In the center of a room devoid of light sat a man, his knees crossed, hands resting together within them. He sat completely still, his eyes closed, barely even breathing.

He took the fire in his belly, passing it through his body. Down through his right leg, over to the left. Up through his arms, swirling towards his head. His head grew light, his body trembled. He opened his eyes. He grit his teeth.

It was still not enough. A thousand years and still his hatred was lacking.

Xiong Zhen closed his eyes again. He took a deep breath, pulling upon his memories. His greatest failures. The worst humiliations. To cultivate hatred itself was not a path for the weak-minded. But Xiong Zhen was anything but weak.

And then there was a knock at the door.

Xiong Zhen’s eyes shot open. He almost admired the sheer idiotic bravery of the one who would interrupt his closed door cultivation. He glanced down. A dim pulse of red, barely outlining the form of a straight blade. The side of his mouth curled upward. It had been quite some time since the Black Blade was allowed to feast.

Xiong Zhen focused the fire in his chest. Two torches burst into flame, illuminating the jet-black blade lying in front of him.

“Enter.”

In walked a person, the black robes of a martial artist wrapped around their body and a black cloth mask covering their head and face, showing nothing but their eyes. The standard uniform of the Eternal Night Sect’s outer disciples. And not even a hint of qi, practically still a mortal. Xiong Zhen felt a bit of the fire leave his chest as he raised his eyebrow. For an initiate of all people to interrupt him was truly impressive.

The disciple crouched down, touching their forehead to the ground.

“This one greets the Master.”

Xiong Zhen nodded. This one at least knew his manners. Xiong Zhen decided to make his death swift.

“Speak.”

“This one has something to present.”

Xiong Zhen nodded. Oh this would be good. He reminisced fondly on the last disciple who thought he could bribe the Ten Slaughters. A shame he lasted merely a week, his screams had been most pleasant.

“Proceed.”

The outer disciple reached into his robes, keeping his face upon the ground. Slowly he pulled out a small cloth package, unwrapped it, and held it out in front of him.

Xiong Zhen bit back a gasp.

A small red bulb. An innocuous plant. A mere weed to the average eye.

And what Xiong Zhen’s heart most desired.

A Blazing Dragon Flower. The elixir that would guarantee his ascension to the Ninth Realm. That would push him past his bottleneck and allow him to defeat the Final Tribulation. To overthrow the heavens themselves and gain immortality. And then, once he had defied the heavens, what could the Earth do but bow before him?

His arms trembled as he took the package from the disciple’s hands. For a moment, he gazed upon his prize, gently caressing the bulb.

“You have done well, disciple. Go now; await my return. You shall be rewarded.”

The disciple rose, then kowtowed once more. One, twice, three times he bowed. He rose to his feet but kept his waist and head low as he backed out of the room and shut the door.

Xiong Zhen smirked as the torches went out.

Xiong Huang was not having a good day. The peerless beauty placed her perfectly sized hand on the jade-like skin of her heart shaped face and heaved a sigh, air filling her ample chest. Or that was how the bloody pulp on the floor had described her. Fifth one today to grant her the ‘honor’ of warming his bed. You would think some might recognize the Young Mistress and Assistant Sect Leader of their very own sect. Or at the very least check her qi before her chest but no, they couldn’t see Mount Tai. Well, the only thing they would court here is death.

She stepped over, that, and continued down the hallway. And cursed in her heart. As well as out loud. An outer disciple approached her father’s meditation room. Great. Just great. Once the gruesome murder was over her father would step outside his dungeon and blame her for the interruption. And try some ‘father-daughter bonding' by training her in his techniques. The beatings were fine, she had gotten used to those. But for the duration of the ‘lessons’, she would be prohibited from any activities that would ‘reduce her hatred’, including cathartic beatings of lingering eyes. Which meant another month of dealing with, those, once it was over.

She gathered her qi and prepared for a preemptive self-help murder when she heard it. The gong rang out over the compound. She spun around on impulse. She turned back towards her father’s chamber and swore again. The outer disciple was gone. She turned, letting her qi flare around her as she stalked towards the courtyard.

There had better be something for her to murder out there.

But the scene before her made her qi disperse, her eyes widening. The gray stone ground of the central courtyard was now checkered in red and black. Black, the bodies of countless outer disciples. Red, the blood spilling from their bodies. Her hair wrapped around her face as something blew past her, a sickening crunch as whatever it was smashed through the nearby pillar. She slowly turned.

It was Zheng Bai, Demon of the Iron Club.

Zheng Bai was an absolute pig. He spent all day drinking. He never cleaned up after himself. Every choice he made, every word from his mouth was a stain on the honor of the sect and an affront to women everywhere.

He also beat the living daylights out of anyone who disrespected her.

And now he was dead, blood draining from the hole in his chest.

She turned back to the courtyard. What sect had done this? What great clan had fallen upon them? What unholy alliance would dare to test them?

It was one man.

A ruddy youth, no older than herself. His green hair tied into a ponytail behind him. His white robes now stained red with blood, precious little his own. An emerald glaive in his hands. Sharp green eyes, focused entirely on the man who stood opposed to him.

There stood Fang Jing, the Unholy Blade, her father’s greatest disciple. The jerk who tormented her day in and day out. How she wished to beat that smirk off his stupid face. The one who never pulled his punches against her. Who never disregarded her. Who never underestimated her. Who taught her the most. Who she swore to defeat, no matter what it took.

She would never get the chance.

His blade moved up and to the right. His opponent stepped back and thrust forward. A green blade pierced out of his back. He spat blood on the enemy’s face. The opponent didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. He swung his glaive. Fang Jing flew through the air onto the pile of bodies, and moved no more.

Xiong Huang gripped her fists and took a step forward. And stopped. Her foot had hit something, something round. She slowly looked down. A head, missing its body. The head of the most twisted and vile of the Eternal Night’s elders. The Black Alchemist himself.

It was Old Wei.

Her vision spun. Her stomach dropped. Her heart raced. The candies passed to her in secret. The nights spent reading under the covers. The constant presence as she lay in bed with a fever. The foul tasting medicines she was forced to drink. The stern lectures when she skipped her lessons. Those horrible, horrible, absolutely lame jokes.

The arms wrapped around her when her father left her in tears.

The warmth and weight resting upon her head.

She fell to her knees. She held her breath. She swallowed. She grit her teeth. She shut her eyes. A true cultivator faced the heavens alone. A true cultivator faced the world with stoic gaze and iron will. Much less the Young Mistress of the Eternal Night Sect, daughter of the Ten Slaughters himself.

She slowly, gently grabbed the head. She brought it up to her chest.

The dam broke as she wrapped it in her arms.

And then the world trembled.

The air drained of all warmth, as if the dead of winter had fallen upon the summer night. A chill ran down her spine. Her heart pounded in her chest. Sweat dripped from her brow. Something deep inside her told her to flee, but her legs were locked in place, refusing her commands.

Her father had come.

Xiong Zhen hovered in the air above the courtyard, silhouetted against the full moon and rocky spires, in his hand a jet black blade. He had no expression on his face as he surveyed the courtyard, full of the mangled corpses of his subordinates.

“Who dares?”

The youth took a step forward and readied his stance.

“I am Cao Xinya, son of Cao Zhong. The Emerald Tiger, the lone avenger. You slew my father, you burned down my home. Tonight, I will have my revenge.”

Xiong Zhen’s face curled into a twisted smile.

“You will try.”

Cao Xinya leapt into the air, glaive extended out. Xiong Zhen fell from the sky, black blade pulled beside his head. As the two approached Xiong Zhen snapped his blade forward, a black streak across the moonlight. A high pitched ring. The two stopped mid flight.

And then a shattering roar blew through the mountains. Xiong Hua grunted and turned her back, shielding that which she held in her arms from typhoon winds. Cao Xinya and Xiong Zhen gently landed on opposite sides of the courtyard.

“Impressive. How long has it been since I have used the Ten Slaughters?”

Cao Xinya fixed his stance.

“I have trained my entire life to defeat you. I will not fail.”

Xiong Zhen grinned again.

“Then come, little avenger, and try to reach the heavens!”

Cao Xinya flew forward, like an arrow launched from a bow. Xiong Zhen slowly spun his sword around.

“I wade within a sea of blood. My fury shall open the way. The First Slaughter.”

Faster, faster Cao Xinya approached. Xiong Zhen raised his sword overhead.

“MY ANGER SHALL PART THE WAVES”

Down the sword swung. A black crescent tinged in red split the earth and sky.

Cao Xinya clicked his tongue and leapt to the side. A few stands of his hair floated in the air behind.

Xiong Zhen’s smile grew wider. He pulled his sword to his side until it was stretched behind his back.

“The people stretch from the mountain to the ocean. Before me is a field of heads. The Third Slaughter.”

“MY BLADE SHALL CUT THE GRASS.”

A black wave extended out. The pillars of the courtyard fell, Xionghua threw herself to the ground. Cao Xinya flipped over the wave and continued his advance.

Xiong Zhen’s mouth curled down into a straight line. His eyes narrowed.

“I step upon a mountain of bones. I shall sit upon the throne of skulls. The Fifth Slaughter.”

Xiong Zhen raised his empty hand, fingers curled and palm towards the sky.

“THE FALLEN SHALL OBEY MY RULE.”

Black hands reached from the ground, extending and grasping every which way. Cao Xinya leaped upwards and soared through the heavens. The corner of Xiong Zhen’s mouth curled up once more. He pulled his elbow back, his blade passing by his head, his other hand extended out to the tip of the blade. He took aim.

“I cast aside the lie of love. My eyes look to the heavens above. The Ninth Slaughter.”

He thrust the blade forward.

“MY GAZE SHALL PIERCE THE HEART.”

The wind howled. The skies dimmed. A black lance that pulled in all.

Cao Xinya pulled back his glaive.

“The emerald tiger soars through the air. His prey knows only despair.”

He swung his glaive.

“HIS CLAWS CUT THE NIGHT.”

Green crescent met black lance. They spun, and intertwined. Smaller and smaller they shrunk.

Silence.

Then a thundering roar as the mountains around them crumbled.

Cao Xinya landed in the courtyard, breathing heavily. Xiong Zhen was no longer smiling, sweat glistening on his brow.

“To think the tenth slaughter would see the light of day. Rejoice, little avenger, for this Xiong Zhen will remember you. The Emerald Tiger is worth conquering.”

Xiong Zhen held his sword in front of him, pointed to the sky.

“None understands the depths of my heart. None can withstand the heat of my rage. None can see in the black of night. None will stand my shattered light. None will know mercy. None will know grace. But all, all shall feel my pain. The Tenth Slaughter.”

The world dimmed.

“MY HATE WILL SWALLOW THE WORLD.”

The world went black.

A voice rang out.

“The tiger stalks through the night. The predator’s eyes need no light.”

Green eyes glowed in the midst of the darkness.

“THE AVENGER’S BLADE SHALL FINALLY STRIKE.”

A green blade shattered the night.

Xiong Zhen and Cao Xinya stood at opposite ends of the courtyard, both breathing heavily. A moment of respite for the broken mountain. Xiong Zhen’s shoulders began trembling. Then he broke out into raucous laughter. Cao Xinya’s eyes narrowed.

“You think this is funny?”

Xiong Zhen’s face formed into a wide grin.

“Funny? It’s hilarious! A mere boy matched me! I’ve lived more lives than you can count and I cannot end a mewling infant! Truly Cao Xinya is blessed by the Heavens.”

Xiong Zhen reached into his robe.

“But you are too late! Even a single day earlier and you would have your revenge!”

Xiong Zhen opened the package, revealing a red bulb.

“But just today, mere moments ago I have received the means to defeat you! To defeat the heavens themselves! To defeat death itself! Truly, fate itself has bent before me. And now, now I will never die! I will never lose! I will never be stopped!”

Cao Xinya grit his teeth, but his qi had not yet recovered. He could do nothing but watch as Xiong Zhen swallowed the bulb. Xiong Zhen’s qi boiled, a dark mass becoming visible around him. He held his hands out and cackled madly.

The sound of glass shattering.

And Xiong Zhen fell to the ground.

“W-What is this? What is happening?”

Cao Xinya took a step forward. Xiong Zhen stared at his hands.

“This cannot be. This is not possible!”

Another step. Xiong Zhen looked up.

“No…No! Get back!”

Cao Xinya’s steps grew quicker. Into a walk, then a jog, until he was running. Xiong Zhen turned, crawling along the ground.

“It cannot end like this! I cannot die like this!”

Cao Xinya leapt into the air.

“For my father.”

His blade struck true.

Cao Xinya stared up into the sky, gazing at the moon.

“It is over. Father, you can finally rest.”

And then he heard quiet sobs cutting through the night. He looked into a corner of the courtyard. A girl knelt on the ground, her back turned to him. He strode over.

“Shhh, don’t cry anymore, young miss. You are saved now.”

The girl's shoulders trembled. She gently lay a round object wrapped in cloth on the ground, then slowly took to her feet.

“Do you know who the hell I am?”

She turned to face him. He nodded.

“You are Xiong Huang.”

She reached into her robe, pulling out two small pieces of metal.

“Then you know I don’t need to be saved.”

Cao Xinya shook his head.

“I know you, Xiong Huang. You suffered at your father’s hand as much as I did. Each and every day he beat you. You were surrounded by vile and evil men, forced to do terrible deeds. But I know your heart is still pure, that you can still be saved. Come with me, and I will take you from this evil place.”

He extended his hand. The girl trembled.

“Are you serious?”

He nodded.

“I am always serious.”

The girl slipped on her brass knuckles and slammed them together, blowing the wind past Cao Xinya’s face. Cao Xinya blinked. The girl was before him, fist pulled back.

“ARE! YOU! SERIOUS?! YOU KNOW ME?! YOU DON’T KNOW CRAP!!!”

Cao Xinya jumped back, quickly pulling his glaive before him. He flew back with a clang as the fist impacted his blade.

“EVERYTHING I KNOW IS GONE! EVERYONE I KNOW IS DEAD! BECAUSE! YOU! KILLED! THEM!”

There were no verses. There was no qi honed into elegant techniques. There was no form. Just wild swings and raw violence. Cao Xinya had no time to act, desperately weaving and blocking.

“YOU ARE COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF MY FRIENDS! AND NOW YOU’LL SAVE ME?!”

Cao Xinya jumped back. Xiong Huang stood, breathing heavily.

“Well guess what, Mr. hero. I don’t need saving. News flash I liked it here. Those evil men you killed? I recruited and trained half of them myself. The one who broke the Elegant Flame Sect? Me. The one who massacred the River Dog Gang? Me. The Murderous Bloody Fist? That’s me.”

Xiong Huang slammed her fists together.

“You don’t know me. You just don’t want to kill a pretty face. Well guess what, hero, I’m every bit as bad as the lot of them. And you killed them. Now come and kill me.”

Cao Xinya’s face fell, a sad frown on his face.

“So you won’t turn from the path of evil? Please, I know there is good in…”

Cao Xinya gasped. A black blade protruded from his chest.

“Heroes are so annoying.”

Xiong Huang didn’t miss the chance.

Her fist dug into his cheek. His eyes bulged. Teeth flew through the air.

Cao Xinya slammed into the ground. Xiong Huang jumped upon him. Up she brought her left fist. Down she slammed into his face. Then her right. Then left. Then right. Then left. Then right.

“YOU! WANT! TO! SAVE! ME?! THEN! GIVE! BACK! OLD! WEI!”

Xiong Huang stood up. She picked up an emerald glaive. She raised it high, spun it so the blade was facing down.

She looked down upon the bloody mess of a face.

Old Wei’s smiling face flashed before her.

She brought down the blade.

Xiong Huang stood still, breathing heavily. A few moments of silence. She let go of the glaive, cracked on the handle where her fingers had dug in. She slowly straightened her back and turned to the only other person in the courtyard. They put their fist in their palm and bowed.

“This one greets the Young Mistress.”

“Cut the crap, I know you’re not one of our disciples, much less a glorified minion. You have to be in the Seventh Realm at least to hold my father’s blade.”

The man raised a hand, covered in gray metal.

“Not if you use a lead glove.”

Xiong Huang paused.

“Wait, what?”

The man ignored her and reached into his robe. He pulled out a small package and slowly unwrapped it. Xiong Huang let out a gasp.

There laid the Blazing Dragon Flower.

The man stretched out his hand. Xiong Huang trembled. She stopped her hand that was involuntary rising. She took a deep breath.

Her stomach sank. Her heart pounded in her chest. She gulped. Her vision swam. What would this man demand of her? What would he want in exchange? She took another breath. She stopped her trembling, stilled her beating heart. The Blazing Dragon Flower was worth any price.

She looked the man in the eyes.

“What do you want?”

She winced. She could not help her voice cracking. She prayed in vain that he didn’t notice.

“You handled recruitment and training for the sect, correct?”

She stopped. She blinked. She tilted her head.

“Um, yes?”

The man nodded and tossed something at her. She reflexively caught it inches from her face and brought her hand down to get a better look. One of those mechanical devices mortals were so fond of. She thinks this one was called a pager?

“I will need manpower in the future.”

“Um, ok?”

She timidly reached out her hand. The man grasped it, gave it a firm shake, and let it go. He then placed the Blazing Dragon Flower in her hand. She blinked at it a couple times before she looked up, the man already walking out of the courtyard.

“Is that, really all right?”

The man stopped walking.

“Do you have second thoughts?”

Xiong Huang shook her head with all her might.

“It’s just, this is a Blazing Dragon Flower? You aren’t going to use it?”

“I have no need for it.”

Xiong Huang’s body shook. No…need? The Blazing Dragon Flower was desired by every cultivator in the world. A mere initiate could gain a thousand years of life. An actual cultivator? The heavens themselves. Every cultivator in the world would kill for this bulb, would give up their firstborn child for it.

And this man declared he didn’t need it, without hesitation.

Xiong Huang came to her senses just before the man left the courtyard.

“Wait, if this is the Blazing Dragon Flower, what did my father take?”

The man stopped once more.

“A custom grown Adranis bulb. It took my associates many tries to get the shape right.”

Xiong Huang tilted her head.

“I’ve not heard of that herb, what manner of poison could affect my father so deeply?”

The man shook his head.

“It has no such effect. It is the key ingredient of the recreational drug called Soot.”

“A…recreational drug?”

The man turned his head back to look at Xiong Huang. She could see the edges of his mask turn upward.

“Your father cultivated hatred for a thousand years, right? I simply helped him to relax.”

Xiong Huang stared for a moment. And then rolled on the ground as she laughed.