Murim Recurve

The leader picked up an instrument from his armour, extending the handle by pulling its end. Its head was shaped like a spoon's, possessing a curved surface that was inclined in one direction. All the scouts arrived and stood side by side while their respective Pranic Avatars moved away from the scene. They each took out a similar spoon-shaped instrument.

The head of the spoon-shaped instrument was wider than their palms, able to hold more water than they could scoop using their hands. Every scout placed the head of the spoon-shaped instrument in the water, filling it up before hitting with all their might.

Their actions sent the water flying forward, breaking into water droplets under the force, sprinkling all over inside the kitchen. The Kalhas hiding in the area soon turned into regular eyeballs. After all, the entirety of the space on the ground floor was jam-packed by them, preventing them from moving anywhere to evade.

So, every attack hit its target, turning the Kalhas into regular eyeballs. The sound they emitted fell on deaf ears. The scouts had their eyes closed, so they never gazed at the Kalhas to fall under their control. Even the smell the Kalhas emitted was mostly drowned by the rain, and as the scouts were stationed farther away, and were constantly subjected to the falling rain, they could endure the effects.

Their Pranic Avatars had moved away from the view of the Kalhas, hiding beside the walls or on the roofs, away from even sensing any. As they shared thoughts with their respective Harmoniser, once they fell under the control of a Kalha, the respective Harmoniser would experience the same. So they had been moved away to prevent such a scenario.

After spilling enough water on the Kalhas, until they could no longer reach the ones farther back, the scouts made a speedy retreat by riding their Pranic Avatars. The rain continued to fall, showing no signs of stopping.

The moment she saw their choice of action, Re'Kha was stunned, her face turning pale. She already felt mild difficulties in breathing, the air within the Aeki was running out. She had intended to fight against the scouts, so her preparations only lasted for a short duration.

'What should I do now?' Re'Kha watched the scouts swiftly leave the settlement while she was running out air. She didn't wish to open the granary's entrance, for that would bring in more Kalhas. The worse situation would be when all the Kalhas inside rush out, sending all her schemes down the drain.

'I can only risk it and endure for the time being.' Re'Kha took our Harpen Waves from her storage ring, using its sharpness to make a hole at the top of the Aeki. She carefully made the hole, ensuring she could block it using Harpen Waves when unneeded. Using the two blades, she poked two holes, each positioned on opposite sides, one placed higher with respect to the other. As it was made from Water Qi Essence, it prevented the Fear Qi from seeping through it.

The air within flowed out while the outside air flowed in, immediately disturbing her mental state. Re'Kha quickly blocked it, enduring the pain as her head spun, the control she had over her body slipped away. The cloth banner absorbed it immediately, starting with the head to lighten the effect on Re'Kha.

As she had been constantly enduring and freeing herself from the influence of the Kalhas, Re'Kha was developing some resistance to the fear building up in her. The Fear Qi was generated in her body thanks to the fear she experienced the moment she perceived a Kalha.

The source stemmed from a mysterious concept she was unaware of. After all, judging by appearance alone, a Kalha wasn't scary, considering the vicious beasts she had come across. But, the fear stemmed within her the moment she perceived one, a mysterious cause, but a definite effect.

Since the Fear Qi generated in her was thanks to the fear she felt, Re'Kha gradually started to develop some resistance, the amount of Fear Qi she produced a negligible amount lower than before. But on a quantitative basis, the resistance she developed was worth nothing.

Only when she persisted with the same for years at a stretch would she develop enough resistance to develop a qualitative change. With the renewed air, Re'Kha could hold on for longer. At regular intervals, she swapped the air by unplugging Harpen Waves before swiftly plugging it back in.

Through her Water Qi perception, Re'Kha could sense the damage the scouts had done to the place. 'They are planning to be rid of all the Kalhas in this house before focusing on me. It seems they have meticulously calculated to achieve the best effect. The leader should be a lot older and wiser to act in such a manner.'

The Kalhas within the granary were still, with some of them landing on the food floating above the water. Their tongues wriggled about, licking the food as they consumed it little at a time. The Kalhas mostly fed on Fear Qi, but that didn't mean they were unable to eat normal food. They just never preferred to do so in the presence of Fear Qi.

The Aeki was a plant that they were never concerned about, so they had ignored the one at the entrance from the beginning. As they were unable to control plants, they never targeted them. This was why Re'Kha avoided coming under their radar, as she was hiding with the Aeki.

Soon, the rain stopped as all the Kalhas within the house flew out. The Kalhas within the other houses too flew out, using the chance to take a breather and fly about. The only difference was the actions of the Kalhas that had flown out from the house the scouts had damaged. They swiftly hid within other houses.

All the Kalhas, including the ones that had been hiding within the house's cupboards, under the bed, etc. flew out and hid within other houses. They knew that the house had become dangerous, with water falling in from everywhere. So, they refrained from staying in the place any longer.

Re'Kha didn't know their actual movements but could assume accordingly, for that was what the scouts had planned, judging by their actions.