Later That Year: Cliff Warden Trials, Part 4
Time Until First Rift Appears: 5 Years, 2 Months, 1 Day
Lu Ri was, in short, very, very worried. The distant howls echoing across the mountains were unsettling enough, but the brutal slaughter he’d stumbled upon a few minutes ago was something else entirely.
What in the heavens could have made these kids think it was a good idea to follow anything capable of tearing through a pack of yetis like they were paper? Stupid brats. Keeping to the trail, he traced the fresh imprints left by the children and—by the looks of it—some monstrous beast.
The tracks were unsettlingly similar to yeti prints, only much larger and deep enough to suggest a creature of immense weight.
Pushing down the awful image of the Silver Fairy’s wrath if he didn’t bring her son back safe, he picked up his pace, each crunch of his boots against the snow steady and deliberate.
He didn’t let himself think of what might happen if they came face-to-face with whatever had made those tracks. No sense in letting his mind run off that ledge just yet.
It didn’t take long to reach the entrance to a wide-mouthed cave, dark and looming. He squinted, double-checking the surrounding tracks to ensure it was the right place. There was no doubt about it; the trail led right here.
Scattered around the entrance were patches of disturbed snow and dark stains splattered across rocks and icicles—all too clear signs of a struggle. And then, as he moved closer, he saw them.
Yetis.
He crouched down, letting his fingers graze over the blood-matted fur of the fallen yetis, their dark stripes marking them as something twisted, something worse than the typical mountain beasts. Massive, bulging muscles, claws as thick as knives—these monsters were nightmare fuel, not the usual snow-dwellers. A part of him almost couldn’t believe the kids had managed to take these down. But the evidence was all here, and a reluctant flicker of pride slipped past the knot of worry in his chest. Brave, reckless brats.
“Kids these days…” he muttered. Just how they kept themselves from becoming cave wall decorations was a mystery, but he had to admit they’d held their own. A sliver of relief settled in, but it didn’t loosen the tension in his shoulders. Not until he had them all back in one piece.
The larger tracks continued deeper into the cave, with smaller, lighter footprints in between. He grimaced. Of course, they’d gone farther in. No sense in standing around, though, so he checked his blades, took a deep breath, and stepped into the darkness.
Inside, the air was thick and colder, carrying that unmistakable metallic tang of blood. Each crunch of his boots sounded louder than he wanted it to, echoing off the narrow walls as he moved further in. His eyes strained to adjust, finding only glimmers of light catching on ice patches. The distant sounds of shifting rocks and heavy breaths were the only warning that something massive waited deeper inside.
As he came around the bend, he saw something that made his breath leave his body—a massive yeti, even bigger than the ones at the entrance. A half-broken body lay beneath a cave-in; it was still alive but just barely.
Crouching near it he heard it it was barely louder then a whisper in the wind but he heard it
"Kill"
The yeti spoke
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"You guys can see that to right" Linhua was the first to say something as all of us gaped at what we saw as if the Yeti's werent bad enough the middle coiled the like spring sat death itself
"No no that is impossible what is it doing down here" Goruo half s whispered but it sounded more like his normal tone then anything else Rin looked towards his big friend as the evident horror passed his features
Rin clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm as the oppressive aura of the creature seeped into his bones. The massive serpentine beast, scales glistening like obsidian under the dim light, sat motionless yet exuded a presence that made the yetis seem like mere ants. The thing didn’t move, but its very existence screamed danger.
Goruo took a step back, his knuckles whitening. "Rin... we can't fight that. No way."
There was nothing Rin could say to refute that dammit of all the places it could be why here and why now
Thinking quickly he spoke
"We dont need to fight it we just need to grab a qi crystal and get out of here" he said as he peered over the stones they were currently huddling behind
"You see that" Rin gestured the Yeti's lumbering this way and that "there are only the normal enhanced Yeti's I dont see one as big as the one we flattened under all that rock so we already know we can handle them relatively well"
"Are you serious right now Rin look at that thing"
Linhua’s voice trembled as she jabbed a finger toward the coiled serpent, her eyes wide with fear. "What if it wakes up? Where do you think we can go? Nowhere, Rin! The entrance is caved in! We’re trapped down here with that thing."
Goruo’s breath quickened, his usual calm slipping into panic. "She’s right. The way back is blocked. We can’t retreat, and if that monster stirs—" He cut himself off, glancing toward the motionless serpent, as if even mentioning it might rouse the beast.
Rin felt a cold sweat trickling down his back.
The cave-in had sealed their fate.
This is my fault I need to make it right
There was no escape, no fallback plan. The only way out was forward, past the yetis, and dangerously close to the slumbering terror.
"We don’t have a choice," Rin said, his voice low but insistent. "We can't sit here. The yetis will find us eventually, and if we wait too long, we’ll be outnumbered. We have to act."
Linhua shook her head violently. "Act? Act how? You think we can just tiptoe past that thing and hope it doesn’t notice us? It’s suicide, Rin! We’re stuck in here with a monster that could swallow us whole without even waking up! and lets not forget the Yeti's we have no idea how they will react when seeing us"
Goruo’s fists tightened. "Rin, this isn’t just another dumb beast. This is a whole different level. If it wakes up, we’re dead. You’re asking us to walk straight into our graves."
Rin’s eyes darted between them, the weight of their fear pressing down on him.
Damn it. They’re right. This isn’t just a risk; it’s a death sentence. But what choice do we have?
He forced his voice to steady. "I know what we’re up against. I know how bad this looks. But staying here isn’t an option. The yetis will find us, and then we’ll be fighting on two fronts. At least if we move now, we have a chance to get the crystal and maybe—maybe—get out before that thing wakes."
Linhua’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice a sharp whisper. "And if it wakes? Then what, Rin? You think we can outrun it? We’ll be trapped, just like we are now, only closer to it."
Rin swallowed hard.
"If it wakes, we’ll deal with it then," he said, his voice firm. "Right now, we move. Slowly, carefully, and we stick together. We’ve faced worse odds before."
Goruo’s face was pale. "No, we haven’t," he muttered. "Not like this."
Rin nodded, acknowledging the truth. "Maybe not. But we’re still here. And as long as we’re breathing, we have a chance."
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken fears. Linhua finally exhaled, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "Fine," she whispered. "But if that thing so much as breathes, I’m out. I’m not dying in this hellhole."
Goruo grunted his agreement, though his eyes were filled with dread. "Let’s just get this over with."
It was disconcerting seeing his usual jovial friend so serious well lets hope we make it out of here
Rin forced a grim smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "That’s the spirit. Now, this is what we are going to do."
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Lu Ri knelt by the crushed yeti, his hand hovering just above its bloodied fur. The beast's chest heaved in shallow, labored breaths, its eyes flickering with something that shouldn’t be there—awareness.
Everyone knew that while beasts could absorb ambient Qi from the air and their surroundings to strengthen their bodies, they couldn’t use techniques like cultivators. Using techniques required a certain level of intelligence, something beasts generally lacked. This didn’t make them weak, though. It simply meant that a cultivator with superior techniques would typically prevail against a beast of equal or even greater strength—provided the beast relied solely on its instincts.
However, legends spoke of rare beasts so ancient and powerful that they transcended their limitations, crossing into the heavenly realm. These mythical creatures gained intelligence, even the ability to assume human form. According to the stories, there were only six such mystical beasts, and none of them were yetis.
Well as far as Lu Ri could recall so either this is a newly ascended beast which he highly doubted as well the state of it didn't scream awe inspiring power so something else was wrong here flexing his Qi senses he realized what it was and his eyes grew wide so wide if someone was there to see it they would have joked that it looked like his eyes are busy popping out
That's impossible I need the old man here now and maybe some earth based cultivators we need to get into the cave now.
Deciding on his course of action, he smoothly drew one of his blades and ended the strange beast’s suffering. The only sound was a faint gurgle as it took its final breath. He turned and made his way back to the mouth of the cave. Pulling a smooth pebble from his robes, he infused it with a small amount of Qi, causing the inscribed script on its surface to glow warmly. With a quick toss, the pebble soared several hundred meters into the air before bursting into a cascade of colors.
Red first, vibrant and urgent. Then black, a stark warning. Finally, white, a call for immediate reinforcement.
Lets just hope the kids can stay alive.
And by the gods let them still be alive.
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Unaware what was going on outside the cave Rin went through his plan with his friends now it wasn't the best plan nor was it well the chances of them surviving were slim very very slim
"So wait let me get this straight you want us" Linhua pointed to herself and to Goruo "To lure as many Yeti's as we can then kill them quietly and efficiently so that they don't alert the others we are not busy killing their friends all in hopes they don't swarm us with all that happening you want us to also pile up the bodies as high and as tight as possible in what did you call it"
"Barricade of bodies" Rin answered
"Ah yes the barricade of bodies yes doesn't that just roll off the tongue" rolling her eyes she continued "Meanwhile you are going to go down there and try to steal one of those qi crystals while dodging stray yeti's while basically coming face to face with the Frostfang wyrm" she paused for dramatic effect then carried on " I am saying it again a bloody FrostFang wyrm hoping that it doesn't wake up and decide it eat you do I have everything so far?"
Rin nodded
"Seriously are you crazy why dont we just all go back to the cave entrance and wait there I am sure the wardens have noticed something amis and is looking for us" she said with a pleading look on her face
That sounds like a great plan if not for the fact that my friends have missed something
Rin peered to where the wyrm was still coiled up in the center of the massive cave if one would look at it quickly you would have thought that everything looked natural but in actual fact it doesnt Rin only noticed it when he was going over his plan but theres no doubt about it this man made or well close enough whatever is changing the Yeti's is also somehow linked to the wyrm which means intelligence and if the big guy we dropped a ton of bricks on is any inidcation that is a bad thing
He looked back at Linhua, her face etched with concern. “Linhua, you know why it has to be me going down there.” He gestured toward the wyrm. “I’m basically a mortal.” Saying it aloud felt like acknowledging a wound that never healed. “And you know Master Lu Ri’s philosophy. The wardens will only intervene when we’re on the brink of death.”
“But this is—” Linhua began, her voice filled with desperation.
“Have you ever known Master Lu Ri to go back on his word?” Goruo interrupted, his voice steady but kind. Linhua’s retort faltered, and she bit her lip, falling silent.
"Ok great so lets go" Rin said wanting to move but was caught by Goruo
"The part of the plan I dont get is how are you going to get back to us if we barricade ourselves" he asked raising an eyebrow
Dammit
"Look so while you guys are building this body pile try and make the entrance as narrow as possible I will squeeze through when I get back" Rin said masking any unease a peering to the boy Rin hoped he bought it
"Ok" the gentle giant said as beamed towards Rin
Sorry guys but I cant risk you guys to in my stupid plan its my fault we stuck in here so I have to at least make sure you guys make it
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Rin looked towards Linhua who still bit her lip reluctantly nodded
"Great uh before you guys go here take this" he through them his light quarts
Goruo caught it an frowned at me
"There is enough light in this cavern thanks to the crystals I must admit its a bit eerie but it is enough you guys need that more then me" he nodded to the quarts and Goruo nodded and put it away.
With their plan reluctantly agreed upon, Rin watched as Linhua and Goruo moved toward the cave entrance to begin their grim task. He lingered a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.
Once his vision acclimated, he set off toward the faint glow of the crystals, their ethereal light beckoning him like a distant beacon. He hadn’t been exaggerating about the size of the cavern—it was massive. The vastness stretched beyond his line of sight, an overwhelming expanse of shadow and cold stone.
This place could fit every Cliffwarden trial participant with room to spare, Rin mused, his thoughts a mix of awe and dread.
The crystals’ glow marked his destination, their light a soft, pulsing rhythm against the suffocating darkness. Without it, navigating the labyrinthine cave would have been nearly impossible. The wyrm's icy presence filled the air, a constant reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows.
If not for the crystals, I wouldn’t even know where to go.
The silence in the cave was oppressive, broken only by the occasional growls and roars of the yetis. Traversing the cavern was incredibly difficult—no ordinary mortal could manage it, not without a full team equipped with lights and safety ropes. If not for the brief training Rin had undergone under Master Lu Ri, he would have met his end at the bottom of one of the many treacherous crevices.
As the glow from the crystals grew brighter, the air grew colder—a sure sign he was on the right path. Just as Rin prepared to leap over a jagged stalagmite, a sudden shape loomed before him. He slammed into something furry and warm, the stench of unwashed latrines from the slums assaulting his senses.
Realizing what he had collided with, his body reacted instinctively. His hand shot to his dagger, unsheathing it in one fluid motion, and he drove the blade into the beast's neck before it could react. The yeti's hide was thick; one stab wouldn't be enough. Quickly drawing his other dagger, Rin used the creature's back as a springboard, launching himself above its head. His target was clear—one of the beast's vital points: the eyes.
With precision and speed, he plunged his dagger into the yeti's eye. Warm blood spurted, and he twisted the blade for good measure before ripping it free. As he descended, the yeti collapsed beneath him with a resounding thud, its lifeless body crumpling to the cavern floor.
Quickly looking around to make sure no other surprises were waiting for him in the darkness he took a deep breath his heart beating like a drum in his chest as the adrenaline coursed through his body
That was to close
Wiping his daggers on the inside of his elbow, Rin peered down at the yeti's lifeless body. A realization struck him, sending a chill down his spine—whatever was happening to these creatures was still in progress. This yeti was undergoing some kind of change or better yet an evolution, but it hadn’t completed the process. That explained why it wasn’t as tough or strong as the ones they had encountered near the cave entrance.
Its veins were swollen, pulsing with a strange rainbow light, and the same glow was seeping from its wounds, maintaining an unnatural luster even in death. Deciding this might provide answers, Rin retrieved the small bottle containing the alpha yeti’s blood. Carefully, he scooped some of the rainbow-tinged blood into the bottle. As he observed, the blood separated, the rainbow hue floating to the top while the darker blood sank to the bottom, like oil and water refusing to mix.
Strange is it because it is two diffferent yeti's I thought atleast that it would mix
Storing the bottle while simultaneously curbing his own curiousness he started moving towards the crystal glow again
Lets hope there are no more surprises
While Rin was busy moving towards the qi crystals, his friends were struggling with the task he had given them.
"I told you we need to lure them in one by one and then attack in the narrow corridor," Goruo said, his face red, more from exasperation than anger.
"Sure, great plan," Linhua shot back, twirling her rope dart absentmindedly. "But unless you’ve got a magic yeti whistle, how exactly do you suggest we get them to follow us without offering ourselves up as bait?"
Goruo sighed, the tension in his shoulders evident. He knew she was right, but admitting it would only add fuel to Linhua’s endless well of snark. "Okay, fine. We draw them out, but we don’t have to be the bait. Maybe we can throw something, make a noise, and get them curious."
"Like what? A rock?" Linhua deadpanned. "You think a big, hairy killing machine is going to be interested in rock noises?"
Goruo frowned, glancing around. "I was thinking something more… enticing. Like… uh…"
"Meat? Fireworks? A personal invitation?" Linhua’s tone was laced with sarcasm. "We’ve got none of that."
"Look, we don’t have time to argue," Goruo said, frustration coloring his voice. "We just need to be smart about this. Maybe… we use the light from the quartz crystal. They’ve already shown some interest in it, right?"
Linhua’s eyes lit up. "Finally, something useful out of that thick skull of yours." She took the quartz crystal and waved it lightly, watching as its glow danced against the cave walls before handing it over to Goruo. He frowned
"Smash it with those ridiculous weapons of yours" she said point to Goruo's own personal skull smashers "Or do you want wait here in the dark waiting for them"
"Good point" he answered as he placed the quartz on the ground it wasnt much bigger then a pebble so shouldnt be to hard to break
I mean I have broken boulders before with these babies
With a quick sharp punch downwards followed by crack the quarts stone split in almost three identical pieces
Neat!!
Picking up the pieces he took and gave the other two pieces to Linhua
"Impressive" she said with a slight smile she continued "Alright, shiny rock, let’s see if you can save our skins."
"Just remember, once they start coming, we fall back to the narrow corridor. No heroics," Goruo reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Linhua muttered, focusing on her task. She held the glowing crystal high, slowly stepping back towards the corridor, the light casting eerie shadows on the jagged cave walls.
A low growl echoed from deeper within the cavern, followed by the unmistakable thud of heavy footsteps. Linhua’s breath hitched, but she kept her composure, taking slow, deliberate steps backward.
"They’re coming," she whispered.
Goruo tightened his grip on his knuckle dusters, his heart pounding. "Get ready."
The first yeti lumbered into the faint light, its eyes fixated on the glowing crystal. It hesitated for a moment, sniffing the air, before letting out a guttural growl and charging forward.
"Now!" Goruo yelled.
Linhua darted to the side, swinging her rope dart in a wide arc. The sharp metal tip embedded itself in the yeti’s thick fur, causing it to howl in rage. Goruo took advantage of the distraction, rushing forward and delivering a crushing blow to the yeti’s knee, forcing it to stumble.
"Go for the eyes!" Linhua shouted, yanking her rope dart free.
Goruo didn’t need to be told twice. As the yeti roared in pain, he leapt up, driving his fist into its eye socket with all his might. The creature reeled back, clutching its face, giving Linhua an opening to strike again.
With a flick of her wrist, the rope dart coiled tightly around the yeti’s neck. Linhua yanked hard, cutting off its air supply as the beast thrashed violently, its roars muffled by the constriction. The narrow corridor worked to their advantage, confining the yeti’s massive frame and limiting its movements.
Goruo seized the moment, stepping in close. He drove his knuckle dusters into the creature’s ribs with a resounding crack, then followed up with another punch to its chest, and another to its face. Each blow echoed in the confined space, the sickening crunch of bone and the wet thud of impact reverberating through the cave.
The yeti staggered, its strength waning with each of Goruo’s relentless strikes. What felt like an eternity passed as blow after blow rained down, Goruo’s fists becoming a blur of motion. Finally, with one last devastating punch, the yeti’s skull gave way, leaving its massive form slumped against the cave floor, half-crushed and utterly still.
Goruo staggered back, breathing heavily, his fists throbbing from the effort. "Finally… that thing took forever to go down," he muttered, glancing at the motionless heap before them.
Linhua loosened the rope dart, letting it fall slack as she caught her breath. "Let’s hope the next one isn’t as stubborn," she said, though the determination in her eyes hadn’t wavered.
"At least that is one down," Goruo panted, leaning against the wall to catch his breath.
"And probably a dozen more to go," Linhua muttered, pulling her dart free. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her eyes scanning the darkened cave for any signs of movement.
"Yea now we got to move this bugger" he said kicking the dead yeti
"You know where we should set up this baricade of bodies or whatever?"
He frowned "Well knowing Rin he is expecting alot of trouble for when he steals those crystals so maybe as close to the cave in as possible?"
She sighed and nodded "Fine but I am getting the legs you can carry the head"
Dammit
Reluctantly he went to the top part of the torso "Fine but you kill the next one so you can carry the nasty parts"
Linhua just smiled her sarcastic smile even though they were much smaller then the Yeti itself they were still cultivators and that came with some benefits the beast eas by no way light but it was manageable for the two cultivators in the body tempering stage the corridor they took the cavern was large but it was by no means massive it still alowed them to use it to their advantage in a fight but it was big enough to fit at least one and a half yeti's they walked in a companionable silence only the ocassional splash or drip of blood from the Yeti could be heard after they got close to where Rin caused the cave in they laid the Yeti down putting its feet towards the left cave wall while its sunken in head to the middle of the corridor in an almost arrow like fashion
"You think Rin’s done grabbing those qi crystals?" Goruo asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.
"If he isn’t, we’ll be here all night," Linhua replied, glancing at the darkness they just came from the quarts crystal only provided so much light. "At least we’ve got a nice barricade now." she paused looking at the body of the yeti "well a start of one at least"
"Yeah, a barricade made of yeti. I feel so safe," Goruo quipped, forcing a grin.
Linhua smirked, despite the tension. "Lets hope this doesn't completely back firing on us, still think we should have waited here-." but as to answer her
Another growl echoed from deeper in the cave, louder this time, more guttural.
"Sounds like we might have company soon," Goruo muttered, pushing off the wall. "Round two?"
Linhua nodded, her eyes hardening. "Round two."
Rin was unfortunately not as lucky as he had hoped after that first encounter he encountered another three that were half transformed and the this last one which did not seem to want to die as he slashed it with his blade for what felt like the hundredth the beast was riddled with cuts and stab wounds he even got it in the eye but still it persisted not wanting to fall
"Why." Slash
"Dont." Slash
'You." Slash
"Just" Slash
'Die." Stab
After the final stab towards a previous cut that was deep enough that he could pierce through the hide the lumbering beast gave its final ragged breath before it finally fell. Rin was quite nervous after the second yeti he killed as it gave a roar like no other but to his surprise no help came to save the beast its as if the fully formed Yeti's did not seem to mind the howling cries of these that were halfway through their transformation or was more an evolution It was as if they knew—no, expected—the agony that came with the transformation.
A shiver ran down his spine.
I don’t think anyone is ready for what this truly means…
After cleaning of his blade of the blood Rin started pressing deeper into the cavern.The air grew colder with each step, the chill biting into his skin and making every breath visible in the dim light. The glow of the qi crystals ahead pulsed gently, casting ghostly shadows along the jagged walls.
With their beautiful yet eerie guidance, it didn’t take long for Rin to arrive at his destination. What he saw took his breath away but also chilled him to the bone in equal measure. Before him, coiled like a spring, lay the Frostfang Wyrm. Its massive body was tightly wound, so much so that it was impossible to discern where its head began and its tail ended. The wyrm’s dark blue scales shimmered under the glow of the qi crystals, casting a hypnotic light that danced along the cavern walls.
From where they first spotted the wyrm, its scales had seemed almost black, blending with the shadows of the cavern. But now, up close, Rin realized they were a mesmerizing ocean blue—deep and enigmatic, like the color of the sea far from any shore, where the light barely penetrates.
By the twelve gods… it’s massive, Rin thought, his heart pounding in his chest.
Even in its tightly coiled state—or perhaps because of it—the wyrm loomed over him like a serpentine tower, an ancient sentinel stretching toward the heavens. The sheer size of it was awe-inspiring, its presence commanding every fiber of his being to stand still, to watch, to marvel.
But Rin tore his gaze away from the towering form of the Frostfang Wyrm, forcing himself to focus. His eyes shifted to the crystals arranged around the wyrm. They weren’t scattered haphazardly; instead, they seemed deliberately placed, forming a near-perfect circle around the slumbering beast. The arrangement felt ritualistic, as if the wyrm was the guardian of an ancient power bound by these luminous stones.
For a moment, Rin considered the implications. A ritual? The thoughts clawed at his mind, begging for his attention, but he shoved them aside. Now was not the time for speculation or wonder. Survival was the priority.
He surveyed the crystals carefully, their light pulsing with an almost heartbeat-like rhythm. Each one seemed to hum with latent energy, but it was the smallest among them that caught his eye. Unlike the others, its glow was subtle, almost gentle, yet Rin could feel the power thrumming within it.
That one… he decided, his eyes narrowing as he made his choice. If he was going to take anything from this cursed place, it would be that crystal.
Creeping forward, Rin kept his steps light, his daggers ready in case the wyrm stirred. His heart hammered in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. The air grew colder as he approached, the chill seeping into his bones. Every instinct screamed at him to turn back, to leave this slumbering giant undisturbed. But he pressed on, determination etched into every line of his face.
Reaching the smallest crystal, Rin paused. The glow seemed to beckon him, urging him to take it. With a steadying breath, he reached out, fingers brushing the cool surface of the gem. The moment his hand closed around it, a strange sensation coursed through him—a blend of warmth and cold, a whisper of power awakening at his touch.
He pulled the crystal free with a gentle tug, the soft crack of it breaking from its cradle echoing in the stillness. He paused he turned towards the slumbering titan seeing no stir he let out a breath he did not know he had held and for a brief moment, pride swelled in his chest.
But just as quickly as the feeling came, it shattered.
A slow, mocking clap rang out, sharp and deliberate. Rin’s heart leapt into his throat as he spun around, daggers raised, the crystal clutched tightly in his other hand.
"Well, this is an interesting development," a voice drawled from the shadows, smooth and laced with amusement.
Rin’s eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice. A figure stepped forward, their form partially obscured by the dim light of the crystals. Their face remained hidden, but Rin could feel the weight of their gaze—piercing, calculating, and cold.
"You’ve done well to make it this far," His tone was as light as the spring breeze, carrying a casual indifference, as though the gravity of their surroundings meant nothing to him the figure continued. "But tell me, do you really think you can walk away with that crystal?"