

A pause.

Then, finally, she gave him a small nod. "Alright."

Mo Tianze’s ears perked up instantly. "Really?"

"Really."

His face lit up. "Good! Then- then I’ll always come if you need me."

Feng Jiao Xue glanced at him, at the earnestness in his expression, at the way his tail swayed just slightly behind him.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

"Grow up first" she patted his head before turned forward and continued walking.

Mo Tianze hurried to catch up and falling into step beside her, his usual chatter resuming as if the past few moments hadn’t flustered him at all.

Feng Jiao Xue said nothing, but somehow, the air between them felt a little different.