38 – Past
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“…It appears that humans are the same no matter what where they’re from.”

“Hm?” Xinxin glanced over at Titania and frowned.

The two were walking back through the kingdom, making their way towards the central zone.

The sun was starting to set now, and the sky was darkening. The crowds that had packed the streets were thinning.

Titania stepped closer to Xinxin and muttered, “We are being followed.”

“Ah.” Xinxin nodded. “If you mean those hopeless fools hiding in the dark, I’m already well aware of them.”

From what Xinxin could sense, their pursuers were that arrogant young master as well as a few servants. As she didn’t sense any spiritual fluctuations from the servants, it seemed like they were just simple thugs.

Xinxin sighed. “I suppose we should deal with them before heading back… It’d be bothersome to explain things to that guy otherwise.” She glanced at Titania and said, “This will be a good opportunity for you to showcase yours skills as well.”

“Showcase my skills?”

Xinxin shook her head and then turned to walk down an alleyway.

Titania followed her.

The few sounds and already thinned crowd around Xinxin and Titania faded away, leaving only behind eerie silence and an abandoned alleyway.

But that didn’t last long. Barely a few paces down the alleyway, a young man walked out to block the way.

“You foolish women. You should have-“

Xinxin rolled her eyes and stepped behind Titania. “Hurry up and deal with this. There aren’t any witnesses, so just wipe them all out so we can go.”

The young master’s eyes narrowed. “You dare?! I, Jian Hao will not be-“

Titania ignored him and looked at Xinxin. “I… do not know how to fight without a sword.”

Xinxin sighed. She reached out to her side and quickly formed one with qi before handing it Titania. “There. It won’t last long, but it should be enough. Now go.” She pushed Titania forward and said, “I want to get back before the sun sets.”

“Y-You!” The young master’s face turned red and he pointed his finger at them. “You will rue the day you crossed Jian Hao! Men!”

Three muscular men walked out from behind the young master.

One was bald with a scar across his face, carrying a large cleaver.

Another had a wild, untamed beard and smiled with crooked teeth, clutching an axe.

The last was just grotesque, his face smeared and distorted from countless injuries. That one wore a pair of claws, scraping them together as he stared at Xinxin and Titania.

The bald one tilted his head back and said, “The usual, boss?”

“Shut up and get them already!”

Xinxin sighed. Maybe she should find a male servant. It would be less of a hassle, that was for sure…

The three muscular men advanced.

Titania swung her sword a few times and then nodded. After that, she looked up at the men and said, “This will be quick.”

The bald one pointed his cleaver at Titania and said, “You dare underestimate the Triple Threat!? It will be your last, Girl!”

When she heard that name, Xinxin felt like covering her face out of shame for those three.

Triple Threat… of all the names they could have chosen, they called themselves that. What was with this kingdom and those operating in the underworld calling themselves by so unoriginal and uninspired names?

Was it tradition? Coincidence? Or just sheer stupidity?

Xinxin didn’t know… but she knew that they were obnoxious and idiotic.

Still, while she was embarrassed at the shameless trio, she kept a close eye on them… or specifically on the one that would be fighting them.

The bald man charged, cleaver raised for a heavy slash.

Titania shook her head. “…Slow. Those damned soldiers were faster than you.”

Frost gathered around the blade in Titania’s hand. At the same time, a stream of wind flowed.

“That is…” Xinxin frowned when she saw that.

The ability was similar to what Xinxin did in the past. Channeling the elements into her blade and using it to attack… that was something she had done in the past after learning the technique her Sifu left for her.

Yet… while Titania’s ability was similar, it was also different.

If Xinxin’s technique drew power from herself and transformed it to the elements, Titania’s technique drew in power from outside that already aligned with those elements.

Ice and wind gathered, clinging to Titania’s sword as if it was a matter of course.

If the bald man saw it, he didn’t care. With a sneer, he swung his cleaver towards Titania’s side.

The elf’s eyes narrowed and she swung her sword. Like a blossoming azure flower, snow and wind scattered as her blade cut through the air. Not long after, crimson joined it, falling like scarlet petals.

The bald man froze, unable to move a single step forward. And then there was a loud crack. Following that, he collapsed into a pile of bloody slush.

“First brother!” The bearded man screamed and then ran at Titania with red eyes.

The elf turned to the bearded man. Immediately, her eyes darkened and she grit her teeth. “You…! You look like him. That bastard who-“ Her words cut off and she growled, swinging her sword again.

Instead of a flower, that time the ice and wind formed a whip. A flash of blue cut across the air.

The bearded man stopped moving, eyes wide in shock. And then, slowly, he fell to the ground, split in half.

The last man took a step back, his grotesque face twisted further in fear. “F-First brother… S-Second brother!” He turned to the young master standing behind him and said, “You said that they were just ordinary girls!”

That young master took a step back. “I-I thought they were!”

“You liar! You damned li-“

Blood burst from the man’s chest as an icicle pierced his heart.

“-ar… Kuh.”

Titania pulled her sword back, turning the icicle back into an icy wind coiling around her blade.

The final man fell to the ground, unmoving.

Watching all of that, Xinxin had to revise her opinion of the elf. Despite everything, she was fairly skilled. At least, her understanding of the sword and her abilities were enough to where Xinxin didn’t have to worry about her dying in a casual fight.

Titania seemed to have a decent combat sense about her, as well as a good amount of killing intent. Much better than Xinxin had before meeting her Sifu, at least.

Though… that made Xinxin wonder. Just how did she end up as a slave if she was that skilled, let alone suffer those injuries? Even if someone tried to force themselves upon her, she should have at least been able to-

“Hee!”

A shrill scream echoed in the alleyway.

Xinxin looked up to see the young master completely encased in a layer of ice.

Titania slowly walked towards the young man, her face twisted in fury. “You…” Her voice came out as a harsh whisper. “Dirty monkeys like you are the reason why my sisters and I…!” She bit her tongue and shook her head. “You will not die a clean death. You will not die a painless death.”

“W-W-Wait!” The young master shook his head and said, “I’m the son of the Blue Moon Sect Leader! If you kill me, you’ll regret it!“

Titania continued advancing and muttered, “I will tear your limbs apart, scatter your entrails upon the ground, tear out your heart, shatter your skull and-!”

“Enough.” Xinxin waved her hand and freed the young master from the ice.

Titania froze and turned around to look at Xinxin. Her eyes were dark, hollow. At the same time, a glimmer of madness was within.

For a split second, it looked like she was going to lash out with her sword. But then reason returned to her and she took a slow breath to calm down.

“…Forgive me. I lost myself for a moment. But Master.” She turned to the young man on the ground and scowled. “Do you truly intend to let scum like that live?”

Before Xinxin could answer, Jian Hao was already knocking his head down against the ground in a kowtow. “Great Senior! I had eyes, but could not see Mt. Tai! Thank you, thank you for your mercy!”

Xinxin’s nose wrinkled. “…Senior?”

“A-Ah!” Jian Hao shuddered and he quickly said, “I-I meant beautiful fairy! Illustrious immortal who is envied throughout the heavens!” He slammed his head against the ground and said, “I was but a frog stuck in a well! Please, forgive me!”

Titania tightened her grip around her sword. At the same time, the air became cold. “…Shameless, despicable scum. You… you have ‘their’ eyes.” She shook her head and turned to Xinxin. “He will not change. The moment we leave, he will look for another maiden to defile, another ‘doll’ to enjoy and then break. You…” The wind grew heavy. “…are going to let him live?”

Xinxin tilted her head and stared at the young man on the ground.

He was shivering in fear… but at the same time, he had not lost himself to it. One who knew when to retreat and when to advance. Or perhaps he was hoping that his name would be enough of a deterrent.

Master.” Titania looked at Xinxin. “Your answer. I would have it.”

“Quite pertinent for my servant, aren’t you?” Xinxin shook her head. “But you do have a point.”

Jian Hao raised his head. “I am willing to sign a soul contract! I swear, from this point onward, I will never-“

Xinxin shook her head and walked over. “That’s unnecessary.” At the same time, she dropped her disguise, returning to her original appearance.

Jian Hao’s eyes widened. “Un… necessary?”

Xinxin smiled and held out her left hand. “That’s right. After all, I have everything I could need from you already.”

He paused and said, “What do yo-“

His words never finished.

Darkness unfolded from Xinxin’s hand and enveloped Jian Hao. Whether because of Xinxin’s experience due to the Dark Tournament, or because of the young man’s lack of expertise, he instantly turned into a pile of ash. Moments later, even that pile of ash vanished, leaving no traces behind.

Xinxin clenched her left hand, frowning as she felt the current of new power coursing through her body. “Water and ice, hm? But so weak… I suppose it’s better than nothing.”

Steady accumulation. That was Xinxin’s aim. With her cultivation, it was only a matter of time to increase her strength. ‘Chaos’ and ‘Darkness’ could become anything. She simply needed a sample to work with.

“…A pity there weren’t any other elementalists in the Dark Tournament.” Xinxin sighed and turned to look at Titania.

The elf stared back with wide eyes. “You… no, that power…?”

Xinxin paused and then narrowed her eyes. “You recognize my power?”

Could it be?

Of course. She was one of the women around-

A headache. Xinxin frowned and ignored it for the moment, focusing on Titania.

The elf slowly shook her head. “No. It was different. But… I met someone who gave a similar aura as that… as you.”

“Did you now?”

A similar power… that could be explained away as a demon. But a similar ‘aura’? The ‘Chaos’ and ‘Darkness’ that her Sifu left her should be unique. The enlightenments that he and, as his disciple, only Xinxin should know.

Titania scowled. “Yes. That man saved my worthless excuse of a sister.” She paused. “…Though I suppose I cannot blame him. Aria was always blessed by that damned goddess.”

Aria.

Goddess.

Xinxin felt another headache. She clutched her head and then glared at Titania. “Explain. Now.”

Yes… explain. She had to get an explanation. Xinxin felt that if she didn’t, her head would split. No, that she had to get an explanation or her very foundation would crumble.

“What happened to not needing my-“

“Elf! You will explain… or I will kill you and learn myself.”

Panic. Pain. Headache. Confusion.

Was it the influence of her Sifu, or something else? Either way, Xinxin wasn’t in the mood for games.

Titania seemed to realize it as well and sighed. “…Understood. Then… it began a week ago. The Imperial Soldiers came to Alvheim bearing chaos, distorting all mana and rendering us powerless. In that time, they slaughtered my kin, captured my sisters, and-“ Titania cut off and let out a long, shuddering breath. She shook her head and said, “…My sister. The youngest. She escaped. Somehow, she managed to live… at the expense of myself and my other sisters. Other elven women.”

Xinxin nodded.

That… seemed familiar to her. But why? Pieces, fragments… things she should not know, did not know, but recalled somewhere deep inside.

Titania continued and said, “…There was a young man and a beautiful young woman with silver hair and azure eyes. They rescued us from our captors… yet sided with my youngest sister. Her, the damned child blessed by the goddess due to her golden hair. The one who maintained her purity and naivety to the very end! Who was saved without so much as a scratch upon her body! Whereas we… we…!”

Tears streamed down Titania’s cheeks and her eyes were haunted with pain.

Even so, Xinxin found her attention drawn elsewhere.

What Titania described…

That dragon’s devoted but a bit unreliable. Nothing like you, eh, faithful companion?”

…A fragment of a memory. A glimpse at something she knew, but did not know.

But it was enough. Perhaps satisfied with that answer, Xinxin’s head no longer felt like it was splitting apart.

At the same time, Titania managed to calm down. The elf let out a slow breath and said, “Not long after that, we fell victim to captors again.” Titania waved her hand and said, “My sisters, broken and dead. Only I… only myself. I was the only one who lived. This body of mine, trained to defend and protect… in the end, its only use was to keep me alive, and me alone.” She gave Xinxin a crooked smile and said, “Satisfied?”

“I-“

Before Xinxin could respond, a youthful male voice called out. “Great Heaven-Seizer! There you are!”

A young man with short black hair ran into the alleyway, followed by a young woman with blue hair in a pony-tail and a tomboyish girl with dark brown hair.  

Erik and his fellow disciples, Mary, the blue-haired young woman, and Sarah, the tomboy with dark brown hair.

Xinxin frowned. “What are you three doing here, running around like headless chickens?”

“The Heavenly King has gone into his final closed door cultivation! He could pass at any moment!”

Xinxin’s heart throbbed. “What?”

Real life stuff took much longer than expected today. Hope you don't mind the late chapter and that it's fairly enjoyable. I think there's about... three? Chapters left until we come across our nameless protagonist again. As for how and why... well, there was a certain route early on that came to a sudden end...

Thanks as always for reading and leaving any comments. I really appreciate it.

I'll see you sometime tomorrow... hopefully much earlier than the time of this update.

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