Winners; Your Choice

Watching Xuan face such a beast by himself made me understand why my teammates solely said the mount Fuan's were more stronger but at this point, strength wasn't needed but brains, if we were to fight this thing, we'll probably fight for days, we just need to devise a plan to get that dagger and that's it.

"Think Shanxia, what can you do?" I clicked my tongue glancing through the forest but my thoughts were interrupted when the beast grabbed hold of Xuan and sent him flying across the forest while he smashed into trees.

"Powerful but clearly with no sense." I rolled my eyes and went after Xuan until he finally landed on the ground with a painful groan.

"Okay that actually hurts." He cursed and I stood in front of him with a hopeless gaze, unable to hide how bad I actually felt for him, the beast clearly heading our way but we hid behind a rock on time, the beast clearly trying to sniff us out.

"We can't fight that thing, it's too strong." He whispered.

"Why did you think I didn't go with your crazy idea of fighting it in the first place?"

He turned to look at me. "We might be enemies but we've got a more serious issue at our hands." He bent his back slightly like it was going to reduce the pain he was feeling.

"You were the ones who started it!" I reminded him but he only glared in return.

"We didn't start anything, every sect claims mount Xuandu to be the best even with the fact we always top first, our sect is running out of energy so we need that dagger more than you mount Xuandu's!"

I was glaring at him at first but hearing him speak of his sect running out of energy made the annoyance in me fade away and my expression was that of a puzzled puppet.

"Wait, running out of energy?"

He seemed to have just realized he said a lot more than he intended to and a sigh of guilt escaped his lips.

"I'm not even supposed to tell anyone about this, but our sect is running out of energy that'll probably sustain our powers and that's why we need the dagger, no sect could have a better reason for wanting that dagger than us so I'm going to get it and make sure you lose."

He must have mistaken my puzzlement for a sign of shock and he stepped out of our hiding spot, meanwhile I was left to ponder on his words. Sure he's been a pest along with his teammates but it all makes sense as to why they'd bring themselves so low to steal my team's artifact, if their sect runs out of energy it could cause serious complications, they're really in need of that dagger.

Stepping out of my hiding spot too, Xuan was once again facing the beast one on one, evading that powerful horn on time before he got shredded by it and the whole ground seemed to shake due to the beast's weight, that's when an idea struck me. If I can somehow get closer, doesn't my whip stand a chance of pulling that dagger right of it's forehead? Summoning my flying sword, I was able to get closer behind it while it kept it's anger on Xuan. But getting that dagger seemed tougher after jumping straight into the beast's back. A growl came next but I sent my rope holding on tight to where the dagger was kept before I could fall off, Xuan gazed at me in disbelief.

"What are you doing?!"

I was in no mood to answer his question cause the beast had already run off with me hanging on for dear life, wiggling it's head violently but my whip's hold around the dagger tightened. This would definitely hurt but I have to get that dagger, pulling the whip down, the dagger forcefully pushed itself free from the beasts forehead and a surprised gasp escaped my lips, I was falling right off the beast and closed my eyes tight waiting for that heavy impact that could possibly break me in pieces but nothing came, I still waited for a few seconds but it doesn't even feel like I'm falling anymore.

"Shanxia."

Bai QingQing's voice was what I heard next but I didn't let myself get carried away, I'm sure it's nothing but my stupid imagination.

"Shanxia."

My master's voice made me snap my eyes back open and to my astonishment, I was back in the pavilion, on the altar. Xuan on the other side gazed at me with folded arms, everyone had gathered in front of the pavilion and I stared blankly, wondering how I even got here?

A hand suddenly reached down to me, I glanced up to meet my master's gaze as he gently helped me up to my feet.

"You alright?" He asked and I blinked at him, still stunned he was here too, I wanted to speak when I felt my hands holding tightly against something and when I lowered my gaze to see what it was, the silver dagger was right in my hands making my eyes grow wider in disbelief.

"The dagger?" I whispered unable to believe it until a voice rang out from the altar.

"The winner of this year's hunting tournament goes to the Mount Xuandu's."

Wait what??

The cheerful screams that came next startled me while my master only chuckled at my expression.

"I'll let you calm down first." He said to me and I averted my gaze trying to understand the situation.

I got the dagger, does that mean after getting the dagger I got transported back here immediately?? I suddenly remembered Bai QingQing's words saying those things were just illusions, that means the tournament has ended and I got the dagger, I got the dagger!

The happiness didn't even have enough time to spread across my face when Zhangjie came over twirling me across the altar.

"We watched you from the mirror portal, that was some brave act Shanxia."

Yang Fe and Bai QingQing showed up as well and I gazed at all three of them with a worried expression.

"You guys are alright right?" I asked making Bai QingQing to flick my forehead before deciding to give me a hug.

"Of course we're fine."

"Sure we got kept under a spell and missed the portal but that's it, luckily you were there to make it for all of us so how can we not?" Yang Fe added thoughtfully and I smiled gratefully at him, but where was MingXia?

"And MingXia?"

Zhangjie scoffed. "She basically stormed out after realizing she was brought back here, a psycho always a psycho."

I tried hard not to laugh at his words, that means I'm back at Mount Xuandu now and I'm equally seeing my master too!

Turning to meet his gaze, I was too excited I wanted to hug him but forced myself to only take a bow.

"Master."

"Congratulations, you've done well." The proudness in his tone couldn't have made me any happier, Baozhi and Zaoxhu also walked up to the altar, it's been a while since I saw master Zaoxhu and I immediately bowed.

"Greetings."

The rest of Baozhi's disciples also bowed in unison.

"Greetings."

They smiled at us, standing beside my master.

"Congratulations to all of you, you've done well." Baozhi proudly said while Zaoxhu nodded in approval turning his warm gaze towards my direction.

"You got the dagger Shanxia, it's your choice on what you wish to do with it."

My eyes widened at the news. "My choice?"

My master nodded in response while the celestial sovereign walked up to us, I maintained myself at the sight of him and clasped both my palms together, equally taking a bow.

"What do you plan on doing with the dagger?" He asked, I felt really honored for being bestowed such privilege and I wanted to say immediately that I would love to keep it but after spotting the disappointed looks on the mount Fuan's faces, Xuan's words earlier recalled clearly in my head and a sudden emotion swept through me and although they might have been a bit difficult, I wasn't going to ignore the fact Xuan helped me in a way and it felt like this was the right thing to do.

Meeting the celestial sovereign's gaze, I took a deep breath before speaking.

"I've actually decided to hand the dagger over to the Mount Fuan's."

I could hear shocking gasps from all angles even the celestial sovereign couldn't help but be stunned as well, he narrowed his brows at me

"Are you sure?"

I could see Baozhi's disciple trying to give me a hint not to do it but I had to ignore them and stand by my own decision.

"Yes, it is." I firmly said, with no hesitation at all leaving the mount Fuan's completely speechless by my act.