CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44 A COMRADES RESOLVE.

Chapter 44: A Comrades Resolve.

"What do you hope to accomplish with one bow! They’re are several archers behind us, what’s one little bow going to amount to?!" Lang Shen suddenly asked, his eyes slightly red.

"Shut up and keep riding!" Lin Mu said with clenched teeth not bothering to elaborate further. "Everyone should try as much as they can to increase the gap between us and them. I’ll try my best to slow them down." he said as he gently pulled back on Autumn Winds reigns, prompting her to slow down her pace until he was at the rear of the group.

Brother Wangs eyes widened in surprise "Brother Lin, don’t do this, it’s completely insane!"

" Just get back to the front now before you’re going to get yourself killed!"

Zhang Teihu also nodded his head in approval. "Brother Wang is right Junior brother Lin, Do you even know how to use a bow properly!"

" Listen to Brother Zhang Junior brother Lin! This isn’t the time to show off!" Another screamed, it was obvious non of them where willing to let his risk his life like that just for their own benefit. To them, Lin Mu had already proven his worth, he was no different than any member of the hunting party, a real comrade they wouldn’t mind saving when in peril, so it was within reason that the lot of them would be against such a suicidal attempt.

"Tsk...i hate to admit it but their right outsider! You better stay in formation before those Jebaki b@stards will rip you apart when you lag behind!" to everyone’s surprise, even Lang Shen was pitching in.

Hearing all their words of concern, Lin Mu was a bit touched, never once did he expect anyone to treat him with such favouritism. But when he remembered just what type of situation they were in, he couldn’t help but steel his resolve, his heart beating firm while his veins seemingly became full of steel.

"I’m not trying to show off! If we’re all going to make it out of here alive, I’m going to need you all to trust me on this." Lin Mu balled his hand into a firm fist.

"Trust you?, You’ll only make things worse! You can’t stop them alone! You’ll only anger them further!" Chen Shi spoke up, his expression erratic.

" I take back what I said earlier, your too stubborn outsider! Let them catch up to you if you want to die, but don’t forget we still have a match tomorrow! You better not stand me up!" Lang Shen snorted before facing forward and riding faster ahead.

"Sure thing! There’s no way I’d ever miss the chance to pummel the both of you." Lin Mu replied with a smile, watching Lang Shen ridding forward. He let out a breath before continuing to slow down towards the back of the party.

Zhang Teihu’s eyes widened in exasperation on seeing this."Don’t be stupid Junior brother Lin! Even if you do slow them down for a moment, it still won’t be enough!" He hollered In a loud tone.

"You’re not a hero, Lin Mu! Get back up here!" Brother Wang added.

"Then what am I supposed to do? Sit there and wait for them to slaughter us? Doesn’t sound like a bright idea." Lin Mu chuckled while continuing to retreat back.

"You insufferable brat! Stop arguing and get back in line! We need to stick together!" Zhang Teihu felt as if he was losing his mind trying to talk some sense into this boy yet no matter what he said, it was obvious Lin Mu had no intentions whatsoever to listen to him.

"If we don’t break their pace, we won’t make it back to the tribe. Someone has to try and I’m willing to be that person so stop complaining and just accept it already!" Lin Mu yelled with shimmering eyes when he eventually reached the back of the racing party.

"You’re crazy. Absolutely crazy." the Serinerian who was previously at the rear, now Infront of him, didn’t know what to make of this.

" Hahahaha, being Crazy never stopped anyone before now did it! but if this works, You princesses better make sure to thank me later, ya hear!" Lin Mu said with a shocking level of enthusiasm, even the Serinerians who heard him where stupefied by his lack of fear nor nervousness, no matter how many times they looked at him, his expression looked absolutely genuine, like a real comrade ready to venture into the unknown in order to save his beloved brothers.

Eventually everyone couldn’t help but feel that this young man who they had once thought of as an outsider, to be someone even more closer than their own kin, to them, he might not be a brother by blood but he was definitely someone deserving of the word brother!

Even Lang Shen who rode at the forefront of the party couldn’t stop his lips from twitching ever so slightly at the thought.

With that, Lin Mu gripped his bow tighter, leaving behind the doubts and protests of the fleeing Serinerians as he carefully turned his waist around, eyes looking towards the ruthless gazes before him, prepared to face the oncoming Jebaki.

’ Let’s do this...’

Without much hesitation, He nocked an arrow, drawing the string back with steady hands even while Autumn Wind was sprinting with him atop her.

His enhanced physical abilities made the bow feel like an extension of his body, and his vision sharpened as he focused on the nearest Jebaki rider.

Lin Mu closed his eyes slightly, taking long deep breaths in order to calm down his restless body that was filled with all the excitement from earlier.

Before he knew it, each breath he took suddenly felt colder and colder and whenever he breathed out, a light steam would gently flow from his mouth.

«[How....]» The system asked in surprise. Fortunately, Lin Mu was too focused on his bow, arrow and the tens of Jebaki’s in the way of his arrow to hear her.