Blossoming Path

Chapter 34: Unleashing the Azalea

To focus my thoughts, I closed my eyes deeply and entered my memory palace. A visualization of my mindscape, a beautiful garden filled with vivid and thriving plants. The memory trees had grown larger since I last saw them. I brought myself closer to the largest memory tree in my garden; the one where I placed all my knowledge of plants.

Responding to my desires, the tree's gigantic branches unfurled towards me, as though extending a gentle hand. I placed my hand and sifted through the massive archive I had stored within my mind.

Camellia, daffodil, iris, lily...azalea! There it is!

Snow-white flowers and a delicate fragrance... contain grayanotoxins, natural toxins that can have harmful effects on organisms. These grayanotoxins are primarily found in the leaves, flowers, and nectar of the plant...

In significant amounts? It took a few to take me out of commission as a child. How much would I need to hurt a giant snake? There were several azaleas in the vase, but would it be enough? Do Spirit Beasts have a resistance to poison?

As I pondered over my dilemma, a wave of pain crashed through my mindscape and destabilized it temporarily, shaking the entire memory palace. I cursed and fell to the grass, fighting the urge to vomit. How could I vomit? I'm not even corporeal in here!

There's no other compatible ingredients on my cart to make a stronger poison. All the other essences...

That's it!

Essence Extraction - You can extract the spiritual essence of plants for the creation of pills and elixirs

If I used my skill, it allows access to the purest form of the plant's essence, enhancing it's natural properties. And if it did the same to the toxin within the azalea...

I opened my eyes, leaving my memory palace to look at the innkeeper tending to my wounds. I tried to speak, but a sharp pain in my chest caused me to let out a pitiful wheeze.

"Don't talk! It'll make your wounds worse." He said. A woman, whom I assumed was his wife, approached from behind him carrying more gauze. I raised my arm, using up all my strength to point at the white azalea behind him. My finger trembled slightly as I did so.

The innkeeper glanced behind him, confusion etching lines onto his weather-beaten face. "What? What is it?" he asked, misunderstanding my silent plea. His gaze flitted between me and the direction I was pointing.

I tried to speak again, to articulate what I needed, but my voice was a husky, breathless whisper, drowned out by the thunderous cacophony of the ongoing battle. My arm was growing heavier, the effort to keep it raised taxing my already weakened body.

The innkeepers wife stepped forward, her eyes wide with concern. She gently lowered my arm, her touch soft and soothing. You need to rest, she said, shaking her head.

Rest. If only I could. But the battlefield was right outside, and I had a role to play.

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The sound of small, scuffling feet echoed from the doorway, and a familiar face peeked in - the innkeeper's son. His eyes, once filled with terror, now held a hint of curiosity. He looked between his parents and me, catching sight of my pointed direction.

His gaze landed on the vase of azaleas. His brows knitted together, and then, like the first light of dawn, understanding flickered in his eyes. The child moved toward the azaleas, his small hands carefully lifting the vase.

Dad, I think he wants this, he said, offering the vase to his father. His tone held a certain finality, a simple confidence that children often possess.

The innkeeper looked from his son to me, his confusion gradually melting away as he took the vase from his sons hands. The azaleas? Do you want the azaleas?

A nod was all I could manage. He looked uncertain, but as he handed me the vase filled with white azaleas, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. These flowers could very well be the key to our survival. Now, it was up to me to unlock that potential.

Pain, ever-present, pulsed through my veins as I turned my attention to the white azaleas in the vase. The innkeeper's family watched me curiously from the corner, but I paid them no mind. It was time to test my extraction skill once more, this time on a plant much more complex than the humble mint.

Closing my eyes, I spread my hands above the white azaleas, letting them hover just an inch above the petals. I reached out with my senses, probing the flowers gently, seeking that singular point of extraction. The process was akin to searching for a tiny needle in a massive haystack, but my fingers tingled when I finally found it.

As if answering my silent call, a slender tendril of energy seeped out of the azaleas. It was a brilliant white, tinged with an ethereal blue hue, much like the azaleas themselves. It felt more volatile, more potent than the essence I had extracted from the mint.

The essence, despite its volatile nature, gradually formed a small, glowing orb above my palm. I realized, too late, that I had no vial, no receptacle to store the essence. With my right hand preoccupied with maintaining the extraction, I glanced around, searching desperately for something suitable.

Seeing my predicament, the innkeepers son, perhaps grasping my silent plea, rushed to fetch a glass vial from a nearby shelf. With careful, quick steps, he brought it over and held it beneath the floating essence.

Releasing my hold on the essence, I watched it flow smoothly into the vial. It swirled around, a milky, white liquid in a confined space. Once the essence had settled, the boy swiftly corked it. His eyes were wide, filled with awe and a touch of fear at the mysterious procedure he'd just aided.

As I turned my attention back to the azaleas, I saw the immediate change. The once vibrant petals had lost their luster, the leaves drooped listlessly, and the plant itself appeared drained, a ghostly image of its former glory. It was as if the very life had been pulled from it. Bringing it closer to my face, I took a whiff. There was still a faint scent, the unique, sweet aroma of azaleas, but it was greatly diminished, like a forgotten echo of its original fragrance.

"Feng...Wu..."

The boy leaned closer to hear what I was trying to say. Every word took significant amount of energy. Was I going to die?

I don't think so, but I was hurt pretty badly. There might've been some permanent damage done to my body from all this. But I wouldn't rest until I delivered the vial to its intended target. How could I get this to the others? i could barely even speak as is. As the family looked over me in concern, I saw a small blip of light from the door.

Fluttering wings descended down onto my nose. Tianyi had found her way into the inn, sending waves of emotion through our telepathic bond. Sadness, guilt, and shame.

A butterfly worrying about me. What has my life come to?

I tried to send emotions like reassurance through our bond, to confirm that I'll be alright, but it didn't seem to ease her tense and frightful body. A glow that threatened to blind me erupted from her had I not closed my eyes.

The subtle floral aroma invaded my nose, eliciting a sigh of relief as my pain eased. I knew the damage done to my body was still immense. My cracked ribs had not magically healed. Tianyi's healing ability catered more to pain relief and illnesses. The actual repairs to my body were minimal, but it helped regardless.

The blue aura around her had disappeared. She looked almost like a regular, mundane butterfly now. Tianyi had given me all the energy packed within her tiny body, trying her best to soothe my pain. Even when her qi was completely gone, I could feel the small attempts she made to try and squeeze out every last bit.

I set her down slowly, trying to calm my shaking hand. Tianyi tried to stick herself onto me, but I gently coaxed her into the boy's palm and stood up.

"Mister..! Your wounds are-"

"There's no time." I interrupted. I clenched my fist, looking down on the vial in my hand. It was a risky gamble; one that could end in my death. But if I didn't do it, the others would surely fall to the Wind Serpents. "Please take care of her."

Gritting my teeth against the stabbing pain in my side, I pushed open the door and stepped out into the conflict. The scene that unfolded before my eyes was a mix of devastation and resilience. Buildings bore deep gouges and the cobblestone roads were pockmarked from the Wind Serpents' assaults. The air was electric with tension, the hissing of the Wind Serpents across the clearing.

From my location, I had a clear view of the skirmish. Feng Wu and Xu Ziqing were locked in a fierce battle with one of the Wind Serpents, while the twelve third-class disciples from the Verdant Lotus and Silent Moon sects struggled against the other one.

Feng Wu, with his bladed fan dancing in his hand, was a picture of graceful fury. His movements were smooth and precise, each strike of his fan a brush making a wave of sparks as it clashed against the serpent's scales. Xu Ziqing, on the other hand, was a tempest, his sword whirling around him in a shimmering arc. His personality notwithstanding, he was a skilled fighter. They were clearly holding their own against the Wind Serpent, their opponent already missing an eye.

However, the same couldn't be said about the third-class disciples. They were putting up a brave fight, their weapons flashing in the fading light, but they were on the defensive. They were holding their own, yes, but barely. The Wind Serpent they faced was relentless, its tail whipping out again and again, keeping them constantly on their toes. The constant winds buffeting them tossed the formation off-balance and revealed vulnerabilities that the snake exploited with ruthless efficiency. It was clear that they wouldn't be able to last much longer.

"Almost there," I murmured, cradling the vial in my hand. It was warm, its contents pulsating with energy. If I could get it to Feng Wu and Xu Ziqing in time, they could finish off the Wind Serpent they were fighting, and the tide of battle could be turned.

I began picking my way through the chaotic streets, dodging fleeing townsfolk and fallen debris. The essence in the vial seemed to thrum in time with my heartbeat, filling me with a sense of purpose. I wasn't strong like Feng Wu or Xu Ziqing, but I wasn't helpless either.

The battlefield grew closer with each agonizing step. The Wind Serpents were massive, terrifying, and far more powerful than any of us. But they weren't unbeatable. The one Feng Wu and Xu Ziqing were fighting was already injured, its movements noticeably less fluid than before.

With renewed determination, I continued on, keeping my eyes fixed on Feng Wu. His verdant fan was a blur, meeting each of the Wind Serpent's attacks with a counterstrike of his own. He was tiring, that much was evident, but he wasn't beaten yet. He was still fighting, still standing. And as long as he was standing, there was hope.

"Just hold on, Feng Wu," I muttered, steeling myself against the pain that coursed through my body. "I'm coming."

With the vial in hand, I pressed on, driven by the urgency of the situation and the unshakeable belief that we would prevail. We had to. For the town, for the people, and for ourselves. We just needed a little more time, a little more strength. And I was bringing exactly that.

The sharp tang of ozone filled the air as I finally made it to the edge of the battlefield. The pressure was thick around us, a physical weight pressing against my chest, making it harder to breathe. I staggered forward, my vision swaying as I fought against the agony racking my body.

"Feng Wu!" I called out, my voice barely more than a hoarse whisper. The ongoing clash between the disciples and the Wind Serpents was drowning out any other sound. I took a shallow breath, gathering my strength before bellowing again, "Feng Wu!"

At my second cry, Feng Wu's head whipped around, his eyes meeting mine across the chaotic battlefield. The look in his eyes was a mixture of surprise and relief, but mostly determination. He nodded, the corners of his lips pulling into a tight line.

As he broke away from the ongoing skirmish to approach me, the Wind Serpent capitalized on the opportunity. With a deafening roar, it reared back before unleashing a gust of wind powerful enough to send debris flying.

Xu Ziqing sprang into action, stepping in front of Feng Wu to deflect the brunt of the serpent's attack. His sword shimmered, a tangible force field that stalled the wind's advance, buying Feng Wu a few crucial seconds.

We met halfway, his breath ragged and his gaze determined. I extended my hand, the vial held tightly within. The pure, white essence within pulsed as if in response to our desperate situation. I saw his eyes dart to it, a hint of confusion marring his features.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice strained.

"An edge," I replied. "Throw this into the serpent's mouth."

His brows furrowed in confusion but he didn't question me further. He took the vial from my hand, his grip firm, his fingers smudged with dirt and sweat. His trust in me, despite not fully understanding the situation, sparked a sense of pride and guilt within me. Pride in having earned his trust, and guilt for the dangerous gamble I had proposed.

With a sharp nod, Feng Wu turned back towards the Wind Serpent. His posture was coiled like a spring, his fan clenched tightly in one hand and the vial in the other. He took a deep breath, his body visibly relaxing before he burst into a sprint, darting across the battlefield.

His movements were fluid, a stark contrast to the chaos around him. He danced through the battlefield, his fan providing him cover, while Xu Ziqing continued to keep the Wind Serpent occupied. It was as though time slowed, every detail starkly etched in my mind.

Feng Wu was close now, the Wind Serpent towering over him. With a final burst of speed, he leapt, his form silhouetted against the dusk light. The Wind Serpent roared, its maw opening wide in an attempt to swallow him whole.

This was it.

Feng Wu's arm drew back before he threw the vial into the gaping maw of the Wind Serpent. It was a split-second moment, an exchange of glances between prey and predator, before he twisted away from the Wind Serpent's jaw snapping shut. The vial disappeared into the abyss, swallowed by the monstrous beast.

The world seemed to fall silent then, the battlefield pausing as though in anticipation. I watched, my breath held, as Feng Wu landed nimbly on the ground, the Wind Serpent's roars echoing ominously around us.

The serpents head swung erratically as if it was dazed, its mighty body swaying like a tree in a storm. Its movements became uncoordinated, its tail lashing out aimlessly, its eyes glazed and unfocused.

Feng Wu and Xu Ziqing exchanged glances before lunging in again, their weapons clashing against the serpents scales with renewed vigor. The monster's movements, though still powerful, were sluggish and uncoordinated.

It was like a dream, the once monstrous and terrifying Wind Serpent now reduced to a state of bewilderment. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, watching as Feng Wu and Xu Ziqing began to gradually gain the upper hand.

Yes I muttered to myself, my voice barely audible over the roars and clanging of metal. I sagged against a nearby rock, my body wracked with tremors, "It worked."

As the poison seeped through the Wind Serpent's system, the disciples found an opening they could exploit. Every attack, every move they made seemed to strike true, causing the Wind Serpent to bellow in pain and confusion. Victory was within their grasp.

But as I watched, the edges of my vision began to blur. A wave of dizziness washed over me, my knees buckling beneath me. I could barely register the shouts from the battlefield or the frantic calls of my name as I crumpled to the ground. I could've sworn I saw the familiar blue of the Heavenly Interface messaging me, but the line between reality and hallucination were beginning to mix.

As the darkness claimed me, I couldn't help but wonder... What would I wake up to? If I even woke up at all.

Dear Interface, if you could reward me with a timely skill that saves my life, it would greatly be appreciated right now.

And then, I knew nothing more.