17 The Three Monsters

Chapter 16: The Three Monsters

Wei felt it when 'something' changed around him and he wrapped his hands himself tightly around himself as if to shield himself from whatever it was that was causing the change. Zixin too felt it, his posture revealing his alert state. Wei revolved around his mental qi hoping to find out what was causing him to feel so insecure when his mental qi showed no reaction whatsoever. Wei smelt it before he saw it. The sharp acrid smell of smoke and ashes, it burned his nostrils and caused to break into hacking coughs and dry heaves. When his short episode was over and he looked up over his sweat covered hair the sight he saw was a startling one.

The ground that had been a long swathe of deserts and empty plains had suddenly become a beautiful land full of luscious trees and clear rivers. It was the most beautiful scenery Wei had ever seen and he was struck with the urge to paint. The beautiful image was marred by the large layer of smoke looking much like a masterpiece that had been scribbled on by a child. Zixin seemed very familiar with the phenomenon and had stopped his boat well before it made contact with the smoke.

The smoke was like a barrier keeping everything out. It occurred to Wei that maybe that was perhaps exactly the function it served. No sooner had he thought this than the smoke started to twist and turn in on itself. Three shapes came out of the smoke at first indistinct but they quickly solidified into three large floating hooded figures.

Cultivators with transformation magic, what a marvelous technique. It seems that the books were mostly true many things mortals can only imagine cultivators can accomplish.

This is my world now.

My mental qi has been acting odds, are they not a threat? Or can they simply not harm me with Zixin around?

The three figures removed their hoods and Wei was startled by Chen Pings accompanying scream.

Come now it's not that bad.

However Wei had a hard time convincing even himself, his hands shook and he fought the urge to run away knowing that at this height he would be running only to his death. The visages under the hood were indeed horrifying; they had the faces of three identical young children. As if that was not strange enough considering their very large bodies they also had bright yellow eyes reminiscent of desert sand and mouths full of sharp red serrated fangs the color of rust.

"What are those things?" Chen Ping whispered to Xing as his voice horrified. Zixin let out an exasperated sound and Xing sharply inhaled. He's done it now. If I with my barely enhanced hearing heard that then these monsters definitely did too.

"What did you say child?" the trio asked as one in a disturbingly childlike tone as they focused all their attention on him. Chen Ping shriveled under their stares then looked to Xing and Zixin and seemed to gather his nerves. "I said what are you?" He repeated a tad more forcefully.

"You speak with fake courage and hide behind false help. Today you have erred we will feast on your flesh and drink from your blood and your bones will keep us company for centuries till they turn to dust."

Their word spoken In tandem were eerie and disturbing and Chen Ping made no move to answer.

With no prompting, the trio of monsters with the face of children moved in for the kill. Xing looked to Zixin and saw that he wasn't making a move to stop them only shaking his head when his eyes met Xing's.

When the monsters were almost upon Chen Ping and Zixin remained motionless Xing finally acted but it was in a way neither Wei nor Chen Ping expected. He laid down his favored sword on the boat and floated upward to hover between Chen Ping and the trio of abominations.

"Do you seek to fight us, child? Are you also full of false courage ?"

"No, I wouldn't dare face the Three Children, even if I cultivated for a thousand years. I know I am nowhere near your equal, even stalling you for an instance is beyond me but Senior Zixin, on the other hand, is another story. He has been entrusted to guide me and keep me safe by my seniors at the Supreme Sword Sect and will do so regardless of who he faces. I say this not as a threat but as a plea. He is young, barely a newborn in your eyes please spare him." Xing said his voice soft and humble.

It was the first time Wei felt a sliver of admiration for Xing. Since he had met the two cultivators Xing had always seemed to Wei a petty and foolish old man but seeing the depth of his loyalty to Chen Ping since he was a fellow member of the Supreme Sword Sect was surprising.

I guess he has some good qualities, after all, standing up to the Three Children If worse comes to worse and they decide to kill us anyway can Zixin take them?

"Xing speaks the truth the child has just left the mortal world and is uneducated, on my behalf let the child live. We have known each other for a long time how about a small favor between friends?" Zixin said.

"Zixin we hold a small degree of respect for you. We will gift him his life." Said the Three Children in sync making Xing sigh in relief, his relief, however, was cut short by the Three Children's condition.

"However no slight to us can go unpunished, even beasts instinctively know this and so they cower in our presence. A youngster like this with little sense of caution or instinct and even fewer manners will die sooner or later. As his elders, we will give him something to remember us and our lessons by. To honor of his fellow disciple who pleaded on his behalf, we shall make the punishment fitting. Give us an arm. NOW!" They hissed.

Chen Ping's face quickly went ashen not knowing what to do. "What hand will it be Chen Ping?" Asked Xing "I know that cutting off your own hand is something you don't possess the resolve to do at the moment. I will do it for you. You should bite down on something."

Chen Ping shook his head back and forth quickly not understanding or accepting what was happening. "Brother Xing I thought you said we were a righteous sect who slew monsters, these creatures are monsters. They feast on human flesh and drink blood. They are completely evil, I can feel it in my bones. Why? Why? WHY DO WE NOT KILL THEM? Why not get senior Zixin to do it if you can't. At least we sho─"

His rambling was cut off as Xing's sword exited the sheath and fired a sword light that cut his left arm straight off in one smooth motion cauterizing it in the process. The disgusting smell of cooked human flesh made itself known to Wei for the first time and he forced down the vomit in his throat lest he attract the attention of the Children to himself.

The gut-wrenching scream that followed from Chen Ping was so horrible that even Wei felt some sympathy for him. "The price has been paid are we free to leave?" Zixin asked.

"Of course now that the price has been paid you may be on your way. We just came to greet you and catch up a bit but it seems you're busy. Perhaps next time, but remember you can observe only for a day and a night after that you have to leave."

Zixin nodded and the boat flew into the smoke without even a smudge. The last thing Wei heard was the Three Children debating whether it would be worth it to split the small arm in three and lamenting how sharing would be easier if they had the whole of Chen Ping's body instead of a piece.