Chapter 14 – Meeting Senior Sister

Sher followed the Outer Sect disciple, Xiao Qiang—he introduced himself. They followed the stairs up the mountainside, turning onto a scenic path about a third of the way to the summit. The dwellings they passed were more affluent and spread out than back in the Inner Sect, and from most Sher could feel cycled Qi at Foundation Refinement realm. Unlike the raw, unrefined spiritual energy of Qi Condensation disciples, the Qi felt in the Core Sect evinced variety of attributes; from the more common Wind, Fire and Metal, to more uncommon variations such as Lightning or Sword.

“We’ve arrived,” Xiao Qiang gestured at a pristine little villa. “Well, I’ll get back to my duty. Um, I’m sorry.”

Sher watched as the Junior hurriedly walked away, almost fleeing. Disappointing, if not unexpected.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here?” A petite woman with deep amber eyes and a halo of platinum blonde hair, as soft and light as a cloud, emerged from the villa. “You must be the precious little sister Li Meilien has been bragging about.”

“Hello, Senior, indeed that would be me. Is Senior Sister Li home…?” Sher was abruptly interrupted as a ball lightning materialized above the blonde woman’s slightly raised hand. She blew on the fiery sphere, sending it toward Sher.

‘Well, there’s one objective accomplished.’ Sher thought briefly back to how she wanted to test her new technique with Li Meilien. Slightly adjusting her stance, she had barely any time to respond. Qi poured out of her Dantian, creating a raging vortex. The orb arrived at its target. As the forces started affecting her body, the vortex released, turning the forces outward and reflecting it towards its source.

“Why aren’t you dodging, dimwit?!” A panicked cry reached her ears, but Sher had no time to consider it.

At the last moment the vortex wavered and dispersed, a charred hole burnt through the fabric of her sash and tunic, as the ball lightning lingered in her vicinity. It then shot back, slightly off-course, missing the blonde cultivator and blasting a hole in the building behind her and devastating whatever lay inside.

However, Sher didn’t wait to see the results. As soon as the electrical orb stopped threatening her, she summoned her sword right after it, hidden in its light. A barrier appeared around the platinum-haired woman, cracks spreading out from the point where the sword struck.

“Oh no! No, no, no!” The Senior stopped paying Sher attention, looking at the damaged house, her hands pulling on her platinum hair. “What do I do? Senior Sister Li will kill me. Quickly, Junior Sister, help me clean this mess, before Senior Sister returns.”

“Explain yourself, why did you try to kill me?” Sher’s face became a stern mask, barely containing the fury she felt. “And you better have a good reason, or you won’t live to suffer the consequences from Senior Sister’s hand.”

“You dare?” The woman scoffed. “You, a little Qi Condensation thing dares to threaten me?”

Spiritual pressure crashed on Sherenna’s soul. “Kneel. Know your place, insolent Junior.” The late-stage Foundation Refinement cultivation flared on full display, ionizing the air around the amber-eyed woman as her platinum hair lifted amid the sounds of electric discharges.

The smart thing would be to de-escalate, but one thing Sher wouldn’t suffer were fools. Beginning with her mindless attack with no thought spared on the consequences, to her shameless demands now. And Sher never knelt.

She had understood that a deliberate enemy was preferred to an unpredictable fool.

The pressure on her soul wasn’t even an inconvenience. Her mind raced, devising a battle plan against a much stronger opponent she had only a rudimentary understanding of. Sher drew a blank, her prospects were low, reliant on chance. She would need to use her Soul. Sher hesitated, that would be risky. Perhaps too risky.

As Sher’s thoughts raced, her adversary’s face burned red with indignation, the spiritual pressure increased, but Sher still didn’t fold, didn’t even show to be bothered at all.

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Seven ball lightnings came into existence around the Senior. “That’s enough of your insolence!”

Before she could launch them, just as Sher prepared to do something irrevocable, a fulminating bolt of Qi struck at the petite woman’s feet, making her jump away with a squeal.

“That is enough. Why is my home in ruins, Junior Sister Thunderblot Fairy?” Li Meilien hovered above the two clashing women, her face more thunderous than any technique displayed.

“It is Thunderbolt! And… this Junior dared to destroy it!” Thunderbolt Fairy cowered beneath Li’s gaze.

“Greetings, Senior Sister,” her eyes flicking briefly to Li before setting back on the platinum haired woman. “It's good to see you again.”

“So? What exactly transpired?” Her right hand still outthrust. Her left, hanging loosely, ended in a skeletal structure of intricate golden bones that formed the missing part of her palm and fingers.

“Well, you see, I’ve been hanging around, waiting for you to return with the good news, making plans on how we will celebrate. Then this Junior, Xiao Qiang was his name, I think...”

“This woman attacked me with an orb of lightning. I deflected it and it hit what I assume is your home, Senior Sister. Then this Thunderbolt Fairy continued to be unreasonable, and you have arrived.” Sher summarized quickly. “I wanted to check if you had news on Elder Feng and there is another matter I’d like to discuss. Privately.”

“I expect my home to be fixed by the time I return, Junior Thunderbolt.” Li Meilien descended. “Would you like to join me on a walk, Junior Sister Song?”

“With pleasure.”

They strolled for a bit, weak protests of Thunderbolt Fairy died down behind them.

“Were you hurt?” Senior Sister Li asked, concern audible in her voice.

“I am fine, shame about the ruqun, though. It was one of my favorites.” Sher sighed. “How is Elder Feng, did he regain consciousness?”

“Unfortunately, no. The Elders haven’t succeeded, and a request was sent to Zhuque. Their representatives arrived today, but… they weren’t aware we had requested them. They came to ask for help with their own problem. When I think about it now, they have arrived unfeasibly soon.”

“That’s a shame. This Thunderbolt Fairy is your acquaintance?” Sher asked, implied question heavy in her voice.

Li nodded slowly. “We are both direct disciples to Elder Feng. She is talented, ambitious and eager to learn. The issue is with her character.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“Well, how are you adjusting to the life in the sect? Have you encountered any problems or need help with something?”

“It’s more or less what I expected. Though, truth be told I wanted to ask for advice. I’d like to acquire some cultivation resources, but I’d trust more to acquire them directly from a trusted alchemist rather than through contribution points from the Hoard. The Resource Pavilion, that is.” Sher said. “Do you use the services of someone trustworthy?”

Li Meilien walked in silence for a moment.

“I know a trustworthy alchemist, but he is notoriously pragmatic. I can't promise that even with my recommendation, he would bother to provide services to a Qi Condensation disciple. I could introduce you, but I can’t promise anything.” Li stopped and turned to Sher. “You will also need spirit stones.”

“That’s the other matter. Senior Sister, do you have any recommendations for profitable tasks around the sect?”

“Usually, the sudden tasks pay much better than the permanent ones. You should check in the Resource Pavilion what is available and within your scope. However, I’m sure Elder Feng will prepare a neat reward for your contribution in town of Tur.” Li withdrew a bag from her ring. “Here, I’ll advance part of your reward, and we’ll settle up later.”

Sher thanked the Senior Sister, not shying away from the offer. Then, at Li’s prompt, they flew to the other side of the peak to meet the alchemist.

Heavy smoke poured out of the open cave, then flowed down the mountainside like a dark, sluggish river.

Preceded by a violent coughing, a young man in smoldering clothes ran out. “What are you staring at?”

“Greetings to you too, Junior Brother Kinziru. I’d like to introduce you to my Junior Sister Song Sher.” Li cleared her throat, noticing Sher staring at the river of smoke. “That’s not unusual for those pursuing alchemical expertise.”

“I see.” Sher took a step forward and gave a nod. “Hello, Senior Brother. Senior Sister spoke highly of your work, and I’d like to put in a request for some pills.”

“What? Yes, of course.” Kinziru measured her with his gaze. “Of course not, I don’t deal in Qi Condensation pills. Good day.”

The alchemist ducked back into the cave. Sher was left stunned. “That was abrupt.”

“He tends to be brusque, but this was something else.” Li nodded apologetically. “I’ll speak to him later, after he settles down.”

She hesitated for a moment. “Junior Thunderbolt Fairy used to brag about an alchemist she had found in the hamlet, in the valley between Inner Sect and Beast Peak. It was before the journey to the Song Empire, but he might still be there. If you need alchemical services soon, you could try looking for him. I believe he was called Mortimael, though I remember Junior Thunderbolt sounded… not mischievous, but perhaps expectant when she mentioned him.”