"A colleague," Su Lan Yi replied quickly, rising to unlock the door. "Someone you should meet, and not hurt, if we're to work together."
Hei Wuya entered the shop, his imposing frame nearly filling the doorway. “You will not believe-”
He froze upon seeing Lin Mei, his hand immediately going to his sword hilt.
"Lin Mei," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous register. "The Midnight Whisper. You will not kill today. Not here, not now." As he was about to pull his blade out, Su Lan Yi did what she could think of.
She put her hand on his, preventing him from attacking Lin Mei.
[OH! HOST! WHAT IS THIS? HE LISTENS TO YOU?]
“She’s a patient. Don’t.”
As much as she could tell Hei Wuya wanted to, he didn’t push her hand off of his. “She’s a murderer. Don’t let her looks deceive you. The Divine Healing Sect dogs must have sent her.”
"Hei Wuya," Lin Mei returned coolly, body still wound tight, as if she’d dismember him any moment. "Terror of Blood Moon. Your reputation precedes you. However, I am not here to fight."
"Not here to fight? You’re a paid killer!" he growled. "Three Blood Moon disciples dead by your hand in the past year alone. Why shouldn’t I cut you down where you stand?"
"Four, actually," she corrected, with an uncanny professional pride, and absolutely no remorse. "The fourth was disguised as a merchant. You might want to improve your infiltration training. Besides, they deserved to die. They dug up the graves of my companions to absorb their souls."
“That is no excuse! We looked for them for days, to no avail! They weren’t the best people, but who are you to determine the life and death of others?”
Hei Wuya’s eyes had begun to glow an angry red, and his qi quivered and pulsed irrationally. Su Lan Yi had never seen him be this furious at anything.
Lin Mei snorted, her eyes filled with resentment. “I killed them. I will not face any trial for their murder. Disrespectful basta-”
"Enough!"
Su Lan Yi interrupted them before the tension that was filling the room could escalate further. "Both of you, sit. We have matters to discuss that supersede past grievances. All our lives hang in the balance."
To her extreme surprise, they both complied, though they chose seats as far apart as the small room allowed, eyeing each other with the wary respect of predators recognizing a dangerous equal. Maybe her tone of voice, and the raw desperation in it, had reached them. Hei Wuya looked at her with an expression that conveyed extreme disappointment in her judgement, and Lin Mei glared at him from her side of the room, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.
"Lin Mei has brought information about our soul cultivator," Su Lan Yi explained, gesturing to the fox kit now sleeping peacefully in a makeshift nest. "And a victim."
Hei Wuya's crimson eyes flickered to the fox, then back to Lin Mei. "Why would a ruthless assassin care about such things?"
"Professional interest," Lin Mei replied smoothly. "Someone is killing in my territory without paying the appropriate guild fees. Going after harmless creatures that won’t retaliate is distasteful."
Su Lan Yi caught the barely perceptible tightening around Lin Mei's eyes—a tell that suggested the assassin wasn't being entirely truthful. Huh.
"Regardless of motivation," Su Lan Yi interjected, "she has information we need, and skills we can use. I propose a temporary alliance."
"Absolutely not," Hei Wuya objected immediately. "Blood Moon cannot be associated with—"
"Blood Moon isn't making this decision," Su Lan Yi interrupted, fixing him with a stare that had once made her seniors in Heaven reconsider their life choices. "I am. And I say her skills are valuable, and that we won’t be able to figure out who this person is and stop them without her intel."
Hei Wuya's jaw tightened, his hands clenching and unclenching as he tried to regulate himself, but he didn't argue further—a small victory that Su Lan Yi filed away for later reflection. The veins on his forehead, however, bulged- a sign of his restraint.
[HE'S DEFERRING TO YOUR JUDGMENT DESPITE HIS OBJECTIONS. PROGRESS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP STATUS: "RESPECT" ACHIEVED! NEXT MILESTONE: "WILLING ACCOMPLICE IN LIFE AND DEATH".]
"Fine," Hei Wuya conceded grudgingly, while still boring holes into the place where Lin Mei sat. "But she works with you, not Blood Moon. And if she betrays you—"
"You'll what?" Lin Mei asked with a raised eyebrow. "Try to catch me?"
“I will catch you. Then I’ll torture you in so many ways that you’ll regret ever crossing our path.” The conviction in his voice, combined with the way he said those words, sent chills down Su Lan Yi’s spine.
"Allies," Su Lan Yi said sharply, "if you insist on bickering, do it on your own time. Now, let's focus. Lin Mei, tell Hei Wuya what you told me.”
As Lin Mei recounted her encounter with the hooded cultivator, Su Lan Yi found her gaze drawn back to the sleeping fox kit. There it was again—that strange ripple in its form, as if something else briefly existed beneath the fur. For just a moment, she could have sworn she saw scales instead of skin, and then it was gone.
[ANALYSIS INCOMPLETE. CREATURE EXHIBITS CHARACTERISTICS OF MULTIPLE SPECIES SIMULTANEOUSLY. POSSIBLY A HYBRID? OR SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY... MONITORING. DOES AN ATTEMPT ON YOUR LIFE DO THIS?]
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
By the time Lin Mei finished her account, Hei Wuya's hostility had been replaced by grim concentration.
"This matches what we've found in Blood Moon territory," he confirmed. "Seven victims in the past month, all with the same black residue around their eyes and mouth. No clear pattern to the targets—varying ages, cultivation levels, and backgrounds."
"Except they all had strong spiritual foundations," Lin Mei pointed out. "Even the farmer—he was a retired Outer Sect disciple from Green Willow Sect."
Su Lan Yi nodded thoughtfully. "Someone building power, then. Taking spiritual energy wherever they can find it, regardless of the source."
"But to what end?" Hei Wuya questioned. "Soul cultivation is inherently unstable. The more power they gather, the more difficult it becomes to contain. Eventually, it will consume them."
"Unless they have a method to stabilize it," Su Lan Yi mused, her mind going to the Elixir. "Something that traditional cultivation texts wouldn't mention, since the practice was forbidden."
Lin Mei leaned forward. "You think they've found a way to make it sustainable?"
"I think someone has been experimenting," Su Lan Yi said carefully. "And I suspect these incidents may be connected to our other investigation."
Hei Wuya frowned. "The Heaven's Ascension Elixir? How?"
"Consider the timing," Su Lan Yi suggested. "The soul cultivation incidents began around the same time the Divine Healing Sect increased production of their elixir, and planned their execution. Perhaps there's a component we haven't identified yet—something that requires soul energy."
"That's a serious accusation," Hei Wuya cautioned. "Even for the Divine Healing Sect, it’s fairly impossible. They’re a Righteous Sect. I doubt it’s them.”
"It's merely a theory," Su Lan Yi conceded. "But one worth investigating."
Lin Mei had been quiet, her gaze calculating. "If what you're suggesting is true, we're talking about a conspiracy that goes beyond a single rogue cultivator."
"Precisely why I need allies with diverse skills," Su Lan Yi replied. "Hei Wuya provides access to Blood Moon resources and intelligence. And you, Lin Mei, can go places and obtain information that neither of us can."
"An alliance of convenience, then," Lin Mei nodded slowly. "I find these terms acceptable."
Hei Wuya still looked unhappy, but he gave a reluctant nod. "Under protest, and under observation. One wrong move, you die. As soon as this alliance ends, I will drag you to Blood Moon and make you-"
"Excellent," Su Lan Yi interrupted, just about satisfied with the outcome despite the obvious tension between her new allies. "We'll begin by—"
A soft whimper interrupted her. The fox kit had awakened and was struggling to stand in its makeshift nest, its intelligent eyes darting between the three humans with unmistakable wariness.
[BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS: THE FOX APPEARS TO BE EXHIBITING SIGNS OF SENTIENCE BEYOND WHAT IS NORMAL FOR ITS SPECIES AND AGE. THIS GRUDGEBEARER IS WORTH LOOKING INTO, HOST. ITS INTELLIGENCE IS EXTREMELY HIGH FOR A CREATURE THAT SHOULDN’T BE MORE THAN A FEW WEEKS OLD.]
"Easy, little one," Su Lan Yi soothed, approaching slowly. "You're safe here."
The fox kit stared at her for a long moment, then did something entirely unexpected. It yipped once, and then deliberately inclined its head in what could only be described as a bow. Jumping out of its nest, it ran towards Su Lan Yi, rubbing against her leg. It had the most beautiful blue eyes, like twin mini sapphires, which glowed in the dim lighting of the shop.
"Well," Lin Mei said after a moment of startled silence. "That's not something you see every day."
"It's thanking you," Hei Wuya observed, studying the fox with new interest. "Grudgebearer Foxes are known for acknowledging those who help or harm them."
"Smart little thing," Su Lan Yi murmured, gently stroking the kit's head. "You'll stay with us until you're fully healed. Then you can decide where your path leads."
The fox kit yipped again, its bushy tail swishing once before it curled back into its nest, eyes still watching them attentively.
"Now," Su Lan Yi said, turning back to her unusual allies, "we need to establish a plan. Lin Mei, I want you to—"
She was interrupted again, this time by Hei Wuya suddenly laughing—a short, surprised sound that he quickly suppressed.
"What?" Su Lan Yi asked, turning to him with suspicion.
Hei Wuya's lips twitched with barely contained amusement. "Forgot to tell you. I just received a message from my sect's informant in the Divine Healing Sect. Apparently, there was quite a scene in their main hall this morning."
"Oh?" Su Lan Yi felt a smile forming behind her veil. She knew where this was heading, after all. "Do tell."
"It seems Wei Chenglin and Bai Lianhua had a rather... public disagreement. Something about him smelling like rotten bean curd when he tried to kiss her, and his ears making an unholy whistling sound that disrupted an important ceremony."
Lin Mei looked confused, but Su Lan Yi couldn't contain a delighted laugh.
"How unfortunate," she said with absolutely no sincerity. "Such a harmonious couple, too."
"The best part," Hei Wuya continued, his crimson eyes dancing with rare mirth, "is that Wei Chenglin insisted there was nothing wrong with him, and suggested Bai Lianhua was the one with the problem. Shoving, pushing and some amount of restraints and perfumes were involved, but they're currently not speaking to each other, and the wedding preparations have been suspended indefinitely."
"Tragic," Su Lan Yi declared, not bothering to hide her satisfaction. "Simply tragic. How will the world go on?"
Lin Mei looked between them, comprehension dawning. "You did something to them, didn't you?"
"I merely provided medical treatment," Su Lan Yi replied innocently. "If there happened to be unexpected side effects, well... medicine is an imprecise science."
At that, Lin Mei smiled genuinely—a surprisingly warm expression that would probably be beautiful if her face were visible. "I believe this alliance may be more entertaining than I anticipated."
Su Lan Yi nodded, a plan already forming in her mind. With a skilled assassin now added to her growing faction, pieces were falling into place faster than she'd dared hope. The Divine Healing Sect's carefully constructed fa?ade was beginning to crack, and she intended to exploit every fissure until the entire structure came crumbling down.
"Rest tonight," she instructed her unlikely allies. "Tomorrow, we begin dismantling a corrupt empire. And if we happen to identify a soul-stealing cultivator along the way, so much the better."
As Hei Wuya and Lin Mei departed—through different exits, by silent mutual agreement—Su Lan Yi turned back to the fox kit, which was watching her with unnerving intelligence.
"And what about you, little one?" she murmured, stroking its soft fur thoughtfully. "What role will you play in our unfolding story?"
The fox kit didn't answer, of course, but as Su Lan Yi's fingers brushed against its side, she felt it again—that strange ripple, that momentary shift from fur to... something else. Something that shouldn't exist in a normal Grudgebearer Fox.
[HOST, I'VE BEEN ANALYZING THE FOX'S ENERGY SIGNATURE. THERE'S SOMETHING FAMILIAR ABOUT IT. SOMETHING THAT RESONATES WITH YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL CORE.]
"What do you mean?" Su Lan Yi whispered, careful not to disturb the now-sleeping kit.
[INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR CONCLUSION. CONTINUING ANALYSIS. BUT I SUSPECT THIS FOX IS MORE THAN IT APPEARS. MUCH MORE. YOU EXPECTED THAT TOO, DIDN’T YOU?]
Su Lan Yi studied the tiny creature, her thoughts drifting back to that strange vision—the young girl running from a hooded figure. Was it Su Ruolan's memory? Or someone else’s entirely?
"One mystery at a time," she told herself, extinguishing the lamps before retiring to her own quarters. "After all, we have a Sect to topple first."
What she didn’t know was that behind her, in the darkened room, the fox kit's eyes briefly opened—gleaming with a light that no ordinary animal should possess. Just as it had appeared, it faded.
Killing Aura (杀气 – Shā Qì)
The intimidating energy emanating from those with lethal intent. Lin Mei's was strong enough to potentially turn Su Lan Yi's shop into a bloody battlefield.
Demonic Qi (魔气 – Mó Qì)
Dark spiritual energy associated with demonic cultivators. Hei Wuya's quivered and pulsed irrationally when faced with Lin Mei.
Outer Sect Disciple (外门弟子 – Wài Mén Dìzǐ)
Lower-ranked members of cultivation sects. Even retired ones possess spiritual foundations worth harvesting by the soul cultivator.
Spiritual Foundations (灵基 – Líng Jī)
The fundamental energy base of a cultivator. All victims shared this trait, suggesting the killer targets those with strong spiritual energy regardless of other factors.
Righteous Sect (正派 – Zhèng Pài)
Cultivation organizations that follow orthodox, morally upright practices. Hei Wuya doubts the Divine Healing Sect's involvement because they're supposedly one of these groups.
Spiritual Core (灵核 – Líng Hé)
The concentrated essence of a cultivator or spiritual beast. The fox's energy signature resonates with Su Lan Yi's own, suggesting a mysterious connection between them.
Soul Energy (魂能 – Hún Néng)
The essence harvested through forbidden soul cultivation. Su Lan Yi theorizes that the Heaven's Ascension Elixir might require this component for its creation.
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