Approaching Storm

Elation adorned Xiao's face at the sudden appearance of her lover.

"Yanmei, how did you know where we are!?"

Smiling at Xiao's question, Yanmei glanced at Fang Xuan.

"Are you sure you want your disciple to find out how?"

"Hold that thought." Xiao curtly answered. Although they are a few kilometers from the town, Xiao easily guessed what the answer would be.

Fang Xuan was utterly confused. How DID Miss Yanmei find them? How come their elder didn't tell him she was a powerful cultivator too!? He could've recruited her the moment he saw her!

With Yanmei's cultivation bared, Fang Xuan wasted no effort, "Miss Yanmei, how would you feel becoming an elder of our sect alongside elder Xiao?"

The Zeal that Fang Xuan exhibited was commendable, but Xiao was already one step ahead of her.

"I already asked her that. We're not going to take her in as an elder, but as your fellow core disciple." Xiao grinned at her own brilliant plan.

"But why are we taking her in as a disciple when…" Fang Xuan cut himself short, his brain pieced together was Xiao was planning. Fang Xuan beamed with joy. "Awesome, I guess this means we're going to be invincible at the tournament!"

"Don't celebrate just yet. I'm a busy woman and I still haven't decided if I would agree to Xiao or not." Yanmei had already agreed. But where's the fun in just giving an easy yes?

She might not enjoy battles, but she did enjoy spending time with Xiao. And she's going to need a warm up to reawaken her bestial instincts. With a pompous expression, Yanmei laid her terms, "How about this, if you two can beat me, I will agree to become a temporary member. How about it?"

"Yanmei, you do not want to go down that road with me. I am only a star away from reaching your culviation level." Xiao remarked.

"And? I am still above you. You think too highly of yourself, Xiao. Don't think I will go easy on you just because of our relationship."

The couple glanced at each other, suddenly sharing a smile.

"Well, do you mind if I speak to my disciple here? It won't take us too long to come up with a strategy that would utterly destroy you." Xiao taunted.

Yanmei gestured her hand forward, "By all means, go right ahead. Just don't be too surprised if I easily foil all of your plans."

Xiao called Fang Xuan close, as the duo performed a two person huddle, the intrigued Yanmei watched from afar. How would the pair work together to overcome such a powerful foe?

True to her word, it didn't take more than a minute for the duo to hatch a plan.

With his Bagua Dao in hand, Fang Xuan took the vanguard. A voice echoed from behind him, "Shall we begin?"

Yanmei answered with delight, "Let's."

Like a loose cannon, Fang Xuan dashed fearlessly.

A barrage of lethal winds, deadly enough to slice him apart, was sent to intercept Fang Xuan. His fearlessness was partly inspired by his faith in her master, and Xiao would reaffirm it as she opposed the winds with her ice blades. The sound of ice on wind clashing rang above Fang Xuan as he was closing the distance.

Wanting to end the fight with one blow, Fang Xuan opted for his 'Oar parts the earth'. Like a deadly top, Fang Xuan used the momentum from his dash to spin and delivered a downward slash.

Fang Xuan hit nothing but the earth, leaving a mini-crater from her attack. Mid dodge, Xiao let loose another rain of ice blades.

Yanmei smirked. So that was their plan? Oh so simple. Yet the simplicity of it meant that it can be repeated, over and over. Fang Xuan would continuously charge at her while Fang Xuan blasts her from afar.

Fang Xuan was about to charge once more, and although Yanmei had nothing against him. It was time for the supporting cast to leave the stage. Let the main lead spend some time with her heroine.

A fearsome gale began swirling in Yanmei's right hand. The immense gap in their cultivation meant that Yanmei had just been playing with Fang Xuan. If she took advantage of that gap, the feats that she can pull off would undoubtedly astound him. For example…

The moment that Fang Xuan brought down his massive earth infused sword, Yanmei did not dodge this time around. The Bagua Dao, filled to the brim with earth shattering qi, was held in place by the two fingers in Yanmei's left hand.

The look of surprise was evident on Fang Xuan by how agape his mouth was.

"I apologize in advance, but there is something I want to discuss in private with your elder."

Yanmei's right palm, overflowing with gale, crashed into Fang Xuan's side. Fang Xuan flew, like he had just been swept away by a tornado, falling into the forest down below.

"Did you just blow away my disciple?" The dumbfounded Xiao asked.

"Don't worry, I didn't put too much pressure in my strike. He'll be fine. Probably. There's something I want to discuss with you." With those words, Yanmei's transformation triggered, along with an eruption of wind qi. The 5 symbols of power on her back laid bare, you could tell from her expression that the matter she wanted to discuss was of dire importance. "Xiao, you told me that you're planning to seek revenge on this demonic cultivator. I'm not onboard with that idea."

Yanmei cared and if that care would cause a rift between them, so be it. History was ripe with tales of cultivators losing their life in the name of revenge. Yanmei was not going to let Xiao join them.

In a sense, Xiao was annoyed, but it wasn't like she didn't know where Yanmei was coming from. If Xiao insisted, her stubbornness might tear them apart. If Yanmei succeeds, Xiao might grow to resent her for her meddling. It was a make or break point if their relationship.

"Yanmei, that demonic cultivator crippled me. It's a transgression he must pay in blood."

"But you're not crippled anymore! Just remain in your new sect, remain by my side."

"Enough talk." Xiao charged. She had to. She was afraid that if they conversed further, Yanmei might convince her to completely drop her quest for vengeance.

Their melee commenced, Xiao needn't hold back. Her relentless combination of explosive punches and elbows were all blocked regardless. Xiao wryly smiled, now she knew what Fang Xuan must have felt. With Yanmei's cultivation base, she can take what Xiao had to give without batting an eye.

Yanmei's razor sharp nails were brandished. With blinding speed, they aimed to scratch Xiao's face directly, awakening her from her dream of revenge.

Xiao's arm was quick to match Yanmei's speed. Yanmei's claws embedded themselves on Xiao's flesh, yet her visage remained unperturbed. As a matter of fact, it was Yanmei that grimaced from inflicting such wounds.

Yanmei's left open palm was taught back, unlike with Fang Xuan, she wasn't planning to hold back, she will let Xiao feel the impact of her 'Gale palm' in its entirety. She hoped that it would be enough to knock some sense into her. Xiao's eyes widened at the concentration of wind qi in Yanmei's shoulder, a compact tornado would be an apt description for it. With claws tethering Xiao in place, she could only brace for the storm that is approaching.

Taking on the full brunt of Yanmei's cultivation and speed, Yanmei's 'Gale palm' pounded into Xiao's solar plexus. Winds howled as overflowing wind qi flowed through Xiao and exploded out from her back.

Yanmei's claw dug ever deeper, preventing Xiao from being blown away.

Vomiting blood, Xiao was about to fall until she was held into an embrace by Yanmei. The one who caused her collapse was now supporting her like a pillar. The battered Xiao smiled at the irony.

That smile was contrasted by the look of utter devastation on Yanmei's face, with flowing tears to match. In the short time that they had been together, Yanmei grew to love Xiao. And those who are capable of loving, are also capable of hurting the ones they love.

"Can't you see!? You can't even defeat me! How are you even planning to defeat that demonic cultivator!?" Yanmei's voice strained, you could tell how pained she was even if she deemed her actions necessary.

With a self deriding grin, Xiao answered, "By trying my best."

"Idiot."

"I'm sorry Yanmei, but I will not stop. Please, don't make me choose between you and that demonic baldie, because I would pick you any day. He did not only slight me, he almost killed me. Can you truly let that pass?"

Heaving a long sigh, Yanmei was baffled how stubborn Xiao could be.

"Fine. Then you WILL let me aid you. If things go south, then I will immediately drag you away from danger."

<<Here is a hint of advice Xiao, concede. With how lovestruck she is, she will not take no for an answer.>>