That black smudge which had been blotted behind the mud shot in their direction like a magnet, accurately finding their location. Yet, each meter she traveled, the ground groaned, sending volleys of rocks into her direction trying to drag her from the sky. Jiang Tengyi held his breath as the rocks only skim her clothes, never touching her person. With the force the realm used, any person who got caught would surely been squish flat. As they came closer and closer above their heads, Da Chuanli caught the faint scent of lilac, nearly choking on the messy twirling in his lungs. A swelling of emotion, something clawing in his throat. White hair, silver light within half closed eyes which seemed to skim over his person...and trembled with the wind.
"My lord!" Erlang only managed to catch the pouch thrown at them before the woman riding the crackling sword zipped pass them, followed by another violent shower of rubble which swarmed her. The rocks cutting into her sleeves, nearly drawing blood if not for the scales running all throughout her body. Pursing her lips. Erlang could only helplessly watch as the chaos followed the woman who, though formidable, could hardly fight a bodyless realm. Hurriedly opening the bag, she quickly scanned the items inside and was unable to prevent her audible inhale of shock. Lady Chao Bai's... Hou Yi, catching her expression, wanted to ask her if she was alright. Only for Erlang to snap out of her daze the next second.
Closing the bag tightly, not letting even the slightest bit of the treasure shown within. She nods stiffly to the men, even as her heart leap up into her throat. Trying to remain calm, "With the lord drawing the realm's attention, we should be able to enter the center of the array safely. We need to hurry before they grow weary." Erlang slipped the pouch into her lapel without letting them see what lay within. Jiang Tengyi stayed quiet, not knowing how to face their seniors who hid such a big secret from him. Hou Yi, trusting both Chao Bai and his companion also fell silent, accepting her words as truth.
It was Da Chuanli, the outsider, the one who didn't know anything. Whose gaze, from beginning to end, followed that person riding a cracking sword in dark robes with misty eyes. Like red lipstick, her ruby accessory smearing his vision, leaving an after image that was both breathtaking and devastating. Stirring something in his memory. Lilac Incense. Misty eyes. "Young Master Ling!!" Erlang was the first to sense a disturbance in his direction, already wary because of earlier, and hurriedly spun around to catching his arm. "Erlang!" Hou Yi pulled her back as the youth viciously, without warning, without a word, retaliated with a ruthless swing of his sword nearly snipping her fingertips off.
His heart raced, his ears ringing, his fingers numb. Chasing that relentless red and blue. It was impossible. He knew it too. He could still see it. Frozen blood vessels attached to a dangling wrist. A wall of ice. A desolate field of upturned earth and snow. Halls adorn in all white, a coffin carrying only a single limb. His master drinking his sorrows away deep into the night. Ghostly yards and abandoned instruments. It was unknown if she knew he was chasing her, for the realm took all her energy weaving swords of rainbow crystals to exchange blows with the endless barrage. Riding to the clouds, the woman wielded another sword, already straining to keep itself together. Stabbing the false sky directly, sending another violent crack into the barrier.
*SNAP-!! With that crack, like a tear in a seam, icicles ate at the wound. Irritating the realm into another blind frenzy, aiming for the life of the one who tore at it's array from within. Letting go of the smooth handle, Chao Bai allowed gravity to predict her descent. Watching as her spiritual essence devoured the barrier with this tear she created. Even if she knew it was ineffective in the long run, she still had to do it. Draw as much energy as she could out from the realm so it could loosen its defenses and allow Erlang to finish dissipating the array with her beast core. Shutting her starry eyes to recover a bit of energy, she took in a deep breath as a large spike below her formed soundlessly. Wanting to impale the falling star.
As she weaves a new sword to catch her, her hands hesitate halfway, eyelids fluttering as a subtle emotion crosses her features. She let herself fall without making another effort to save her skin, even as her heart skipped a beat and the spike only came closer and closer. Impatient, the spike shot out from the earth straight at her torso, planning to tear her in half as she had done to it before. However, just like the spike beneath her formed without a sound, a snowflake just as deadly, silently took form within her palms. And very carefully, left her grasp, falling much slower than it's descending creator. An ear numbing explosion. Like the popping of an imploding gas filled balloon consumed by flames.
Da Chuanli's expression faintly stifled, watching as large icicles exploded from a nearly invisible origin. Shooting straight into the barrier above them once more, almost entirely shattering the barrier this time as if she had thrown her all into the last attack. Leaving no trace of the person from before. Not even a drop of blood in her wake. Only rubble and melting snow. Like a rat cowering beneath an approaching predator, it dared not bare its fangs anymore and hurriedly retrieved the last of its strength into the core of the array. Snow slowly falling from above down on the mortals beneath her protection.
~
Erlang hurriedly rushed pass the withered hedge, trying not to become distracted by the mass of deliberately destroyed rubble surrounding her. Nearly scrapping her legs if not for her toughened skin and faint protection gifted to her by Chao Bai's beast core still pulsing in the pouch by her chest. However, no matter how rare, precious, and coveted this bestial core in her hands was, to her, it was a sinful burden to carry the beating heart of their sect's benefactor in her grasp. As it meant carrying the quite literal life and death of the heavenly beast that shielded their sect selflessly. Since the snowfall a few moments ago started, her unease multiplied by tenfold.
Apprehensively, stepping into a shattered ceiling of a hidden room below the very center of the array. Erlang grunts with a bit of effort as she pushed a falling pillar with soul stealing silver eyes glowering at the intruder even in death. Beneath the dust, she brushed away everything to reveal a rectangular box encrypted with odd scribbles and the coiling figures of two serpents baring their fangs at one another. "Is this really the correct place?" Shaking her head to clear her doubts, she took out the instructions left in the bag with the core. Making sure she hadn't found the wrong place. As she was doing so, a white tail, flicked at the end of the box.
Chi pops up from the side, nearly frightening Erlang to death, as she truly never sensed the small creature at all until she showed herself. "Young Master Ling's pet?" Recognizing the snake which always hung around Da Chuanli's wrist, Erlang was truly surprised this time. Even more surprised than when she discovered Chao Bai had been a serpent. Though wary of the young man, she peered at the seemingly harmless, even strangely cute appearing snake who only stared back at her quietly. Or, more accurately, at the pouch she had hidden in her lapels. She covered the pouch with her hand protectively.
Flicking her tongue at the human her owner lent her most precious core to, Chi was somewhat confused as to how the most trusted person had changed. However, as a spiritual weapon attached to her master, she naturally trusted her owner's choice as well. Curling up tightly upon the podium, Chi released the pent-up energy within her body, merging with the slumbering array. Slowly, but surely, her glossy eyes solidify into opal jewels. Her body straining into steel, whilst extending her fangs into a delicate placeholder, the perfect size for the palm sized orb. The transformation making Erlang hold her breath and stare with widen eyes. Not stopping to questioning on why the Azure's little master had such an intimate item on his person related to Chao Bai.
She focused on placing the core gently between the fangs of the spiritual weapon instead. Light. The same shade as the forest surrounding them, gathering like fireflies at dusk, crawling up the tail of the little snake. Gradually flowing into the mouth beneath the beast core like scattered beads rolling down a spiral drain. Erlang steps back as the remaining hostile energy became unendurable for a human like her who only dealt with refined spiritual energy. Covering her nose and blocking the nauseating musk from overwhelming her. Erlang still felt sick just being in it's presence, repulsed and somewhat frightened by it's intensity.
Like a wild animal chained and dragged along the forest floor to its slaughter. Chao Bai's beast core absorbed the rampant spiritual energy turning it into nutrients for her recovery as their stalemate had weakened both parties to the point of devouring one another. Like model clay, the light began to take the shape of something else. A small, glimmering rope and, a crystal child....Even smaller than Chi, she emerged from the reverse waterfall of spiritual energy. Droplets of energy spill over the crystal child with nearly translucent scales covering her from head to toe. A beautiful, twisted work of nature.
"Lady...." Erlang bit her tongue, her eyes held heartbreak for the other seeing the state she was in. So, all this time the Lady was also... Like breaking free from a mold, the fairy in the waterfall held within the fangs of the snake started slipping from her place. Meaning to catch her, Erlang extends her palms, afraid that if she hit the stone too hard, her body would shatter into millions of dust like particles. Chi was quicker, unfolding and wrapping her master within her body, nuzzling the crystal fairy as if prompting her to awaken. A puppet spell.
One she had been using perhaps too frequently...As her body had shrank in both physical form and aura. Unlike when she had spiritual roots and a cultivator's body. Now, she was just a beast with her core alone. To minimize the energy reserves for the cracking of the barrier in the near future, she could only do this much now. The little woman's butterfly lashes flutter open, revealing rice sized gem for eyes still breathtaking despite being harder to spot. Erlang knelt as soon as she saw Chao Bai was alright, feeling relieved to see their benefactor was conscious. "My lady, Erlang is guilty of failing the lady's trust in escorting the young masters safely to your intented coordinates. There is no excuse for my incompetance to complete the mission and forcing the lady to come to our rescue instead."
Although it was true the array was much more sneaky and powerful than they had first thought, it was her fault at the end of the day as it was within her field of expertise yet she couldn't intercept in time risking Jiang Tengyi and Ling Da Chuanli's life if not for Chao Bai's quick hand. In the end, if she had reacted faster this could have all been avoided. Or, they could have at least been able to dispel the array before the Lady sacrificed a portion of herself and expended all her energy to distract the realm for their sake. Chao Bai took a reckless route very much unlike herself to ensure their safety. Erlang was inexperienced. Untempered. Naive.
Her shoulders tense, as frustration towards her own uselessness had forced even Hou Yi to shoulder more for her sake. If it were anyone else but Hou Yi, she would have no doubt been looked upon candidly for providing nothing more than a bubble of air to breath in during this brief but earnumbing slap to the face. Chao Bai blinks her snow lashes, peering at the human shaped ball of energy. Her fingers twitch, contrary to the hunger in her bones calling out to devour the human before her to soothe the soreness within; The tiny woman stood from Chi's nuzzingly embrace, sitting upon her large snout. Raising her palms to the sky, catching those flakes of "snow", her countenuance somewhat hollow, even a hint mourning.
"The third time." "Lady." Erlang whispers, feeling even worse for her inability to soothe the benefactor's wounds only able to diagnose the unimaginable loss Chao Bai must be feeling at the moment. Letting the fragment of her shattered core disapate back into the atmosphere, she didn't seem as frazzled or sorrowful as Erlang on the outside. Only commenting on the results of her decisions lightly to cement it into the present. "Someone tampered with the seal, perhaps never expecting anyone but themselves to be able to maintain order despite pulling in others at random." Erlang's eyes flicker with visible puzzlement and worry before clarity shoots through her mind, causing her to instictively look towards Chao Bai with alarm. "The Lady means, someone will actively search for the one who had broken the seal?"
So sacrificing her human core, it was not a means of overprotection, but necessarity. Feeling a numbing chill run down her spine, Erlang only felt fearful of the future that would have awaited them if not for Chao Bai's presence. "Lady, the young master." Knowing her thoughts, Chao Bai shook her head keeping her answer vague. "Jiang Tengyi will only worry unnecessarily, let him enjoy his freedom a bit longer." Allowing the "snow" to scatter further, faster, expanding all around the surrounding waters and island till only she remained. The tiny woman took only a few more moments to herself before returning to an indifferent state.
"Hou Yi's status?" Burrowing her head Erlang didn't hide it from her "He stabilized fully after taking the antidote the lady gave him, applying a few patches to his wounds were enough to neutralize the poison to an extent. Though he is not in his best form, Hou Yi can handle whatever else comes near the young master should the need arise for the time being." Vicious as the poison was, it became quite clear that with Chao Bai by their side, there was no need to be as fearful of the serpents' fangs as they used to. Nodding in awknowlegment of her efforts, Chao Bai slid from Chi's snout letting the spiritual weapon staighten without fear of her master falling off. Despite sustaining a morale loss, it was still their win in the end.
"Soon the island won't be able to preserve it's current greenary, take the two away and meet Yilin outside the veil. Ehuang is already at the wings awaiting your arrival." "Cousin also came?" Not hiding her bafflement, Erlang hurriedly apologizes for her inappropriate reaction once those cool eyes sent her a subtle look. "Although the poison has been neutralized, Hou Yi still requires a full checkup to ensure no permenant damage lingers behind. Jiang Tengyi's health too needs to inspected, to ease the minds of Sir Feng and Madam." Erlang hesitates, peering up at the tiny fairy from her kneeling position, treading carefully. "Lady Chao Bai's condition, is also a concern for the Sect Master and Madam."
However, Chao Bai didn't seem to notice her concerns dismissing her probing with another order. "Go." Still feeling guilty for being not of use despite Chao Bai's matter of fact words, Erlang bit her lip before extending a kowtow to the other. Her head planted firmly to the ground with full sincerity. Wordlessly getting up to do as told after staying in that position for a full minute. Even if she had two, for Chao Bai to shatter her mortal core was still a large matter not to be taken for granted. The mere thought of the same happening to them, the entire realm of cultivators would furrow their brows and condem the other for mentioning the possibility.
And as Erlang thought, truthfully, Chao Bai herself wasn't as at ease as she showed on the surface. Only she knew, how close she had come to sudden death then. Absorb the rampant array? Subdue the previous Lord's domain? Scatter her fragments? Was Chao Bai truly that powerful alone?*gurgle As dark as ink, thick and clumpy, a small handful of vomit slips from her lips the moment Erlang went out of sight. Chi stood aside as she always had, watching with clear eyeballs as her master doubles over, expelling that tainted venom physically mouthful by mouthful. That ever present humming of energy in her stomach though?
Gritting her teeth, with all her might and she swallows it back down even as her body protested her actions again. Chao Bai is a defect. A serpent unable to withstand their own venom is a failure. However, this defect, had been given a gift from the gods despite her imperfection. "Rushing all this way just to be meet with this pitiful sight-" The man sighs as gently as the stars swirling pass her vision. "-I had thought a formidable opponent had arrived in the first time in decades so I deliberately intercepted the intermission. Who would have thought, said opponent was already on their last legs before I could arrive?" Opening her starry eyes, frost emitted from her very soul directed at the other serpent as if baring her fangs at the observer for looking down on her.
Stalked, tormented, then, silenced. That was the fate of prey who unfortunately found themselves in the sights of the Silver Sea. Before those deadly fangs of his could reach her, snapping her tiny body in half. Chao Bai took hold of Chi. Forcing the blade from it's scabbed after so many years, Chi hums excitedly as her body meet steel of equal quality sending sparks of feveour all throughout her body. Obedient as a lamb in the hands of her master. The male, intrigued and amused by her actions of growing in size and deflecting his claws in such quick succession. Looks down at his scratched steel claws with unveiled humor. "A feint? You were faking?"
Flicking the poison off her cold sword, she didn't answer his question, never taking her eyes off his bundle of spiritual energy. From his toes, to the hair down his shoulders, every part of the man pulsed with vitality. Reminding her of the "father" who raised her. Like the light of first dawn, Wang Lan Biyu unhesitantly made the first move. As vicious as a viper with all intent to kill the serpent standing before her. Even if her actions were swift, the man stepped aside while observing her face carefully. "You, are a royal." The whistle of steel meeting steel strung the air dry. Shaking his hand to offset the force of both sword energy and strength the woman had swung into his neck.
He wasn't surprised when his claws, as if made of brittle tin, stiffen and shatter after taking the hit for him. Stepping back before that blade with the weight of a decending immortal trailed after his neck like a magnet managed to hit it's target. A burning flame of blue emerges from his pocket alerting Wang Lan Biyu into being the one to defend this time. Her weapon-no, it was her arms, that shook as she diverted the sword in his hand from her wrist. Sweat coating her brows. More than her sore arms screamed at her, as the spiritual beast who, logically should never have the same willingness to resort to spiritual weapons as mortals; Very calmly took out his own and sent her a seemingly look of approval.
"I suppose this trip won't be a waste of time after all."