Jingfei's Fate

After the carnage she just witnessed, Liu reflexively trembled for a bit as the masked woman approached her. There was panic, but it dissipated as soon she instantly remembered that it was by her help that she avoided suffering such a gruesome fate.

Liu instantly kowtowed, a simple bow wouldn't do justice for both the power she possessed and the deed the masked woman had done for her.

"Whoever you are, I, Shen Liu, am now eternally in your debt!"

<<Wait a minute, is this wench the cause for you to be kicked out of your old sect? Ah, the whims of fate for you both to meet again. What's more, you ended up saving her even after what she did to you! I have a proposal for your title once you become a renowned cultivator, it is 'Xiao the Virtuous.'>>

The laughter of Zhen grated Xiao. Virtuous? She only did what she had to. Now that Liu was no longer in any kind of threat, the pain that Liu brought when her machinations tore Xiao and Lin apart resurfaced in Xiao's mind. Xiao's disposition towards Liu suddenly embodied her qi element, cold.

"I don't care who you are. It would be wise for you to leave this place at once if you don't want to be caught up in a fierce life and death battle." Xiao gestured with her hand for the redhead to flee.

Gone was the warmth that the masked woman used to console Liu from earlier. Liu grimaced, why the sudden hostility? Did Liu slight her in some way that she didn't know? One thing was for sure, angering the masked woman was something that Liu couldn't afford, Liu's vision darted to the corpse of the headless bastard lying bloodied on the ground, or she might just end up like him.

Midway through her exit, It suddenly dawned on Liu, this would be the perfect time for her to discern Xiao's fate.

Liu hurriedly ran back in front of the masked woman to plead for her assistance.

"Deep in the forest, there is a building, it is the chosen hideout of these demonic cultivators. If that is where you are headed, then I am begging for you to take me, there is someone I must save."

Xiao's brow raised. She didn't know that Liu had the emotional capacity to care for someone else amidst mortal danger. Not that she was planning on taking her, but Xiao's curiosity flared to know who this person she was so invested in.

"And who is this that you are trying to save?"

"Her name is Yao Xiao."

The confusion sucker punched Xiao. A statement as absurd as the sun suddenly rising from the west.

Inside her head Xiao could hear her teacher's amused laughter befitting a theater goer watching comedy.

<<This situation is truly rich. Go on Xiao, Why don't you accompany her in her 'search'? Who knows, this Liu might just redeem herself in the end.>>

Even if fate entangled them, Xiao would twist the knots and straighten them apart. There was no way she would forgive Liu for what she did. For once, Xiao is going to openly defy her master's advice.

"You know how strong these demonic cultivators are, this Xiao of yours, she is most likely dead. I will not repeat myself again, leave!" Xiao's tone heightened alongside her anger.

"NO!" Liu's shout surprised not only the masked woman, but even herself. What drove her emotions to such heights? Was it her gruesome experience from before that Xiao might have experienced, fueling her guilt that is burning her from the inside? Or her drive to salvage the Shen family from poverty? Liu was not sure. The only thing she was sure of, is that this is her last chance to know what happened to Xiao. Liu kowtowed once more, "Please, I have to find her. It may not mean anything to you, but I have to apologize to her."

It was a passionate shout that moved even Xiao. Still, all that passion won't let Xiao forget Liu's transgression. Liu must suffer. Xiao's lips twisted into a menacing grin. If Liu wanted to find Xiao, then she will find Xiao.

From Xiao's blindspot, a spear protruded from below, seeking Xiao's head while looking like it emerged from hell to avenge her fallen comrade. Jingfei rushed as she sensed Yong's qi dissipating, unfortunately, it had already been completely extinguished by the time she arrived. No matter, at least she would send his killer with him as they journey into hell.

But a trip to the afterlife wasn't on the table yet for Xiao.

As if Yanmei appeared out of thin air, a hand held Jingfei's spear in place.

Like the wicked root that she is, Jingfei was forcefully uprooted as Yanmei yanked her from the ground.

The confusion was evident on Jingfei's visage as she was pulled from below. How did she not detect the other one!? Was she using some sort of special technique like her 'Shark Swims the Earth'?

Yanmei's pull transitioned into a chokehold, scattering Jingfei's perplexedness into panic. No wonder Yong easily fell, their opponents were both in the 'Supreme Tyrant' realm! Her evil deeds had finally caught up to Jingfei. As Yanmei's choke tightened, Jingfei felt her death drawing near, chomping at her heels.

"W-wait…" Her voice weak and strained, even as she choked, Jingfei will not easily let go of her hold on life. "...D-d-don't kill me! I have information!"

Xiao tapped Yanmei's arm.

As the hold on Jingfei's neck loosened, she swallowed as much air as she could with one single gasp.

"Speak, if your information doesn't satisfy me, my lover would gladly crush your wind pipe." Xiao warned.

The lover bit grabbed Liu's attention but she stored it on the back of her mind for now, what's of paramount importance is what the orange haired woman was about to say.

"Are you both bounty hunters? Then you must know that Qiang takes all the souls, I have no bounty myself since I get nothing but scrap."

Yanmei tightened her hold as she threatened the demonic cultivator, tight enough to let her know that her life was still in Yanmei's hands. "We don't care about that garbage. Give us an information that we can use against this Qiang or we will end you."

"He…he's still weakened by tanking the Tranquil Waterfall's formation. If you want to kill him, now is the right time! You can sneak up on him right now if you so desire, he's busy meditating and absorbing souls." Just as she sold her sect to Qiang, Jingfei had no remorse for her betrayal. Her survival comes first before any camaraderie. "That's all the info I have. Please, let me go. I never wanted to be a demonic cultivator in the first place, Qiang just forced me to! I will never kill again if you grant me your mercy, by my name as Ning Jingfei I swear never to exact revenge!"

Upon receiving this information, Xiao directed her gaze at Liu, her hand gripping the redhead's shoulders.

"You. Tell me if the core disciple by the name of An Lin is safe."

Liu knit her brow, why An Lin specifically? Then, it all started to fall into place. Ice qi, flowing black hair, and a grave concern for Lin? The only thing stopping Liu from making that assumption was the current cultivation level of the masked woman. Xiao was talented, but reaching such impossible cultivation heights in such a short amount of time would be impossible.

"Answer me!" Xiao shook the woman, as if doing so would churn out the answer she desired.

"Yes, Lin is safe!"

Xiao sighed in relief. First and foremost their target was Qiang. They had no proof if the orange haired woman was truly forced into becoming a demonic cultivator or not. They can kill her now and save themselves the headache. But if she was telling the truth…

"Yanmei, let her go." Xiao ordered. Her coldness thawed at how hard Jingfei pleaded.

Jingfei fell to the ground, she showered Xiao with words of gratitude before diving into the earth once more.

As the group of three departed, Jingfei dove underground and headed for the opposite direction.

+++

Jingfei was about to exit the forest soon.

A sinister grin crept her lips, a bunch of suckers. For someone who scoffed at the notion of honor, giving them her word meant nothing. First, she's going to report and plead to their leader to accept her back, she might have to beg and debase herself again, but it's the only way she knew how she could get back at those two…

Her train of thought was disrupted as a shockwave of qi hit her from above hit her even as he was deep below. A single hit more devastating than an earthquake bore down on Jingfei, forcing her to resurface.

Her clothes ragged while sustaining gashes all over, Jingfei gasped as she found out who attacked her.

Beneath the gleam of moonlight was a purple haired man wearing a sleeveless shirt, showcasing his toned arms. In both of his arms were gargantuan iron gauntlets, its ominous design was fashioned from the head of a demon.

Jingfei grimace, it was a man she knew well, it was her comrade - 'The Obliterating Iron' - Weixin. Curses. From one shark infested waters to another. Jingfei just can't catch her break.

"Brother Weixin, I am glad to see you but why the hostility? I was about to turn myself in to the order, there's no further need for us to fight." Jingfei faked her pleasantries.

"My order was to kill Qiang for his dissent…" Weixin's smile grew. "...that doesn't mean I would let a dreg like you live. You three think that because we're demonic cultivators, we should abandon our honor. I've always hated you and your crew since you became part of the order. Especially Qiang. " In Weixin's eyes, there is only one among them worthy to carry 'Iron' in their title. When Qiang rebelled, he immediately requested that he should be sent to put an end to the 'Iron' wannabe.

"Ah, but it looks like I won't be the one to lay claim on your life." Weixin hung his head as he lamented.

The bewildered Jingfei tilted her head. Before she could even sense the killing intent of the predator, Jingfei had already turned into unsuspecting prey. From behind Jingfei was a woman in all fours, her death. The predator's hair was deep obsidian, its darkness was darker than the night sky. Her pupil's slit. She possessed a graceful beauty that belied her savage nature.

Suddenly, Jingfei felt fangs sink into her neck, followed by rows of razor sharp teeth, gnawing at her jugulars. The woman bit off a chunk of Jingfei's neck, killing her on the spot. Jingfei's neck turned into a hose, sputtering blood.

The woman wasn't done yet. She swallowed the chunk, and immediately began feasting on Jingfei's corpse.

A cannibal? The cat ears and tail told otherwise. It was a spirit beast, untamed and primal.

"Luqing, if you're going to eat her, then do it on the way." Weixin retained his grin. "I have a rather important appointment with Qiang."