Baptism

Xiu Ying gazed at the sleeping man, her eyes glued to his mask. 

'Can't it really be removed?' 

With that curiosity, her right hand etched closer to Li Chen's face, her slender fingers itching to grab the smooth metallic mask.

KNOCK—!

KNOCK—!

"Miss, are you in?" A familiar voice whispered.

"Tsk!" She clicked her tongue, turned, approached the door, and opened it.

The cold wind, accompanied by platters of water droplets, welcomed her. 

Before her stood Tiger Yi, his robes soaked and his hair sticking to his body. 

"Come in," Xiu Ying said softly and Tiger Yi cupped his hands.

He walked into the small abode and checked on Li Chen. "His energy is still strong and stable, but Young Miss..." 

Seeing Tiger Yi's awkward gaze, Xiu Ying's sharp brows slanted, expressing her bewilderment.

"What?"

"Eh, it's a small mistake... Don't mind me." Tiger Yi tried to brush it off.

"Speak." 

"You didn't apply the balm properly. You see, he isn't supposed to fall asleep and his temperature is cold."

Xiu Ying blinked several times. "You said I should rub it on his wounds?"

"I did say that but the energy flow was inaccurate. There has to be a pattern to applying the balm."

"How was I supposed to know that?!"

"There is a leaflet attached to the cover." The moment Tiger Yi said this, Xiu Ying turned to the round wooden cover on a stool.

"He is not going to die, right?"

"He won't. He'll just feel weak for a day." Tiger Yi responded, tending to Xiu Ying's mistake.

He opened his palm and channeled a visible white energy into Li Chen's body.

To be able to push energy with colors out of the sea of consciousness, one had to achieve the peak of immortal human level!

If Li Chen were awake, he would have known Tiger Yi wasn't as simple as he looked. Above all, he was an expert in hiding.

The green mixture reacted to his energy and dissolved into Li Chen's wounds.

"I'm done." Tiger Yi muttered.

"Good. What information do you have about Lu Buping?"

Hearing Xiu Ying's question, Tiger Yi sighed. "It's not good. General Lu has made sure there are people to protect, even his nephew. Without the backing of the clan, we can't do anything to him."

"Look after Old Cat. When he's completely healed, tell him to be cautious. We can't step on General Lu's tail." 

"Then what are we going to do? Look at what he did to Li Chen." Tiger Yi pointed at Li Chen, his eyes filled with indignation.

"Li Chen can handle him given enough time. The will of a true swordsman is stronger than you think." Xiu Ying replied softly.

After a while, they both left. 

"Close the doors. It's raining!" A young man yelled at two disciples who manned a large door.

"Yes, senior!" They both replied.

"Finally!" One jubilated.

As they walked into the hall to close the doors from within, one caught sight of an orange light from the corner of his left eye.

He swiftly turned and saw a silhouette ascending the stairs towards them. 

"Look, who's that?" Then he tugged the other disciple's sleeve, causing him to turn.

They both squinted their eyes into slits yet they couldn't get a clear sight. The heavy downpour made it hard to know who approached them.

However, when the silhouette got closer, it became distinct.

It was a woman.

She held a white parasol and a lantern with the other hand. Her steps were fluid and precise.

Although she didn't seem to bother, there was a striking sense of elegance as her slender waist swayed according to her steps.

Though the downpour was heavy and her robe was a few inches off the ground, there was not even a tiny stain on it.

"An inner disciple. What's she doing here this late?" One asked.

They were both gatekeepers and not a main part of those working under the discipline of the elders. Also, as outer disciples, they had to be respectful to inner disciples.

"Sen-..."

Before they could speak properly, she raised her hand, stretched her index finger, and pressed it against her lips.

They both kept quiet and watched her walk into the building.

Folding the parasol, Xiu Ying looked at the oxblood-colored hall with nonchalance. Her eyes examined the exquisite chairs where the discipline elders would always sit and give punishments or pardons.

The same youth who told the gatekeepers to shut the gate walked out. His brows furrowed when he saw the beautiful lady looking around.

"Call Elder Lu Yan." Her melodious voice bounced against the corners of the hall yet she didn't even glance at the youth.

"Xiu Ying, what are you here for?" He asked.

He was also an inner disciple and though he was older than Xiu Ying, she was the disciple of the fairy Mo Xueyi so he had to be cautious.

"Call Elder Lu Yan." 

Creases formed on the man's temples and he exhaled loudly. "Xiu Ying, I won't tolerate such disrespect. Even you can be punished here so show some respect and turn toward me." 

A smirk formed on Xiu Ying's lips and she turned. "I was admiring the place. It's my first time here, don't you know?"

The young man glared at her.

"What brings you here, disciple Xiu Ying?" A deep voice boomed and a man garbed in white robes with golden embroidery walked out.

He assumed his position on the seat right next to the biggest one. 

"Disciple Xiu Ying greets Elder Lu Yan." Xiu Ying cupped her fists and bowed softly.

"Mn," the man nodded and she straightened her back.

"What are you here for?" Lu Yan asked. 

"A close friend of mine fought in the battlegrounds earlier today and..."

"Xiu Ying, we can't intervene in an agreed duel in the battlegrounds." 

'Oh? Someone must have explained his side of the story. They knew I'd come.' Xiu Ying's phoenix eye gleamed.

"His battle against Lu Buping wasn't agreed on."

"Yet he stood on the platform. It's a known rule that anyone on the platform will keep accepting challenges till he leaves it." Lu Yan countered, his voice deep and confident.

Xiu Ying's eyes twinkled. 

"Then why was he left for dead? He stayed under the rubble till nightfall." 

"The Elders are busy with the new entry. We had no idea of..."

"Then how did you know that he stood on the platform?" Xiu Ying interrupted Lu Yan. Her comeback made his eyes narrow.

"Hmmm," he hummed deeply, stroking his beards.

"It was indeed our fault. Lu Buping will be restricted from going on missions for a month and Li Chen will be granted a baptism." His voice boomed.

"Disciple Xiu Ying is pleased with Elder Lu Yan's verdict." Xiu Ying cupped her fist and bowed. 

"Good!" The man smiled, although his eyes twitched intermittently. 

As Lu Yan left with the young man, Xiu Ying lifted her head and scoffed. 'Restriction from going on missions would have been a punishment but he'll still get resources without engaging in any danger. Humph!' 

She bit her lower lip, her brows slanted in heavy disappointment.

'At least I got Old Cat a baptism. His physique will grow to a formidable level after the baptism. That fellow should be grateful or else.' 

Snorting, Xiu Ying left the discipline hall with her parasol and lantern.

****

The next morning, twenty disciples sat in a broad circular hall. The ground was well polished and the wooden walls were made from brightly colored wood. 

Each student sat a couple meters away from the other. The seats were arranged in descending order.

Some sat higher, some sat lower.

The round, polished platform at the bottom was for their tutor.

The doors flung wide open and a white figure flashed. It appeared on the platform and revealed itself to be a man.

He waved his palm and the door closed.

His eyes scanned the disciples, lingering on Feng Lanxi, Bai Fenxi, and Xiu Ying. All three were known to have the best potential in the entire Northern Dynasty!

"I honestly thought only a few would attend but it looks like everyone wants to know more about our realm." The man smiled. 

"Of course, I want to know where I can get a secondary bloodline. Bai Fenxi has one and we're far behind!" Feng Lanxi said.

Xiu Ying turned and her eyes met with Bai Fenxi's sapphire ones. 

"Possessing a secondary bloodline is a great fortune. Rifts to ancient realms are rare and those that lead to the dimensions of bloodlines are even rarer."

Someone raised his hands. "When did the last one open?"

"It opened two centuries ago in the Wildlands, dominated by the barbarians. There was temporary peace in the mortal realm, and our dynasty, the Wu dynasty, the barbarian clans, Xiu Palace, and the Great Zhao dynasty sent our best talents." 

"Sister Bai Fenxi has great fortune." The others praised Bai Fenxi since they now knew how rare it was to gain a secondary bloodline without an ancient realm.

"Now..." the Elder opened a scroll and channeled his energy into it. An orange light shot out, projecting the image of a large map. Mountains sprung up, sky-blue rivers encompassed large spaces, beautiful landscapes, and even territories governed by other rulers were all visible on this life-like map.

'The complete map of the mortal realm!' Xiu Ying's eyes trembled.