Later That Year: Cliff Warden Trials, Part 5

Time Until First Rift Appears: 5 Years, 2 Months, 1 Day

Rin did not know what to make of what he was hearing someone else was down here no no that is not possible they were the only ones to go through the cave entrance and why did he wait until now to make himself known he could've assisted us why didn't he this didn't make any sense

"oh so your one of those types" the sudden noise snapping Rin out of his thoughts

"one what?" I asked

Why was he answering he just need to get to Goruo and Linhua and get out whoever this is can follow and-

"do you always think so much boy?" the voice much colder now asked there was still now sight of the man no the voice was to high for it to be a man well any man that still had his families treasures

"even with all that's happening you still let that head of yours run at a thousands of li" a pulse of qi so strong that it made Rin take a step back hurriedly spun aroun to make sure that the coiled spring of death did not wake up"

"Are you insane!!" Rin hissed at the shadows around him

"Oh that seemed to have gotten your attention and don't worry the big girl over there is gestating she should be done soon so she doesnt so much care for what is going on around her"

Gestating wait is she laying eggs as the horror dawned on Rin's face

"Yes that's correct" the boy or man said still not showing himself

*Gulp

Rin swallowed hard just like all reptiles after they have laid there eggs they are known to be very violent sometimes even lashing out at their young that had the misfortune of hatching to quickly and the Frostfang Wyrm was no exception

So this what it felt like to be the rabbit instead of the hunter he thought absentmindedly before the voice spoke once again.

"Well, messing with you from the shadows has its perks, but this is getting boring," the voice echoed, laced with amusement and just a touch of menace. The words seemed to twist the shadows themselves, and as they faded, the darkness began to move.

It was no mere vanishing of shadows; the blackness peeled back in heavy folds, curling and retreating like a living, sentient thing. Tendrils of shadow slithered away, sliding across the rocky ground in thick wisps, revealing a figure within. It was as though the shadows had reluctantly parted, pulled back by some unseen force, leaving behind only the faintest trace of their lingering chill.

Out from this dark cocoon stepped a young boy, his features oddly normal yet carrying a knowing gleam in his eyes. The darkness clung to him for a moment, as if unwilling to release him, before finally dissipating into the icy air.

Rin appraised the boy and well there wasn't anything different to many of the boys on this mountain participating in the trial he was a average looking boy with black hair dull grey eyes and a almost forgettable face although he was slightly taller then Rin but most kids his age were with him not being able to cultivate.

"Ah, that's better. Now we can have a nice little chat," the boy said, smiling as if the danger around them was no more threatening than a gentle breeze. "At least, until Mommy Dearest over there finishes her job. Then, well… you’ll probably die an excruciating death." His smile stayed, unfazed, unwavering. "I hear being digested alive is quite painful. They say it’s like burning to death, only slower."

The boy’s calm, beaming smile made Rin’s blood run cold. It took him a second to process what he’d just heard, and when he did, he drew his daggers in one smooth motion. The boy merely scoffed.

"Do you really think those little toothpicks are going to help you?"

Rin’s eyes narrowed. "Maybe they won’t do much against the Wyrm. But I’m sure they’ll be more than enough to defend myself from you," he said, his voice steady.

The boy’s smile only widened. "And how would you do that, exactly?" he asked, his tone light.

Rin paused, thrown off. Was that a rhetorical question?

The boy tilted his head, waiting. "I’m serious. Explain to me how you’d defend yourself. If I decided to fight you right now, how would you do it?"

Rin blinked, his confusion clear. "You… want me to explain how I’d defend myself?" He searched the boy’s expression, trying to read his intentions. "Like, what techniques I’d use?"

“No, you dummy. How would you defend yourself if you were unarmed?” the boy taunted, casually dangling Rin’s own dagger between his fingers as if it were a child’s toy. Not believing his eyes, Rin glanced down to where his dagger should have been, only to find a strange flower resting comfortably in his palm—one he’d never seen before.

“How did you—” Rin started, but the boy waved him off with a flick of his wrist.

“It’s too difficult to explain, so I’d rather not. Here.” He tossed the dagger back, and Rin caught it deftly, the odd flower dropping to the ground.

Rin’s gaze darted between the dagger now secure in his grip and the boy across from him, whose smile held an unsettlingly warm, mischievous edge.

How did he do that? I didn’t even see him move.

“Nice catch,” the boy said, his tone teasing. “Almost thought you’d fumble that qi crystal there, but I guess you’re better than you look.” Before Rin could respond, he went on, glancing around the corridor. “Anyway, you can keep it. The crystal, I mean. Looks like the yetis brought back more than they needed, so… it’s yours. If you survive, that is.”

Yetis? He knows what’s wrong with them?

“What do you mean the yetis collected all these crystals on your order?” Rin asked, his knuckles white as he gripped the dagger.

“Oh, yes,” the boy replied, as if discussing the weather. “Not the brightest of beasts, but they did what we agreed upon.”

Rin frowned, confusion knotting his brow.

How could that be? I know beast tamers bond with beasts from a young age, cultivating together through shared qi… There’s even talk of a clan out in the wastes that’s mastered it. But yetis? And this boy is claiming he’s made them obey? Impossible.

“Oii, don’t get lost in your thoughts now,” the boy interrupted, raising an eyebrow. “Talking to myself is boring. And to answer your unasked question—I didn’t ‘tame’ these beasts. Heavens, no. I just… offered them a deal.”

A deal? With mindless beasts? This keeps getting stranger.

“A deal? And how did you even take my dagger without moving? Just who are you?” Rin demanded.

The boy slapped his forehead in mock exasperation. “Right, right—I haven’t introduced myself, have I?” He paused, a playful look on his face. “Now, what name did I give that other boy… Jiu? No, maybe it was Jan… no, that’s wrong…” he muttered, rattling off names before snapping his fingers. “Ah! Jiyan. You can call me Jiyan. I’m here on a sort of… family errand,” he finished with a dramatic bow. “And who might you be?”

Rin hesitated, glancing from his dagger to the strange flower still on the ground. He sensed he had little choice here. Better to be safe than sorry.

"Its Rin greetings to you Young Master Jiyan"

Jiyan flashed a toothy grin at Rin’s formal greeting, his eyes gleaming with delight. “Ah, Young Master Jiyan—now, that has a certain ring to it! It’s rare I get treated with such respect. You know, Rin, we might just get along after all.”

Rin clenched his dagger, still unsure whether Jiyan was here to help or to toy with him. The way this man-boy moved, or rather didn’t move, and yet somehow managed to slip a blade from his grip—it was unnerving. Not to mention his talk of a “deal” with the yetis.

Gathering his nerve, Rin took a chance. “So… what exactly did you mean about the yetis collecting crystals on your order? Why are they acting so strange?”

Jiyan’s smile widened, turning almost devilish, but when he opened his mouth, the words that came out were… garbled. Each syllable twisted and warped, an incomprehensible jumble of sounds that grated against Rin’s ears. He grimaced, trying to make sense of the strange speech, but it was useless—it sounded like wind scraping against ice.

Jiyan’s shoulders slumped in exaggerated disappointment as he let out a sigh. “Ah, the wonders of heaven. Always spoiling my fun with their little restrictions.” He shrugged and gave Rin an almost apologetic look. “Some things, it seems, are simply ‘above your pay grade,’ as they say.”

Before Rin could question further, a low rumble reverberated through the cavern. His heart skipped as he realized it came from behind him—the Frostfang Wyrm, massive coils of glistening scales shifting as it began to stir.

Jiyan’s grin remained, but a gleam of something sharper danced in his eyes. “Ah, looks like Mother dearest is waking up. Time’s running short, Rin.”

A chill ran down Rin’s spine, and his grip on his dagger tightened. “So, what now, Jiyan? You say you’re here on a family errand. Are you here to help, or just to stand back and watch me get devoured?”

Jiyan chuckled, folding his arms as he watched the Wyrm stir. “Oh, I’m not entirely heartless. I wouldn’t leave you entirely defenseless. Consider my company a… lucky charm. Besides,” he tilted his head, looking at the Wyrm as if she were merely an annoyed house cat, “if you impress me, I might even lend a hand. No promises, though. I prefer to keep things… interesting.”

“Interesting?” Rin echoed, incredulous.

“Yes, interesting,” Jiyan replied, eyes glinting with mischief. “Life’s too short for dull encounters, don’t you think? And a mind as restless as yours should appreciate that.”

As the Wyrm began to shift, Jiyan gave Rin a quick, playful wink. “Better ready yourself, little rabbit. This dance is about to get quite lively.”z

Just then a piercing light cascaded from the qi crystals embedded around the Frostfang Wyrm as it started to uncoil even more of its self

Meanwhile, unaware of their friend’s plight, Goruo and Linhua kept up their gritty work of building a barricade from the bodies of fallen yetis. They had fallen into a brutal rhythm, each knowing exactly when the other would strike, their movements synchronized in a dance of survival.

Goruo, fists wrapped in blood-stained cloth, threw punch after punch, each strike landing with the force of a boulder. His knuckle dusters cracked against bone, sending each yeti stumbling back just enough to fall into the growing pile of their kin. Linhua moved with the agility of a shadow, darting around the edges of Goruo’s assault, her rope dart twisting and slicing through the air like a deadly serpent. Each time she lashed out, a yeti’s throat opened, or a leg buckled, leaving it vulnerable to Goruo’s finishing blow.

"Think this one might be the last that we need" Linhua said as she sat down in the corridor of death as Goruo now called it "You think" he smirked playfully "we still have that spot on the side I guess we could try squeezing in a little more" he said with a chuckle he to decided to take a seat next to Linhua although they were used to fighting during training but nothing could have prepared them for fighting without being able to replenish their Qi and if anyone said that one would not be tired after fighting for more then ten minutes straight either has never been in a fight and is blowing their own ego.

I wonder if this is how Rin felt every time we trained he was never a sloucher but he did always get winded before us and took much longer to recover

With that thought she asked "Do you think Rin is ok" she knew Rin was smart sometimes scarily so although they haven't spent so much time together but training together forges a bond deeper then the amount of time you have spent with a person and Linhua really was worried for her friends even if she didn't show it at all times

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Goruo let out a weary breath, wiping his brow where sticky blood had smeared across his face. “Yeah, he’s fine. It’s when he comes sprinting back toward us that we should start worrying,” he said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Linhua couldn’t help but mirror it, a hint of relief breaking through the tension.

“Come on, let’s get this ugly thing back,” Goruo muttered, adjusting his grip on the yeti. “Maybe if we’re lucky, we can try to cultivate again.”

They both knew the truth, though. The cave's qi was twisted—strangely hostile and inviting all at once. Nothing about it felt right, and both of them had given up on trying to replenish their energy here.

“Yeah, maybe,” Linhua murmured, her tone thick with doubt. She shot him a look. “Maybe we should ask Rin to show us how to fight without qi. Seems useful right about now.”

Goruo gave her a sly grin, bending down to grab the yeti’s legs. “Yeah, maybe we should ask him to teach us… what was it again…”

He paused scrunching up his face "What was the thing he was blabbing about the other day"

“Oh yeah, wasn’t it something about ‘scripting’? He was trying to explain some problem he was having with it,” Goruo chuckled, his voice echoing softly through the corridor. “I ended up dragging him across the training yard and dunking him in the wash barrel just to shut him up.”

Linhua snickered, remembering. “He went blue as a dewberry! We even had to call one of the disciples from the medicinal hall to make sure he wouldn’t lose a finger.”

Their chuckles grew into a hearty laugh, both picturing a shivering, pink and blue Rin. Goruo shook his head, grinning. “Master Lu Ri gave us hell after that. Probably one of the worst days of training we ever had.”

“Absolutely,” Linhua agreed, nodding. “After Rin’s little ‘bath,’ he made us run drills in the mountain rivers. To say it wasn’t pleasant would be an understatement.”

“Thought I was going to turn into one of those ice sculptures they make for the Frostbloom Festival ,” Goruo muttered, shivering at the memory.

As they moved through the corridor, they fell into silence. It didn’t take long to reach their destination. Where there had once been rubble and cavernous shadows, a massive barricade of flesh and fur now stood. It wouldn’t hold up against another alpha yeti, but it would make it difficult for the others to get close.

“Where do you want him?” Goruo asked.

She motioned to the left side. “Over there. We can make that gap a little smaller—leave just enough space for Rin to slip through.”

Goruo nodded as they maneuvered the body atop the others. Simply piling them up wouldn’t have done much to reinforce the barricade, but Linhua’s weaving skills were coming in handy. Though her tribe was mercantile, her mother had been insistent on teaching her the old traditions.

Mom would probably spit blood if she knew what I was using her weaving lessons for.

“You think this’ll hold?” Goruo asked, wiping grime from his hands onto a patch of ice along the cave walls.

“As well as it can, I suppose,” she replied. “We both know this plan…” She left the rest unsaid. They both understood the plan’s major flaw: if the Frostfang Wyrm woke up, this barricade wouldn’t stop it. Nothing could—at least, nothing they had down here.

“Eh, whether it does or doesn’t, I’m sure Rin will think of something,” Goruo said, settling down. “While we wait, I’m going to try cultivating again. Maybe we’ll get lucky and won’t have to wait too long.”

As if by some twisted fate—or maybe just dumb luck—a low, reverberating hiss suddenly echoed through the corridor, emanating from deep within the cavern. Both of them snapped their heads toward each other, alarm in their eyes, and spoke in unison.

“Rin.”

The light from the crystals finally dimmed, casting an eerie calm over the cavern. Rin blinked the blinding afterglow from his vision, but when he looked up, what he saw made his heart lurch.

There, lying amidst the now inert qi crystals and silken webbing of ice, was an egg—a massive, crystalline egg. Its surface was a blend of shimmering blue and black, with veins of rainbow hues etched across it, as if fragments of a storm had been captured within. It was as beautiful as it was foreboding, an ancient promise encased in a prison of glistening facets.

Jiyan approached the egg with a reverence that Rin hadn’t seen before, his usual playful arrogance replaced by a solemnity that chilled the air further. Rin’s gaze darted between the boy and the Frostfang Wyrm, who had bowed her colossal head low, almost to the floor, as if in homage.

For a moment, Rin forgot his fear, caught in awe at the sight before him. This is what he came for, he thought. An egg. And not just any egg—this was something legendary, something that Rin felt shouldn’t even exist in their world. The air around it thrummed with power, almost pulling him toward it.

“Ah, Father will be pleased,” Jiyan murmured, his voice quiet, yet tinged with satisfaction. “She has gone and outdone herself.”

Rin’s awe quickly shifted to alarm as he watched Jiyan reach down, his hands just inches from the egg. The Frostfang Wyrm’s massive eyes followed Jiyan’s movements, her gaze softened with what could only be described as maternal pride, even devotion.

Rin took a shaky step back, his instincts flaring. He had to get out of here. Whatever was happening, he wanted no part of it.

“Y-Young Master Jiyan,” he stammered, glancing back toward the now completely dark cavern only the glow of the egg shimmering like a star in the night. “It’s been an honor to make your acquaintance, but I really should—”

Before he could finish, he felt an unseen force tighten around him, freezing him in place.

Dammit.

“Hm,” Jiyan mused, glancing at him with a bored expression. “I don’t think so, young Rin. It’s been dreadfully boring around here. You’ll stay a little longer.”

“I—” Rin tried to protest, but the pressure only increased, locking him firmly in place. He forced himself to turn, facing Jiyan and the thrumming egg, his fingers tightening around his dagger as beads of sweat dripped down his brow, despite the bone-chilling cold of the cavern.

“You know,” Jiyan said, finally lifting the egg as if it weighed nothing. “I’d planned to wait a few more years before she was ready, but then something unexpected happened. I started sensing condensed forms of pure qi here in the mountains.” He flashed Rin a smile that barely reached his eyes.

Rin swallowed, feeling the intensity in Jiyan’s gaze. “And... why exactly are you here, Young Master Jiyan?” he asked, though he knew the answer wouldn’t be a comfort.

“Well,” Jiyan said, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world, “as I mentioned, it’s a family errand. My youngest brother is about to be born, and Father has high hopes for him. So, he sent me here to retrieve his first treasure.” He glanced fondly at the egg, almost admiringly. “And this beautiful girl has been the key.”

As he spoke, the light in the crystals around them dimmed completely, leaving them inert and casting the cavern into a tense silence. Another guttural hiss escaped the Wyrm’s throat, and Rin could hear the grating roars and growls of the yetis echoing from deeper within the caverns, stirred to life by whatever ritual had taken place.

“Well, let’s see what we’ve got,” Jiyan murmured, brushing a thumb over the egg’s smooth, crystalline surface.

Rin tensed, raising his dagger. But before he could even think of a plan, Jiyan’s gaze flicked toward him, a faint glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. “You have done your part this is a fine egg I am sure he will be strong as a reward, you may engage the boy,” he said casually, addressing the Frostfang Wyrm. “But don’t kill him. That would be boring and well lets keep it interesting yes. I’ll be busy here for a moment.”

The Frostfang Wyrm’s serpentine sky blue eyes turned to Rin, narrowing with a cold, unsettling intelligence. She stretched, her scales tightening and rippling with a menacing grace as she finished uncoiling herslef from where the egg was kept.

Now unbidden she stared at Rin for a moment before hissing once and to Rins disbelief it sounded like a question toward him, each movement calculated, each step slow, as though savoring the moment.

Rin’s heart hammered in his chest. His mind raced, desperately searching for a way out, but all he could do was steady his stance, gripping his dagger in readiness for the inevitable clash. He felt the weight of Jiyan’s gaze on him, though his attention had shifted back to the egg, his fingers tracing faint patterns in the air as if performing some invisible ritual.

The Wyrm’s jaws parted slightly, revealing rows of frost-caked fangs, each one sharp enough to pierce bone. Rin’s grip tightened, muscles tense as he prepared himself.

I can’t die here. He took a deep breath

"Some lucky charm you are Jiyan!" he yelled to the boy who was now behind the Wyrm the man looked away from whatever he was doing "Oh dont pout Young Rin I said I like things interesting and this is interesting and who knows if you do well you might survive this as I believe you have some friends waiting for you outside"

Rin wasnt sure what the boy was talking about but didnt have enough time to contemplate either as the frostfang wyrm lunged

The Frostfang Wyrm's colossal body twisted and launched at Rin with blinding speed. He barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as her massive head snapped at the air where he'd just stood, sending a gust of icy wind that stung his skin. He rolled to his feet, heart racing, and steadied himself, dagger raised in trembling hands.

Think, think! he urged himself. She was faster than he’d expected—quicker than any opponent he’d faced. Use her size against her.

"Come on, ugly!" he taunted, his voice shaking but defiant. "Show me what you've got."

The Wyrm’s eyes narrowed, catching the gleam of his daggers blade. She lunged again, and this time, Rin didn’t try to dodge. Instead, he ducked low, diving forward under her snapping jaws and jabbing his dagger into one of the softer scales along her neck. It didn’t pierce far, but it was enough to elicit a roar of fury from the beast, who thrashed, tail whipping wildly. One heavy swipe of her tail caught him off guard, slamming into his side and throwing him against the cavern wall with bone-crunching force.

Stars burst in Rin’s vision as he staggered to his feet, coughing as pain flared through his ribs. Focus! He clenched his teeth, trying to push through the agony. You’re still alive. Keep moving.

The Wyrm came at him again, this time slower, her serpentine body undulating with a predator’s patience. Her gaze bore into him, intelligent and unyielding. She was toying with him now, savoring each moment as she backed him against the icy wall.

She wants me to panic, he thought, trying to swallow his fear. Come on Rin Move. But he couldn’t afford mistakes—not if he wanted to survive.

As she lunged, Rin feigned a stumble, letting her teeth snap just inches from his face before he pivoted, driving his dagger into the same spot as before. This time, his blade struck deeper, and he felt a surge of triumph—until the Wyrm jerked her head, slamming him back down to the ground.

Rin felt his head hit the icy floor hard, his vision blurring as he struggled to rise. He could feel the taste of blood in his mouth, his arms shaking as he tried to steady himself. The Wyrm circled him slowly, amusement glittering in her icy blue eyes. She let out a hissing sound, almost like laughter, her gaze dancing with mockery as she let him stagger back up.

"Enjoying yourself?" Rin muttered through gritted teeth, gripping his dagger tightly, even though he could barely lift it. His arms felt like lead, his body bruised and aching. He could feel the edges of his vision darkening, but he forced himself to stay focused. There has to be a way…

Jiyan’s voice echoed behind him, smooth and mocking. “Ah, Rin, I thought you’d last longer than this. Don’t tell me this is all a ‘clever little rabbit’ like you can manage.”

Ignoring Jiyan’s taunts, Rin forced himself to his feet, eyes never leaving the Wyrm as she advanced. I need to keep her distracted, he thought, trying to assess his options. The icy floor, the jagged rocks around him—they were his only weapons now.

"Come on, you overgrown snake," he rasped. "I’m not finished yet."

He stumbled backward, pretending to trip over a loose stone, and as the Wyrm lunged, he ducked at the last second, swinging his dagger upward into the soft underside of her jaw. The blade bit deep, but before he could twist it, she flung him across the cavern like a rag doll, the dagger slipping from his grasp.

Rin hit the ground hard, gasping as the wind was knocked out of him. His arms felt numb, his vision swimming as he tried to crawl back to his feet. The Wyrm’s hiss echoed around him, mocking him, taunting him. She was done playing.

He had nothing left—no weapon, no strength. He could feel the cold seeping into his bones, his breaths shallow and ragged. The Wyrm loomed over him, her fangs gleaming as she lowered her head, preparing for the final strike.

As Rin lay sprawled on the cold stone, the ache of failure gnawed at him. His bruised body trembled, and his vision blurred as he struggled against the weight pressing down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. I tried everything, he thought, frustration burning in his veins, only to cool into the cold grasp of despair. The fight was slipping from him, pulling him under.

But then, from somewhere deep in his memory, a scene blinked to life.

He was back in the training yard, sweat dripping from his forehead as he faced the weathered wooden dummy. Its surface gleamed, reinforced with qi—a daunting reminder of his repeated failures to even scratch it. His hands tightened on the practice blade, fingers slick with sweat, as he swung again and again. Each strike thudded dully against the unyielding wood, and each time, his arms felt heavier, his breath shorter.

“Come on,” he growled under his breath, teeth clenched in frustration. “Just… break already.”

Watching from a few steps away, Master Lu Ri tilted his head, eyebrows raised as he observed Rin’s struggle. Rin could feel his gaze, sharp as a blade, cutting through his mounting frustration. When Rin finally paused, panting and glaring at the stubborn dummy, Lu Ri’s voice rumbled across the training yard.

“Come now, Rin. Put your back into it,” he called out, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Cut the damn dummy!”

Rin’s chest heaved as he glanced up, almost wincing at Lu Ri’s intensity. “It’s… impossible,” he muttered, looking away. “I’ve hit it a hundred times, and it doesn’t even leave a mark.”

“Oh?” Lu Ri’s face softened into a rare, knowing smile. He walked over, folding his arms as he looked down at the battered dummy. “Tell me, Rin—ever met a beast that couldn’t be hurt?”

Rin frowned, eyes shifting back to his master. “No,” he admitted, trying to puzzle out Lu Ri’s meaning. “Even the strongest can be hurt… right?”

“Exactly.” Lu Ri’s gaze sharpened, like steel catching the light. “If it can be hurt, it can bleed. And if it can bleed…” He let the words hang, his voice steady as a mountain. “It can die.”

The words hit Rin like a jolt, his frustration melting away as he took them in. He turned back to the dummy, his grip firming on the hilt, his heart steadied by the words. This was no invincible wall—it was just another opponent, and like any opponent, it had a weakness. He just had to find it.

Back in the cavern, Rin’s fingers twitched as the warmth of that memory flickered through him, cutting through the cold. The ache in his bones ebbed, and somewhere within him, a spark reignited. He steadied his breath, his gaze hardening as he stared up at the looming beast above him. If it could be hurt, it could be beaten