Chapter Fifty-One: The Mantis

A young woman travels eight hundred miles a day, someone on her back but no path before her heart. It has been six days, and Wu Yue shows not the slightest sign of waking. His breath is growing fainter with each passing moment. After feeding him every life-sustaining pill she could, Li Suizhu is left only with a sense of desolation.

Zong Shen and the burly soldier from the army flank Li Suizhu on either side, their presence like both protection and surveillance. After their initial greetings, the only further exchange was the soldier’s earnest suggestion that Li Suizhu deactivate the compass’s power. Beyond that, their conversations are limited to discussions of when to rest and when to move on. Never once do they mention the “soon-to-awaken” Wu Yue.

Four of them travel together—three walking, one unconscious—each with their own designs. Li Suizhu’s back is now numb, and her heart is colder still. The breath of the one she carries grows shallower, yet the journey to the Garden of Immortality remains a distant hope.

“We can’t go any further,” the soldier suddenly announces, causing all three to halt abruptly. “I can sense more and more people gathering around us.”

Li Suizhu and Zong Shen remain silent, watching the soldier, waiting for him to elaborate. He continues, “Let’s wait a while.”

“Wait for what?” Li Suizhu asks, bewildered.

Her answer comes not in words but in the form of two white-feathered arrows, origin unknown, now suspended at her sides.

The soldier strikes one arrow with his palm, and it explodes in a thunderous burst.

“Move again, and you die.”

Six figures approach. Li Suizhu’s heart sinks; she has no idea how these people arrived or how they managed to draw so near unnoticed.

“With just the two of you, you still dare attempt to play bait? How utterly laughable.” The lead youth speaks coldly, a massive bow in his hand. As the startled soldier makes a move, the youth casts a dispassionate glance his way, instantly freezing him in place.

“Tuoba Yu!” the soldier gasps, as if chilled to the bone.

“Who is he?” Li Suizhu asks. Were it not for the ambiguous intent of the white-feathered arrows, she would not have bothered to inquire.

“Your Highness, he’s an outsider,” comes the reply. To Li Suizhu, that means someone not of the Immortal Spirit Realm.

“I remember you now. In the high tower, you once escaped my arrow.”

The soldier snorts, but does not deny it.

“So you would defy your superiors—a crime all the more despicable.” Tuoba Yu casts a sidelong glance at the soldier, then turns to Li Suizhu. “Come with me. I have a master-servant bracelet which can take you out of the Wildlands.” His gaze lingers on Wu Yue slung across her back, obvious disapproval in his eyes.

Li Suizhu’s rage flares, truly and deeply. She may not entirely grasp Tuoba Yu’s meaning, but the mention of a master-servant bracelet wounds and infuriates her, making her want to lash out.

Seeing her furious expression, Tuoba Yu is perplexed, but he continues, “The two with you must harbor ulterior motives. If you come with me, you might yet survive.” Perhaps weary of explaining, he frowns slightly.

Li Suizhu almost laughs in exasperation. Were circumstances different, she would have torn this man limb from limb and fed him to the dogs. But she forces herself to appear calm and asks, “What exactly do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” Tuoba Yu looks at Li Suizhu and replies coolly, “All along your journey, you have drawn far too much attention—like a stone tossed into a still lake, stirring ripples. The waves may not be your concern, but you will surely sink to the bottom.” To make his point clear, he resorts to metaphor.

“Yet these two dare shelter you. If not for hidden motives, do you really believe it’s out of loyalty?”

“Why not?” Li Suizhu retorts stubbornly.

“Fool,” Tuoba Yu says indifferently. Before she can explode, he adds, “Have you thought it through? Come with me, and I guarantee your safety.”

“So you’ve come to rescue me?” Li Suizhu asks, though it is more challenge than question.

“That’s right,” Tuoba Yu replies, calm and matter-of-fact. The absurdity of the situation seems lost on him; his demeanor is entirely self-assured.

“Absurd!” Li Suizhu spits the word.

“I’ll explain everything in due course. For now, you need not know too much; it would do you no good.” With that, Tuoba Yu’s expression grows even more arrogant.

Li Suizhu suddenly feels that, standing before her, Tuoba Yu seems more regal than she herself.

“Then why save me?”

“There’s no need for you to ask.”

“I—” Li Suizhu bites back her words. If not for the disparity in strength, she would have unleashed a torrent of abuse.

“Hahaha. Brother Tuo, are you determined to play the mantis stalking the cicada?” A mass of red mist dissipates, revealing Xue Se, whom Li Suizhu has met before.

With Xue Se’s arrival, the figures behind Tuoba Yu—who had stood like statues—raise their bows in unison, arrows trained on Xue Se.

“My surname is Tuoba,” Tuoba Yu says coldly.

Seeing Xue Se, Li Suizhu’s eyes flash with mischief. She smiles and says, “Daoist friend, could you take on that mop over there?”

“Mop? Hahaha, I like that name,” Xue Se laughs loudly. “If he were at a distance, the outcome would be uncertain. But here and now, he’s no match for us.”

Li Suizhu is a girl unversed in the ways of the world—a fact worth repeating thrice for emphasis.

With practiced ease, Li Suizhu tosses an object to Xue Se, then points at Tuoba Yu. “Here’s a down payment. I want you to kill him now.”

Xue Se is momentarily stunned, and Tuoba Yu’s face twitches visibly.

“My dear little sister, you’ll be the death of me,” Xue Se laughs maniacally. “How can someone as pure and simple as you exist in this world?”

Tuoba Yu, too, is helpless. Perhaps it’s Li Suizhu’s imagination, but his tone seems almost gentle as he says, “He means his group, and I am more than just myself.”

Li Suizhu feels she is being toyed with, but she does glean something: Tuoba Yu, who seemed so unfeeling, may not be as cold as he appears.

At last, Xue Se’s laughter subsides. “Since I’ve taken your deposit, I’ll keep my word. If the chance arises, I’ll kill him someday.” He winks slyly.

“But,” Xue Se drags out the word, “here’s my advice: if you reach a dead end, you might as well go with the mop. Those two with you are certainly no good.”

“Finally, a word of truth,” Tuoba Yu remarks.

“In the presence of innocence, I can’t help but be kind,” Xue Se smiles. “But if you want to keep the cicada for yourself, that won’t be easy.”

“I can give up this instance.”

“Even the high tower?”

“Yes,” Tuoba Yu answers without hesitation.

“You’re both too bold!” roars the burly soldier, who has been ignored until now.

“Looks like this brother’s reinforcements are here,” Xue Se observes.

“We’ve been waiting,” Tuoba Yu replies evenly.

Seven men race over, gathering at the soldier’s side and ignoring Li Suizhu completely. Her heart sinks to its lowest ebb, and she finds herself believing Tuoba Yu and Xue Se’s words. She recognizes these men—they are all from Qin.

“I am confident we can open the High Tower’s gate. All we need to do now is kill them, and show our fellow cultivators that we have what it takes to claim a share.” The soldier brims with confidence. “I am certain our chance at destiny lies within the tower.”

“How dare you—” Li Suizhu shouts in anger, royal authority undiminished despite the burden on her back.

“Perhaps Your Highness does not know my name: I am Song Leizhou, Deputy Commander of the Senluo Army.” The sarcasm is unmistakable.

“Song Leizhou, you are audacious indeed.”

“Without audacity, how could one seize destiny?”

“As long as we escape the Garden of Immortality, we will all find fortune and fate. We should unite, not die needlessly here,” Li Suizhu pleads passionately.

But no one listens. In more than a month in the Garden of Immortality, they have learned only ruthlessness and greed.

“The treasures of the High Tower are there for the taking by the capable,” intones a ghostly figure.

The sand on the ground suddenly swirls, forming a human shape whose eyes flash red as they open. The sandman speaks: “Tuoba Yu, we too wish to see if you have the strength to claim the cicada for yourself.”

Tuoba Yu is unfazed by the sandman’s appearance, as is Xue Se, who seems to have expected it.

“Is she really that important?” Tuoba Yu asks.

“She wasn’t before. Now she is,” the sandman replies. “Unless—” The sandman leaves the thought unfinished, but everyone understands: unless you give up.

Tuoba Yu glances at Song Leizhou’s group, his gaze steady but tinged with caution.

There is no avoiding the fight.

“Arrow Rain!” Tuoba Yu suddenly intones. Behind him, five archers draw and release in rapid succession, while the last keeps a wary eye on their surroundings.

The arrows shoot skyward. In an instant, dozens of arrows descend like a true rain of death.

Song Leizhou, caught off guard, roars in fury, his momentum overwhelming, as if leading a thousand soldiers into battle. He charges straight for Tuoba Yu.

“Brimming with vigor, but lacking in murderous intent—a pity for such a fine skill,” remarks the ghostly figure.

“Nine Paths is right. In the Lord God’s realm, this skill would be at least high tier,” Xue Se grins, jumping to the ghostly figure’s side.

Nine Paths glances at Xue Se. “Why are you alone?”

Xue Se retorts, “Aren’t you alone as well?”

They have all held something back, keeping forces in reserve.

As they speak, Song Leizhou barrels forward, while Tuoba Yu bends his bow in a full arc.

ps: Merging a chapter and a half’s words—accidentally got stuck today...