Book 2: Chapter 86.3 Fear Not this Night (3) (1/2)

There was silence in the square as the Shrouded Mountain Sect disciples left. Yun Ren watched them go with mixed feelings. Part of him wanted to chase after the bastards and stab them all, but that would obviously be a bad idea. He could barely fight one of the guys with the support of a super artifact and a spirit fox. Charging into the rest of them? Stupid.

After all his resolve, he hadn’t needed to do anything.

Kind of anti-climactic, really. He glanced around at the broken up square, and the unconscious and bleeding people. He winced, turning away from them and to Nezan.

He was still staring blankly in the direction Jin had left in.

Yun Ren left him to his gaping and immediately searched for his brother. Tigu looked pretty fine, but Gou Ren had slumped against the wall and was grimacing. His arms had bleeding red lines all over them.

Xianghua gave one last look at Jin’s back before immediately ripping off the sleeve of her nice silk robe and turning it into a bandage. Yun Ren was about to walk over when something broke the silence.

“Yin!” he heard a shout as Tigu raised her arms to the air and caught a white blur. “Miantiao!” The rabbit slammed into her with a snake coiled around her midsection and Tigu staggered from the force. She snuggled the rabbit to her chest, rubbing her cheek against the little creature, before she gasped.

The rabbit had a satchel.

A satchel Meimei had given all of them, full of medicine. Tigu immediately shot over to Tie Delun, the “handsome man” groggily waking up after being blasted by lightning. He immediately took Tigu to the chest. “Loud Boy! Come here! We’ve got more medicine for you!”

The spell broke. Murmuring filled the crowd. Fearful, hushed murmuring.

“By the blood of Da Ji.” Nezan whispered, startling Yun Ren when the voice came from his shoulder. “What the hells?”

‘Qi is subtle. Unable to sense. Infusion Earth-Wood? No, just Wood? Earth from somewhere else? Unknown. Unable to determine. New experience. Interest. Approval.’ The sword was back to its grey colouration, looking for all the world like a normal blade.

“I see that now darling. I would have come out to say hello if I could have felt that before. He's the one who taught you how to use Qi?”

“Yeah.” He whispered. He made eye contact with his brother and jerked his head over to Tigu. Gou Ren nodded and pushed himself off the wall.

“I did tell you he was strong, but like… that's the first time I’ve seen him like… ya know?”

Nezan nodded.

“Well. Something interesting to tell myself when you come back and visit me later.”

Yun Ren peered closely at the fox. “Tell yourself later?”

“Hm? Ah, of course.” The fox’s body faded slightly, revealing the glimmering gem Nezan had given him. “A technique we can do. I would not recommend it, as it does weaken the main body, but one can split off small parts of their core and allow it to take form. I’ll be integrated back when you visit later. I gave you the perfect gift: myself! You may praise me now, nephew.”

Yun Ren sighed and ignored the bastard as he made his way over to Tigu.

The girl was fussing over Tie Delun and Loud Boy, pressing them both against the wall and circling around both of them like... Well, like a protective cat. Gou Ren walked up wincing. And he was immediately pushed down too. Tigu rubbed her cheek against his before switching to Xianghua.

Ri Zu and Yin were both just staring at her with amusement.

“That's her…Master? Father?” Guo Daxian asked. The man was staring at one of Miemei’s medicine balls like it had all the secrets of the universe within it.

“Bit of both, honestly.” Yun Ren said.

Daxian nodded, before his frown deepened. “Where are our Elders though? Things were hardly quiet—”

The world pulsed. Something broke. Everyone flinched.

There was a sudden hum as the Earthly Arena of the Dueling Peaks rose half-way into the air… before slowly dropping back down with a groan and settling.

“I thought its floating mechanism was broken ages ago?” Yun Ren ventured.

“It was.” Daxian swallowed thickly. “How do we stay on Master Rou’s good side?” He asked immediately.

“Well, ya helped out Tigu, so you’re prolly there already. Jin’s the kind of guy who pays his debts, yeah?”

Daxian let out a tentative breath.

It wasn’t long until Jin came back. He was half carrying Xiulan and Yun Ren winced. She had burns all over her body and some cuts that looked like the one Sun Ken had given her, or at least the brief glance Yun Ren had seen. Her skin was flushed red and she was shaking and sweating like she had a fever.

The other hand was carrying a sword. A stained red blade. His frown was heavy and it didn’t look natural on him at all.

Jin looked better smiling.

The square snapped to attention at his return.

“Tigu. Get everybody to a place to rest, okay? I’ve got one last thing to do tonight.”

Tigu nodded, Yin on her shoulder. Jin looked at her and offered her a small smile. Tigu’s grin turned bright. Jin turned his eyes to the square.

“What a mess.” he said with a sigh. He glanced at the red sword and grimaced.

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The air was tense in the Shrouded Mountain Sect’s manor.

Yingwen sat in the lotus position and tried to meditate. The rest of his fellow disciples were not as calm. They were walking around nervously. Fenxian had woken up, though in a foul mood. The normally loud man had been suppressed swiftly and brutally; his jaw had been broken and he had been defeated in a single blow.

None spoke as they waited. None spoke after the summer breeze had turned sharp for an instant, like it was flaying them to their souls.

They felt the mountain turn its gaze towards them once more. The man entered, a chicken on his shoulder. It was a bit worse for wear and singed looking, but it was still a magnificent animal.

“Expert Rou.” Yingwen greeted the man as he walked in with Young Master Zang Li’s sword. Yingwen thought it was named Phoenix Feather. There was a sharp intake of breath from those around him and several curses. Zang Li, for all his faults, had at least been free with his coin purse and with lesser cultivation aides. He just did not inspire much loyalty.

And now he was gone.

Expert Rou was carrying the sword by the blade, negligently. Like it was something disgusting. It was disrespectful for such a fine sword—but there was something off about it.

The blade had been blackened. Tainted. Its once pure lines were pulsing with ugly, corrupted Qi.

“Wha—” Fenxian slurred through his healing jaw. “Tha hells?”

“Is this not normal for the Shrouded Mountain Sect?” Expert Rou asked, handing over the blade.

Black, acidic blood that smelled of rot covered it. The taint of something demonic and corrupt… but not fox-like.