Chapter 43 - 50-56 Cultivation Nerd

Chapter 50: Finding My Cousins

As my team departed, I adjusted the mask on my face, tugging at it slightly to ensure its secure fit. Only by touching a specific array under the mask on the right side of my face could someone remove it.

This precaution was something I had obtained from the librarian in case I ever needed to conceal my identity while doing something.

I leaped from tree branch to tree branch, the surroundings gradually blurring as I employed the Rushing Bull Steps technique.

Since the attack occurred so early in the exam, I was far from the center of the island where other participants gathered. However, with the speed at which I moved, it didn't take long before encountering some outer disciple teams and participants. Despite my efforts to remain unnoticed, I swiftly passed them by. Whether they were engaged in combat, conversation, or jesting, none of it concerned me.

As I walked past some trees, there was a tall young man with a long, horse-like face sitting on one of the large tree roots. His gaze locked onto mine, tracking my movements. Judging by his attire, he appeared to be an applicant rather than someone from the sect.

"Finally, someone crosses my path," he smirked and stood up. "Good! I've been eager to test the Hundred Mortal Grade Techniques I've mastered against someone from the Blazing Sun Sect!"

He sprang toward me, moving like a leaf, then as light as a feather. Despite employing two techniques that seemed compatible, he didn't use them simultaneously.

Even with the excited smile on his face, the young man exuded a scholarly air. "I challenge you, stranger! Succumb to my techniques, for I am the son of the White Mane Royal Family Scholar! My name-"

Before he could finish his sentence, I swiftly employed the Rushing Bull Step technique and stood before him, delivering an elbow to his stomach. His eyes widened, gasping for air as he collapsed to the ground with his eyes rolling to the back of his skull.

Had he not pursued me, I wouldn't have retaliated so forcefully. He seemed talented enough to master many techniques. However, the number of techniques did not mean much compared to mastery and compatibility between techniques. His hundreds of techniques paled compared to only my Rushing Bull Step.

"Next time, speak less and learn to use two techniques simultaneously," I advised, though I doubted he could hear me in his current state. But cultivators were weird, so he might. 

Ultimately, he had challenged me directly, so I showed him leniency, propping his body against a tree and covering him with leaves to shield him from wild beasts or hostile disciples. Then, I resumed my journey. 

Recalling the faces of those I was tasked to assist in this exam—the Liu Clan twins. There was only a pair of those I could remember. They were roughly my age, and Liu Feng had encountered them previously.

I continued past numerous other teams, remaining vigilant for any signs of suspicious activity. While I might not be able to intervene with inner disciples abusing their power, I aimed to steer clear of such people if they were anywhere close.

Song Song's behavior hadn't left a favorable impression of how the inner disciples acted. Coupled with the issues involving the arrogant young master, it was hard to view the inner sect members as anything other than pompous.

While pondering these thoughts, I stumbled upon a particular team of four engrossed in conversation. Two of them, Liu Lia and Liu Long, were twins who bore a striking resemblance. Liu Lia, the girl, sported long hair, while her brother had opted for a shorter cut. With dark hair, dark eyes, and slightly above-average looks, they seemed unassuming at first glance.

Contemplating how to approach and retrieve them without revealing my identity beneath the mask presented a dilemma. Resorting to lethal measures to safeguard my secret wasn't a consideration, nor something I desired. The day had already seen more than enough bloodshed.

Taking a deep breath, I crouched down, and in an instant swifter than even my own perception, the world around me blurred. I landed amidst their group. It took a moment for them to register my presence; their eyes widened in surprise. Swiftly, I seized the twins by the back of their uniforms and leaped away before their teammates could react.

"Wait!" one of their companions called out, while the other gave chase. The remaining teammate attempted to use a martial art technique, his palm gathering wind in a telltale sign of impending action.

Observing their camaraderie with my younger cousins, I decided not to inflict harm upon them. A smaller team would prove more advantageous. Even if they united, their chances against the selected eliminators seemed slim based on their performance thus far.

Despite the two troublesome youngsters in my hands, I swiftly created enough distance from the guy chasing us. 

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"Release us!"

"You coward!"

My cousins struggled in my grasp, attempting to strike my hands. Relinquishing my hold, they dropped to the ground as I perched atop a nearby tree. Assuming defensive stances, they prepared for a fight.

"That's unwise. With only five-star Body Tempering, the best decision in your situation is to flee," I advised. 

Ignoring my counsel, they frowned and clenched their fists.

Preferring action over further dialogue, I aimed to illustrate our divergence. Employing the Rushing Bull Step technique once more, I blitzed past them and stood before them before their gaze could shift. Their widened eyes belatedly grasped the situation.

"I'm your cousin."

Despite my declaration, they remained skeptical. The long-haired girl leveled an accusatory finger at me. "Cousin Feng has long hair."

Even if I wasn't him, they should have pretended to believe me, considering the overwhelming strength difference between us. Yet, being youthful, likely no more than fifteen years old, I exercised leniency and sighed. 

They could learn in the future. I was dumb during that age too.

Leaning in close to them, I lifted my mask to reveal my face. Their eyes widened in recognition, and they nodded in unison, followed by clasping their palms and fists together and bowing deeply at the waist.

"Juniors greet Senior Cousin Feng!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

I scratched my head, uncertain of how to handle such deference. It felt awkward to receive such respect. "You can just call me Feng, or Liu Feng at most."

"That would be disrespectful," asserted the long-haired twin. "My sister and I would be showing too much disrespect to one who is our senior by acting like that."

Ah, so the one with the long hair was the brother?

Glancing at Liu Lia, the short-haired girl, I inwardly pitied her. Not only did she lack... physical attributes to show the difference between them. But their resemblance made it challenging to discern between them.

Yet, having a twin with cultivation talent must be reassuring. Given the longevity of cultivators, friends and family often passed away early on, but having a talented twin was a constant source of support and trust.

"We are colleagues and fellow cultivators, and we will work together as long as we're in the outer sect. So, there is no seniority between us," I reasoned.

They appeared uneasy at the notion, exchanging a glance they likely assumed I hadn't noticed. With a slight nod, they seemed to acquiesce. Before they could respond, I put back on my mask.

"We should depart before encountering more trouble. If we encounter anyone else, refrain from addressing me as your cousin. I wear this mask for a reason," I whispered.

They both nodded, the brother about to speak until the sister hushed him with a finger to her lips, urging silence. He complied, casting a worried glance my way.

They took my words too seriously as if they were my subordinates. No need for such formality here, though it wasn't the place to discuss it.

"Let's go," I said, leaping onto a nearby tree branch, signaling for them to follow.

Nodding, they glanced around anxiously. The sister spoke up, "Uh... we don't have a movement technique."

The sooner we left, the safer we'd be. So this wasn't a good thing, but we would have to do with this.

"Don't worry, I'll travel at a slower pace so you can keep up," I assured them, setting a manageable speed. 

As the sun dipped low, we encountered no trouble. However, I sensed movement about a hundred feet away. In the fading light, I recognized the red-haired guy strolling past us.

He glanced at me, our gazes briefly locking before he narrowed his eyes and continued on his way.

Huh? What was that about?

I shrugged off the momentary exchange and refocused on escorting my cousins, ensuring their safety along the journey.

Before long, we reached the sandy beaches where my chubby friend and the rest of my team awaited. Swiftly, I removed my mask and stashed it in the inner pockets of my robe before drawing attention.

"Guys," I called out, catching their attention. My once-chubby friend now slimmed down, waved in acknowledgment, appearing to be in the midst of a meal. Without delay, I briefed them on the situation. "These are my cousins. Please look after them for a while as I attend to other matters."

"Of course," Yong Cho nodded after swallowing his food. "Your cousins are in good hands. Anyone who dares trouble them will meet my fist."

Grateful for his assurance, I smiled and nodded. "Thanks. I owe you one."

"What's there to owe? Friends help each other without keeping score," he chuckled.

His words echoed sentiments he often expressed, yet they sounded more resolute in his current form.

As I turned to leave, my cousins bowed deeply and exclaimed, "Thank you for everything, Honorable Senior Cousin Feng!"

This title seemed to lengthen with each exclamation.

Rolling my eyes, I walked away, unwilling to correct them. However, before disappearing into the forest, I paused and called out, "Enough with the formalities. We're family, after all."

Without waiting for a response, I continued on, the forest enveloping me in its familiar sounds. Fortunately, luck had favored me and led me to my cousins swiftly. 

Perhaps my mind, tainted by exposure to danger, had anticipated a struggle before getting them. Yet, such scenarios were rare among disciples. However, a few bad apples tarnished the reputation of many others with their arrogance.

The first mission was done, now it was time for the second one.

I turned my focus to the next and final task at hand.

Chapter 51: The Ice Jade

The question of the day was: how would I find someone talented here? 

Talented people came in many forms. Just because someone might perform poorly in the last part of the entrance exam and be weak during that time did not mean they were less talented. After all, some could have had more resources before coming to the sect, and others hadn't. 

Though if their talents were obvious, they would have already been brought in the inner sect during the parts of the exam before this one. So I had to keep an eye out for many different factors. 

I traversed through the forest, trying to keep my eyes open for anything interesting or to sense any weird surges in Qi. The latter was mostly for my own safety because no matter how talented someone was, the chances of them being a Qi Gatherer at the age of fifteen were slim to none. If they were, then I was screwed either way.

But the further I moved within the forest, the colder it became, and some moisture in the trees began forming ice. Though the sun had set, this coldness was peculiar and reminded me of a very worrying event.

I remembered a giant boar being skewered by a lance of ice, and a chill went down my spine.

No, there was no way such a thing would happen right now. It would be too much of a coincidence. That would be ridiculous…

But no matter how hard I tried to prevent such thoughts from appearing in my mind, the worries in my heart only continued to grow. This wasn't something I was used to dealing with. The uncomfortable feeling spread from my stomach to my heart and lungs and all over my body, and my hair stood on end.

Soon enough, I reached a place where the coldness was so severe that even my reinforced body began shivering, and my teeth chattered. I looked for a way around this cold area, but there was none, and it felt like the whole middle of the island was frozen.

Since at least one outer elder was overseeing this, nothing dangerous should be around here, even if there was…

Perhaps I should return…

I stopped in my tracks and stood atop a tree branch as all thoughts of continuing further were finished immediately. What lay in front of me could be described as nothing more than a frozen wasteland, and gray-robed disciples lay about with ice all over their bodies, looking like ice statues.

Their faces were frozen in looks of terror, and the soft moonlight reflecting off the ice around their bodies made it an even more terrifying sight.

I thought I had somewhat grown a stomach for bloodshed and murder. But it seemed like I wasn't quite there yet.

Just as I was about to turn around and book it, I caught sight of another figure amongst the ice sculptures. This one wasn't quite frozen and looked like the ice had splattered the guy against a tree, making him hard to recognize. But he wore a blue uniform, signifying he was from the inner sect.

My heart jumped, and I quickly checked his hands for silver rings. Thankfully, there seemed to be none. His body shape also didn't resemble Song Song, which was a relief.

No, that worrying was illogical. Song Song had shown how strong she was, and even multiple Qi Gathering disciples would have a hard time against her. Because if something was around here that could hurt even her, then we were all screwed!

Turning around, I quickly rushed into the night, the chilly air hitting my back. Every fiber of my being was concentrated on getting away from whatever the hell this thing was!

However, as I got further away, I concentrated on what could be happening behind me or any incoming attack from behind. I barely sensed what was happening before me, and that was two people fighting. I immediately regained my senses, hid behind one of the trees, and held my breath.

Now that I knew someone who could defeat an inner disciple like that was around, I wanted nothing to do with anyone here. That ice also looked nothing like how Song Song fought, so the chances of it being her were slim to none.

*Clang!*

The sound of metal rippled through the air as two weapons met: a sword and a gauntlet. The two people fighting were the red-haired guy I had seen before and an outer disciple. By the way, the latter moved; he seemed to be about seven-star Body Tempering, while the other… three-star Body Tempering?

What was happening here? The outer disciple didn't seem injured in any way that would hinder his strength to a level where a three-star Body Tempering seemed to be able to keep up with him.

Also, how did a three-star Body Tempering Cultivator even reach so far? Shouldn't there be a vetting process for this whole thing? The Blazing Sun Sect wasn't a place where those without talent could join.

No, perhaps I was reading this all wrong. I gained an eye for assessing power by using my stats as a basis. So, I developed an eye for telling how strong someone was based on how they moved during battle.

Some people had fought those one or two stars above them in the past. Technically, I had also done the same. Still, in most cases, Qi is involved, and when against an inner disciple, I escaped as soon as he began going all out.

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The outer disciple seemed average, and nothing stood out about him being terrible at fighting. His techniques were decent, too.

As I gazed at the red-haired guy, I observed everything about him. From how his eyes moved, how he fought, and how he could keep up with someone who was so overwhelmingly stronger and faster than him. I analyzed everything I could to discern why he was winning.

The most notable thing about him was the elusive way he moved. As I concentrated on my other senses, something weird happened around him. The way the Qi moved was strange.

Oh, it looks like he had an Earth Grade Technique and a good one for his stage.

It felt like the Qi around him pushed his body out of the way of the attacks, resembling how hard it would be for someone to cut a falling feather with a sword. The wind from the attack would push it away from the blade's path.

This was the perfect technique to fight within the body tempering stage. It seemed weak for an Earth-grade technique, as people who could sense Qi and disrupt that flow would find it relatively easy.

Despite the interesting fight between these two, more important things were happening there, so I began stealthily moving around them while hiding in the shadows of the trees.

Just then, the red-haired guy landed a hit on the outer disciple and sent him flying, crashing into one of the trees. The attack was so powerful that the outer disciple coughed out a mouthful of blood on impact, and the giant tree shook from the aftermath.

Was that another Earth Grade Technique?

While I hadn't been looking at him, I concentrated more on getting away with the sudden increase in Qi pressure and the devastating attack against someone much stronger than him. An Earth Grade Technique was the best for covering large gaps in power like this, so it seemed he had another one of those. 

Just how many damn Earth Grade Techniques did this guy have? What kind of big shot was he? There was no way someone would find two Earth Grade Techniques so ideally suited for each other unless they came from some big clan. That would require some ridiculous luck. 

The red-haired guy looked at the outer disciple coldly and breathed a sigh of relief. But his form straightened once more, and he looked ready for a fight. Then, like it was straight out of a horror movie, he turned in my direction.

"You can come out now," he said.

A chill went down my spine. But as I turned my attention toward the red-haired guy again, the way his chest rose and fell, it seemed like the Earth Grade Techniques had taken more out of him than he would like to admit.

Had he seen me, or was this just a bluff to weed out anyone hiding nearby?

Clearly, he was tired, and calling out someone who could have been spying on him like this would be stupid. In these cases, it was better to let the enemy think they had one over him and not reveal all his cards.

But the guy narrowed his eyes at me and said, "I can see you. Short dark hair and a mask on your face."

How? I was hiding in the shadows of a tree, and it was too dark for someone at the three-star Body Tempering stage to see me. Did this guy have another sight-related Earth Grade Technique, or was it something else? Since when did Earth Grade Techniques become so common?

It felt like this guy was breaking every unspoken rule I knew about this world.

One thing was sure: this guy was either brave or confident in defeating me without taking any damage. Or he was just plain old stupid enough to call me out. Perhaps both. If he had such good eyesight, he should have been able to see that I was escaping and was no danger to him.

Either way, I no longer wanted to linger around, and having this little guy on my back would be a good idea. With the way things were going, I wouldn't be surprised if he had an Earth Grade Technique that would allow him to chase after me.

If that was the case, why was he even trying to join the Blazing Sun Sect? Even inner disciples had no such privileges with Earth Grade Techniques.

Deciding that getting away and having this guy on my back wasn't worth it, I walked out into the moonlight.

When he saw me, the red-haired guy's eyes widened as if he had just heard some grave news, and he immediately put up his guard. 

"What's with the reaction?" I raised a questioning brow. "I don't believe we ever had any enmity with each other for you to be so cautious. If my outer disciple uniform unnerves you, I will let you know right now that I am not here to be an asshole and try to drop you off the competition."

Though it seemed unlikely that it was the uniform that surprised him. Because if he could see me, he should have also seen what kind of uniform I had on. Also, I had no outrageous amount of Qi or Spirit Stones in me where if he could sense Qi he would have noticed me as the Qi around would have dulled my presence. 

No matter how I looked at this guy, he only grew more of a confusing existence. 

Also, the silence grew a bit awkward, so he said, "You…" He took a couple of seconds to think and added, "You feel dangerous."

"Hoh? You have quite the senses for someone at the Body Tempering stage," I complimented him.

Also, I knew for a fact he was bullshitting me. As someone who had spent some days around Song Song, I knew how someone with crazy instincts was. This guy was many things, but he was nothing like Song Song. 

In conclusion, this guy was hiding a whole lot of shit.

"Anyway, do you know anything about the weird cold around here?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"No," he answered almost immediately. 

That answer was too fast, like someone who was prepared for that. Usually, people wouldn't answer so fast and might even ask their own questions if they truly knew nothing. 

He was still a good liar. Perhaps the tension was getting to him. Otherwise, he might have acted calmer and tricked me, too?

I glanced at the guy he had defeated, who was slumped against the tree he had smashed into and looked unconscious while drooling blood. My gaze returned to the red-haired guy. I advised him, "You shouldn't kill outer disciples recklessly, or it will just invite unnecessary trouble when you enter the sect."

If he started like this, he would be in a horrible position unless he had someone like Song Song for backup to take responsibility. 

Usually, only the disciples from the sect had the advantage when it came to fighting against applicants. While there were accidents occasionally, an outer disciple dying was unheard of in these exams. I had no idea how this would turn out. 

Though, for some reason, this exam was wildly fucked up from the beginning. It felt like I had stumbled on something I shouldn't have. 

Also, no matter how I looked at it. There was something about this red-haired guy…

Chapter 52: A Bleeding Heart.

Many assumptions were running through my mind. Some were based on logic, like pondering if this guy could be from a famous family, perhaps sent to gain worldly experience. Others were more rooted in superstition, born out of reading xianxia novels.

Usually, I wouldn't indulge in such superstitions. Still, superstitions had already saved me once when I wisely exited the situation involving that jade-like beauty. So, the uncomfortable feeling in my stomach regarding this guy sent a chill down my spine.

While the guy's appearance was somewhat distinctive, it wasn't something unseen. There was also someone named Jia Man, who defeated Liu Feng and led me here. He had short red hair and looked more like a barbarian warrior than a cultivator. They may have been related. Red hair was quite rare here. But Jia Man could have dyed it, which seemed like something a rebellious teen in a world like this would do. 

I just acted on my gut feelings as I asked him, "Have you ever broken off an engagement or anything like that?"

As soon as those words left my mouth, a frown creased the guy's face, and he grumbled, "Such rumors have spread all the way here. Curse that woman! I will repay the shame she has brought my family a thousandfold!"

Then his gaze shifted to me, and he narrowed his eyes. With a voice full of emotion, he added, "If you're here to make fun of me-"

"No, I don't care about such things," I interjected before he could say more.

Gazing at the night sky, I took a deep, calming breath as the cold air filled my lungs and the half-moon's light washed over me.

Strangely, I felt no panic or anger directed at anyone in particular. Panicking at times like these would be useless, and harboring resentment toward this youngster for his predicament would be foolish. Clearly, he was unaware of his situation.

Perhaps I would have panicked if this had been me many months ago. However, the times when I had allowed emotions to rule me in such situations, I had paid dearly. When I killed for the first time, the mistake of letting my emotions take over and nearly throwing up had almost cost me my life.

I would only make that same mistake once.

Yet, another part of me, the curious part, wanted to know how someone like this came to be. What made someone favored by the heavens stumble upon Earth Grade Techniques?

If his family was shamed, they were evidently not powerful enough to casually hand over Earth Grade Techniques. So, the more likely scenario was that this red-haired guy had found them.

How remarkable. I felt little to no jealousy for the red-haired guy's luck, as individuals like him were often favored by luck and, simultaneously, by misfortune. There were many things I wanted to understand about how someone like him came to exist. After all, while an ordinary person might ponder their life's path, someone like this red-haired guy had the rest of his fate predetermined. Nobody was born so special without reason.

Whether it was advantageous or detrimental to be born into this world with a purpose, something one could hardly alter, remained to be seen. Only the future would reveal it.

Perhaps all of this was speculation, and I was assuming things. If that were the case, only time would tell.

I suppressed my curiosity, even though the man in front of me had the potential to overturn everything I had learned about this world so far. Despite the temptation, I kept silent and merely smiled.

The young man's behavior made more sense with my mind now open to myriad possibilities. He appeared both seasoned and inexperienced simultaneously, as if someone was whispering in his ear.

If I were a betting person, I'd wager it was an old grandfather in a ring offering advice. However, it was only sometimes an actual ring; it could be a bracelet, bead, book, or anything else just as likely. The mentor could even be a captivating woman trapped within an accessory.

He had a tree to his left, suggesting the invisible mentor was to his right. Despite being in spirit form, his mentor wouldn't stay in a tree while talking to him.

My gaze shifted to his right side, where I could neither see nor sense anyone. That's where the invisible mentor ought to be.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a bead of sweat trickling down the red-haired guy's cheek, his face growing pale and tense.

What counsel was his invisible mentor offering now? Likely reassurances that no matter where I looked, no one else could see him or something to that effect.

I approached the red-haired man, and the closer I got, the more agitated he became. However, as we were within arm's reach, I walked past him and remarked, "Be careful out there."

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Though I harbored numerous curiosities about him and desired to witness firsthand how fortunate he was, perhaps this was all a coincidence, and the world was toying with me. For now, caution was my ally.

Sticking around longer could plunge me into dangerous situations, something I wished to avoid.

For now, I needed to reassess everything I thought I knew about this world. Despite reading all those books, the world was still a mysterious place. Part of me trembled at these uncontrollable and unpredictable elements, yet another part thrilled like a child with a new toy.

Did fate hold sway in this world? Was it tangible? How high must one's cultivation be to perceive such things?

The chill lessened as I moved past each tree, indicating my distance from the primary source. Yet, my thoughts lingered on the red-haired man.

From what I had observed, he appeared somewhat naive. While not uncommon for someone his age, I, too, was naive at fifteen and knew little of the world. However, compared to a world steeped in violence like this one, mine was like a fairytale.

Moreover, his talents were subpar for a cultivator, only reaching three stars in Body Tempering at his age. Someone with such potential would struggle to reach the Qi Gathering Realm. Individuals with such middling talent were often subjected to bullying and scorn, making his naive demeanor all the more peculiar. People who were born in violent and abusive circumstances usually matured faster than others mentally.

Either he was adept at manipulating body language and deceived me. Or he had once possessed greater talent and somehow lost his cultivation. Perhaps his cultivation had even been forcibly crushed. For most, recovering from such an ordeal was nearly impossible. Even if one recovered, their progress would never match their previous speed or talent. But if he were a protagonist, such setbacks would be just another Sunday.

Today, he was at three stars, but tomorrow, he could reach the peak of Body Tempering, and the day after that, he could become a Qi Gathering Cultivator. Progress like that was theoretically impossible for anyone, and even if achievable, it would strain one's body to the point of crushing their cultivation. Yet, with the red-haired guy present, I was prepared to cast aside everything I knew about such matters.

"Somebody! Please help me!" A haunting female cry pierced the air, jolting me from my thoughts.

Such matters were no longer my concern with a protagonist on the loose. However, the noise was so near that when I glanced aside, I saw the source: a young girl around my age, her dark hair disheveled, blood trickling from her nose, tears staining her cheeks.

I should have ignored her...

But despite my resolve to remain aloof, she appeared no older than sixteen, and my heart softened despite my efforts to ice it over. I couldn't help but think of my niece at that age, and the mere notion of someone beating her made my blood boil.

I ought to have walked away, leaving the situation for the protagonist to handle. He would save her if she was someone important.

Yet, judging by her state, she was likely nobody important. After all, she had no group with her, and it was probably a group that had subjected her to this brutality.

Curse my bleeding heart!

Without further hesitation, I leaped down from the tree branch. I scooped the girl up like a sack of potatoes beneath my arm before she could comprehend what was happening.

"Huh?" She looked bewildered, but I didn't linger, swiftly making my escape.

Perhaps she was merely a decoy, working with someone else to prey upon disciples. But if that were the case, I would deal with it. Strong individuals here didn't resort to such underhanded tactics; they simply took what they desired.

Once we had distanced ourselves sufficiently and reached the shoreline, I set her down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she burst into tears.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!" She sobbed, clinging to me tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Um... Don't mention it," I replied awkwardly, patting her back.

I was unsure how to handle such genuine gratitude, so I shifted the conversation to a more pressing matter.

"What happened to you? Who did this to you?" I inquired, noting the deep wounds on her shoulder and back were not bleeding.

"An applicant," she managed to say between sobs. "Even now, it feels like I was trapped in a nightmare. If it weren't for the protective artifacts my father insisted I carry, I would have..."

Her voice faltered, and she buried her face in my shoulder. Her tall frame almost matched mine. Despite her stature, she was still just a child.

Ordinarily, the notion of an applicant defeating outer disciples would be preposterous. However, there was an anomaly not far from here.

"Did the guy have red hair?" I inquired.

No matter how secretive and aloof the protagonist-like individual appeared, he didn't strike me as someone who would commit such violence against a girl. Yet, xianxia protagonists were renowned for their... unpredictability.

"No, it was-" Her words caught in her throat as the temperature plummeted, even the air in my lungs turning frigid.

Reacting swiftly, I pushed the girl away, scanned the surroundings, and got ready for a fight. My gaze settled on a figure leaping from a tree.

It was a young girl, even younger than me, wielding a translucent ice sword with an expression as cold as stone. Though dressed in the attire of an applicant, every instinct in my body screamed to flee.

What struck me most about the newcomer was her appearance: porcelain-like skin illuminated by the moonlight, a petite frame, and delicate features. Her hair, predominantly dark, featured two silver strands amidst her bangs.

Even at her tender age, it was evident she would grow into a beauty. But such matters held little interest for me...

My heart raced, threatening to burst from my chest as I recalled the description of a certain girl the three brother's village elder had warned me about. When I first heard it, I fled, sparing myself from likely death.

Yet, it seemed that no matter how far I ran, things had finally caught up with me.

Undoubtedly, the newcomer was a jade-like beauty!

Chapter 53: Use Da Brain!

The newcomer landed softly on the grass, making no noise as she did so. Her sharp blue eyes shifted from the girl beside me before settling on me.

"You are free to go," she said, her tone sounding more like an order than a request.

Now, I really should have been getting the hell away from here. I was no brave hero; quite the opposite, actually. I was scared of what she could do. With her ice sword and the biting coldness radiating off her, it was easy to connect the dots between the murdered disciples I had stumbled upon before and this girl.

But trusting the word of someone, a cold-blooded murderer, would be stupid. The only thing you could trust an enemy to do was lie if it was convenient for them.

"Can I at least ask what is happening here?" I put up a friendly smile and shuffled the other girl behind me.

Even if she told me that I was free to go, murderers weren't easy to deal with. Perhaps she was doing this all for sport; the girl I had brought with me didn't seem like the kind who would have tried to kill her.

The jade-like beauty narrowed her eyes. "This test is a waste of time. I will kill all the disciples from the Sect to show that I'm worth investing in."

"Kill disciples from the Sect? Wouldn't that brew bad blood between you and the Sect?" I asked, carefully noting that I was also one of those disciples from the Sect. It seemed like she had no intention of letting me go and no particular interest in bothering too much to hide something like this.

"If you could exchange one coin of silver for a coin of gold, would you complain?" She explained as if I had asked the most ridiculous question ever.

Oh, so she was working under the assumption that the Sect would accept her no matter what. But her actions made it clear that she was under some kind of time limit; otherwise, they were wholly illogical and downright stupid. Either that or she was just insane, putting on a facade of sanity.

The sad part was that there was a good chance the Sect would accept her as long as she killed no one related to the Core Elders or the Sect Leader. There was a reason someone like Song Song was so passionate about changing the Sect's punishment system.

After all, the Sect's rules weren't necessarily made to help the disciples who came there. They were there to benefit the Sect itself. That was why, when a Core Elder or one of their relatives committed something, it was easier to turn a blind eye rather than punish the man's great-great-grandson for breaking the cultivation of an outer disciple. What else were they going to do? Fight the Core Elder?

Perhaps those same rules kept the Blazing Sun Sect around for so long. Song Song had a crazy solution for this whole thing: If the people weren't scared of the rules, she would make them scared of the punishment. It wasn't necessarily a good way to handle things, but it was something she had come up with.

If things went as Song Song wanted, people wouldn't be oppressing each other. She would just be oppressing them all equally.

After spending so much time around Song Song, I understood why she thought the way she did. However, understanding didn't mean I agreed with her views, nor would I be a sacrifice or tool for her to achieve these things.

The air around us grew colder and more rigid, and the jade-like beauty was ready to swing her sword. I grabbed the girl behind me by the scruff of her uniform and jumped back behind a tree as a wave of coldness exploded around us. In an instant, the area around us turned into ice, and as quickly as I could, I cast a basic barrier around us. But the cold also ended up freezing the barrier, and we were stuck in an ice egg.

I put an arm around the girl's shoulders and asked, "What's your name?"

"C-Cao Wu," she stuttered, sticking close to me like glue.

"What martial techniques do you know, Cao Wu?" I whispered.

"Eight Gale Steps and Wine Piercing Sword Art," she answered between heavy breaths. The air around us grew heavier, colder, and harder to breathe. "The Wine Piercing Sword Art is an Earth Grade Technique, best used when someone is drunk and has a curved sword. I have neither on hand..."

She had an Earth Grade Technique as an outer disciple? Since when did Earth Grade Techniques become so common?

Despite my thoughts, I didn't waste much time, so I kicked the ice egg around us while dismissing the barrier. As my kick connected with the ice, it felt like my leg got frostbite as the ice cracked around us and broke. Immediately, I kicked off the ground with the Rushing Bull Step, and Cao Wu followed me, too. However, she struggled to keep up with me as I went at the best sustainable speed possible.

If Cao Wu couldn't keep up, she would be left behind. If I stayed behind to try to protect her, I would only get both of us killed. 

But my worries were needless because while she was having some difficulty keeping up, her movement technique seemed better than mine when it came to escaping these situations.

Despite our speed, the cold feeling grew closer, and it felt like I was naked in Antarctica as my clothes did nothing to protect me from the chill.

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But suddenly, there was a surge of Qi, and something quickly approached us. So I stopped in my tracks, causing Cao Wu to smash into me as she was too close.

"Sorry-" she was about to apologize, but there was no time for good manners as I grabbed her by the clothes and jumper to the side.

Not even a second after doing that, the tree we were standing by froze instantly. Then, a large invisible slash cut it into two. My heart froze, and I bit the inside of my cheek to cause enough pain that the shaking stopped. I hardly knew whether I was shaking because of fear or the cold.

But one thing was for sure, she was playing with us.

Cao Wu's face paled as the cold grew closer, and she said, "We need to run away!"

She tried grabbing my sleeve and dragging me away, but I didn't budge. Her gesture of not running away without me was heartwarming, but it was no longer necessary. By now, I had come to a startling realization.

"You want me to believe that someone as skilled as you has such bad aim?" I asked.

As if to mock me, the jade-like beauty emerged from one of the trees before us, showing that she had already overtaken us and there was no way we could run away.

"If you could see through my plan, you should have kept your mouth shut. Perhaps you could have lived longer," the jade-like stated, too calm for someone who had her plans seen through. Which meant she would kill us. 

"You let us go intentionally so we would lead you to another team. No doubt you did the same with Cao Wu here," I stated matter-of-factly.

But the jade-like beauty did not mock or belittle me; instead, she nodded. "Yes. For all it's worth, I would like to apologize to you all. But my life is more important than yours. If there was another way, I wouldn't have killed so many. But when you chase immortality, you should be prepared to have an early death. I will kill millions more until my dream comes true."

That was a lot of lip service for someone who was brandishing their weapon to finish us off. So far, her relentless killing made no sense, and it clearly was not in self-defense. She wasn't someone who needed to be defended by anyone.

She swung her sword, and that cold feeling again took over. Before Cao Wu could respond, I grabbed her again. I threw her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes while falling down as the invisible ice slash cut the tree where we were standing. Even as we were falling, cold energy blasts came toward us. The Qi was so dense that it had formed into visible ice spikes that followed me like homing missiles as we fell.

Rushing Bull Step!

I stomped the ground with all the power I could gather, causing the earth to shake and the trees around us to sputter. Then, as the dust rose, we hid behind a tree, and the ice spikes punctured the said tree.

"You can sense my attacks? That's quite something for someone at the Body Tempering Realm. Your senses might be better than one of the Qi Gathering disciples I ambushed. He sensed nothing and only noticed by the time I had stabbed him in the eye," she explained as we heard footsteps approaching us. "Perhaps when some lazy Qi Gathering disciples can see Qi, their ability to sense Qi becomes irrelevant and not something they actively try to use. You can't see Qi, so sensing is the only thing you can do, and that's all you have to concentrate on."

While I let her yap, I used my finger to write some instructions for Cao Wu. The fellow outer disciple looked a bit out of it, likely in shock, but she still nodded at my plan. Then, I used my fingers to count down from three.

"Now!" I yelled out, and we both shot off in opposite directions.

It was clear that we stood no chance against this monstrous woman. But no matter how strong she was, she couldn't be in two places at the same time and would have to give chase to one of us.

Thankfully, this girl was not like Song Song, who trusted her instincts enough to have her body react before her mind could catch up with what was happening. But the jade-like girl's reaction was still fast, and she shot an attack toward the girl while turning toward me and shooting off like a bullet.

"Are you perhaps like me?" She asked.

But her words were cut short because her eyes widened as she turned around to see that the spikes she had sent toward Cao Wu had been destroyed by a barrier.

"Tch, a second artifact? Just how many does she have?" The jade-like girl grumbled under her breath and turned toward me, her pupils dilating as she zoned in on me. "Doesn't matter, I can catch up to her later. You, on the other hand, look like someone troublesome enough to actually be able to escape."

I no longer paid attention to her words and concentrated on moving as fast as possible. With every step I took, the tree branch I stomped upon was blasted apart, and I flew off. No matter how hard I pushed, the girl was catching up to me faster and faster.

Taking a deep breath, I ignored the pain in my legs from using the Rushing Bull Step further than it was intended to be used. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my Qi sense while looking for attacks. She seemed to be satisfied with chasing me for now.

Did she think I would lead her to another team? No, such sidetracked thoughts were useless for now. I should only concentrate on the main objective.

A 2D map of the island formed in my mind, trying to recall the shoddy map Song Song had shown me when telling me where we were going. Then I remembered where I had killed the team trying to kill us and which direction the two inner disciples Song Song had chased had gone.

When those two had run away, they went in a straight line, and Song Song chased them North. Based on their initial movement, their movement martial technique should be like my Rushing Bull Step, which worked best when moving in a straight line. So, there was a clear, straight segment where they could have moved along the island.

Now, the question that my life depended on was to try and guess which place Song Song had killed them. If she had done so, then at which point was she returning to where she had left us. So I had to calculate all that in my mind while escaping.

This was not some math homework I could skip. 

I was not returning to the beach where the rest of my team was. That was the direction Cao Wu was going to meet up with my team and notify the Outer Elder here. 

But I was not running in a random direction either. I was trying to get Song Song and this psycho jade-like girl to meet.

The second question was, how could I survive before either of my plans came to fruition?

Also, the jade-like beauty seemed like someone with a plan, and I had a distinct feeling she had something in store for me just like I had for her.

Chapter 54: The Chase

The dark night enveloped the forest, with only the half-moon offering a faint glimmer of light. Yet, it was inadequate, and the trees loomed ominously like silhouettes against the darkness. Moving at my maximum speed, I had little time to evade the small branches that snagged my clothes and grazed my skin.

The biting cold permeated the surroundings and seeped into my skin, leaving a slick layer of moisture that froze the sweat on my brow. Despite the discomfort, I dared not even scratch my itchy brow, knowing that any obstruction to my vision could prove fatal.

One small mistake, one misstep, and death awaited me. So, I remained vigilant, scanning for any potential threats.

As we ventured deeper, the trees grew more menacingly jagged. I tasted copper in my mouth from biting my cheek earlier, and the cold air stung my nostrils, accompanied by the distant hoot of an owl. Yet, these sounds were drowned out by the thunderous rhythm of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Despite the dire circumstances, I found myself falling into a rhythm, and the pain in my legs became bearable with familiarity.

However, as I passed a massive tree, just behind it was a young man, perhaps a year or two older than myself. He turned towards us, his expression confused. Without hesitation, I shot out to grab his collar, intending to drag him away from the imminent danger posed by the jade-like girl.

This instinctive act of trying to save someone's life was second nature to me. It seemed inconceivable to walk past someone facing certain death, especially when their demise would, in part, be due to my presence. Unlike those I had slain before, this young man had done me no harm. Though I had no time to think these things through, it was more of a spontaneous decision.

But in that split-second of delay, the chill in the air intensified, hurtling towards me with unprecedented force.

Damn it! I had already faltered, and now there was no turning back!

As my hand tightened around the back of his robe, preparing to pull him to safety, the young man's confusion was replaced by horror as an icicle pierced through his neck. With lightning reflexes, I narrowly avoided the bloodied tip as it grazed past my eye.

With no time to spare, I continued to haul the young man's lifeless body, no longer attempting to save him. His blood splattered across my face, but I pressed forward, sensing more Qi shards hurtling toward me.

What began as an attempt to rescue him quickly devolved into using his corpse as a shield, as a barrage of ice spikes pierced through him. His once bright eyes, now dull and lifeless, bore the brunt of the assault. Thankfully, a cultivator's body proved resilient, sparing me from being skewered. 

I tossed his body aside and bolted away, whispering, "Sorry, man."

Despite the chaos, the ice spikes miraculously missed me. A suspicion crept into my mind. Was she toying with me, like a cat with its prey? Or perhaps she was biding her time, conserving her energy, waiting for an opportune moment.

But before I could dwell on it further, a miniature ice spike pierced my shoulder, burrowing through flesh as if guided by her will. Reacting swiftly, I seized the spike and hurled it away, but it looped back towards me like a guided missile, its target now my neck.

As I leaped onto another tree, I decided to halt in a split second, suspending myself in mid-air. At that moment, she caught up and looked at me like a predator awaiting its chance.

Taking the initiative, I slammed my fist into the neighboring giant tree, unleashing the Sonic Fang Fist technique. The tree erupted from the internal shockwaves, hurling debris towards the jade-like assailant.

The explosion created a temporary smoke screen and a deafening noise, but she remained unperturbed. She relied on her Qi senses to track me through the chaos.

"You're quite the schemer," she remarked, her tone devoid of malice.

"Everyone becomes one when their survival is at stake," I retorted calmly, standing my ground. "But if you're hoping to paint me as the villain here, you're barking up the wrong tree, miss bitch."

"What crude language," she remarked.

"Well, you are attempting to kill me. Should I be singing your praises?" I winced as I tried to stem the bleeding, feeling strangely accustomed to the pain. 

Had the cold numbed my nerves?

"Shouldn't you be fleeing?" Her silver eyes bore into me, their color shifting like a mesmerizing rainbow from afar.

"Shouldn't you be trying to finish me off?" I shot back, abandoning any pretense of diplomacy. If death was inevitable, I saw no point in sugar-coating my words. And frankly, I had no desire to be friendly with her.

"You could have tried begging, you know. It won't sway me, but it might buy you some time with others. Make them hesitate," the jade-like girl remarked coolly as the ice sword in her hand morphed into a long spear, sparkling like a diamond in the moonlight. With a tilt of her head, the ice spear aimed straight at me, spinning rapidly like a lethal drill. Even at a distance, its menacing energy was palpable.

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That thing would tear through flesh and bone like butter, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

"Though I expected more from someone who used another person as a shield. You could have at least attempted to flee after creating that diversion with the tree," she chided.

"Oh? Seems like someone here is even more stupid than she appears," I smirked, realizing she was unaware of my true intentions. Her eyes flickered at my taunts, but I no longer cared.

"Who said I smashed that tree to escape? There were better ways to do that. It was to draw attention, hoping one of my teammates nearby would investigate. But it seems my calculations were off, or perhaps luck wasn't on my side," I shrugged, gazing up at the night sky.

Drawing a shaky breath, I mustered a facade of confusion and defiance, masking the fear creeping in.

I didn't want to die... There was so much left to explore and experience. What a wasted opportunity. But blaming others now would be futile. I alone bore responsibility for my choices.

In my final moments, it would be pathetic to blame the librarian who sent me here, Song Song who left me behind, or even the decision to save Cao Wu. I was an adult and would face the consequences of my actions. 

I will take responsibility for my own decisions.

My heart raced, and my hands instinctively adjusted an imaginary tie as if I were back in one of those stifling suits from work.

The ice spear whirred, the air around it shifting ominously.

Perhaps I should attempt to use my Earth Grade Technique, though hers could easily overpower mine, given that she was utilizing her own Qi to wield these techniques.

The javelin hurtled towards me, time slowing to a crawl as the world narrowed to the steady thump of my heartbeat. Despite the apparent sluggishness, I couldn't catch sight of the projectile, knowing evasion was futile.

Then, with a sudden shift in the air, the spear froze in its path, and my eyes focused on the hand adorned with a silver ring on the pinky finger that had grabbed into the projectile. My savior turned towards me.

"I expected more resistance from you." Song Song sighed.

Relief flooded through me, threatening to buckle my knees. Summoning a smile, I managed, "You arrived just in time."

Her intervention had been nothing short of miraculous. A split second later, I would've been a lifeless body on the forest floor.

"Not really," Song Song shrugged. "I've been around for a while. I was just seeing how you handled the situation."

My hopes of her being a guardian angel plummeted. Realistically, her chances of swooping in at the eleventh hour to save me were slim to none.

As I assessed Song Song, a fact that had slipped my mind during our time together resurfaced: This girl was certifiably insane, no matter how one sliced it.

Rather than backing down, I upped the ante, casually leaning against a tree. "Well, then. Let's see a good fight. You wouldn't want to be defeated by someone with lower cultivation, now would you? That'd be embarrassing."

Song Song's smile remained intact, unfazed by my provocation. "I'll give you a show you won't forget."

Turning towards her adversary, she tightened her grip on the ice spear, causing it to crack and shatter into a thousand icy fragments.

"That's quite the technique you have," she complimented her opponent, her tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration.

"Thanks," the jade-like girl responded.

"And at the Qi Gathering stage at such a young age, you're on the verge of breaking into two-star Qi Gathering. That's an extraordinary talent, even surpassing mine," Song Song added.

Her praise wasn't empty; it was accompanied by a piercing intensity in her gaze—the sort of look that would unsettle anyone who received it.

The jade-like beauty straightened, her eyes narrowing as Qi gathered in her palms, forming two translucent ice swords.

Song Song was right; her technique was impressive, unlike anything I'd seen among Qi Gathering disciples. But then again, I wasn't good at discerning their techniques since I couldn't even see the Qi they used. 

With a crouch, Song Song prepared to sprint, causing the ground to rumble beneath her. She shot forward like a rocket, leaving a cracked trail behind and kicking up a small dust cloud.

Their movements blurred, a dark and blue flash intertwining as the environment around them froze. Wisely, I retreated behind a tree, seeking cover from their clash.

Muttering under my breath, I brushed aside blades of grass and traced my finger along the wound on my shoulder, gathering blood. Initiating a soft chant, I manipulated the air around me, performing the ritual for a Warming Array—albeit without the core of a tiger monstrous beast, which normally served as fuel.

A translucent yellow square barrier formed, spanning a one-hundred-meter radius around us. Its effects were subtle, primarily warming the surrounding area. While more effective during the day, given its absorption of Qi from the sun, it still functioned somewhat under the moonlight.

Amidst the chaos, a crash reverberated through the forest as the jade-like beauty collided with a tree with such force that it shattered the trunk, sending the giant tree tumbling to the ground.

The jade-like beauty rose to her feet before Song Song could intervene, her icy demeanor contorting into a frown as she drew in a deep breath. The Qi surrounding her surged erratically, starkly from her usual controlled demeanor.

"Attempting to break through during combat? That's a bold move, one I've never seen before," Song Song materialized beside me, her hand on my shoulder as she pulled me behind her. 

The other girl remained silent, her actions speaking volumes as her Qi erupted outward.

Breaking through during a battle was perilous and risked shattering one's cultivation. Yet, as the Qi settled, the jade-like beauty appeared revitalized, her gaze sharp and focused.

"Damn, she makes it seem effortless," I muttered under my breath.

"She certainly does," Song Song agreed, her smile widening. "But that's what makes this all so exhilarating. And try not to ramp up the heat from your array too much. While it may momentarily inconvenience her to expel Yang Qi to form her weapons, cranking up the heat tips the scales too much in our favor."

Did she think I had more control over the array's temperature? She was overestimating my abilities as an Array Conjurer.

"Yeah, sure," I replied. There was no reason not to let the jade-like beauty assume that. It might make me a target, but I trusted Song Song to protect me and take advantage of the opening that would create.

Chapter 55: Fighting IQ

As the jade-like girl broke through, the Qi around her swelled, dispelling any lingering fatigue. Her gaze sharpened once more, emanating a readiness to kill. The grass surrounding her froze in place, cracking audibly, and within moments, ice spread from her, encasing the ground beneath her feet. The freezing effect extended towards us.

Though I stood behind Song Song, I instinctively stepped back, feeling the intensifying cold. The jade-like beauty's power had surged significantly, and the ice spread so fast I could no longer dodge. 

As the ice threatened to crash into us and the chill became nearly unbearable, Song Song emitted a calming pulse of Qi, shattering the ice. Everything around us turned into frozen sculptures, except for a circle surrounding us where the grass remained green, untouched by the cold.

The jade-like beauty frowned, gathering Qi in her hand for another attack. At that moment, Song Song turned around, gave me an awkward thumbs-up, and said, "Everything will be okay."

Her reassurance felt anything but comforting!

The awkwardness of her smile and the forced nature of her words left me uneasy. Was this some signal? It certainly didn't feel like it. Were we on the brink of death?

"Okay…" I replied, whispering, "Why are you acting like this, is something wrong? Should we flee?"

She appeared offended by my question. "I was trying to reassure you," she whispered back defensively. "And for your information, I think I'm improving."

"Can you please just be yourself? It's unsettling otherwise," I urged quietly. "Just as I promised to be honest with you, you should do the same. Tell me what you truly mean."

Song Song sighed, her features returning to neutrality, though the intense sparkle in her eyes persisted.

Meanwhile, the jade-like beauty had charged her attack, launching a dozen ice spikes toward us. Song Song turned towards her opponent, her hands moving swiftly to deflect and shatter the incoming projectiles effortlessly.

"Liu Feng, stop betraying your emotions through your actions, and refrain from behaviors like stepping back when I'm present," she advised firmly, her confidence unwavering yet tinged with a hint of madness. "Act like a man, and trust in me. I will protect you, and there's no need to fear. It's embarrassing to witness my second-in-command behave in such a manner."

Though slightly insulted, I couldn't deny the confidence her words instilled. She should play to her strengths, leaving me to handle the role of being approachable and amiable.

"Second-in-command? You do realize it's only a temporary position, right?" I countered with a smile.

Yes, I should trust her. Despite facing a formidable opponent in the jade-like beauty, Song Song's prowess was undeniable. If we lost now, then so be it. I wouldn't have had a better chance at this either way.

Song Song turned her head slightly, a teasing smirk dancing on her lips as she sent me a glance. "Are you sure saying such things now is a good idea? After all, I could leave you here to die if you're not going to be of any use to me."

I smiled back and nodded. "You'd have a better chance at becoming immortal than finding another second-in-command who would put up with your bullshit."

Her smirk faltered into a frown as she redirected her attention to the jade-like beauty. "You're probably right. Smart people are usually scheming, but you're just smart enough to not be a snake, so that's good."

"There's another word for that," I added. "It's called being trustworthy."

Meanwhile, during our banter, the jade-like beauty had readied another attack. A singular trident, colossal in size and radiating an aura of extreme cold, hung suspended in the air like a sentinel of icy power. Its sleek form, reminiscent of a frozen storm, loomed large against the backdrop of the dark sky, commanding attention with its sheer magnitude. The air around it seemed to quiver and distort as if recoiling from its frigid touch. Each trident prong gleamed with an unnatural brilliance, its edges sharp enough to cleave atoms.

Despite its formidable presence, it was surrounded by an eerie stillness—a silent promise of chaos poised to be unleashed at the slightest provocation.

The weapon flew toward us with such speed that it felt like it was already upon us, freezing the very air itself in the blink of an eye. Yet, despite its menace, Song Song showed no hesitation. With a swift punch, she intercepted the trident, causing it to shake and explode harmlessly into ice shards.

"This…" the jade-like beauty narrowed her eyes. "You're injecting Qi into my constructions and causing internal destruction."

"It's a little something I came up with while destroying someone's cultivation," Song Song shrugged. "It's not really a technique, just finesse with Qi control. It's effective against physical constructs, but not so much against people with their own Qi."

"I'm not sure it's wise to reveal your ability's weaknesses," I cautioned her.

"It's nothing special," Song Song dismissed it casually.

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Though I wasn't well-versed in Qi, her usage sounded anything but "not special."

The jade-like beauty narrowed her eyes, accompanied by a ring of ice swords floating behind her. She rapidly launched the weapons towards us, and each projectile as it was shot out was replaced by a new one materializing behind her.

As the swords hurtled towards us, Song Song tightened her fist, ready to deflect them. But just as they were halfway towards us, she opened her hands and leaned aside, dodging one of the attacks—and allowing one of the ice swords to come towards me!

Shit! Fuck! I'm dead!

The ice sword was too swift for me to evade, dangerously close to skewering me through the head. However, just inches before it could skewer through my left eye, the weapon halted mid-air. Song Song seized the handle and swiftly repurposed the projectile, using it to deflect another incoming ice sword.

She seized a third sword in a blur of motion, dual-wielding the icy weapons to expertly parry the projectiles. Dozens of swords were deflected before the barrage finally ceased, leaving the jade-like beauty looking unsettled. At the same time, Song Song wore a triumphant smirk.

"That was good. You're quite amazing, young lady. You were able to change the core of the technique so fast and reinforce the inner part of the swords too, so your constructs are now somewhat immune to my internal destruction—at least strong enough that I won't be able to destroy them in a split second." Song Song nodded. 

"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't divulged your weakness," I muttered under my breath, loud enough for Song Song to hear. 

She wasn't dealing with an ordinary disciple, and the jade-like beauty might possess capabilities beyond what she seemed. 

"It's not a big deal," Song Song shrugged, twirling her new ice sword with practiced ease. "She improvised a new variation of her technique. Normally, she could have dissolved these swords effortlessly and not let her enemies use them. But as you can see, they remain intact."

With a knowing smirk directed at her opponent, Song Song continued, "Moreover, reinforcing the technique was Qi-intensive, especially with this new variation she never used before. She must have expended considerable Qi in the process."

Though unexpected from Song Song, her analysis sounded plausible. Despite her naivety in mundane matters, she was undeniably a genius at fighting. 

Song Song's swift deduction and strategic response during the battle were monstrous, bordering on terrifying. She had deduced all that amid a split second in a fight.

The jade-like beauty's frown deepened as the ice swords in Song Song's grasp began to melt. Despite her loss, the older girl seemed amused by the turn of events.

"You won't recover the Qi spent on those just by dissolving them," Song Song remarked casually.

"We shall see," the jade-like beauty replied cryptically, her eyes flashing with rainbow hues before the Qi around her violently erupted outward.

"Huh? A technique that increases her cultivation that's quite rare. Even I do not have a technique like that. It also seems like a top grade since you just jumped three stars," Song Song whistled in admiration. "But is it smart to use such a thing right after breaking through when your Qi is still quite malleable?"

Despite Song Song's words, the jade-like beauty paid no heed. She took a crimson pill and popped it into her mouth. Her Qi exploded once more, turning crimson. 

Unlike before, when her Qi was soft and controllable, that no longer seemed to be the case. Tears of blood seeped from her eyes, and blood trickled from her left nostril.

Even to me, a man who was essentially blind to Qi, it was evident that she had far more Qi than her body could handle.

But the other girl ignored Song Song's provocations, forming two thin swords of ice and grasping them. Then, the jade-like beauty swiftly kicked off the ground and closed the distance between her and Song Song.

"Good choice. You didn't waste any more Qi on projectiles since they were useless," Song Song commented, observing the fight as if she were a spectator rather than a participant.

Meanwhile, I noted that the new projectile was too costly to use, especially considering Song Song's movements and the elegance with which she never even stepped back as the jade-like beauty slashed at her. Instead, Song Song leaned into the slash and, rather than dodging, grabbed the sword bare-handed!

My heart almost jumped at that seemingly foolish action, knowing that my life also depended on her winning. It appeared she wasn't even taking the fight seriously, especially now that, if my senses were correct and considering what Song Song had stated before, this girl should be at least a six-star Qi Gatherer with all her boosts.

Before the sword could dig into her hand, it halted midway as if stopped by an invisible force. In a split second, Song Song redirected all the Qi in her body to her hand to defend herself and grabbed the weapon. The jade-like beauty quickly retaliated with her other sword, attempting to cut Song Song's throat.

"While your decision was a good one, my specialty is actually close-quarters combat," Song Song stated calmly. "Well, not exactly a specialty, perhaps, as I'm not bad at long-range either. But I prefer my fights up close and personal."

Two inches before the sword could touch Song Song's neck, she shifted and delivered a powerful kick to the jade-like beauty's chin, causing her head to snap backward from the force and rattling her brain. 

Song Song let go of the sword and finally took a step backward.

The jade-like girl's footing grew unsteady, and as she attempted to stand up and slash at Song Song, she plummeted to the ground. Despite her efforts to look up, her eyes remained hazy and unfocused.

Was… this the end? Could the battle indeed be over? It felt surreal. There was no way a jade-like beauty could fall so easily, right? No, it was Song Song who made it seem effortless.

So this was what an overwhelming difference in combat experience looked like…

Once again, the jade-like girl stumbled to her feet, trying to attack Song Song, only to find herself back on the ground. Her legs shook as she used her hand to prop herself up.

I couldn't help but observe with an eerie fascination. Despite being a cultivator, what had essentially occurred was an overwhelming knockout and evident brain damage she was struggling to push through, to no avail.

"Have you ever thought about the nose?" Song Song suddenly pointed at my nose.

Excuse me? What was she on about now?

It still felt like a dream. At any moment, the jade-like girl might rise and unleash another power surge. But even if that were the case, Song Song would make quick work of her again. 

Wait, had Song Song even used a martial technique throughout this entire fight?

Chapter 56: A Bit On The Nose

"Are you listening to me?" She snapped her fingers, drawing my attention away from the bloodied jade-like beauty. "Anyway, as you know, the nose is there, and your eyes can actually see it. But subconsciously, they ignore it."

"Okay?"

"No, that is not okay!" Song Song put a hand on my shoulder. "The nose is still there, blocking the field of vision. So, using that weakness, you can send some devastating attacks without people noticing. That's how I hit her. I used no Qi in my kick so she couldn't sense it and delivered an attack to the chin."

"Why are you telling me something like this?" I asked.

It was clear Song Song was sharing her combat experience and instinct for fighting. But that wasn't something I could replicate easily. After all, the kick might lack Qi, but there was still the wind generated from the kick that someone might feel, so it had to be at the right moment. Timing it amid battle wasn't something I could do. It would just be a massive risk of my leg getting crushed and losing any chance of escaping.

"So you don't fall for the same trick, of course," she sighed and shook her head like a disappointed teacher. "Then again, this would probably just make you overthink things needlessly in a fight. So, forget it. Try to think less and do more things in a fight."

A harrowing cough drew our attention away from talking about noses. It was the jade-like girl, and she had just coughed out a mouthful of blood. She dropped her ice swords and covered her mouth as she continued coughing, but the blood slipped through her fingers.

The drawbacks of the pill and technique that forcefully increased cultivation temporarily had begun showing. It was not a pretty sight.

"Usually, it takes longer for the aftereffects of these kinds of things to show," Song Song continued her lesson. "But she used both the technique to forcefully increase her cultivation temporarily and the pill."

"Her foundation is probably messed up," I said.

"Not probably, definitely," Song Song added and turned toward me. "Do you think she will die on her own?"

Once again, there was that crazed look in her eyes. Just when she was having such a fine conversation and explaining how she approached fighting and cultivation.

I shrugged and sighed, "I don't know."

But what grabbed my attention more was the jade-like girl as she began throwing up blood and coughing like somebody who had been smoking for a century. 

How could someone have such dry-sounding coughs while throwing up blood? I had no idea.

"You're right," Song Song nodded. "I will kill her with my own hands to make sure she stays dead."

Song Song grabbed one of the ice blades the girl had dropped and looked ready to kill the jade-like beauty with her own weapon. Though she no longer quite looked jade-like, her skin was sickly pale, she had dark bags under her eyes, and her eyes' sclera were bloodshot.

As Song Song approached her, my heart beat faster as thoughts of what would happen next played in my mind. This was the one person I wouldn't regret pushing to her death. She deserved to die.

All the things she had done played in my mind. I didn't know the exact situation with how and why she had killed that inner disciple and the rest of his team. It could have been self-defense. But with how she acted, it was highly unlikely.

I clenched my hand into a fist, recalling the innocent guy we had run into and had tried to save. Ultimately, I had to use him as a shield, which still made my stomach churn just thinking about it. Also, throughout this whole ordeal, she had come at me with the intent to kill, too. So she had it coming.

If this was anyone else, I would not have hesitated to kill her with my own hands…

But this was a jade-like beauty. Just thinking of her background made a chill run through my bones. Even if her being a jade-like beauty was not enough of an indicator, her techniques and resources required to reach Qi Gathering before the age of sixteen made it clear that she had a monstrous background.

Perhaps if I had tried to shift all the blame onto Song Song and blend into the background, I might have been able to handle this whole ordeal and skip the punishment part. But despite her faults, Song Song had gone above and beyond for me. I couldn't betray her trust like that.

It would have been hard to hide that either way. I was just another cog in this machine that her clan or whatever she got those resources from wouldn't have minded eliminating.

"Stop," I called out to Song Song as she was about to stab the defenseless girl.

I felt a bitter taste in my mouth just telling her to stop.

Song Song turned toward me with a bewildered look, and for a second, I thought she would not listen to my words. But in the end, she just looked confused and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I sighed.

She shrugged and threw the ice sword away nonchalantly. "Well, you sure look reluctant for a guy trying to save someone."

"Well, she has killed an inner disciple and his whole team, tormented a girl, and then slaughtered an innocent disciple we ran into," I explained.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Song Song tilted her head and looked like she was waiting for some punchline to the story. But it never came…

Right, she could never understand…

From my point of view, it didn't make sense to kill people indiscriminately, and it was bizarre how casual everyone was about taking someone's life. They didn't even stop to think for a second.

But perhaps I was the odd one here.

After all, for people who grew up in a world like this, it was normal… It was normal to invest in someone who would be a monstrous cultivator and have them on your side, even if they were a monster in character too. No matter how evil someone was, it was more beneficial for a sect to cover their misdeeds than not have them. Unless they killed said talented person, they would just go to another sect, empowering their enemies. But even killing them was a waste in the Sect's eyes. In modern terms, it was like burning money. It was better to launder it instead.

In the end, nobody was really evil. They were just not powerful enough to silence everyone who spoke badly about them.

This was why I should just keep my head in my books and enjoy my time here instead of worrying about these crazy xianxia people. A person with a greater sense of justice and no self-preservation instincts might have tried something. But I was no such person; I was just some guy trying to read interesting books. 

"I never really thought you were the kind of man who would fall for a pretty face," Song Song said as she looked at the jade-like beauty wriggling on the ground with utter fascination.

"Excuse me?"

What was she talking about?

She raised a questioning brow and elaborated, "Didn't you spare her so you could make her your concubine?"

"What? Obviously not!" I hurriedly said. "What kind of guy do you think I am?"

"Why do you look like I just called you a sword swallower or something? It was not an insult. She isn't ugly to have as a concubine," she looked as confused as ever. "Also, why else would you ask not to kill her if you didn't want her as a concubine?"

I took a deep breath to calm down and looked at the starry night sky.

Could she not see what she was implying here?

Massaging the area in the middle of my eyes, I explained, "Because her techniques clearly show that she is from a big-shot clan and background. If you killed her, it would become a prize comparison whether the Blazing Sun Sect values you more than making enemies with some foreign superpower."

Song Song's eyes widened as realization dawned on her, and she nodded. "Huh, I never thought of it like that."

Yeah, no wonder. Song Song probably never had to worry about someone being in a higher position than her if she wanted to cause them harm. It was clear that Song Song was some big shot from a big family herself too.

She smiled and slapped me on the back in a friendly manner. "That's why I have you as second in command. To think of things like this."

I nodded while keeping my eyes on the jade-like beauty who finally stopped coughing and was lying on the ground with a pool of blood around her, breathing hoarsely. She had lived somehow, even with how much blood she had thrown up. Though it didn't come as a surprise, seeing who she was.

Walking closer, I laid her on her side, making sure she didn't choke on her own blood, and pulled her away from the pool of blood she had made. The ice she had created before had begun thawing, so I laid her on one of the wet trees, ensuring she could still breathe.

I would have cleaned her bloody face or the blood on her clothes, but she was dangerous and had tried to kill me. Of course, I was going to hold a grudge for that. 

Despite how harsh the backlash could have been, after a couple of hours, the jade-like beauty coughed again, and her eyes fluttered as the sun began to rise on the horizon. She looked horrible and sickly like she already had a foot in the grave.

"I'm alive?" she asked, looking around, confused. "No, perhaps the afterlife really does exist. Well, that's annoying. If I had known that, I wouldn't have gone through all that effort to stay alive."

She seemed almost content with how things had turned out. But despite that, someone here was not okay with all that.

"You're wrong," Song Song said, breaking the girl's stupor. Then Song Song pointed her thumb at me and said, "This soft-hearted idiot here decided to spare you, and I like him just enough to follow his words… for now."

Okay, so we were hiding why we actually spared her. It made sense since if she knew why we didn't kill her, she could use that as leverage against us.

"I see," the jade-like beauty looked as expressionless as ever and looked at me. "Thank you. Though I can't say it is a good decision sparing me. Just because you saved someone doesn't mean they won't hold a grudge to kill you in the future."

"Okay, she's dead," Song Song declared and began approaching the girl.

"Though there is no need to worry, I do not have the time to waste on silly things like revenge," the jade-like beauty stated.

"Yeah, like we're going to trust you," Song Song stated sarcastically, gathering Qi in her hand.

Wait… Song Song was acting, right? She wouldn't actually kill her after everything we went through to spare her life. Well, this was Song Song, so she probably would.

"Let's calm down a bit, Song Song," I played my part and put on a pleading look. "We went through all this effort to spare her life. Killing her would be a waste of effort now."

"The masked guy is right," the girl added. "Also, you don't have to worry about me killing you, masked guy."

"Yeah, because I will murder you if you do that," Song Song added matter-of-factly.

"I know," the sickly girl nodded. "From our fight, it was easy to see that no matter what, I won't be able to beat someone like you even if we were at the same cultivation level. You barely used any Qi, while I had to go all out. It was quite frustrating, to be honest. Everything I threw at you just ended up to my detriment."

Oh, it seemed like Song Song had really gotten under her skin, even though her emotionless face made it hard to tell.

Then the sickly girl turned toward me and asked, "You could sense Qi, right? Even though you're Body Tempering."

"Yes," I answered. It was no secret any longer.

"Then, are you like me?" She inquired with a strange glint in her eyes.

Was I like her? What was that supposed to mean? She had also asked something like that when we were fighting. It seemed like she also sensed Qi before entering the Qi Gathering realm.

Wait… by "like her," did she mean a reincarnator? 

That was unlikely, but I had just met someone who was like a protagonist, and my mind was open to the possibilities.

"Hello," I said in a language utterly foreign to this world, English. It felt weird speaking English with this body.

Hello—was such a common phrase that even someone from Earth who spoke no English would understand.