White Sage (Part 2)

The old man's lips twisted into a cruel grin. "Fine."

"He's a level six," Ruan Yanjun whispered into my ear, his breath annoyingly warm against my skin.

My heart sank. "What!?" I blurted, unable to hide my shock. How could a frail, hunched-over old man with wild hair and trembling hands wield such power?

"Shhh," Ruan hissed, his lips twitching into an amused smirk. "Don't be so loud. You'll hurt his feelings."

I turned to glare at him. "You want me to fight that?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "You might learn a thing or two."

Learn? More like die.

Still, when Ruan Yanjun nudged me forward, I tightened my grip on my bamboo staff. This was no ordinary stick. It had been tempered and strengthened by his metal qi, turning the humble weapon into something far more formidable—though even that felt inadequate against the old man before me.

The old man's smirk widened, a predator baring its teeth. His hands morphed grotesquely, skin twisting and stretching into long vine-like whips that slithered and coiled like living serpents. Thorns the size of daggers gleamed menacingly along their lengths.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus.

He struck first, his vine-whip slicing through the air faster than I anticipated. I barely managed to block it with my staff, the impact rattling through my arms. Before I could recover, another whip lashed out from my blind spot, grazing my side and tearing through my outer robe.

This wasn't going to end well.

I spun and countered, aiming for his exposed torso, but he was faster than he looked. His vines acted like a shield, deflecting my strikes with almost mocking ease. One of them snaked around my ankle, yanking me off my feet.

I hit the ground hard, dirt and leaves sticking to my skin.

"Pathetic," the old man sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You dare challenge me for the flower?"

I forced myself to stand, gripping my staff tighter. My arms ached, my breathing labored, but I wasn't about to give up—not with Ruan Yanjun watching.

Another whip came at me, this time aiming for my neck. I ducked, rolling to the side and striking at the vine, splintering it with a burst of my own qi. It recoiled, hissing like a snake.

The old man snarled, his fury palpable. "You'll regret that."

He unleashed a flurry of attacks, the vines striking from every direction. It was all I could do to block and evade, each movement slower and sloppier than the last. My energy was draining fast, and he knew it.

Finally, one of his whips slammed into my chest, sending me sprawling to the ground. My staff slipped from my grasp. I tried to reach for it, but the old man loomed over me, his vine poised to deliver the final blow.

"Enough," Ruan Yanjun's voice cut through the chaos like steel.

In the blink of an eye, he was there, his hand catching the vine mid-strike. The sheer force of his grip caused it to crack and splinter. The old man let out a strangled cry, stumbling back as he clutched his arm.

"You win," Ruan Yanjun said, his tone almost bored. "No need to kill my precious disciple."

The old man's lips twisted into a bitter sneer. "Then leave. Both of you."

"Right away." Ruan Yanjun's hand found mine, pulling me up and into motion before I could protest.

"Wait!" I gasped as we sprinted away. "Are we not even going to check what he's guarding? He's just a level six. You can beat him without breaking a sweat."

He laughed, his pace unrelenting. "Why waste my energy on someone so insignificant?"

"But the White Sage—"

A guttural roar echoed behind us, shaking the forest. It was a sound of pure rage, primal and unrestrained.

Ruan Yanjun chuckled. "The bastard's furious. Let's go before he catches up."

"What did you do?" I demanded, dread creeping into my voice.

He glanced at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "What do you think?"

I stared at him, realization dawning. "You took something while we were fighting."

He grinned. "A-Fan, you're finally catching on. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."

"Why not just challenge him directly? You could have defeated him easily!"

"And waste my time? No, thank you. Tricks are faster. Besides, I don't fight nobodies."

"I'm also a nobody," I pointed out, glaring at him. "But you fight me all the time."

He smirked, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. "I don't fight you. I train you. There's a difference."

When we finally stopped, he pulled something from his robes—a pale, glowing flower. Its petals shimmered with a faint spiritual energy, its fragrance light but intoxicating.

"This isn't the White Sage," he said after a moment, his brow furrowing.

"It's not?" I asked, my heart sinking.

He shook his head. "The essence is strong, but not as potent as the Dual Bloom. Still, if that old man was guarding it so fiercely, it must have value. We'll figure it out later."

I hesitated, guilt prickling at my conscience. Stealing from the old man, even one as dangerous as him, felt wrong. But arguing with Ruan Yanjun was a battle I could never win, so I kept my mouth shut and followed him deeper into the forest.