Scoundrel Xuefeng

Xiao Feng let out a furious roar as another wave of pale energy hurled him away from the ancient runic doors, a shockwave reverberating across the watery chamber. His body slammed onto the lake's rocky edge, knees and palms grinding against the damp ground. "Damn it," he cursed, wiping a trail of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Even at my level, I can't break through those blasted runes."

The passage's defense worked by devouring the energy behind his every attack and reflecting it back tenfold. No matter how much strength was used, the barrier would only grow stronger. Liu Xiaobei watched Xiao Feng stand up from the side, a grim line forming across his brow.

"Seems there's no helping it," Xiao Feng concluded, shaking his head as he left the pool's edge. "Your son will have to get out on his own. It'll probably open in a few days. Nothing more we can do." He forced a weary smile at Xuefeng's father. "Come on, let's just kill time with a bottle of wine."

Liu Xiaobei exhaled, relief mingling with resignation. "I was hoping for a miracle, but I expected this." Then he brightened. "How about you stay in my clan for a few days instead of camping out here in the forest? The ladies can enjoy proper beds, and I can introduce you to my wife."

Xiao Feng's expression lit up. "A fine idea. We'll leave some men behind to wait for him. Let's go." He promptly summoned one of Xiao Wen's protectors, issuing brisk orders to gather the ranks for departure.

With the great warship at their disposal, arriving in the Liu Clan only took a few minutes. Its shadow swallowed half of the clan as it descended in a swirl of humming Spirit Arrays, settling within the clan's training grounds. Tianshi was the first to disembark, stepping onto the stone ground and gazing across the clan's extensive walls, sculpted gardens, and lantern-lit corridors.

She roamed the neat rows of potted shrubs, the lantern-lit pathways that led to Xuefeng's private quarters. She felt both a quiet thrill and a ripple of apprehension. I have to see it for myself, she thought. What if it's all a coincidence—that his name just happened to be Liu Xuefeng?

"So this is where Xuefeng lives," she murmured, crossing the threshold into his private courtyard. 

Once inside his room, Tianshi perched on the edge of his bed. The place felt oddly still without Xuefeng's presence, with the faint aroma of his cologne lingering in the air. Her gaze landed on a patch of wall that bore hairline cracks, evidence of some violent impact.

"Did… something happen here?" she asked, resting a palm on the battered surface.

Wuying shot a mischievous look at Xiao Wen. "Ask your sister," she teased, crossing her arms. "She's the one who made that lovely piece of art."

Xiao Wen rolled her eyes. "Hey, not my fault he chose to appear naked out of thin air. Anyone would panic." She then winked at Tianshi with a devilish grin. "You won't be disappointed when you finally see him in all his glory. He's… impressive."

"Wen!" Tianshi felt warmth flood her cheeks. Her mind flashed back to memories of Xuefeng in another place, another time, but never so exposed. Jealousy twisted in her stomach at the thought that her sister and Wuying had both glimpsed more than she ever had.

Looking for a distraction, Tianshi pivoted her gaze back to Wuying. "Do you sleep here too?"

Wuying offered a polite smile. "I have my own room just next door. We share a bathroom, though." She gestured to a side door off the bedroom. Her calm, measured tone betrayed no hostility, though Tianshi could sense a flicker of tension beneath it.

Relief momentarily flickered in Tianshi's eyes. "I see… so you're not, well, sleeping with him?"

Wuying shrugged, meeting Tianshi's look evenly. "We did, once. About two days before we left to hunt that Nightmare with your sister." In her mind, there was no point hiding it. The truth was the truth.

Tianshi went still, as though a thousand pinpricks danced over her skin. She'd parted from Xuefeng not that long ago—yet it seemed he'd seamlessly found companionship. It hurt, but she reminded herself he hadn't known she was here. She forced her breathing to steady. That scoundrel… just wait until I get my hands on you.

She cleared her throat. "Right… well, has he… changed these past two weeks?

Wuying pursed her lips, considering. "Actually, yes. He grew more confident, kinder even. Seemed more alive, if that makes sense. Why? Did something happen exactly two weeks ago?"

Tianshi's lips parted, but she quickly sealed them. She couldn't possibly explain the existence of another separate world. Instead, she waved off the question. "No reason. I was just wondering."

Before she could add more, she wandered to Xuefeng's bed, pressing a hand against the soft sheets. "I'll sleep here tonight."

Wuying's brows arched. "Well, I plan to as well. This is practically my bed too." Firmly, she settled onto the other side, crossing her arms. Their eyes locked, each refusing to budge. A subtle rivalry flickered and neither wanted to yield ground in Xuefeng's sanctuary.

"All right, all right," Xiao Wen groaned, stepping between them with a hand raised. "Why fight? It's still early, so stop fussing over who sleeps here. If you two laze about and skip training, don't blame me when Xuefeng wants someone better. Tianshi, you need to finish mastering your Heavenly Steps. Wuying," she turned sharply, "I've got a dagger art for you to learn. You both have a few days until Xuefeng returns; use them well."

Wuying and Tianshi exchanged a look, each reading the other's resolve. They stood up at the same time, stepping away from the bed. But as they slipped out the door, they shared a small, polite smile, one laced with a fierce, unspoken competitiveness.

Both of them would fight for Xuefeng's heart. And behind their courteous facade, the embers of rivalry glowed bright.