Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 59

Big Sister Pangfua had gone out of her way to give them as much freedom as possible while in the spire. It was a stark contrast to the time she’d left him to discipline of the mine without knowing the cause. She’d watched over them for their year in the Frigid Moon Mystic Realm, and kept a close eye on his Huifen in her time of need. Their relationship was a strange one, but as far as Chao was concerned, she was family.

If it was just her, this Sage Harnish’s crimes would be enough, but he knew most of the sect present in the spire would be cultivating on the third floor today. He didn’t think for a second that the man would spare any. Whatever he was up to, he meant to silence all opposition.

As they sped through the second floor and up to the third, a familiar despair boiled up in his chest like it had never gone away. It was the very thing that had guided his rage when he broke Daiyu’s murderer. He despaired that things could never be made right. There was no punishment he could give the man to make up for all that he had done. And now this old sage was going after his sect. The man’s kind exterior reminded him of the traitor Sect Master Tengfei. Chao hadn’t really known him, but on the inside they were the same.

Regrettably, Tengfei hadn’t suffered long. He should’ve been the first to step up to defend the sect. And yet, his betrayal was greater than all the rest. He’d led the Fire Phoenix Sages into supporting the prince. Without such support it would’ve been impossible.

He hadn’t realized he put his sword away. Both of his hands were balled into fists. He didn’t plan on just stopping the man. As a Sage of the Monolith Continent, he would do his best to make it right.

The doorways were only big enough for one person to pass through at a time, so he had difficult seeing past Huifen. When she came to a sudden stop, he moved close to try and see what she saw. She let him, but her hand was blocking him from moving passed her.

They were looking through one of the chamber’s barriers that blocked qi into the Fire Cultivation Chamber. It was empty except for a few men for the Morning Midst Village. Just beyond that was the Water Cultivation Chamber, then the Vault. Elder Harnish had already made it. They were too late.

Just as it had happened before, the wall in his mind created by conscience and will fell as it if had never been. He moved to step around her. She’d already been thought enough. He knew she might want to finish Harnish herself. That was fine, but he wanted her to have no part in what he was about to do. It was his duty as a husband.

He quickly observed the two cultivators in the next room. One was a Sky Realm elder, and the other a near-peak, Earth Realm junior. The sharpness law covered his fist easier this time. He wouldn’t waste much time on them, for there might be time to save some, but he would leave a mark where he could.

The hand that touched his chest wasn’t forceful, but a gentle one. His Huifen was looking at him. Her face was filled with a determined warmth ice fairies shouldn’t possess.

She shook her head. “No.”

His fists loosened. “I have to—”

“Do no such thing.”

There was a pleading in her eyes, but he knew she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Chao. Pangfua might still be alive. Killing them quickly won’t make up for what’s been done.”

He began to understand what she was getting at. Justice could come later.

“Using the technique I once used on the Aureate Empire’s soldiers, I’ll spare those that I can.”

His brow creased. “And Harnish?”

“He dies.” Her hand found his.

He could feel the strain in her grip.

“Even if I make it through quickly,” she added. “I won’t be able to defeat the pylon to save them. You can.”

Realization came over his face. She didn’t just mean to delay his justice. His head started to shake on its own in protest.

“Save them, Chao.”

After forcing his will during their confrontation with Sage Ping, he’d promised her that they’d discuss these things. But did he want to keep his promise? It felt wrong. He had the strength of a sage which demanded he seek justice for those that couldn’t seek it for themselves. He’d seen the darkness of this world and would stand against it, but he wouldn’t stand alone.

He lowered his gaze, assenting to her request.

“I will get you to the fire chamber,” replied, spinning once again to face their enemy. “Can you space tunnel from there?”

“I should be able to, yes.”

“Then let’s begin.”

***

Flying through the barrier and into the Fire Cultivation Chamber, Huifen found the elder and junior both seemed surprised. She didn’t slow as the Sky Realm elder stepped in her way. A large wave of qi battered him with a swipe of her hand. The junior had broken off to engage with Chao, but the weight of their auras had left him to frightened to even move.

They shot through the room and into the next. Sage Harnish hovered mid-room. With his sword in one hand, he executed casual swings of his dao to keep constant pressure on whoever was holding the Overlord level Burning Cage in place. It could be only one person. Core Disciple Shoi-ming.

As soon as they arrived, another elder and five more juniors turned to face them.

“In formation!” The Sky Realm cultivator cried.

They surrounded them.

“Chao?” She asked.

“Getting past Brother Shoi-ming’s cage is tricky without breaking it, but… Got it.” With a swipe of his hand, space tore. The next moment, he was gone.

One of the closed Morning Midst Village Juniors dived out of the way as if her Chao’s tunneling had been an attack. Another yelped. They all moved back.

Only the elder showed any backbone. He seemed to think it was a trick. “Don’t let him deceive you. Attack the space he was standing.”

As water started to form on their blades, Huifen reached out with her perceptions and ripped from their control. Her Water Laws had surpassed these common water disciples long ago. The action startled the juniors and elder, but it also gained the attention of the sage himself.

The bearded man glanced back to find a lowly, orange-gowned fairy of the Earth Realm surrounded by his people. Her palm was lazily facing up with a growing water orb floating above it.

With one last good slash of his dao, he turned sideways to address her. He brought a finger to his lips as he thought. “Tong Fen, a guest of the Ice Phoenix Sect,” he said as if congratulating himself for remembering. “I can respect your good intentions, but its foolish to die for your friends. Especially when its already too late.”

“Master,” the elder sputtered. “The man with her. He disappeared.”

The sage did seem a little surprised but lacked all concern. “Oh? My Morning Midst Village admires loyalty, even if misplaced. You and your husband will return with us to my sect. Our inheritances for female cultivators aren’t at the level or your friend’s sect, but I assure you they’re better than what’s available to rogue cultivators.”

“And if we refuse?”

“It’s not a request. Anyone left alive will either become part of us or die.”

Huifen reached down and started undoing her sash. All the while stared him directly in the eye. “I met you long ago, Sage Harnish while in my Master’s care. You were arrogant then, and I see that hasn’t changed. If Mother Quinyuan was here, you wouldn’t defy her. And yet you dare bully my big sister.”

Her sash disappeared into her spatial ring. She saw the sage glance down at her dantian. She didn’t gloat or parade her aura.

“The Ice Phoenix brat?” The man snorted, but his carelessness was gone. “Huifen was it? I’ve just been playing with this fire boy, but don’t mistake my intentions. All I’ve need to do was keep pushing him back. The damage is already done.”

It was then that the Burning Cage started to dissipate.

Harnish smirked, turning back only to see the person he’d been striving against was gone. That side of the room was empty.

“My Chao has him,” Huifen sounded.

As the sage turned back, he began to snicker. “Has him where?”

“Far enough away to not become collateral.”

“You think you can fight me and win?” As he said it, he stretched out his arms. “Here of all places?”

She’d been there more than enough times to understand his meaning. The water running behind divine glass was intimidating, but it was the rich water qi that filled the room that gave him an advantage.

“I will do what I can to spare your elders and juniors unless they’re found worthy of death. But this chamber will be your grave.”

The sage gave her one last pitiful look, before shouting out. “Now.”

The five juniors and one elder seemed to have been in a formation of sorts. Water was hurled at her from every side. The sage added his qi to theirs.

Huifen remembered the vision the Divine Ice Phoenix had given her of how it had frozen an entire world to protect it. It was will guiding technique.

One last errant thought slipped through her mind as she unleashed Ice Phoenix’s Breath. She’d miss her orange robes. Thankfully she had plenty to spare.

Icy qi blanketed the small room, intercepting every drop of water. The force of their techniques was like dust in the wind.