They had spent two days traveling the Crescent Pack's territory and had finally reached its border at dawn of the third day. By consensus, Wu Chen and Lu Yong were using their aura search to locate the cultivator, while the scouts were sent out in various directions to search for the deadly reptile. For now, things were fairly quiet as they awaited news from the scouts.

The last time the snake had attacked, the cultivator hadn't been in the area, Lu Yong thought to himself. This did not bode well for their finding him in the vicinity of the cobra since it was obvious that they didn't need to be close for the snake to get orders. However, he dutifully cast his aura search in hopes of getting a lucky break.

He continued until well after sunrise, and while he didn't catch any movement of the enemy with his search, he did notice a scout group returning at a fairly fast speed from the northwest. He stopped the search and patted Wu Chen's shoulder to get his attention.

'One of the scout groups is returning. Let's see what they've found.' he said, motioning for Wu Chen to follow him. They quickly joined the rest of the pack near Yue Guang to await the news.

Yue Guang was currently in his wolf form, as it was convenient for travel and communication with his pack. He stood a full two heads taller than the rest of the wolves, and his beautiful white fur did little to hide the lithe muscles undulating just below the skin's surface. He quickly acknowledged the approaching group and received their report. After sending them back out to inform the other groups, he approached Lu Yong and Wu Chen.

In his wolf form, his head came to Lu Yong's shoulders. Wu Chen was in awe of the sheer power and presence he had, and he couldn't help the shiver that ran along his spine as the wolf padded its way towards his Guardian. Those golden eyes were burning for revenge, and Wu Chen was glad that they had not had to fight this pack after all.

As he neared the two, he suddenly seemed to unfold his body and lightly stepped forward as the human form of Yue Guang. His white robes caught the wind, and the fabric appeared to roll over his handsome form as he walked the remaining distance to the duo, his bare feet stepping lightly over the meadow grasses.

'The snake has been spotted sunning itself just over the northwest foothill. It looks like it has taken over another territory and is now much closer to our border than I expected. There is no sign of the cultivator.' he reported, his voice almost a growl as he spoke.

Lu Yong nodded, not intimidated by Yue Guang in the least. 'If we get closer to the cobra, I might be able to get a better reading using my aura.'

Yue Guang glanced at him in warning from the corner of his eye as he turned, and then he resumed his wolf form to move the pack nearer the prey.

They stayed downwind of the snake as they crept closer. Wu Chen used his ability to mask the auras and scents of themselves and the pack, while Lu Yong used his aura search to locate the cultivator. Soon, they were close enough to see the massive creature stretched out on a small plateau hidden within the foothills of the mountain range. A large cave opening lay just past its frightening form.

It was truly a fearsome sight. The cobra's head alone appeared to be the same length as Wu Chen, and its scales were the size of his hands. Its sandy color was broken up by the lighter colored banding along its long length, with the easily recognizable triple band of red wrapping around the tail segment. Hence, its name. It was early enough that the snake was still warming its body in the sun. It wouldn't be long, though, before it was warm enough to awaken from its torpidity.

Lu Yong suddenly felt a tremor of qi just past the snake's relaxed body. At this distance, he couldn't be sure if it was the power of the cultivator or the resource the snake was guarding. However, he made his findings known to Yue Guang and informed him that he and Wu Chen would try to skirt behind the snake and enter the cave while the wolves kept its attention. They had to find the source of the fluctuation. With any luck, they would be able to take down the cultivator and severely weaken the snake.

Contracts between spirit beasts and cultivators were usually set so that if the creature died, the cultivator only lost a partner. However, if the cultivator died, the creature who was contracted would be weakened physically as well as spiritually. It was a motivation for creatures to protect their contracted partners. In return, the creatures usually gained power and resources through the contract, which made it tempting for spirit beasts of plateaued levels despite the downside of possible cultivator death. They were still a fairly rare occurrence, though, as spirit beasts were known for their pride, and they didn't make contracts lightly.

Yue Guang didn't bother changing into human form to answer Lu Yong. He simply nodded and began implementing his plan. He had already decided on a course of attack and efficiently sent his pack out to silently surround the snake in pairs. While the Crescent Wolves powers were at their peak during the night, they still got a slight boost during the crescent moon phase even in the daytime. This meant that right now, the pack was even stronger than it normally would be. Yue Guang was counting on that.

When the 13 pairs of wolves were in position, Yue Guang let out a mournful howl, and the wolves burst into action. They raced along the plateau in an attempt to converge all at once on the surprised snake. Their jaws snapped, and their eyes shone with the red sheen of battle lust.

However, the cobra had long been ready. It raised its head, its body soaring to the height of 3 men, and its hood making it appear even larger than it already was. It tasted the air, and its eyes flashed with a bright white light. Then, a sudden windstorm rushed out from the snake's position towards the attacking wolves. Many were blown away by the sheer force of the blast. The rest fought against the storm, still on a trajectory to attack the giant cobra.

As the wolves occupied the snake, Lu Yong and Wu Chen circled the battle. Using their qinggong, they made their way with lightning speed towards the entrance of the cave.

The snake realized that there were intruders near the cave mouth, and it opened its massive maw wide, sword-like fangs gleaming in the morning light, and sent a solid line of poison in the direction of Wu Chen and Lu Yong.

Wu Chen saw it coming, pushed Lu Yong well ahead of the viscous liquid, and then jumped backwards himself. He got a few drops on his clan robe, which rapidly ate a wide smoking hole in the hem. Thankfully, it stopped there and didn't get on his skin. Lu Yong had avoided it completely and continued on towards the cave.

Meanwhile, the wolves had reached their quarry and began ripping and tearing at the reptile with enhanced strength and stamina. Amidst the dust thrown into the air by the scuffle, one could see the occasional flash of fur or writhing scales but little else. The battle was vicious, fast, and confusing. Wolf bodies began flying out of the dust cloud. Some with smoke rising from poison burnt patches on their bodies, and some with nasty gashes festering already from the deadly fangs of their foe. Snarls, growls, whimpers, pained yelps, and hissing exploded in a cacophony of sound that sliced through the air, assaulting the ears of any denizens nearby.

Wu Chen quickly ran after Lu Yong, his heart pounding from the deadly battle taking place just meters from where he flew. Through the dust, he barely caught sight of the hem of Lu Yong's black robe disappearing into the cave mouth. He put on a burst of speed, his fear for his Guardian spurring him on. They didn't know what was waiting for them inside that cave, and he didn't want Lu Yong to face it alone.

Finally reaching the shaded cave entrance, Wu Chen whipped around the corner and almost cried out as he was lifted off his feet with a hand around his mouth and waist. His back was slammed into a solid chest and held there tightly.

'Shhhh!' whispered Lu Yong into his ear. 'Movement. Cultivator. Core Formation. Ten steps behind.'

Wu Chen nodded his understanding, and Lu Yong released him. Lu Yong crept forward, his aura search letting him know that a fairly powerful cultivator lay around the next bend, and he was moving around inside another large cavern. Wu Chen followed the prescribed ten steps behind, his aura reaching out and locating the cultivator Lu Yong had discovered. He drew his swords and began pumping qi into Xiao Lei.

As they peeked quietly around the bend, the first thing they noticed was the ruins of an ancient dwelling lit by scattered torchlight and nestled within a fairly large cavern. Its walls were still standing, more or less, with only a slight tilt to the sturdy build, but the roof was completely missing.

Other stone structures had not fared so well, however, and the remnants of a few mysterious old buildings lay scattered around the cave. Pieces of those walls struggled up from the cavern floor like jagged teeth, their past functions hidden amidst the battering of falling rock and the ravages of time.

A solitary figure in deep blue tattered robes could be seen pacing amongst the rubble. He appeared to be mumbling to himself, his long sleeves flying as he punctuated his ramblings with dramatic hand gestures. His grey streaked black hair was left loose, the stringy strands reaching mid-back. He did not seem to have noticed the two hugging the wall of his cavern and straining to deduce any further movement in the area.

Lu Yong couldn't detect anything else, so he silently signaled Wu Chen to circle around the left while he circled to the right. Wu Chen gave a brief nod and began slowly making his way towards the figure using the ruins and stalagmites as visual blocks. The closer he got, the more he was convinced that this man was from the Spirit Mountain Sect, although he lacked the jade talisman on his belt.

Wu Chen was now as close as he could safely get, so he stopped and turned half his gaze on Lu Yong. He could barely see the man flitting between the stone ruins, and even then, it was only because he knew where to look. Soon, Lu Yong's position was about even with his own. Wu Chen waited patiently for his Guardian's signal.

Just as Lu Yong raised his hand to begin the fight, a brilliant light exploded over their heads. With their eyes now accustomed to the darkness, the unexpected flash effectively blinded them. To be safe, Wu Chen silently rolled away from his previous position and waited impatiently for his sight to return. He couldn't tell where Lu Yong was at that moment, but he could hear the strange man cackle, the sound echoing eerily through the cavern.

'Thought you'd sneak up on me, did you?' he sneered, his hands moving in a swift seal. Almost immediately, he began pelting the area with small metal shards. Wu Chen could hear the innumerable objects striking the battered wall he hid behind with great force. He didn't dare move a meter from his hiding place, especially with his sight compromised now.

'Well, come on, you bastards!' The man yelled into the cavern. 'Quit hiding so I can shred you properly!'