Ever since I was little, my master had always told me that I should hide my feelings behind a veil, keep my face still like the surface of Diancang Lake, and be as unreadable as the snowfall
Mysteries, anonymity, a fate undefined by heaven and earth, that is the Diancang way, always has been, always will
I grew up under my master's uncaring face, despite her beauty, her face was like that of a jade sculpture, untainted, unmoving, non-expressive and barely human
And yet, her warmth never failed to reach me, every word, every small gesture, however monotone it seemed, was abundant in love, under such care, how could I not be expressive?
Maybe that's why I never could hide my emotions, despite my master's greatest efforts, I was rash, arrogant and emotional, never did I fully understood and faithfully followed the Diancang way
I, Zhou Xuelan, Inner disciple of the Diancang Sect had never felt like I belonged
In the midst of emotionless peers and elders, I alone acted human, and yet, I alone was alienated
Master have been teaching me the principals of Diancang Fog Palm since forever, the foremost and most foundational art of our Diancang Sect, the art that I could never perform no matter how many times I recite its mantras and practiced its forms
I didn't have the right emotions, nor lack thereof to perform, I'm sorry master, this disciple of yours might not return this time
If only you picked a different orphan to save that fateful day, one that has the uncaring soul deserving of your teaching…
=================================
With the bandit's blade meters away as he swung down, a blade of Qi solidified and flew at her
'Move! Move! Move damnnit!"
Xuelan knew that she needed to move but her feet felt as if they were bolted to the ground beneath
For the first time in her years of life, she felt fear, the fear of death like gripping her throat
She had trouble breathing as her life flashed before her eyes
That's when she heard it, her master's monotoned voice
The day she picked her up from the streets, the first thing that her master told her was
"Silence your heart, and let your stillness seep through your enemies, that is the teachings of our Sect, but first and foremost, Xuelan, find your own way"
As if her master was here, she felt a familiar pair of delicate and reliable hands, imperceptibly soft on her shoulders, gentle yet reassuring
Every time she cried as a child, this was how her master comforted her
'That's right, I'm not out of options'
During the last second before the Qi blade cuts her down, Xuelan twisted her body to the side, narrowly evading a fatal blow
The bandit's Mountainous Cleave tore through Xuelan's left shoulder, ripping through cloth, flesh and bones alike, making a sickening rippling and sawing sound as it went through slowly, every second agonizing, cutting all the way down to her collar bone, her soft flesh splitting apart like the red sea parted by Moses as rivers of blood flowed out, dripping down her staggering petite frame
The pain was paralyzing but Xuelan knew that if she gives in to it now, she'll die by this bastard's disgusting hands or worse, be used like a toy
Xuelan picked up her steps and ran straight at him, even If she couldn't pierce his defenses, she had to try
//Diancang Misty Waltz, Mid Silver, Mastered//
With mysterious steps, Xuelan moved with extreme grace despite her gashing wound, the mist around her blur red and blood continued to spurt out, she was in a battle against time, any second now could be her last
Seeing that she's still struggling, the bandit leader scoffs
"Still not giving up? Even with that wound, stubborn ones aren't cha?"
Not even brandishing his weapon, the bandit patted his chest and continued
"Fine, I'll give you a chance girl, hit me with the best you got! Maybe another one of those ticklings you did earlier, bwahahaha" Arrogant laughing like he'd already won, the bandit stood still and opened his arms dramatically, his chest exposed though the tiger hide tunic Xuelan had ripped through with her earlier ambushes, his skin shimmering with orange Qi and faint black tiger stripes, daring Xuelan to strike
//Mountainous Tiger's Hide, High Bronze, Perfected//
'Calm down Xuelan, it's now or never, perform the Diancang Fog Palm, your stupid life is on the line here! Do it for your master!'
As she approaches the bandit, she shifts into form for the Diancang Fog Palm, pouring her dwindling Qi into her small palm and attempting to silent her palpitating heart, unsure if a miracle would happen with her life on the line or would it fail like her countless past attempts
Just as she started to lose hope, her master's words again rang in her head
"but first and foremost, Xuelan, find your own way"
Her voice monotoned yet carried such warm and understanding
The words like lightning ripping through her mind as a realization shook her world
Xuelan suddenly halted her steps and retracted her Qi
The bandit raised an eyebrow pleasantly surprised
"Hmm? Gave up already sweet cheeks?"
"Shut up!"
Xuelan closed her eyes and recalled her past outbursts and overly emotional reactions, it was clear that she can't ever use the Diancang Fog Palm even if her life depended on it
Finally opening her eyes, deep in thought, Xuelan slowly walked towards the bandit, no fancy movement, no angry stares, but just with a determined look in her eyes
'Who said I only have to follow the Sect's teachings, my master's right, I'll find my own path'
Just as she stood before the bandit, his body still covered in protective Qi
"Trying something new? Heh, go for it, after this I'll tie you up and have fun with you" The bandit sneered, thinking that his victory was imminent
'I'll do it like Ming, I'll take this bastard's technique and break him with it'
Recalling the ferocity and feralness of his fist landing on her left forearm
She shifted into the stance of the Diancang Fog Palm like earlier, gathering the last of her Qi, Xuelan didn't try to suppress her heart, not anymore, she broke the chains and let all of it loose
Rage, Pain, Fear, Grief, Joy, Sadness, Hope, and even Despair
Her body shaking under the burden of suppressed emotions finally breaking the mold
But there was something new that spawned in her psyche, a craving for death, to dominate, a starving tigress's desire to rip and tear her prey
The feeling feral rage and hunger overtook and consumed the rest of
Zhou Xuelan took the bandit's vulgarity and ferocity and she tripled it
With eyes reflecting a deep craving for violence and drool streaming down her mouth, she shifted stance ever so slightly to accommodate this new beast inside her, a monster lurking beyond the fog
//Diancang Tigress Ambush Palm, Low Silver, Novice//
She struck forth her palm with ferocity, orange and black foggy Qi dancing around her fingers as her palm softly landed on the bandit's chest, making a soft thud noise
"Hahahahaha, that was your final attempt? How adorable-"
The bandit laughed hard in ridicule, but just before he could finish his cocky response, the arrogant fool choked on emerging rivers of black blood as a muffled ripping and tearing sound gurgled from within his chest cavity
Blood crawled from underneath his eyes as they rolled up into his skull as his body stiffens up and fell, ragdolling on the ground in a pile of blood that leaked from every of his dumbass orifices
The foggy Qi from Xuelan's palm had seeped through his skin and started to rip and tear the insides of the poor bastard's chest, the delicate internal organs that should've been protected by his ribcage and Mountainous Tiger's Hide technique was being clawed with ferocity, turning it into a smoothie of blood and flesh
"Hah… I won"
Xuelan breathed out as she stood victorious, blood still very much streaming from the huge cut in her shoulder
She had lost too much blood, she realised her own predicament as her vision started to blur and her legs gave out
As she fell, Xuelan felt a pair of strong arms holding her up, warmly embracing her
Looking her, she could see the faint silhouette of Ming's face, panicking and frantically yelling something she couldn't completely make out
'Ah Ming, it's kinda funny how you're always there when I need some help'
Xuelan smiles to herself in relief as she closed her eyes and let her consciousness shut down naturally, knowing full well that she's in good hands now