With the surrounding stone becoming mere dust around them, in some parts of the ruins, full collapse was already imminent. Corrosive poison scattered due to their struggle, and the man's elation at finding a kindred soul ate at their surroundings. Even if his clothes suffer in turn when Wang Lan Biyu took him by surprise due to her advantage of experience in using a blade. His eyes only sparkled with more fervor, putting more and more strength into his sword. Wang Lan Biyu's arms shook, her knees tremble, but refusing to kneel or admit he was overpowering her, she fearlessly met that blade again. And again. And again. And again.
Like a mallet to a bell, his strikes rattle her bones reinforced by frost, wearing down the once stable and proud-standing Chuanqi. Over and over, he continued to wear her out till that toxin trickled down her lips, leading to her finally opening her starry eyes wide and gloomily sending daggers straight into his soul. "Haha!" With delight obvious on his features, the man backs away trembling with joy as she glares at him with her glorious gaze. In awe of its majesty, "I love it!" Despite his sword still raised to kill, his words and eyes shook vehemently with happiness.
"If I refine your soul, wouldn't it become the most beautiful spiritual weapon the world has ever laid its eyes upon? Your core when ground into powder would be the most potent—" With his ramblings came Wang Lan Biyu's furious attacks in return. Even as her sword intent clipped the corner of his eyes, he was muttering to himself, whether it was to provoke her or if he was actually mad. Wang Lan Biyu had no intentions of willingly finding out. "-No, no. First, I need to ensure your bloodline remains pure. Perhaps the Lord would lend me a few of your eggs in passing? Surely he wouldn't mind if a few weaker hatchlings went missing from the batch? Or perhaps I should just hide you away and have a batch of hatchlings with you first and appeal to the Lord afterward with my results?"
"?" Blood dripping down the additional hole in his shoulder, he suddenly gained without knowing quite how. The man's ramblings ceases as his happy eyes narrowed into slits at the woman whose body encompassed glacial spiritual energy with black blood spilling down her lips nearly endlessly. Her rage and revulsion coated her sword in tiny, yet ravenous flakes of endless crystals. Without blinking, he cut off the patch of frostbitten skin from his shoulder. "I underestimated you once; that was my first mistake." She tenses, not daring to take him lightly even if he was pretending to be unguarded while ripping the withered sleeve, revealing the ugly wound she left on his person. As it would be more troublesome keeping it on when it was barely hanging on by a thread.
"However, to allow me to let down my guard twice? Isn't it rather shallow of a righteous Royal Chuanqi to resort to such tricks?" The man of blue grew fiercer in intensity, roaring against her own wave of misty ocean, threatening to wash away her entire existence. Adjusting her grip, she only heard him whisper soberly for a second before the rushing of wind converted the rest into killing intent threatening to drown the young sea serpent. "Even a child can kill an adult given the right circumstances. I will not give you a third chance."
~
Jiang Tengyi took a deep breath, trying not to raise his voice at his senior brothers and sisters, who stood silently behind Yilin while staring at the ground with dead eyes. Yilin's expression was as impassive as a stone statue, acknowledging Jiang Tengyi's words but never taking action to follow them. But this was what infuriated him most: their silence and inaction despite answering all his questions. Just like before. "Senior Brother Yilin, I am your future Patriarch." Never before had he openly spoken of his status, trying to twist his people into obedience. Regardless, even given this heavy threat, Yilin swiftly kneeled with the rest. Their heads buried into their chests like ostriches hiding in the dirt. Just like that day Chao Bai walked into the sects array. "This subordinate is naturally aware of the young patriarch's concerns. Nonetheless, in spite of the young master's orders, this subordinate will still dare disobey and prioritize the young master's life over all others."
"-Until we return to land safety, this subordinate only hopes the young master will understand our difficulties in following the order to return and search for the Lady." Stifled, the back of his throat nearly burned by the fire wanting to escape, he quietly turns to Ehuang. The ever dedicated doctor had long purposely deafened her ears, seemingly trying to force everything into healing Hou Yi on the side. As if she couldn't hear anything. But strained muscles along her back practically give away how uneasy she was. Chao Bai was practically a general of war, endlessly rushing into the battlefield these past few years whenever she was needed, even without being asked.
She could never stop the vengeful woman then; how could she stop her now? Go back and give her more to worry about? Don't be ridiculous. Chao Bai could fight, but she could not. Could she ask Yilin to risk Jiang Tengyi's safety by going out to assist her? She wouldn't. Ask the Madam? Sect Master? Those two were also busy risking their lives defending the innocent and their own people. In the end, the logic was solid. And the order from Chao Bai's own lips sealed theirs from telling Jiang Tengyi anything else he couldn't guess on his own. Everyone, no matter what their place or their trust in Chao Bai's abilities, silently accepted that today; Chao Bai's life was truly forfeit if she couldn't save herself this time. Because none of them could afford to go back.
From the repel spell Chao Bai had cast around the area of what was most likely the remnants of the core of the array. To the strange "snow" falling above their heads without clouds. And her parting words with Erlang. It was clear she was saying she would not be able to hold back this opponent for long and wanted them to take the two important people to safety first. If not her, it would have to be Yilin, but this was unacceptable. To both Chao Bai and the entirety of the Zenith Star sect. They had lost too many people already. Chao Bai is their benefactor; they could not burden her even if they wanted to help her. And they had taken an oath, the young master was agreed to always be their first priority. No matter what.
"If you all won't go back, I can swim just fine on my own." Jiang Tengyi moves to the bow of the ship with no one actively stopping him. Yilin spoke up with his eyes devoid of all emotions, as unyielding as ever. "The young master's spiritual aura is unique even among tens of thousands. Without the young master, this subordinate and everyone aboard will surely die once that person moves on from the lady's positioning. If the young master is willing to accept the sacrifice of one for a hundred, then this subordinate is also willing to escort you back myself." "....." Jiang Tengyi sent Yilin a glower worth a thousand essays of unspeakable frustrations.
"Who is she?" A young man standing aside questioned them then, seeming to have finished meditating and thinking. Facing this question, the most awkward was naturally Jiang Tengyi, who was still furious and unwilling to set his best friend on a death sentence if he told him the truth too. He could only purse his lips and tear up the inside of his sleeve in a death grip. Yilin sent Ling Da Chuanli a single look out of courtesy before calmly shifting his gaze away. As he had no obligation to explain anything to this outsider. Erlang and Ehuang's expression, on the other hand, took on strange undertones.
Meeting eachother's gazes by chance, the cousins look away from one another. One was staring at her sweating and unconscious beloved, and the other was focused entirely on the current job, which was saving her cousin's beloved. However, who knows if their thoughts aligned because of blood relation as well? When looking down at Hou Yi, their expressions became somewhat stiffer. Erlang, only because she envisioned Hou Yi in the same position and became so uncomfortable she wanted to turn around herself. And Ehuang, for obvious reasons, pure guilt. She was confident in Chao Bai's ability to escape dangerous situations.
Faced with life and death every day she could only close off the softness of her heart and focus on healing those within her reach to keep going on in this life. If not, how could they meet again when Chao Bai needs her later on to heal her wounds when she comes back? All those negative thoughts of the young woman potentially dying on the island which was getting further and further away were forcefully thrown away. Having treated every single person on this ship, Ehuang also feared something much more consequencial than Chao Bai's situtation. Her spiritual sense hyper aware of Ling Da Chuanli who was still carried that dense aura of fortune.
It was faint, but unlike that time where it was only a small bundle of intimidating spiritual energy. Now, the young man had matured and grown only more rapidly in the recent years out of sight as if he had taken some kind of heavenly medicine. Ehuang even had a faint guess that Wang Minglan knew this would happen and sent his troublesome diciple outside of the sect on purpose to elude the sight of others. Perhaps learning from the time of his daughter's tragedy. Even if unable to cover up his brilliance, with war being unavoidable there were much more important things to consider than a talent missing from the ranks.
And now, trying to cover that shining light along with Wang Minglan whether intentionally or not was Chao Bai. Even if she pretends to not know, spending plenty of time in Chao Bai's presence she could still feel the fragments of her will hanging around epecially closely to Ling Da Chuanli. Almost to the point of embarrassing intimacy. And, the person himself seemed entirely unaware of this fact proving it's care and elusitivity if not for her familiarity with their sect's spells and Chao Bai's imprint. The tips of her ears had long gone red after she had recognized this fact. Not knowing how to feel about her little friend's secret actions. She had always seen Chao Bai through rose tinted glasses, thinking she held back a tragic history while fighting to avenge that beloved.
Now, she had wrapped the little master of Azure sect so carefully in her scent like sneaking sweetness in between cracks of indifference. Ehuang didn't know how she would be able to face Chao Bai in the future. Not only that, the affection seemed to go both ways. How frightening is a doomed love compared to a forgotten memory threatening to surface at any moment and tear your Dao Heart anew? Everyone in the cultivation realm knew the answer to this question. Yilin rose from his place faster than the others, blade in hand and the two young masters stationed behind him. Similar to a piping teapot, harsh on the airs, frightening to those within earshot. Faster than the eye could process. Blood splattered along the invisible barrier in the poor mimicry of a scattered red rose.
Craking the shield directly with it's impact, the center of this violent flower still shakily rose her sword, cradled between both hands. Yilin's pupils shrank, staring at the origin of the bloody flower who was meeting face to face with a blue viper extending the red wings behind her casting a velvet shadow. *Crack! Taking up their weapons, the cultivators aboard only tremble once at the dominating aura of the man approaching the broken spiritual beast. "Chao Bai!!!" "Go." It was not Yilin who spoke, but the withering flower. Her voice withered and worn, echoing in the backs of their minds without permission filled with rare urgency. Coughing venom recently regected by her body once more, Chao Bai didn't turn around. Keeping her eyes on the man who had yet to see those outside her realm.
Not knowing of the anguished apphrehension on their expressions after seeing her battered body guarding their retreat with all her might. Their hearts already wavering once again panging with remorse. Yilin, with one hand iron clasped on the struggling red eyed Jiang Tengyi already, quickly orders for Hou Yi to be sent within the inner cabin with Erlang. "Take Hou Yi within! Prepare the teleportation array! Those with spiritual beasts go ahead first, escort the young masters away at once!" It was a battle Chao Bai would not be able to win. "If you help her she can stand a chance! Why are we running?!" A rare resentment carried throughout Jiang Tengyi, seeing a beloved person within arms length being tortured, who could stand it?
"The lady has given her orders." Yilin could not face the young man he sworn his loyalty and life to, keeping his pale face especially indifferent. Heart gone cold, Jiang Tengyi, numbly stares at the battling figures above. Their trading sword essence so destructive that already the cracks in the only recently repaired barrier was starting to shatter. "AHH-!!" A scream of pain tore all gazes, whether they wanted it to or not, to the scene above them they were trying to ignore while escaping. Pain!!! Burning! Agonizing!! Her scream was deafening as those fingers attempt to drive in deeper, forcing her to finally let go of her her sword....Dropping it into the sea, along with the hearts of those who witnessed this gut-wretching sight.
In and out of consciousness Chao Bai fought to pull those hands from her face, in too much agony to feel fear, to recall much of anything. Animal insticts took over, with her mouth wide and flailing she lifts her face higher taking a large portion of his wrist with her as he jerks back. Trembling, tears of blood running down her face, the wounded snake, with her gift crippled, she was as good as dead beast. Chao Bai shakily made to dig into her chest only to be stopped by the other beast who enjoyed her struggles. "Digging out your core already? What use are you to me without your beastial core? Is your pride too high to implode directly? Don't worry, with me here I'll graciously allow you to keep your life."
Numb, and mind muddled. The woman shook under the weight of the stronger beast as he forcefully pulls her from her high seat into his control. The illusion behind her wavering, catching his attention. Raising his gaze from the broken serpent hanging limping from his hands. Qingyang caught the jian sword thrown at his throat just a hairs from slicing his adams apple. Surprising even himself with it's sudden appearance from seemingly nowhere. As if smog was covering his senses and sight until the very last moment. Releasing the sword which was starting to burn with a white flame, Qingyang frowns. Like adding gasoline to a bonfire the flame roars to life opening it's jaws to chase the fleeing serpent.
The white dragon flew from it's shelf with heavenly fire with a bloodlust for the male serpent. Despite it's small size each snip severly burned him every through his scales making the once troublesome spell more than it seemed. Sneering, he threw Chao Bai into it's awaiting jaws wanting to see exactly what would happen, and as he thought. The "sword" he had been avoiding returned to it's sheath like a tame little pet. Held firmly in the grasp of a young man wearing pure white, and a golden gaze of disturbing calm fixated solely on his person. The qi consealed by the scent of another entered his nostrils all at once like a rushing tsunami.
Pupils dilated, the male serpent took a deep long breath of the tantalizing aroma rushing all throughout his spirit veins. Nose flaring, the serpent's eyes gleam even fiercer than when he spotted Chao Bai. Voice trembling with anticipation and disbelief the voracious looking snake stared directly at the human with glowing silver eyes full of desire. "A beloved of heaven."