Chapter Nine: Hidden Strife and Subtle Rivalry—An Evenly Matched Contest

A carpet of fallen leaves, endless and unyielding as the longing within—perhaps, to others, such words, saturated with melancholy, would sound unbearably sentimental coming from someone like Yushang. After all, she was once infamous for her ruthless ways, for showing no mercy even to lovers from her past. Yet, none could deny that this was the truest reflection of her heart upon beholding this scene.

Leaves, yellowed and withered, drifted slowly to the ground with each sigh of the autumn wind, blanketing the earth in silence. Walking softly over the fallen leaves, she heard the persistent rustle beneath her feet—a sound that seemed to murmur the untold stories each leaf carried. In the forest, only the bare trunks of ancient trees remained, standing solitary and companionless.

“We’ve been searching for so long and haven’t seen so much as a shadow, let alone anything related to the Nether Domain. It’s really maddening! When you don’t want to go, you’re trapped and can’t escape; but when you do want to find it, it’s nowhere to be found. And you keep saying that terrifying presence is calling to you—are you sure it’s not just bored and playing tricks on you?”

Yushang, unable to endure the constant stream of complaints any longer, rubbed her ears and instinctively put a bit more distance between herself and Xiaoyin, who, after his rapid-fire grumbling, didn’t even pause to catch his breath. Frowning, she said, “I just don’t understand—why are other people’s spirit companions so obedient and well-behaved, while you’re so noisy and rebellious? Can’t you just be quiet for a moment?”

“Spirit companion? You brat! How dare you call me your spirit companion? Are you tired of living? Don’t think that just because you helped nurse my injuries, you can lord it over me. I’ve tolerated you for long enough—today, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Xiaoyin glared furiously, his brows knit tight as he gathered his inner energy and struck out at Yushang.

“Well, that dark green crystal has been refining within me for a while now. I wonder if it’s helped my cultivation at all—today is a good day to spar with you and find out.” Yushang smiled and, activating her Wind Without Trace technique, leapt into the fray.

With a swift motion, Yushang countered Xiaoyin’s attack. Strangely, her seemingly gentle strike erupted into an overwhelming force just as it neared Xiaoyin—not only did it crash into him, it also threatened to devour. Of course, Xiaoyin was not to be underestimated. Carefree as he might appear, he became deadly serious when facing a worthy opponent. In truth, there were aspects where the two were much alike; perhaps it was because, when Xiaoyin—once the Crimson Serpent Spirit—hid within Yushang’s body as a child, his temperament had influenced her own.

As their energies collided, the outcome was almost predictable. Leaves swirled madly as their powers clashed and dispersed, each plain leaf transformed into a deadly blade, slicing toward both combatants. Yet, as the leaves neared, they were instantly shattered by the protective energy surrounding each fighter, vanishing without a trace. The poor leaves became the casualties of this contest, and to dismiss them as mere lifeless things would be a mistake—for each leaf, as it faded, let out a faint, almost imperceptible moan, like a living being’s pained cry, sorrowful enough to move the hardest heart.

Yushang and Xiaoyin, even as they fought, heard those ghostly laments, but their innate willpower and the adrenaline of battle left no room for distraction. Still, an undercurrent of sorrow lingered in their minds.

Yushang unleashed a move called “Waters Flow Severance,” her energy flowing like water—sometimes gentle, sometimes urgent, sometimes placid, sometimes surging—leaving Xiaoyin unable to grasp its rhythm. The water-like force flowed around Xiaoyin, refusing to dissipate, not attacking but entrapping, much like Xiaoyin’s own “Stasis” move once used on Lanwu.

Xiaoyin merely smiled, closed his eyes, and raised his hands, palms together. A reddish glow gathered from within, coalescing between his palms into a dazzling crimson ring. Leaning left, he spread his hands and swung them in a wide arc, the ring moving with the gesture. Suddenly, with a sharp motion, the ring shot toward the watery energy, and with a shout—“Smoke Disperses, Clouds Scatter!”—the ring burst into countless scarlet points that scattered upon contact, dissolving both energies in a brilliant collision.

The two exchanged a knowing smile and pressed on with their duel.

Xiaoyin followed with a technique named “Heaven-Holding Palm.” His right hand waved back and forth in the air—a seemingly harmless gesture, yet one that concealed profound depth. Only those with advanced cultivation could sense the true nature of his maneuver. As his hand moved, invisible energy gathered from all around, merging with a force that welled up from within him, forming an immense, intangible wall. With a soft command—“Go!”—the wall shot skyward, blending into the blue above.

Yet Yushang felt an immense pressure bearing down upon her. Glancing up, she saw a colossal wall descending from the heavens. Unperturbed, she calmly raised a protective barrier, her expression serene as she faced the impending doom. “If not me, then who?” she murmured. The words unsettled Xiaoyin, who cried out, “You brat, don’t underestimate my Heaven-Holding Palm! Dodge!” But before he finished, Yushang had already confronted the wall head-on, leaving Xiaoyin aghast.

Just as Xiaoyin was about to intervene, a pillar of light shot from Yushang, punching a hole through the massive barrier and drawing its remnants into her body. The whole process was as fluid as a river’s flow, leaving Xiaoyin momentarily stunned. When he regained his composure, Yushang was already seated on the ground, refining the remnants of the wall. Xiaoyin, speechless, sat beside her, keeping watch.

Before long, Yushang awoke with a smile. “I owe you for that last strike, Xiaoyin. Without it, I wouldn’t have so quickly grasped the secret of the aperture within me. I may not be able to unlock it now, but with time and careful nurturing, it will one day open on its own. When that day comes, my power will be beyond measure!”

“You’re a monster! Even with your inner aperture barely cracked, it’s already enough to save your life. If it ever fully opens, not even the ancient monsters of the Nether Domain will be able to touch you,” Xiaoyin marveled.

“I look forward to that day. But back to the matter at hand—why has no one come to stop our fight after all this time? This place may seem deserted, but I have the distinct feeling we’re being watched. It’s unsettling,” Yushang said, glancing around.

“I was too focused on our match to notice, but now that you mention it, I feel it too. Looks like another little ghost has come to test us,” Xiaoyin sighed.

“All this hiding and peeping—what’s the point? Why not come out and face us directly?” Yushang called out.

“You make it sound as if I have some strange hobby. I merely didn’t wish to interrupt your duel,” came a voice. They turned to see a man in a snow-white fur cloak standing before Yushang. His eyes were bewitching as a fox’s, his face more exquisitely beautiful than any woman’s. The only discordant note was that wicked, familiar smile—the very same as Xiaoyin’s.

“What’s with men these days, looking more delicate than women? He’s like a little maiden!” Xiaoyin remarked playfully, eyeing the stranger.

“Hahaha, beauty, are you jealous?” the man teased, laughing lightly at Xiaoyin.