The sword glittered with blood where it thrust through Elder Huang’s chest, and came out through his back, beads of red dripping on the floor.

  Zhu Xuelian, even as a Qi Condensation cultivator, was fast. Even though she had no martial arts to support her movement, she still moved with preternatural speed, placing one foot forward, ducking lower to make herself a smaller target, and angling her body to reach further.

  Even so, she was painfully slow compared to the elder from the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion, who perceived her as moving in slow motion. If this were an attempt at a counterattack, it was downright suicidal. It is because Zhu Xuelian was a Qi Condensation cultivator, and did not have martial arts. If she were the same person as six months ago, this elder would be worried — perhaps even slightly afraid.

  Even back then, Zhu Xuelian could never kill this elder, but a confrontation would not come without heavy costs. At least, in this elder’s estimation, this was the case. He had never seen Zhu Xuelian before, but from what he had heard, despite the strange martial arts she practiced, this was the obvious outcome.

  Good, the elder thought, welcoming Zhu Xuelian’s advance. Come closer and die.

  The elder freed his sword, moving purposefully slow to draw Zhu Xuelian in — to seduce her into the false plot that she could actually accomplish anything. Every moment that passed, this elder cherished and his doubts and fears evaporated.

  This was Zhu Xuelian? Just this? A slow-moving, direct, thoughtless, suicidal Qi Condensation cultivator?

  He even remarked, internally, on Zhu Xuelian’s footwork and technique. Everyone can learn to move well, but it takes a truly rare talent to utilize the exact amount of energy required to execute each motion perfectly, for every possible variable. Zhu Xuelian's motion was sloppy and too direct. Even though, as she approached, Zhu Xuelian left no possible room for the elder to escape, which was the correct idea, the elder did not bother to defend himself; he wanted her closer.

  Zhu Xuelian was a passable fighter, in this elder’s estimation. Perhaps she even had some talent and potential. But ultimately, she was just a Qi Condensation cultivator, and too young. Why was he so afraid of her before? Why was he warned multiple times to not underestimate this trash?

  Zhu Xuelian’s hand wrapped around the elder’s wrist, as he lifted his sword high to strike Zhu Xuelian down.

  Many voices called out Zhu Xuelian’s name, at that time, as they finally reacted.

  Strange, the elder thought. She must have really sharp instincts to react so much faster than the others. But it doesn't matter. You die here, Zhu Xuelian!

  His arm did not move.

  Huh?

  Holding nothing back, the elder poured every ounce of strength into his arm. His entire limb trembled and shook, and he only managed to lower his sword toward Zhu Xuelian a mere inch as an entire second of struggle passed.

  Her black-and-red gaze bore into his eyes, unflinching. There was no question in those eyes. There was no hatred. There was no killing intent. There was no joy nor disappointment.

  The entire scene was so preposterous that no one could comprehend what was going on. In truth, most of them thought the elder was messing around, and everyone resented the elder for it. The longer this took, the more danger there was that they would come to harm at the hands of Wu Yulan or Yun Fei.

  But those two did not even move.

  I... I will die…

  Her eyes. Her fast reaction. Her unbelievable strength. The elder had it all wrong. Zhu Xuelian had some talent? Her attempt was pathetic? She was a passable fighter?

  She is a natural… cold-blooded… bloodthirsty killer…!!!

  She moved slowly because she was a Qi Condensation cultivator. She couldn't help that. But it wasn't the elder who was tricking her into a false plot; he fell to his own schemes and purposefully allowed the one thing to happen that had to be avoided at all costs: he allowed her close.

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  The elder then made a split-second decision that he thought he would never, ever, make in his entire life — no matter the circumstances, no matter the reasons, and no matter the outcomes. Shrouding his left hand in Qi, he cut across his right hand and severed it — not Zhu Xuelian’s — to free himself from her grip, and leaped back. The terror Zhu Xuelian inspired in him, at that moment, made him react this way. He would not even risk attempting to cut off Zhu Xuelian’s hand, because he only had one chance at escaping from her.

  As his feet left the ground, flying toward safety, he was about to sigh in relief, but then Wu Yulan appeared at his side and brought her sword down on his neck.

  Her sword did not cut into his flesh but instead pummeled him into the ground, head first, in the kowtowing position, with Wu Yulan standing over him, her sword at his neck.

  Zhu Xuelian dropped the elder’s severed hand and wiped the blood off her fingers on her dress.

  “This body was given to me by Yaoyue; to think you would have the guts to bleed on it…” she remarked coldly, for the first time showing genuine hints of anger.

  No one moved. Not the elders. Not the disciples. Everything was still. In truth, they all anticipated that they grossly underestimated Zhu Xuelian, Wu Yulan, and Yun Fei. Even this was within their expectations, and though it was regrettable, some of the elders were glad that someone demonstrated why their warnings were credible, and not to be taken lightly. Elder Huang did not lie when he said that they were all prepared to suffer losses.

  It was a wake-up call.

  But there was something fantastic and magical about the fact that a Qi Condensation cultivator could do that. Zhu Xuelian’s words were more than enough of a hint to comprehend the reason why this happened.

  Zhu Xuelian lost her cultivation, but not her Physique. What grade was it to overpower an elder’s strength? It was incredible.

  And Wu Yulan… most of the elders did not even see her move. She was a Nascent Soul cultivator, like them, but she was only in the initial stages of the realm, unlike them.

  “H-help…!” the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion murmured, barely able to move his lips as Wu Yulan kept pressing his face into the ground. Each motion of his lips caused him pain. His entire skeleton trembled.

  But no one came to help, especially when the disciples who pledged their support to Zhu Xuelian came to stand at Zhu Xuelian’s side. This made all of the elders frown with great displeasure and even disappointment.

  Zhu Xuelian looked down at Elder Huang, who coughed up another mouthful of blood.

  “Elder Huang,” she said. “Why did you do that? We share no bond and there are no debts between us.”

  Elder Huang chuckled, wheezed, then chuckled again. “An old… man’s… foolishness… and pride…”

  “Please, don’t say anymore,” Zhu Xuelian said. “Save your strength.”

  Elder Huang shook his head. “N-no… this foolish elder… was saving strength… all his life… and wasted his life…” He struggled to sit up, but could not do so. “Please… hear this dying old man’s final… words.”

  Zhu Xuelian nodded and knelt beside Elder Huang.

  “You… c-came to know… that we did not… betray you; that there is a reason… but there isn’t… and we did…” Elder Huang whispered, and Zhu Xuelian’s expression darkened. “W… we lost… and rather… than submit… to our enemy… we were forced… to sell you out…”

  “I already knew this,” Zhu Xuelian said.

  “And you still… came… here…” Elder Huang whispered, as his eyes filled with tears, then blood. “I... I... am proud... of who you... became. Rather... than submit... you would... gladly die...”

  Zhu Xuelian’s expression grew darker and darker with each word; her steady heart became heavier and heavier.

  Elder Huang continued, the blood pooling around him more. “I regret… I reg-regret… that I could not do that… sooner. That I... won't... be able… to see you grow… and become… more than us.”

  He coughed, as his pulse grew weaker.

  "Please... stop..." Zhu Xuelian whispered, but her tone betrayed her helplessness.

  “I wish… I was born… to be your… grandpa… because I am so proud… to have been your elder… in the end. I regret… that I won't be able… to say… with pride in my heart… that this Zhu… Zhu Xuelian… was my disciple… from my sect… and that I w-watched… her grow… and become a fine… person.” One more ragged breath. “I would have… liked… to have watched you… and cheered you on… for just a little… while longer. I would have liked… to die peacefully… knowing I left things… in your hands… and that you… don't need me anymore. I don't have the right… to wish for those things… anymore… do I?"

  Zhu Xuelian remained silent. She bit her lower lip, lowered her head, and closed her eyes.

  "But I did… at least… this one thing… right. I am glad… to die… for you. A sect that betrays… its disciples… and elders that kill their own… future… is no different… than those times before. If my daughter… were still alive… how could I face her if I did not… die before you? Can you… forgive this… foolish old man… for not realizing… this sooner…? In another life… would you be ashamed… to call me… g-g…gra…"

  With those words, Elder Huang became still.

  Elder Huang was a respected and famous figure in the rivers and the lakes. He was beloved by everyone, regardless of their sect. As a young man, he fought against the beast waves and sacrificed everything he had to protect the common people. He believed in the philosophy of Our Land; even as that philosophy, twisted by others, resulted in regional conflicts between warlords that brought about the death of his entire family.

  When the current sects came into power, and abolished the age of pointless wars, Elder Huang joined the Galaxy Sword sect, for it had no allegiance to worldly titles. His philosophy — Our Land — became Our People.

  It was not strange that every disciple of the Galaxy Sword sect burst into tears when they saw what happened to him, and the way his expression, even now, wore a proud smile.

  Zhu Xuelian stood up, wiping at her cheeks and eyes with the back of her hand.

  "I forgive you… grandpa… Huang,” Zhu Xuelian said, softly.