Read this novel at subscribestar.adult/fallenhead
From now until the end of the year, anyone who signs up will automatically receive 10 free days
Chapter 11 Part 1 Temptation and Teaching
After being thrown out and kicked once by Stone Orchid, Tianming crashed heavily onto the ground and lost consciousness.
He didn't know how much time had passed when, dazed, he woke up. Remembering just what happened, he called out anxiously, "Shaoyu? Stone Orchid?"
He shouted, but in the endless darkness, only he was there; darkness swallowed his voice.
"Where is this?" Tianming muttered in confusion. All around was pitch black, he couldn't see his hand before his face. He recalled Shaoyu and Stone Orchid had already been captured.
He tried to leave, to go save them, so he started running, but eventually stopped.
"Is anyone there…" Tianming ran for ages, never knowing where he'd wound up. He cried out in a panic.
"Is anyone there…" The only answer from the dark was silence.
After some unknown span, exhaustion overtook him; he slumped to the ground. At that moment, the endless darkness revealed a hint of light.
Tianming, excited, ran toward the light. As he got closer, he saw it came from a peculiar bird it had three legs. He stared at the bird, which also stared back.
"Hey, hello!" Tianming recognized it as the Three-legged Golden Crow Stone Orchid had spoken of.
At his words, the bird's eyes showed an oddly human curiosity and mockery. It stretched its wings and fluttered up.
"Wait, don't go!" Tianming pursued. The crow did not fly fast, but no matter how Tianming sprinted, he couldn't close the gap.
The crow flew for a long time, Tianming trailing it to a gate of light a strange door, visible only up close, otherwise swallowed by darkness.
The crow glanced at Tianming, then went through the door, and Tianming rushed in after.
"So cold!" The chill snapped him alert; passing the door, he entered a magical place.
Huge koi swam overhead. Colossal pillars soared into the clouds. Bitter cold rose from beneath he stood atop a massive floe of ice.
The crow had vanished, but the space, though lacking obvious light, glowed brightly. He could see everything crystal-clear, but there was no one else.
He walked to the edge of the ice and reached out "It really floats," he marveled. Turning back, he suddenly noticed a woman at the ice's center, dressed in sumptuous palace robes with her hair wrapped up, back to Tianming so he couldn't see her face.
"Hey, hello…" She ignored him; Tianming tried walking around to see her face, but no matter how he moved, he saw only her back.
Undaunted, Tianming ran, but she always faced away.
"Why do you not give up?" Her voice was regal and daunting.
"Who are you?" Tianming called, bracing himself.
"Why don't you give up?" she repeated.
"What do you want me to give up?"
Again, only "Why don't you give up?"
"Are you talking to me?"
"I am Tianming, Juzi of the Mohists who are you? Yin-Yang School?"
"You're Mohist Juzi? What of Yan Dan?" Her tone quavered, as though fearful; even Tianming could hear her unrest.
"Juzi's long gone. You knew him?"
She wept unseen, lost in memories, ignoring Tianming.
"Yan Dan, Six Fingers, and every Juzi never met a good end. Boy, are you not afraid to be Mohist Juzi?"
"What's to fear? Only cowards fear!" Hearing that, the woman chuckled.
"Your skills are so poor, and you're so young how did the Mohists pick you?"
"I was chosen by the old Juzi himself; why shouldn't I be?"
"Yan Dan…" she sighed.
"You still haven't told me who you are!"
"If you died here, are there any wishes you'd leave behind?"
At last she turned to face Tianming regal, untouchable, her bearing naturally noble: arched brows, autumn eyes, cherry lips, snow-white neck truly goddess-like.
"You… you mean to kill me?"
"A Mohist Juzi, to fall at a Yin-Yang School hand it's fate."
"Hmph, I'm not afraid!" But as Tianming tried to posture, he realized he couldn't move. Ice crawled up his legs, freezing him solid; everything below his head was immobilized. She watched coldly, indifferent to his peril. "Evil woman, let me go! If you've guts, fight me fairly!" His curses faded as the ice crept over his face, freezing him completely.
Soon, under the threat of death, Yan Dan's inner power within him activated along with the sealed Sleep Curse's energy.
Crackling sounded the ice enveloping Tianming splintered, then shattered apart. Freed suddenly, Tianming grabbed his Mo-Mei sword and charged at Yanfei.
She raised her hand with casual grace. His sword met her fingers; Tianming felt a massive force throw him aside.
He braked in midair. He could feel Yan Dan's energy stirring, the Sleep Curse fueling his power, but it didn't matter Yanfei hadn't even moved, just a lift of her hand sent him reeling. The gap in strength was overwhelming, almost despair-inducing.
Yet Tianming gritted his teeth and fought on, circling and attacking Yanfei desperately.
"Why don't you give up?" she asked again.
"You should know you have zero chance."
"Not just you even if Yan Dan lived, he couldn't defeat me. It's Mohist fate."
"The Sleep Curse can tap your potential, but it's also draining your life."
"How could I give up? Shaoyu and Stone Orchid are waiting for me to save them."
"Uncle trusts me; Xiao Gao and Xue Nu expect so much."
"How could I give up what about Yue'er?"
"For Yue'er!" Tianming surged with all his power and, for the first time, broke through Yanfei's aura, striking her directly.
She glanced at her palm a red mark where Tianming had struck, then circulated her energy, and it turned pristine again.
In disbelief, Tianming flexed his hand, "I hit her…"
Seeing this, Yanfei smiled faintly, then, before Tianming could react, snatched away his Mo-Mei.
"My Mo-Mei…" he cried as she claimed his weapon. She had only taken the sword; if she'd meant harm, she might have taken his head.
She raised Mo-Mei before her face, ran her fingers over it
"Mo-Mei, bladeless, like a sword of peace Dan, you delivered him to me yourself?"
She then demonstrated the Mo-Mei sword technique before Tianming's eyes its terrifying power reminiscent of seeing the Juzi's sword that once repulsed Wei Zhuang.
"How does she know the old Juzi's technique?" Tianming wondered.
Completing the swordset, Yanfei tossed Mo-Mei back to Tianming.
"I heard you mention Yue'er you mean Princess Gaoyue?"
"You know Yue'er? Who are you?"
Tianming was deep in confusion, unable to tell whether this woman was a friend or foe.
"You'll know eventually. But first tell me who are you? How did you inherit Yan Dan's energy? What's your relationship with Yue'er?"
"If you won't tell me, why should I tell you?"
"Don't you want to save Yue'er? Without my help, you'll never escape."
"You'll really help save Yue'er?"
-----------------------------------------------------------
To read Ahead go to subscribestar.adult/fallenhead
From now until the end of the year, anyone who signs up will automatically receive 10 free days
This novel has 90 chapters subscribestar
-----------------------------------------------------------