As the fight progressed, it became increasingly obvious that Xiao Jun had the upper hand. He was unconcerned with either Tan Xiaoling’s or Li Heng’s attacks, and both of them appeared to be flagging. They would exhaust themselves long before Xiao Jun did. Once that happened, it wouldn’t matter that he wasn’t trying. They’d be at his mercy.
“We have to do something,” He Yu said, looking to Chen Fei and desperately hoping she’d found some well of resolve he hadn’t known about.
The look she returned told him all he needed to know. It was a look of fear, of shame, of helplessness. “He’s too strong,” she said, her voice small.
“I don’t care,” He Yu said, doing his best to sound confident and assured. In the moment he couldn’t have said whether it was to protect against his fear or to try and banish hers. “They can’t do this on their own.”
“But what can we do? Neither of us is strong enough, and you know it.”
Her words stung—but they were true. They stung because they were true. And because he knew it. But he had to try, didn’t he? Could he call himself an immortal if he didn’t face foes that pushed him to his limits and beyond? The stories were all filled with cultivators who stared down powerful foes and triumphed against impossible-seeming odds. If he wanted to be like the heroes, he needed to act like one. And what was more heroic than standing against insurmountable odds? How could he claim a legend of his own if he didn’t stand against villains that towered over him?
Once again He Yu adjusted his grip on his guandao, heart pounding in his ears. He forced himself into the breathing pattern of the White Mountain cultivation technique. If anything it would help calm him. Before his resolve could waver, he set his gaze on Xiao Jun and activated one of the techniques he’d been practicing with Fang Yingjie—the Rushing Wind.
In an almost contemptuous gesture, Xiao Jun flicked his wrist toward He Yu. The meteor hammer twisted in the arc of its swing and hurtled at him with blinding speed. He Yu’s breath hitched, and his limbs locked up. There was no way he could contend with that weapon—Li Heng barely could, and he was a full realm ahead of He Yu.
“Stop it!” When exactly Chen Fei had leaped in front of him, he couldn’t have said. But her shout brought him back into the present. Her hands were held before her, ringed by a circle of formation characters that glowed in the fading light.
Xiao Jun’s meteor hammer crashed into her formation. For a brief instant, a semi-transparent barrier flared in the center of Chen Fei’s formation before it shattered. Xiao Jun’s meteor hammer hit Chen Fei square in the chest with a sickening crack. She stumbled several steps back before falling, landing face up. Her mouth gaped as she let out a strained groan and struggled to breathe.
Tan Xiaoling’s face went cold. The arrogant quirk of her lips she often wore had been replaced with hard determination when the fight had started, but now hatred burned in her eyes.
“I’ll kill you,” she said, voice even and hard. There was a complete absence of compassion or remorse. The sense of danger He Yu had felt from her previously returned, spiking into his nascent spiritual perception like a frozen blade. He’d known that Tan Xiaoling was by far the strongest disciple among the first-years, but he’d never once had reason to be afraid of her. Now he did.
“Perhaps,” Xiao Jun said, lazy and unconcerned. “I’ve seen enough for now. You’re all worth far less than Sha Xiang credits you with. Bringing her up to speed shouldn’t be too hard.” He waved a hand in Chen Fei’s direction. “I’ll leave you to clean up this mess.” Shadows surged around him and then rushed back into the forest. In an instant, Tan Xiaoling was at Chen Fei’s side.
“I’m fine,” Chen Fei managed to say between gasps.
“I have medicine,” Tan Xiaoling said, still clearly worried.
Chen Fei waved the princess away and pushed herself up onto one elbow. Her breathing had returned to normal, and she looked otherwise unhurt. “My barrier took most of the attack. The first technique of the White Mountain Body Art did the rest.” That, at last, seemed to satisfy Tan Xiaoling. “Thanks for making me cultivate it so early,” Chen Fei added, if a bit sheepishly.
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“It wouldn’t have done any good if he’d not been holding back,” Li Heng said, frowning.
“Agreed,” Tan Xiaoling replied, a note of her earlier cold anger returning. Then, she turned to He Yu. “What’s this about Sect Sister Sha, now?”
That some sort of enmity existed between the two of them should be obvious to anyone who’d paid a moment’s attention to either of them. Sha Xiang often went out of her way to make cutting remarks toward He Yu, or otherwise harass him.
Tan Xiaoling hadn’t bothered to ask about the encounter at the waterfall some weeks before. Now that a higher realm cultivator had come, claiming Sha Xiang as the reason, the princess seemed far more interested in the animosity between them. He briefly filled Tan Xiaoling in on the details. The princess listened quietly until he was done.
“It seems as though Sha Xiang has managed to find herself a benefactor, then. Not as auspicious a one as you, Sect Brother He, but one I am currently unable to contend with,” Tan Xiaoling said.
It struck his pride that Tan Xiaoling had simply assumed that she would have to be the one to deal with Xiao Jun. He didn’t give that thought voice, though. Instead, he said, “Li Heng mentioned that he was holding back.”
Tan Xiaoling nodded. “He was. I’d place him in the late Third Realm. I couldn’t say if he’s reached the peak yet or not, but that makes little difference to us.”
“At least he’s still an outer disciple,” Li Heng said. The princess nodded her agreement.
“How do you know that?” He Yu asked.
“It would be difficult for him to gain permission to access the outer sect otherwise,” Tan Xiaoling answered. “If he were a member of the inner sect, it would be grounds for expulsion for him to attack us. And then, only if the sect elders were feeling merciful. To attack a junior is a grave offense.” The princess shook her head, and then added, “It matters little. If Sha Xiang has found a powerful benefactor, then I suppose that’s her good fortune. We’ll simply have to ensure that we keep up with her, even with whatever aid Xiao Jun provides.”
“What is all this ‘we’ business?” He Yu asked. “I kind of get Li Heng, seeing as he lives with me. But why you? What benefit do you gain by helping me?”
During his evening talks with Li Heng about cultivators and the nobility, he’d learned two important things. First, cultivators were notoriously greedy and would take any advantage they could get in their pursuit of greater power. Second, alliances were matters of expedience and lasted only so long as neither party could gain greater benefit through betrayal.
“Because Fei asked me to.” There was a finality to Tan Xiaoling’s tone that indicated this was all that needed to be said on the topic—and that this was all she would say.
Chen Fei quickly looked away as scarlet rose up her neck. He Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed himself. Especially after the exchange after their first sparring session. Whether it was from the fact that Chen Fei felt the need to look out for him, despite her own difficulties with conflict, or that a part of him wanted her to, he wouldn’t say.
Wouldn’t examine it, more accurately. Those sorts of feelings were best left forgotten, had his experiences with girls in Shulin been any indication. Besides, he had to cultivate. Especially now, in the face of what they’d learned that evening.
Li Heng, clearly sensing the growing atmosphere of discomfort, clapped He Yu on the shoulder in a now-familiar gesture. “Count your fortune, He Yu. Princess Tan is a powerful ally. I am grateful to have her on our side, for one.”
“As you should be,” Tan Xiaoling said, the half smile she often wore returning to her lips. “My interest in the two of you isn’t purely for the benefit of Sister Chen, after all.”
Li Heng’s countenance grew into what He Yu had come to think of as his noble’s mask. “I am at your service, Princess Tan,” he said.
The princess arched an eyebrow, but her expression was more of curious amusement than anything else. “One day, I will inquire as to just what exactly it is you mean by that, Sect Brother Li. But for now, the day grows short. We should head back.”
The trip back down the mountain wasn’t what He Yu would count among his favorite journeys, all things considered. He already felt guilty at having to rely on Li Heng’s protection since his first days at the sect. Now it seemed he’d gained yet another shield in the form of Tan Xiaoling. As Li Heng had said, she was a formidable ally, but He Yu resented the fact that he needed one. Then there was the matter of Chen Fei, of course.
The whole way back, she wouldn’t meet his gaze. He’d occasionally glance her way, and catch her looking at him out of the corner of her eye, but she would quickly turn away when he did, and a flush would color her cheeks. That was fine, he supposed. He was still ashamed of the fact she’d felt need to save him. That she’d risked injury to save him.
Sure, she’d been fine, but that was beside the point. The fact that she’d been at risk made his heart clench. He’d rather not think about what that meant. The girls back home had all made it very clear what they thought of him, and there was no reason Chen Fei should be any different. Especially given how much stronger than him she was.