"Wait!"
When everyone who was about to set off heard this call, they all stopped and looked back at her.
"What's wrong, miko-sama?" Ashitaba asked with some confusion.
But Shion did not answer immediately, but scanned the faces of all the guards present.
The image of their death flashed through his mind unconsciously, and his heart seemed to be grasped by a cold hand.
It's like this again... you can clearly see it, but you can't change it directly? No, this time it's different.
The prophecy has changed because of that person. Maybe...
After a long while, she took a deep breath, and the alienation and arrogance appeared on her face again.
She no longer looked at the guards, but turned to Ashitaba, and spoke in a clear, cold and unquestionable voice.
"Ashitaba, and you guys, there is no need to follow."
As soon as the words fell, you could hear needles dropping in the courtyard.
Ashitaba was stunned, with shock and disbelief written all over his face.
"Miko-sama? You... what did you say?"
"I said, you don't have to go."
Shion repeated, her tone even more impatient. She even turned slightly sideways, raised her hand and casually pointed at the silent Ning Xue beside her.
"Isn't it enough to have the powerful Mr. Fujiwara here?
He can defeat Mōryō's men alone, what can you do if you follow him?
They're nothing more than... a bunch of cumbersome burdens."
After all, she didn't say it out loud because it was too hurtful.
When the guards heard this, the blood on their faces instantly faded, showing unwillingness and anger.
But some people seemed to realize something.
"Miko-sama..." a young guard asked in a trembling voice.
"Did you... see something?"
Shion didn't answer, just crossed his arms and glanced at them coldly.
However, the fingers wrapped around his arms tightened unconsciously.
She couldn't answer.
Once they say, I saw your death, these stubborn guys will only follow more stubbornly and use their lives to verify that prophecy.
Only by completely denying it and pushing it away in the most hurtful way can it be possible... to let them stay safely.
Seeing the witch's reaction, everyone roughly understood.
The anger on their faces gradually settled into a heavy, tacit sadness.
"Even so..."
Ashitaba's voice was deep, he lowered his head deeply and gave the most solemn salute.
"Protecting witches is our innate responsibility, and it is an oath engraved in our bones and blood.
Even if there is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire ahead, and it is a certain death situation, we will... be happy with it."
"Stupid!" Shion turned away suddenly, his voice a bit cold.
"As you wish!"
She stopped looking at them and turned to Ning Xue, her tone urgent.
"Why are you still standing there? Aren't you about to set off? Hurry up!"
Ning Xue's eyes under the mask calmly swept over everyone present, and when he saw their determined looks, he knew what was going on.
But he didn't reveal it, he just took the luggage package prepared by Ashitaba as instructed, moved Chakra in his hand slightly, and sealed it into a blank scroll.
"Let's go." He said to Shion, his voice still calm.
Shion walked quickly outside the shrine without looking back, his steps a little hasty. Ning Xue followed suit slowly.
Until the two figures disappeared at the end of the path, there was still silence in the courtyard.
For a long time, Ashitaba looked at each other and the guards looked at each other without saying anything.
They rearranged it simply and followed silently.
Deep in the jungle.
After walking for a while, Ning Xue unfolded the map, looked at the route drawn by Ashitaba, and silently calculated in his mind.
According to the current walking speed, it will take at least seven days to reach Land of Swamps.
If he travels on his own feet with all his strength, two days will be enough.
Thinking of this, he turned to look at Shion on the side and said.
"At this rate, it will take seven days to get to Land of Swamps." His voice stated the facts calmly.
"If I were to make the journey, it would only take two days."
Shion paused when she heard this. Although she knew that time was tight, she suddenly said such a sentence.
"Are you on your way?" She frowned slightly and looked at Ning Xue.
"What do you mean?"
"I can go much faster if I carry you on my back." Ning Xue said directly without any hesitation.
After the words fell, the air became quiet for a moment.
An imperceptible stiffness flashed across Shion's face, and then he immediately spoke out.
"No." She refused almost subconsciously, her voice carrying the usual coldness.
"How unbecoming is this?"
"Morality, or time?" Ning Xue looked at her through the mask, his tone still calm.
"The enemy will not wait for us. The longer we delay, the more variables there will be."
Shion pursed her lips.
She knew he was right. Every moment of delay would increase the risk of Mōryō's recovery, and those loyal guards might also face more mishaps because they followed.
But...
She turned her face away and unconsciously grabbed the hem of her coat with her fingers.
"Is there no... other way?"
"Yes." Ning Xue put away the map and said to Shion seriously.
"I'll go first and kill them all. You take the guards and walk slowly."
While speaking, he also pointed behind him
Shion immediately shook his head after hearing this suggestion.
Let him leave alone? Obviously not.
Not to mention that he is a variable that has never appeared. Just let him act with the guards. What if it goes as predicted?
Silence filled the forest, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.
After a long time, Shion took a deep breath, as if he had made some kind of determination.
She turned around, but her eyes fell on Ning Xue's shoulders. She didn't look into his eyes, and her voice was much lower than before.
"... can we really get there in two days?"
"Hmm."
"... Then..." She paused and finally said those few words, "... I'm sorry to bother you."
She said no more and just stood silently beside Ning Xue, her ears slightly red.
Seeing this, Ning Xue turned around and squatted down, and reminded.
"It might be a little bumpy, so hold on tight."
Shion hesitated for a moment, stretched out his arms, and carefully put his arms around his shoulders.
The next second, she felt her body light up, and her whole body fell on his back.
Ning Xue adjusted his posture, held her firmly, and then Chakra gathered under his feet.
"Gone."
As soon as he finished speaking, he jumped up high and landed lightly on the crown of the nearest tree. Then he quickly moved through the trees like an arrow from a string.
"Ah! Slow down, slow down, slow down--!" Shion's exclamation echoed in the forest.
The guards who were quietly following behind saw this sudden scene and were forced to speed up their pace.