Zhu Fen was stunned by pure disbelief. She had done as her senior sister had recommended. She waited by the gates for a wandering cultivator of an appropriate cultivation level and, after weeks of wasted time, finally found one. Only to have the man somehow elude her spiritual sense and disappear into the city. It had only been pure luck that she was close enough to sense him again when he finally unveiled himself. When she found him standing on the beach wearing a serene expression that rivaled some monks sheâd seen, Zhu Fen had issued a perfectly appropriate challenge to him. Then, he had, she still couldnât believe it, said no. He hadnât just said no but leveled that denial at her with absolute conviction. Her. Zhu Fen. Of the mighty and respected Stormy Ocean sect. Who did that wandering cultivator think he was to turn down
her
honorable challenge?
He
should be honored that someone of her sect would even deign to
look
at him. He should, in a panic, Zhu Fen realized that the man was walking away while she was busy thinking.
âStop!â she commanded, only to watch him continue to retreat toward the city.
What should she do? No one ever turned down a challenge. It was unheard of, unthinkable, and it was happening to her
right now
. She couldnât go back to the sect like that. Sheâd never live down the shame of it. The only member of the Stormy Ocean sect ever to be denied a duel by a wandering cultivator.
Oh no
, she decided,
he will fight
. She would
make
him fight. Clenching her fists, she called out again.
âStop, or Iâll-,â she never got another word out.
The wandering cultivator whirled on her. âYouâll what? Tell lies about me? Leverage the power of your sect to make my life hard? Send others from your sect to hound me until I agree?â
The words themselves meant little to her. Of course, that was what she had meant to do. Except, she knew the appropriate words for it. They werenât lies, just inducements for wandering cultivators to accept their places as useful, but disposable tools for more honorable sect members. It wasnât leverage, just the fine art of persuasion. Her sect brothers and sisters wouldnât hound, simply encourage. Yet, it wasnât the words he said that pinned her in place. It was the
look
on his face. She had never, in her entire life, had anyone look at her with such contempt. That contempt for her, her sect, for everything she held dear, burned in him with such purity that it was a wonder to her that his glare didnât reduce her to cinders where she stood. Before she could muster her defense, he carried on, the contempt for her growing even more vivid.
âAnd then thereâs the matter of your friend who thinks I didnât notice her. I expect sheâs here to make sure that I
die
of my wounds in the event that your challenge fails. Right? After all, you must ensure that the pretend honor of the Rippling Mud Puddle sect cannot be sullied by a mere wandering cultivator.â
The wandering cultivator pointed to the exact spot where Sun Xue was hiding. Fen watched as her very sheepish-looking friend stepped out from behind a small sand dune.
Although
, Fen thought,
she should be sheepish getting caught out by a mere wandering cultivator like that
. When theyâd discussed this plan, it was perfectly reasonable. They
had
to protect the reputation of the sect. It was their duty. It was the honorable thing to do. Of course, she couldnât expect this farmer or merchant and whatever he really was to understand anything about real honor.
âAll of this,â he continued, âdespite the fact that I
went out of my way
to avoid you. Traveled across an entire city and came to a place where I clearly meant to be
alone
. All so you could have a challenge that didnât mean anything.â
âHow dare you-,â she began, only to be cut off again.
âBecause, after all, the only thing that really matters is what
you
want. What
you
need. Right? Well, just so weâre clear, let me tell you what you just
cost
me.â
âCost?â Zhu Fen repeated.
Where all of the manâs other words failed to make so much as a mark on her cold, precise reasoning, that lone word sank home.
Cost
. A horrible, sick feeling bloomed in Zhu Fenâs stomach. She thought back to the way that he had been standing there, his face so calm, so at peace, and she
knew
. It had been obvious if sheâd been paying attention. Sheâd seen it often enough in the sect and even experienced it herself on two memorable occasions. In hindsight, she recognized that sense of calm in moments beforeâŠ
âI was seconds away from a moment of enlightenment,â he said in a voice devoid of any emotion.
Sun Xue had the good grace to gasp. In the sect, to interrupt such a moment was a taboo of the highest order. One could be banished from the sect for it. One could be
executed
for it. While Fen didnât think they would actually execute her for interrupting the enlightenment of a wandering cultivator, there would be punishments if they learned the truth. Dire punishments. Zhu Fen tried to rally. Tried to defend herself.
âI didnât know,â she said.
Then it was back, that contempt for her, even more potent than before. Except, this time, the wandering cultivator had honed its edge razor fine.
âNo. You simply didnât
care
.â
Zhu Fen searched for the words, but none came. She looked at Sun Xue, but the other girl was staring resolutely at the ground, her cheeks bright red with shame. When Zhu Fen looked back at the wandering cultivator, she couldnât meet his gaze for more than a moment. He was right. She hadnât cared what business heâd been about. She hadnât cared that he took a great deal of trouble to avoid her. She had only cared about herself. The man only spoke one more time.
âSo, understand me when I say this. If either of you draws a weapon, I will end you both.â
Zhu Fen had been on the receiving end of killing intent before. At least, she
thought
she had. The sect had all their disciples train against it with those of a higher cultivation stage, just to prepare them for the possibility. The sheer weight of the killing intent that landed on her in that moment wasnât simply vast, it was beyond overwhelming. By itself, that would have been enough. Of course, that wasnât how it worked. The dread was already coursing through her when the sense of his killing intent blazed through her mind. And it was
terrifying
. It was a world of shadow, flame, towering edifices of stone, and blades so sharp that they could cleave mind from body or soul from fate.
Zhu Fen wasnât sure how long that sense of destruction cascaded through her mind before she finally found her sense of self again. When she did, the wandering cultivator was gone. Zhu Fen thought that she had never been so relieved to see someone leave. It was only then that she realized that she was crouched on the ground and her blood had darkened a patch of sand beneath her. She reached up to wipe the blood away from her nose. Looking around, she saw Sun Xue sprawled on the ground. Zhu Fen scrambled over to the other girl. Even as she did, a part of her mind told her that she should be very grateful that the wandering cultivator had chosen not to take her up on her offer to duel. By refusing her challenge, he had
spared
her from his wrath. She did not think she would have, even
could
have, done the same in his position. When she got to Sun Xue, the other girl was barely coherent. She looked up at Zhu Fen, confusion on her face, and asked a question that seemed all too obvious in retrospect.
âWas that a hidden master?â
âI donât know, Xue,â Zhu Fen admitted. âI honestly donât know what he was.â