Baiting Death

She placed the steaming teacup on the table. Her porcelain fingers had mist on them due to being in contact with the steaming cup.

Her expression was light, and her eyes remained calm. Despite her immense power, Alcan didn't feel any oppressive aura. Hers was serene.

"I'm going to be honest with you, Alcan. Your chances of surviving through this year's Deathly Trials are low, near zero." Her voice was like flames dancing on a frozen ice, passionate but spoken coldly.

She sighed, looked into his eyes, then continued, "You are still only at 2nd layer of Rank 0."

Alcan simply nodded in response. His expression was neutral. He felt like he was navigating in darkness, as all the words she uttered were new concepts for him.

Elder Su took his nod as an acceptance of the truth behind her words, the admittance that he had slacked. She has always had a sweet spot for him since she was the one who recruited him to the sect. If he died in the Deathly Trials, it could be said that it was her fault.

"The content of the Deathly Trials each year usually leaks. The examinees with connections get inside information from their backing." Her rosy lips curled into a smile. "I guess I could count as your connection."

Alcan smiled lightly, "Thank you for your help, Elder Su." She chuckled at his words, her eyebrow lifted as she talked teasingly, "What happened to calling me Big Sister Su? When did we grow so cold?"

It took a while, but with that last sentence, Alcan finally figured out the relationship between him and Elder Su. "I thought you would be mad since I slacked off. I was trying to earn your favor, Big Sis."

She laughed seeing him back to his usual demeanor. "I like it more when you call me Bis Sister. Elder Su is too formal."

She waved her hand and wiped the smile off her face. "It is serious though, Alcan. Deathly Trials are a long-standing tradition that even I can't influence and you aren't ready for it." She swirled her fingers and a piece of paper floated to his hand.

Alcan first looked at her with appreciation, then looked down at the piece of paper. On it were the contents of the trial.

"The Deathly Trials last nine days in total. You will be taken to an enclosed space with only one and a half day's worth of water available for each person. Killing and stealing are permitted and could be considered the main objective." Elder Su's clear voice read the content for him despite them already being on the note. She then looked up at him.

"Your goal should be to try and survive at all costs." After having said that, she picked back up the teacup she had placed down and took a sip.

Alcan took this as his sign to leave. "I appreciate your help, Elder Su. I will make sure to pay you back in the future." He spoke formally as he was speaking from the heart. Ever since he learned she was the one who handed him the life-saving necklace, he had planned to repay her.

Alcan was a man of his word. These words uttered might seem light to her ears, but they came from the ex-emperor of all mortals. His word used to be worth galaxies.

He saw her placing her palm on her chest where her heart was. Alcan replicated her gesture, "I wish you a happy rest of your day, Big Sis."

He retired to exit the pavilion, floating in the sky. From behind him he heard her voice, "I wish you a long life, Alcan."

The voice took a few second but added. "I hope we get to see each other again."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he heard that. He was used to hearing that exact line over and over as an emperor, but it felt refreshing hearing it in this new setting.

Just as he was contemplating how he was going to descend down, blue energy of Elder Su covered his body and smoothly floated him down.

Alcan looked back up at the pavilion with a grateful gaze and placed his hand on his chest. He had a feeling her eyes were still on him.

…

It was already nighttime, with a full moon over the sect. When Alcan reached back to his house, fatigue had already set in. He had been through a lot in a single day. Hiking the entire mountain skirt was a challenge in itself.

He sat down on his bed as his fatigue spread onto the bed. "What are my options now?" There was no worry in his tone, he had no such roadblocks in his mind, his only focus was his goal and it was currently survival.

He couldn't escape the sect as one half of it was surrounded by the forest and the other half looked towards the ocean. "Seems like I will do what I do best, struggle." A smile flashed on his face. This day was quite a nostalgic one. He kept getting reminded of his younger days.

His mind replayed his interactions with Elder Su. The first thing he noticed was the energy she pulled him up with. It wasn't any different from the Higher Beings just weaker. The second thing was her sheer beauty. She looked like an ice statue sculpted with only beauty in mind. 

He found his eyelids disobeying his mind as they fluttered in an attempt to close. He grabbed the sheathed sword that was leaning on the white wallpaper of the small room, and put the sword next to his body. Then he let the cousin of death, sleep, take him into her embrace.

Knock Knock! A loud voice rang from the hardwood doors of his pavilion, causing Alcan to wake up in alert. He was already up with the sword unsheathed, ready to be used in an instant. He observed his surroundings in his morning stupor and only when he was certain of his safety did he sheathe back the sword.

The knocking continued till he opened the door. "Brother Alcan!" A young man stood in front of him, draped in exquisite clothes, showcasing his wealth. There were two fishing rods in his hand. Apart from his expensive clothes, he looked highly average.

"Why didn't you come to the sect center? Did you forget we were supposed to go to the fishing market today?" He asked with slight anger. It was evident Alcan had made him wait for a long time in the sect center.

"Sigh… It's my bad, Brother. Yesterday was a long day." Alcan quickly glanced at the young man's clothes, searching for a weapon. A smile appeared in his mind when he found none. His hand grabbed the sword from where he had placed it down and fastened it to his waist.

"I will tell you about it on the road." His smile seemed friendly and apologetic on the outside.

His impression of the man was weakness. After his time with Lyra and Elder Su, he had come to recognize those whose cultivation was higher.

"Life sometimes presents you with opportunities." He chuckled to himself in his mind, his hand caressing the hilt of his sword, the wooden hilt ready to be pulled at any moment.