Chapter 21: Did You Like It?
Xiang Yu watched in horror as the final disciple charged toward him, murder gleaming in the man’s eyes. His body, already pushed beyond reasonable limits, refused to cooperate. The sword embedded in his shoulder scraped against bone with excruciating pain as he attempted to rise, each movement sending fresh waves of agony radiating through his torso.
The disciple’s blade extended forward like the fang of some predatory beast hungry for blood. Xiang Yu found himself rooted to the spot, his wide eyes fixed on the approaching death, muscles frozen in shock rather than fear. The sword cut through air with an audible whistle, the pressure of its passage brushing against his face like the caress of a ghostly hand.
In that eternal moment between heartbeats, regret washed over him. Why had he ever agreed to leave the mountain? If some miracle spared him now, he swore he would never venture beyond those protected boundaries again. Not once. Not ever.
The blade inched closer, death measured in mere moments. Then, inexplicably, it stopped.
Confusion replaced terror in Xiang Yu’s mind. What had happened? The answer arrived with grotesque clarity as the disciple’s head suddenly separated from his shoulders, arcing through the air as warm blood splattered across Xiang Yu’s face in a crimson mist. The disciple’s body sway momentarily before collapsing with a dull thud against the forest floor.
Xiang Yu raised his gaze slowly, where the disciple had stood moments before now stood Li Yao, her delicate form somehow transformed into the most beautiful sight he had ever beheld. Though her clothes bore signs of combat—torn in places, stained with blood—to his relief-addled mind, she appeared nothing less than a celestial being descended directly from the heavens. He had truly believed that death was inevitable this time.
"Senior brother!" she cried, sheathing her sword with practiced efficiency before rushing to his side. "Are you okay?" Her eyes scanned his injuries with evident concern.
"I’m fine, it’s just a scratch," he replied, attempting to push her away with his uninjured arm. His effort proved futile against her determination, her strength far exceeding his despite her slender appearance.
Li Yao reached into her pouch, retrieving a small pill. "This might hurt a little," she warned, her free hand moving to grasp the sword still protruding from his shoulder.
Before Xiang Yu could properly prepare himself, she yanked the blade free in one swift motion. White-hot agony exploded through his body, tearing a primal scream from his throat that sent birds scattering from nearby trees. Never in either of his lives had he experienced such excruciating pain.
With the sword removed, Li Yao quickly pressed the pill to his lips. Xiang Yu swallowed without hesitation, desperate for any relief. Almost instantly, a pleasant warmth bloomed in his stomach, spreading outward like tendrils of liquid sunlight. The sensation permeated his entire being, flowing through veins and sinews, reaching every cell as if he were submerged in a healing spring of pure vitality.
In mere seconds, his exhaustion vanished completely. Even the gaping wound in his shoulder had closed, leaving behind only smooth skin where ragged flesh had been moments before. He rose to his feet in astonishment, marveling at the miraculous recovery.
Xiang Yu wondered silently how valuable such a pill must be—its effects seemed nothing short of magical. His junior sister truly showed him remarkable kindness, saving his life without hesitation. Yet as he gazed at her relieved smile, he could only sigh internally. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate her, wasn’t that he didn’t want her companionship. The reality was far simpler: the world itself seemed determined to keep them apart. A single outing with her had nearly cost him his pitiful life. Xiang Yu had no desire to tempt fate with a repeat performance of today’s near-death experience.
...
Xiang Yu meticulously searched the bodies of the fallen disciples, his movements efficient despite his recent ordeal. The task yielded disappointingly little—just a basic sword technique manual from one of the corpses. He tucked the modest prize into his robes, grateful for any resource that might aid his survival, regardless of how elementary.
"Senior Brother, what about the other bodies?" Li Yao’s voice broke through his concentration, her practical tone revealing none of the ruthlessness she’d displayed during combat.
Wordlessly, they gathered the scattered remains of the fallen disciples. Xiang Yu dragged two corpses while Li Yao effortlessly handled the rest. Once assembled in a small clearing, Li Yao extended her delicate hand toward the grisly collection. Brilliant azure flames erupted from her fingertips, engulfing the bodies in supernatural fire that consumed flesh, bone, and blood with terrifying efficiency. Within minutes, nothing remained—no evidence of the deadly confrontation, no trace of their involvement.
Their return journey differed dramatically from their earlier carefree stroll. Instead of walking the winding mountain path, Li Yao summoned her sword, the gleaming blade hovering horizontally before them. She stepped onto it with practiced ease, gesturing for Xiang Yu to join her. Hesitantly, he climbed aboard, his movements awkward and uncertain.
The sword rose smoothly into the air, carrying them skyward with graceful speed. Under different circumstances, Xiang Yu might have marveled at his first flying experience—the exhilarating sensation of weightlessness, the breathtaking panorama of forests and mountains stretching to the horizon. Yet the atmosphere between them felt uncomfortably tense.
Li Yao, normally animated and talkative, maintained an uncharacteristic silence, her expression unreadable as she guided the sword through cloud-dappled skies. Xiang Yu studied her profile surreptitiously, wondering what had prompted this sudden change. Had she encountered difficulties when confronting the dean? Her clothing showed signs of combat, but she appeared largely uninjured. Something else then—but what?
The journey continued in this awkward silence until they finally approached the sect’s boundaries. Li Yao guided the sword downward, touching down gracefully at the outer perimeter. By unspoken agreement, they continued on foot, crossing into sect territory with measured steps.
Upon passing the entrance, Xiang Yu released an audible sigh of relief. The sound was subtle—barely more than a slight exhalation—yet Li Yao caught it instantly, her gaze flicking toward him from the corner of her eye.
The empress’s words echoed in her mind: "He walks through a simple town festival as though he expects a meteor to come crashing down upon his head at any moment." She had initially dismissed the observation as exaggeration, yet witnessing his behavior firsthand had confirmed the assessment. Even during flight, when most would have been distracted by the novelty and spectacle, his attention had remained vigilantly alert, his body perpetually tensed for danger. Only now, having returned to the relative safety of sect grounds, did his posture show the first signs of genuine relaxation.
They continued their silent procession until reaching the base of Mountain Heart Pavilion. Without warning, Li Yao halted abruptly, causing Xiang Yu to collide with her back. He murmured an apology that she completely ignored as she pivoted to face him, her expression suddenly intense.
"Senior Brother, did you enjoy our date today?" The question emerged with unexpected directness.
Xiang Yu blinked in surprise, caught off-guard by her sudden interrogation. "Yes, it was very nice," he replied, defaulting to politeness.
"If you enjoyed it so much, then why were you so on guard the entire time? You kept looking around as if expecting an ambush at every corner." Her eyes narrowed slightly, searching his face for truth.
Xiang Yu felt his chest tighten—he hadn’t realized his vigilance had been so transparent. After a moment’s hesitation, he sighed. "I was just a little scared because it was my first time leaving the sect," he offered, the half-truth easier than explaining his profound paranoia.
A subtle smile of relief softened her features. "Then, do you want to go on another date?" she asked, hope evident in her voice.
Xiang Yu remained silent, the question hanging unanswered between them.
"You said you enjoyed the date, right? Then why do you not want to go again?" Her voice cracked slightly as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Panic surged through Xiang Yu’s chest. While he had no desire to entangle himself with this world’s obvious protagonist, actively antagonizing her seemed infinitely worse. He needed a solution—something that would pacify her without committing himself to more potentially lethal excursions.
Moving closer, he gently brushed her gathering tears with his fingertips, the gesture causing her eyes to widen slightly.
"Actually, I was scared," he admitted softly. "I was worried that something would happen." He continued with carefully measured words, "That something would happen to you and I wouldn’t be able to protect you"
"Really?" Her expression brightened immediately, the tears receding.
"Yeah," he confirmed with a somber nod.
"It’s okay," she assured him, her voice warming with affection. "You don’t have to worry about me, I can even protect you, like I did today."
Xiang Yu shook his head firmly, seizing the perfect opportunity to implement his hastily formulated plan. "I’ve actually liked you for a long time now," he confessed, watching as a blush spread across her cheeks. "But you’re the sect genius, and I’m just untalented. I’ve always felt unworthy of you."
She began to protest, but he gently interrupted her, his voice gaining confidence as his strategy took shape. "That’s why I decided to cultivate. I want to be worthy of you." Each word built upon the last, constructing an elaborate but effective narrative. "I promise you that I will cultivate, and when I finally become the strongest in the world, I will finally be worthy of you. When that happens, I will marry you."
"Do you promise?" she asked, her eyes shining with unexpected hope.
"I promise," he affirmed solemnly.
Her expression transformed instantly, melancholy giving way to radiant joy. With childlike exuberance, she spun away, racing up the mountain path. "Don’t forget your promise!" she called back, her voice carrying on the breeze.
Xiang Yu watched her disappear before beginning his own ascent at a much more measured pace. While his words had contained partial falsehoods, he reasoned that they weren’t entirely untrue. If he somehow managed to achieve invincibility—an admittedly remote possibility—he would certainly consider marrying his junior sister. Her beauty was undeniable, her personality was nice and she had even saved him two times now.
For now, however, his immediate priority was crystal clear: avoid leaving the sect’s protective boundaries for at least a thousand years. Today’s brush with death had only reinforced his conviction that survival required staying firmly within these walls, regardless of how long that confinement might last.
His lips curved into a wry smile as he continued his climb toward Mountain Heart Pavilion. At least his newly established "courtship" had secured him the perfect excuse to avoid future outings. Cultivation required dedication, after all—and what better demonstration of his commitment than devoting every waking moment to practice?
...
A/N - We are back to doubling exp
Do you guys like this excuse for romance and staying in the sect?