Fang Xuan

It hadn't even been that long since she's been back at her hometown and trouble had already found Xiao. A few blocks away from the pharmacy, Xiao ran into a band of thugs by the sidewalk. The men who were looking for people to extort or bully had their sights set on what they thought would be a hapless victim.

"What do we have here? I am not usually into cripples but even I could tell that you're a looker behind that mask. Care to join us, masked lady? I promise it will be worth your while."

Despite their ploy for consent, the unsavory group of men surrounding Xiao are the type of hoodlums who would never take no for an answer.

<>

The voice inside Xiao's mask made her will clear.

Every bystanders in the middle of the street cower and look the other way, in fear of the thugs' wrath falling upon them. Yet the entire town wasn't completely spineless, for one would have the courage to stand up against the ruffians and their bullying.

"Let the woman go."

From behind the hoodlums came a dashing lad with a face enough to be considered a young master. His hair black while his body was clad in a silver robe with a dual dao sword insignia on its chest, serving as their sect uniform.

Despite his show of courage and the obvious backing of a sect, the ruffians weren't concerned in the slightest, going so far as to unisonly laugh in the man's face.

"Wahahaha! It seems the young master is looking for another beating, stay out of this Fang Xuan if you don't want to get hurt more than last time!" The man, who seems to be the leader of the thugs, belittled and insulted the newcomer.

Taking his courage up a notch, Fang Xuan tackled the ringleader into the ground with such force that the thug grimaced in pain.

It took a second before his underlings grasped the situation. The thugs encircled Fang Xuan and began to beat the living daylights out of him.

Even with fists raining around him he was still able to warn Xiao, "Leave now, lady!"

"Trying to be a hero so you can have the ladies, huh? Here, have our fists instead!"

<>

Even if the boy's intervention wasn't necessary in the first place, Xiao wasn't wicked enough to trample on his good will, the thugs are already giving him enough of that. Thus, this would be the perfect opportunity to show off in front of her master what she's capable of. Add to the fact that saving the boy could be beneficial since he's from a sect.

Xiao grinned, "I'm just going to do what I should have done before this boy interfered."

As the ruffians were busy heaping punches and kicks towards Fang Xuan, an ominous chill permeated in the air, sending shivers down their spine. But before they could turn around to face its source, a barrage of ice stakes impaled them all. Xiao's aim, comparable to master marksman, avoided all their vitals.

The hoodlums screamed in anguish as ice stakes were embedded into their skin, like supersized acupuncture needles. They were warning shots, that if the thugs failed to heed, Xiao's next target would be their faces.

"Leave, NOW!"

After her display of power, a single shout from Xiao was all it took for the ruffians to flee with their tails behind their legs.

Puffing up her chest with pride, Xiao inquired her master what her evaluation was, "What do you think, teacher?"

<>

Xiao expected praise, only to receive admonishment. If you asked Xiao, ice stakes are a very efficient form of mid to long range combat. She was unaware why her master rebuked her for its use.

"I'll have you know, Ice stakes are utilitarian!"

<>

Before Xiao could argue back to her master, Fang Xuan got up and wiped the blood from his lips. He stared at Xiao with reverence and awe.

"You're pretty strong, masked lady. I kinda feel foolish now for butting in." Looking like he just caught lightning in a bottle, Fang Xuan enthusiastically made his offer. "Say, masked lady, why don't you join our sect!? We're open for recruitment right now! I haven't seen you around here before so you must need a place to stay, the doors of our sect will be open for you!"

"Slow down, my name is Yao Xiao. Alright, I humbly accept your offer. Ah, I should call you brother Fang Xuan now since we now belong to the same sect."

Xiao knew that Fang Xuan was trying to use her. Maybe for advertisement that a new cultivator had just joined their ranks? Recruiting new disciples would be easier if they knew that his sect now has a cultivator belonging to the Divine Champion realm.

It matters not for Xiao was going to use them as well, she needed a base of operations where an alchemy furnace was readily available. She doesn't have high hopes for the amount of spirit stones that they could provide her since she was joining a sect from a small town, but at least they would be able to provide her with a place to train and a roof to sleep under. It was still a beneficial deal.

"No, no ,no! You must at least be at the Grandmaster realm then that would make you as powerful as our patriarch, I'm going to ask my father to appoint you as a sect elder right away!" Fang Xuan declared with overflowing enthusiasm.

"I see. Then once again, I humbly accept your…" Xiao paused, did she hear it right? Her as a sect elder? "...You're going to make me your what!?"

"Don't be so surprised, Elder Xiao. I can make it happen because I am the patriarch's son, core disciple of the Transient Blades sect. We normally focus on the Arms master path but you can be rest assured that your Traditional path would be welcomed with no problem."

<>

Instead of elation it filled Xiao with dubiousness instead. There were a lot to consider when appointing a sect elder. Tenurity, Cultivation base, and Inner politics within the sect are just to name a few. One could only imagine the ire she would garner when a cultivator shows up from nowhere and takes the sect elder seat that other hopefuls have tried to covet for who knows how long.

"What do you think, master, should I accept it?" Xiao mumbled as she requested counsel. The boy might seem innocent but he is still a cultivator, for all he knows he could be luring her into a trap.

<>

"What was that, Elder Xiao?" Fang Xuan, oblivious to the ruthless command of Xiao's hidden master, continued to eye his supposed elder with a jovial expression.

"It's nothing. We…I mean, I accept your offer. Come, introduce me to the rest of the sect.."