As they ran, Chen Wuya nodded over his shoulder. “That Meiling girl. I take it this caravan has connections to Jianghu?”

“Most performers have some connection to the criminal underworld. They aren’t far apart from beggars,” Fen Long replied evenly. He flitted from tree to tree, operating his qigong easily.

Stuck on the ground, Chen Wuya scowled up at him. Just wait until I recover my qigong. I used to be one of the fastest runners in Jianghu with my unparalleled Pass Amidst Leaves…

Hmm? That movement technique of his… “Elder Brother, is that Softly Drifting Snow?”

“Ah? You recognize my technique? Yes, Softly Drifting Snow, of the Eight Forms of Winter,” Fen Long replied.

The Eight Forms of Winter are Kai Bailong’s technique! Chen Wuya tilted his head innocently. “I thought the Eight Forms of Winter were a lost technique.”

“Where’d you hear that? They’re a common form. After Kai Bailong ascended, they spread widely throughout Jianghu and became a very popular technique. Maybe you mistook them for the Five Forms of Spring, the Six Forms of Summer, or the Seven Forms of Autumn? Those techniques were lost when the ancient Four Colors Sect collapsed.”

Chen Wuya flinched. “Mmm, true. I must be mistaken.”

“Sometimes I wonder… is it worse to have one’s sword technique vanish, or to become so ubiquitous that its manuals are used for toilet paper?” Fen Long murmured.

“Despite being a toilet-paper manual, you still practice that technique?” Chen Wuya pried.

Fen Long nodded. “It’s a toilet-paper manual because the early forms are considered too simple, and the latter too complicated. It’s easy to begin, but nearly impossible to conquer, thus… since most can only use the simple early forms, it’s seen as a worthless technique. I won’t give up, though. I’ll master all eight forms and attain the invincible strength that allowed the strongest righteous deity to rise to immortality!”

He clenched his fist, gazing up at the stars above.

Chen Wuya coughed. “The invincible strength… ah, didn’t Kai Bailong lose to Qiu Xuanwu a great many times, though?”

“Qiu Xuanwu was a demonic cultivator. He used shortcuts and evil techniques to cheat. The two can’t be compared,” Fen Long said, shaking his head.

Ah? Fen Long, are you looking to die? Insulting the great Qiu Xuanwu to his face…

Chen Wuya took a deep breath. Don’t give in to the demonic qi, Chen Wuya.

“Fen Long, if your qigong is so strong, why didn’t you float above the poison back in that village?” Chen Wuya teased, letting his irritation out.

“It’s not that strong. I can’t float very far. I have to touch down every few meters. Even operating it, I would have been badly poisoned by the time we got anywhere,” Fen Long replied, leaping to the next tree. He glanced down. “Junior Brother, do you want me to teach you? I notice you aren’t using a movement technique.”

That’s because it’s a lost manual! Are you asking me to reveal myself? He laughed. “Didn’t you just say your technique is a toilet-paper manual?”

Fen Long’s face twisted reluctantly. “Only because it’s common… Though… come to think of it… why aren’t you using that technique from the forest?”

Chen Wuya raised his eyebrows. That’s right. He’s seen me practice before. Maybe I shouldn’t be so guarded.

Though, on the other hand, I was repeatedly missing the forth form, not doing it correctly. There’s a difference between failing on one move and using a full technique.

Ahead, dark creatures crashed through the trees toward them. They shut their mouths and leaped forward, drawing their swords.

Dark bats, vicious claws curling from the ends of their wings, swooped down at them. In a short flash of swords, the creatures fell to the ground, streaming blood. They’d barely struck down when another wave of bats rushed at them, this one dozens strong. Black wings flapped through the air, lashing out all around them.

Chen Wuya blocked over his face, closing his eyes and mouth and ducking his head. Claws bit at his robes and slashed over his bare skin. He winced and bent lower.

Above him, Fen Long leaped higher into the air, above the swarm. His body drifted on the wind like a ghost in the night, pure white robes flashing in the moonlight. He lashed out, slaying a dozen bats with a strike, but more welled up. “Chen Wuya!”

Growling, he slapped a bat down from his face. “I’m fine!”

A pause. “I’m going ahead!”

“I’ll be right behind,” he promised.

The soft sound of Fen Long’s footsteps faded away.

Deep in the mob of bats, Chen Wuya’s eyes lit up. A red glow danced after his pupils, almost enticing, and a demonic aura emanated from his body. Eyes narrowed, he growled, “You dare?”

The bats retreated from him instinctively, pulling hard away from him. Chen Wuya cut into the escaping swarm. A dozen tiny bodies struck the floor, blood spraying.

He drew a breath and suppressed his demonic aura. The red glow faded from his eyes.

The bats fluttered around. Half flew away, but the other half clustered close around him, almost fawning.

With the bats’ demonic aura, even Kai Bailong shouldn’t be able to detect that little of my aura. I’m in the clear.

Chen Wuya glanced at the bats and scowled. “Screw off.”

Instantly, the swarm dispersed.

Operating Pass Amongst Leaves, Chen Wuya passed silently over the forest floor. Every few steps, he leaped and floated ahead, practicing for when he’d be able to leap around like Fen Long. Still too weak! I need to develop my qi…

How could the forest be like this? It’s meant to be overseen by a martial deity, and I know I helped purify it. It was hundreds of years ago, but even so!

Zui Jiu… what happened to you? What happened to this forest?

Searching his memories, Chen Wuya fell into reminiscence.

Days passed. Sun drenched the forest, driving away the demonic aura and dark mists in its heart. Chased by the other bee, Qiu Xuanwu dutifully, though reluctantly, did his part. Grumbling to himself, he bobbled through the air, carrying another load of nectar for the hive. Dark globs of demonic aura hung below. Even as he passed, the demonic aura dispersed, driven away by virtuous, ordinary life forms like himself.

In the near distance, a sword flashed. Sword qi lashed through the air. The familiar-yet-unattainable sensation sent a quiver through Qiu Xuanwu’s body. He hovered closer, knowing it was useless, yet unable to resist.

Zui Jiu clashed with a vicious ten-meter-tall wolf. Her cheeks burned with the heat of battle, eyes glittering, teeth bared in a grin.

Demonic aura streamed from the beast, its long, dark fur waving on the breeze. It darted away, then in. Teeth flashed.

She parried the blow and stumbled back, tossing a half-empty gourd at the wolf. It cried out, shaking its head to spray the alcohol off.

“Stupid beast. Come at me with all your strength, or you’ll die!”

Hovering in the air, Qiu Xuanwu watched eagerly. Internally torn between the two, he couldn’t pick which one to root for. Zui Jiu, or that darling demonic wolf?

The wolf snarled and leaped at Zui Jiu. Her eyes flashed. She leaped forward, her sword high. Blood few, and the wolf fell to the side, limp.

The bee nodded to itself. “You’re a thousand years too early to challenge a martial deity, after all, let alone one as unpredictable as Zui Jiu.”

The other bee bumped into him, warning him to keep moving.

“Yeah, yeah. Let me enjoy life a little,” he said, pushing it away.

Light burst down from the sky. Zui Jiu looked up, her brows furrowing. He turned as well, curious.

And then… He furrowed his brows. The memory grew blurry. Bright light burst out. Fear washed over him, overwhelming everything. A burst of pain. Darkness.

Then… what?