Blood Against Ice

Upon entering the Northern Vanguard sect, Xiao could not believe the brutality inflicted upon the corpses of its disciples.

If they weren't cleaved in half, they sustained impalement wounds from all over. The former was enough evidence that only a massive sword could have done so. Xiao refused to believe it.

"Did Fang Xuan really slaughter them all?"

Yanmei hung her head, she too could not come to terms that a kind hearted boy like him would be swallowed by vengeance and commit this atrocity.

"I... don't want to believe it either. Still, we must accept the truth if we wish to save him."

Even if Xiao managed to save him, the need for Fang Xuan to save himself remains. This revenge of his is a turning point.Xiao understood his need for vengeance, even she was burning with rage at the thought of the Transient Blades exterminated, but murdering innocents mark the soul of a person with vile taints. This act would forever haunt someone like Fang Xuan.

Determined to make Fang Xuan confront the wickedness of his actions, Xiao pressed on.

"Let's go, Yanmei."

Following the demonic energy, it led them into the sect master's chamber.

There was Fang Xuan, in the middle of a battle torn room, looking like he just went to hell, fought demons, and clawed his way back using his one remaining arm. He looked like he's about to die at any moment.

With his trusty Bagua Dao as a crutch, Fang Xuan stood to meet his visitors.

As someone disciplining a younger sibling and despite the gruesome fate of his sect, Fang Xuan committed the same sin as those that wronged him. This why Xiao chose to make sure that Fang Xuan is aware.

The tone that Xiao took was a cocky one, "So, you're a murderer now, Fang Xuan? Exterminating entire sects while I turn my back to take care of my own business."

"Your own business!?" Fang Xuan chuckled, followed by a booming shout filled with anger. "You've been gone for an entire month without communication! If you were at the sect, everyone would still be alive!"

For the same reason that Fang Xuan attacked Yanmei, he lashed out at Xiao.

"I was never beholden to the Transient Blades, I have my own journey to take."

"Then you simply abandoned us!? What a useless elder you are!"

Xiao can take Fang Xuan's insult. She understood that his emotions are in turmoil, anger, loss, and sadness are all brewing in his chest, making for one angsty Fang Xuan. That's the least she could to.

"Yes, yes, I'm a useless Elder for not being there when you need me. Now that you have massacred all of the Northern Vanguards, quite mercilessly if I might add, let's get you patched up."

Fang Xuan coughed blood. There was no patching up his state, he could feel his lungs burning and his dantian wrecked. Even if he is made a recovery, his cultivation is forever ruined. But in this moment, before his entire future fades, he can push himself to the limit and join the rest of his departed sect members. Although the fire of hatred burns, the respect for Xiao still lingered inside him. What better honor than to die a warrior's death by her hands?

"No, fuck healing, and fuck you! I want you to fight me!"

"Ahahaha! I'm not fighting you, Fang Xuan. I mean, look at you, you look like you're about to pass on to the after life with a single sneeze."

"So you won't fight me?" Fang Xuan lifted his massive blade, pointing it to the woman right next to Xiao. "Then what if I harvest her soul core right in front of you?"

While it was true that Fang Xuan forced Yanmei to a retreat, there was no way she was going to stand still while she was getting threatened. If Xiao won't fight her, Yanmei just might, seriously this time.

All 6 of her tails sprouted as she took on her fox form. Winds howled around her, conveying her anger.

"You are going through a lot and I sympathize, but don't think I'm going to let you threaten me." Yanmei glared.

Xiao's hand barred Yanmei as she flashed her woman a smile. A smile that says Xiao will take care of this mess. Once Yanmei relented, Xiao eyes told of her contempt towards the boy.

Xiao's killing intent manifested as a shockwave of ice qi, continuously pressuring Fang Xuan with her cold blooded anger.

"I let you off the hook for hurting Yanmei once, and now you have the gall to threaten her in front of me? If not for the fact that I consider you my sworn brother...I won't hesitate to kill you."

Xiao's contempt earned her a grin from Fang Xuan. This was more like it! He should perish under the coldness of the sworn sister she admired the most!

Fang Xuan channeled more of the borrowed qi from his new benefactor. As he carried his sword over his shoulder to produce a more potent shockwave of pressure than Xiao's, his right lung burst from the overflow of power. A small price to pay to send a message, if Xiao didn't take him seriously, she's the one that's going to perish under the weight of his massive blade.

Fang Xuan's killing intent repelled Xiao's, making Xiao grimace. This fucking brat!

<This Fang Xuan, his cultivation is being harmed by the outpour of power that does not belong to him. His soul weapon is none the wiser. I am afraid that boy would be nothing but an empty husk after his lent power subsides. If you want, I can take over your body and end this in an instant.>

Xiao's response to her master's offer was a but a smile. Despite the atrocity he committed, Fang Xuan was her junior, sworn brother, friend. Thus, a beating is in order to set his path straight, no matter how bent he feels his life was right now.

"I appreciate the offer, master, but disciplining this troublesome idiot should fall to me."

<Then let us comprise, even the playing field, if you will. >

After hearing the words of her master inside her consciousness, a torrent of power surged within her dantian. There was a bit of strain, but unlike Fang Xuan's, the influx of power from Zhen to Xiao wasn't as painful.

To Fang Xuan, the process was like a rope trying to fit into a needle. To Xiao, the compatibility of her master's qi and Xiao's higher cultivation was akin to a flood trying to go through a now remodeled pipe fit to withstand the pressure. Granted it still cannot handle Zhen's full cultivation but the current flow of power she was given will do.

Xiao's ice aura exploded once more, managing to achieve equilibrium against the pressure of Fang Xuan's menacing blood qi.

With their cultivation now even, the deciding factor would boil down to who is the better fighter.

Forming two ice tonfas in both hands, not even bothering to take a stance, she just stood relaxed in order to taunt her opponent. Xiao snickered...

"You want a fight? Let me give you one you won't forget, you brat."