A knife hurled toward Chong Lin, only for a black blur to divert the weapon away. The pale-faced god stumbled back, trembling so much that even the rose-hued outer robe could no longer conceal his shaky legs. Standing before the shaking person was none other than the irritated and young Xiao Li.

“Holy f*ck!” Chong Lin whimpered, falling onto his bottom. “Th-They're not dead, right? If contestants are incapacitated or near death, the stadium’s sounder from the Mortal realm—will definitely teleport you out of here!” Though trembling, he looked down at the red drops of blood. “R-Right?”

“Aren’t you gods and Heaven Immortals?” hissed Xiao Li, twirling the long pole of his beaming glaive. With his braided ponytail hanging over his shoulder, the teenage servant rolled his eyes. “One sword isn’t going to kill you.”

“B-BUT IT MUST STILL HURT, RIGHT?!”

There was a huff. "Do you mean to tell me that you lack battle experience?"

"N-NOT ALL GODS AND HEAVEN IMMORTALS FIGHT LIKE YOU MANIACS, AH!"

Without time to lose—two more black jets of smoke dropped behind Xiao Li and the others while Jian Yu, Mei Ying, and Xi Feng held the front. The gas thickened and transmuted into black-robed disciples as well. Like their martial siblings, both people also harbored swords of their own, twinkling through the screen of vapor.

One by one, Mei Ying and the others slit the air with their weapons. Up, down, across, they each fought off the countless shadows with concealed faces. Every time they did--the disciples would slither into the clouds and bounce back from somewhere else.

Rolling dark fumes continued to surround the group. Normally, smoke is supposed to itch people’s throats and cause coughing, but the gas did not; hence, everyone was able to breathe fine.

Then, Bing Wen spun his glimmering spear around and deflected four flying knives. Gold sparks flew into the air. Vigorous cuts of wind spiraled into the smokescreen--however, the hollow areas soon refilled itself with more gas.

“We need to split!” ordered Bing Wen. “Once we take all of them down, we can later regroup and pursue our mutual objective!"

“I-I don’t want to split!” Shaking his head, Chong Lin refuted. “D-Don’t you know that splitting up is the worst thing to do?!”

Mei Ying glanced at the young man with bright eyes. When Chong Lin met her stare, he lowered his face and brought up a fuchsia sleeve to his cheek. In his other arm was a wooden pear-shaped instrument with a short neck and twelve strings. The lute shook mercilessly by his side.

“Let’s go.” Jian Yu readied himself into battle position, wielding the shining sword. With eyes front, his expression was solemn and focused. “I’ll be on the left.”

At this, the young woman smiled and tightened her hold around the beaming sword’s grip. “Then, I get the right.”

A corner of Jian Yu's lips lifted into a small grin.

“Now!” Bing Wen whirled his long spear around and went into the smoke. “Take care of the others!”

Following the person’s lead, the other four cultivators flurried away from one another, except for Jian Yu and Mei Ying—both diving into the black smog.

Poor Chong Lin sighed and, being the last one, broke into pursuit as well.

❁❁❁

Within seconds, soft footsteps proceed toward the cultivators, oblivious to what will greet them on the other side of dark fumes. There was a split between the two approaching figures amid black vapors. There was no hesitation as the Mei Ying and Jian Yu were pressed back-to-back, each wielding their luminous swords.

If one were to look closely, Mei Ying twirled the bright blade with a snow-white grip while Jian Yu held the glaring sword with a raven-black one. Both weapons complemented each other.

A flip of jade-green met Mei Ying’s eye, along with the glittering gold flower in the person’s hair. Then came a silver outer robe and the familiar white trailing ribbon in the high ponytail of another figure. One figure was quickly looming toward Mei Ying while the other darted into Jian Yu’s direction.

Cocking his head, the young man’s dark eyes lit up. He laughed, "Aren't those two...?"

The other nodded, quietly casting the incantation. She closed her eyes, smiling, before opening them again.

Jian Jian!

Unwavering from their goal, Mei Ying lifted her gleaming sword toward the opponents’ direction. Her friend’s back went rigid. He did not expect Mei Ying to link him into her spiritual communication channel. Such an intimate thread of joining thoughts should only be shared by two people who have known each other much longer than half a week.

Sensing her friend’s surprise, the huntress had to stifle her laughter and cleared her throat. We…entered the Tian Shan Feng tournament to find the missing friend of Wei Sheng and the others. That way, the gods and Heaven Immortals will return to the Heaven Realm. She watched the other people’s boots slowly stop before them. The sooner they leave, the safer this realm will be.

You… Jian Yu’s eyelashes quivered a bit. Have you…been feeling rather uneasy because of the Red Omen Prophecy? A moment of silence slipped by. Mei Ying and Jian Yu remained back-to-back. Their opponents were circling them. Didn’t the people interpret it as the Netherworld being the threat to watch for—not the Heaven realm?

Despite feeling the urge to glance over her shoulder, the huntress did not. Instead, she leaned against the other cultivator’s back. Regardless of which one, it is my duty to minimize the damage between the Three Realms. Everyone knows that the Heaven realm and the Mortal realm both share a co-dependent bond as beings of worship and worshippers. Of course, they’re more likely to side with the Heaven realm over the Netherworld...or at least, that’s what I think.

From the other side, Jian Yu pressed his red lips tightly together. The fingers wrapped around the weapon’s grip tightened more.

Perhaps, this is why Shifu also told me it is best to never meet them unless I have ascended… Mei Ying was unsure if she should laugh or cry.

The other one cracked a grin. So…you’re going to fight these two.

For a second, there was only smoke. In the next blink, silver sleeve swept past Mei Ying’s. The huntress recognized the person’s gentle eyes. Li Qin.

Of course. These two would band together with the Feng Bao sect disciples.

Metal struck. Holding off Li Qin, the maiden narrowed her eyebrows at the person. His bright face grew hazy before he retreated. He was going to strike again from another angle.

They would rather me fight them than to jeopardize the greater good. Mei Ying smiled, scanning her eyes across the turmoil of dark fumes streaming from skies to ground. Besides, it will only mean additional consequences if more mortals get involved.

After all, the gods and Heaven Immortals would not want their flaws to spread among other worshippers. It was much too risky to let people run wild with that information. The most optimistic outcome from all this could be memory manipulation.

Did your shifu tell you those things as well? asked Jian Yu.

Bit by bit, Mei Ying’s lips parted. Part of her wanted to deny it. Why?

There was a long sigh. You’ve always been a masochist. Bearing the consequences for others.

Hearing this in the communication channel, the huntress tilted her head. She did not understand what her friend meant.

So, does… Jian Yu’s voice was soft, barely above a whisper. Still, the young woman heard them like gentle strings. …that mean you’ll one day fight me, then? Her brows lifted. If he told you to strike me down for the greater good, would you?

What are you…

However, that second of hesitance was an opportunity for the other. There was a sudden silver flash of metal from Mei Ying’s left side. At the same time, Jian Yu parried off another blade that nearly brushed over the huntress’ shoulder. He kicked the other person away and disappeared into the dark smoke after them.

It was swift when the huntress had her sword knocked out of her pale hands in a single strike. Fa Guang clattered and slid to the other side, fading into the soot-black clouds. In a panic, Mei Ying took a sidestep, missing the next cutting swipe. Immediately, she dipped low to sweep her leg across the earth. If she used magic amidst the smoke, her glowing aura would easily give away her location.

Her foot hooked one of Li Qin’s ankles.

The other hunter fell. “Shit!” However, before he could touch the ground, Li Qin elegantly used his two fingers to help bounce back up and flipped over to his feet, putting some distance between him and the mysterious woman. “Xia Qi!” His streaming white ribbon flipped against his cheek.

F*ck. Li Qin’s sword had flown out of his grasp as well. His eyes darted around the smoke before him. “Where did she go?”

The light-green robe billowed across the airspace above Li Qin’s head. He looked up, only be kicked in the face!

In a whirl of motion, though Li Qin staggered back a few steps, he soon found himself exchanging hand blows with a rather small opponent. His left cheek burned from her tiny foot, but due to his racing heart, the young man could hardly blink.

As the dark fumes lifted and the other cultivator’s face came out of the haze, the young man found himself staring at a beautiful maiden. She had crystal-gold eyes, soft tufts of bangs against her moon-pale forehead, and long, night-black hair. Chrysanthemums bloomed along her long, broad moss-green outer robe. Her waist was tied by a familiar silver chain-belt though…

“Wait!” Despite her dainty appearance, Li Qin was troubled by the relentless, impactful strikes of her white hand against his honey-toned one. Small bells along the chain tinkled as she advanced toward him, with only one palm. In return, the young man did the same. “Wait, wait! Young Miss! Why do you wear that whip around your waist?”

There was only one person whom he knows would own that divine weapon. And that slippery dancing footwork.

In silence, both cultivators, at last, exchanged blows at the same time.

“Since you’re refusing to say it…” Burning anger welled up inside Li Qin’s chest. “Did you run into someone named Mei Ying?!”

Both people had successfully blocked each other’s next hits. Being fed up, the impatient young man reached over and seized Mei Ying’s wrist.

Furrowing his brows, the cultivator asked, "Did you hurt her?!"

❁❁❁

“You again?!” The once-silvery voice became rather piercing. “Why are you here?!”

Jian Yu smirked at the puzzled Xia Qi, the woman who always hovers around his friend like a mother hen with ruffled feathers. “Ah…” A twinkle of light skimmed through his red eyes. “Now, I see… You do resemble the real Xi Feng quite a lot. No wonder…”

In a blink, the woman in bright green—dashed for Jian Yu, who simply took one step back. The cold steel point barely pricked his flowing crimson robe. Not a thread or hair was cut off.

It all made sense now. No wonder why all these mortals’ faces seem too nostalgic. That night in the private dining space, Jian Yu was being glowered by these humans, all resembling Bing Wen, Xia Qi the Heaven Empress, and…Wei Sheng. Even in this lifetime, the huntress’ soul is still gravitated to people like them.

For a split second, the young man’s heart tightened immensely. He clenched his teeth together, feeling even his knuckles going white against the grip of the sword. Why? Even the big cousin from the Song clan did not deserve an ounce of Mei Ying’s kindness.

They should just all burn.

That’s right.

Everyone like them deserve to become ash.

“What are you…!”

Jian Yu lifted his gaze, only to see that subconsciously—blood-red threads of spiritual energy had manifested from his being, already wrapping themselves around the woman’s thin white neck. The corner of his lips turned up…into a quiet sneer. Both eyes gleamed ruby-red.

Metal fell to the ground. As Xia Qi, the senior huntress, hung in the air by the thickening swirls of red energy, she coughed and tried to pry them off her throat. There was not a sliver of air left.

“You’re—You’re hurting me!” Her vision clouded. All Xia Qi could see are the bright crimson orbs that threatened to snatch her soul. “Young Master, are you—trying to kill me?!”

“Hmph!” Jian Yu sheathed his sword.

All at once—the bloody spiritual energy retracted Xia Qi’s neck, dropping her, and faded back into the young man whose unkind eyes seemed to cut into the other. There was no wind, but the high ponytail and red ribbon were uplifted in the air quite beautifully. Jian Yu raised his chin with a cold, unforgiving glare.

Coughing, Xia Qi gently landed, barely falling onto one knee against the ground. Shaking slightly, the woman rubbed a hand against her neck. Warm beads of sweat dripped down a side of her deathly pale face. Raising her head, the senior huntress gritted her teeth.

“What…the f*ck was that about?” hissed Xia Qi.

“I was merely testing you.”

“Testing? Ha… You’re crazy as horse shit!” Her stomach was feeling rather unsettled. Taking note of the ill meaning, the woman knitted her brows together. “And who’s…that person you’re with?” Standing up, Xia Qi picked up her glistening sword. “For Mei Ying to give you a floral sachet at the first meeting…is quite an achievement, you know!”

There was something amiss, and Xia Qi did not know what. When she was struggling against that overwhelmingly wicked aura, the senior huntress noticed that it held no weight of yin scent. This Young Master is, without a doubt, the most dangerous person whom Xia Qi has ever encountered. No, he’s not even a person.

The Young Master is a monster.

Jian Yu blinked. The air of nonchalance returned, and his red eyes receded into dark pupils. He held a hand up in the air to stop Xia Qi’s trail of thoughts.

“Mei Ying only gave me floral tea in that sachet, woven from her flora powers and spiritual energy.” Jian Yu cheerily corrected her. “It is a token of our friendship.”

“Bullshit!” Xia Qi sneered at the smiling young man. “You may think that you’ve deceived her, but we all know who you are.”

“What am I then?”

“You’re...a Ferocious-ranked demon!” Pointing the sword at him, the green-robed woman raised her voice. “And Mei Ying is a righteous cultivator! She is going to face the demon king! When she does, you will be standing by your Netherworld god while the Heavenly gods will be with her!”

Hearing this, Jian Yu’s bottom lip trembled slightly.

“You two are too different like Heaven and Earth! Don’t even dream about it!”

“I see, I see.” The young man nodded, feigning interest. “In that case then…” Steadily, Jian Yu began to approach the weakened person. One foot forward at a time. “Are you in power of deciding…what is best for Mei Ying’s sake? Tell me. What makes you think that you are any better than the others who had betrayed her in the past?”

At these words, the other steadied the shining sword toward the mysterious cultivator. Xia Qi pursed her red lips together. “What…are you talking about?”

“You know what I mean.” Jian Yu smiled, strolling on. “If your sect one day tells you to strike Mei Ying down, would you do it…for the sake of ‘righteousness’, the greater good?”

The question resonated with the woman, whose hold against her sword’s grip trembled. Her amber eyes widened. The lashes shook. “Me…s-strike her down?”

Though the handsome cultivator was smiling from ear to ear, his words were ice-cold.

Suddenly, the young man froze in his tracks. His head jerked up. Within a few seconds, Jian Yu’s smile vanished, replaced by a deep frown. A menacing shadow casted over one of his eyes.

Before the other person could open her mouth, the cultivator flitted into the air like a red maple leaf, spinning away—with the wind. He was gone.

Xia Qi raised a brow. It was quiet, saved for the low brewing of haze around her. Right away, she heard an abrupt cry of pain from behind her and turned toward that direction of black smoke.

“Li Qin?!”