Lesser Souls: The Path of Celestial Thunder (A Xianxia Cultivation Fantasy Epic) by D. R. R. Hatch

Author:D. R. R. Hatch [Hatch, D. R. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

42

ALONE

Jasmine’s legs were pumping hard, carrying her across mud and through foliage. The cloudy sky cast a dreary gloom through the woods, making it seem far later than it actually was. Thunder rumbled, sounding like the hunger pangs of a god.

She cast a glance over her shoulder, blinking water from her eyes as she searched the forest. Bright green specks danced with blue sprites in the shape of rings. Water sprites. She’d seen a few on the edge of town, but they were of no concern to her.

People wanted her dead.

Assaulting an officer was a class-A crime. Either they’d throw her into prison to rot, or they’d execute her in front of the entire sect, making a public example out of her.

Her toes snagged a root, and she stumbled forward, hopping on one foot. When she looked in the direction she was headed, she found herself bumbling toward a green spiky tree. With a yelp, she swerved around it, toppling to the ground.

Her broken arm smarted, and she let out a cry of pain. She held it close to her chest, cycling what little maqi she could muster to enforce the broken bones. The energy seemed to buffer the pain, but it didn’t completely take it away.

Rain pelted the raw slices on her back. After crashing through the window earlier, she hadn’t thought to check for wounds. And why would she? The initial shock kept the pain at bay, and she honestly didn’t have the luxury of tending to her hundreds of cuts, most of which were on her back, but there were many on her arms and legs too. Blood intermingled with the water, and she clenched her teeth against the painful stings.

She huffed. This was one big yētching mess. If she’d just left the nuns alone, none of this would be happening. She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. But she couldn’t have just left them to suffer! Too many women were treated as playthings.

You tried. And failed. But if you had been just a little stronger, imagine what you could have done. Jasmine frowned, noting that her jade necklace was growing warm. This is but a prelude to the things you are destined to do, the people you are destined to save, and the woman you are destined to become.

If she survived this.

She gingerly rose to her knees, glancing back the way she came. Branches and leaves blocked out most of the rain, but buckets were pouring down from the sky. It was difficult to see very far, but her darting eyes didn’t see anything or anyone.

It was dangerous to be in the forest alone, especially with that demon roaming around, but it was far more dangerous for her to remain in the sect. She hadn’t seen anyone follow her beyond the borders, but in reality, she hadn’t really seen much at all. Rain had blurred her vision, making her feel partially blind.

She hugged herself, curling up as a growling rumble echoed from above. Why couldn’t everything go right for a change? Her good fortune—with Ti’Lee and Kana—refused to stay.

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