Author's Notes: Hello!
I do apologize for being extremely late with this chapter! (シ_ _)シ Truthfully, I was busy with real life and inhaling 600 chapter of Trash of the Count's Family :3
But I should let Papa Cale rest since he's been on my mind for weeks already lol (⋈◍＞◡＜◍)。✧
Nothing much happens in this chapter (sorry!). (((( ;°Д°)))) I don't know if I should say it's a plot mover or anything but it's something that I needed to write to get it out of the way. How exhausting! How can so much word be spent just to alter the fate of certain characters! (ノ°▽°)ノ︵┻━┻
Please forgive me for this terrible drag! By the middle of this, I was having the 'what am I, who am I, where am I' crisis. Σ（ﾟдﾟlll）I'm so bad with action scenes! It's really unfortunate since my dear Madame Yu just happened to be one of the most badass characters out there lol
If you're still waiting for this chapter, please have another one with me ^^
Once again, please don't expect anything to make sense in this *:ﾟ*｡⋆ฺ(*´◡`)
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
Chapter 10
The Incident in ChongMing
Little beads of perspiration littered the smooth forehead of the stationary woman sitting on the bed, her eyes closed and her brows furrowed as purple electric sparks crackle in the air around her. A moment later a sphere of light began to condense in front of her chest, intensifying for a while before disappearing together with the violet flickers. Yu ZiYuan opened her eyes and breathed deeply, her shoulders relaxing.
She lightly hummed in approval, she once again broke through another level in her cultivation. It seems that the technique she tried a few years ago upon returning to this timeframe is extremely effective in strengthening her meridians and smoothening her qi flow. She wrote her observations down to study them later, if she got it right, this is more effective if it was practiced from an early age.
If her future children can practice it, they'll gain a tremendous boost in their cultivation. Had she known it before, her A-Cheng and even A-Li would have had more advanta—
She halted her thoughts, the hand holding the slender brush freezing with her. An extremely complicated expression occupied her beautiful face as her lips drew into a tight line.
Why do you always forget, you foolish woman? She derided internally. Her children are forever lost on her already. What's the use of suffering from dwelling on their memories?
Her other hand fisting in an irritated grip, she finished the last few strokes before heavily putting down the brush. The Third Lady of Meishan Yu stood up and went to the window, she opened it and was greeted by the calm and steady fall of rain.
The weather has barely cleared to show the sun in the last two days since the banquet in the Unclean Realm, raindrops falling from dark horizons ever so often, making for rather dreary days. She hates having to night-hunt in such conditions but she's itching to go out and have a change of pace.
After deliberating for a minute, she called for her maids in a loud voice.
"Mistress, you called?" Jinzhu bowed upon entering the room, glad that her mistress has finished cultivating without trouble.
"Yes, I will go on a night-hunt tonight. Inform the senior disciples." Yu ZiYuan said as she sat down and took the cup of freshly brewed tea offered by Yinzhu. "Have you heard of any locations that specifically needs attending to?"
"Sect Leader mentioned that there were rumors of unrest in Jue di Gorge but there's also talk of several sightings of undead in ChongMing. I heard that quite a few young masters from other sects will gather there tonight." provided Yinzhu with a smile.
At the mention of the place, the young lady of Meishan Yu frowned as though trying to place it in her mind, she's quite certain it's not the first time she's heard of the place in the past couple of days but can't quite recall where and from who.
"Both places seems like it'll be quite the grounds for plenty of targets." commented Jinzhu, "It's a little unclear if there's anything out of the ordinary in Jue di Gorge, on the other hand, already a lot of people are professing to go to ChongMing tonight. I heard Lady Hou, Young Master Jin and even Young Master Jiang are going there tonight."
The two maids were busy contemplating on the pros and cons of the two proposed places that they didn't see when slim fingers paused when a certain name was mentioned.
"Where would you go tonight, Mistress?" Yinzhu asked finally, training her gaze back on the quietly sitting young woman.
Yu ZiYuan was silent as she remunerated on her options, already hating herself for being easily swayed by a single name, arguing with herself while making perfect counters, at length she scowled.
"Mistress?" her maids carefully inquired when they saw her face crumple.
Yu ZiYuan put her cup down a little bit harder than she intended, after arranging her thoughts for the last time, she sighed and answered at last, "ChongMing. We'll go to ChongMing tonight."
"Understood." The two bowed before turning to leave the room to make preparations.
Once alone, the young mistress gazed to the drizzle outside, the dark skies matching her internal turmoil at unsuccessfully stopping herself from seeking one particular figure.
As if he needs you to be in the same place. He won't even need you to watch over him. You fool. I thought you've decided to let go? Why then cling to him like this?
She lightly rubbed at her temple before looking at the empty seat in front of her, imagining a certain man in purple robes sitting across her, on his face is the smile that she only became personally acquainted with after awakening in this timeframe.
Strange, now I can clearly imagine how he looks like with a smile.
Could she be struggling because of something so simple as finally being graced with what she never had before?
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
At nightfall, as though to wish the cultivators luck, the rain finally ceased and the clouds parted well enough to make way for the moon and stars to shine through. However, the chill in the air intensified and Yu ZiYuan regulated her qi in order to keep herself warm as she landed at a clearing on Mt. Jiuhua. Noting that the ground, softened by the continuous rain the past few days, could pose a threat, she immediately warned the disciples with her.
She just finished assigning tasks and dismissed the senior disciples when a voice greeted her from behind.
"Maiden Yu."
She wasn't surprised in the least but her heart still bumped rudely against her chest as she instantly recognized who's with her. How truly vexing! Why must she continue to be affected by him? At this point, she doesn't know whether she wants to look at him or kick him out to the next region. And the fact that him being here guided her decision to come is making her unreasonably irked. Ah, but this illogical and highly off-putting swing of her desires regarding this man is something she's already too familiar with, after all, hadn't she felt it for nearly two decades in her last life?
With a stiff face, she turned around and was greeted by the calming presence of her previous life's husband. The serene countenance on the handsome face could capture hearts but it made her feel even more sullen inside that she nearly grimaced as she bowed a little in a salute, ferociously stomping on the part of her that is pleased at the sight of him.
"Young Master Jiang."
"It's good to see you here. How have you been the last two days?" the purple-robed cultivator asked genially.
She's beginning to think that she should blame this constant attention for making her heart sway. This kindness ought to be considered a disaster if it makes innocent young maidens long for his affection when he's already got someone in his heart. Should he be considered as a flirt? She doesn't remember him to be the same kind of man as that abominable Jin Guanshan! As loathe as she is to see him interact with the love of his life, maybe she should consider reminding him that his attentions are best served in one particular place.
Barely managing to keep the corners of her lips from turning down, she answered in what she hopes is an impartial tone, "I've been well, Young Master Jiang, thank you. How have you been?"
"Better now."
At this answer, she straightened to look at the older man before her, her eyebrows furrowing a little at the slightly strange reply. She couldn't help but quickly scan the other's outward appearance to see if there's anything wrong with him. "Were you ill?"
The smile directed at her widened a fraction. Blue-grey eyes then glanced sideways in contemplation before going back to her, "I suppose I was. But not that I mind."
She's used to hearing him spout dictums but not riddles and she wants to scowl at the other's vague statement. She's trying to curb the urge to snap at the man when another figure showed up and immediately filled the silence.
"Ma-Ma-Maiden Yu! That is, our young master caught a cold before but he's okay now!" Wei Changze doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, Young Master, even if you want to say that you're sick in love or ill with longing, this isn't how you say it! Can't you see the Madam was confused?!
Finally getting clarity, Yu ZiYuan nodded before frowning a little, "The weather has been rather cold lately, do take care of your health, Young Master Jiang." she then fished something from her qiankun pouch and offered it, "Should you have another cold, you can take this medicine. It's a simple general prescription but it should help."
"That's very kind of you, Maiden Yu." Jiang FengMian gave a small salute before accepting the bottle himself instead of letting his attendant handle it, "If there's anything at all I can do in return, please let me know."
The Third Lady of Meishan Yu sect sighed internally, Still too generous for your own good. "It's only a small thing. No need to mind it."
"Ah, but I wouldn't think it's alright." The heir of Yunmeng reasoned pleasantly, "In this case, is it alright if I invite Maiden Yu to—"
"Yuan-er! You also came here!"
"A-Yuan! You should have told me if you were coming!"
"Maiden Yu! So you were here! No wonder the young lord suddenly vanished!"
Three loud voices from Nie Ju-Long, Hou MeiXiu and Cangse Sanren respectively disturbed the night air as they hurried their way. Wine-red orbs thought they saw something like chagrin flashed through azure eyes but she might be mistaken. If a particular rogue cultivator is concerned, surely it can only be welcomed by the other.
She returned the enthusiastic greeting given by the newcomers and they all happily gave her some information that they heard regarding the place. As they were talking, more and more people started turning up to join the conversation.
Shouldn't they be dispersing to all sides of the mountain by now? The daughter of Meishan Yu sect wearily wondered.
"Witnesses keep saying that the ghouls roaming the mountains all look like warriors." Lan Qiren supplied in his usual taciturn tone, uncharacteristically speaking up in a crowd, "They all started appearing a few days ago."
"There have been various rumors about a large group of mercenaries that was cursed, buried alive and sealed here a long time ago." Wen Ruohan drawled as he neared followed by his fellow disciple, looking at Yu ZiYuan and nodding in her direction which was regally ignored by the lady.
Yu ZiYuan was just thinking that this seems rather familiar to her when she saw that dog Zhao ZhuLiu hovering behind the Wen heir and her fists clenched in an effort to curb the impulse to bury the animal with his master under the mud. She thought that the abominable young master has already caught on her extraordinary loathing towards his hand-picked outer disciple since he stopped taking Zhao ZhuLiu with him after she mercilessly broke his arms in a sparring match in the Unclean Realms several weeks ago. To think that she'll have to endure looking at two of the most hateful faces she had ever known, how abhorrent!
"Thanking the young masters here for the information." She immediately excused herself lest she shows a side of her that would make that monk of a former husband of hers give a reproachful look, "Then I shall go to the east and start from there."
"What a coincidence, I'm going there as well."
When at least a dozen different voices said the same words which made for a truly bizarre moment, a sudden awkward silence reigned in save for Nie Ju-Long's guffaw.
Did the sightings happen there? Yu ZiYuan huffed at the coincidence, thinking of her options and then replied with a nonchalant air completely missing how numerous pairs of eyes were silently glowering at each other, "In that case, I'll leave that side to you, young masters."
Without looking back, she led her men to the west, accompanied by a smiling Hou MeiXiu. When the blue-robed young mistress noticed the other quivering, wine-red orbs glanced at her friend to find Lady Hou hard at work in stifling a laugh.
"A-Xiu, what is it that you find so amusing?"
Instead of giving a detailed explanation, the First Young Lady of YunXiao sect merely laughed while latching on to one of her arms, "Nothing, I strangely feel superior."
Yu ZiYuan frowned and questioned once more but got no proper answer in return. But since she didn't see the baleful stares following her and the envious eyes piercing the young woman beside her, there was no way for her to know the meaning behind the other's smile.
-0-
As it happened, a group of hunters from the local village located at the foot of the mountain failed to come back in time and their families were already worried sick for them, lamenting that they would never see their young men again.
"They shouldn't have come up the mountain if they know that there are disappearances." Wen Ruohan groused at the stupidity of the common people.
The heir of Yunmeng Jiang frowned at the other's dismissively arrogant tone and while there's truth in his words, Jiang FengMian can't help but coldly interject, trying to tamp down on the repulsion he's been having around the haughty Wen cultivator, "This area is lacking in fertile lands, Young Master Wen, and we had quite the severe summer last year. Plenty of people depend on game to survive."
There was a huff of disdain before Wen Ruohan replied, "It doesn't excuse the stupidity of getting lost in these gods-forsaken woods at this time."
This time, it was the austere tone of Lan Qiren who answered, "Arguing on the matter hardly resolves the fact that they are missing. We need to find them all."
"Such a good little saint."
The dense vegetation and pitch black night made for a rather uncomfortable trek but it was an easy thing to navigate for cultivators such as them. There was something odd about the air in the mountains. There's no evil qi permitting from the surroundings nevertheless, there's an ominous chill that causes their honed senses to react.
Unable to take it anymore, Yu ZiYuan spoke in a would-be calm voice, "Young Masters, you're disturbing the silence here." She glared behind her which caused the footsteps and chatters to halt with her, "It'll be difficult to hear the grousing noises of the undead with the racket you're making."
Whether it's a compulsion or by design, all the cultivators ended up in the same area as the slender woman who's easily paving her way deeper into the mountains as though the very trees around her are giving way.
Why are they all here?! The Third Lady of Meishan Yu wanted to scream. They were supposed to be in the east!
"You're right, Maiden Yu." Jiang FengMian offered immediately, giving her a placating smile, "I apologize for the trouble."
Frowning at them one last time, she cut off the other gentlemen's apologies by turning away and continuing on her way, still trying to remember what she could about this area from her previous life. Unfortunately, she's not exactly familiar with every single night-hunt that happened in that first life and she didn't even go here then. At the moment, she's just following the trace of demonic aura she found earlier.
She stopped in her tracks when she heard the crunching sound of feet crushing leaves and stones underfoot. She was immediately on guard, however, she's sensitive enough to know that whoever's overhead, it is not the target she's looking for.
Sure enough, when the figures appeared and are illuminated by the dim light of the moon, it turned out to be Nie Ju-Long whose sharp eyes widened at the sight of them.
"No wonder I find myself alone with my fellow disciples in the east!" he chortled in amused surprise, "I should have known, you were all here! I'm rather hurt! Didn't we all decide to go east?"
Casually ignoring his words, violet eyes scanned the people with her sworn brother and found that there are some additions to the older man's group and some of them are decidedly not cultivators.
"Brother Ju-Long, you found the missing hunters?" she inquired, counting the unknown faces. When stunning dark-blue eyes on a pretty face clashed with hers, she was a little surprised at finding a familiar face among the sea of strangers.
The slender young woman smiled a little a she took a step out of the crowd and saluted to Yu ZiYuan, "Lady Yu, we meet again. I wonder if you remember me."
Yu ZiYuan wanted to huff in slight amusement, truthfully, it would be quite odd if she ever forgets such appealing features, "Of course, have you been well, Lady Liu?" she replied with a salute of her own.
Liu QingShan's small smile brightened at this, "Rather well, thank you. I hope you're in excellent health as well, my lady."
"I see your brother is not with you this time."
"I had to leave him in the village below. I shall come back for him in the morning. He'll be quite delighted to hear of you again."
Coming to stand between them, with narrowed and curious brown eyes looking back and forth to the conversing young women, Hou MeiXiu inquired, "Who's this, A-Yuan?"
Doing the introduction, the Third Lady of Meishan Yu promptly answered, "This is Liu QingShan, a rogue cultivator." The lady in question politely bowed and briefly introduced herself.
"You seem to be rather close." Cangse Sanren, who seems to be in the mood to imitate Lady Hou in position, gesture and expression, also interjected in a charmingly inquisitive manner.
"We've only met once."
"Who's this brother you spoke of?" Jiang FengMian gently questioned with an amicable expression hiding the sharp glint in blue-grey eyes.
Innocent to the piercing intent in the question, Liu QingShan responded, "My younger brother. He was saved by Lady Yu from an opportunistic merchant on one occasion."
Concluding that a younger brother of a young lady who had to be saved from a greedy vendor couldn't be anything more than a child and will not be a threat, the smile of the heir to Yunmeng Jiang sect became more accommodating and nodded, "I see. So you were found by Young Master Nie?"
"Yes, I found them while circling my way around." Nie Ju-Long scratched his cheek while answering, feeling greatly excluded from the conversation all of a sudden and was determined to speak up, "I would have asked the five disciples with me to escort the hunters down, but I didn't get a good feeling about it so I refrained."
Hearing this, Yu ZiYuan closed her eyes and let her perception reach as far as it could to feel the area around her and true enough, there is an unsettling air of evil afoot nearly everywhere.
"It was the right decision, I'm afraid things are turning out rather severe." Yu ZiYuan seriously uttered, as expected of her brother's instinct, "It's a good thing we met each other in one area."
"True. I don't feel good about this. For this one, I think we should all stick together." Nie Ju-Long nodded gravely before smirking as though he couldn't help himself, "Thank goodness for you, Yuan-er, because you're here, I'm quite certain the rest of the cultivators are here as well."
"What?" Yu ZiYuan scowled at this, she's quite taken aback that the older cultivator can still fool around despite the gradually tensing atmosphere caused by the growing miasma around them.
"Ah, we're just missing the rest of the Gusu Lan sect's disciples." The Young Master Nie wondered aloud with the same evil grin that infuriates a great deal of men these days, "What's this, Second Young Master Lan? What happened to brotherly affections?"
Sighing lightly, Yu ZiYuan interjected before the Lan Qiren could reply, "Enough with the jokes, brother. Young Master Lan went north earlier."
The tall man just raised his hands in surrender. The wall remains high and sturdy today, I see. He chuckled before brown eyes pierced through the restlessness in the night, Now then, what to do with this? "So then, any word from Young Master Lan?"
As though she heard something that no one else did, Yu ZiYuan turned her head towards the skies, her eyes open all the way, scanning the darkness for something, "We're about to find out."
Before anyone can make sense of this, the young lady raised a hand to ask for silence, they weren't kept waiting long when a young man in pristine white robes suddenly appeared on his sword from the north.
"Second Young Master Lan!" it's quite evident that the junior disciple is trying his best to stay calm as per the teachings on their sect but the panic in those juvenile eyes was impossible to miss, "I bring the report from First Young Master's position."
"Speak." Lan Qiren ordered as he came to stand at the front, several pairs of ears now paying attention.
Landing a little frantically, the young man saluted hastily before continuing, "Second Young Master, there seems to be a very old seal on top of this mountain but with the constant rain and the hunters roaming, it was apparently disturbed. It appears to be weakening already but with the constant supply of Yang energy, it…it…"
"It just broke?" Yu ZiYuan guessed, not having the patience to wait for the kid to gather his strength to say the final words.
The Lan disciple meekly tried to shake his head but failed, "Not yet, but it's barely holding on. The senior disciples together with the First Young Master are trying to redo the seal but with the amount of accumulating demonic qi…" The fear in his eyes invoking the most important questions from the Violet Spider, guided by what little she can remember from her life before, she interrogated, "So the rumor of the buried mercenaries is true?"
The young man nodded readily at this.
"How many?"
Many people's breath stilling, they heard when the tremulous voice replied, "Five hundred at least."
A clamor broke out at the sheer number mentioned.
"What atrocity!"
"And buried alive!"
"No wonder the amount of resentment on the very earth here!"
"It'll be near impossible to successfully redo the seal holding that much demonic qi!"
"It's only a matter of time before it breaks out!"
"Guanyin! What a catastrophe!"
"Be quiet!" Wen Ruohan roared at the turbulent reaction of the cultivators and even some of the hunters.
But it truly is quite the daunting prospects. With about forty or so cultivators, fighting five hundred can still be manageable. Not to mention, the presence of various talented young masters can still sway the battle in their favour. However, the problem is the innocent bystanders that might get caught up in the melee. It'll be difficult to protect them if they get surrounded by the undead. They can't send them with little guard or by themselves when the seal is just seconds away from expiring and they don't know if the undead will come from one specific direction or all around. On the other hand, they can't spare anyone as they'll need every cultivator they have. As they're mostly senior disciples here, there are no elders waiting for them at the village below that could serve as backup and isn't it right that even a teacher from Gusu Lan is already at the top of the mountain dealing with the problem unsuccessfully? Even if they light a flare, help won't come for hours. It's also not possible to simply leave; they need to make sure that the end won't come down from the mountain to prey on the village below.
It's not hard for everyone to come to the same conclusion and one could observe how minds are trying to think of a way to work around their biggest handicap.
"I could go and escort them down the mountains. All the men with me are senior disciples, we'll manage even if we're few—" Jiang FengMian started to propose but was immediately cut off.
"No time." She hissed, her gaze flying to the direction of the mountain top. A second later, it wasn't hard to miss when the air shifted and the dark charge skirting around them became heavier in an instant, "The seal has broken. The horde will soon head this way!"
This statement was punctuated by several rough and low rasps from several hundred decomposing mouths that it managed to reach them in their position, making the innocent hunters with them pale with fright. With the amount of yang energy gathered here, the foul creatures would no doubt come here like dogs following the scent of meat.
Normally, Yu ZiYuan would entrust thinking of the civilians to someone else while she heads straight to the blood bath herself, but with the insistent voice in her head from a certain man that she would like to strangle right about now for being so stubbornly altruistic, she can only ponder on a solution. Just when an idea struck her, Wen Ruohan impatiently gritted, "Burdens! Just leave them!"
As expected of a dog who even surpassed her own viciousness! Her hateful glared leveled at the overbearing figure of the Wen Sect's heir, snarling "Are you insane?!"
Flushing at the insult, Wen Ruohan took a step towards the lady, intent on justifying his decision, "What did you call me?!"
"The essence of being a cultivator is to protect the mundane world from evil! Sacrificing the lives of innocent civilians goes against that very foundation! If you don't even know that then leave!" She shrieked to his face, one finger harshly pointed at the outside of the mountain to press her point home, her chest heaving in passionate anger, repeating the words of her husband when she heard him lecturing their disciples once upon a time (in a completely different tone of voice), the memory of which is playing in her mind currently.
She could feel the phantom of his tall figure standing behind her, a rarely-seen frown on his tranquil face, which unconsciously made her straighten her back in pride and dignity – the Lady of Lotus Pier.
Why in three realms must she lecture this man about something her 5 year old son knew before? She's already restraining herself and is about to hurl over the mere fact that she has to stand here and night-hunt in the same place as this filth when all she wants is to gouge his eyes out and wring his neck.
She irately left him and took out four blank talismans, after writing down a set of complicated seals, she attached them to four trees in different direction encircling the civilians. Afterwards she took out a silk scroll she worked on before and cutting the tip of her thumb for blood, she opened the scroll and activated it by smearing her blood on its surface as she unfurled it. In quick succession, she laid the long scroll down on the ground in a circle to surround the group of shivering peasants.
"If you want to live, don't leave this barricade. No ghoul can come inside. Do you understand?!"
She turned around after receiving a nod of obedience, completely ignoring the commotion brought by the item she brought out.
"A Heavenly grade scroll?"
"That needs high-level cultivation and it's not easy to cultivate one such scroll."
"What a shame to waste it for a few peasants."
"As expected of the Madame."
'There is victory in unity. Needing help is not a weakness. Arrogance is.'
I know already, she wanted to scowl at the memory. What's with this man irritating her at the most treacherous time?!
"Us being here will prevent the Lan disciples on top from being overwhelmed." She started taking out her sword from its sheath, looking around and meeting eyes with several bright gazes focused on her, her deep velvet voice even and logical "I can activate a spell that can slow down the horde and also set up a perimeter so that they won't go down the mountain. If you all want to leave this mountain with honor, don't just stand on your toes."
Having their new-found determination strengthen with a powerful ally, all the young men tightly gripped their weapons and readied for battle. Their expectations were on the mark when heavy footsteps and ragged noises closed in on them just a moment later.
"We need to kill them here and clear up the miasma surrounding the mountain."
Focusing a large part of her qi on Zidian which is now in the form on a whip in her hand, she formed hand seals and chanted a prayer as she sent bolts after bolts of purple lightning on the ground which then moved in the direction of their enemies just as the first revolting creature appeared on sight.
With great difficulty and exhausting focus, she started the attack while maintaining her spell. She thought she saw purple uniform flanking her and covering her blind spots – the color steeling her resolve even further.
I have to get back in one piece. I have even worse dogs to kill than you. I won't fall here.
-0-
A fluid motion from the flying Chen Luan cut a foul body into two and marked another kill for the famed Violet Spider.
Despite the slight trembling of her tired hand that is formed in a hand seal, Yu ZiYuan showed no signs of letting up. But she is irritated by the seemingly endless stream of animated rotting corpses coming for her. It felt like she reached four dozen kills a while back, she no longer knows how many she felled. The attack keeps coming in all direction. It was a good decision to keep the hunters where they are as there are also some ghouls coming from their rear, angry that they couldn't go down from the mountain.
"Maiden Yu, are you alright?"
Every now and again, one or two persons would inquire after her and she doesn't know where their getting the energy when they look even more tired than she is. As a matter of fact, nearly all of the cultivators are slowing down due to exhaustion and they just cleaned up half the suspected number of undead. Hopefully, the Lans on top of the mountain killed a great deal as well.
"I'm alright, Second Young Master Lan, thank you."
"You've been holding up that spell for so long, can you still go on, Yuan-er?"
"I can still manage it for a bit more, brother." She reassured, hoping to still use the targets nearly restrained movements to sway the battle greatly in their favor. Even though she can't use Zidian due to this, she's utilizing her hovering sword to the best of her abilities.
"Please pace yourself, Maiden Yu. You already killed more than most of us did as it is." worriedly called out Jiang FengMian who's situated nearly in front of her, "It won't do to exhaust your qi too much."
Before she could reply to the anxious statement, an explosion stole everyone's attention and had many of them peeking at the direction of the top where white-robed cultivators should be engaging in a horrific skirmish as well.
A frowning Lan Qiren murmured, "The White Tiger Blast. It must be Teacher Sun, he's the only one who could do it."
The statement clicked something in her hazy memory of what she heard of this night-hunt in her previous life, however, she's got no time to think about it and, not even bothering to question how a master in the Lan sect could learn and use such a loud technique and even while understanding that they must have been pressed to their back foot, Yu ZiYuan couldn't help the frustration singing in her veins, "What a fool! If that causes a landslide, it'll only cause us trouble!"
And to everyone's horror, these words came to life when the softened earth from the rain gave up from the top and slid down the muddy mountainside, burying everything on their way. The size of the landfall was immense that they could feel the tremors right where they're standing. Thankfully, however, it was far from the area they are on.
Everything should have turned out just fine but a fierce yell reached sharp ears and several cultivators looked around the find the source. It wasn't difficult for Yu ZiYuan to locate the source of it in the form of a young boy trying to run away from and currently in danger of getting engulfed in the massive sludge.
A tremulous voice, which she recognized to be from Lady Liu, shouted somewhere behind her, "WHA—?! NO! A-ZIAN!"
The image of the polite and good-looking boy entered her mind and she was momentarily distracted. Not having the luxury to even question why a boy who's supposed to be in the village below is now up in this gods-forsaken part of the mountain, it's not hard to see the fatality in front of them.
No one would be able to make it to that boy on time!
Frantically moving and desperately holding on to any semblance of calm, Yu ZiYuan resorted to the first method she could think of that might help her. Using one of the nature of her qi which is lightning, she concentrated it on her feet and darted of with an immense burst of speed. Despite her excellent qi control, this sudden action greatly hurt the muscles in her legs but she didn't pay it attention as she tried to match her visual acuity with her speed and closed in on the child. Grabbing him by the waist, she made the split minute decision to leap to a tall tree nearby as a precaution in case they can't get away fast enough. She used overwhelming strength to hop from the branch of one tree to another and came back to safe grounds.
Even with her tremendous speed, she barely managed to get out of range of the rushing deluge herself. It was truly a dangerous situation.
Her heart going off a mile a minute, she set down the child in her arms trying to catch her breath.
"A-Zian!" anyone who ever heard Liu QingShan speak would never have expected that such a panicked tone could ever escape the serene young lady, "Lady Yu! You saved him!" Breaking her constant mask of tranquility, purplish dark-blue eyes spilled anxious tears as she bowed several times, "I don't know how to thank you!"
Yu ZiYuan straightened her back and grabbed Liu Zian's arm and marched him to the huddled hunter inside the protective barrier she set up, with no more attention to spare with the bedlam chocking her vision with the still incoming throng of decaying repulsion that has now recovered their original speed with the absence of her spell, she faced the crying woman, "No need for gratitude, Lady Liu. I know how you're feeling, but if you wish to save your brother, then we have to clear this mess."
Understanding the gravity of their situation, Liu QingShan nodded and after ordering her brother to stay in the safe sphere and wiping away her tears she re-joined the conflict.
"Maiden Yu!" Jiang FengMian had one hand on her shoulder as soon as she resumed her position as though nothing happened, "How reckless—did you hurt yourself?"
"No."
Noticing the slight quivering of her legs, blue-grey eyes became filled with restlessness but before any words went pass his lips, red-violet eyes glared at him, demanding for his silence. Gritting his teeth, he could only grouse in frustration, "Don't force yourself too far, my lady. Let us handle the bulk of the remaining undead."
Not one to allow herself to become a burden, especially on this particular man of all people, Yu ZiYuan retorted stubbornly, releasing Zidian once more to re-establish the spell and the perimeter she had created, "Focus, Young Master Jiang."
As though injected with renewed vigor, the heir of Yunmeng Jiang sect voluntarily met the mass of ghouls and defeated them row after row, desperate to have it all end.
It took an hour more before the last ghoul was exterminated and even Yu ZiYuan felt that it was one of the longest melee she had to endure. Her limbs felt like lead as she obstinately kept up a spell that she originally could only hold on to for an hour, unwilling to give up even if the earth swallows her whole. She felt some bad blood swirling at her core at having pushed herself too hard but she suppressed it as best as she can.
Her chest burdened to seize the chilling air it needs, she stood still for a moment to get her bearing, grimacing at the dirty state of her robes.
"A-Yuan, are you okay?" Hou MeiXiu anxiously approached her, her hands also smeared with filth and blood, "You look pale."
"I'm okay, A-Xiu." She whispered in reply, nodding her head once.
The exhaustion they all feel unfortunately dampen any cheer of their success but one can still see a satisfied smile here and there. While not enough to make her faint, her aggrieved limbs are screaming for rest which caused the Third Lady of Meishan Yu's lips to turn down from their usually tight line.
She just had to end up near Wen Ruohan and she felt her foul mood drop even further. She felt a pair of eyes on her and turned to coldly return the scrutiny.
"Do you see now? Threading the path to immortality doesn't mean throwing lives beneath your feet. It's worthwhile when you know you protected that which you swore your life to defend. In case you've forgotten, that's also what the path of cultivation is about." repeating words of a certain man from her persistent memories.
She meant for it to sound condescending but she's too tired and she doesn't have an ounce of energy to spare this dog. She didn't wait for his reply and just marched away from that place with what inherent elegance she can summon, deciding to herd the innocent men all the way to their village, looking-forward to scolding and screaming at them in warning never to be careless again, ignoring the several gazes trained on her. What are they looking at? She frowned wearily.
She was greeted by the hunters who were crying in relief and were bowing in gratitude. Liu QingShan was also there hugging her brother, her cold voice scolding the young man going in contrast with her tight hold.
"Lady Yu." she saluted upon her approach, "This debt I shall never forget."
"No need—"
Just then, a group of tall men in immaculate white robes that somehow managed to evade any demeaning amount of dirt on them descended from the top of the mountain, joining them.
"Brother," Lan Qiren could be heard addressing the handsome young man walking in the front, "I'm glad you're unhurt."
"Qiren, you've done well." Qingheng-Jun smiled serenely at his younger brother, "We're all safe though a few of the juniors were injured. I'm glad to see that the landslide didn't harm anyone here. I'm afraid Teacher Sun was rather desperate to reduce their numbers."
Eyes sharpening at the need to tell them that not everything was alright with that landslide, it didn't escape ZiYuan's notice when a pair of blue-violet eyes warily and coldly observed the group of huddled celestial-like cultivators. Like her, it wasn't difficult to single out the eldest in the group who was also just beside the heir of Gusu Lan.
"They strive to be perfect with all their restrictions but as you can see, they can still be so foolish." Yu ZiYuan commented in a light scoff, facing once more the pair of siblings, "I can whip him for you if you'd like."
This statement caused a small smile to bloom on the lovely young lady's face, "This lowly one daren't harbor any grudge when I'm filled with gratitude for you, my lady." Liu QingShan uttered sincerely, "I'm afraid large sects can afford to be so thoughtless. Since my lady managed to prevent the tragedy, it will be small-minded of me to pursue this any further."
Truthfully, it doesn't matter to Yu ZiYuan whether she does or not as it is none of her business but since it's not a bad decision, she chose not to comment and merely looked at the boy who's been peeking at her from behind his sister since earlier.
"If you've been told to stay put then you should. It was thoughtless of you to leave the safety of the village when you know your sister is night-hunting. Did you think yourself capable enough of protecting yourself from harm?" the Violet Spider scolded the child who flinched and was pushed to the front by his older sister since he's deserving of the strictures.
Liu Zian promptly bowed his head in remorse, "I know my wrongs, my lady. However, my sister is all I have in the world. I hope you'll forgive me for losing my head out of worry when I heard of what a dreadful rumor there was about the mountain." He explained in a small voice, his small hands trembling.
"And your sister feels the same. Do you know how she would have felt if you suffered an injury?!" she retorted causing the boy to flinch and his dark blue-violet eyes to fill with tears. She looked on for a minute before scowling, "How foolish. If you care at all about your sister then ensure your safety first."
"These words, this one will remember." The boy finally answered in a teary voice.
The tall, statuesque young woman then faced the rogue cultivator who gave her a respectful smile despite just chewing out her brother, "I'm afraid this will continue to be difficult for you. Your brother should have the stability of a constant shelter." Thinking that the female cultivator is of stellar character and quite talented, it only took her a second to form a suggestion, "You and your brother are welcome to stay in our sect if you wish to, Lady Liu."
It's a split second decision which is quite unlike her but felt it justified with these two.
The petite young woman was silent for a while, after all, this hasn't been the first time they were offered to stay in a sect whether permanently or temporarily, her light eyes on her brother. After a moment of deliberation, she straightened her gaze and gave a salute, "It's an extremely kind offer, Lady Yu. If you don't mind taking us on as burdens, then we'd gladly accept your offer and hope that we can be of service to you as well."
After murmuring something appropriate, Yu ZiYuan asked the two to straighten. When Liu QingShan froze right after, her eyes trained on somewhere behind her with a slight frown, Yu ZiYuan distractedly followed her gaze and saw Qingheng-Jun looking at their direction. Golden eyes were fixed on the maiden with her who broke the staring match to pay attention to her brother. However, Yu ZiYuan continued to observe, it didn't escape her how the older man flushed all the way to his ears and seemed to be saying something to his brother in a flustered manner. When his brilliant gaze kept coming back to the pretty lady with bluish-purple eyes, the Third Lady of Meishan Yu sect replaced her regard on the quiet rogue cultivator.
The reason behind such actions is not that difficult to guess. She never paid attention to that particular rumor before as it was nothing to her but many people, for a time, kept saying how the accomplished heir of Gusu Lan sect fell in love at first sight with an unknown lady during one night-hunt outside of Gusu.
It's true that she never saw the lady in her previous life so she can't be absolutely certain.
Madame Lan?
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
After a long, grueling night, everyone is just too eager to retire and go home. But for some reason, a few still lingered and even accompanied the Third lady of Meishan Yu together with her companions as she descended the mountain and escorted the hunters back to the embrace of their family.
Yu ZiYuan made sure to sternly tell them off for their ineptitude and warned them against making the same mistake. It took her a solid quarter of a shichen rant before she left the bowing peasants feeling slightly refreshed.
It was still dark but the first rays of sunlight are slowly painting the skies a different, lighter color. She was about to go back to the inn where the Liu siblings were staying and where they went to get their things before going with her back to Meishan when she saw her former husband sitting casually in front of a tavern. Once the Jiang heir saw her, he stood up and went near her with a salute.
Before descending, she made sure to give revitalizing pills and give quick medical attention to those with grave injuries so she doesn't know what he might want from her.
"Are you about to go back, Maiden Yu?" Jiang FengMian addressed her kindly with that same gentle smile as he fell into a step with her.
She nodded and resolutely kept her gaze on the path before her, afraid that she'll appear nervous or too conscious around him. They didn't bother with mundane chatter and simply continued walking. If their pace is far slower than normal, then it might just be her imagination. She cursed herself for being too aware of him and even imagining that he kept looking in her direction when he could just be observing the quaint little town around them.
Feeling uncharacteristically suffocated by the silence, Yu ZiYuan asked the first question she could think of, "What's on your mind, Young Master Jiang?"
The other's answer came a second later, "…a lady…"
The young lady froze, gazing at a few Yunmeng Jiang disciples ambling aimlessly in a distance, there was a crack somewhere inside her but she locked the ache down that abyss she feels hovering beneath her feet. She wished to all thousand gods that she never opened her mouth.
The silence must have gone for far too long because the young master chuckled a little helplessly before uttering, "This is the part where you ask what's wrong, Maiden Yu."
"I'm not too good at taking the bait." She said numbly, she already knows what the problem with him is. She knows what ails him and the object of this longing clinging to his voice, so must she really suffer hearing it? "But by all means, let me know what the matter is.
She was hard at work to look at the horizon that she missed the observing azure eyes on her profile.
"I'm afraid she doesn't like me."
Despite herself, she scowled at the skyline, the dim glow of the rising sun reflecting on her creamy flesh. Whose god's foot did she accidentally tread on that she has such bad luck as to be in the position of her previous life's husband's agony aunt?!
"Young Master Jiang is an accomplished individual with great prospects. I don't see how any woman in their right mind would refuse you." She hates to admit but it's true, her husband never pursued the rogue cultivator, and therefore no one knows how it would have turned out had he made his feelings known. She had always wondered what the lady's answer would be had he…
"She's an outstanding individual in her own right."
Of course, she is. The great disciple of Baoshan Sanren, learned in arts that other could only dream of having. She's beautiful and strong, blessed with quick wit and a charming personality. Yu ZiYuan took a deep breath; she can no longer take this.
"Is she married or engaged?" her frown not relaxing in the least.
"No. I'm always afraid that I would hear the dreadful news soon."
"Then what's stopping you?"
"I—"
"Listen here, Young Master Jiang, no matter how we seek all that we want in this world, there are some things that we can't help and have to accept. But that's precisely why we should do something about things we can help." She cut him off, wanting to cut off her tongue for saying things that would give her no reprieve, barely any comfort and only a world of hurt. There is an unbearable kind of heat in her chest as she faced the man, fighting the unreasonable sting at the back of her eyes and throat, "You have a chance in love, you only need to reach for it. If you think she doesn't like you then make her fall for you. Don't stay here bidding your time until it's too late and then regret it later. Some people can only give up but you're not even in that point yet, so why are you doing nothing still?" her voice raised a little as she finished her tirade. Without waiting for his answer or really looking at his reaction she turned and left.
The young man was left on his own, a little stunned by the passionate rebuke, his intent regard on the departing young lady's back.
"What happened young master?" Wei Changze slowly asked, his bright eyes going back and forth between the master and the madam, hoping that nothing untoward happen otherwise, he might just have to wave his breakfast goodbye as he console a despondent young master.
"How did it go young lord?" Cangse Sanren asked as well, holding herself back from putting her hand in front of those unwavering blue orbs and waving, "We gave you time to yourselves, I wish you used it well. Do you know how hard it is to distract Young Master Wen and prevent him from coming here in this area in search of Lady Yu?"
With a small, guardless smile, Jiang FengMian answered in a low tone, feeling light and hopeful , "I suppose…I received encouragement…for my suit…"
Wei Changze internally breathed a sigh of relief. He'll be able to eat and sleep well today based on that smile!
Cangse Sanren was also pleased with this and prayed that it's not only due to the other's positive, rose-colored thinking, "Oh! That's good news, isn't it? You received encouragement to pursue your love from your lady herself." She clapped her hands cheerfully. If they got together, she'll have more opportunities to talk to Lady Yu, after all! "I pray for your good luck! Lady Yu is too admirable, for sure you have competition."
"Hmm." He only hummed in agreement. Of course she is. He wonders if saying that the lady in his heart is such an outstanding individual is a dead giveaway. But from the reaction he got, it doesn't seem likely that she guessed who he was talking about correctly. He's not sure if he's relived or disappointed about it.
Since she motivated him to pursue his love, then that should mean that she cares for him enough to want for his happiness. And hearing her praise him just caused his already erratic heart to go jump even more that it hurts. He could only wish over and over again that she won't hate him and would instead desire his company. His mind could only retain her image and replay what she did and say that only increased his respect and affection for her. It includes even that moment when she was severely reproaching the hunters for their negligence and angrily cautioned them against a repeat of it.
He recalled her scowling face from earlier and unsurprisingly, he could feel not a hint of dismay, instead his heart became even more flustered and light. She's so cute.
It's true that he'd like her to be unfettered by any irritation or anger. He'd give anything if she could smile more freely and easily, free of burdens and at ease. Ah, but if others see her smile like the one she showed him that fateful night in Mt. Song then he's pretty sure he won't like it.
Jiang FengMian sighed at his contradicting and selfish thoughts. He feels like he's going crazy.
Turning his gaze back at the figure of the Violet Spider and effortlessly smiled again, I suppose…
This madness is something he can welcome.
After all…
Falling in love isn't something one can do and stay sane.
~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~
To be honest, I am not all too clear about cultivation except that they seek immortality (?) but ohohohohoho, this is a fanfic for a reason lol (the best excuse XD) ε=ε=ε=ε=ε" "(/*'-'*)/
JFM, my boy, I feel that you're becoming more and more of an M...is that my fault? lol ((●≧艸≦)
The 'She's so cute.' part had me laughing when I re-read this and I didn't know if I should take it out hahaha