A Turtle's Mettle

"Daji, long time no see." Xuanwu greeted, his gaze falling into Zhen before returning to Daji. "You're still the same troublesome fox hundreds of years ago, what makes you think inviting a human inside Wodan would be such a good idea?"

"You are mistaken, it was I that asked Daji to tag along. If you have any qualms about my being here, them why not make me leave? One of the four Guardians, Xuanwu." Zhen chimed in, her timbre posing a challenge to the buffed Divine Beast.

The fox's laughter rung. Oh, the daring nature of her lover. Daji was sure, Zhen could tell Xuanwu is no ordinary Spirit Beast, he had reached the realm of the Divine. His might, enough to match a Transcendant Immortal like Zhen. Being Zhen's lover and all, Daji had been privy to the amount stars Zhen's cultivation possessed. Zhen will not lose, but with one slip up, Xuanwu can snatch the victory from right under her.

"You heard her, Xuanwu. If you want us out, then simply do your job as Wodan's guardian, fight my lover." Daji taunted, this was Zhen's battle, she hardly needed to step in for a one on one.

"A simple restaurant brawl does not require one of the four to step in. Unless..." Xuanwu's demeanor exuded the calmness of a turtle, unbothered, even smiling at the lovers' taunts. "Are you two planning to disrupt Wodan's peace? If so, then little old me would have to act."

"What if we are?" Zhen questioned, her tone ever daring. "What if I told you that I was sent by the Heavenly Court on a mission to harvest the soul cores of the four guardians?"

Xuanwu's calmness vanished, in its place a quiet fury formed. A sort of calm before the storm. There is no greater disrespect a human cultivator could say to a spirit beast than what Xiao had just uttered. Even more, Zhen's assumption that these Divine Beasts will simply let their soul cores be snatched was the peak of arrogance. Xuanwu would destroy that peak and serve Zhen a humbling fall.

Faster than Baxia's needles, which a turtle had no business becoming as fast as, Xuanwu charged. His gargantuan fist came barreling into Xiao's pristine face, such speed and power would undoubtedly make her head explode!

An rumble shook the entire restaurant.

"Impressive, you blocked my punch. We have a Transcendant in our midst, that explains your arrogance..."

Zhen grinned, her crossed arms covered in indestructible ice, she managed to parry this physical cultivator's devestating punch that would've reduced her into a headless corpse.

"...The saying goes that you Transcendants are equal to us Divine Beasts in might. I am itching to disprove it!"

The gigantic shell on Xuanwu's back become one with his skin. Transforming into a menacing armor that covered Xuanwu from head to toe. The final form of Physical Cultivators, [Havoc Armor], in which the Physical Cultivator's qi transform into mighty armor of their liking instead of simply coating them. Xuanwu's special circumstance as a Divine Beast allowed him to morph his shell instead of his water qi.

Xuanwu's qi surged the moment he donned his armor. Zhen winced, her hands shaking as she did her best to hold at bay the now overwhelming strength of this armored juggernaut!

"Take this, HYAAAAAAH!" A passionate shout from Xuanwu. The turtle's strength pushed through, sending Zhen flying out of the window with Xuanwu's punch!

His opponent now gone, Xuanwu approached the relaxed Daji, cross-legged in her chair.

"That woman is gone, if by some miracle she lived, the strength behind my punch would render her an invalid. Now, will you're reconsider our offer? Side against us as we get rid of these humans."

"Have you gone senile, you old turtle? Surely you didn't think a punch like that can take out a cultivator of Zhen's calibre."

"Hah, there you go again with your bluff. Give it a rest, Daji, come with me back at the temple and Qinglong...WAAAAAH!"

Their conversation was cut short as an ice dragon destroyed the window that Xiao exited from, swallowing Xuanwu whole as it dragged the armored cultivator around restaurant, wreaking havoc as it smashed Xuanwu all around like a chew toy. Growing tired of playing with the turtle, the dragon blasted Xuanwu pointblank with an ice blast, sending him crashing and imprinting into the wall.

The dragon retreated, surrounding the unharmed Zhen as its guardian.

Xuanwu freed himself from the wall, both arms poised to strike. There is no doubt from both of them that their clash would level this restaurant to the ground.

"You fancy yourself a dragon, eh? Pfft, you're nothing but a pale imitation! Let me show you how a true Divine Beast battles!"

The maw of the ice dragon opened, ready maul Zhen's foe once more in majestic brutality.

"You will find that this dragon is more than a match against a Divine Beast! Come at me!"

The armored Xuanwu kicked the ground, his right fist ready to pulverize Zhen into paste, travelling with the speed and force of a cannonball.

Zhen smirked. With a wave of her hand, her ice dragon flew to meet the dashing juggernaut. Who will prevail, Zhen's indestructible ice or Xuanwu's unbreakable armor!?

This clash that would test the limits of both Cultivators at the apex would manifest as a calamity. And to prevent that calamity, lightning itself mediated. A thunderbolt crashed right in the middle where their attack would meet. Her sword drawn, the blindfolded woman was resolved to meet their cataclysmic attacks head-on.

Impressed by the woman's bravado, Zhen's halted her dragon's flight before it could kill the newcomer...or could it?

Zhen sensed the otherworldly qi from this horned woman, and most of all, the way she holds her sword. Exuding intent from her blade that everything above and under the heavens shall be cut by it, the intent of a sword saint. Not only was this blindfolded woman deadly, she was also gorgeous. A combination that Zhen fancied.

"Jiawei, stand aside, you are interfering with my match, I was about to pulverize this human!"

Xuanwu complained to the newcomer, which she just shrugged off. Her gaze, one filled with scorn, aimed right at Zhen.

"Qinglong extends his invitation to you, human. Come with me."

The Dragon Sovereign of Wodan invites Zhen? But why? Zhen was here to put a stop to whatever machinations they are planning behind the Heavenly Court's back. Zhen had an inkling of what this is, a trap, plain and simple. Therefore, Zhen knows what she must do, reject her offer.

"Say no more, if this horned beauty will lead the way, I shall accompany you."

Alas, Zhen's vice prevailed, pretty women. The danger trumped by her desire to court this Qilin. Daji grinned, there is a pang of jealousy but she is comforted by the fact that Zhen must seek her approval first if they would take in Jiawei as their partner. The fox grinned for the reason that she knew of Jiawei's distaste for humans. Honeyed words will not be able to woo her. Zhen is a master of ice, but can she tame this cold-hearted Qilin's heart?

Jiawei marched towards Zhen, if her glare wasn't enough, her heavy steps conveyed her fury.The tip of Jiawei's blade inches from slashing Zhen's nose.

"Compliment me again and I will cut your tongue off, filthy human."

"Please, reconsider. A lot of women will cry if you would render me unable to put this tongue of mine into good use." Zhen teased, deflecting the malice with her coyness.

A blatant disregard for the Sword Saint's threat while also tempting Jiawei of the pleasures that awaited her if she can shed her hate for humans.

Disgust. Intrigue. Confusion. The action of Zhen left Jiawei speechless. Jiawei sheathed her blade.

"How vile! If Qinglong didn't order me to stay my hand I would cut you from where you stand! Follow me! "

Zhen and Daji exchanged smiles, this Qilin is just perfect to tease.