Five Elements Transition sect, Elemental pavilion.
Propulsion dao shard! Reverse crescent kick!
Dive. Swallow kick into a dual saber neck slash!
Clang.
Explosive Matchstick dao shard!
Bang!
Wu Lei's fire qi infused kick blew the mannequin's scorched head into the wall. The urchin grinned, then sheathed his new enchanted twin swords, panting.
"Easy now, Crimson Demon!" Urged Master Xiaodan. "Dispel your Molten Heart gradually, just like I taught you."
"Sure." Wu Lei exhaled and looked around. Two dozen young disciples and rank one masters averted their gazes. "It was fun, eh?" He smiled with a corner of his lips, eyes childishly devious.
"No doubt about that, hahaha!" Master Xiaodan was delighted. "It's the hardest rank one mannequin we've got, kid. I'm impressed." There was nothing he respected more than martial brilliance, and in the past two weeks, Wu Lei delivered his fair share. "What I am worried about is, aren't you having too much fun? Given your situation…"
Wu Lei scoffed:
"With all respect, what would you have me do? Roll over and cry? Did that the first night it happened. Now is the time I move on. I've got a tournament to win."
"And a debt to pay." Xie Xiaodan bantered back, but also gently reminded.
"Yeah, a debt…" Wu Lei repressed a grin.
Wu Lei's superiors thought that his newfound wealth came from Feng Chonglin's sponsorship, yet the truth was much darker — he had robbed a blood path material storage, along with a set of dead blood path master's dao shards. Feng Chonglin helped him sell these goods on the black market and cooked the books, yet demanded a significant cut in return.
That old bastard.
"Will you join the elite rank one training today, my disciple?" Xie Xiaodan asked. "Or do you have another class in that mansion master Chonglin's renting?"
"Respectfully, there are only two rank ones in this sect I want to spar with. Both aren't in the sect right now. So I'll probably attend master Chonglin's class, as much as he vexes me at times…"
"Respectfully this, respectfully that, you aren't kidding anyone, kid. But I get what you're saying…"
It was obvious to Wu Lei that master Xiaodan missed Xin, his favourite disciple among the current crop. And more than this, the man was clearly still affected by the death of his brother, Xie Taowei, and his good friend and rival, Huang Lingbo.
He could relate.
"Huh?" Master Xiaodan put one hand to his ear, then raised a pointing finger of his other one. "Heavens bless us!"
"Huh?" Wu Lei raised an eyebrow. Did he just receive a telepathic message?
"Come 're, kid!" He beckoned Wu Lei with a finger. "Got a task for ya!"
"Sure." Wu Lei ran up to him and bowed. "Eager to serve, my master."
"Haha, you wouldn't make it as an actor, that I can tell ya." The man scoffed and slapped his protruding belly. "Listen, the task is quite simple — grab your flying sword, clean up and hurry up to the main gates. Can't miss the big guest!"
"The big guest? Who?" Wu Lei looked at his master from under the forehead, eyebrows furrowed.
"Did I not make myself clear, Master Lei? Hurry!"
"Yes…" Wu Lei performed a martial gesture and dressed up, worried.
There are only two people who I'd be asked to meet this way, and there is only one person Master Xiaodan would be so happy to see!
***
"Xin!" Wu Lei's flying sword charged at full throttle, his propulsion dao shard leaving a crimson fiery trail. A complete waste of qi and resources, but there was nothing that made this man feel more alive than over-indulgent spending!
"Brother?!" Xin shouted out in a raspy voice. He was covered in dirt and snotty, even his flying sword needed a thorough clean from all the dirt and leaves stuck to it.
"Hahaha!" Wu Lei dashed forth with the speed of two galloping horses.
What the… Wu Lei? Where did he get a flying sword? And he's moving so fast, we might both die if we collide! Should I turn aside?
Nah. That's what he wants. Xin grinned and willed his sword to keep flying straight.
Fifty steps. Xin saw Wu Lei's manic crimson eyes, face filled with delight. It was so great to see his friend again!
Twenty five steps. Shit, he's fast. Xin slowed his sword down, yet didn't point it away. Lei will dodge, he's not THAT insane. Right?
Right?!
Fifteen.
Ten. Right?
Fuck.
Propulsion dao shard! Vermillion Wings! Wu Lei used his new technique, manifesting a fiery silhouette around his shoulderblades, two waves of fire killing most of the momentum and momentarily dissolving.
Crimson Demon's… hug!
He embraced Xin, who had just stopped his own flying sword, bumping painfully into his shoulder.
"Agh! You fucking retard…" Xin laughed and cried out at the same time. "Bloody hell, what's wrong with you?!" He patted his friend's back, still hovering in the air. "You almost cut my shin, you fucker!"
"I am sorry, Xin." Lei buried his face into his friend's shoulder. "I'm just… fuck."
"Lei, I smell, please…" He wanted to push his friend aside, yet heard a strange sound. Was Wu Lei… sobbing?
"Xin… I'm so… fucked. This whole thing, is just… fucked!" He cried into Xin's shoulder, his crimson hair waving with the wind. He had hastily tied it into a top knot minutes ago, yet he must have ruined it with the explosion that he had just manifested.
Confused, Xin wanted to ask for details, yet he felt it wasn't the right moment. The dagger in his chest twisted and he felt the urge to push Lei away — he had promised himself he wouldn't touch other humans for quite some time, but he overpowered himself and made an exception.
"I know, brother. I know. We're in this together, though. Whatever it is." He patted Wu Lei's spine. He felt like he needed a shoulder to cry on, yet he was now a shoulder to cry on instead. What a twist of fate.
"Sorry. I didn't explain." Wu Lei said. "Remember Cha Dai and Peng Shan?"
"Huh?" Xin raised his brow. "Why would I not? We trained together…"
Does this mean…?
"They're gone." Wu Lei raised his teary eyes and looked into Xin's. "Because of me."
Wu Lei was stunned by his friend's face. Xin was much bulkier to the touch, which could be explained by his physical cultivation, yet his eyes looked… sunk? His expression was empty, lips dry, face winded.
"Oh…" Xin responded. He needed a few moments to recompose. Shit, what do I even do? What do I even say?
"Oh. Oh? Oh! Hahaha! Oh!" Wu Lei broke into laughter, tears still flowing down his face. "Oh! Oopsie? Hahaha! I love you, mate! You're such a retard! And your ugly mug, who did this to you? Some cunt?"
"Well, no… wait, kind of." Xin scoffed.
"Hahaha, you're the best shit ever! The only clown to make this world worth it!" Wu Lei punched Xin's shoulder with his right arm.
"If I'm your only reason to live, I suggest you kill yourself. Come, let's visit the sect's bathhouse. I smell like shit. Drinks are on me." Xin smiled somberly.
***
The pair sat in the sect bathhouse's masters' room, dipping their toes into a hot, shallow swimming pool. The floor here was adorned with rare azure mineral stones, brought from the far reaches of the Eastern region. The latticed windows were shaped like lotus petals, procuring hot steam, and a huge lantern stood in every corner, a scented candle burning inside.
"Aaaah. The air's intoxicating here." Wu Lei took a sip of southern plum liquor. A rarity these days, given the undead incursions there. "How was your bathmaid?"
As Xin was rather dirty, he took a bath before coming here.
"Sent her away. It's faster to wash myself. She was decent, though."
"Oh! What do you mean, sent her away? A cute girl to wash your tired body, what else do you need? They should have sent a guy, I guess…"
"Oh, fuck off. I'm just… not in the mood."
"Moody much? Oh, wait!" Wu Lei sat closer to Xin and started inspecting his body's new scars. "What the fuck?! Was it the demoness who did this to you?"
Xin had already told Lei a brief version of what happened to him, yet omitted everything about Erdeni and the child.
"Eh, yes and no. The collarbone — yes. This here is that renegade water path master I mentioned, this one was a vineman's spike, and these claw marks — the manifested tiger totem. This, this and this is from the war. Had more, but the healing seed removed a lot of scar tissue." Only when he started listing his scars had Xin realised how much he truly went through.
"Shit." Wu Lei stared at amazement. "But you look badass, dare I say. And so buff, too. Did you keep your agility when you became heavier?"
"Surprisingly, yes. It took a lot of research to develop evenly, not to unbalance myself. I'm faster, yet carry more momentum now. Makes evading trickier. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, I must say."
"So, your new totem, what can it do? Was it worth it?"
"Hehe, yes. But I'm not going into detail. And please, don't tell anyone I have it. Hey, should we talk about your… situation?"
"Not here." Wu Lei looked around. "Who knows how eary these walls are. Let's just enjoy this night, we'll catch each other up to speed later."
"Deal. So, how's training with grandpa Chonglin?"
"It's… a mixed bag. I struggled at first, but now I'm making good strides. I couldn't study, so I started taking some focus dust, and now I can finally concentrate! For the first time in my life, can you imagine? And master Xiaodan, he's also…"
"What the fuck, Lei?" Xin interrupted. "Focus dust? It makes one twitchy, it's more of an illusion of concentration than a true boon. Who hooked you up on this shit?"
"Oh, come on, smartass! I did my research! People with my elemental nature benefit greatly from it — while others just get high, I get a few hours of normalcy from it. My regimen is crazy now — reading and classes, fighting and training, all day long — and then sleep! At least nine hours, every day. I'm progressing so fast! So don't speak if you don't know what you're talking about."
Drug users are often defensive about their addiction…
"Whatever." Xin replied coldly. He was worried about his friend, but too exhausted to argue. "Don't tell me I didn't warn you. You've got to develop self-reliance, no drug can replace that." He noticed a bunch of new scars and aged burns on Wu Lei's body, too, but didn't comment. Walls might have ears, indeed.
"Easy to say when you're so talented and had your parents teach you. I have to quickly bridge the gap between me and people like you and Ming — of course I need to take shortcuts! But don't worry, I'm careful."
"Hm, I see." Xin restrained his thoughts and let this one go. "You've told me you qualified for the tournament, but was it first or second place?"
"First. Nominally." Lei scoffed, then took another sip of liquor. "That fag Tei Zhuo beat me, assisted by the whole sect, then surrendered 'out of respect for my martial spirit' to save me face. Disgusting."
"Could it be that he was genuine?" Xin raised an eyebrow.
"Doubt that. The sectborn don't truly respect us or think of us as one of their own. We've only got each other, Xin. Maybe some other seeds like Ming or Xiaoyun… on a good day, that is."
Did Lei get even more angsty? Worrisome.
"Noticed people looked away when we walked through the sect halls. What's up with that?"
"Oh, that?" Wu Lei smiled innocently. "My reputation's a bit fucked. Threw a tantrum after the fight, then fainted. Some whisper the Sect Leader themself knocked me out remotely. Me? I don't remember anything, woke up in my bed all fine."
"Lei…" Xin sighed. He expected to rest, yet his troublesome friend gave him no peace of mind. "Just don't spiral down, alright? Please."
Wu Lei's innocent expression became rather serious again, he put his liquor aside, took a gulp of water from a nearby jar, then looked Xin straight in the eyes, as if drilling holes in them.
"You know what I think, my dear friend?" He spoke in a calm, gentle voice. "Think you're focusing on how bad my situation is, all to ignore that you're about to break down yourself, just like that time before the war. You were already a mossy stone when you started rolling, and now that you're back, your demons are catching up.
When we met, we helped each other heal. Just a little bit. And now you desperately want me to hurt so that you can help me out. I get it, that would make your own pain more bearable. But I'm fine, truly. Don't worry, focus on yourself and the tournament. Alright? I've got this one."
Fuck. He's spot on, but also… wrong? Xin felt his heart beat faster in protest.
"Lei, I admire this counter-attack to distract from my valid criticisms, but…"
"Oi!" Wu Lei dove into the pool and splashed Xin with some water. "Told you to back off, you cunt! Speaking of cunts, what about that girlie who hurt you? Mind sharing?"
"Agh, you bastard!" Xin wiped his face, then performed a qi-infused expansion kick to send a huge stream of water towards Wu Lei. By the time it reached his face, the man was already underwater, emerging moments later in the further end of the pool, grinning. "Yes, I mind! Look, I'll share, just let me rest! Alright?"
"Fine! Speaking of cunts, Wu Xiaoyun is worried gravely about you. I told some inner disciples I am going out to meet you, so she probably knows by now! Don't keep a young fairy waiting!"
"Don't call her that, you urchin. She doesn't deserve this…" Xin felt a mix of warmth and shame in his chest.
"What, a fairy? I know beauty is subjective, but a huge rack and a warm smile are a hit in every man's league. Except yours, apparently!"
"I meant 'cunt', you dick! You're such a retard…" Xin also dropped into the pool. The water was hot, yet nothing was warmer than that cold, crystal clear lake…
"That girl, I see that you miss her." Wu Lei swam up closer and put a hand over Xin's shoulder, grinning.
How does he…? Right, I'm not very subtle.
"Fuck off…" Xin couldn't help but scoff. "Wait!" He raised his finger.
"What?"
"Someone's coming." Xin infused his senses further. A few moments later, the door opened, letting a cloud of steam out, and a middle-aged man entered and bowed lowly.
Who is this? Xin didn't recognise him.
"Come on, I told them I don't want to see any male servants!" Wu Lei waved his hand. "Oh…" Amid the smoke, he noticed the Foundation stage collar on the master's robes.
"Master Xin…" The man gave Wu Lei a side-eye, but ignored him further. "You've been summoned to the Central Tower. An audience with the Sect Leader."
What?
Meow?!