Ishin watched as Tan Chen wasted no time. A burst of wind exploded from beneath her feet, launching her forward and closing the distance in an instant. She raised her arm, a cyclone of air coiling tightly around it.

  Go Lan reacted quickly, bringing up the flat of her battle axe to meet the punch. A wave of condensed air rippled out from the impact, ruffling the clothes and hair of the onlookers.

  Both are fast.

  Tan Chen fell back, landing smoothly on the sandy beach. Go Lan wrenched her axe free and charged at her blue-haired opponent, her speed impressive given the weight of the weapon.

  She must be using a body enhancement technique to manage it.

  Go Lan was upon Tan Chen in no time, swinging her axe horizontally with clear killing intent. Tan Chen leapt back, narrowly avoiding the massive blade, but there wasn’t much space left for retreat.

  “She’s out for blood,” Rhee remarked, displeased.

  “So much for a friendly contest,” Lei muttered.

  We aren’t in a tournament anymore. Still… Ishin glanced at Jou and the other senior, both of whom remained unbothered. This seems excessive.

  Tan Chen thrust her open palms forward, releasing a blast of air at Go Lan. The axe cultivator slid back across the sand despite her best efforts to resist. That she withstood it at all was a testament to her strength.

  The winds faded as Tan Chen’s arms fell, sweat dripping from her forehead. Go Lan remained standing, her axe buried deep into the sand to keep her anchored. As the last of the gale subsided, she broke into a sprint toward Tan Chen. The axe came overhead and descended like a hammer.

  Tan Chen rolled aside as the weapon struck, sand erupting from the crater. She scrambled up and, in a burst of wind, launched herself forward. With shocking speed she tackled Go Lan to the ground before her opponent could respond. The unexpected move ripped the axe from Go Lan’s grip, leaving the two women grappling unarmed.

  “She’s clever,” Lei laughed.

  “She is,” Ishin agreed. Without her axe, Tan Chen has the advantage. Very clever.

  Tan Chen pressed Go Lan onto her back and pinned her arms to the ground. She straddled her opponent, using her weight to maintain her dominance.

  “Surrender!”

  “No!”

  Go Lan slammed her forehead into Tan Chen’s. The sudden blow forced Tan Chen’s grip loose. Go Lan kicked her in the stomach, sending the blue-haired woman sprawling.

  Go Lan scrambled toward her weapon. Tan Chen wasn’t finished. A cyclone swirled around her arm as she sprinted forward. Just as Go Lan reached the axe handle, Tan Chen’s fist slammed into her side. The torrent of violent wind hurled Go Lan through the air and into the shallows of the dark ocean.

  Bent over and panting, Tan Chen watched as Go Lan staggered up from the water, her black hair now soaked and clinging to her face. She spat out seawater and brushed her hair back, eyes blazing.

  “Had enough?” Tan Chen asked, straightening for another round.

  “She’s incredible,” Rhee whispered. “If she had been in Yellow Dome City for the Exhibition Tournament, I think she might have won.”

  “If not you, then me,” Ishin admitted. He recalled Tan Chen’s words about her own recruitment—the difference between someone who only fought in sanctioned duels and another who regularly fought for their life.

  “She’s proven her worth,” Wen Mei called. “There’s no need to fight further, Sister Lan.”

  Go Lan sauntered forward from the surf. “Like hell she has.”

  Tan Chen shifted to stand between her and the abandoned axe, raising her fists. “I’ll send you back into the ocean if that’s what it takes.”

  “It’s not,” Jou interjected.

  “Stay out of this, Brother Jou,” Go Lan barked.

  “No. Sister Mei is right. Besides, it’s been ten breadths. Your own criteria has been met.”

  Go Lan huffed. “I would’ve won.”

  “Right,” Tan Chen scoffed, finally relaxing. “Regardless, we’re partners now.”

  Lei bounded over to her. “Well fought! That was incredible—especially when you tossed her into the ocean.”

  “Thanks, Hou Lei,” Tan Chen replied, exhaustion clear in her voice.

  “Please, call me Lei. Anyone who fights that well is welcome to.”

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  “Appreciated. Then you may call me Chen.”

  The two returned to the group, Go Lan trailing behind, water dripping from her with every step.

  “It’s good to know who our strongest martial is,” Ishin complimented once Tan Chen rejoined them.

  “Please, don’t,” Tan Chen said with a faint smile. “I dislike compliments.”

  “He’s right though,” Rhee added. “That was an impressive display. Once we’re in the sect, I’d be honored to trade pointers with you.”

  “We can do that,” Tan Chen agreed.

  “Well done,” Wei Long said, reserved. “You represented us well.” He offered her a small bow.

  “Thank you, Long.”

  “You both fought well,” Wen Mei added, ever the peacemaker. She glanced at Go Lan, who had retrieved her sand-coated axe. “Worthy allies, right, Sister Lan?”

  “Partners,” Go Lan corrected irritably. “I admit, they aren’t completely useless.”

  “Decidedly not,” Jou remarked. “What do you think, Brother Koi?”

  The senior with heterochromia—Koi—stepped forward. “If they can match Sister Lan, it doesn’t matter if they’re not at the sixth layer.”

  Jou nodded. “True enough.”

  A loud growl escaped Lei’s stomach. “If we’re friends now, do you have any food to share?”

  Wen Mei laughed lightly, even Jou grinned, the earlier tension broken. “Yes. Sister Mei, would you mind?”

  “Not at all.” She waved them along. “Please follow me.”

  The new partners moved toward one of the campfires, where three skewers of meat roasted. Up close, Ishin saw the flesh was dark green, its stench like rotten blood. His stomach turned, but hunger gnawed at him.

  “Please, take a seat,” Wen Mei said, gesturing toward a log. Once they settled, she raised her voice. “Everyone! Please gather around. We have new comrades to introduce.”

  Slowly, the lethargic alliance members formed a horseshoe around them.

  “Please welcome our five new… partners,” Wen Mei corrected herself. “We’ve agreed to work together until the next Pill Drop. Treat them as comrades.”

  “They aren’t joining the alliance?” a sunburned woman with short hair asked.

  “No,” Jou answered, stepping up along with the other seniors. “For the good of the alliance, no more members will join. That way, our own may reach the Adept Realm without further restraints. With Heaven’s blessing, after the next Pill Drop in four days, we’ll succeed.”

  Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Ishin sensed they respected Jou’s word.

  “But we will work together,” Wen Mei added quickly. “We’re all comrades, even if they aren’t official members of the alliance. With any luck, we’ll all reach the Adept Realm together.”

  Her reassurance seemed to ease the group.

  “Please,” Wen Mei told their group, “introduce yourselves.”

  One by one they shared their names. Afterwards, Wen Mei had the members of the Collective Liberation Alliance do the same. Once everyone had finished the alliance members drifted back to their tasks.

  Introducitions done, Lei wasted no time in grabbing a skewer. “Smells awful,” he muttered before tearing off a chunk. He chewed, his expression shifting from delight to confusion, and finally disgust. With effort, he swallowed. “How… interesting.”

  Ishin eyed the meat warily. “What is that?”

  “It’s… Vampire Monkey,” Wen Mei admitted, sitting beside Wei Long. “Not great, but it’s the only food here.”

  Rhee leaned forward to sniff the meat, only to recoil as her eyes watered. “It is?”

  “Unfortunately,” Wen Mei affirmed. “There aren’t other animals or edible plants. At least, none we’ve found.”

  Tan Chen grabbed a skewer, tearing off a piece. “Food is food.” But her face twisted in disgust the moment the meat touched her tongue.

  “Why are Vampire Monkeys here?” Rhee asked, uninterested in trying the meat.

  Ishin’s stomach growled. He sighed. “Tan Chen, may I?”

  She handed him the skewer, unable to meet his eyes. He peeled off a piece the size of his hand. Up close, the stench was even worse.

  “We think the sect placed them here for the Culling,” Wen Mei told Rhee. “Another part of the test.”

  “That’s awful,” Rhee muttered.

  Wei Long’s expression was contemplative, though he stayed silent.

  Ishin forced the meat into his mouth. It tasted like a decaying corpse, and he fought the urge to spit it out. You need food, he reminded himself, though it helped little.

  “Is this safe to eat?” Tan Chen croaked, faint tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

  “We think so,” Wen Mei said sympathetically. “We’ve eaten it for months with no side effects.”

  Rhee frowned. “And water?”

  “There are creeks and ponds. Rainwater’s best—we’ve acquired boxes from past Pill Drops to collect it. They’re empty now, but the next storm will refill them. Hopefully it’ll come soon.” Her expression soured. “Rainwater tastes best.”

  “Good to know,” Rhee replied wearily.

  The mention of storms reminded Ishin of something. Forcing the lump down his throat, he asked, “Does the whole island lack qi?”

  “Afraid so,” Wen Mei answered. “That’s why it’s called Desolate Island.”

  “That shouldn’t be possible,” Wei Long muttered. “Qi should be everywhere under the Heavens.”

  “I don’t understand either,” Wen Mei admitted. “Just something my aunt told me.”

  “Everything about this place feels wrong,” Rhee murmured. “Cruel.”

  “It’s a true test,” Lei declared, already reaching for another slab of meat. Ishin couldn’t fathom how he’d stomached the first. “They only want the strong.”

  “Brutal, but efficient,” Tan Chen agreed. “The Crimson Abyss Sect is living up to its reputation.”

  “And we’re not even in the sect yet,” Ishin added. He couldn’t imagine what awaited them once inside.

  “Hopefully soon,” Wen Mei said, rising. “Eat what you can, then rest. Sleep anywhere you like.”

  “Thank you,” Rhee said with a bow. “You worked hard to help us—thank you.”

  Wen Mei’s cheeks reddened faintly, which Ishin found rather cute. “It’s nothing. If you need anything, find me.”

  “What’s the plan for tomorrow?” Wei Long asked before she could leave.

  “The seniors typically come up with a list of tasks and then we divide them amongst ourselves. For tonight, don’t worry about it. Just rest.”

  With no further questions, she departed toward the seniors. Only then did Ishin notice that Six had disappeared at some point.

  He glanced back at the skewered meat, briefly considering another bite, then returned it to the fire. Instead, he stared into the flames, his mind replaying the brutal events of the day.

  If every day is like this… what will we be like by the time we leave?