The three days seemed like they came and disappeared before Zhou Cheng could even blink. Three days of quiet resting, meditation and preparation. The pills he got from Senior Bang had been put to excellent use, allowing him to surge ahead. He was sitting comfortably at the Seventh Step now, and all the more confident in his ability to face Lei Ming.
He strides into the Law Pavilion, his expression determined and resolve completely hardened. The Disciple in the foyer gestures for him to follow without a word, and he falls in behind them with equal silence. Nothing needs to be said because he was summoned here earlier this morning.
Today is the day his challenge is officially issued.
The Disciple guides him along the bare, spartan corridors until they eventually come into what he can only assume is the magistrate's court. Having never had reason to face a magistrate of any kind, Zhou Cheng has no idea if this is typical or not.
Sitting behind a wide desk is a seemingly middle-aged man with wide watery blue eyes, and an almost polished smooth head - completely and utterly hairless, at least at first glance. A second later, Zhou Cheng realises he has eyebrows, they're just incredibly thin and blonde to the point of seeming invisible on his skin. The moment his gaze rests on Zhou Cheng, he feels like he's about to drown - a pressure descends on him, constricting his breathing and squeezing tight. He can feel his heartbeat spiking and the urge to struggle to claw his way up to air.
The pressure recedes a moment later and it's only then that Zhou Cheng realises he's sunk to his knees as a koi fish the size of his chest 'swims' around his shoulders. It's beautiful, elegant fins have a faintly glassy look to them, translucent and shimmering, and its scales are a resplendent rainbow of violets and sky blues - it carries with it a scent of cool water and damp soil.
Shifting Koi. An incredibly rare species of fish that inhabit the Forest of Wandering Phantoms. Although they do like the water, they are perfectly at home swimming through mists, clouds, rain and even empty air. There is only one person within the Heavenly Misty Peak Sect who is known to use them as bonded companions.
Elder Lei, of the Law Pavilion.
He watches, still breathless, as the koi gracefully circles around Elder Lei, hovering behind him as a silent observer. It is only then that he realises that Lei Ming is also present, and anger surges through him.
Before he can act, an echo of that same pressure threatens to return and he holds his tongue.
At least Lei Ming is on his knees as well.
"Good," Elder Lei begins simply, "You are both on time. This matter may now begin. Let the record show that Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng has officially challenged Core Disciple Lei Ming. This act has been verified by Elder Chu, and in accordance with the Laws of the Heavenly Misty Peak, it will now proceed." He has a firm, resolute and even voice - Zhou Cheng expected something more booming, or forceful. Instead, Elder Lei sounds like a man listing off a menu. Direct and informative.
"Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng. What is the cause of your Challenge?"
He lifts his head up and meets Elder Lei's eyes. "I seek to free Hei Lian from his service."
At that, Lei Ming lets out a quiet scoff - an action that draws Elder Lei's unblinking stare. The koi flicks its tail, and he can almost smell the watery Qi as Lei Ming stiffens.
His reprimand given, Elder Lei continues as though nothing happened. "Very well. Lei Ming. Will you face this Challenge?"
"Of course, Honoured Elder," Lei Ming declares, his voice just a little hoarser than Zhou Cheng remembers. There's a defiant glint to his eyes as he glares at Zhou Cheng. "This is nothing."
Elder Lei says nothing. "Let the record show that Core Disciple Lei Ming has accepted Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng's Challenge. As the Challenged, Core Disciple Lei Ming has the right to determine the contest."
It was Zhou Cheng's turn to stiffen. This was supposed to be a duel…! But he knew better than to actually say anything out loud. He could still feel the pressure of Elder Lei's Qi - but worse, he could see the smug expression on Lei Ming's face.
He should've expected this. It was never going to be fair.
"Let the contest be a hunt," he declares arrogantly, still smirking, "Whoever can hunt the most impressive creature will be the victor."
Elder Lei nods once. "An acceptable choice. Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng - will you take on the contest?"
Gritting his teeth, Zhou Cheng nods in return, eyes burning with fury. "I will not fail, no matter what it is."
"Good. Then let the record show that Core Disciple Lei Ming and Inner Disciple Zhou Cheng shall settle this dispute with a hunt." Elder Lei pauses for a moment before continuing. "Let us discuss the terms." The koi behind him swims to the forefront, and with a shimmy of its scales, an image forms.
The Forest of Wandering Phantoms.
"The hunting ground shall be the Forest. The time limit will be one week. Each of you will be allowed two companions. Core Disciple Lei Ming, name your first companion."
Lei Ming's smirk widens an inch further, turning it into more of a cruel smile. "I name Hei Lian as my companion."
He cannot hold his tongue any longer. "That's-!" Before he can get a second word out, the pressure descends on him. Despite it, he finds the strength to force them out anyway. "It's… not… fair! If… he… is hurt… then…!""
"Then what?" Elder Lei asks, staring at him with blankly calm eyes. After a moment, the pressure recedes again, and Zhou Cheng can breathe clearly enough to speak properly.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"He is clearly just attempting to use him as a hostage! … Honoured Elder." He adds the proper terms of address a little late, but if Elder Lei is at all offended, he doesn't show it.
"And?" he says simply, still staring at him with those unblinking eyes, "Lei Ming's choices are Lei Ming's. If you object, hold a hostage of your own."
Lei Ming's smug aura intensifies to critical mass, and Zhou Cheng can only gawk. To say it so blatantly…!
The idea of holding a hostage occurs to him, but even if Zhou Cheng were willing to stoop that low, he doesn't think even for a second that there is anyone within the Sect that Lei Ming would care about enough to actually consider them a useful hostage.
"... Then I name Elder Lei as my companion."
For a brief moment, there was a flash of something that might've been amusement on Elder Lei's face. "Rejected," he responds, "An Elder cannot participate in a Challenge between Disciple's. You must name a Disciple."
Well. It was worth a shot. The obvious choices are Tian Mingfei or Kong Meiling. Both of them are powerful and trustworthy allies - but both of them pale in comparison to Lei Ming. Even now, he can feel the power roiling off his hated rival.
Lei Ming has almost broken through to Core Formation - his second companion will surely be his lackey from earlier as well, a man who is in Core Formation already.
"I name Bang Yanhuo as my companion."
"Rejected," the Elder says calmly. "Bang Yanhuo cannot serve as a companion. His services to the Sect are too important for him to leave his duties at this time."
Of course not, Zhou Cheng seethes internally. There'll likely be some other excuse for every other Core Disciple he can think of naming - too busy, too important. Can he trust in Kong Meiling and Tian Mingfei? Both of them aren't stronger the Fourth Step. Going up against Lei Ming and his Lackey will be an incredibly tough fight for the three of them together, even with his Secret Technique. They might be able to make it, but can he risk their lives?
… They would probably hit me and tell me they would choose it anyway.
In the end, who else can he trust? "I name Tian Mingfei as my companion."
The Elder's expectant gaze turns to Lei Ming.
"I name Cai Xiaoran as my companion." Not a name Zhou Cheng recognises. He can only assume it was that Inner Disciple who hovers around him like a bodyguard.
"I name Kong Meiling as my companion."
"The companions have been named," Elder Lei declares. "The hunt will begin at dawn tomorrow. Make your final preparations. This hearing is now concluded."
The doors to the room swung open again, and the image of the forest dissipated into nothing at all. Taking it as the clear dismissal it was, Zhou Cheng bows and rises up to his feet. He makes it maybe a foot out of the room before he whirls on Lei Ming, glaring with all the venom he can muster.
Three years - and he's right. Fucking. There.
It'd be so painfully simple to just strike now. Fuck the challenge, the hunt, fuck it all and just get his revenge then and there.
But even if he were willing to do something like that, doing it in right in the middle of the Law Pavilion would be suicide. "Is there no low you won't sink to?" he growls, eyes burning, "Getting your Honoured Grandfather to twist things in your favour?"
Lei Ming's smug air evaporates into pure, incandescent hate. "You-" he seethes, as though he had any right to be angry at the truth. He catches himself a moment after, the bitter, caustic Qi that roils around him quietening down soon enough. "... Enjoy your last day in the Sect, street trash."
"I'm going to make you choke on those words."
"I might let you. It'd be more palatable than that slop Hei Lian makes."
He has to physically restrain himself from pouring Qi into his fist and then using it to punch straight through Lei Ming's head.
He's just baiting you. Don't fall for it. Rather than give Lei Ming another opening to taunt him, he simply marches away. There was no more point in trying to fight with his words.
He'd let his actions speak for themselves. Loudly. Right in Lei Ming's face.
But first, he had to let his companions know.
----------------------------------------
"I don't suppose you have a plan in mind?" Kong Meiling drawls, gently fanning herself as she regards both of them. "I'd really prefer it if there was a plan before you dragged us along for this. I had plans that didn't involve a week long hunt."
Zhou Cheng makes a disgruntled noise. "It was supposed to be a duel," he mutters. Of course, what it was supposed to be never mattered.
"You did not review the rules?" Tian Mingfei sounds surprised, leaning forward a little. "The Challenged always gets to set the contest - but I suppose you can think of it as a good sign. If Lei Ming was confident, he would've just set it as a duel."
"I can think of it as a sign that that rat bastard will be planning something." Choosing Hei Lian as a companion straight up… that bastard was definitely going to hold him hostage in some way.
"Then plan something better." Kong Meiling snaps her fan shut and taps it against the small rock serving as the 'table'. "What are the rules of the contest?"
He racks his brain. "... I do not believe any were mentioned. Just that the contest would be to hunt the greatest beast."
She considers his response for a moment. "It is possible that the rules will be announced at the start, but we should prepare for anything. Most importantly, we should prepare for an ambush or a confrontation of some kind. Who has he declared as his companions?"
"Someone called Cai Xiaoran and… Hei Lian."
That causes both of them to double take. Kong Meiling's eyes take on a calculating glint. "Hei Lian? That… can work in our favour."
"How can that possibly be to our benefit?!"
"Because he's loyal and dedicated to you," she counters, giving him a look. "He's unlikely to be aiding Lei Ming in any real capacity, and even if he did choose to side with him-"
"He would never."
Kong Meiling kept going right over his interjection. "-he is still only an Outer Disciple and one without much talent - oh don't look at me like that, you said the same thing three years ago. Lei Ming must be confident in his own abilities and that of Cai Xiaoran."
"Or he intends to use Hei Lian as a hostage."
She concedes that point with a small incline of her head. "Or he intends to use Hei Lian as a hostage. I'm not familiar with this 'Cai Xiaoran' however. Do you know anything about him, Senior Sister?"
"He's Lei Ming's personal guard," Tian Mingfei says cheerfully, and at this point, Zhou Cheng doesn't even question how she knows this. The breadth of Tian Mingfei's knowledge is something that will forever mystify him, but he can just add it to the other things about her that mystify and confuse him. "Apparently personally sworn to his service to repay some debt or service. The details are scarce, however, and I have not seen or heard about how he fights."
Zhou Cheng thinks deeply on all of his encounters with Lei Ming. "... He uses some sort of Cloud-based technique." It's not a lot to go off of, he knows, but it's all he has to offer.
"And Lei Ming himself is a Poison Cultivator," Tian Mingfei adds, "So we should probably purchase some antidotal medicine if we can."
"I have some on hand already." Bang Yanhuo certainly gave him plenty enough to share. "A confrontation would be the best way to resolve things in the end. I intended to settle things with a duel from the beginning."
"If at all possible, we will leave you to deal with him then so long as you are confident. Senior Tian and I will attempt to handle Cai Xiaoran. And if Hei Lian has any sense, he will try to stay out of things."
It occurred to Zhou Cheng that tomorrow would be the first time he'd lay eyes on Hei Lian. The thought sent a surge of nervousness burning up in him. What will he say? Do? Will he even have an opportunity to say anything then? Not then. But after... after we will be able to speak.
"Is that agreeable?" Kong Meiling adds, giving him a small nudge.
"Hm? Oh, yes. Perfectly so."
She gives him a look, and then lets out a quiet sigh. "Then this will have to do."