Fortunately, it was her off day. So she had some time to prepare the dish she learned from Ling Daiyu. The best thing about having a female trainer companion was sharing the same interests. And it never was awkward to have conversations with her, unlike some male disciples in the sect. Su Lin placed the two bowls of mushroom soup on a tray before heading to Ling Daiyu's room.
The morning sunbeams poured in generously over the balcony. It was rare to see such a beauty in peace as a trainer who has to run into the training ground at dawn break. She took a deep breath to absorb the freshness of the air.
Wait? Why did she smell something metallic?
Part of the beast training process was strictly associated with identifying various smells as its significance to become a great combat buddy with their spiritual beasts. Above everything, Su Lin was an excellent warrior despite her innocent facial features. Her eyes widened as she heard her heartbeat drumming in her ears.
She didn't know where she put the tray. When did she draw out her spear from the spacial ring? Su Lin had no idea. She didn't care either. All she wanted to do was find the source of the disturbing odor.
Then she found it.
A river of fresh blood covered the entrance of the Junior dormitory. The bottoms of the doors were painted with crimson stains. Su Lin's hand trembled as she gripped the spear tight. Her face darkened as she walked into this path of nightmares.
Not a single door was closed. Su Lin checked the door lock carefully. No sign of opening them forcefully. But, all female disciples should lock their doors at curfew. Their dormitory supervisor Elder Yanyu wouldn't tolerate breaking the rules.
Didn't she go on the night routine? But, even though she didn't, all of them wouldn't keep the doors open willingly.
"Xiao Su."
Su Lin's face lit up as she recognized the voice.
"Ling Jiejie."
Su Lin sensed something off with Ling Daiyu's expression. Surely, her face was cold as always but…
"Jiejie, are you okay?"
Ling Daiyu nodded before scanning the surroundings. Her eyes halted behind Su Lin abruptly. The way her eyes widened tempted Su Lin to look over her shoulders as well.
Swish.
Su Lin's fighter instincts acted as she leaped into the air and landed a few feet back. Before she comprehends what happened, a spear flew towards her with murderous intent. Su Lin barely dodged as she realized who was attacking her.
"LING DAIYU. WHAT THE-" Her sentence cut off in the middle as the opponent lunged to grab her neck. Su Lin's jaw clenched as she kicked Ling Daiyu on the chin, throwing her across the corridor.
"HUO BAN, RETURN."
Su Lin's spear swiftly flew into her grasp. At this point, she knew it was either fight or die. There's no longer a friend by her side. The tip of her spear aimed at Ling Daiyu's thighs. Her face hardened and her eyes were devoid of emotions. The dark aura around her screamed only one thing.
Cripple the other.
Clang.
Spears met in thundering force, propagating an angry wave of vibrations into the surroundings. The window behind them shattered into a thousand pieces, dispersing the glass all over the corridor. Yet, neither shed a glance on the floor. Ling Daiyu's fierce jabs aimed at Su Lin's heart one after another, not caring a bit about the gashes on her thighs. Blood gushed out like spring but not a slight impression of pain on her face.
Su Lin was confused. How in the world, Ling Daiyu still attacking? The wounds on her legs were enough to cripple a living human being in pain.
A living human?
Su Lin grabbed Ling Daiyu by the hair and smashed her face on the wall. She locked her neck from behind as sending her fingers through Ling Daiyu's scalp. Something rough and circular met her fingers. She pulled it out.
A long nail. At the same time, the body on her hold dropped to the ground lifelessly.
The form of Ling Daiyu dissipated as a bluish corpse replaced her body in the place. The illusion of the spear disappeared as well. Su Lin examined it. It was the type their sect guards use.
Su Lin gulped as grab the spear and dashed out from the corridor. With this turn of events, she couldn't investigate this alone anymore. She needed help as fast as possible. Her mind stumbled in hundreds of thoughts.
What happened to Ling Daiyu? Is her friend alive? She didn't dare to think of the possibilities. She had to find her friend.
But she can't leave these corpses alone here. To whom Su Lin should pass the case?
Elder Yanyu, Junior supervisor.
Su Lin sprang to her feet rapidly and raced. She had to reach her fast. One turn to her room. Here. She threw her manners out of the window and banged Elder's door with all her might.
"ELDER YANYU, PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR. AN EMERGENCY. ELDER."
No response. Su Lin unconsciously turned the doorknob.
The door wasn't locked.
Goosebumps raised on her skin. She gulped while open the door slowly. Blood on her face drained when she witnessed the scene in the Elder's room.
Elder YanYu's disfigured body hung on the wall using a fine thread of wires. Her body was brutally ripped apart, only leaving her face intact. The eyes of the corpse bulged out as she witnessed something terrifying before her death.
Something wrote below her body with blood. The characters on the wall have yet to dry. The crimson streaks dribbled down from the message of death.
"One Sinner down. Many more to go."