The lithe figure in black darted to the side as a gigantic hoof crashed down on the ground where she had stood, cratering the ground. From the stirred up earth, roots erupted and grew in fast motion, coiling together into the rude shapes of thorn studded men, who reached and grasped for the retreating girl.

Xiao Fen abruptly stopped in her backward flight, heel digging a trench in the soft earth as she lashed out at the crowding root men. Wood crunched and bark shattered under the force of knee and elbow strikes as the girl carved a narrow channel through the living wave of energy, cold black flames leaving burning trails in the air where her limbs passed. She reached the hoof, even now lifting back off the ground trailing clods of earth as the gigantic boar it was attached too snorted and tossed it’s moss covered head.

She leapt and her hands blurred striking a half dozen times at a single point in the beast of stone and wood’s leg, leaving first a hairline crack, and then a crevice, and then at last a fissure, splintering up the offending limb. Not a single time during any of that did her expression change, nor did she indicate that she even felt the wound in her thigh that was staining her gown red.

Then Liu Xin had to duck under the swinging arm of a vine man, and he nearly stumbled as the ground under his feet tried to trip him up. No matter how you looked at it, Xiao Fen was a frightening girl, even when she was on your side. He eyed his own enemies, a mix of summoned root men and stone guardian animals carved from mossy stone. It looked like even if the Elder who set up this trial gave some weight to other things, they just hadn’t been able to help themselves with a combat challenge.

He felt himself grinning as he ducked and wove through the dumb constructs, his every footstep kicking up a plume of fine dust as qi pulsed through his legs, at last, he found a moment a respite as he dove and rolled to his feet on the other side of the encircling foe, and brought his foot down with a hard stomp, even more fine, choking dust erupting outward in a ringer. In his clenched hands, fiery stars bloomed and he threw out his hands.

The world turned white as the dust detonated, and Liu Xin’s eyes did not even water. He’d gotten better at scrapping as an immortal after all. As the force of the blast rippled out through his bones.

Xiao Fen landed beside him, expressionless and unruffled, and behind her the stone boar turned ponderous and unsteady, favoring its right leg. His eyes widened as it lowered its head to charge, and yet Xiao Fen met his alarmed gaze without concern.

The sound of stone cracking shook the clearing, and the boar wobbled on its feet as across its body, new vents hissed and released black smoke. It took a single step forward, fury burning its crystal eyes before parts of its body began to bulge outward. The whole clearing shook as the beast exploded violently into an explosion of black flame and chaotic qi scattering shrapnel and gravel.

“...That’s a new one,” Liu Xin said, wincing as he lowered his arms from in front of his face.

“The Twenty Six Ruinous Touches art is passed from the teachings of Yao himself,” Xiao Fen replied blandly. “It is not for use on targets which you wish to live.”

That’d explain why he’d not seen it before, but on the other hand…

“You just mastered it huh?” Liu Xin said.

Xiao Fen did not visibly react. “That is correct. Your eye for energy is improving.”

Liu Xin merely grunted, peering around the now quiet clearing. “Is that wound gonna be okay. I’ve got medicine. ‘S my fault you got hurt saving me earlier anyway.”

“I have already disabled the pain receptors in my leg,” Xiao Fen replied. “And this is your trial, it is only sensible to preserve your capacity for action over mine.”

“Right, and it’s only sensible to make sure you’re not hindered in the rest of the trial too,” Liu Xin replied. He was familiar with how you argued with her by now.

Xiao Fen pursed her lips, peering suspiciously at the shattered clearing. “Very well. Apply your tincture quickly. We will not be left alone long.”

He glanced down at the amount of blood soaked into her gown, and back to her face. Not even a little bothered.

Scary.

***

Liu Xin collapsed onto the flat stone outside of the trial entrance, grinning fiercely. In one sweaty hand, he held a jade slip containing an art that would finally give him some defenses, and in the other he held a temporary storage bead containing enough stones to fund his craftworks for a month.

“It appears you succeeded, very good,” Xiao Fen said.

Tiredly, he turned his head to where she sat on another stone in the hilltop clearing around the stone circle that marked the trial site. “Didn’t I tell you to go to the medicine hall after you left?”

“You did. I determined that my bodily regulation art was sufficient,” Xiao Fen replied blandly.

He closed his eyes. Somehow, when they had reached the point where one of them needed to go back, part of him had still thought for sure she was going to kick him out. Frankly, he still didn’t understand this crazy girl. She didn’t make sense. But she’d done exactly what she said she would, and now she’d even sat out here and waited for him to finish.

“Hey Xiao Fen,” he said, rolling onto his back to stare up at the stars.

“Yes?” she said.

“You really are serious about being my friend huh?”

“I will fulfill all missions my Mistress gives me,” Xiao Fen replied.

He grimaced, that was what she usually said, and it usually creeped him out. Liu Xin found he didn’t really buy it though. There was no need to go as far as she did if it was just obligatory. “Yeah, I get that,” he said. “Still, thank you.”

“You are welcome,” she said after a moment. “I am genuinely pleased by your success.”

He let out a huff of laughter under his breath. “What’re your parents like, Xiao Fen?”

“What an odd question for this venue, Liu Xin,” Xiao Fen said.

“Well you badgered me about my family when we were having tea,” Liu Xin grunted. He’d been too afraid not to answer, and too nervous to ask any questions back. That had been a real awkward tea time. “Seems like I should catch up.”

Xiao Fen was silent for a time. “I had assumed I had made errors in establishing rapport, but it seems that you were simply shy, Liu Xin.”

Sure, he would go with that.

“Unfortunately I cannot answer your query. I do not have parents,” Xiao Fen said casually.

He winced. Well fuckin it up from the word go. Maybe his old man was right about him. “Oh shit, sorry. I didn’t mean-”

Xiao Fen shook her head. “No, your assumption is wrong. No Xiao clan Bai have parents. Filial relationships would interfere with our duties.”

He sat up, looking at her strangely. “Wait, who took care of you then. How does that even work?”

“The clan arranges for caretakers, who are swiftly rotated between the current generation of children to avoid any unnecessary attachments from forming,” she said, pausing after a moment. “This is not a secret topic, but it is somewhat complex and lengthy. I believe it would be better to discuss the matter in more comfortable conditions.”

“Right,” Liu Xin blew out an explosive breath. So much for understanding her better. This was going to be a project.

He’d make it work though.