Wang Lan Biyu felt her body become heavier and did her best to not slouch despite the aching in her bones that screamed for rest. She had been invited out many times by the girls but refused each time, needing to cultivate. If she was going to return to that place, she needed to be stronger, to recover her former strength before that incident. She inhales deeply and felt the air crackle signaling it was almost time. Two white shadows like mist expel from her body and hiss anxiously circling her sweat-covered body with their own as if to protect her.
Their forms although unsteady because she wasn't using her guqin were better than nothing. A white layer resembling a bubble envelopes her body in a protective barrier as she exhales shakily. Taking another breath she holds it for a second before she once more exhales sharply and tiredly as another bubble layer larger than the one before covers her again. Each time her body shook more and more from exhaustion but she stubbornly held onto her form feeling the power in the air becoming more terrifying. Realizing she didn't have time to conjure a fourth barrier Lan Biyu slightly became alarmed when the rumbling above her thundered and roared.
But she couldn't stop now. The repercussions would be even worse, she would derank all the way back to Martial King First Rank. Especially since she had been daring enough to try and skip all the way to Lord Second Rank. If her master knew what she was doing he would have scolded her till her ears bled. But she didn't have time to worry about what her master would do. Not only did she have to endure two thunder strikes for her promotion but because she wanted to skip levels the thunder strikes she had to endure would triple. The girl's lashes flutter as a rare trace of anxiety is shown on her face and the cloud above her grows larger and darker. This was the first time she was using a human body to face heaven's wrath.
~
Da Chuanli who was instructing his junior disciples in their practice like the others hears the rumblings of thunder. He frowns suddenly when seeing the large storm just above their heads and he shows a trace of worry. "Gao Chang, who is not practicing with us today?" Gao Chang had a bad feeling in his stomach that made him furrow his brows and make him turn to answer Da Chuanli in a concerned tone. "No one but Junior Sister Wang. Senior brother that storm doesn't-"
"I know. Gather up everyone and return to your rooms. Have the inn owner prepare warm water and hand him a bag of gold for the damages. I will go check on Junior sister." Master Wang who was having tea with the other masters turns to stare outside the window at the unnatural gathering of dark clouds. "Someone is about to rank up here in the city? How brave! To try and rank up only a day before the ceremony. It looks like it's coming from a sect outside the major ten though seeing as they aren't inside the tower."
Master Wang tracks the location of where the rumbling clouds were gathering with a calculative pair of eyes while narrowing his eyes. "Master Wang, isn't your group of disciples also outside though?" His friend comments, "Though your students do not seem like the type to be so foolish to try and skip levels. Whoever's disciples that is, must be really courageous or stupid." He pursed his lips worriedly, it couldn't be them. Though, the storm was gathering above where the inn was located..... But then again he was hesitant in believing Da Chuanli would let any of his fellow brothers and sisters try to do something so foolish.
He watches as the clouds begin crackling with blue lightning and tenses as the first strike was prepared to hit whoever it was under its eye making his heart uncomfortable. Surely not... Right?
~
Lan Biyu grits her teeth when a flash of light directly aimed at her back came down like a roaring dragon. BOOM! The first strike cracks and explodes the first shield into fine dust and the rumble made her almost lose her posture. She exhales slowly with relief, she was glad the barrier held up. But not giving her a moment's rest the storm prepared to strike again. Her snakes hiss seeming to sense her nervousness. BOOM!
The second made her slightly lose her focus and her body trembles at the force of the deadly thunder shaking the ground beneath her. Her second to the last barrier gone Lan Biyu suddenly knew how to feel fear. But there wasn't time to regret it, BOOM!!! The third strike disperses her last shield like it was made of mist causing her to cry out faintly as a sliver of the energy sends a rippling shock throughout her entire back startling her. There were only her two white snakes guarding her as Lan Biyu's face turns pale,...are all human tribulations like this?
Gasping for breath the girl brought her attention back to the storm and saw it was still not done with her as another strike was about to hit her. Though it shocked her the girl could still find time to worry about the possibility of her body surviving the next one. Seeing her companion on the right also worriedly wrapping around her protectively she was even more unsure of her choice. The two snakes look at her with distress, in their eyes were devotion and loyalty are completely different from normal animals. Seeing their determination as the cloud crackles she made a decision and through gritted teeth gave an order.
"Wángù!!!" Her snake on the left quickly shields her back glaring at the approaching thunder with an open mouth hiss fearlessly. There was no fear in her eyes despite knowing her end was near. CRACK! She shuts her eyes quickly with trembling lashes refusing to turn around even when her snake let out a cry of distress as her body fries and burns into a pile of white dust. Gōngsī, her snake on the right gave a somewhat strangled hiss of anger glowering at the skies above. He flicks his tongue out anxiously hearing the thunder rumble but his master still hadn't given him a command like she did for Wángù.
His eyes wander to his master, he was confused and frightened for her safety. But Lan Biyu was hesitating greatly, hearing the death cry of Wángú had shaken her resolve even further. her eyes cloud over with faint shock and nostalgia at her abrupt death. She...I...Lan Biyu's face twisted as her fingers tremble at the realization of what she had just done. Even as the fifth strike gave her its last warning and the skies flashed she still couldn't say a word or give the same order she did to Wángù. She could not do it. Her body trembles. Seeing the blue thunder aimed at its master's back, the snake did not think to wait any longer and lunged forward bravely without her consent. Lan Biyu cries out in a panic as her eyes widen in horror feeling the snake leave her side even without her command.
The white snake shows off his fangs in defiance of the storm. "Gōngsī stop!!!" With another earth-shaking strike the white snake, Gōngsī also perished with a high-pitched screech turning into white dust. Her voice was hoarse and her eyes were red Lan Biyu could only mutter with disbelief, "Gōngsī..." The fifth strike had struck, leaving her alone with no barrier, no snakes to protect her. Only a dull ache in her chest was left behind by her snakes. The last bolt rumbles above her making Lan Biyu numbly stare at the thunderstorm seemingly lost in her own thoughts.
As the last strike came down, it roars with power sending a paralyzing force into her bones. "Lan Biyu!!!!" Lan Biyu heard someone call out as the last bolt struck her head on and waves of agony coursed through her mortal body. She couldn't even scream because the shocks were too strong rendering her vocal cords useless. Like a flower crushed beneath the foot of a beast, the girl's body crumbles ungracefully to the ground.
~
Da Chuanli hurried to stuff a Moonlight Teardrop into the girl's mouth and brings a finger to her nose to check if she was breathing. To his relief, although it was faint he knew she was still alive and hurriedly calls her to try and awaken the girl. Unease and worry clouding his thoughts, "Lan Biyu! Lan Biyu do you hear me?!" The Teardrop falls from her mouth uselessly making him unable to hear anything around him besides the sound of his own racing heartbeats. Laying her face down he carefully but quickly places his hands on the girl's bareback which was black and red from the thunderstrike. He grits his teeth, he was not disgusted by the burns, but more distressed and frustrated by her stubbornness.
Taking the droplet himself and swallowing the cool jewel, he attempts to pull apart the pure yin energy within the teardrop though it pained him to do so. For her sake, he needed to make sure not a single trace of yang energy was sent into her body accidentally as he did this. Only when he felt the teardrop's form completely disperse and almost freeze his blood inside out, did he slowly and carefully release a breath and allow it to seep into the girl in front of him. Each wave of yin roared within his icy veins like a boat being carried by the waves illuminating her wounds and making them more pronounced.
Da Chuali was in pain, but this pain was nothing compared to what Lan Biyu had most likely experienced. Sweat forms on his brows but he refused to give up whenever his eyes wander over to her sweat-covered face. Suddenly, after what felt like hours a soft sound of gasping from the girl enters his ears allowing him to sigh with relief. Taking his frost-covered hands away the teen carefully brushes her hair from her face and brought another teardrop to her mouth, his voice urgently but softly ordering her. "Swallow this, it will make you feel better." The girl doesn't do a thing but groans with pain, he tries coaxing her again with a worried look.
"If you can hear me, hurry and eat it so the pain can go away faster." Finally, the girl's mouth opens but only a little bit for him to place the Teardrop in her mouth. She seemed to want to cough but he held a hand above her mouth firmly ordering her to not spit it out. "Don't cough just yet, swallow then cough after." Even semi-unconscious the girl was reluctant to follow his orders but in the end, did what he said. Only when he saw she swallowed the Teardrop did he let go of most of the worries in his heart and worked on cautiously treating her back burns.
With the Teardrop inside her, he slowly and carefully pulls the teardrop apart with yang energy since it was the easiest way to control the opposite power and spreads its essence with his own qi throughout the girl's body once more acting as a guide. Most of its yin energy flows towards her back injury coating her body in frost, but Da Chuali wasn't worried as he knew it was only a temporary effect of using yin energy of the teardrop to repair her body. Da Chuanli doesn't show repugnance towards her ugly burns nor did he hesitate to touch and examine the extent of the damage done to her back. "I had thought you to be smarter than this, to think you would actually go this far in search of power. Master was right to say your path to immortality would be rough."
Though he noticed it earlier, he was too busy treating her to acknowledge her jump in rank. He didn't know if the girl in his lap had insane luck, or was just that talented, but to think she had actually succeeded in her greedy endeavor... Whatever it was, he was wary as to what else she had done to herself behind their backs. His feelings for this junior sister were...complex at the moment. At first, when he met her he only wanted to tease her since she was the only junior sister his master properly introduced to him.
And after learning she was his master's adopted daughter he felt it only right to be worried about her and watch over her as a senior brother. Then, as the years pass he found the girl intriguingly and slightly amusing with the way she kept denying his existence left and right. But once they left the mountain, he found there was more to her than just a cold front. The girl picked and choose who she would rather group up with if given the chance. She knew how to comply and even become patient in the face of someone less mature than her.
She knew how to classify poisonous and nonpoisonous things. She even had a way of dealing with poisons he hadn't figured out yet. She could hide pain and talk normally even if her body was beaten and bruised. Just who was she and why had his master adopted this strange girl? Although he searched her background and heard about the way the girl trekked up the mountain on foot without anyone's help. He still did not understand where exactly she came from or why she found the need to suffer in silence.
Of course, seeing as the word hadn't been passed around he assumed they just didn't care to know where she came from. But then seeing the hostility Elder Shang showed her back in the forest...he wasn't so sure if it was that simple anymore. Now seeing her desperate attempt at gaining power. Da Chuanli sighed. "What a troublesome junior sister you picked up for me Master." It was hard to tell what he felt about her anymore.
Pity? Sympathy? Wariness? Protectiveness? Guilt? What was he supposed to feel for someone this...odd and distant. "-other Hui..." Her murmur surprises him and he was unable to catch exactly what she said, her hand weakly held his sleeve in her weak state. He hesitates and lowers his head to listen better, "Master..." It was strange, the emotion flooding his chest hearing her murmur the name of the person who didn't save her. He understood the girl was vulnerable right now and did not know who was next to her since she was unconscious but he couldn't help feeling a bit miffed. But he could not blame her, he only had himself to blame for not being sincere enough and teasing her every day. Lan Biyu's face contorts forcing him to focus on healing her wound again, even though his eyes which were gentle earlier were unhappy-looking.
~
Lan Biyu could hear crickets chirping when she opens her eyes, the room she was in was different now. And she could only assume it was because hers was destroyed. " ..." Her mouth pulls a frown. A whoosh outside the window to her right makes her sit up slowly to catch a peek. A teen in white swung a sword at the air leaving slices of wind to lightly brush at the branches of a tree. He was focused entirely on controlling his movements, they were precise and skilled.
Every swing caused a ripple of force that made the branches of the tree dance faintly, her eyes trace the wisps of untamed yang energy that radiated off the youth like the sun showing off its brilliance even under the moon's gaze. Her eyes move to the face of the person from which the aura came from and was startled by what she saw, ducking her head with confusion. Senior Brother? She was in Senior Brother's room? Only then did she faintly recall what had happened before she fainted and touches her back only then realizing she felt no pain nor scar. "That's not possible... clearly, it had hit me..."
Did that guy... She felt complex, he had helped her? Even after she slapped him, ignored him, and treated him so badly? She even told him how much she despised his existence before. Lan Biyu didn't know what to do anymore. Is there really a human so tolerant in these lands? By all means, it doesn't mean she suddenly likes him now, hell would freeze over before that. But, that did not mean she didn't understand just how much of a life debt she owed the frustrating teen now.
It wasn't easy healing a wound like that, she knows it wouldn't be easy. The thunder is meant as retribution for borrowing heaven's powers. She was greedy and wanted too much, it was bound to backfire eventually. But the fact that he had saved her from heaven's lightning. How is he still standing? Lan Biyu felt depressed suddenly, her frown becoming even grimmer even though she should be happy she had succeeded in her gamble. "The difference between us...is still so big." If he had not saved her then most likely she would have died or reverted back to her previous state. "..." She purses her lips.
Da Chuanli wipes his sweat with his already-soaked handkerchief. His muscles screamed at him to rest but he pushed on. He needed to catch up, he needed to be strong like his Master. He needs to be better. Like the girl who skipped cultivation ranks sleeping in the room, he needed to be stronger. And then, and only then would he be able to be as reliable as his older brother and Master. If he was strong then maybe one day, those in the sect could also consider him as capable as his older brother. If he was stronger then maybe...A cold breeze cooling the fire in his heart followed by the sound of a guqin string being plucked startles him from finishing his thoughts. "Junior Sister..."
The beautiful girl, seeming to have fully recovered didn't look his way and instead focused on playing for him with pursed lips. She sat on a stool patiently despite her face which seemed to say she was dying inside. And yet the guqin still sang beautifully without discrimination for who she was playing for, no matter what that beautiful instrument held no qualms about the person that listened to it. Da Chuanli could feel his energy returning to him and the sweat across his brows being blown away by the careful breeze. He could only stare at her as she plays not knowing how to feel, he knew it was not merely her playing for him but something more. Each note hung in the air and ends with a brush of undisturbing wind tickling his heart seeing how gentle her skills were. "Are you going to keep practicing or not?"
She grits out completely breaking the image of graceful beauty one always associates with the girl. He watches as she sends him a glare but her pale cheeks glow a faint pink under the moonlight silencing him further and encouraging him into staring at her longer. Her pretty face was formed into a scowl but the aura she gave off was entirely different from how it usually is around him. Instead of hostility, there was an awkward compromise, like she was trying her best to lower her pride for him. The look on her face was bashful and embarrassed... He knew better than to let the laughter in his chest bubble up freely up. "Mmn, still practicing." He smiles at her thankfully as she plays his exhaustion away and did not decline her assistance.
Seeing his smile she turns back to her guqin, she pretends no one is watching her as she plays only listening to the rustling of the qi he sends to shake the tree. Eventually, without her realizing her frown turns into a tiny smile and the pink in her cheeks restores to their jade color. Perhaps, this life debt won't be too bad. The two were completely unaware of the critical fact that this was Lan Biyu's very first time playing for anyone besides their Master. Not even Fuqing had the pleasure to get a solo performance from the beautiful girl.
Perhaps that was for the best though..... Da Chuanli's smile couldn't have been more sincere and gentle that night listening to the never-ending soft melody of the guqin behind him. And Lan Biyu felt at ease playing in front of Da Chuanli for the first time, not having to force her fingers to move. Instead, they danced on their own following the sound of the wind. In the morning Lan Biyu waits outside while Da Chuanli gathered their belongings. On his back a guqin wrapped in silk, "Junior Sister, the ceremony is soon, we should depart and greet master."
Lan Biyu turns around and follows behind him not protesting. They had left earlier than the rest of the group so they could enter the tower and greet the elders. As the only inner disciples and favorites of their master of course they had to make an appearance at some point. "Stay close." She wanted to glare at him but remembering the debt she owed him she only froze and then slowly nodded her head. Seeing her being unnaturally obedient Da Chuanli couldn't help but chuckle.
Holding a hand out towards her his voice was soft but teasing. "So you do not get lost." Lan Biyu this time can't help but give him a cold look and directly ignores him walking past the laughing teen who easily catches up to her. On their way, the onlookers couldn't help but admire the good-looking pair in their pure white robes. Da Chuanli kept close and blocked any male passerby in case they would provoke this short-tempered junior of his. This was a smart move on his part, after all the girl didn't have any mercy towards another disciple from the Azure sect. How would she react if they were outside of their sect?
The poor victims may not even be alive by the time she was done. At the tower entrance, they spot a familiar figure, and Lan Biyu picks up her pace. In white robes with a dignified but stern expression, Master Wang spots his approaching students. His expression softens greatly after noticing Lan Biyu quicken her steps up the stairs toward him. But before she took more than five steps from him, Lan Biyu and Da Chuanli bow towards him respectfully.
"Master." Clearing his throat he spoke up, "En, get up. There are many things we must discuss." Hearing her master's voice after so many days Lan Biyu hides her quivering as she straightens up with Da Chuanli. He scrutinizes the two and was satisfied, his daughter not only jumped in cultivation but his prodigy also seemed to be stronger. Not only that, his eyes trail up to the guqin on the neat and handsome teen. These two seem to have, made up? He was relieved by this development, it would make it easier for them to rely on each other in Àn Xīng so he would worry less in the future.
Master Wang turns and walks back towards the tower talking casually over his shoulder. "I heard that the Golden Cloud Sect disciples showed you all no respect when you first arrived." He also heard that they sent a senior disciple many times to the inn asking for his students to come back. But Gao Chang had refused politely each time in a respectful yet cold manner. He had found it amusing, even though the Golden Cloud Sect masters sent him pleading looks during each gathering. Currently, not only he but the rest of the Azure masters were giving Golden Sect members the cold shoulder.
Though they gave them face by staying in the tower. They did not do anything else to lessen the tension between the two sects. Master Wang's students were quite petty children and Master Wang? Don't even mention it, out of them all, most likely Master Wang was pettier than all of them combined. "Gao Chang showed a surprising amount of constraint as well as a good amount of property when dealing with matters like this. Fuqing, although showed a rather soft-hearted approach, is a person of justice as I said before. But it seems he was outshone very much so because of his feelings of right and wrongs."
Master Wang hums, "Hmm, so it seems only Gao Chang will be able to make it past the trials and earn passage into Àn Xīng. How many of Azure sect do you predict will make it this year?" Da Chunali wasn't sorry and firmly answers him not doubting himself. "Mostly likely only five of us from Master's side and seven from the other five mountains. It is unsure if Fuqing will be able to do well if he is faced against a female opponent."
Lan Biyu agreed with his words silently, it is true Fuqing had trouble raising his hand against the weaker gender. Master Wang had a troubled expression and eyes Lan Biyu who kept her head down not looking him in the eye. He had a guess, but to think it was really true. Lan Biyu hid her fists in her sleeves feeling her master's steady gaze fall upon her, she knew that he knew. Instead of hiding any longer Lan Biyu stiffly steps forward and bows down fully in front of him ashamed.
Her hair covered her face from Master Wang fully, but the sincerity in her actions was already enough for him to know she knew her mistakes this time. "This disciple knows her wrongs, this disciple will take any punishment Master decides." Da Chuanli did not say anything as it was not his place, but he did feel a bit sympathetic towards Lan Biyu. Master Wang also didn't comfort the young girl in front of him, he scolds her looking stern. "So you still know you have a master? This silly child! Really makes one worry endlessly! Do you know how this master stayed up all night worrying for you?!"
"If not for your senior brother's message sending word you were fine this master would have already worn down the Golden Cloud sect's tower by ten floors!!" Lan Biyu bit her quivering lip, her expression twisting with regret for her actions the night before once again after being reminded of it. Not to mention she had lost her two companions as a trade-off. When hearing that Da Chuanli had been the one to cover for her actions she felt strange. "This disciple is at the wrong..." "Wrong!!" The two youngsters flinch at the same time, Da Chuanli even looks up at their master with disbelief.
The man's livid expression was what he was met with. The young man was truly stunned by the sharp shout which came from his master's mouth. In all his years he had never heard his master raise his voice this severely before so for the moment he did not know how to help her escape that scathing glare. Lan Biyu bit her lip till she could taste blood and her eyes grow misty with regrets. She waited for his orders, her punishment for disobeying him.
Her eyes shut tight, yet, the fear of the two was all for naught. Master Wang looks at the bowed head of his adopted daughter as she quivered under his gaze. He knew she was afraid he would abandon her, but she did not speak because she thought she deserved it. He only felt his burden grow heavier as well as the sorrow in his heart. "Lan Biyu. You, tell me what your surname is." The girl's shaking stops and was replaced with bewilderment.
Feeling the situation was not as she expected the girl felt even more nervous but for different reasons. "Wang." Master Wang's tone did not soften, yet his gaze does. Da Chuanli finally understood and steps back to pretend to be a statue. Ah, he had thought incorrectly...In fact, Master is not fierce to her because of biased. But because-"You are Wang Lan Biyu, is this still not enough for you to understand?" Lan Biyu raises her head to meet her adopted father's soft gaze with a hint of shock. Da Chuanli was the one to lower his head this time. Because his Master, actually does consider his junior sister as his daughter...