27 An Exchange

The dangling temptation of losing control appeared more and more attractive. It had even come to overshadow all the pain she endured. Yun Da Xia's eyes felt like they were burning as she kept them clenched shut. Although she never left the clearing, perfect renditions of burning fields, silent homes, and darkened throne rooms flashed through her mind.

All of them were razed bloody.

She had never seen those places before and yet there was a sense of nostalgia that blanketed over each of them. Something like longing seemed to be there too. Her breaths heaved as more and gorier scenes flooded her mind.

Tears leaked from her closed eyelids. From young, she had been taught to detest violence, so what was this eagerness consuming her chest? It went against her upbringing–all that she stood for.

A voice nipped at the back of her head.

'Aren't you going to do the same to those who have stolen from you?'

The voice sounded familiar, but her hazy mind could not recognize who it was. Hysteria colored its tone.

'Isn't that your goal? To steal their lives like they have stolen master's? To slit their throats and watch them bleed; to burn their homes and their families to the ground? Isn't that why you're here?'

Harsh and direct; the words felt like they were digging into her chest. Yun Da Xia knew that it spoke the truth. If she wanted retribution for her master, it couldn't be a matter to shy away from. That was revenge–the only option she could allow herself with. She would have to unapologetically stain her hands with blood. There was no mild way to enact retribution, no non-violent way to avenge her master.

She should know that–she should embrace it. The sentiment refused to leave her mind; gradually silencing protests and doubts. The bloodlust, the promise of vengeance; all of it were closer to making a mark. It made her dizzy.

A blue light flashed, drawing her confusion to the surface of the haze. Her eyes were still sealed shut, and the voice–the voice was urging her with the same word: blood. It repeated it over and over. The light flashed again, disrupting the hysteric chants. She tried to focus on it but was unhinged by the distraction.

'Focus on me. Focus.' The familiar voice fought for her attention. Yun Da Xia hissed, shocks attacking her head. She tried to follow the words but the light made an appearance once again. Her skull felt like it would burst.

It was like a never-ending battle in which she was collateral.

The blue light grew larger, blocking out everything else. She couldn't hear a peep; none from her thoughts, none from outside. It was like she was suspended–isolated –somewhere; where it was only her mind's eye that was receptive.

The light encompassed her vision, blinding her in white before an image came to fruition.

Shades of blue and purple were the backdrop to a mass of twinkling stars. The moon hung from the sky; bright, full, and unyielding. It was the centerpiece that tied the scene together. The tips of trees framed the sight. She could almost imagine the cool night breeze and the fresh scent of pine.

Yun Da Xia blinked, realizing that she could feel the cold tickling her skin. She lifted her arm upwards, and a jade hand reached for the stars. She felt weightless; long having lost the feeling of desperation. All was calm in her heart.

There was no way that this was real.

"It is." A voice cut through the air. It was melodious and weak; that of a young boy. For some reason, the voice sounded soothing to her ears. It disrupted her brief moment of peace.

She tried her cultivation again, and red burst from her palms. Her poisoned dagger appeared between her fingers; its weight a tether to halcyon. Joy leaped to her throat. Her mind focused on the inter spacial ring; willing to hide in its space.

"Wait!" Yun Da Xia had only been a millisecond away from disappearing. It was the tone of voice; soft and urgent that reinforced her sentiment of it coming from a young child. She hesitated, then berated herself for hesitating.

"I won't hurt you. I can't hurt you." With fur so dark it almost looked purple, a wolf emerged from the trees. An aura that could only be described as raw, unadulterated power seeped from its pores. And yet, despite that, she still hadn't left. Sharp eyes that resembled the color of gold bore into hers. It lowered his head, and she readied her knife; circulating qi through her veins.

There was no way she could believe its words. But as she looked into its eyes, she felt rooted to the ground; warmth pooling in her chest. It was an unprecedented response.

Something was wrong with her. She should be hiding in her spiritual space. She should be trying to run away. At the very least, she should be fearing for her life. But that wasn't the case.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Yun Da Xia asked; her knuckles turning white as her grip on the dagger tightened.

It didn't answer, instead, it bore its neck to her. Before she could react to the act of submission, her eyes caught on to a red mark that stood out against its fur. A crimson, crude outline of a sword laid upon the most tender part of its neck. Her pulse hastened; her hand coming to rest on the base of her neck.

Beneath her fingers, she could feel fully healed etchings on her flesh. Shock stilled her hand. Her mind raced.

She had read quite a bit about spiritual beasts and the contract ritual. In her research, she had come upon two documented situations of a spiritual beast and its master receiving marks on their bodies; the imprints representing their respective souls.

The masters that held them varied greatly; one was a renowned alchemist, the other a decorated warrior. Both had different colored qi manifestations and different genders.

The beasts, however, carried a distinct similarity.

They had both been Sacred beasts from birth.

"Your soul was tearing itself apart." The wolf faced her, bright eyes shining beneath the moonlight. "It wouldn't settle even after coaxing it with my power. Using my own soul to save yours was the only option I had at my disposal."

"Why did you do it?" Even the lowest tiered spiritual beasts were prideful; what more the ones that stood above them all?

"A life for a life is the law I know," It paused. "And I didn't die."