“This doesn’t concern you,” Sha Xiang said.
“My concern is what I choose it to be,” Tan Xiaoling replied, wind tugging at the hem of her gown. Her presence brought the dry heat of a relentless sun and the vast expanse of a parched land. It was stronger than He Yu remembered. Had she finally completed her breakthrough into Body Refining? Surely he’d have heard about it if she had. It would put her even further above the other first-year disciples than she already was.
Sha Xiang glanced around and then changed tack. “It’s awfully brave of you to show up and take us five on two.”
“You misjudge me, Sha Xiang,” Tan Xiaoling said, still as imperious and impassive as always. “I’m not here to fight using such cowardly methods. I’ll deal with you and Sect Brother Cui myself. Both of you at once, if you’d like.”
Cui Bao shot Sha Xiang a look. It was the first time He Yu had ever seen his arrogance falter. Cui Bao seemed to know where he and Sha Xiang stood, and he clearly didn’t like their odds against Tan Xiaoling, even two-on-one.
Earth-infused fists flexed, then relaxed. Sha Xiang let her arms fall to her side, and said, “I won’t forget this.”
“See that you don’t,” said Tan Xiaoling. She gestured to Qiao Xia and added, “Take this one with you.”
Chen Fei set the girl down with a gentleness that He Yu didn’t think Qiao Xia deserved. Yan Shirong snapped his fingers and the shadows binding Qiao Xia faded to smoke, then to nothingness. Her pride bruised, Qiao Xia glared daggers at Yan Shirong as she snatched her parasol from Chen Fei and rejoined her companions.
Once Qiao Xia was clear of Tan Xiaoling, Sha Xiang slammed her fists together. Earth qi burst from the impact, and the golden sheen that had encased her fists during her fight with Li Heng returned—stronger and brighter than before as she poured qi into her technique. She launched herself at Tan Xiaoling, much like she had when fighting Li Heng. It would have been a sound plan under most circumstances. Tan Xiaoling had nothing like the Winter Moon Reflection. However, that didn’t mean she had no techniques of her own, and to He Yu’s knowledge, Sha Xiang had never sparred with Tan Xiaoling before.
A whirlwind of dust and sand and grit kicked up around the princess. Tan Xiaoling and Sha Xiang disappeared for a moment before the whirlwind subsided. Once the air cleared, Tan Xiaoling stood as though she’d not moved a muscle. Sha Xiang lay a few feet away, sprawled against the splintered remains of a fallen log.
“Clever,” Tan Xiaoling said, a slightly mocking tone creeping into her voice. “Can’t be accused of dueling before the grace period is over if you don’t issue a challenge. At least, I imagine that was your thinking.”
Sha Xiang groaned. She’d have some nasty bruises—at the least—if the state of the log she’d crashed into was any indication. The myriad cuts from Tan Xiaoling’s whirlwind of biting sand were already beginning to heal, drawing upon the last remains of Sha Xiang’s qi. As she pushed herself to her feet, Sha Xiang wisely made no move toward Tan Xiaoling other than to glare.
“This isn’t over,” she said, sounding noticeably less assured than she had earlier.
“I look forward to our formal duel, Sect Sister Sha. Until then, make sure you leave my friends to their own devices. Otherwise, I’ll have to remind you of today’s events.”
This time, Sha Xiang and her companions made no attempts at trickery or violence. As they left the clearing, Qiao Xia remained subdued compared to earlier, and Cui Bao supported Sha Xiang as she limped off. Once the three of them were gone, Tan Xiaoling sent her dao back to her storage treasure and turned to He Yu and his housemate.
“Fortunate you had Sect Brother Yan with you,” she said. “His construct found us easily enough, and it was a trivial thing to subdue Qiao Xia between Chen Fei and myself.”
Chen Fei said nothing but allowed a small smile to cross her lips at the mention of subduing the girl who had insulted her weeks earlier. With their relative positions established, it was unlikely Qiao Xia would give her much trouble in the future.
“I would have dealt with her in time,” Yan Shirong said with a sniff. “I may not be as adept at direct combat as the peerless Princess Tan, but Qiao Xia and I are well-matched against one another.”
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With a smirk that indicated she thought otherwise, Tan Xiaoling said, “Indeed.”
Li Heng reached He Yu’s side and helped him up, taking care to avoid agitating his injured ribs. “You did well, He Yu,” he said. There was a sincerity to his voice that at least served to take away some of the sting of the day’s events.
All things considered, he had done well. It didn’t feel like enough, though. His broken ribs and the continued ringing in his head were evidence enough of that. Worse still, he’d needed someone stronger to come in and save him again.
He Yu shook his head. “It wasn’t enough.”
Li Heng arched an eyebrow. “Not enough? You took two hits from a middle Foundation stage while standing blow-for-blow with an early Foundation. That’s more than I would have expected from anyone still at Qi Gathering.”
Gingerly probing his broken ribs, He Yu winced. There was definitely more than one broken. He’d have to go to the medicine hall if he wanted to be ready for the end of the grace period tomorrow.
“I need to break through,” he said.
“I might know something to help with that,” Yan Shirong said.
Despite the pain in his ribs and the ringing in his ears, He Yu whipped his head around to Yan Shirong. “What?” he demanded.
“You should reconsider,” Li Heng said. “You’ve only just reached late Qi Gathering. Take time to allow your cultivation base to settle.”
“You said it’s best to go quickly through the lower realms. It doesn’t get any lower than Qi Gathering,” He Yu said. The idea that he should wait seemed absurd—especially after the events of the day.
“The sect market has elixirs and medicines that will take you to the peak of Qi Gathering easily enough,” Yan Shirong said. “Honestly, I’m shocked you haven’t bought one already. Most cultivators in your situation would have.”
Li Heng said nothing, but his expression said enough. In the face of the more experienced cultivator’s objections, He Yu hesitated for a moment. But then, he nodded at Yan Shirong. Wasn’t this exactly the thing he’d been hoarding his spirit stones and contribution points for?
“You can show me which ones to buy, right?” he asked.
“Of course I can,” Yan Shirong said, sounding almost offended. “Most of my own advancement since coming to the sect has been fueled by similar medicines. Why work harder when you can spend money to work smarter?”
He Yu wasn’t sure about Yan Shirong’s logic, but he didn’t think he had much of a choice at this point. “It’ll wipe out my savings,” he said, half to himself.
“It’s for a good cause,” Yan Shirong said with a glint in his eye that made He Yu wonder if maybe the shadowy cultivator might be getting a cut of the sale from the merchant.
“Don’t forget the competition either,” Tan Xiaoling added. She’d remained quiet up until that point, and there was no indication as to whether she agreed with Yan Shirong or Li Heng on the matter.
“There’s still plenty of time left, and even if you don’t win, you’ll have your cores.”
“We aren’t earning sect points for the cores,” He Yu reminded her.
“Senior Brother Ren never said anything about selling them,” she said.
He Yu sighed. That would have been a bright spot if it weren’t for his injuries. As things stood he wouldn’t be any use even against the weakest of wood spirits. He may as well just head back to the outer sect and spend the afternoon in the medicine hall.
“Here,” Chen Fei said, handing him a pill wrapped in paper. “This should at least help. You should still go to the medicine hall after, though.” She gave him an encouraging smile as she offered him the pill, its pungent scent filling the air.
He almost didn’t want to take it. How long would he have to keep relying on others to carry him? When would he be able to stand on his own? But if he didn’t get stronger, he’d never be on equal footing with his allies.
Chen Fei frowned, then shoved the pill at him. “Take it,” she said in a tone that left no illusions as to what would happen if he didn’t.
“Thanks,” He Yu muttered, as he popped the pill in his mouth. He bit down, and revitalizing qi flooded his meridians. It took him a moment to get it under control and begin cycling it properly.
“That wasn’t so hard,” Li Heng said.
He Yu shot him a scowl. Then, to Chen Fei, he said, “Thanks again. I owe you.”
“No you don’t,” she said, a slight edge creeping into her words.
It looked as though she were about to say something else, but Tan Xiaoling cut her off. “Find something nice for her. No medicine, though.”
Chen Fei quickly looked away, and He Yu sighed.
“That was a rather expensive pill,” Yan Shirong said, just loud enough for everyone to hear. He Yu suddenly felt a bit too warm for the mountain’s perpetual cool.
A spike of danger came from Tan Xiaoling, and Li Heng moved in between the two of them. “Come over here, Sect Brother Yan, I need to speak with you.” It looked like Li Heng was a bit rougher than he’d needed to be as he pulled Yan Shirong to the far side of the clearing. Tan Xiaoling glared after the two of them.
“Well, now that’s taken care of, we have cores to collect,” Chen Fei said. “Better get hunting. Tan Xiaoling and I already have more than a dozen.”
The two girls disappeared off into the forest, and He Yu let his shoulders slump. There was no way the three of them would be able to collect enough cores to surpass them. Especially with how much qi they’d all spend fighting Sha Xiang and her goons.
With the girls gone, Li Heng and Yan Shirong returned. Yan Shirong was glaring at Li Heng, who looked entirely unconcerned. “We should follow their example,” he said. “Even if we don’t win the contest, Princess Tan is correct. Selling the cores will go a long way to replenishing our funds.”
“Speak for yourself,” Yan Shirong said with a sniff. “I have plenty of spirit stones.”
“Then you can forgo your share,” Li Heng said.
“That’s not what I meant.”
As Li Heng and Yan Shirong bickered over the division of spoils, the three of them set off to make good use of what time they had left in the day.