~~~

The cultivator descending from the heavens wears a thick brown cloak with a hood on it that doesn’t leave even an inch of her body exposed. Even her face is hidden behind a white veil. However, no matter how covered up she is, there is no mistaking her power.

Heaven Realm, Ninth Level.

She is the White Fairy of the Border Territories, a hero who shows up to protect the weak and downtrodden regardless of which side of the border they belong to. Liu Jin first heard about her from Colonel Peng, but it wasn’t until he talked with Song Daiyu that Liu Jin learned she had another name.

Bai Wen, the disciple of one of the Five Fairies of the Divine Frozen Palace.

“I believe I told you to step away from that boy,” Bai Wen says. Her voice is melodic yet cold.

Yong Zhunyi and Ye Zheyu do not move. Not because they mean to challenge Bai Wen but because their every instinct screams at them to stand still. Even the slightest movement from them could create a lethal opening.

“Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan,” Bai Wen says, taking note of their robes. “I am not surprised to find that you enjoy beating your juniors. Such savagery is fitting for you. However, this country has far too much of such things already.”

She raises a finger. The air around them grows cold, and the ground makes creaking noises as it frosts over.

“Do not make me ask you to step away a third time.”

Yong Zhunyi and Ye Zheyu immediately back away, their Qi still blazing around them to protect them. However, it’s pointless. They might be some of the strongest cultivators of their generation, but in front of Bai Wen, they might as well be newborn pups. They are in the Earth Realm. She is in the Heaven Realm. They are Core Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan. She is the personal disciple of one of the strongest cultivators of the Divine Frozen Palace.

Power, experience, knowledge. There is not a single area where they are superior to Bai Wen.

And yet, when Yong Zhunyi speaks, he manages to sound calm.

“Fairy, this is a misunderstanding,” he says. “The boy you protect is not someone worth protecting. He is a traitor and a thief who sabotaged my companions and me by denying us medicine when we needed it most, leading to the death of one of our own.”

Liu Jin blinks.

That is… not entirely untrue. Indeed, Yong Zhunyi likely picked those words because they were not untrue, knowing his life could very well be forfeit if Bai Wen caught even a glimpse of falsehood coming from him. It says a lot about Yong’s ability to think under pressure. Most likely, he is relying on Liu Jin’s tale being too outlandish to be believable to get out of this situation.

Fortunately, Yong Zhunyi does not know a great many things.

“Lady Bai Wen, I am Liu Jin, a friend of Xiao Shuang,” Liu Jin says, his voice clear and strong despite the pain. “The same Xiao Shuang who is a disciple of Meng Yue, one of the Five Fairies of the Divine Frozen Palace.”

Gritting his teeth, Liu Jin uses his one arm to take out the knife Meng Yue gifted him from his spatial pouch and presents it to Bai Wen.

“Many years ago, Lady Meng Yue gifted this knife to me,” he says. “It has served me well, but my foes this time are beyond me. They consort with those beyond the Dead Plains for purposes I know not. I come to you in need of shelter and to warn you of the danger they pose.”

Liu Jin’s declaration freezes Yong Zhunyi and Ye Zheyu in place. For a moment, everything seems to stand still. Not even a lone gust of wind dares disturb the scene. Then...

Step.

Step.

Step.

Calmly, as if she had all the time in the world, Bai Wen steps between Liu Jin and his two pursuers.

“I see,” Yong says. “This… I believe this will hurt.”

“I am not a member of your Eternal Flame Clan,” Bai Wen says sharply. “Do not assume I am willing to engage in the same cruelty you so eagerly do. This will be quite painless.”

Yong shakes his head. “You misunderstand me. When I say this will hurt, I am not referring to anything you are about to do, Great Fairy.”

Yong’s words puzzle Bai Wen and Liu Jin, but neither gets the chance to ask him to explain himself.

Yong Zhunyi and Ye Zheyu are squashed right before their eyes.

It is as if their bodies had suddenly been struck by a giant invisible hammer. The two cultivators become little more than splashes of blood and gore, yet that all fades away in the blink of an eye. As if their very existence had been a lie.

Bai Wen and Liu Jin are left alone.

“What a curious little technique,” Bei Wen says, more interested and curious than shocked. “I do not believe that sort of technique is popular in the Eternal Flame Clan. In fact, I do not believe I have ever seen that exact type of spatial displacement before.”

Her words make Liu Jin turn to her. “Spatial displacement?“

“It means they have been transported elsewhere,” Bai Wen explains. “Of course, it was not them who used the technique. It felt more like they gave a signal to the one who did.”

Liu Jin resists the urge to point out he knows what spatial displacement is in favor of focusing on the latter part of her words. Yong Zhunyi and Ye Zheyu had given off a signal somehow.

It seems Brother Ye was not exaggerating. Those flesh buds do have their uses. If so, the ones they have must not be as simple as the ones haphazardly placed on Huang Shing and the other disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan during their battle against the Fleshcrafter.

“I suppose this saves me the trouble of thinking what to do with them,” Bai Wen says, not sounding even slightly displeased by their escape. “Furthermore, that they could call for that sort of esoteric technique lends some credence to your words.”

Something about the way she says it makes Liu Jin narrow his eyes.

“You could have stopped them,” he guesses.

“Correct,” she confirms for him. Liu Jin can almost see her eyes shining behind her veil. “However, I have no intention of being used as an assassin by someone I just met.”

Liu Jin looks down. He is not pleased that Yong Zhunyi and Ye Zheyu have gotten away after he revealed so much about himself. That will doubtlessly come back to haunt him. Luckily, Feng Zhi will learn some of it through Yi Jiao before anyone else can tell him, so the damage is somewhat mitigated. Still, it is not an ideal situation.

And yet… Bai Wen’s words are fair. More than fair even.

“It seems I have been rude,” Liu Jin says, picking himself from the ground and offering her a bow. “You have my deepest gratitude. Without your assistance, this Liu Jin would have been taken captive and eventually killed. That I am here and whole is thanks to you.”

Bai Wen smiles. At least, Liu Jin thinks she does. “Think nothing of it, young one. I merely seek to act in a way that won’t shame my master, though… I do not think you can be called whole yet.”

She waves her hand. Liu Jin’s arm floats up from the ground.

“I believe this is yours.”

“Thank you,” Liu Jin says, frowning as he looks at his severed limb.

The cut made by Yong is clean. Far too clean. Because he has already begun regenerating, the arm will not fit as it is now. Grimacing, Liu Jin slices off a chunk of his arm with his knife and attaches the rest to his regenerating tissue. His Qi glows as he does his best to reconnect his meridians and speed up the healing in that area of his body.

“Impressive.”

“It is not perfect,” Liu Jin says, trying to wiggle his fingers and experiencing mild success. The nerves are not adequately aligned yet. “But it will be with enough time. Attaching the limb is faster than trying to regrow it.”

“I am well aware of the limitations of those who have yet to reach the Heaven Realm,” Bai Wen says. There is no mockery or disdain in her words. She is merely stating a fact. “Now, I believe you have made quite a few outrageous claims, disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan. You will forgive me if I do not immediately believe you.”

Liu Jin nods.

“This is the knife I received from Lady Meng Yue many years ago in Eastern Port City,” Liu Jin says, presenting the knife to her. Bai Wen inhales sharply.

“Eastern Port City,” she whispers, taking the knife from him and examining it. “That would make you…”

“Like I said, this one’s name is Liu Jin,” Liu Jin says, bowing in greeting. “I was born and raised in Eastern Port City. It was there that I met and married Xiao Shuang, the daughter of the now-deceased Patriarch of the Xiao Sect. The same Xiao Shuang who is now Lady Meng Yue’s disciple and a member of the Divine Frozen Palace.”

Liu Jin lifts his head.

“I have already talked with Song Daiyu of the Five Blessings Group and know why you are here, Lady Bai. However, the words I said earlier were not lies. Those Beyond the Dead Plains have their sights set on this country.”

“...I believe we must continue this conversation elsewhere.”

~~~

Bai Wen takes Liu Jin to a cave that has been cleaned and moderately furnished. While a cultivator of Bai Wen’s caliber has little need for food or sleep, she must prefer to indulge in it occasionally if she has bothered to make a place like this. Liu Jin wonders if she has other similar places on the other borders.

It is in this cave where Liu Jin does his best to explain the situation to her. He starts with the encounter with the Death Fashioning Scripture in the Dead Plains, then moves on to the mysterious puppeteers, the sample of Duke Lai’s Qi, and finally, his encounter with the traitorous disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan. Throughout it all, Bai Wen listens to him carefully, only speaking up when she wants him to clarify something.

When he is done, Bai Wen is silent for a full minute.

“You bring me grave news, young Liu Jin. Very grave indeed.” Liu Jin can almost feel her narrowing her eyes. “And yet, I cannot help but notice that should I do as you propose, the Eternal Flame Clan is the one who will benefit.”

The Divine Frozen Palace has been covertly working to remove the influence of the Eternal Flame Clan in the Storm Dragon Empire. This would allow them to declare war and remove Murong Bang. But now, Liu Jin is telling her that their plan needs to be abandoned because there is a greater conspiracy at work. It is natural for her to be suspicious.

“I fully understand Lady Bai’s doubts,” Liu Jin says. “The Eternal Flame Clan’s influence in the Storm Dragon Empire has caused quite a bit of harm and inconvenienced the Divine Frozen Palace.”

The Eternal Flame Clan has helped General Dan stay in power, but that is all the good they have done. The status quo they have helped perpetuate has allowed a man like Murong Bang to stay in charge and countless others to suffer. That cannot be denied. If not for the Eternal Flame Clan, the Divine Frozen Palace would have already acted against Murong Bang.

“However, things have changed,” Liu Jin says. “The Eternal Flame Clan is no longer pleased with this false peace. Murong Bang will be defeated. Surely, that is pleasing to the Divine Frozen Palace?”

“Murong Bang will be defeated, and in defeating him and General He, the Eternal Flame Clan will be the one controlling the Storm Dragon Empire instead.” Liu Jin feels Bai Wen frowning behind her veil. “That is not at all pleasing to the Divine Frozen Palace.”

Liu Jin lowers his head. Convincing Song Daiyu of the dangers that awaited her if she continued with the plan was one thing. However, Bai Wen’s concerns go beyond that. The Eternal Flame Clan and the Divine Frozen Palace are not allies. Liu Jin is basically telling her to step back and allow the Eternal Flame Clan to gain power that might one day be used against her Sect.

“You are right,” Liu Jin admits. “There is no reason why the Divine Frozen Palace should abandon its goals. I humbly ask you to forgive my impertinence.”

Certainly, using Duke Lai is no longer an option, but that should not mean the Divine Frozen Palace should stop trying to realize its goals.

“You are unusually well-mannered for a disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan,” Bai Wen muses. “I suppose it is only logical. You only joined them out of convenience, after all.”

“I appreciate your words, Lady Bai,” Liu Jin says. “However, regardless of my reasons for joining, I am here as a member of the Eternal Flame Clan.”

“A pity. If you intend to stand with the Eternal Flame Clan, you will eventually stand in the Divine Frozen Palace’s way, and in doing so, you will betray your commitment to one of our own,” Bai Wen says. “Lady Meng Yue, young Xiao Shuang’s master, is like a sister to my master. In the same way, young Xiao Shuang is like a younger sister to me. I have nothing to say to a member of the Eternal Flame Clan. However, I would not turn down a request from a brother-in-law.”

Her meaning is obvious. Renounce the Eternal Flame Clan now and gain Bai Wen as an ally, a cultivator at the peak of the Heaven Realm who is more than a match for anyone in the Storm Dragon Empire save for the Three Heavenly Generals.

It is a very tempting offer.

“Even so, I must refuse.”

The air grows a little colder.

“You would turn your back on the Divine Frozen Palace?”

“I do not intend to turn my back on the Divine Frozen Palace any more than I intend to turn my back on the Eternal Flame Clan.”

“Those are the words of someone young,” Bai Wen chides him. “You cannot serve two masters, child. Those who try inevitably betray both.”

“I have only ever acknowledged one person as my master,” Liu Jin says seriously. “I had one father, one master, and one older brother. I have lost them all, and no one has filled their spots. There is no one I owe unquestionable loyalty to, Lady Bai Wen. What I do have is responsibilities. I have a responsibility to the Eternal Flame Clan, and I have a responsibility, not to the Divine Frozen Palace, but to Xiao Shuang.”

Liu Jin does his best to meet Bai Wen’s eyes through the veil.

“If you still wish the Storm Dragon Empire after all I have told you, by all means, fight for it. Those Beyond the Dead Plains have already begun to act and are piling up corpses for their arts. Their presence here benefits no one and is a threat to the lives of countless innocent people. Surely, acting against them satisfies all parties? The rest can be argued around a negotiation table after removing them.”

Bai Wen doesn’t say anything for a long time.

“You can call me Big Sister.”

~~~