His figure was a hunched silhouette before the furnace, his hands trembling in the flickering light.

  The flames sparked and spat, casting a dancing orange hue across his sweat-slicked face.

  A knot of desperation tightened in his gut. Why had he done this?

  A muffled sound, a voice calling from a world away, brushed against his hearing.

  He dismissed it.

  There was no time.

  All that existed was the swirling, volatile energy within the cauldron.

  His breath hitched, his posture slumping as the last of his strength was poured into the refinement.

  Forging two pills at the same time… even at my peak, it's not easy to replicate.

  The Qi within his dantian withered, flickering between a weak ember and a dangerously unstable spike.

  His reserves were bleeding away.

  I'm running… out of time!

  The sharp, acrid scent of burning herbs and scorched metal suddenly sliced through his concentration.

  His head snapped up. Black smoke, thick and oily, was beginning to leak from the seams of the furnace lid.

  That smell…

  A powerful hand gripped his shoulder.

  It wasn't a friendly clasp; it was a vice, the pressure so immense it felt as if a monster had clamped its fangs into his flesh, sinking them deep into his bone.

  "X-Xia?!" he instinctively called out, a surge of panic for her safety overriding his own.

  His eyes widened. He caught a fleeting glimpse of her furious face before she yanked him backward, throwing him clear of the furnace with all her strength.

  "Kuhk!" His back crashed hard against the far wall of the hut, the impact rattling his teeth and nearly knocking the world into blackness.

  His chin landed flat against the rough wooden floorboards, his vision blurring into a smear of brown and orange.

  Through the haze, the scene was undeniable.

  Xia stood before the furnace, which now glowed a menacing cherry-red, its surface bulging.

  Where Bi Kan had just been sitting, a viscous, black sludge pulsed on the floor like something foul and alive.

  Xia spun around, her face a mask of pure rage. "You idiot!"

  As his vision slowly cleared, the sight of her expression sent a genuine chill down his spine.

  He had never seen her look this angry before.

  "What the hell were you doing back there?!" she roared, her voice echoing in the small hut. "I was calling your name!"

  She stomped across the room, each step shaking the floorboards, and slammed her fist into the wall just inches from his head.

  The wood splintered with a sharp crack.

  "Were you trying to blow yourself up, huh?!"

  His blood ran cold. I was in a trance… I almost got her caught in the blast.

  She let out a frustrated hiss, grabbing the front of his robes and hauling him effortlessly to his feet.

  "You were bleeding there," she growled, gesturing with her chin to the dark, viscous pool on the floor.

  "Didn't I already tell you to stop pushing yourself?! What good is reinforcing your body and mind if you're dead!"

  Her voice rang in his ears, sharp and clear. "I… I was running out of time, I had no choic—"

  "So what?!" she cut him off, shaking him slightly.

  "You dissipate your entire energy for this one moment? You couldn't just recover for a single day?! I should have stopped you! Gods!"

  She dropped him. He crashed back to the floor in a heap.

  Her furious gaze swept over the smoldering ruin of his alchemy attempt, and her eyes caught a faint glint amidst the ash.

  "Oh? Would you look at that."

  She sauntered over to the cooled furnace, kicking at the pile of soot and ash with her boot.

  She bent down, pinching something between her fingers.

  "Huh, it looks weird though," she said, holding it up for him to see. "It's really… deformed."

  Tilting her head, she scoffed. "Does this validate all that effort you put into hurting yourself?"

  The object in her hand was a pill, but it was lumpy and misshapen, its surface an ugly, mottled grey.

  Bi Kan slowly pushed himself up, a wet cough rattling his chest. "I admit," he rasped, "I've been pushing myself beyond my limits too much lately…"

  His hand reached out for the pill. "This is the last time, I promise."

  Xia’s fingers closed around it, hiding it from view. "Oh? And how do I know that? For all I know, you'll go right back to that hell training of yours tomorrow."

  A long, weary sigh escaped Bi Kan's lips.

  "It's the only way I can keep up, Xia. If you want me to keep up with your talent, I have to resort to these methods."

  Despite his weak and pathetic state, the sheer, stubborn resilience in his eyes was something she couldn't ignore.

  "Fine!" Xia snapped, her voice still laced with frustration. "But, once we get to Mi Shui's little brother, you do the talking."

  A smirk curved her lips. "This time, I'll be doing the action. You won't need to lift a single finger!"

  She held out her hand to him.

  Bi Kan hesitated. But… how am I supposed to protect you like that? The thought was a cold knot in his stomach.

  No. I can still intervene if there's a problem. For now… I'll agree. I really am tired.

  He stared at her open palm for a long moment before his own hand rose, taking hers. "Alright, I'm…" His breath hitched. "I'll be in your care, X-Xia."

  A nervous, unfamiliar smile formed on his face, the expression of someone completely unused to relying on another.

  With that, Xia opened her hand, dropping the deformed pill into his.

  I have to stop my Hellish Training for now, he thought, his mind already calculating.

  I need to recover. Besides, I think I can break through to Stage 9 now. But first, I need to know what my body is like at its peak…

  He analyzed the pill, his brow furrowing. "I don't know if this is safe to consume." He gritted his teeth, a fresh wave of self-loathing washing over him.

  This time, I truly was stupid! I should have taken the safer route! Why did I risk everything for such a measly pill?!

  Xia shrugged, her expression unsympathetic. "Oh! How surprising! The consequences of your own actions!"

  Bi Kan held back the retort, gathering all his remaining willpower to keep from lunging at her. Even at his "peak," he knew how that would end.

  "I'll just keep it," he said, tucking the pill away. "Let's go to Mi Shui's little brother. It's about time I checked his condition."

  Xia nodded, turning to lead the way out of the hut. "Alright. Stay close behind, Bi Kan. You're too exhausted for now."

  "Do you even know where to go?" he asked, his voice a dry rasp.

  He clutched at his side, the simple act of walking a fresh strain on his injured core.

  The thought of wandering aimlessly through the sect with Xia at the helm was a genuine, terrifying possibility.

  "Of course not!" she declared cheerfully. "That's why we're going to Mei's place first!"

  Bi Kan blinked. Huh. She's actually acting her age for once. Responsible… wait, no, she's still sixteen.

  Well, she's acting more like an older girl now.

  He winced as another throb of pain resonated from deep within his body.

  My Qi is faint. I won't be able to charge up and use the Legendary Boar's technique for a while.

  As Xia strode confidently ahead of him, a clear path seemed to form in her wake.

  The Outer Disciples they passed parted, some offering a respectful bow, their eyes filled with admiration.

  Others, however, watched her with expressions of raw anger and frustration, their hands clenching into fists as she passed.

  The ones who are happy must have bet on her to win, Bi Kan observed, his gaze sweeping over the disgruntled faces.

  The unhappy ones were probably humiliated by her, and lost their contribution points in the process.

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  A cold, murderous intent coiled in the pit of his stomach, and his eyes narrowed to slits.

  They're lucky I'm not in top shape. One wrong move towards her, and I'd slit their throats before they could even draw a breath.

  "Have you been to the Inner Court yet, Bi Kan?" Xia asked, turning to walk backward so she could face him. "You never come with me when I visit Mei."

  She nudged his arm playfully. "You like others coming to you? Like you're some kind of princess?"

  A smug grin spread across her face, a look perfectly crafted to get under his skin.

  It worked. The mockery irked him to the very foundation of his core.

  "No," he said, his voice strained as he closed his eyes, blocking out the sight of her smugness.

  "I didn't want to step into a place where I don't belong as an Outer Disciple. I would become a target for being so 'arrogant' as to set foot in the Inner Court."

  A hearty, unrestrained laugh burst from her throat. "That's your reason? You really are pathetic!"

  She spun around once more, focusing on the path ahead as the architecture around them began to shift, the simple wooden dorms giving way to elegant stone pavilions and courtyards humming with a palpable density of Qi.

  As they reached the Inner Court, her presence was immediately noticed.

  "That's her, isn't it?" an Inner Disciple whispered, nudging his companion.

  "The revered battle maniac from the Outer Court."

  "Yeah," the other replied, his eyes wide. "I heard she even managed to surprise the Sword Maniac, who compared her to the genius Wei Tiexuan."

  A third disciple, who had been polishing his blade nearby, intervened with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  "No way that's true! She might be talented, but she's a spear wielder! I heard she only picked up a sword once! She's known for her spear techniques."

  "Which makes her even more dangerous."

  Everyone turned. The man who had spoken was leaning against a pillar, his arms crossed.

  He had neat brown hair, a sharp jawline, and a faint scar that cut across his right cheek.

  His eyes burned with a focused intensity. It was the Sword Maniac, Leng Wuxin.

  "L-Leng Wuxin…" a disciple stammered, immediately folding his hands in a respectful bow.

  Leng Wuxin’s gaze remained fixed on Xia’s oblivious back.

  "She merely picked up a blade as a handicap, and she was still able to dismantle a swordsman like Lu Pu."

  The declaration, though old news to some, landed like a physical blow among the gathered swordsmen.

  A wave of shocked muttering rippled through the crowd.

  "How can that be possible?!" an Inner Disciple with a blade strapped to his back roared, his face flushing with outrage.

  "Lu Pu is by no means an average swordsman! I've clashed with him myself—he bests me in some areas, and that's high praise for an Outer Disciple!"

  He pointed an accusing finger at Leng Wuxin. "How could we possibly believe something so impossible could occur?!"

  A scholarly-looking Inner Disciple stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Not only that, it's even harder to believe knowing she has only joined the sect a few months ago."

  Gasps erupted from the group. "H-Hey… that's really scary if the rumors are true."

  "By gathering details from the Jade Pathway's records and through a few connections," the scholar continued, pushing his glasses up his nose, "I've managed to confirm that she's from an outskirt village within the sect's territory. A country bumpkin!"

  The arrogant swordsman nearly snapped his training blade in half.

  "You see?! That's why I find it hard to believe! That a mere outskirt rat—and a girl at that—would surpass us in any way in swordsmanship!"

  Leng Wuxin's eyes narrowed, a dangerous light entering them. "Then clash blades with me. Even I don't know where I truly stand against Xia. She's that close to my level."

  The arrogant disciple instantly recoiled. "T-That's…!"

  As the crowd began to swell, their whispers growing louder, Xia remained completely oblivious, her focus solely on reaching Ming Mei's abode.

  Bi Kan, however, did not miss a single detail. He watched the chaos her mere presence had caused, the mixture of fear, awe, and resentment she inspired.

  A slow, coiled grin begged to spring from his lips.

  Xia… I really am excited to see what kind of chaos you'll cause within the Inner Court. Grow stronger. Your path doesn't end in this sect.

  His tired eyes looked up, past the elegant rooftops, towards the vast, cloud-strewn sky.

  A small, genuine smile made the light glint off his teeth.

  Shine brighter than the sun, Xia. As you blind them all with your glory, I'll move in the shadows. I'll take them down before they can even get a step closer to you.

  As the crowd’s murmurs slowly faded behind them, the rest of the way was smooth sailing, apart from the few snarky glances from passing disci—

  Bi Kan’s senses went haywire.

  A poignant, hostile glare materialized in his mind, and his head snapped to the side, his gaze locking onto a figure half-hidden behind a distant pillar.

  Si Gun!

  The Inner Disciple flinched as if struck, immediately ducking back behind cover.

  A single bead of sweat slipped from his jaw and traced a path down his neck.

  B-Bi Kan! Where the hell is that brat headed?! He slowly peeked over the edge of the pillar.

  The Outer Disciple’s glare was still there, a palpable weight pressing down on him.

  That piece of shit! He dares stare at me with such immense disdain?!

  His eyes then landed on the girl walking in front of him.

  That is… his girlfriend? His eyes went wide. Wait. Pink… twin tails… an aura that’s so bright…

  He ducked again, his hand scratching frantically at his head.

  F-Fuck! Don't tell me he's buddies with the fucking prodigy of the Outer Court?!

  His breath came in ragged heaves as he pressed a palm against his hammering heart.

  H-He's too dangerous. I shouldn't have messed with him. Not only does he have a connection with her…

  His pupils dilated, remembering the man from a few months ago, the one who had stood before Bi Kan's room.

  That guy… who looked at me with intense, demonic anger just for insulting Bi Kan. It was as if he would've plucked my head clean off if I spoke another word.

  "That Bi Kan," Si Gun whispered to the uncaring stone, "isn't so… simple!"

  As Si Gun spiraled into turmoil, Bi Kan’s own mind was a mirror image, except his turmoil was a cold, deep well of dark fury.

  Your death won't be easy, Si Gun. His breath felt like steam hissing from an engine. I'm itching to grab you and dismember your entire body.

  His eyes went blank as he recalled the assassins, Gu Moyu and the dead Ma Niu.

  The image of the strategist's unconscious form, left for dead in the forest, was still fresh in his mind.

  Gu Moyu… What kind of answer did you give Si Gun when he asked? Are you still alive?

  He shook his head, forcing his focus back onto Xia’s retreating form.

  It doesn't matter whether you're alive or dead. If you do something that hurts my plans for Si Gun, you'll perish if I find you.

  And if you're already dead, I'll find a way to resurrect you just to maim your body from the inside out.

  Xia’s footsteps stopped with a sharp crack on the pavement. "Woah, there was a fight here. Looks like a Junior Elder was a step too late!" A small chuckle escaped her.

  Bi Kan’s eyes focused on the spiderweb of cracks in the stone, his analytical mind taking over.

  Huh. Why do I sense some kind of killing intent here? As if the person who made this… His foot began to shift, crudely imitating a combat stance.

  "What are you doing?" Xia asked, her expression a mixture of boredom and secondhand embarrassment.

  "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? There's no way you're capable of imitating something like that."

  A loud laugh erupted from her as she slapped her thigh. "Haha! You looked so serious! Lame!"

  Bi Kan’s eye twitched, and he turned away, his brows furrowed. "Let's just continue our walk!" he snapped, his voice higher than intended.

  The effort sent a sharp pain through his throat and chest.

  Damn it. I can't even snap back without my body reminding me that I'm halfway dead. His hand came to rest against his side again.

  Is this really tempering my body? I feel more vulnerable than invincible.

  His thoughts died down as they reached a more secluded, opulent section of the Inner Court. "Huh. So this is where Mei lives?"

  It was a stark difference from the Outer Court, and even from the normal Inner Disciple dorms. The air itself was thick with a rich, pure Qi.

  His eyes slid sideways, looking at Xia. Will she get one of these too?

  A figure was walking by, carefully plucking a glowing, spiritual herb from a manicured garden. Ruo Yu sniffed its petals.

  "Truly amazing. Once I drop by the Aster Grace Sect's marketplace, I'll ask them to make a special pill out of this."

  A wave from a girl with pink pigtails caught his attention. "Hey!"

  "Oh, if it isn't Xia." His spatial ring glowed, absorbing the flower. "But, who's that… guy?" Analyzing Bi Kan from head to toe, he looked thoroughly disappointed.

  "Doesn't seem like anyone special…"

  He walked towards Xia with a soft, subtle smile. "Here to be cooked for by Sister Mei again?"

  "Nope! This time I'm on serious business!" Xia said excitedly, happy to finally have a real reason to visit.

  "I see. But," Ruo Yu's eyes went cold as he gestured towards Bi Kan, "who's this one?"

  "Oh! This sleep-deprived insomniac is called Bi Kan!"

  The Inner Disciple's eyes widened slightly. "Bi… Kan." He closed his eyes, letting out a soft breath of what seemed to be relief.

  "And here I thought you brought an unknown bum."

  Bi Kan almost let out a groan of frustration. Who does this guy think he is?

  Ruo Yu gestured to Mei's abode. "Then please, visit Sister Mei. It's a surprise to see you here.

  After hearing about you from her, I assumed you weren't the type to drop in.

  She described you as… elusive and distant. Said you would much rather others come to you."

  Bi Kan slammed his palm against his forehead. "Am I really like that to all of you? I'm not a spoiled princess."

  He covered his mouth, shooting a glare at Xia, who was grinning from ear to ear.

  Damn that Xia, planting this princess crap in my head.

  Ignoring them, he took a deep breath.

  The Qi in this place is really abundant… not bad.

  They stepped across the threshold into Ming Mei's secluded abode.

  The air inside was still and serene, thick with the pure Qi of the cliffside.

  The tranquility was shattered in an instant. A flicker of motion, a red-haired blur, and a hand shot out from the side, aimed to incapacitate Xia with a precise, disabling strike.

  Bi Kan's hand flew towards his robes, his mind already screaming for the Ra Family's blade, but he froze.

  Xia’s own hand was already a blur, clamping around the perpetrator's wrist with the unyielding grip of a steel trap.

  "Mi Shui," Bi Kan said, his voice flat. He slowly tilted his head, his ears catching the faint, wet sound of coughing from another room.

  His focus split for a half-second before snapping back to the two girls locked in a standoff. "Guarding Ming Mei while she's meditating?"

  Mi Shui snatched her hand back, her fiery eyes glaring at Xia. "Yeah. Wouldn't want intruders."

  Xia scoffed, rolling her shoulder. "You're lucky I didn't break your fingers."

  "You're lucky I didn't use my Qi," Mi Shui shot back, her voice dripping with venom. "You would've been dead by now."

  The air in the room grew heavy, crackling with a tension that was about to break.

  Just then, a figure emerged from the depths of the abode. "Seriously," Ming Mei said, her voice laced with an exasperated sigh.

  "The first time you two meet, and you're already at each other's throats?" She stood between them, a calming presence in the brewing storm.

  "I knew you two were eccentric, but I thought you'd at least get along."

  Both girls immediately backed off, their shared respect for Mei overriding their hostility.

  "Well, she started it," they said in perfect, disgruntled unison. Bi Kan nodded to himself. They were both feisty.

  "So, you've come, Bi Kan," Mei said, her head tilting with a knowing look. "I'm assuming this isn't just a simple visit?"

  "Seriously… why does everyone assume I'm always on an agenda when I visit someone?" he grumbled.

  Xia tilted her head as well, mirroring Mei’s expression. "Well… that's you, isn't it? You don't move without a purpose."

  They both blinked, looking at him as if it were a fundamental law of the universe.

  "Okay! Okay!" he surrendered, raising his hands. He pulled the deformed, mottled grey pill from his robes.

  "I came to tell you that… I kind of made a pain relief pill, but I don't know if it's… consumable."

  Mi Shui’s brow lifted, her eyes narrowing in disgust. "Really? That looks like garbage. I won't endanger my little brother's life with that!" Her voice rose, growing sharper with each word.

  "I thought this friend of yours was capable, Mei! Turns out he's just a fraud!"

  "Hey," Ying Xia's voice cut through, low and dangerous. "I'd watch your tone if I were you. He's helping you, isn't he?"

  "Shut up, brat!" Mi Shui spun on her. "I don't need a numbskull barging into our conversation."

  The tension finally snapped. Xia lunged, a blur of pink and grey.

  But Mi Shui was already moving, her form flickering as she executed a high-level movement technique, effectively creating distance and anticipating Xia's attack.

  "W-What the?!" Xia grunted, surprised by her opponent's speed.

  Mi Shui cackled, her leg scything through the air in a kick aimed at Xia's cheek.

  Xia ducked under it at the last possible second, planting her hands on the floor and launching her own feet upwards in a vicious counter-kick.

  "Shi—!"

  The blow landed briefly on Mi Shui's chin, not enough to knock her out, but enough to make her stagger back. Xia’s onslaught wasn't over.

  She sprang to her feet in a single, fluid motion, her hand already reaching for the spear that wasn't there.

  It was then that Mei moved. She pushed off, her palms striking both of them. A wave of controlled force slammed into them, sending them flying in opposite directions.

  "You two! Stop it!"

  Their bodies crashed against the stone walls, the impact vibrating through the entire abode.

  Outside, Ruo Yu paused in his walk, his head tilting. "Huh. I wonder what's happening."

  Both girls groaned, trying to push themselves up. Mei’s attack had nearly knocked them out.

  Impressive, Bi Kan noted, his analytical mind cutting through the chaos.

  Mei was able to balance her power. The hand that was aimed at Xia was significantly weaker than the attack on Mi Shui. That kind of control…!

  Xia scrambled to her feet first, having anticipated the blow and hardened her chest at the last moment. She stood, breathing heavily. "Hah… hah…"

  The door to the other room creaked open.

  Bi Kan's gaze snapped towards it. "Huh?"

  A boy with the same pale red hair as Mi Shui stumbled out.

  He was a fragile mirror of Bi Kan’s own exhaustion, his skin pale and his frame gaunt.

  "B-Big Sis…" he rasped, his eyes clouded with pain. "I don't feel so… good…"

  His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the floor in a heap.