Author: Melinoё's daughter
Our Discord: https://discord[dot]gg/WfKqjeXN {replace [dot] with '.'}
Snowflakes fell to the ground under the bright blue sky, sun shining and illuminating a small clearing inside a forest.
At this moment.
"Senior brother!"
A scared and trembling voice resounded in the clearing, belonging to a girl wearing blue and silver robes, covering almost her entire frame except her head and hands. Though this didn't really manage to hide her exceptionally beautiful rosy-white skin and face, with bright amber eyes, like the warmest fire that will keep anyone warm in the coldest winter, and hair the color of midnight sky, deep dark-blue color that shone slightly purple under the sun. She was slightly shorter than the man standing confidently in front of her, intending to move closer toward her, his visibly sturdier and bigger build towering over the smaller girl, who awkwardly backed away.
She stumbled backwards, almost falling, before someone appeared behind her, placing a hand slightly above her waist, making sure she wouldn't fall.
"Ah–," She turned her head to look at the person who saved her, only to freeze in place. "Senior brother Zhong Ren!"
She blurted out, quickly stepping away and bowing, making Zhong Ren visibly conflicted by her reaction. He reached out his hand to calm her, but quickly retracted, his gaze turning cold and furious, locking on to a person standing not far away, already white from the shock and fear.
"Th– this! I can ex-explain!"
His voice was cracking, unable to hide the fear and shock he was feeling.
"Junior brother, I know very well what happened here. Surrender peacefully, or…"
Zhong Ren's voice trailed off ominously, making the man in front of him tense up and nod fervently.
"Yes, yes! Thank you senior brother for your magnanimity!"
He bowed before Zhong Ren moved quickly in front of him, leaving a trail of snow in the air behind him, hitting still bowing man on the back of his neck with the side of a palm, making him fall to the snow, face-first, unconscious.
Not even looking behind, he now walked normally towards the slowly recovering trembling girl.
"Junior sister Yingtao, what are you doing here, if I may ask? This is a northern forest, with your cultivation of Mortal Ascension even staying here puts you at the danger of freezing to death."
There was genuine concern and worry in his words, but barely a perceptible hint of suspicion and doubt crossed his black eyes for a moment.
She breathed in deeply for a few more times before answering, "Senior brother, you know that there were rumors of a beast tide forming, and there was a mission to–"
Zhong Ren didn't even let her finish before raising his hand and sighing.
"No matter how safe the mission looked, you should know how dangerous the place where you are going is, even if not deep, accidents happen and…"
He glanced at the body of another disciple lying in the snow.
"You need to remember that, understood?"
His voice was cautiously strict, not wanting to make her even more scared or, even worse – create a bad image of himself.
"Y-yes, senior brother Zhong Ren."
Yingtao nodded curtly.
"Good, let's go back then, I don't want you to freeze here."
As Zhong Ren said that, he closed his eyes for a moment, hands moving slightly, suddenly Yingtao felt warm and comfortable, as a transparent layer of something resembling a coat covered her entirely.
"Oh! Th-thank you."
She wasn't sure how to react, so they spent the entire journey back to the sect in silence, Zhong Ren easily carrying an unconscious man at his left side.
As soon as they arrived, Yingtao quickly wished farewell to Zhong Ren and left him.
Meanwhile, somewhere deep in the north forest, there was a shadow moving along the branches of bare trees, so subtle and inconspicuous that it could be mistaken for a bird that was flying above, but there were no birds in the sky at this moment, especially in this place.
Plop.
Suddenly, two barely visible footprints appeared on the clear white snow with a quiet sound, as the formless shadow began morphing on the snow, white smoke gathering, as a body appeared, dressed in bright full white robes, that were barely lose around a figure, who seemed to form out of thin air, finally appearing as a woman, looking so pristine and beautiful as if she was an angel in human body, with the thin white smoke surrounding her like a halo elevating picture even more, but only for a moment.
She soon kneeled on one knee. "Disciple greets master, I found Miss Qingbai. It's just as the master said, she is an ordinary disciple, and there are some very suspicious things going on, I suppose the prodigy everyone talks about took interest in miss…"
She added hesitantly at the end, raising her dark-green eyes to look up, as a man dressed in crimson-black robes appeared in front of her while she was talking. He had the bearing of someone used to being in power, as if everything under him was under control. He was tall, without any hair on his face, bright amber eyes with a tint of red looked in the distance. His face seemed almost relaxed, if not for the slightly furrowed brows that were very sharp and thin, like a pair of pitch-black blades, his features equally as sharp, yet, under the imposing pressure and image he gave, one could feel the most subtlest hint of a softness, like king who despite everything cares about his country, like a general who wants to see his family after a bloodbath he wrecked onto a battlefield.
"You can stand up, Su Ling."
He nodded, seemingly deep in thought.
"How is the beast tide going? I remember seeing packs of ice wolves forming?"
He finally moved his gaze from a distance to look at Su Ling.
"Very good, if I am right, in a week or so, I can leave it to develop on its own. This month, I removed almost all sources of food that can be hunted; only winter-crowned deer are left."
"Hmm, good. But we can't really afford to wait and let them go rampant while you are still with me. I will take care of the beast tide myself. Proceed now. Later, the sect will be suspicious because they are new and don't have allies, at least that I know of, hehe."
There was a dark chuckle at the end, but Su Ling didn't seem to mind it or even care that much, keeping her face neutral.
"Yes master. I will have nothing to worry about then if you take care of it. Will you put the concealment on now?"
Her voice wasn't really emotional, but rather, nervous? Or maybe this could be interpreted as excitement? At least her face, pale but not quite white had more emotions than her voice, a glint of expectation, of something she genuinely wanted to do.
He looked at her before sighing, surprising and startling Su Ling.
"I just hope they didn't use Memorial Life Tree for it, otherwise, it all…"
He shook his head, dispersing lingering thoughts.
"Come here, I will put the concealment on you. And… you weren't wrong, this enchantment, coupled with cycling life ending death formation, can indeed materialize Qi, incredible."
There was clear eagerness in his words, as he stretched his arm from behind his back, placing it on Su Ling's shoulder–! But it went through, as if she were a mere illusion, but none of them even batted an eye at it.
"This may hurt, though, we are far from level when we can meddle with souls, so be ready, I can't shield your soul, it is up to you to survive."
After this less than encouraging sentence, Su Ling simply clenched her teeth, while her master raised his other hand, sleeves slipping off, revealing many lines and patterns on his forearm, as well as a two rings, one on his pinkie, blue with a red tiny gem imbedded in it, not looking very intricate but expensive nevertheless, one on the ring finger, white, like snow, just looking at it would made anyone feel like something was off, wrong, missing.
Bright blue light shone from the ring on his pinkie, as a brush appeared. Dark, almost black, with a slightly lighter tip. He immediately gripped it, as soon as he did, its barely grey tip began to become white, drawing in the air, forming lines that soon began to form into something that made it hard to look at, as if it wasn't natural, wasn't even real.
Sweat trickled down his forehead, his skin starting to get pale, but not even a moment stopping or trembling, steady as if nothing could interrupt him.
Soon, several minutes later, his breathing was heavy, but with a final dot somewhere in the complex formation floating in the air, he let go of the brush that disappeared with another flash of blue light.
While he was busy drawing the formation, which was placed on Su Ling's shoulder was now glowing with black light, as if darkness began spreading from it, covering Su Ling in a layer of black membrane.
Seeing the formation finish, she closed her eyes, preparing herself.
"Ready?"
He asked.
"Ready."
Both their voices sounded exhausted, yet still so excited and eager, as if nothing could stop whatever they were doing right at this moment.
Crack.
As soon as his other hand moved, formation moved with it, turning into a line as it embedded itself onto the black, still slightly transparent membrane, making it tremble, but with a movement of his hand, it stabilized.
They both took in deep breaths, and it seemed like time had frozen, snowflakes stopped falling, no sound, only the membrane that covered Su Ling began to shrink, shrink and be fused with her.
She gritted her teeth, trying to bear the pain, but right at this moment, her eyes opened wide.
Blood.
There was blood where she bit her lip.
Success.
It wasn't even said, it was in their eyes, in the way they stared at the small trail of blood that flowed down her lip, dripping onto the snow below, dying it red. All pain seemed to disappear at this moment, as if forgotten.
Thud.
Su Ling fell to the ground, unable to bear pain or exhaustion anymore, but before she could fall into the snow, her master made a quick step, catching his disciple gently in his arms.
Catching. Holding.
Two weeks later.
"Sister Yingtao, are you coming to this year's sect recruitment tournament?"
"Sure. Why not? Besides, if you and brother Yen are coming, then there must be something interesting to see, you won't be going if it were just another recruitment."
Yen, hearing her words, smiled sheepishly.
"You know me too well, sister Yingtao."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly; his short black hair was ruffled, yet still somehow looked neat.
"It will start in a few hours, right?"
Yingtao leaned against the back of her chair, looking at the ceiling of her room.
"It's sad that I don't remember my entry exams."
She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to remember, to imagine how it went. Was she average? Was she outstanding?
Sigh.
Yen looked at Yingtao, unsure on how to react.
"But you passed in the end, isn't this the most important thing?"
He stood up, walking closer to her.
"Come on, it should start in a few hours, we'd better get going before it's too late."
Yingtao silently nodded, standing up and leaving the room with him.
'I wonder what kind of people there will be.'
All sadness and gloominess vanished from her features as soon as she thought about seeing so many new people and future disciples, her future sisters and brothers.
It took them just about one hour to reach the place where the sect recruitment will take place. A large, open place, with distinctly separated areas for each trial and one large open field for the people to gather in.
"There are many more people than usual. Is there any reason for it?"
Yingtao curiously asked. She visited some of the previous entry exams, but they all were much less in scale than this one, let alone over a thousand people. The trial areas looked so much more challenging!
"If I remember correctly, this time, a big city was raided by the Abyss Sword sect master… thus why so many people got here, this is the closest and safest way for them to not get stuck in the wilderness or traveling so far for the Mao Hong empire. Of course, those who went here had no other choice, thus there should not be any troubles. It's just that the level of average participants would be… very high."
Yen could not hide his emotions from seeping into the voice and face that he had at this moment. This would be such a grand event for sure, he was sure! And considering rumors about beast tide, those people will definitely make a big difference if it actually happens.
"Oh! Actually, isn't this dangerous? I mean…"
There was nervous edge to Yingtao's words and voice, after all, such a bit city, and as far as she remembered, their sect did have enemies, it was clear to everyone that in this world one can't have only friends and allies, enemies are unavoidable, and if they let one slip into their ranks…
"Oh, you mean spies?"
Yen looked at Yingtao, slightly surprised by her question.
"Don't worry, there is a way for sects like ours to deal with those."
Yingtao gave him a look, not quite getting why he suddenly became so mysterious, it was very weird considering how he usually acted around her. This change definitely made her feel uneasy.
"Why are you so cryptic all of a sudden?"
He chuckled, feeling her questioning tone and unease.
"Don't you know? I thought everyone knew who I am."
He couldn't help the grin on his face. But seeing already irritated and annoyed Yingtao, he sighed.
"Well, I am the sect master's youngest son, Shi Yen."
"Wh-what?!"
Words were faster than her thoughts, blurted out too loudly, but thankfully the closest people were participants far away, since examiners were in the center, looking over the order and preparing everything, making sure every single area was up and ready.
Yingtao was speechless, looking completely out of place.
Deep breath, calm down.
"That… answers a lot of questions."
Yen simply nodded, looking away at the participants who were talking and creating quite a loud noise by now.
"It should start now."
Two people moved from the pavilion at the center, arriving in front of the group of participants. One of them stepped forward.
"Sect trials for recruitment will now officially begin."
His voice immediately made all the noise the group of participants was making disappear in a flash, creating complete silence. Glancing around, his eyes lingered on a few people before he nodded and gestured with his head for his companion to explain.
"The trials will be just as usual. First, we will have to test your aptitude, then the trials will begin, in this order – Knowledge, Mind, Resilience, Personality, Will and finally one on one tournament between those elected for the position of disciple from the start, everyone else will begin as outer disciple."
Yingtao and Yen were still standing where they were, on a platform reserved for disciples who came to watch, hidden by formation and quite a distance away from the trials, but it didn't matter, they all could enhance their vision or use some items that could help watch if their cultivation was still too low.
There weren't that many disciples watching, including Yingtao and Yen; at most ten people were watching.
One by one, people passed through several tents reserved for aptitude tests. It was simple, really. Until…
'I hope nothing goes wrong, this feels… so weird, I never had this odd feeling, as if…'
Shaking her head, Su Ling headed for a tent before someone in a line behind her did something stupid. Stepping inside, it was simple, just two cushions, one for the person testing, one for the person being tasted, and there was only a shining crystal hanging from the top of a tent, illuminating the insides.
As soon as she stepped, there was almost a whistling look at her, making her barely hold back from rolling eyes.
"Sit down, and give me your arm."
She did just as they said, sitting there and letting them take a drop of her blood felt odd… it was… so long…
Trying to push away memories that began to surface, she just looked at the person, waiting for results.
But he kept looking at the talisman in his hands, but it didn't show any reaction. Silence seemed to stretch for an eternity before, finally, it became bright red, almost shining.
"Wow!"
He gave another look at Su Ling, his eyes lingering longer than necessary.
"You can go."
Not wanting to stay here any longer, she moved for the exit, before suddenly he spoke again.
"You don't seem that happy, getting such a high aptitude would have been a joyous matter for anyone?"
Fuck.
"You know how it is to lose your home and be forced to start from scratch."
Not wanting to continue this conversation any longer than necessary, she dropped the most obvious hint possible, making him back off with an apology. Of course, who would know who is who now that almost everyone seemed like equals in status?
She knew, all too well, what her aptitude was back then when she tested for the first time – unfit. Can't cultivate, trash, sold, because there was no other use for her.
Gasp.
Su Ling suddenly realized she was holding her breath the whole time, breathing in felt like such a help from those memories and thoughts. Not now, not here. She is different, she is better, now. Yes, that's right, stronger.
A smirk involuntarily bloomed on her perfect face, it was a good thing that it was easy to misunderstand others' emotions here. Some cried about being 'untalented', some rejoiced, but… did it matter? Really? In no way did she give a fuck about others, this moment was solely for her to enjoy, at least those few minutes while everyone went through the test.
"Alright, from now on, everyone is on their own. If you don't take trials seriously, you can't blame it on us."
The same man who spoke first in the beginning warned everyone now, his voice cold and detached.
As if those who would want to blame can, the dead can't blame those who are alive, do they?
Everyone walked into a first trial ground, which was a massive flat ground with many small crystals placed atop a simple wooden pedestal.
"In the trial of knowledge, as you all probably already know, you will have to use your knowledge, obviously. Not many disciples survive for long when they don't know what plekea even looks like."
It was barely noticeable, but he seemed to hold back a smile, a malicious, not very kind type of smile.
As everyone took the crystal, a stream of information was transferred to their mind. Questions.
What herb can cure a neling disease? What is the set of laws in the Mao Hong empire? Why must every disciple first bow as a greeting?
Many questions, and a small piece of paper, no tools to write.
'Huh, they want us to use the Ink Qi spell? Smart way to sift out useless people who don't know even the simplest of spells.'
Not even two minutes later, Su Ling wrote all her answers onto a piece of paper. Nothing hard, really, all of those can even be taught in the village. Just a way to get rid of people who really aren't worth passing into the next trials, they would just waste resources spent to arrange those trials.
Moving on, everyone who passed the trial, which was almost everyone, only a small portion didn't manage, they arrived in the second trial area. It all seemed to speak for itself, small formations, illusion formations to be precise, were placed on the ground, in orderly lines, shining with different colored light.
"Trial of mind will, not quite as obviously as one of knowledge, test how you can deal with decisions. It is important to make the right decisions, especially fast."
He didn't really bother to explain, but it wasn't really needed, as everyone will face their own version of this trial, since formations are picked onto a person's thoughts and personality that they show after each passed choice.
Stepping onto a circle, Su Ling felt a gentle pulling at her mind, trying to take her into an illusion. It was a weak formation, one that basically required consent to work. But it's not like anyone here will refuse.
Letting it pull her in, she soon found herself inside a hallway with two doors.
Huh, not very original.
"Doesn't matter."
Stepping towards them, Su Ling soon found out the decision she had to make — let her fellow disciple die, but finish the mission, or save them, but fail the mission.
"Hahahahahah!"
She couldn't help the laugh that made her tear up. What kind of trial is that? If it is going to be like that, that won't even be fun. Maybe because it's a righteous sect? Oh right… yeah…
Realization of this made the entire trial boring. After a few minutes, she was done with it, just like some other people.
It only got more boring from there; the only thing making it at least somewhat bearable is that the number of people lessened. Soon enough, it was the last trial, the tournament.
Initial emotions quickly got replaced by boredom on Su Ling's face, waiting among the remaining participants. Around fifty, out of like… a bit more than a thousand?
'I thought that at least among those people from the city, there would be more capable people, it seems like they specifically made the trials harder, not to let too many pass, smart.'
Not having much to do while waiting, she looked around, knowing all too well there should be a place for disciples from the sect to watch from, not really something surprising, but concealing formation worked well; she couldn't find it, at least with how she is at the moment.
'This is kind of… deja vu, I guess?'
Su Ling chuckled to herself, finally settling her gaze into the arena where a pair of contestants were fighting. Simple platform made from sturdy grey bricks, probably enchanted too, not to be broken easily.
It wasn't exactly boredom that made her ignore everything; she knew it all too well, escaping memories, this was too familiar, too… too long since forgotten, buried so deep.
Better leave them as they are, it didn't matter back then, why would it now?
Su Ling shook her head, making her milky-white hair scatter slightly. Trying to get those thoughts and memories out, she reaches for a strand, feeling smooth and silky hair in her hand. It's there, everything is fine, everything will always be fine now. She has a goal here, she came here because she can. It was her decision. Yes, no one–
"Su Ling!"
A voice calls out from the arena. It's her turn, finally.
Quickly jumping onto the tiles, she sizes up her opponent. Slim woman, looks confident. Hm, maybe she was some merchant envoy's mercenary, there are some signs for that, but I can't be sure.
That won't be hard. Fought much worse.
Meanwhile, up on the platform for disciples.
Yen clenched his fists, tensing up all of a sudden.
"This can't be- this-"
He mumbled, his eyes not even daring to look at the arena, darting anywhere but there.
"Dead, tortured, it's impossible… what…"
After a quick battle, Su Ling moved down, slightly refreshed, heavy thoughts and memories alleviated by a fight.
'I wonder if the master is right, that… Well, the master is always right; he can't be wrong, at least not in this, very unlikely. Hopefully I get to… hehe'
A stray thought passed her mind, as Su Ling remembered her master saying before she departed for the recruitment grounds. Such a good opportunity, oh yes, mmm.
But that will have to wait, she must first–
Another fight, welp, here we go.
Two hours later.
"Congratulations on earning a disciple position, sister Su Ling."
Su Ling was standing in a circle of people, they were all just bootlickers, ew. 'Now I get why it felt easier… never mind.'
After some time, they finally left her alone, finally.
'We should be leaving for the sect soon.'
She thought, looking in the sky at the setting sun, the horizon dying in dark orange already.
Steps. Someone is walking to her. Another person trying to "get into her good books"?
Su Ling opened her eyes, turning to look at the—
Yingtao.
Uh oh.
"Hello?"
How should she act? Why all of a sudden, of all people, she is here?!
"Greetings, sister Su Ling, I was wondering if you didn't mind talking for a bit?"
'Talking?! With me?! How of all people- sigh… Well, at least… at least that would speed up things a little, right? I was supposed to get close to her, help master, and do my job… Why nothing ever goes r–'
"Sister?"
Startled and dragged out of her thoughts, Su Ling apologetically smiles. Thankfully, it was genuine, she would have no idea how to fake that.
"Yes? What would you like to talk about?"
'She's so nice, why did she reject all those people before? Or maybe there were too many?'
Yingtao couldn't help but think.
"Since we have time while everyone prepares to leave for the sect, I thought we could just… get to know each other?"
'WHY?! Why on earth do you want to–! Oh heavens, what in the, sigh. And why I like it so– oh.'
"Mhm. Maybe you can tell me your name first?"
Su Ling asks awkwardly, She shouldn't know her name, right? It's the first time that they've met.
A hint of red appeared on Yingtao's cheeks as she realized in embarrassment that she hadn't even told her name.
"My apologies, I am Qingbai Yingtao, call me sister Ying please, I'm sick of these formalities already…"
Su Ling raised her eyebrow at a sudden expression of frustration and… what is that? There is something… she can't put it into words, something… ah fuck, I'll get it later.
Pushing all thoughts to the back of her mind she decides to finally actually talk instead of constantly losing herself in the thoughts.
"Thank you, sister… Ying. If I may ask, how is it going for you in the sect right now?"
"Ah, well. It isn't really that interesting, but I like how peaceful and simple it is right now. Cultivate, do missions, talk with fellow disciples, there is enough to keep me busy at all times."
She laughs lightly, her voice soft and high.
Hearing her laugh, Su Ling suddenly feels her face getting warmer, it feels so good to hear her being fine and happy.
'Wait what?!'
Her hands reached for a strand of her hair, curling it around her finger, almost reflexively. This was definitely not what she was supposed to react like, not to feel so good!
"Ehm, I'm glad to hear that everything is going fine for you. I hope it will be the same for me."
She finally managed to get out of that nervous state just seconds ago, smiling at Yingtao.
Returning her smile, she asks, "I guess you get this question a lot, but why is your hair white? I remember someone saying that people seriously ill have their hair turned white, but… I didn't meet anyone who had white hair, so… if you don't mind me asking?"
"Ah, it's nothing really, I don't talk with people that much for almost any question to get boring or common."
Su Ling lets out a sigh that isn't as light as her voice, making Yingtao glance at her with concern. Uh oh.
"Well, it was like that from birth, so… I don't really know much, just that it was like that all the time."
Shrugging slightly, she doesn't know herself, and never really anyone about it, nor has anyone really said anything about it. Wasn't even important so far, hah. There were many more important… parts for—no, not now, especially not while talking to someone.
"Oh, I see. It's very beautiful. Can I–"
"Everyone! Gather near me, we will set off for the sect now."
'Thank heavens, this felt like eternity.'
Su Ling lets out a breath, walking towards the group of people, as they all get on top of a mount – a massive bird without claws, thick legs with scales covering them below its body.
Two hours later, everyone arrives at the sect.
Since she is a true disciple of the sect, Su Ling gets her residence assigned first, not staying with everyone else and waiting even further into the night. The sun has set long ago, probably midnight already.
She glances at Yingtao, who, for some reason chose to ride the mount with everyone. If she had to guess… but at that moment, moonlight fills the surroundings, and in it… so…
There is this feeling again! That… that, that…
Standing there, she…
'I must get some sleep! I just have to get some rest. After all, this is a real body, I need to sleep and all that again. Would feel good.'
Shaking her head to get these thoughts and feelings off, Su Ling walks away, soon reaching the place. It is almost like a street of identical houses, kind of small, but still spacious enough, with two rooms inside.
Finding her own, she steps inside, looking around. One room with a bed. Huh, this isn't a bed for one person. Weird. The second room is the bathroom, surprisingly nice. She needs it right now, really.
Knock Knock
"Huh."
Su Ling wakes up suddenly, finding it rather hard to leave the comfortable sheets. Glancing in the window, it's probably early in the morning.
Another knock.
With a groan, she steps out of bed, quickly throwing something on to look at least somewhat presentable.
"Senior sister Su Ling?"
As she opens a door, there is a young boy outside. Oh, he is a servant. It's as if someone poked her in the head with a needle, she holds her head for a moment.
"Senior?"
He asks worriedly.
She waves her hand.
"No, no, it's alright. Why are you here?"
"I brought your disciple robes, senior."
It's only at this moment that she notices neatly folded clothes in his hands.
"Thanks."
She takes clothes, while he takes his leave.
Su Ling stands behind the door, leaning against it, clothes still in her hands. Slowly, she slides down, hugging her knees, setting aside the disciple robes.
"Servant… no– never! I!"
She sobs, unable to bear the nagging pain and pressure in her head, tears fall down, trickling down her cheeks, falling onto her knees. She hugs them even tighter. Maybe it's the pressure that makes her feel better, when it's harder to breathe like that, or maybe it's just that everything comes crashing down all of a sudden, no warning, no nothing! Just…
Sob. She wipes her nose with a sleeve, finally standing up, her head dizzy, making her lean against the door again for support.
"I need to be stronger. I am stronger. I am not a servant anymore, never will be, won't let them!"
She clenches her jaw, teeth gritting with a squeaking sound.
Finally, taking a deep breath, steadying herself, she manages to change into the disciple robes. Blue with a silver lining, pretty. She smiles, at least something can be pretty at this moment.
After removing all traces of tears from her face, she leaves her new home, if it can be called such.
Days seem to pass in a blur from that point, pretty much the same thing every day. Go take a mission, complete it, check that everything is going smoothly, rarely meet with the master, even more rarely with Yingtao. This more rarer definitely hurts, though, even if she can't quite get why.
Three months have passed since Su Ling got into the sect, and today was this very rare day when they accidentally met, on the way back to Yingtao's house, in the evening. As if anything else could go wrong.
"So, you spotted several first grade white boars on the mission?"
Yingtao said with worry, looking at Su Ling as if she were about to break like glass.
"Uhm, yes? What about it?"
She really didn't get her sometimes. What in the world got her asking questions like this all of a sudden?
"But! Did you get hurt?"
"Oh, I… I didn't. Remember? It was an investigation mission, not extermination."
'She is… worried about me? This…'
Despite whirling thoughts, a smile still crept to the corners of her lips, making Yingtao beam at her happily.
"Sister Ling… are you…"
Yingtao nervously shifted from one foot to another, looking at the floor, making already nervous and tired Su Ling even more so.
"Yes?"
She asked her, not sure if the answer would be worse than just turning her down immediately. She could have some sleep, really.
"It's getting late, and someone gifted me some expensive tea, so… can y– maybe we can…?"
Su Ling almost believes that any second she would turn into a tomato, from how red her face has become. Not like she is much better off, realization hitting all of a sudden.
As if she were standing in front of a raging hell-flame, her face starts to burn, but words come before she could even think, "Y-yes."
Before she can even try to do anything, Yingtao suddenly grabs her arm, pulling her towards her house. Uh oh.
Even when she was near-death, fighting to be alive, and yet still having to kill an enemy that could end her so quickly, she didn't feel as… as nervous as she is right now. Heart racing as if she was running for days, thoughts swirling, everything turning into a blur, as if someone punched her hard enough to faint, but she didn't, and it all… feels.. So good. Why in the world all this mess feels so fucking good?
She would love to scream this question out loud, if she could. But right now, as she walks into Yingtao's house, she could only smile like a fool, settling down on a chair near the neat table. Everything looks much nicer in her house. She definitely changed many things, there aren't any curtains in her house, but here she has soft dark-blue curtains, some pillows, definitely extra, and many more minute changes she wanted to focus on instead of–
Yingtao places down two cups of steaming green tea, the smell is very fragrant, and the taste is definitely good too.
She sits behind the table too, but not opposite, near Su Ling.
They both sip tea in silence before Yingtao seems unable to keep her mouth shut anymore.
"The tea is really good, I must thank the person who gave it."
"Ugh…"
Su Ling knows why people gift Yingtao those gifts, and… this is definitely the worst scenario they can imagine them being used in. Wait—!
Almost spilling her tea, she manages to get her emotions back under control.
"Sister Ling?"
Yingtao asks worriedly.
'Please don't place the cup, please–'
She places her cup on the table, almost reaching out to touch her.
'Thank heavens.'
Su Ling sighs with relief, making Yingtao confused.
"I'm fine," she lies, "Don't worry."
Yingtao nods, not quite believing her words, staring into the cup, thinking about something.
"What was your childhood like?"
She whispers, and it makes Su Ling freeze. Childhood. Hers… Should she tell her? Or just… lie? Maybe, maybe she will just ignore it if she sees how it made her feel? Ma–
Yingtao brings her out of her thoughts, once again. And now she holds her arm.
"Your eyes…" Her voice is that of genuine concern and worry, barely audible, just enough for her to hear, and then she notices. Her eyes prickle, so familiar, a telltale sign of tears.
Su Ling quickly buries her face into her hands, mumbling something indiscernible.
"I-I'm sorry."
As soon as words leave her mouth, she makes a run for the door, leaving before even letting Yingtao say goodbye.
A week later.
"We expect the beast tide to strike in four or so hours, so be ready."
With that, everyone disperses from the central square of the sect. Some are preparing, returning home to retrieve or place some things. Some are going straight to the defense line.
The sun is slowly rising on the horizon, clouds still hide it deeply, and it will rain, definitely rain. What a cliche, rain and an important battle.
Su Ling was sitting on the edge of a wall, her long white hair pulled by the wind, as she stared into the sky. Her face was unreadable, devoid of emotions. There was only determination and resolve in her eyes. Ready to fight. And she knew just how much a fight today would bring. But it's not about the danger, well, it is, but…
Sigh.
'So much, I wonder, is this how my life is always gonna be? Or is it I who makes it like this? Do I have to do something?'
She looked down from the wall. Everyone is already prepared; as soon as the signal is heard, they will get into a battle formation. Melee. They will definitely have the most casualties. She should get down soon, too.
At least it was good enough that Yingtao wasn't in the melee. They didn't talk for two weeks, occasional meetings… well. What can she do about it? If not today, then never.
Nodding to herself, she jumped down, landing as light as a feather, from a height of a nine storey building.
No time to linger in thoughts, there are far more important things to get ready for.
'Master said that… The Shi family suddenly disappeared from the sect, and he couldn't find any trace of them. Either holed up in a sect or left it. Shi Yen…'
Su Ling clenched her fist, deep desire for vengeance shining in her eyes, like a fire that was about to consume everything in its flames.
Deep breaths, calm down. Time will come soon enough. If they left, the master will find them, if they are still here… laughable or maybe terrifying will fit more.
'Twenty years, twenty years and now, finally, I will repay them in full.'
Su Ling grinned. The day has finally come. For nightmares to end, for vengeance, for everything.
Time passes fast while one is deep in thought; soon enough, early morning becomes noon. The weather turned even more gloomy, the sun completely hidden behind grey clouds, rain beginning to drip onto the ground, turning more and more into a downpour.
Howls and various animal noises soon resounded, so loud that it would have made people dizzy were they not prepared.
Without wasting any time, the disciples on the ground got into a tight defensive formation. Everyone on the wall and inside the towers prepared their attacks; in less than a minute, everyone was ready for attack. Amazingly quick, considering there are over three thousand people, including everyone.
But this wasn't the reason Su Ling was looking there, she was waiting. And sure enough, he came out, along with his father — Shi Kang, sect master of Heavenly Valley sect, and his son Shi Yen. The only one who survived, the youngest one.
Su Ling couldn't help but smirk.
'So they indeed holed up here. Good.'
Ground began shaking, tremors interrupting balance.
"Keep your ground!"
One of the elders shouted.
"Fire!"
Another shout and a wave of attacks soon shot forward like a wave of destruction, revealing countless beasts who were behind the nearest trees, while those at the front died, others trampled over their corpses, turning it into a mush of bones and blood, pristine-white snow was no more, and with such a cold rain, it was as if world itself was crying, its tears freezing everything below.
Not even a few minutes later, beast tide reached melee troops on the ground, but everyone was holding tight, not moving back even an inch.
'Not for long.'
Su Ling thought, preparing to fight as well, her sword held firmly in her hand. Its design and hilt looked very odd and intricate, contrasting with the simple looking blade and non-existent guard. The handle is a simple black wrap. Rainwater dripped from it, soon to be replaced with blood, as the beasts continued to endlessly pour from the forest like rain.
Time passed, beasts continued to pile up into mountains of corpses that created new obstacles for the beasts to reach the defense wall and troops here. Yet the sect was prepared.
"Fire at corpse piles!"
Soon enough, many fire-element attacks poured from the wall, turning them into ash that either got carried away by wind or turned into mud by rain from the sky, making already crimson-red snow gain a grey color, turning the battlefield's ground into a dirty mess of blood, corpses and ash.
Finally, the melee formation on the ground started stepping back, and as soon as that happened, everyone who was behind moved forward to take their places and let them rest.
As soon as she moved forward, she was met with an open jaw of a tiger, which was swiftly beheaded by her sword, the first blood from this battle spraying on it.
And as soon as Su Ling stepped onto the frontlines, she was waiting. Waiting for a chance. It will come, sooner or later.
Slashing, stabbing, and cutting. It may even be meditative to her; she felt no pressure, no danger, it was like a normal training, nothing new, nothing hard. Her face was neutral, and any blood, ash, or rainwater avoided her, a simple spell everyone knew. They use it to shield themselves from small particles that can mess with their vision or dirty their clothes.
Time seemed to pass like an eternity for others, who were constantly feeling fear of death over their heads, while Su Ling was just… relaxing.
Not like anyone really noticed anything.
Any minute now.
'I wonder what the master will do first? Their goal is definitely to get to miss Qingbai first, but they also promised to capture the Shi family if they make a run for it… they should've already appeared by now.'
Su Ling frowned, not quite understanding why the master was delaying everything. Maybe something happened? Anyway, she must just be there, just another disciple fighting, nothing to see here.
But time passed, and soon enough, Shi Yen stepped onto the frontlines.
'Should I? Or should I wait?'
There was a deep conflict in her eyes as she looked at him, waiting for an error, just one small one would be enough for her to take advantage of it. But… sect master should be watching, he won't let his only remaining son… suddenly disappear.
It was already late afternoon, probably, when she noticed something; the sect master was gone. Finally, a chance.
At that moment, it didn't matter that they were on a battlefield, facing a massive beast tide; nothing mattered. One inconspicuous nudge, he got bitten by some beast, she goes to help, and they both disappear…
A few moments later, inside a cave somewhere in the forest.
"You never thought this day would come, did you?"
Su Ling steps closer, leaning to look into Shi Yen's eyes.
Terror, fear, panic.
"Yes, that's what I want to see you feel, but you won't ever be able to imagine how I felt, what you did to me."
She looks at him with unconcealed hatred.
"Slut! You were just a slave sold to me! As if I cou—"
She doesn't let him finish, her leg kicking him between the legs. He yelps, tries to hunch, but he is bound to a wooden pole in the middle of a cave; he can't even move anything except his head.
"Even if I won't be able to make you go through everything I did, believe me, it won't be that smooth of a journey."
She grinds and twists his finger, breaking it. Feeling so much pleasure from his pained screams, his sweating and trembling pale body. Oh how long she wished for this to finally happen. Revenge.
Slicing his skin, peeling it off, seeing his blood, tearing off his nails, one by one, until he is nothing but a mess of tears, blood, sweat and shrill screams.
"Do you feel it now?! Do you get at least a glimpse of how I felt back then?! You fucking piece of shit!"
With a swift movement of her hand, she gouges out his eye, crushing it.
Mad laugh fills the cave. But that's not it, not the end, not complete. She must do what he did to her and more, just a torso with a head, lying on the ground, unable to scream, hear, see, and everything she felt was pain.
Su Ling pushes her palm against one of his only remaining healthy parts of skin on the body, a devious grin covering her face and teeth peeking out.
Boom!
A loud sound resounds inside his body. His meridians exploded.
Oh, how well she remembers that. Meridians she spent years creating, to circumvent her "inability" to cultivate. For them to be fucking exploded!
His eyes go blank, pain too much to bear, but she knows, oh she knows how to bring him back. Small lightning appears between her fingers as she sends it to his head, making him awake instantly, all the pain making his already shrill screams a raspy hollow sound. He thoroughly destroyed his vocal cords too. Not like he will ever need them.
She walks forward, and, without even letting him blink, she holds his arm, the smell of charred flesh coming from where she sliced it off.
One by one, slowly, methodically, he is left lying on the ground, without limbs, without even his ears and tongue. But still alive, she knows it, she will never let him off so easily. Not after that. Not after what he did to her. Used, like a thing, like she was just his item, ready to be discarded at any moment. And when the time came…
Her teeth grit with a squeak, as blood trickles down from one corner of her lips.
Snap.
She snaps her fingers, and a bear walks in, not really that big, just big enough for what she needs it for.
Su Ling doesn't look away, not when it sniffs the torso, not when it first eats the pieces strewn around, not when it starts to bite and chew on a twitching and struggling torso. Not for a second, not even blinking.
Relief.
Relief is what she feels. Gone. Finally, gone, gone for good, and he will never return. Never. After twenty years of insurmountable suffering and struggle, she did it. Revenge.
She burns the bear, just in case, just to be sure, as if he could survive being eaten alive.
Su Ling throws her head back, tears falling down endlessly. So good, so free, no more nightmares, no more fear, no more—
"Sister Ling?"
Frozen. Shocked. What is she doing— of course… how could she forget… she cares about her, even–
Yingtao runs up to hug Su Ling. She is covered in blood, not hers. There are tears still wet on her face.
"I am fine. Better than I ever was."
She finally says, truthfully. Not even a hint of a lie in there. This is the best moment of her life.
"Really? I thought you were…"
She looks around, but doesn't really manage to see anything.
"Where is senior brother Shi Yen?"
Uh fuck. What should she do? Be honest? Lie? There is no way–
"Traitors!!! They killed senior brother Shi Yen!"
Voices resound from outside. Not good. Uh oh.
"Master!"
Su Ling exclaims, seeing her master standing nearby.
He just nods curtly at her. Placing his hand on Yingtao's head.
At this very moment, she remembers everything. Why is she in the sect? Why Bian-Ge Shizhe – her father, is here, and why Su Ling is here. Everything. She was kidnapped, stolen from her father for years.
"It worked."
Su Ling smiles at the reunion of father and daughter. There is a gut-wrenching feeling she has now, she knows, she knows the words, what it means, but…
"There you are."
Someone found the cave. Uh oh.
Sect master Shi Kang is standing in the entrance.
"So she was your daughter, I see… so hidden. I wonder why."
His smirk is utterly disgusting, reminding Su Ling of his son, like father like son, then.
Shizhe steps forward, pulling the sect master into a fight, but still dropping a few words, "Protect her, I will hold them all back until beast tide subsides, it's all on you now, my only disciple."
There is heaviness to his voice that's hard to miss, making Su Ling immediately set up a barrier around Yingtao. Not the best, but it will last if some stray attacks land. And…
She gives Yingtao a long look before slicing her palm and dripping blood onto the barrier, while it falls, it turns black. Void seal. Protecting her with her life.
Yingtao slams onto the barrier, screaming that she is sorry, pleading for her to come back, but… Su Ling disappears out of the cave, stepping onto a much calmer battlefield, master Shizhe is holding back both the sect master and beast tide. As expected of a Foundation realm expert.
But she didn't come out there in the open to watch them fight, she must take care of everyone else.
"Kill her! Kill the traitor!"
Shouts of disciples and elders resound as they approach her.
She can't hide it any longer, can she? Her sword makes a clicking sound, and as she swings it to the right side, it turns into a long string of smaller blades, cutting everyone unlucky or weak enough to not survive such a casual attack.
"She is the Spectre! Demonic cultivator!! We must kill her!"
Nothing really changed, did it? They only added demonic and her title.
Soon enough, elders join the fight. Five, everyone. They probably want to end me quickly and then help their sect master. How naive.
'I am a peak Qi Refining expert, not a fucking weakling like you!'
She yells in her mind, her empty left hand starting to glow white, as every other part follows. Holy decree. A technique she stole and worked on, she should give it another name later, if she were alive by then.
Flashes of various colors, her sword flying around, turning ethereal as soon as someone dumb enough tries to catch it, slicing them thoroughly after. A bloodbath, a slaughter, single handedly killing almost every single member of an entire sect. The sheer insanity of this would make anyone laugh if they dared to claim someone could do this.
Gasp.
Another blow landed on her; her techniques and spells can only do so much. Formation made her body physical once again, she can't turn into a spectre like before if she doesn't break the formation. And she can't, and won't. Bodies piled under her feet, her robes tattered and drenched in blood, both her own and others.
The last elder remains standing and fighting, but still so many disciples rush in to kill her, to avenge their brothers and sisters.
She can't fall, she can't lose. Even if she dies. She…
Su Ling's eyes shine with newfound resolve, deep green that feels almost toxic to her enemies. Another slash, another batch of people dead. Her hands are full of cuts, yet the pain is nothing. There is something much she would never dare to admit, pushing her forward, making her fight as if her life didn't matter. It doesn't, never did, never will. Quick punch with her left hand into someone's throat, dead.
"Demon! Die!"
Someone shouts, but it blends in her ears; she can only rely on her eyes and Qi sense, trained to perfection during battles like this.
"You won—"
She doesn't let the last elder finish their words, ending their life along with others, slicing their head off, stabbing some disciples in the process. Dodging and attacking, someone hit her, an icicle to the shoulder, not good. Her mind diverts some focus, spending what little Qi she has remaining into Holy Decree as it heals her shoulder, barely.
Soon enough, she is standing on a mountain of corpses, her blood dripping down mixed with rain still relentlessly falling down from the skies, as if to wash away everything happening here.
She jerks to the left but… no attack comes; she blinks, clearing her blurry vision. Everyone, dead. She will be there soon too. Too much blood lost, too much Qi spent, there is almost nothing remaining. She cancels the Holy Decree, as the already barely visible, faint white fog reveals her body. Tattered robes, many places cut, burned, sliced, stabbed. Yet it still remains in one piece, but not blue with a silver lining anymore. It's dark crimson now, drenched with blood.
She sheathes the sword. Surprisingly, her storage ring isn't really damaged, storing her sword safely and quickly, as she tries to climb down from the mountain of corpses, only to slip and roll down painfully, gritting her teeth and groaning. At least she didn't hit any rocks at the end.
Su Ling shakily stands up, swaying like grass in the wind, walking towards the cave, she has one last thing to do. One last goal. Foolish dream that was cursed from the first time she thought about it, and doomed to this end when she decided to go through with it…
Plop plop.
Her steps are leaving footprints of blood as she walks inside, barely managing not to fall. And then, she sees her.
"Ying—"
Cough.
She coughed up blood, probably something damaged her lungs and she didn't heal in time.
"Ling'Er."
There are tears on Yingtao's face, dried and new, fresh. The barrier disappears slowly, and as soon as it does, she rushes forward, hugging Su Ling, making her flinch from pain, but still trying to lift her arms to hug back. They don't listen, hanging limply at her sides.
"I…" Her voice is barely that, weak, exhausted, as if it could disappear any moment.. "I need to tell you."
She says, closing her eyes, leaning fully on Yingtao, who doesn't say a word, holding her, trying to heal…
"I am a fool, an idiot, and I am sorry."
Su Ling coughs up blood again, tears falling down her face. She doesn't want to open her eyes, not now.
Yingtao trembles, her voice cracking as she says, "I love you too, you idiot."
Tears, they don't stop, falling down, mixing with blood on the ground.
Yingtao pulls away slightly, as she does, Su Ling opens her eyes, only to see her hands moving to her cheek.
Warm, so warm. Her life was nothing but warm, death can't be warm, it's cold, it–
She kisses her, taste of blood fills Yingtao's mouth but she doesn't flinch. Her hand on her cheek, as she moves them both closer to a wall, where she deepens the kiss, her head feels so light, as if she were in heaven. She holds her, she won't let her go. She looks at her previously snow-white hair, now covered in blood and sticking together. Not now, not ever. She won't let her die. She can't!
Where is her father?! Why is he never there when she needs him?!
She can feel Su Ling's skin start to get colder.
No!
She looks at the entrance, finally, he is here.
"Father! Save her! Please! I beg you!"
She doesn't let go of Su Ling, whose body gets colder and colder, her eyes looking at Yingtao. So beautiful, she never said it to her. Her skin, her eyes, her midnight-sky colored hair. It is so beautiful.
"Y-" She coughs, "So beautiful."
Probably the dumbest smile she could have, filled with blood, but so sincere.
"I wish I could look at you for a bit longer…"
"You will, you won't die…"
Yingtao chokes back her tears, as she sees light fade from Su Ling's eyes.
Shizhe appears near them, his hand shining in pale purple light, as it slowly expands to cover her wounds.
"I am sorry, master, I failed. I-"
She chokes, unable to say the words.
"You protected her, you didn't fail. I am…"
He looks at them, both, a single tear trying to escape his eye.
"I bless you, both. Be happy together."