Chapter 9: Shen Ai’s Wrath

Night time.

The calm full moon was shining in all her glory, yet Shen Ai’s heart was thumping like crazy.

Hands shivering, the letter on her hands fell onto the floor. She was not sure what to do. She contacted the Mission Pavilion, confirming the current location of her sister’s team. The location her sister should be in, was too far for her to make it on time. According to the Pavilion, the team should be resting near the border for two days.

“What should I do, what should I do…”

Should I report it?

The thought of reporting it to her master crossed her mind, yet she was terrified… for her sister. The punishment for deserting the sect was second only to betrayal. If she succeeded, the sect would hunt her down as a deserter, almost like an enemy. If she resisted, those hunting her had every right to kill.

“Trying to desert is still heavy, but!”

At the very least, her master could hush the matter, yes? As long as she did not get beyond the sect’s border, it should still be considered an attempt. Or, to make light of things, ‘Absent without permission’… That was the ideal scenario playing in her mind. It was decided then, even if her sister was to blame her, she must put a stop to this.

Flying full speed towards the mountain next to her home, she went straight to the Core Palace.

After a short moment, in a branch office of Blood Oath Sect, close to the border;

It was midnight. A green jade hovered above a small formation in the middle of the office. This was the Jade Communiqué, the main communication method of the sect between one branch to another. The one in charge of the night duty was a disciple, dozing off all alone. As he was about to fall asleep, the green jade shone in all its glory.

The disciple staggered, almost falling off his chair. Receiving the call, his groggy eyes opened wide, for he was scared stiff. On the other side of the jade, speaking to him, was one of the most famous Grand Elders in the sect.

Not daring to tally, he quickly wrote down the order, and had it sent to the nearby team and even the border patrol. The order was urgent, but was a tad bit odd;

Arrest a disciple by the name of Xiao Shu Fen. Absent without permission, might cross border. Blood Sign Search, permitted. Use minimal force. Treat her well.

It was odd alright.

Then again, the disciple did not dare question the Grand Elder. If he did, he might be sent to the frontline the next day. A Grand Elder had such power within the sect, which made the situation seemed more odd.

For the Grand Elder to personally made the call… Had the jade did not possess ways to identify the caller, he might think it was a prank by the Core Disciples, the spoiled children of the sect…

As he finished his relaying duty, calls from the nearby units came in. All admonishing him, as if he was actually drunk…

Shu Fen was close.

As soon as she passed the border control area, there was nothing which could stop her from entering the city under the influence of the Xin clan. Outside the city, Xin Jian must be waiting for her arrival.

Unfortunately, for the last three days, she sensed her Blood Sign being activated. Thus, to stay hidden, she had to stop using her Qi. Merely walking like a non-practitioner, her pace was slow. Soon joining a merchant caravan en route, she was finally close to crossing another border checkpoint. Yet, as she saw more patrols than normal, she again took precaution.

She took a detour, and avoid taking the shortest route.

It was odd. The increase of patrols was too fast, and the fact that her Blood Sign was activated just when she left the nearby city, was unexpected. She calculated the elders there would not notice until the next day. In addition, they had to be sure she actually tried to desert. With this, she ought to have enough time to cross the border before they alerted the border guards.

That was the plan, but it was all ruined. At times, her forehead glowed for a bit, and it was itchy. The glow and itchiness came from the Blood Sign, etched into the forehead of every disciple and above. This was an effective way for the Sect to search for them during emergencies.

Knowing so, she covered it with a headband and a hood. Having Blood Sign activated from time to time, meant that they were actively searching for her. As long as she restricted her Qi, they could not pinpoint her location. Avoiding big cities, where there would be too many pursuers, she eyed a mountain in the distance.

“That mountain… managed by a lesser sect,”

She purposely chose a rural border checkpoint.

Under the Blood Oath Sect, there were multiple lesser sects which managed small areas of less importance. In this one rural area, the one in charge ought to be just one elder from the said sect, the others would be disciples. As long as she flashed her Inner Court medallion at the checkpoint, without the presence of their leader, even the border guards would not dare stop her. However, that ought to be her last means. She readily prepared a forged document covering her identity. Besides, she already cut her hair and changed her appearance to that of normal villagers…

Not using Qi was painful. To get to the place, she took another three days. As she did, she joined a group of minor merchants, on their way to cross the border.

Finally, the checkpoint. It was between the ridges of the mountain, and there was only one road leading to the border. Between the road however, were lush, green forest.

From the position, one could see the opposing border’s checkpoint, the one under the influence of the Heavenly Tower Sect. Since the two sects were foe for a long time, the space in between them was pretty much a buffer zone. Within, there were no patrols. There were only high watchtowers on each border, covering the view. They would only send patrol if there was trouble.

‘Brother Jian should already notify the Xin clan agents near the border… All I need to do… is to use their name,’

The Xin clan had been doing business around the border for many years. There were shops there, and arrangement could be made as long as she contacted the agents. Thus, crossing the opposing border would not be hard.

As long as she crossed this border from her side, all would be alright. As her turn comes, the border guard asked the routine questions; names, origin, reason… and a simple document to prove her identity.

“Alright, pass.”

“Thank you,”

As she was given a pass, the bracelet hidden under her sleeve vibrated. Having it activated all of a sudden, Shu Fen realized why things had gone awry these few days. She remembered, the letter she left for Shen Ai…

'Sister, you… you betrayed me?'

The vibration caught attention. Even new cultivators could sense it if they were close enough. Such sound contained a tiny bit of Qi, so it was odd. Any disciples should know, that an item containing Qi would be an artifact, whether a junk one or not was another matter. Could a normal villager possess one?

Possible, but unlikely.

Hearing so, the border guards there took note. Looking at the new wanted poster, they called for her. At the time, Shu Fen turned gloomy. The thought that Shen Ai betrayed her, selling her out to the sect, was devastating.

She never thought it was possible.

‘If the bracelet vibrated, she could get to this location in just… no, less!’

Shen Ai could fly, so her speed was incomparable to her. Her expression turned grim. Looking at the opposing border, she figured, at full speed… ten minutes! She would be dashing down the mountain, almost freefall, so she could make it!

“Hey, lady over there. We’re calling for—”

Ignoring the call from the border guards, she ran her Qi, fully activated. Bursting through her body, the yellow Qi covered her entire body. Seeing this, the guards were wide-eyed. Before they could shout, she kicked the ground, dashing right towards the opposing border.

“Alert the elder!”

Alarmed, the border guards assembled with their weapons. These disciples were not as good as Shu Fen, but they were still cultivators. They were quick to pursue, bringing crossbows as well as their swords.

Shu Fen was desperate.

Aside from Shen Ai, she was wary for the lesser sect's elder. Even if he was not as good as elders from her sect, he should still be faster than her.

‘I need to gain distance…’

Hoping the border elder took his sweet time before pursuing, Shu Fen continued to dash down the mountain. Her feet were mostly on air, touching the rocks and ground here and there to gain speed. She rushed in such fervor, that the border guards, a few on similar level as her, could not even catch up. Some stopped, shooting their crossbow in the hope of stopping her from afar.

Yet, colliding with her Qi barrier, these normal bolts, staggered by the mountain wind, could only scratch her skin. Soon, she reached the ground. With the border so close in her eyes, she rushed.

Suddenly, from behind her, a tingling sense hit. Raising, burning Qi approached her back!

‘Curse it, the elder!’

She could not ignore the attack. Moving to the side, the fire Qi blew the ground up to the air. Loud boom filled the surroundings, dust covered her position. Under such conditions, Shu Fen moved into the lush forest, hoping to lose his pursuit.

“Hahaha, naïve bitch,”

A bald elder in a red robe, the one pursuing her, entered the forest…

Soon enough, blow after blow shattered the forest. Seeing such destruction, the border guards in pursuit stopped in their track. They exchanged glances, wondering if the elder would blame them if they did not pursue. But if they did, they might end up getting caught in friendly fire, and that’s not funny. The elder clearly did not know how to hold back, using so much Qi in such a wasteful way. Even all the way from there, they could hear the laughter coming from the elder as he enjoyed the hunt. Obviously, he either did not receive the order to use minimal force, or could not relate to it.

Birds scattered onto the sky. Soil, trees, leaves, flew up into the air. The ground was trembling. Even one hit from that could…

Boom!

Different from the usual sound, this time it was a hit. Shu Fen defended against it, yet she was sent tumbling onto the ground. Her back hit a tree, partially destroying it. Her chest took a hit, ripping her clothes. Blood was coming from her mouth, nose, ears… In her head, ringing sound. She could not even stand anymore, even keeping herself conscious was a bit too hard.

Is this… the end?

Might as well, she thought. At the very least, she did not have to face such… misery anymore.

“Brother Jian, I’m sorry…”

Remembering her lover, she did not regret her decision. Perhaps, falling in love was the only sin she would never regret in her life. All she regret was, he was waiting for her, yet she could not see him for the last time.

Strangely, at such a time, another face appeared in her mind;

“Sister… my cute, little sister…”

It was the little sister, the tiny sister she used to hold tight… The one who used to cling onto her, all the time.

“Where did… you go? Xiao Ai…”

As she raised her hand to the sky, trying to caress the very image of her little sister, her hand fell. Down on the ground with her clothes torn, she was partially exposed. Seeing her nice figure, all defenseless, the bald elder licked his lips. A meal served should be taken, lest it would be rude!

“Well, no one’s here… Might as well cup a feel… huu… a little reward for the hard work! Thanks for the meal!”

It should take a minute or two for the border guards to reach here. Enough time for a little body check… Who knows? She could be hiding some weapons in some crevices, or so he thought.

As his hands was about to do the deeds, a figure appeared standing behind him. It was too sudden, the elder only realized it when his hands almost touched Shu Fen.

“Geh, another one?!”

Jumping back, he was on guard. The lady in light blue robe seemed ominous… as if she was withholding something sinister. In a moment, he noticed the red armband she was wearing. It was the armband for Blood Oath Sect’s emergency contingent. The sect was the patron sect for his lesser sect, an ally. With this, he relaxed.

“Oh, ho ho… So it’s an ally… Fellow elder… I, I wasn’t doing anything suspicious… A little body check for any hidden artifact, you know, the type which could explode any— hm?”

The lady in blue robe did not entertain the bald elder, passing by him as if he was air.

Kneeling by Shu Fen, her robe touched the muddy ground. Her hand caressed Shu Fen’s cheek, touching the blood coming from her eyes. Her chest partially exposed, there was red burn on her exposed skin. She checked her breathing and pulse. Weak, but it was there. Her heart was injured, her lungs swelled.

A serious internal injury, fortunately, not fatal. She took several colored pills from her spatial ring, forcing them down her mouth, only to fail. With her being non-responsive, she put the pills in her mouth first, melting them before putting them in her mouth directly. As Shu Fen managed to swallow the pills, a feeling of relief filled the lady’s chest.

Yet, seeing the blood coming from her mouth, eyes, and ears…

Tears fell down her cheek. She approached her head, kissing her forehead. A little blood got onto her lips, she whispered;

“Sister, I’m sorry… I’m really, sorry…”

She sobbed, completely forgotten about the elder behind her. Soon, the rest of the border guards reached the location. Seeing the unfamiliar lady, they wondered what was going on. But the bald elder, witnessing the lady acting strange, finally caught on;

“Y-you know this fugitive? Please understand elder, she resisted, so…”

Seeing her suddenly stunned from hearing him talk, the elder sensed something was wrong, terribly wrong. Better late than never, I’m outta here!

“I still have a lot of work to do elder, so if you’ll excuse me!”

He turned, flying up the sky all of a sudden.

It happened in an instant.

Shen Ai flung her sleeve. Whip-like light came from under her hand, ensnaring the elder’s foot in the sky. She pulled the whip down, slamming him into the ground!

Boom… kakaka…

To the border guards there, they could only witness this in fright. The light just went past their vision, then the elder in the sky plummet into the ground. Flying dust everywhere… Soon, it revealed a large crater, proving what they had seen was not an illusion.

In the middle of it, the elder kneeled. Somehow, in that instant, he managed to reduce the damage. He knew elders from Blood Oath Sect should never be underestimated. They had higher quality artifacts and deeper cultivation than most, even in other Earth-rank sects.

However, never did he expect this young lady seemingly still in her 20s, could injure him this much with just a single attack…

Wait, in her 20s…? Already in Golden Core…?

Golden Core cultivators could reverse and maintain their age. Women in particular, would try to be at their best age. However, it usually stopped with them looking in their 30s at best. Such limit could not be broken, this was common knowledge. Looking younger here, despite not in Yuan Yin stage, meant that…

She achieved Golden Core, at a younger age!

How could this be!

‘Lofty cultivators, usually exist only in Divine-ranked Sect… However, in the Blood Oath sect, there was a rumor… That one person, actually managed to do that…’

It was a rumor denied by the sect itself, and denounced by everyone. How could a disciple in an Earth-ranked sect achieve such a feat?

However, at the time, the elder did not know why, but he knew he was toast. Somehow, he managed to incur the wrath of this person; the direct disciple of the famous Grand Elder Ling of the Blood Oath Sect…

“The Fairy of Blue Lake… Lady, Shen Ai!”