104 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

**Chapter 104: Father (Three-in-One)** Qi Xian Qing always considered herself to be someone spoiled by her sect. Her extraordinary celestial spirit had earned her unparalleled protection from the sect. After reaching the Enlightenment Realm, she became the sect's representative in the human world. However, she had never ventured into the Western Territory. The trauma from past events was too significant, and at that time, the tiger demon's obsession with her celestial physique was nearly manic. Yun Zhen worried that if she came here, not only would her spirit attract tiger demons—since the allure of strength and ascension is immense for both humans and demons—but also, encountering tiger demons might disturb Qi Xian Qing's dao heart. Yet, this time she chose to come to the Western Territory not just due to senior directives but because she believed her dao heart had solidified. Qi Xian Qing had resolved to confront the past herself. She glanced at Yan Jue. The warm candlelight and the bright moonlight fell softly on Yan Jue’s face. The girl quietly gazed at the distant verdant mountains, her flawless face displaying no hint of scheming. Knowing the danger of this journey, Qi Xian Qing wouldn't let Yan Jue participate even a bit. --- The weather was splendid today. The warm sunlight on their shoulders lifted their spirits. Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue embarked on their quest for the mystical herb, Bi Xian Cao. A maid sent by Liang Cheng Zhu awaited them at the city gate. She smiled and said, "Honored immortals, Liang Cheng Zhu has sent me to guide you. Please follow me." Before she finished, Qi Xian Qing stepped forward, lowered her gaze at the girl, and nodded, "Thank you." A sudden gulping sound pierced the silence, an unsettling noise amidst the quiet surrounds. Yan Jue paused, looking curiously at the maid, sensing something odd. Together, they exited the city gate. Yan Jue lingered at the back, pondering, "The villagers outside Fei Du City are often attacked. Is it demonic creatures or cultists?" "There's no clue," Qi Xian Qing said, hands behind her back as she walked, "That's why we should seek out the unknown." The maid, overhearing, turned to them with a reassuring smile, "Fear not, nobles. Though demons menace, daylight is safe." Qi Xian Qing acknowledged her with a glance, "Thank you." --- Beyond Fei Du City, verdant mountains awaited. The group walked slowly up the path, eventually reaching the foot of Fuxian Mountain. A fragrant aroma lingered in the air, the path strewn with golden petals crunching underfoot. For years, locals avoided leaving the city, wary of mysterious disappearances: some claimed mountain spirits; others, demonic consumption. The once-bustling osmanthus forest, alive with joy and laughter, now lay desolate. Yan Jue observed their surroundings, catching a glimpse of the maid's retreating figure. Climbing the steep stone steps, the maid's sprightly, steady pace surprised Yan Jue—was Liang Cheng Zhu human, given her maid's stamina? Both Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue, adept cultivators, found the climb easy. Yet for ordinary folks, it was no small feat. Perhaps the maid was a cultivator too? Yan Jue's senses, keenly attuned to demons, didn't detect any demonic aura from the maid, yet something still felt off. Qi Xian Qing, seemingly distant, gazed upon the mist-shrouded green mountains. A few hours' walk brought them to a vast cliff, Fuxian Mountain's high vantage point. Qi Xian Qing stood at the edge, looking down upon endless white mist, the surrounding sunlight casting a heavenly aura. The cliff marked the end of the osmanthus forest, offering views of cloud seas and mountain ranges—a spot that once delighted travelers. The maid turned, smiled, "Honored immortals, we’ve arrived." "Fuxian Mountain, one of the celestial mountains, drew many visitors for its sights. Disappearances occurred here..." Before she finished, a sudden flash of green light struck. Qi Xian Qing's celestial sword, Zhu Ying, had pierced the maid's chest, her eyes wide with shock. She attempted to perform a spell but collapsed before acting. Yan Jue, startled, looked to Qi Xian Qing, "What are you doing?" Gently sheathing her sword, Qi Xian Qing's fingertips crackled with faint electricity. "Her yin aura was dense," she remarked coldly, "She was no longer human." True to her words, the maid's body lifted by the wind, dissipating into thin smoke. Yan Jue recalled the eerie swallows at the city gate; the maid's reaction to Qi Xian Qing's celestial spirit was unmistakably physiological. "Then she was..." A distant howl interrupted them. Qi Xian Qing spun around, a swift arrow hurtling toward her chest. In that instant, a shield of golden light emerged around her—a Heart Protector. Countless flying swords shot towards them, Yan Jue's eyes sharpened, summoning her celestial sword Liu Bing. Like a dragon, Liu Bing swept through the sky, deflecting each weapon. As Liu Bing returned to Yan Jue, she sensed its intense vibrations—a sign of nearby malevolence. Turning to Qi Xian Qing, she saw her stare, icy and fixed. From behind a towering tree emerged a figure—a woman with skin of porcelain, lips like painted vermilion, donned in brilliant red, embroidered with butterflies and gold threads—a stunning, ethereal beauty. Yet in this moment, the presence of such a peerless beauty elicited not admiration but a creeping chill. Tense, Yan Jue gripped Liu Bing tightly, feeling an undeniable tug at her neck. Surprised, Yan Jue hadn't realized Qi Xian Qing had grabbed her by the collar, tossing her effortlessly to the left. Qi Xian Qing's strength was astonishing. Before she knew it, Yan Jue flew through the air like an arrow, landing far from Qi Xian Qing, rolling down steep stone steps flanked by ancient pines until she steadied herself. Shocked and indignant, Yan Jue eyed the daunting path. Had Qi Xian Qing discarded her? Liang Cheng Zhu raised a slender finger, playfully covering her lips with a smile, "That maid was a minor spirit under my command, her yin aura sealed with my magic." "No wonder the Five Dragon Sect's Dream Heng Lord is so perceptive." As mountain winds gusted, Qi Xian Qing's robes billowed, electricity crackling in the air. "You may seal the aura, but your scent remains unchanged," Qi Xian Qing noted coolly. "I recognized it the moment we met yesterday." "You murdered Liang Cheng Zhu, disguised yourself, and waited for me, knowing I'd come." The tigress demon paused, questioning Qi Xian Qing's unflinching composure. This had been expected by Qi Xian Qing and Yun Zhen since the beginning. Before setting out, she ensured all measures were in place. Nearly half a month since submitting her notice to the affairs pavilion, ample time had been given for the demon’s preparation. Even so, seeing the enchantress's meticulous transformation into Liang Cheng Zhu was unexpected; the real Liang Cheng Zhu had likely perished long ago. Despite the enchantment’s fineness, a faint fragrance lingered—a scent Qi Xian Qing could never forget. Smiling, Liang Cheng Zhu's mouth widened terrifyingly, "I never thought I'd see you again. I feared we'd never meet." "Ah Qing." Qi Xian Qing shivered, gripped by memories of a cold winter day when a man and woman halted, knocking at her family's door. Although the Qi family wasn't a lineage of cultivators, they were a household of scholarly prestige and enjoyed a comfortable life. Young Qi Xian Qing was in the courtyard reading when she heard a noise. With small, hesitant steps, she approached and opened the door. A man and a woman stood outside. Frightened by the unfamiliar faces, Qi Xian Qing hesitated to close the door, but her mother stopped her. In the harsh cold of winter, travelers must be exhausted from their journey. They should be invited in to rest. Qi Xian Qing remembered her mother's words, still vivid in her mind. Thus, the door of the Qi family opened, allowing the pair inside. After a hearty meal and expressing endless gratitude, the couple stayed in a guest room. But by midnight, instead of sleep, a bloody massacre awaited the Qi family. The muscular man transformed into a massive tiger, while the alluring woman stood smiling beside him. The air heavy with metallic blood and a faint fragrance of styrax. No one in the Qi family survived, except for Qi Xian Qing. Perhaps in the frenzy of killing, the tiger found Qi Xian Qing’s scent unusual, or maybe the attack was premeditated all along. Qi Xian Qing was captured and taken by both tiger demons to their lair. Though young, Qi Xian Qing couldn’t forget the terror of that time. At just five or six, she was locked in a lightless cellar, crying herself to sleep, consuming bitter herbs that left her dizzy, helpless under the perpetual threat of being devoured. A lesser demon fed her daily, and Qi Xian Qing scarcely encountered the tiger demons again after the night her family was slaughtered. An encounter that left an indelible mark. A flash of green light, and Zhu Ying unsheathed once more. Without a word to the tigress demon, Qi Xian Qing’s silhouette blurred and vanished, reappearing instantaneously before the woman. Her robes billowed fiercely in the wind as Qi Xian Qing, with a steely gaze, raised her sword. Violent lightning spread from her, forming ghostly streams in the air. Liang Tingmian met the strike directly, her delicate hand morphing into an iron tiger paw, withstanding Qi Xian Qing’s blow. With a flash, Liang Tingmian retreated five paces, smiling, "Little one, your cultivation has grown." "If you recognized me at the city lord’s manor yesterday, why didn’t you kill me then?" Qi Xian Qing explained, "Fei Du City is protected by enchantments safeguarding the populace. I couldn't kill you there. To do so required luring you out here, beyond the city's reach." Liang Tingmian queried, "So you're confident you can kill me now?" Before another word, Liang Tingmian threw her head back in a thunderous roar, shifting the very landscape. The roar shattered the air, echoing with a fragmented edge, conjuring a spectral tiger that charged at Qi Xian Qing like an avalanche descending. In the sky, a radiant arc of sword energy clashed with the ethereal beast—a clone the tigress had honed over decades, its power nearly mirroring her physical form, enhanced by psychological intimidation. Bloodthirst filled Qi Xian Qing’s eyes. Clutching Zhu Ying, her figure flashed midair, appearing yards away. With a forceful swing, waves of sword energy radiated like ripples. Stomping, Qi Xian Qing inscribed a blue-glowing hexagram below the clone. Her mastery of formations was evident as sword energies reinforced the diagram. The spectral tiger became immobilized. In one decisive stroke, the clone shattered under Zhu Ying’s shadowy blade. Liang Tingmian's eyes snapped open, sneering, "Surprising how your skills have advanced, destroying my century-honed clone." Qi Xian Qing coolly replied, "Show your hand, for today, I intend to see it all." --- Having scrambled back up the steps, Yan Jue felt the immense surge of spiritual power. Qi Xian Qing battled fiercely, Zhu Ying darting through the sky with dragon-like grace, releasing waves of brilliant spiritual energy. Unable to approach, Yan Jue immediately cloaked herself with the Yun Xu Umbrella, concealing her presence. Surrounded by dark mist, Qi Xian Qing’s eyes were bloody, her trembling sword arm hinting at distress. Yan Jue frowned slightly, recalling something, and retrieved an object from her bag—a jade seal of emerald hue, engraved with the character "Gu," which Qi Xian Qing had altered at the artifact workshop to grant healing. Yan Jue activated the seal, which expanded in the air, drifting towards Qi Xian Qing. Golden light enveloped her, dissipating some of the terror clouding her heart. Despite the tiger demon's frightful aura imparting a paralyzing fear, sensation was easing unexpectedly. Realizing, Qi Xian Qing smirked bitterly. Was that person disobeying again? Had they returned? She was used to solitary combat, but sometime along the way, she’d found someone perpetually by her side. This thought brought an odd warmth to her heart. Being protected. Liang Cheng Zhu hadn’t noticed the presence behind Qi Xian Qing. Both retreated, Liu Ying booming into the air, towering. Sword technique: Earthshaker. Zhu Ying descended from the heavens, embedding into the ground. The earth shook violently, forcing Liang Tingmian to stagger back. Liang Tingmian regained her stance, swiftly forming hand signs. Qi Xian Qing watched intently. Liang Cheng Zhu’s head exploded into a massive tiger’s maw. This was the genuine manifestation—tiger head, human form. Her skin darkened to a mottled cyan, her tiger lineage surging, magnifying her abilities. A rapid series of advances brought the tigress face to face with Qi Xian Qing. There she stood, fixated on the monstrous head, seemingly enchanted by its presence. Encouraged, the tigress struck with her iron-like claw. The claw, azure and hard as steel, arced through the air like a scythe, capable of rendering flesh to pulp on contact. Yet in that split second, the tigress saw cunning satisfaction in Qi Xian Qing’s eyes. Something wasn’t right! Qi Xian Qing smiled faintly. While the tiger's strength was formidable, countermeasures did exist. Aware of this, Qi Xian Qing had ingested dragon’s blood elixir and heavenly pills, her spirit energy surging fiercely. She caught the tigress's claw with a single hand. The tigress met Qi Xian Qing’s tranquil gaze, eyes widening in shock. No one had ever gripped her claw before, and in that moment, a wave of fear overtook her, forcing her to pull away. Yet it was too late. With a mighty squeeze, Qi Xian Qing crushed the iron claw in her grasp. Blood burst forth as she yanked the tigress’s arm, subduing her with a move that flung her away. Qi Xian Qing paced forward like lightning, Zhu Ying exploded in the sky, fragmenting into myriad azure blades. Eyeing her target, she waved once, sending blades cascading downwards. Ten Thousand Swords. Gaping, the tigress bellowed a hoarse cry. She’d never imagined the feeble girl from a decade ago could now stand triumphant! Such was the celestial spirit body. The allure that drew monsters craved her blood, yet heaven adored her existence. This is precisely why the Five Dragon Sect’s leaders agreed on Qi Xian Qing's mission to the Western Territory to vanquish foes. Her innate prowess alone enabled her to reach mid-Heartmove in her early twenties. Now, dragon’s blood further augmented her, rendering the tigress no match. Sword light rained down. The tigress, engulfed by Zhu Ying’s dazzling light, lay as a lifeless tiger corpse upon the ground. A wisp of soul fled from the body, escaping Qi Xian Qing’s reach. It was but a weak, mindless fragment. Yet cultivated over time, in a century perhaps, it could rise again. Qi Xian Qing noticed the fleeing wisp of the lingering spirit, her expression hardening as a piercing whistle came from behind. A sharp, glinting spike shot out, directly puncturing the incorporeal vestige of the tigress demon’s remnant spirit. The remnant spirit fragmented into pieces in the air. Through-Bone Spike. The spike pierced through the spirit, embedding itself into a large tree behind, then pierced through two more trees in succession before finally coming to a stop, blowing the tree apart. Glancing behind her, Qi Xian Qing found nothing. No doubt, Yan Jue was hiding under the Yun Xu Umbrella, assisting her from the shadows. That was for the best. Here, high on Fuxian Mountain, lay a deep abyss behind her, with verdant mountains, swirling white clouds, and the rustling autumn wind scattering leaves overhead. In the eerie silence, Yan Jue’s keen ears picked up a rapid approaching presence. “Boom!” A loud explosion sounded, sending Qi Xian Qing tumbling several yards back, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the sudden missile. Blood trickled down her arm. A muscular man, slowly advanced. His face was grotesque, marked by a deep scar on his left cheek. Meeting his golden eyes, Qi Xian Qing felt a piercing pain in her temples. Flashes of blood-drenched memories roiled forth. It was a tiger pair that took her away, and this man was the male—responsible for the most brutal, violent killings at her family’s home that night. Clutching her temple, Qi Xian Qing remained focused and clear-headed. She knew these tigers wielded some form of mental assault, provoking her rage to peak in an instant. Exploiting bodily fatigue, Qi Xian Qing was not foolish enough to fall for it. With a sharp “snap,” she crushed the communicator Yun Zhen had given her. The man approached with hands behind his back, eyes filled with infatuation and madness, devoid of grief for his slain mate. “The celestial spirit—I never thought I’d see you again in this lifetime…” “But here we are, meeting so soon.” “Oh?” Qi Xian Qing smirked, “Your wife just died by my hand, yet you don’t seem at all grieved.” He laughed heartily, “For the celestial spirit, being separated in life and death isn’t impossible.” Slowly, he moved closer to the woman, suddenly opening his maw to swallow the woman’s remains on the ground. Qi Xian Qing tightened her brows, revulsion creeping into her heart. The man’s eyes lit up, nostrils flaring as purple mist billowed out, spiraling above him like a dragon, and dissipating to reveal a woman with a tiger head and human body. Draped in a grand red robe with flitting butterflies and gold thread, she bore a massive tiger head, eyes narrowed in satisfaction, licking her pink nose with a predatory tongue. A wraith. The recently slain Liang Tingmian appeared before Qi Xian Qing, the mouth opening wide to take a bite. Expressionless, Qi Xian Qing raised her sword, striking swiftly at Liang Tingmian’s neck, her movements fast and ferocious, with sword light slicing through the air. Combining her Dragon Shadow Sword Technique with the Five Dragon Sect’s ‘Heaven Heart Sword Technique,’ her attacks carried both righteous and domineering force, with red sword beams manifesting dragon shapes, drifting out effortlessly. Liang Tingmian’s body split in two with instantaneous precision. The man paused, astounded that the girl once held captive in a cellar, crying, could transform into such a fearsome demon-slayer. Coldly, Qi Xian Qing set her gaze on him, her expression shrouded in frosty blood mist. "It was a mistake to keep you alive back then instead of killing you immediately,” the man mused. “No worries. What was left undone then, I’ll finish today.” Before he could finish, Qi Xian Qing’s figure vanished, Zhu Ying soaring in an arc. The man opened his mouth, and several purple-blue spirits oozed forth. "You and your family, now you can meet again.” Purple mist swirled in the sky above like a serpent, as excruciating pain erupted in Qi Xian Qing’s temples, dimming her vision. She wielded her sword, slashing through the mist with a beam of light, dispersing it. The sun broke through, revealing figures on the ground. Her hand froze. Wraiths. Her father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Devoured souls turning into wraiths—ghostly slaves to the tiger. The male tiger consumed the most in her family, explaining his ability to summon these souls. Facing them with a face as cold as frost, Qi Xian Qing tightened her grip on her sword. Her father’s face, so familiar, yet the fingers disfigured, moved to strike her. She hesitated. Wraiths, devoid of consciousness, were the remnants of human 'spirits.' They were, in a way, still her family. A sharp blow from an oncoming claw landed against her cheek, leaving bloodstained marks on her fair skin. She had dreamt of reuniting with her parents, but this real-life encounter was nothing like she expected. Unsure of how to act, she stood stunned. The woman beside the man smiled gently, echoing the snowy night when her mother lovingly guided her. “Xian Qing…” A sudden whoosh; something zipped toward Qi Xian Qing, grasping at her undefended leg. Sudden racking pain surged through. Knowing the Heart Protector mirrored its weak spot, an arrow struck empty space, embedding into her leg. Stumbling, she formed a mudra. Her sword, Zhu Ying, blasted male wraith’s head apart. Grimacing, she pushed aside the fiction from reality. They were not her kin—merely mindless puppets doing the tiger’s bidding. Though aware, the heartache was palpable, every fiber feeling unraveled. Slashing with a flick, green light severed the figures. The man, relishing in the destruction of her dao heart as wraiths closed in, enjoyed it—watching beauty wither was the world’s greatest pleasure. He closed his eyes, purple mist steadily escaping his nostrils. Wraiths were the distilled ‘spirits’ of the dead, capable of many divisions. Thus, they kept coming. Alarmed, he opened his eyes, pupils narrowing in shock. Subtle noises crept in, a surge of bloodlust surged underfoot. An ambush! Ice cracked asunder, revealing a saber-wielding girl in daoist robes breaking through the ground. A deep scar appeared on the tiger demon’s back. Yan Jue’s gaze was frosty, chanting, ushered Zhu Ying, and stormed toward her sword Liu Bing. Leaping high, Yan Jue hoisted Liu Bing upward. Their swords collided, merging. Golden sword shards grazed Yan Jue’s face as she strained lifting and a vortex of spiritual energy swirled them together. Wild golden dragon energy radiated in all directions, echoing across the land. A dazzling radiance like dawn’s glow exploded across the sky. Dual swords united. The man stood frozen, unable to evade the engulfing power, screaming as his muscled form warped into a massive tiger. Thunderous sword waves rippled, flattening pines. Under the relentless assault, the tiger was decimated, first its head, then body... Perhaps because the male tiger demon had a blood-beast nature, Liu Bing unleashed unconstrained fury, the dual swords’ might peaking. Qi Xian Qing gaped at the display, sudden agony searing her leg. Stumbling, unable to steady herself, the gales cast her over the cliff. Predicting this, Yan Jue sprinted over, recalling her dual blades, lunging and grabbing Qi Xian Qing's wrist. Qi Xian Qing dangled precariously over the abyss. Wind howled, and Yan Jue clung to Qi Xian Qing's hand. Fuxian Mountain's height loomed, an unseen chasm below, with rocks tumbling from the edges. Yan Jue gritted her teeth, exhausted from the fusion of blades, barely managing to pull Qi Xian Qing a little safer. In the sunlight, Qi Xian Qing's face was pallid, cold sweat drenching the strands of hair across her forehead. Slowly, she opened her eyes, seeing Yan Jue’s flushed face against the bright backdrop. Shocked, Qi Xian Qing clamped down on Yan Jue’s wrist, "Let go." Yan Jue, seething with anger, retorted, "I won’t let go! I’m not like you!" Qi Xian Qing blinked, surprised. Suddenly, massive spiritual energy surged behind them again. Yan Jue’s peripheral vision darted to the source—it was the slain tiger demon, and ghastly wraiths emerged from its belly. Their faces were dark, bodies radiating a faint purple-blue under the sun. This tiger demon had likely slain countless people, amassing numerous wraiths. The wraiths drifted aimlessly, seemingly lost without their master’s command. One wraith spotted them and began moving towards them. Startled, Yan Jue instinctively tightened her grip on Qi Xian Qing’s hand, noticing with surprise the wraith's facial features bore a slight resemblance to Qi Xian Qing. With a jolt, they slid a bit closer to the edge of the cliff. The male wraith moved forward, his purplish-blue head emerging over the edge, his vacant eyes fixated on Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing furrowed her brows, her gaze locked with his for a moment. Father. His hand, crooked like a claw, suddenly shoved Yan Jue’s back with force. The wraith, mindless of his actions, only faintly perceived his former master's wish for these two to perish. Caught off guard, Yan Jue staggered off the cliff, clutching Qi Xian Qing’s hand desperately in the turmoil. Simultaneously, a glowing golden orb slipped from the wraith’s palm, landing down Yan Jue’s collar. The wind howled past their ears as they plummeted together. --- Yan Jue awoke to the gentle sound of water flowing. Feeling the coolness beneath her, she pried her eyes open slightly, realizing she was floating atop clear water. It was a narrow brook, deep and crystal-clear, with osmanthus petals drifting beside her. Her body floated downstream with the current. Faced with darkness, she shut her eyes again, gingerly moving her fingers. The surrounding spiritual energy was palpable—it was a stream blessed with such energy, enabling them to float. Them. Yan Jue snapped her eyes open, looking beside her. Qi Xian Qing, face white as a sheet, eyes shut with furrowed brows, lay gravely silent next to her. Their hands were still tightly clasped together. Qi Xian Qing’s knee bore a serious injury, and her blood threatened to stain the stream crimson. Though Qi Xian Qing had indeed activated the signal talisman earlier, it could only pinpoint their location for an instant; any movement thereafter would leave Yun Zhen to potentially discover only a cold tiger corpse upon arrival. Recall of their cliff fall left Yan Jue unsure how deep the drop was or how far they had drifted downstream. Certainly, Yun Zhen would find it challenging to locate them now. Thankfully, her belt still held the spatial pouch. Yan Jue lifted her heavy hand, noticing an unexplained bulge at her collar. Perplexed, she retrieved the object. It was a massive gold core, with a palpable demonic aura. Her pupils constricted sharply. The tiger demon’s core! Yet, a single core shouldn’t have been this large. The male had consumed the female, fusing their cores into this form! Holding the cold core, Yan Jue’s arm quivered slightly. … Gritting her teeth, Yan Jue dragged Qi Xian Qing towards shore. Fortunately, the brook was narrow, and reaching the bank didn't take long. Sopping wet and disoriented, Yan Jue splashed water on her face, hoisted Qi Xian Qing’s legs, and carried her on her back. Qi Xian Qing’s entire form was limp as she was lifted, her head falling back. Hurriedly, Yan Jue leaned forward to support her properly against her back. They stumbled, heading upstream. The sky was darkening. Uncertain if they remained on Fuxian Mountain, Yan Jue could only continue along its paths with Qi Xian Qing in tow. Surely, civilization lay beyond the mountain. Qi Xian Qing lay draped across her back, still unconscious. She was still bleeding, despite Yan Jue’s makeshift tourniquet of grass rope around her knee, soaking up the blood yet slowly soaking through. The scent of Qi Xian Qing’s celestial blood intensified in the air, an intoxicating aroma that made Yan Jue shiver, swallowing involuntarily. Suddenly, Yan Jue sensed a presence rapidly approaching. Her intuition for demonic presences alerted her, and she looked up, peering into the dark underbrush where a shadow emerged. A creature. Beady red eyes glowed from a monster covered in black fur, crouched in the grass, smiling sinisterly at Yan Jue. Yan Jue stepped back, sensing the creature’s morbid aura. A ghost. From her readings in the Five Dragon Sect’s library, Yan Jue recognized it as a mountain wight, an animated corpse driven by ‘spirit,’ wandering the mountain in search of prey. The wight leaped up, inhaling deeply the scent of Qi Xian Qing’s blood with perverse delight. Its blood-red eyes fixed on Yan Jue, revealing a maw of vicious fangs. Quaking, Yan Jue realized her spiritual energy was nearly depleted. In desperation, she flared her golden eyes—ancestral fox bloodline igniting fiercely. The wight hesitated, sensing danger. Yet, wights were no fools; bloodline pressure was not an infinite deterrent. When it perceived her exhaustion, the wight would surely attack. Then, she’d have no means of defense. The wight circled, licking its lips with satisfaction and trepidation, eyes locked greedily on Qi Xian Qing. Then Yan Jue remembered, “Transformative Spirit Pearl.” Quickly, she reached into Qi Xian Qing’s spatial pouch. Despite being the Trembling Fire Sect's first disciple, Qi Xian Qing kept her inventory minimal. Half of it comprised resources Yan Jue had shared. Qi Xian Qing wasn't one to frequently ask her master for anything. With trembling hands, Yan Jue smeared Qi Xian Qing’s blood over the pouch’s exterior, activating its soft blue glow, and retrieved the Transformative Spirit Pearl. Bright radiance exploded forth, causing the wight to recoil into the cover of nearby brush. … Armed with the Transformative Spirit Pearl, Yan Jue dispatched numerous wights along their path. But Qi Xian Qing remained unresponsive as Yan Jue grew faint with exhaustion, daylight slowly fading. Setting Qi Xian Qing down to take a drink from the brook, Yan Jue heard harsh coughing behind her. Turning abruptly, she saw Qi Xian Qing grimacing, blood spewing from her mouth. Rushing back, Yan Jue worriedly asked, "Are you alright?" Qi Xian Qing weakly opened her eyes, eyebrows knit tightly, "Where are we?" Darkness shrouded her vision, her heart pounding painfully. Mustering all her strength, she barely formed the words. "I don’t know," Yan Jue replied. With a hoarse voice, Qi Xian Qing asked, "Signal talisman?" Yan Jue rummaged through her spatial pouch for the signal talisman. Qi Xian Qing struggled to infuse it with spiritual consciousness, but failed. Two types of signal talismans existed: the jade slip shattered by Qi Xian Qing at the cliff, marking their location; the other infused with spiritual consciousness for simple communication. Both had exhausted their protective energies during the fall, leaving Qi Xian Qing close to depletion, unable to infuse consciousness. After hydrating, Yan Jue lifted Qi Xian Qing once more, stumbling up the mountainside. Behind her, Qi Xian Qing whispered thanks. “For what?” Yan Jue replied dismissively, with a wry smile, “You’ve carried me countless times before.” Night swiftly approached, and should Qi Xian Qing’s scent attract more creatures, even the Transformative Spirit Pearl couldn’t fend them off forever. Without shelter in the wild, danger loomed heavily. Pain throbbed mercilessly in Qi Xian Qing’s knee as she lay prone on Yan Jue's back, gasping at the chill. A rare moment of vulnerability. Yan Jue thought to herself. (Note: No pop-up ads, permanent domain: xbanxia.com)