Xue Cuo opened his eyes, his hands and feet faintly numb. The sensation was all too familiar. He had drained his divine strength.
He lifted a hand to form a seal, yet could no longer sense the Great Dao. Glancing down, he saw the censer’s incense had burnt out.
Secretly fretting, he was startled when the hem of an ink-black robe dropped before him. At once his vigilance rose.
Tsk—
The strike was fast beyond measure.
The tiger thrust out a claw, five fingers like blades, seeking to pin down the youth who half-knelt upon the ground. In such a vicious place, a single misstep was fatal. Against a danger like this, best to seize control.
But the cold, smooth sleeve slipped through his grasp, and a white boot struck mercilessly at his paw.
Yin Feixue started. This fellow’s Daoist art… was strange indeed.
He sprang back several steps, his palm faintly trembling.
What power!
As though within the hellish Blood Cavern itself. The youth tore away his crimson bridal robe; azure sleeves shone with a glimmer like rippling waves. In an instant, Daoist force, vast as the Great Loch, spread out in a green belt encircling him in protection.
Lotus in hand, head bare of his bamboo hat, he stood amidst the solitary darkness like one descended from the heavens.
Yin Feixue faltered too. Xianghuo gods loved their pageantry. He bent slightly, right leg forward, and slowly drew a black blade from its sheath.
The gleam of cold silver flashed in Xue Cuo’s eyes. His gaze chilled, fingers curling: “You’re seeking death!”
“Oh?”
Yin Feixue laughed aloud, blood spattering at his step, killing intent made plain.
Clang—
The two clashed at blinding speed, blood and sky churning in the cavern.
Xue Cuo’s divine power was diminished, yet he excelled in talisman craft, quick-witted and versatile, with the Xianghuo lineage at his back. Though a realm lower, he fought the white-furred tiger evenly.
[Ignite]
[Vessel]
[Profound]
Yin Feixue stamped down… and plunged into a raging river. Thunderous water roared in his ears, mist filled his vision, his body pressed heavy as molten iron.
A song rose faintly from beneath the waves. Looking down, he glimpsed a god like a merman, form like mist, beauty like carved jade. Fingers shaped in a seal, clad in shimmering gauze, with a bright pearl’s radiance haloed behind.
He pointed towards Yin Feixue. Instantly, countless strands of seaweed sprang forth, binding him fast.
Yet the figure’s face was gentle, compassionate, enticing surrender, forbidding resistance.
Yin Feixue wavered for a breath, then shuddered awake by sheer will. This lad’s Dao is not weak!
His body swelled, blade cleaving through the illusion, tearing free of the shattered river.
The vision dissolved, leaving only suffocation clinging to his throat.
Yin Feixue’s black blade flashed like a rainbow as he drove it into the ground. “Fine Dao! Now taste mine.”
The youth in blue, light as feather down, alighted upon a dead ghost’s skull.
The ghost trembled pitifully, hollow sockets lifted in terror at the white boots resting above.
Xue Cuo’s sight swam. The Blood Cavern was gone. In its place stretched boundless green, deep mountains, rivers, sunlight lacing through leaves, serene beyond words.
He stepped forward, looked down. His body was dusted in radiant scales. Wings fluttered lazily, carrying him a little way, yet somehow he was caught in a spider’s web. Struggling, his wings abruptly stiffened.
Through the verdant leaves emerged a massive white tiger, coat fresh as new snow, eyes molten gold. In those bestial depths lay no savagery, only wisdom and cold detachment.
Xue Cuo beat his wings with desperate strength. The tiger only advanced unhurried, measured.
The butterfly flailed for life. It was frail, wings weakly pasted to the web, awaiting death.
Closer.
Close enough to feel the beast’s hot breath.
The white tiger slowly lowered its head, as though to swallow the butterfly whole.
Suddenly.
The butterfly vanished.
The azure form dissolved into a sweep of cloth, slipping free beneath the tiger’s gaze.
Xue Cuo shattered the vision, opening his eyes. The tiger’s claw hovered but inches from his throat.
He fused the insights gained from Golden Crow and the Goddess’ Dao-image, wove a seal, and intoned coldly [Drown]
Water and fire are merciless.
A tiger’s roar split the sky.
Yin Feixue tumbled, slapping out flames from his clothes, then raised his blade once more. “Fine Dao! Now have a taste of my blade!”
Xue Cuo gave a short laugh. One hand bore a lotus, his slender fingers pinched a green talisman, lips curling faintly: “Come forward if you dare, and I’ll send you on your way.”
Yin Feixue’s ears twitched, but his strikes did not relent. Both grew heated, blows falling to kill.
At that moment, a strange sound burst from above.
The Blood Cavern, unable to endure further, collapsed in thunder. Two figures—one black, one blue—shot swiftly through the fissures.
Xue Cuo fought on in delight, Daoist arts flowing one upon the other.
Talismans circled at his side, a tattered brush clenched in his hand fending off the strike of the black blade.
“A fine blade, but its domineering edge shows too plainly. Beware, what is too hard may snap.”
Steel rang; the two stood almost nose to nose.
The tiger’s snowy pelt brushed faintly across the youth’s fingertips. Fire smouldered between his brows, fierce and unyielding. His glossy black hair, mischievous, loosed a few strands to flick across his chest.
Above, the heavens roiled with strange clouds. Below, shadows thickened and warped.
Their weapons locked, eyes spilling killing intent, each ready to force the issue.
The air grew taut with menace. The wind howled.
Suddenly, the white-furred tiger stretched out a paw, caught a flying strand of that black hair, and sniffed.
It truly was fragrant.
Sandalwood mingled with lotus, rare and distinct. Yin Feixue at last knew the scent, exhaled slowly, and narrowed his eyes. Only belatedly realising the impropriety of his act, he carried it off without a flicker of shame, cheerful and easy as he apologised: “Friend, your skills are marvellous, and the fragrance on you is another marvel. I could not help myself. Come, come, come. Let us fight again!”
His wrist shook; the blade shone like snow. A fleeting silver gleam caught the azure-robed youth’s thunderous rage.
Yin Feixue masked his tiger face with a paw, drew back with a graceful cut: “Friend, strike where you like, but not the face.”
Xue Cuo flicked his broken brush, grinding his teeth: “It is your face I mean to strike!”
He painted a talisman in the air. Golden script half-formed… then a red light split the heavens. The entire Dao of Broken Head Mountain shifted.
The talisman broke; blood welled to his lips, falling lightly.
From the black wood came stirring. It was a weighty, dreadful breath, and the soft stealth of feet. Xue Cuo raised his eyes: a great, placid tiger idly lifted its hem and squatted close, proffering the hilt of a blade.
“What are you trying to do?”
Yin Feixue’s ears twitched; his golden eyes narrowed with a smile. “To help you up aaa.”
He said it openly: “The game has changed. Better we join hands, and settle our grudges after. What say you?”
To temper the edge, he coughed, his gaze dropping to Xue Cuo’s waist, lingering on the chill of a silver chain.
Having offended him once already, it would not do to provoke him twice. Best not jest.
Xue Cuo considered. To batter each other into ruin was folly. His gaze lowered. “With the blade?”
Yin Feixue chuckled lazily: “With the hand. This king fears you’d take offence.”
Offence? This white tiger was all sly innuendo!
But in his state, forcing the [Supreme Freedom Technique] was no easy thing. Alone, he risked ambush. Better to parley with the tiger.
Just then a shriek tore the air.
The ragged ghost bridegroom lunged at him.
What, the Great Sun Crow and Her Ladyship had not roasted him to ash? Despite his overdrawn strength, Xue Cuo flung a green talisman: “Out of my way!”
Peril at the brink.
Yin Feixue’s snowy fur shivered. His black blade flared silver, swift as a rainbow arc, and in one stroke hewed the wretch to pulp.
Thud—
A chill fragrance curled close. Yin Feixue spread his hands, ears flicking: “My friend…”
Fighting one moment, and next, they were skin to fur, damn it!
Xue Cuo’s talisman fizzled; instead he was hurled headlong into thick, immaculate fur. At fault, he drew back quickly, bowed stiffly: “My apologies. My strength fails me.”
Yin Feixue, unconcerned, straightened and laughed: “Think nothing of it. To fell the Blood Cavern’s trap alone. Impressive indeed. Oh, one small question. Do you tread the path of the Xianghuo Divine Dao?”
Thoughts raced. Xue Cuo smiled faintly, eyes cold as snow: “Yes.”
Yin Feixue clicked his tongue: “This king despises the evil Xianghuo the most.”
Like or not, Xue Cuo quietly edged back. But the tiger pressed on: “Your arts are wondrous, your god-cultivation profound. When you are healed, let us fight anew. If I win, you forsake the Xianghuo Divine Dao and serve as temple-keeper in my Tiandu City. Agreed?”
Xue Cuo asked coldly, “And why should I wager with you?”
Yin Feixue grinned, eyes bright and sly, unlike brutish demonkind: “You Xianghuo Divine practitioners, without true faith, lack power. If you refuse me, is it doubt in your own Dao? If so, better to abandon falsehood and turn to the right way. Would that not be well?”
Xue Cuo gave him a slow look up and down. A thousand retorts clogged his throat, all held back to bile. He said only, coldly: “Very well. I accept.”
“But if you lose, you must paint me a picture.”
Yin Feixue blinked, baffled: “This king knows nothing of painting.”
Xue Cuo smiled, arms folded: “Do you agree, or not?”
Yin Feixue laughed: “Agreed! Come, come, come!”
He thrust out a paw. Large, furred, and strong, it met the slender hand, and parted. “Yinbing-xiong, we must not tarry. Come out with me first.”
Xue Cuo bowed: “Your Lordship, please go on. Let me recover a… Your Lordship!”
Yin Feixue’s form swelled, and with one arm he lifted Xue Cuo easily. His snow-white fur gleamed like silken silver, smooth and pure.
He rose and roared with laughter: “Why such fuss? With the enemy at our gates, we are comrades. No need for formality. Heal yourself in my care, and I shall show you what this king can do.”
Xue Cuo: …
