Chapter 36 River in the Mountain

Familiar with the feeling of being slammed into dirt, the sensation was significantly more painful when not done in a manicured training ground. Noble lady had found she couldn't tell if being crushed by fuzzy or bare skin was any different. It didn't stop there; she was swept aside with a tail sweep. Tumbling down she made a series of frantic dodges, backpedaling to create space.

Valentine was cursing herself now. While her earthen techniques were enough to counteract the shadow boxer, it was far from enough to hurt the thing. Had it been a normal animal, the noble could have held out and fatigued her opponent to victory. Hundred-year spirt beast had their own abilities and wild stamina endurance to match. It could pace itself, pause to recover, change its movements adjust its tempo to fight for long periods of time. This would be critical if one fought snakes, even with its natural poison resistance, spirt venom was notoriously virulent. Exhausting the reptile was a common tactic to for both white and black tailed spirt mongoose to hunt their prey.

She had waited too long to attempt to find ways to bring down her foe, an oversite that could cost her more than just the contract. For the first time, she wished she had learned a blade-based art, in that at least she could wound it slowly.

Without other options Valentine dove for the cliff, Tumbling down the cliff face in a loosely controlled motion. Lady Lockheed managed to recover her breath. Sliding down rocks was nothing compared to what that silly fox drunk did to her sober. There was a river nearby that had chiseled the canyonous region they were in.

"Dammed fox!" Cursing yet again as she was lashed by the black tail, unlike her it almost flew down the cliff as a dancer. Leaping at the fuzzball she couldn't break its footing, but stone reinforcement made her like earth. It added mass indirectly so the two crashed into the earth.

Crushing into the beast at the talus bed, there was a faint groan as the two landed upon ball form of the want to be son of heaven, which groaned slightly in his unconscious state.

"Didn't think he lived." Muttered as the noble flung free. That fall scored her the first real blow of the fight. She didn't like her options and wasn't sure of her next move, so she recovered a moment as the beast shook out its limbs from the fall.

"Mabey if I can just fall on it from the mountain top..." Vocalizing the though before the battle was rejoined. Shadow box stopped trying to bite as all it got was rock like skin that was tough as scales. Grappling about careful to not agitate its side, the two went a dozen rounds with no clear gains or loses. Sweeping her eyes about noble surveyed. Large trees or other solid features had vanished, just narrow rock faces. Lose pebbles and sandy clays filled the valley, scraggly brush and wildflowers filling in gaps.

Slipping under a wide leap from the mammal, the noble sprinted outright to the smaller craigs. While both could fit within them it would be a huge advantage to the smaller women. It may have been a good idea if the beast was less smart.

Rocks rained down as the mongoose roughly flung debris into the narrow passage. While not particularly harmful, the blasted creature refused to follow the noble into the restricted space. Falling on it was looking better and better.

"New...Plan. Fox Mantal fist!" This qi infused strike was ideal for bashing small furry objects into the lower stratosphere. Wide fox-like qi wrapped around he first, blasting the mammal into oblivion.

Golden orb cultivators had no trouble wielding various abilities by channeling life energy in various states and forms into nifty techniques. Since her formation was built as two supporting hands, she was ideal at solid supported abilities, like a blasting move with an earthen fox motif for creating distance. As smoke and no fire, it didn't harm the spirt animal, who flipped neatly and landed on all fours.

Since plan A was a huge failure plan B was the river just under a kilometer away. Cultivation silk was high quality fabric that retained almost no water, where the monster would turn into a sodden mass. She had hopes that she would not end up in the water, but it would at least serve as a wall against the slippery foe.

Unlike before where there was an almost sporting quality in the match, neither side could afford to be chivalrous. With a driven ponce, Valentine could only raise her defenses and accept the blow, quick to retaliate before it could dart around. Rooting herself, with her back covered by the river, She focused purely on retaliation. It was more effective, and a lucky strike into the soft side had caused the furball to error.

With one paw still in the air, it didn't have the same reaction time, which was enough for the noble to turn and flip the beast into the river behind her. Rock filled the river creating micro pounds and wide areas, of slower waters. With a vast splash the mongoose's shrill cries echoed through the valley.

"I see." Not knowing what to say to a very unhappy sodden beast, that was the best the introvert could come up with.

"Chip, scrcht, chic chic."

"Well…" For a few lines the two fed answers to each other, the noble remembered that this was a fight. Sprinting, she leapt full tilt into the monster, stone qi at max. Falling into a mass with a gyaseyer, the scoured river surface seathed wildly as the two thrashed. Humans and mongoose could swim like all mammals, but the beast was definitively disadvantaged compared to the noble who had some experience in water combat.

Instinct was stronger in the spirt beast, its desire to return to the surface constantly was the key to the noble's victory. When it tried to break for the shore Valentine pulled the beast under the surface. Refusing to let this opportunity get away, the girl repeated dunked the beast. Exhausting for both parties, Lady Lockheed was more effective, flailed less and slowly took control of the battle. Breaking free the beast sprinted full tilt to the rough shore, the noble hot on its heels.

Once out the beast shook its fur wildly unable to resist the urge to remove the water. Unfortunately, that afforded the sodden noble the opportunity to freely grasp its tail.

"Back-in-the-water!" Grunting with herculin effort the noble heaved the beast with every ounce of strength she possessed. It sailed like cutter in the see, gracefully floating in an arc through the air. Tumultuously splashing down, mist and water splattered ripples into the surface.

"That enough yet?" Valentine heaved out as she breathed heavily on the shore, staring at the bobbing head of the fuzzy mongoose.

"Scree! Chi! Chp chep!" Noble sighed before she took a running start and leapt back into the water. Shortly after cries and splashing began to echo in the valley.

"Are we done now!?"

"Scrreeeeee!"

!@# !@# !@#

"Why are we going to yet another 'social obligation'? Iris was whining once again in full noble disguise. Lockheed family ladies were present within the carriage they were taking. Duke Lockheed was required to be present at the council meeting prior to the grand ball.

"It's a noble's privilege to go to glistening parties, have romantic encounters and eat tasty snacks." Mary had found that the parties were incredibly fun affairs. Charlotte was considered unimportant, but the youngest had potential to forge connections with house Lockheed.

Half a commoner is still half a duke. Being the half daughter was even more beneficial, as the middle aristocrats could convincible wed someone of higher status without trouble. Further, the lack of pure noble blood would make it hard for her to resist her husband when it came to domestic and political measures. It was considered that he had made Lady Valentine heir, to ensure that the succession of title stayed in the Lockheed family.

Once Mary and Charlotte appeared the ruthlessness of the duke became apparent. It was clear that his first marriage and heir appointment, was purely to allow his youngest daughter to enjoy everything nobility offered.

It just cost sacrificing his eldest to the royal family.

Unfortunately, Iris Xin did not care about such things, and would be dammed if she was sacrificed by anyone other than herself. She had already regained her strength to mid golden orb realm, it wouldn't be out of the question to think of her as a battalion of heavily armed knights than as a human at this point.

"At lest the snacks are bound to be good at a royal function." Unable to find any joy in this the sage was content to attend and be present for Valentine's sake. It wouldn't be terribly long since she recovered completely, the end of the social season in fall at the absolute latest.

Once again impressed with the sheer scale of the noble realm's construction. Vast pillars supported extravagant windows, long halls, vertical and horizontal space to accommodate thousands comfortably. Not one for architecture, big castle like building was the best she could manage.

"Oh mother, look at the stunning ivy stonework. The porticoes have such graceful sweeping spirals…" Mary appeared to have a fondness for such things, or just wanted to show off what she learned in lessons. Iris was mostly keen on getting this event over with, planning to find a peaceful balcony to hide and cultivate the night away.

Mary had more social within her than both Iris and Valentine put together. Upon entering the venue, she quickly found noble ladies that she had become friends with. The only people she recognized were prayer flags, but it appeared they changed their color order. There was also a girl with large blond drills that the sage could help but fill familiar with…

"Um my lady refreshments are for after the royal opening." A meek servant remarked as Iris had pillaged the dessert section.

"Oh, did you want one to?" There was silence from the servant who just bowed and excused himself. Puzzled the martial sage didn't do anything but continue to munch by the desert tables. Unlike Lady Charlotte who entered formally with the duke, the heirs didn't get special call outs unless they were representing their families, something no noble would do at the first imperial function of the season.

"Why does everyone insist on not eating at these things?" Asking the familiar set of blond drills.

"Not all of us have such a close attachment with food." Still miffed about the cake wedge, the Countess Mocksure refused to even acknowledge the duchy heir. She was dressed in her best, golden laced and frilled bell. Rich embroidery and lace overlays plus a small gemstone mine were embedded in her dress.

"Looking extravagantly blinding dear lady." Coaxing the irritated blond with a shameless complement, the girl harrumphed exaggeratedly to show that she was still sulking.

"I have an entire tart her, I'm sure it would fit better in your mouth than mine…"

"You are to shameless Lady Lockheed!" Angrily storming off, the noble quickly mingled with other ladies to complain about the big bad duchy heir bullied her. Teasing girls was just to fun an activity for the sage to quit.

"Now entering 2nd Prince and 3rd Princess of Duchy Silverwood, Royal family of Asseric." Criers had decent lung capacity and voices that rang out across the noise ballroom. For events that the King attend, only him and the heir required formal bowing. The siblings still enjoyed a quite observance of their entrance as a means of respect.

It was also a chance to pick any flaws that the two may have had, as an intent to weaken the royal faction was always operational.

Dressed to the nines, the princess was in one of the most extravagant ballgowns Iris had ever seen. At a glance the fabric was custom woven with insane thread counts, and an equally insane number of embedded stones, all of exotic make. Striped fur formed the collar of the dress from a rare beast rarely found. Draped ruffles and lace made a fierce combination highlighting the sharp features of the noble women. Second prince was dressed more plainly, but no less extravagant. Tailored and patterned to match his looks, a military blouse with filigree and gold buttons. A few medals hung from his chest perfectly aligned. Two ropes wrapped around his shoulders finishing sharply with slacks and boots.

"So this is the rumored fiancée." 3 out of 247 Iris thought as she evaluated the man. Aware that her employer had an engagement, she had expected someone of far greater quality. The girl was such a doll, with big eyes and shy reactions that were delightful. How dare this smelly man try to take such an incredible bride with his attributes?

When their eyes met, Iris didn't stop eating, looking back blanky at the prince. He seemed to be struck by anger but mostly schooled his expression. Wondering about that the sage realized her plate was empty and return for a second run at the delicacy table.

The king and queen entered next in which everyone was required to bow for his majesty's entrance. That was for others of course, Iris just stood out of the way with her snack plate, watching the two descend a staircase and move to the dais at the head of the room. Once the royals seated and delivered a boring speech, the guest resumed mingling and acquiring drinks and other matters.

2nd prince Robert Asseric had seen his engagement partner not only get food before the event started, but than even refused to bow. The king hadn't said anything but glanced at him to take care of the matter. Marching up to the girl by the refreshments he snatched her wrist to drag her away.

"Come with me!" He snapped tugging her free hand away to take her out of the ballroom. Rainbow sage had seen the frustrated man marching her way and simply flexed her leg strength.

Jerked back when the girl didn't move his first reaction was more anger. How dare this woman resist him. He still hadn't forgiven her for what the bratty maid had done to him. Lack of evidence and pride made it too hard to punish the maid or make an incident with duchy.

"I said come with me!" Staring at him for a moment, she dragged him along as she used her free hand to finish every piece on her plate. Setting it down she wiped her mouth with his blouse sleeve before removing his hand from her wrist.

Stunned the man did nothing, no one had ever treated him this way.

"After you" Iris stated with a light tone, grabbing the hem of her dress. She procced to follow him out amongst an explosion of whispers, with a dark look in her eyes.