"So, how exactly did you meet these four, Ren?" Xiao Bao whispered to him. They had settled down next to the chess sets, collecting the pieces that lay about, while Zhi Mu had rushed off to somewhere, telling them he would be back shortly.
Ren was about to answer when Xin Jing's lazy voice rang out, almost patronizingly.
"As someone who trains with Brother Ren, you should know better than most that he is talented, and not just talented enough to become one of the sect's ordinary elders or protectors. It is only natural that we, the most promising, are introduced to each other early." She said, eyeing the two of them sitting next to each other with one eye open, leaning with her back against a rather coarse rock. Ren couldn't tell why Xin Jing was being so antagonistic, in his mind there wasn't any need for it, and before either Xiao Bao or Xin Jing could start going for each other's throats Ren began talking.
"What Xin Jing means to say is that each of our division's leaders has sent someone to the peak of the mountain." Ren explained.
"And don't forget that each of us is expected to become at least a strong Master, though for brother Zhi the expectations are likely closer to Grandmaster or even beyond that." Shen Junan threw in, intensely looking at a chess position that Xiao Bao had set up, trying to figure out its solution. Xiao Bao only scratched her head, both confused by Xin Jing's rude response and the answers in general, a sheepish expression on her face.
"I get that you are really strong and all, with that one senior even being an Adept. I have only heard of one who became an Adept that early, but, ehm. How should I say this? Ren has only been part of the sect for maybe half a year, at most, and he isn't a Novice yet. Why was he selected?" She said, laughing a little nervously.
Ren knew what she said was true, he did feel a little out of place at first, but hearing her say it like that still stung. It was like she didn't acknowledge that he was in fact special and could rise to the top of the sect, maybe even farther.
Shen Junan, Xin Jing, and even Han Ting gave Ren a glance. It was not common knowledge that Ren had an Intent. Only a select few in the sect were initiated into the secret, and the three of them knew this of course, as they themselves didn't know it before he told them. Even if this reckless girl before them was someone who Ren trusted, they wouldn't simply tell her the truth.
Instead, Xin Jing took the lead with a different approach. A sly smile on her face, she fully turned to the other girl, her blazing blue eyes clashing against intent green.
"Why don't you spar against Ren for a bit, I am sure he wouldn't mind, and it would be far easier for you to understand." She said, and in a friendly voice that somehow seemed more sarcastic than honest, added on. "You could also get used to the changes that your little stunt brought by having Ren beat you around a bit."
Xiao Bao wasn't very thrilled with the proposal, and even if she had no problem training with Ren, something about Xin Jing just rubbed her in the wrong way. Was it the younger girl's expression, the way she looked down on her like a particularly stupid insect, or something else? Xiao Bao couldn't tell, and she also didn't care. She wasn't particularly adept at wordplay or navigating the social scene. Instead, she trusted in what she knew. What she was confident in. Her strength.
"Why don't you fight me instead if you think so highly of yourself? You talk all high and mighty, but out of everyone here, you feel like the weakest one." Xiao Bao challenged, flaring her spirit around herself, lightning crackling. Xin Jing became very quiet then, tension building up in the air, and her own spirit rising in response.
"Don't think that just because you became a little stronger, we are even remotely on the same level." Xin Jing said, face blank.
The two of them promptly jumped to the opposite sites of the waterfall, and glared at each other, while Ren, Han Ting, and Shen Junan observed them, with the glasses wearing boy being quite exasperated with Xin Jing.
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"I had feared that the two of them would come to blows, and of course Brother Mu isn't here to easily break them apart if Sister Jing goes overboard." He said, with a suppressed sigh escaping his lips. "I suppose damage control falls to us, then."He continued, all the while letting his own spirit rise.
It let Ren experience once more that the older boy truly was far superior to anyone in the same realm when it came to the sheer amount of spirit he casually wielded. It came with massive repercussions, but was impressive nonetheless.
"Brother Junan, why was Sister Jing even so unreasonably angry with Sister Bao? They have only just met, and even if they didn't like each other for some reason, shouldn't they have restrained themselves a little more?" Ren asked, as though it was interesting to see the two of them gearing up to fight, and he could see that they were not going to hold back to the same extent that a friendly spar would require, their reasons seemed dubious at best. For some reason, Xin Jing was genuinely angry, her spirit roiling and twisting, even some of her otherwise impeccable control slipping. Considering how she had behaved before and what she talked about, it was even somewhat embarrassing to look at for Ren.
"It is in these moments I remember that you have not been a part of cultivation society for long, Brother Ren." Shen Junan gave him a significant look, while the two girls were still looking for weaknesses in each other, their spirits vying for dominance over the surrounding space even if they couldn't establish further control through an Intent yet. Xiao Bao was already holding her own sword in hand, while Xin Jing opted for a neutral position, hands by her sides, and no weapon to be seen.
"It might be normal to discuss insignificant matters or ignore things that irk you, but that is not how a true cultivator behaves, especially someone who is concerned with their heart. It might seem harsh or even barbaric, but the truth is that most conflicts between those of similar strength, or at least perceived similar strength, are solved through a display of might. As for why Sister Jing was so cross with your friend, that is quite easily explained. She simply felt that the lucky chance with the Violet Ascension Art was far too undeserved and ugly to look at. That is what she would tell someone anyhow. The truth of the matter is that she is simply envious, and to appease herself, she taunted Sister Xiao into what became our current predicament. This little altercation is likely to shape the tone of any further dealings the two of them might have with each other in the future. For better or worse." Shen Junan said, now intensely focusing on the two girls as they exchanged blows loaded with spirit as they danced across the water's surface. Surprise was basically written across not only his, but also Han Ting's face when after four exchanges neither of the two gained the upper hand.
When they disengaged from each other, it was clearly visible that Xin Jing's left sleeve had been cut and her hand singed. It plastered an almost manic grin on Xiao Bao's face, the metal sword that she was using glimmering violet and purple, criss-crossing patterns adorning its surface and giving it an ephemeral edge.
They didn't talk, but some invisible agreement passed between them, grudgingly acknowledging each other on some level. Even more spirit poured out of them, and Ren noticed that Xiao Bao was able to smoothly circulate not only her own, but also the surrounding spirit, which she wasn't able to do outside of meditation before he left to the summit.
But even if the exchanges felt equal, each strike matched and feint seen through, Xin Jing was clearly holding the advantage. Her arts were simply more refined, she wasted less energy and had to adjust her position far less. Neither would give any ground though, and as the extra reach and bodily strength granted by Xiao Bao's sword and age somewhat cancelled Xin Jing out, it shaped up to be a longer than anticipated spar.
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Zhi Mu was certain that something was afoot in the sect. He hadn't told the others, but since about two years ago a not insignificant number of disciples started disappearing in irregular intervals. That in itself wouldn't have made him or anyone else suspicious of something, people disappeared all the time, and it went for cultivators doubly so, but it was both a little too many and sometimes even those who hadn't taken a mission, or had some other reason to leave the sect.
There was talk of someone providing experimental arts that promised the practitioner benefits that could only be achieved by extremely intricate, high level arts, years upon years of dedication, or extremely questionable means.
And now he had found someone who didn't die from one or was otherwise vanished. Luck truly was on his side. With One guarding in the shadows, nothing should happen to the girl.
The fact that someone was experimenting on something as notorious as the Ascension Arts was significant news, and Cloudgrass needed to know immediately. Zhi Mu just had to reach one of his residences and contact the old man. He never liked to carry an artefact connected to people stronger than him on his person as he knew that the one on the other end could easily determine his position and depending on their skill and the intricacy of the artefact used even more troublesome things.
The other five should be fine without him though, Zhi Mu thought.