Third party’s PoV

  It has been quite a few years since Yanmei took on her new name. And as it was before with the person herself, the name she took on became her aegis. Not through some mystical properties, no. But with the reputation that had grown alongside her.

  “Yanmei: The living accomplished experiment of Lord Black Alchemist. Tester and owner of all the lost miscellaneous techniques Lord Black came to restore in his pass time.” Has been one of the most powerful backing the once slave-turned warrior could ever have.

  Yet, it doesn’t stop there: “ Attendant of Lady Wu Chang, Heir and adopted daughter of Elder Wu: the Great Mist Demon.” Many had called her a coward, hugging her backer's thighs, be it for protection or to scare the common disciples of the Cult into behaving. But over the years, the many rumors that had been spun around those facts soon crumbled under the weight of reality itself.

  Yanmei had never backed down from any duel and had, in fact, requested many on her own when her lady’s face became stained by accusations that had been levied at her. Duels that, even if not all of them ended as victories, the sheer level of brutality with which she fought had quelled many of their misplaced, ego-driven rage and hatred. For every fight Yanmei couldn’t win, her adversaries were forced to settle for yet another pyrrhic victory: earning debilitating wounds, both physical and mental.

  And to their horrors, she would rise stronger with every defeat. No wounds, no matter how hard and deviously they had tried, would ever stick to the woman’s flesh. Almost like a revenant or a Jiangshi, accomplishing feats of vitality and endurance solely seen by individuals who had earned their Demonic Epithet.

  < WHY WON’T YOU STAY DOWN?!> The latest fool of Yanmei’s history begged at the top of his lungs, his pale face turning red with anger and terror, veins bulging on his forehead as his stomach flipped inside. His hands trembling from how tight he was holding onto the pommel of his one-handed sword, his knees doing much the same.

  With a sword sticking out of her guts, Yanmei looked straight at the foolish inner disciple with nary a fluctuation on her firm and cool pale face. Her stomach, nay her entire midsection was riddled with blade-shaped puncture holes, and her arms had deep lacerations all over as the man’s energy ate at her flesh like a voracious monster.

  Yet she stood up, still and firm, eyes focused and filled with determination as she grabbed the man’s right hand around the handle of his sword: tightening her grip on his hand with more and more strength, until she felt the familiar cracks of bones.

  She had snapped many bones in her time in the Cult: phalanxes were as easy as any other longer bones, but those of the metacarpal and carpal area were harder to do the same with. You see, those bones don’t really “snap” as much as they “crunch” due to how small they are. And right now, wet “crunches” were what was going on as she held his gaze, alongside the slowly intensifying stench of urine.

  His shoulders were already weakened from having blocked the full brunt of Yanmei’s Demon Bull’s descent of the heavenly mountain technique. His spine had been compressed one too many times by her Nether Dragon’s trample over mortality.

  But he had managed to endure it all, up until Yanmei used Asura Father’s deadly reminder, who compressed all of her contempt, frustration, and annoyance into a single backhanded slap.

  His head went flying, dragging his entire body with it. But there was an issue: an unstoppable force sent through a body held by an immovable object had few possible outcomes.

  With a wet and sickening *Splortch* that was soon followed by a wail of utter pain, the man’s arm tore apart at the shoulder as the rest of his body spun from the sudden counterforce coming from Yanmei’s grip, crashing into the sandy floor of the practice area.

  The onlookers were silent as Yanmei dropped the man’s arm before slowly walking over to him, lifting her foot and putting it at his spine.

  < Y-yiel’ ! I yiel’, ‘lease sh’op! I apollo—> She kicked him in the ribs, turning him face up. Tears ran down his dirty red cheeks, his stump bleeding all over the ground, pants peed.

  Yanmei looked back, back to the woman who was the reason why this duel even took place, to begin with. Sitting at a table by the public training area was Wu Chang herself, using a fan decorated with fine golden inlays to hide her lips as the rest of her face was covered with a thin yet impenetrable veil of black silk.

  Seeing Yanmei gazing in her direction, she waited for a few more moments as the man started to beg all over again, his voice hoarse and slurred from the damage his jaw and teeth were subjected to.

  < I wou’’ ‘o a’ything! I—> She relented, giving Yanmei a nod before getting up and leaving the place.

  < Be thankful, the only reason I didn’t end break your cultivation is because of my lady’s grace. Go and tend your wounds, we both know what happens to cripple at the cult.> The woman stated, voice firm and cold like a trained enforcer. No emotion ever showed in her entire body aside from annoyance and frustration, and even they were but ephemeral outbursts that disappeared as fast as they came to life. Yet, before turning to leave, she took his hand to pull him up to his feet.

  The man was shocked and confused as he suddenly found himself upright, his face turning pale by the sudden motion. He looked up at the taller woman, her cold and uncaring face remained as it was except for a small twinkle in her eyes as he felt something in his palm: something small, round, and hard.

  ‘A pill!’ His broken face lit up in realization as he, therefore, tried to thank her. But with his right arm missing, his hold-fist salute ended with just his outstretched palm over his bloody bruised chest.

  < Most be’evo’ent la’y Wu, you have my en’’ess gra’i’u’e… >

  < Why waste a good healing pill on such a fool? He walked by the riverside on his own, yet you helped him when his shoes got wet; even after all these years, you are still the same.> Lady Wu spoke with an amused drawl as the two walked to the lower floors of the sect where their destinations lay.

  < He was just another dog obeying his master’s order, I have no fault with him. And I do not want his blood on my hands for that same reason. I only gave him a way out of that corner he found himself in.> The tall warrior said, a small whizz of air resounds as she breathe. Her steps were slow and teetering, yet she kept following her lady with the same dedication as ever.

  < I see… How is your body my dear Yanm— Huan? I still cannot believe you’ve withheld such a secret from me for all those years…>

  < My apologies once again, my lady. And as to your question, I am fine. My body is already rapidly healing, and as per your usual directive: my entire reserve of Ki is allocated to regenerating my body through my physique and body cultivation technique. I am sure that the damage I have incurred during this fight will push me to the confirmed stage of The Demonic Flesh Metamorphosis cultivation technique, enhancing my Eternal Demon physique even more. > Yanmei, or rather Huan said, her voice grew more calm and collected. Yet over the years of shared time, her lady had learned to read her like a book, doing away with the Juggernaut’s protective stoicism.

  < You better be, how could I trust you with my life if you can’t trust me with your name? But, I am glad that you are healing. It pains and saddens me to see you getting hurt like that, I do not know what I would do if you’d die on me. Can’t you be a bit more… thoughtful, when you fight? > She claps the fan shut, turning to smile at Huan, her senses letting her know that there was nobody around.

  < I trust the strength of my arm and the mind that wields it. It has never failed me, and will grow in might alongside me. The trickery of the mind, those can be seen through, broken through with might alone… But, I will try to get hit less… For you.> Huan says, almost like a mantra that has been beaten into her mind over her life. Yet upon hearing the woman’s anguish-filled words, she felt a strange sense of desperation yet again as she gave in. Her stomach tightened badly, waiting for her response as if her life depended on it.

  < If you say so, my dear. Leave those to me, and I will make sure no such “ trickery” befalls you that you cannot break through. And on these words, I am afraid I have to leave you for a while. Only my Master and I were formally invited to meet the Great Soul Demon: Elder Meng. There was talk of his potential appointment to Greater Demon status by our benevolent leader’s will.> Lady Wu sighs, before latching her arms around the taller woman’s neck, pulling herself up to her face as she pressed her lips to Huan’s.

  The two stayed as such for a silent yet burning with passion moment, Huan’s arm wrapped around the older woman’s delicate hips as she pulled her up with the strength of her arms, her hands groping at the other’s rear.

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  < … You taste of blood and sweat, I wouldn’t have minded any other day. But I cannot have you heat me like this before such an important meeting my love. Go home and draw yourself a bath, I want to make love to you tonight~> The entrancing voice of the young Mist demon bounced inside Huan’s head, earning the woman an eager nod as the dauntless warrior began to blush.

  Huan gently put her lady down and cupped her hands to her chest as a farewell before turning around to leave, only for a meaty slap to echo through the empty corridor they were in, making her jolt.

  < That ass is mine and mine alone, so don’t go forgetting that. Make sure you are ready for me when I return.>

  Huan’s PoV

  I was still drying myself when they knocked on the door. They called themselves servants of Elder Meng, saying that they came to extend an invitation to me and that I was to attend it as soon as possible.

  That was the first sign I noticed that something was off. The two men-servants were all but that: their bodies were filled to the brim with Ki, both at the early stage the of energy-gathering stage. And despite their best attempts at hiding it, being on the verge of creating my core, half a step into the Core purification stage made their effort useless.

  But it was the letter that they handed me that sowed the seed of doubt in my mind. It had my lady’s handwriting, confirming the two servants’ words.

  Despite feeling like this was a trap, I decided to believe my lady’s words. So I followed them, deep into the bowel of the Blood Demon Cult. The air grew thicker and thicker with bloodlust and oppressive intent the longer we walked, going past the many seats of powers and influence of the cult, stopping only one stratum above The Blood Demon’s audience hall and whatever was below.

  I could see how the two servants were struggling as we waited before the entrance of the Purification Division pavilion. Large stone doors carved from the very stone of the mountain we live in. Each of them was decorated with images of boiling seas of blood with desperate men and women drowning inside as a giant stirred the very sea like one would a pot of soup.

  { Enter. } The words, more of a command than anything else resonated not only in my head. But also that of my two guides who were now clutching at their skulls in pain.

  Seeing that none of them began to move, I stepped forward and opened the doors myself, pushing the many thousand Jins doors by myself before making my way inside the pavilion, following the glow of the star crystal leading me deeper in.

  < Enter, we have been waiting for you lass. > An unknown voice boomed from beyond the sliding paper door, it had an air of regality with a deep tone, yet somehow had a playful melody to it.

  Opening the door, I am met with a bizarre sight: Lady Wu and her master were sitting on majestic redwood chairs to the left, while to the right were some unknown yet certainly just as important people. The two groups had a certain tension to them as they looked at me.

  But the most bizarre was the old man sitting on what appears to be a throne, smiling like a loving grandfather while before lay a young woman, arms and legs bound by a rope while her mouth was gagged. She threw me a look of desperation that quickly dissipated from a snap of the man’s fingers.

  < You have been hiding things from me old friend. The lass is already as strong as your own disciple, this changes things a bit. > The once warm and caring voice turned hard and cold as he leveled his gaze on my lady’s master, who only gave a simple nod in return.

  Feeling his eyes return to me, I greeted him with all the due respect his status as an elder demanded, my head low and my hands cupped properly.

  < Someone with both manners and talent, heh?> He smiles again, but this time, instead of the warm grandfatherly atmosphere he had, this one made my skin crawl as I felt the hair on my neck rise.

  < Yet I have been hearing rumors, rumors that you were trampling on the Cult’s teaching. Tell me, young Yanmei, what do you think of our beloved leader’s Cult?> His smile grew into a predatory snarl as he stared at me hard.

  < … I am, thankful for the cult. I wouldn’t have been alive without its laws and rules.> I began speaking only for an oppressive weight to come crashing down on me. Making me stutter my words as the elder looked on with glee. I could see from the corner of my eyes that the rest of the Elder’s guests were unaffected by his projection of will.

  < I see… Perhaps the rumors were unfounded then. But still, a test of loyalty could allow you to prove yourself. Not that I do not trust you, lass. But one as strong as you are should fully abide by our Cult’s laws, I am sure you understand. So please, prove how wrong these rumors are so we can move on from this dreadfully boring subject.> He waves with a yawn at the now unconscious woman on the floor, still bound tight.

  ‘Does he…? No…’ I look at my lady, whose eyes refuse to meet mine. ‘ He is asking me to kill somebody like that? Just to … Prove a point…?’

  < Well? What are you waiting for? We do not have all day, so do not waste the precious time your meager half-step to the Core stage cultivation bought you.> He snaps his finger again, doing something to forcefully awaken the woman who starts screaming the moment her eyes open. The fabric gagging her mouth does little to hide the fear and despair that fills her voice.

  ‘ I don’t want to do it… I would be no different than them. Than the two that tortured big sis Yanmei and broke her.’ I feel sick as my hands ball into fists. My jaw grows tight as I look up at Elder Meng.

  < I… I refuse. > The guests gasp in shock, surprise written on their faces. Meanwhile, my lady and her master remain impossibly still through it all.

  < Is that so? Why? > Elder Meng, who up until now was lying back on his throne sat up, his back straight as his hands crossed in front of his face.

  < Her life is not mine to spend, but that of our Cult’s leader, the Blood Demon themselves. Killing a member of the cult is only allowed when fighting for one’s life, or to punish those who sought death by offending someone stronger than them. And as I do not know what crime this servant woman committed, her life is not mine to take, as this would otherwise be equivalent to spitting in the Blood Demon’s face directly.> I try to be as polite as possible, while still not crumbling under the man’s pressure. Circulating my Ki to strengthen myself as his intent keeps growing heavier.

  Only for his tyrannical aura to vane as he roared with laughter, the guests to my right started laughing too soon after. Yet Wu Chand and Elder Wu remained silent again, earning a side glare from Elder Meng.

  < I see, I see. Quite understandable then, were I still at your level, I too wouldn’t have dared to anger our beloved Cult’s leader.> He smiles behind his hands before leaning back down, making a grasping motion with his hand at the now sobbing girl, before closing his fist.

  A wet and sickening crunch broke through the silence, making the quiet sobbing stop forevermore. I could feel myself gagging at how inconsequential this man took her life, not even bothering to look at her as he did so. But I couldn’t move, my knees trembling as my throat tightened. I looked at my lady who looked down at the woman before looking at me with frustrated eyes.

  < Oh well, at least this isn’t a complete loss. I am sure the disciples will fall in line after I make a public example out of you.> He snaps his fingers again. This time robbing me of my sense as I fall to the ground.

  It has been one day since I woke in a cell again, like all of those years ago. My hands and legs were bound with steel cuffs, chained to the whole like some sort of criminal. Yet no matter how much I struggle, the metal bindings wouldn’t budge at all. Even when circulating all of my ki.

  Because of that, hunger and thirst were now gnawing at my mind as I waited in my silent cell. Yet, my mind was all but silent.

  ‘Why?! Why didn’t she or her master do anything?! What was going on?! Why didn’t she warn me of this?!’ I started banging my head against the wall. The pain brought me a sense of relief as I simmered in my rage.

  ‘I trusted her, she promised me to not let this sort of thing happen! I… She… She betrayed me…? SHE BETRAYED ME?! Why?! I did everything she has ever asked of me, so WHY?’ I scream into the gag, biting down hard on it as tears run down my cheeks.

  ‘Why? WHY WHY WHY?! Why does it hurt so much?!’

  It has been a week. A week of constant screaming, pain, and anger… And tears.

  ‘I want to live… I want to get out of here… I… I want to see my home… mom… grandpa… I… I am coming. No matter what…’ It took time, through the fog of hunger and thirst I finally understood what I wanted so long ago, to go back. To go home.

  With no other way out, I decided that It was time to take risk it all. I triggered the last step I needed to break through, to ascend to the next realm of cultivation: to create my own core.

  ‘Only then will I have a chance to make my way out of here.’ I start gathering all the Ki spread out in my body back into my Dantian. Bashing my head and hands on the wall behind me again, this time with a clear goal in mind: Generate more KI.

  *THUMP* ‘ Again.’

  *THUMP* ‘ Again!’

  *THUMP* ‘AGAIN.’

  *THUMP* ‘AGAIN!’

  *THUMP* < AGAIN!> I keep on hitting my head on the now wet and warm wall, my fists turning into raw and bloody stumps as I keep on creating more and more Ki.

  I can feel my Dantian burning as It cracks at the seam, yet I force more and more Ki inside. Imposing my will upon it, condensing all my energy. Harder, tighter, denser.

  *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP*

  The pain, or at least the feeling of it had long since faded. My movement was sluggish and slow, but I kept at it. Despair fills my body with the desire to live as I keep going. My Dantian kept trembling as cracks started appearing in my spiritual reserve, but they were all soon mended by my demonic physique and excessive energy from my trigram.

  *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP*

  I could feel it, something in my dantian that wasn’t there before. But it was small, smaller than a pinprick. Fragile too, and so weak, so… useless. So I kept at it.

  *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP* *THUMP*

  It grew, bigger and stronger the more Ki I fed into it. But it was still ridiculously small.

  I do not know when I fell unconscious, but that doesn’t matter anymore as I am dragged by two peak Ki-gathering stage men somewhere. The metallic cuffs and bindings were gone. But most important of all? I created my core, and it was the size of my two fists put together.

  Willing my Ki Core into motion. Making it spin inside of my dantian, revolving my entire cultivation base through my body, feeding every wound, bruise, and broken bone into my Demonic Flesh Metamorphosis cultivation technique, making it heal me as I get up to the surprised cry of the men that were dragging me.

  < It is time I get some fresh air. > I say as I start making my way out.

  Dear / valuable" in chinese ), Master Craftsman of the spiritual armoury: