"Lao Ren, it sounds like nothing's happening anymore," Jiaoya asked in a hushed voice. "Could he already be dead?"
"Well..." Lao Ren was puzzled too. He wanted to peek out, but in the end, he couldn't summon the courage.
"Let's wait another ten minutes," he whispered. "If there's still no movement, we'll go out."
Yui sat cross-legged on the ground, slowly replenishing her chakra. She was puzzled. What were those two doing over there? How could they hold back for so long? Were they scared?
She shook off her distraction, stopped paying attention to them, and focused on molding chakra.
Ten minutes later, she stood up, gripping Hakutaku in one hand, and headed toward the large boulder to the south.
"If you won't make a move, then I will!"
Behind the boulder, Lao Ren and Jiaoya both let out long sighs of relief.
"I knew it. That person must be dead," Jiaoya said. "There hasn't been any movement for so long. We should be safe now too."
He started walking out from behind the boulder, but after only a few steps, Lao Ren grabbed his shoulder.
"Jiaoya, wait. Something's wrong." Lao Ren's expression darkened, and he pulled Jiaoya back with a firm tug.
Crack! Boom!
A sharp crack rang out, and they felt a chill above their heads. A gleaming blade swept over their crowns, cleaving the boulder behind them in two. The neatly severed section tumbled down in front of them with a thunderous crash.
Damn it, that person hasn't left, Jiaoya cursed inwardly. His head had nearly been sliced off. Luckily, Lao Ren had reacted quickly enough.
Before he could recover, a dark silhouette suddenly appeared, blocking the sunlight overhead.
"I finally found you." Hakutaku in hand, Yui stood atop the boulder she had cut in half and