The thing with twins was that finding one always led to the other. She hadn't found the male twin, but she couldn't do any worse than the female twin. She could very well be the key to the mystery. Bai li yue's eyes followed her as she went from stall to stall checking the wares on sale. She didn't tarry long inside the market once she successfully bartered for a few pills. 

Bai li yue followed her at a safe distance until they'd left the market behind and arrived in the wilderness. She was no longer hiding her presence at the back. Her deliberate pace alerted her target who tried to shake her pursuer to no avail. Deciding to stand and face the stalker, she drew her sword and snarled. 

'Who are you? What do you intend to do, following me like that?' 

They would not find an easy victim in her. She released the breath she'd been holding upon seeing the face revealed under the hood.

'Bai li yue? You're-!'

'Not dead.'

'Most people think you're dead. What are you doing following me in secret?'

'Shouldn't you know?'

'Listen, if this is about what happened between us in the tower, I want nothing to do with it.'

'After what you did, it's too late for you to be saying that.'

'What are you talking about? If anybody did anything, it was you. You almost killed me. Are you here to finish what you started? Is that it?'

'Look who's talking? You had tried to have me killed. Except this time, you took the coward's way out and made someone else do it for you. I must say that your brother isn't subtle at all, he-'

'My brother? What nonsense are you speaking of? Why would Hu Qi want you dead?'

'You used his hand to kill me or he wanted to avenge his sister by killing me. It's one or the other. I don't care either way.'

She knew that killing was forbidden, but she would be satisfied to at least take a hand or leg. Bai li yue's sword appeared in her hand. Little white buzzed with excitement. She wanted to taste the blood of the person who dared to raise a hand against her mistress.

'I cannot stop you, if you wish me dead, Bai li yue, but know this. I never told a soul who you were. Our disagreement was settled when you proved you were stronger than me. Hu Qi and I were raised as rivals. I would never show him my weakness. If he was truly behind an attack in your life, then it has nothing to do with me.'

'You must think me a fool.'

'I wouldn't believe me either, if I were in your shoes.'

Bai li yue raised her sword. She'd never met Hu Qi, never spoken to him. The only common thread was his sister, Hu An, who denied any knowledge or involvement. It would take little effort to strike her down. But what if she was telling the truth? What if her brother had acted on his own and for a different reason?

'Mistress, she... truth.'

Little white communicated. The soul sword formula had an affinity with souls. Hu An was telling the truth. Bai li yue quietly put her sword away. She regarded the quiet Hu An in front her.

'Why would he seek my death, if it isn't for you?'

'I would also like to know. Come with me. I know where to find him.'

'Just so we are clear, if this turns out to be a trap, you'll be the first to die.'

Bai li yue warned her as they set off.

'It's against the rules to kill a fellow sect member, you know.'

'Am i supposed to stand and watch while people kill me? If the sect rules where the law, we wouldn't be here now, would we?'

'Will you kill Hu Qi when you find him?'

'If he's behind everything: maybe. Probably. Will you try to stop me?'

'I cannot stand him, but he is my brother. I don't want him to die.'

Hu An's answer was expected. Bai li yue understood that when the lines were drawn, she'd be facing two adversaries. No matter their differences family was family. The bonds of blood were the hardest to break. 

Little white buzzed quietly behind Bai li yue and she sneered but didn't say anything.

After leaving the glassy lake area and entering the grasslands, Hu An pointed at the camp built under the shade of a large tree. 

'That's the sword mountain sect's base camp. He's in there. I'll go and get him.'

'I don't trust you enough to let you go in by yourself. We'll go together.'

'That won't work. You'll have to take off the cloak if you wish to enter the camp. If he is really guilty, what do you think he'll do? Stay here, i'll bring him to meet you. I promise you that you'll get your answers.'

Bai li yue stayed behind. Hu An entered the camp and disappeared from view. Had she just been played like a fiddle? Only time would tell. She was relieved when two figures left the camp and headed toward her. It didn't take long for them to come into view. The sister stopped when they drew closer and asked the question that burned her tongue.

'Brother, i heard something strange. Did you order bai li yue killed?'

'Who told you that?'

'Does that matter? Answer the question.'

'It's none of your business, sister.'

He turned to leave only to find his path blocked by a hooded figure.

'Who are you? Hu An, you traitor! Is this your doing?'

'She asked you a question.' 

Bai li yue asked, pulling off the hood. 

'Did you give the order?'

He stepped back, trembling in fear. He pulled out his sword.

'You are acting like you just saw a ghost. Do I even have to ask why?'

She took out her sword in a flash and slapped the sword out of his hand. Her sword stopped an inch from his throat. She wanted to give her one final chance.

'I have my answer now. You can choose to leave or stay. Killing two people won't bother me.'

'I'm begging you, bai li yue.'

'He can die alone or you can die together.'

'Hu Qi…i'm... sorry.'

Hu An turned and left. She couldn't watch her brother die. It was better for her to leave since Bai li yue was stronger than her. She didn't wish to lose her life for interfering. It was better if she lived on to bear the responsibilities of their clan going forward. 

Bai li yue watched Hu An make an expeditious retreat. All her talk about siding with her brother had disappeared in the face of self interest.

'You two are something else. Your sister didn't order you to kill me, so why did you target me?'

'We all have our roles to play in this life: You are the victim and i, the executioner. I have nothing against you personally.'

Another philosopher! She was getting tired of these siblings.

'And who gave us those roles?'

'I can't tell you that.'

'Then i have no choice but to kill you.'

For the first time, he laughed. Looking at her without fear.

'You can't kill me. For the same reason that I couldn't kill you myself openly. They weren't joking about the rules. And technically, nobody killed you. They just pushed you. And in case you wish to test the rules, you should know that they'll know what you did. You won't be able to escape death. So go ahead.'

His confidence shook Bai li yue's resolve. She really wanted him dead. Here, right now. But she would have to rethink her options. If breaking the rules meant her death, was she still ready to exact revenge? Her grip hardened on her sword. The blade slashed across his face. 

'Argggg!'

Hu Qi screamed and clutched his face. Blood streamed out of the sword gash running diagonally across his face from under his eye, split ring his lips into four separate quarters, to end at his jawline. He hadn't seen it coming. 

'I might not be able to kill you now, but it doesn't mean I'm willing to let it go. Whenever you forget that, look at your ruined face and remember me.'

She watched him scramble away and flee into the distance back to his camp. 

Time to leave.

The mountain sect might come after her when they saw his state.

'I should have killed him and damned the consequences. If there's a next time, I won't hesitate.'

'Show mercy.' 

Little black's voice sounded in her head.

'They try again... kill them.' 

Little white countered.

Bai li yue left the scene of the crime, comforted by the knowledge that she had avenged herself a bit. The wound would heal once he swallowed a few pills, but the scar will remain. 

'so will… the pain.' 

Little white chuckled. Bai li yue chuckled feeling satisfied now that she knew that Hu qi would feel pain. 

Now that she was done with her business, the sword spirits sent her a message before going dormant. She wished them a good rest.

Bai li yue decided to head to the valley of the sages to join the multitudes looking for treasure. She still hadn't found anything to give to Meixiu when she returned. On the way to the valley, she stopped in several places to search for treasure. These were the treasures of sword lords who didn't do much to hide their treasures. Most of them were already ransacked. She did find a hidden cave dwelling behind a waterfall. It hadn't been used in centuries. She found a few herbs, a golden sword as well as a few scrolls that vanished into her spatial ring. After another round of searching with no results, she carried on. 

As she neared the valley of the sages, she came across more people. The group of ambushers had stopped operating now that their time in the domain was almost up. Those who had reaped some rewards went by their business with casual smiles, waiting for the clock to wind down. Others appeared more frantic. They had been robbed blind by the ambushers and had nothing to show for their time. The casual atmosphere irked them, but most of the easy to find treasuries were already gone. 

In her spare time, Bai li yue was curious about legacies that had been discovered. What she heard were mainly unconfirmed rumours. 

Shen duyi's name came up a few times during the discussions. There were reports that he'd found a sage or sovereign legacy in the valley where she was headed. She was glad for him.

'I'll have to pay him a visit then.'

During the day, she searched already looted treasuries for leftover items, finding a few overlooked scrolls and books that way. At night she walked into camps and listened to reports.

Late one night, she heard a throw away statement that caused her to interrupt the group of female sword mountain sect girls talking.

'What did you just say?' 

'Shen duyi and lei huojin fought each other and Shen duyi won by chopping off lei huojin's arm.'

The girls looked at each other wondering who she was to disrupt their conversation which resembled more of an adulation than anything else. 

During that night, Bai li yue travelled to the valley where the fight had taken place the day before. Near dawn, she heard another piece of news from the droves heading to the valley. The news set her teeth on edge. Tan fu was challenging shen duyi at day break. He wanted to avenge his friend. She didn't know what was going on, but she had to stop them. If she had heard of the duel before it happened, she would have gone to stop lei huojin. Shen duyi's name might not be on the leaderboard but he had to be a formidable opponent just from his status as the sword heaven sect's only student. 

Lei huojin had been foolish to fight him and he'd paid the price. But between Tan fu and shen duyi, she could deduce a winner. The seventh spot wasn't the same as the third spot. Tan fu might prove to be more formidable than Shen duyi, but she saw him as something like an acquaintance because of Meixiu. She understood Tan fu's position. Shen duyi had been heavy handed, but two wrongs don't make a right. They'd end up with more people losing limbs.