Again! Again, I am forced to flee. I wonder why Xue risks her life for me. Not once have I been able to help her with my abilities.

Tears tugged at the edge of Felix’s eyes as the wind whistled past. He squinted and tried to focus on the qi circulating to his legs. Everyone but Daiyu had begun breathing heavier but they carried on.

I’ve come to terms with the idea that there are powers out there beyond my control, but this mission should have been different. It should have been within our abilities… and why does it feel like we are getting nowhere! What asshole made this trail?

They had taken the hundredth turn a while back, yet the Serpent Path continued to twist and wind ever onward. The clouds from Xue’s technique blocked the sun and the falling snow masked what little distinguishing marks there were along the path.

Have we gone far enough? Maybe I should have gone for a purely linear movement technique instead of [Shifting Sands]. I suppose it doesn’t matter since if one of the core cultivators had ignored Xue to chase us, they would have caught up to us either way. Unless they are hiding for some reason… They probably don’t think they even need to pursue us. Can we bank on that though? Should we leave the path? But trying to navigate in that thicket… God, I hope Xue is okay.

“We-we need to stop!” said their guide. “We can’t go further into the forest. I don’t even know how we are still alive.”

“What are you talking about?” said Felix. “We can’t- hey, are you okay?”

“Please.” Said the woman, lurching to a halt.

Felix stopped and stared as she bent over, clutching her sides. Her frame shook with deep jagged breaths.

I thought her cultivation was better than this. Maybe her movement technique is bad?

“Do you want one of us to carry you? We need to keep moving,” said Felix.

He jogged back only to freeze as she finally looked up. Her face etched with tension.

“We have to leave. The Endless Wilderness is death.” She said through gritted teeth.

Felix flashed forward to catch her as she began to fall. The sensation of wetness made him flinch and her wool clothing squished at his touch.

“You’re injured! Why didn’t you say anything?” said Felix.

“It happened so fast. I didn’t want…” Mumbled their guide. “Too scared of the Yang Family. Too scared of the forest.”

Her legs slowly gave less support until Felix was the only thing holding her up. A slender hand pressed on his shoulder, and he found Daiyu at his side. She pointed down and he nodded. Together, they lowered the woman to the ground among the thickening snow.

“You are going to be okay. My companion is really impressive,” said Felix. “Daiyu?”

Daiyu knelt, a knife appearing in one hand. In moments, the girl's shirt was removed, revealing a bloody mess of flesh. An obscene amount of blood still gushed from the wound.

How did she even keep running?

Daiyu’s hand shot forward, pressing into the open wound and somehow holding it all together just so. The bleeding halted but the guide continued to pale.

“We need to leave.” Whispered their guide, “Uncle will know what to do. I just need to tell him…”

She convulsed and then went still. They all stared at the still form for a moment. Then Daiyu slowly stood back up and shook her head.

Is it my fault? I never even got her name…

“Her heart stopped,” wrote Daiyu after retracting her hand. “A danger among cultivators is not knowing when to stop, pushing themselves to the point they just drop dead. I haven’t seen it yet though.”

People just keep dying. This world is so cruel.

“Felix, we need to go,” said Yang Mei. The large girl had come to his side at some point without him noticing. She tugged at his arm. “We barely know her, but we can still pay her nearest relative. Tell them what happened. Now let’s go.”

“You’re right Yang Mei.” Said Felix, taking a ragged breath. He reached down and plucked up her bag and tossed it into his storage bag. “It just all seems so senseless.”

Just another casualty. God, I didn’t even ask her name, did I?

“Wait, but where should we even go?” said Edward. The boy had turned away as soon as their guide collapsed and was even now staring pointedly in the opposite direction. “She clearly didn’t want us to go further in. Shouldn’t we go back and try to leave the forest to the left or right of the Serpent Path? That way we can avoid the Yang Family and warn the City Lord at Beast Watch.”

“We shouldn’t leave the path.” Said Felix. “At least I don’t want to risk it.”

“What are you talking about? The main danger of the Endless Wilderness is spirit beasts and despite the weirdness of none of them being here, it does mean the woods should be safe from them for the moment,” said Edward.

“The kid has a point,” said Yang Mei. “It may be clear of beasts here but whatever scared them away may just be further into the woods. Maybe some really powerful spirit beast has kept them at bay or some other horror. It is better we risk it to get out of here and warn someone.”

Felix turned his body to block the guide from view. He ran a slightly bloody hand through his hair, brushing away a bit of snow.

“Look, does anyone have confidence in navigating the woods? I’ve come to realize that I personally don’t have the best sense of direction. We can’t risk getting lost. Daiyu?” said Felix.

“Not without the sun,” wrote Daiyu. “I have had minimum training in the wilderness with most of it in urban environments.”

“Anyone else? Yang Mei?” said Felix.

“I’ve never left the sect since I joined.” Said Yang Mei.

“What about you?” said Edward, pointing toward Cixi.

“My father rarely let me explore the city with a guard, much less let me leave it. I would be even worse off than Felix guiding us.” Said Cixi.

“Damn,” said Edward. “Then what should we do?”

A faint sound had them all looking the way they came. It was footsteps and it was getting louder.

“Looks like we may have had our choice made for us.”

“Maybe it’s Xue?” Said Yang Mei.

“We wouldn’t hear her.” Said Felix.

Edward moved to enter the woods at the first turn but Daiyu stopped him with a motion.

“Yang Mei, toss the body into the woods.” Wrote Daiyu. “We need to get moving. If we leave now, then the snow should cover our tracks.”

Yang Mei obeyed, lifting the dead woman and muttering an apology. She tossed the corpse into the bushes, and they resumed their flight. The sound disappeared quickly behind them, and they slowed to a more manageable pace. As time passed and no further sound of pursuit was heard, they exchanged confused looks.

“Perhaps that wasn’t pursuers? We can’t keep running forever. Maybe a small break?” said Felix.

“Are you willing to let Xue’s sacrifice be for nothing? We should keep going.” Said Cixi.

“I doubt she has died.” Said Felix

“What? She was outnumbered!”

“The reason we had to leave is her inability to protect us from so many, but I have seen her win against similar odds,” said Felix.

“Perhaps…” said Cixi.

A rustling sound cut her off and they turned to three men in imperial uniform walking out of the woods.

A Ragnarok strike landed on the middlemost man’s head. It broke like a rotten watermelon and his limp body was thrown to the floor.

…That wasn’t supposed to kill him.

One soldier turned to run and the other pulled out a talisman from his robes. Daiyu faded into existence next to him and cut off his hand. She left the now screaming man there, following the remaining man into the woods. As soon as she was gone, the man stopped screaming and his expression hardened. He reached for the talisman with his remaining hand.

Yang Mei kicked him in the chest and sent him rolling. She stood over the collapsed man, eyeing him.

Another one died then.

“Felix… I think this is a signal talisman.” Said Cixi. She held the talisman and eyed the symbols across its surface. “Fire based I believe. That must mean there are others in the woods. There is no way such weak men are by themselves. Yang Mei, is he alive? Maybe we can get answers.”

“I think so… Yes, I can finally make out his breathing. Barely noticeable but he’s also unconscious.”

“We should silence him and leave as soon as Daiyu returns.” Said Cixi. “If there are more people coming with the Yang Family in pursuit, they must risk going deeper into the woods.

A wrenching sound cut off Felix’s response and he looked over at Edward, who was losing his breakfast. Felix frowned as he made out individual pieces of rice.

“He is no threat to us. Their cultivation was nothing. They are just caught up in this war, mere pawns.” Said Felix.

“Pawns with a mouth.” Said Cixi. “Ones who will repay your supposed kindness with death. If they are so weak, then it means we are dealing with a lot of them or one really powerful cultivator looking over them. Probably both. He needs to die, and we need to get moving.”

“He’s dead now.” Said Yang Mei, her hand on the man’s chest. “Died while you two were talking. I doubt he’s faking.”

Felix closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Another terrible day on the road of immortality. Nothing in my mind is ready for this.

“Edward, are you good to run?” said Felix

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head mate,” said the boy, wiping some of the vomit from his chin. “You say the word and we're off. I can’t die here, not yet.”

Daiyu came streaking out of the woods and stopped next to the dead man. Her sign was already in hand.

“The soldiers are dead. Hopefully, they didn’t set off some sort of invisible signal. We need to go now. Did you make sure that one is dead, Yang Mei?” wrote Daiyu.

“His heart stopped,” said Yang Mei.

“There are techniques for that and an expert could revive them if he is found soon. Let’s not risk it,” wrote Daiyu.

Her blade shot out and bisected the man’s neck. She darted down the path without another word.

They made it down several more turns before they heard the sounds of feet on the dirt behind them. They had finally begun to leave the range of the blizzard and their feet left no print on the hard-packed dirt. Then they heard something from the other direction. Edward cursed.

“Do you still want to stay on the path Felix? Huh? Any other bright ideas?” said Edward.

Before he could respond, Daiyu made a ‘hurry up’ gesture and left the path. They all froze for a second before following.

I might have overestimated myself this time. Thought Xue. Why did such a genius appear in some no name family? It took forever to make her retreat and I barely survived that last attack.

Even as she glided along the serpent trail, her hand held the crack pieces of her ice armor to her torso. The cracks were traced in the red of her blood but her technique slowly froze the wound shut.

Why is Felix such a trouble magnet? First, the encounter with the Onooka clan and then he drops a boulder on the spear idiot. Should’ve tied that boy to a chair in the library. Oh, someone is ahead.

She slid to a stop to stand behind one of the imperial soldiers who stood staring down at the corpses of their fallen comrade. Beyond their sense with her technique, she stood and listened.

“-Who do you think killed him? Didn’t the inquisitors assure us that this area was supposed to be safe? Yet our men lay dead.” Said one of the men.

“Be quiet.” Snapped the shortest of the group, punching the first man in the gut. “If any of the upper commands think we are bad-mouthing them, it will be our heads. Even if they stick to the book because High Justicar Zactus is in charge, may his justice guide the empire forever, we could still be demoted. Also, this was done by a cultivator, not a spirit beast. Even as an architect, you should be able to recognize that.”

“You didn’t have to punch me.” Wheezed the first man, forcing himself to straighten from his hunched position. “I know whatever did this will be apprehended by the Captain. Still, that is blood from the Architect’s Guild on the ground. How can I not be angry?”

“I know, but whatever it is, it is fleeing toward the army. Even if the captain and the forward scouts can’t get it, the army will. Apparently, our own resident inquisitor found something further down the path. I heard it was a body but it wasn’t clear beyond that. Damn worthless messenger talisman, only the ones that cost a sect are worth anything. Why is it so cold all of a sudden?” Said the short man.

“It’s damn cloud snowing on us.” said the youngest looking of the group. “Unnatural this far south if you ask me. The work of some nasty spirit beast.”

“No, not that.” Said the shortest man, shivering. “I felt something cold at the back of my neck.”

The tip of one of Xue’s icy claw’s hovered above the nape of the man’s neck. Then she retracted her hand.

That body can’t be Felix. Killing them is pointless…. I don’t have time for this!

She glided around the group without them even noticing. The short man stopped shivering after a moment.

“And it’s gone.” Said the short man. “I felt I was about to die and freeze at the same time.”

“You are just feeling karma for punching me, sergeant.” Said the first man.

Xue heard the air leave the man’s lungs as the sergeant gave him a second punch.

I have to assume that body is not Felix but why is the imperial army here? How the hell did they drive the spirit beasts away? If that fool gets himself caught by an inquisitor, how am I supposed to save him?

Xue soon slowed when she came upon another group of weak soldiers who were staring into the woods. She listened to their conversation for a moment and then shot towards the woods. Her side began to bleed again as she began to leave the area of her technique. She tried to power it up here even as her movements began to slow. A few snowflakes began to flutter from the clouds above. Then she heard the sound of fighting ahead.

Felix!

She flashed forward to appear between Yang Mei and an Imperial soldier. Xue raised an ice-coated hand and battered aside a sword meant for Yang Mei’s shoulder. Then with the same hand backhanded the soldier in the face, snapping his neck.

So fragile.

Turning, she frowned down at a stunned Yang Mei, who stared at the lifeless corpse.

It’s like being surrounded by glass sometimes.

“Senior Xue.” Said Yang Mei, her eyes gaining focus. She bowed. “Thank you for your help, you saved my life.”

“Where is Felix?”

“We split up to evade the imperials,” said Yang Mei.

“Mmm, why does he always resort to that tactic?” mumbled Xue.

She glanced over to see Daiyu walk out of the trees, her blade drenched in blood. An exhausted Cixi stumbled out behind her. The masked girl gave Xue a small nod before collapsing into Cixi’s arms. Cixi’s face flickered with surprise before exhaustion beat it down again.

No life-threatening wounds. She should only be exhausted. Good. I need to ensure Felix is safe. Daiyu is competent enough. The [Yellow Fire] pill should be able to wake her up and give her some emergency energy. As long as Yang Mei and Cixi listen to her, they should be able to escape.

Xue grabbed Yang Mei and spun out of the way of a flame serpent. She narrowed her eyes as an imperial soldier walked from the woods, the insignia of a captain on his chest.

Peak core. It will take too long for my blizzard to build up power again. I can’t protect the girls and fight him nor is time on my side with an army headed here.

“Well, it is good to see the face of the person who is responsible for the end of my military career. I don’t know how you find out about this but surrender now and I will ensure you are treated fairly.” said the captain.

“Don’t bother.” said a voice from behind them. Xue looked back to see a man in inquisitor robes standing there. “She has endangered the mission and is a member of the Thousand Season Sect. We have the right and duty to solve this quickly, captain. The Law is clear.”

Another peak core. I’m sorry Felix. I doubt even I’ll make it out of this alive.

A gnarled green hand appeared above both men, casting them in shadows. The captain's eyes widened, and he sent out an even larger flame serpent at the descending palm. Similarly, the inquisitor raised both hands, golden chains shooting out from his fingertips. The gnarled hands continued unabated, both men’s attack not even slowing them. They tried to dodge but were unceremoniously crushed.

...Or I’ll live.

Yang Mei and Cixi watched numbly as a small cloud descended from the trees above.

“Where is Felix?” said Elder Zhenzhen, frowning down at them. “I leave you all alone for a few days and then you run into the Endless Wilderness like idiots! Xue, you had one job. One job to keep them safe!”

This isn’t my fault! Felix attracts trouble like a magnet. Wait, are you trying to shift the blame?!

Xue forced herself to stand tall.

“Esteemed Elder Zhenzhen, the young miss of the Yang Family ambushed them at the Serpent Path Entrance. They had to flee into the woods to survive while I held them off. Did Elder spot the assailants at the entrance to the path?”

“No, I did not. By the time I was there, the City Lord was already combing the area with his men. He seemed quite enraged by something. Take those three and leave, now.” said Zhenzhen. She frowned down at the smashed inquisitor insignia on one of the bloody messes. “I will go secure the other two myself.”

“Elder, I can help.” Said Xue.

“No, you would only get in the way.” Said Elder Zhenzhen. “If this inquisitor is here, then more of his ilk may also be lingering with whatever this is. What a mess.”

Elder Zhenzhen flicked her fingers and Xue caught a bottle of pills.

“Take one of those and then leave this place. Go in that direction.” Said Zhenzhen, her finger pointing. “There were no spirit beasts for some reason so you should be fine. I will go retrieve our wayward disciples.”

“Elder wait! These imperials are somehow leading an army through the endless wilderness. Even if I flee in the direction of Beast Watch, I will likely encounter scouting parties. I don’t know if I can fend them off in my current state.”

“I killed most of the soldiers between here and the entrance of the woods. Though one pesky group got away.” Said Zhenzhen with a small smile. “If you move now, you should be fine. I’ll serve as a distraction to any angry Nascent souls.”

Xue nodded and tossed Yang Mei on her shoulder. She ignored the girls’ protests as she put the Cixi under one arm and the now unconscious Daiyu under the other. Elder Zhenzhen was already gone and Xue glided off in the direction indicated.

Be safe Felix.