Victorious

"You are out of it again."

Zhen casually deflected a devastating punch from Xiao, one wracked with frustration.

A terrible blizzard once again plagued Xiao's inner realm. Although this time, It was pretty obvious to Zhen the root cause of her disciple's turmoil.

Zhen tripped Xiao, kicking her back and making her fall face first into the snow.

Thinking that trying to train with her master might ease her heartache, Xiao's inability to land a hit only deepened the wound in her heart.

As Xiao disgracefully buried her head on the snow, Xiao wondered if it would be okay to forever stay in this humiliating position.

The woman Xiao thought would forever be by her side, is now engaged to someone else.

As soon as Zhen heard the sobbing from under the snow, she immediately shook her head.

This Xiao, what a troublesome disciple.

"Xiao, for the love of all that is holy, please do not cry in the snow." The exasperation was discernible in Zhen's tone.

It was unbefitting for a lady to bawl her heart out while submerged on the snowy ground. Showing some self respect, Xiao rose with tears in her eyes as she sat defeated.

"Where did I go wrong, master?"

"You are mistaken, it is Lin's decision to end things, respect it. It is time to let Lin go. I understand how important Lin is to you but maybe you two are simply meant to be a lesson to each other and move on."

The words made of her master sense, but Xiao's heart had trouble processing them, or maybe her heart simply didn't want to.

"It's not that simple, master."

"Love never is. But you have to understand that Lin chose her family over you. Are you going to keep pestering her when intent is obvious? That is to remove you from her life."

"That's the thing, master, why is she pushing me away!? Does she still have some feelings for me?"

"Why ask me? I am not Lin." Zhen chuckled.

"Master, this is serious!"

Zhen sighed, "Xiao, you already have three gorgeous ladies clamoring for your affection. Is that not enough? Speaking of, you have a woman waiting for you with eagerness. What say we end your test for today?"

Xiao laid on her back as she stared at the starless sky above. Is this truly goodbye between her and Lin?

The blizzard ceased, her inner realm now blew a gentle snowy breeze.

For Xiao, it will be a long road forgetting Lin, after everything that she and Lin once shared, it won't be that easy. But her talk with her master is what Xiao needed to spur her to take the first step.

Ceasing her sulking, Xiao stood and took her stance.

"One last time, master."

The eagerness of her disciple pleased Zhen, "That is good. Devote yourself to training and you will forget Lin in no time."

Since both of Xiao's attack are not working, what if she tried them both at once?

Manifesting about 100 ice swords above her. Xiao charged with sword backing her up.

Amidst the torrent of swords, Xiao and Zhen continued the test.

Not only did Zhen need to be wary of Xiao's blows, but she needed to dodge the volley of swords.

Yet even this method was a double edged sword as Xiao's tenacious gamble now grazed her body, her inner soul so to speak. Meanwhile, her master gracefully danced around the rain of swords and STILL had room to deflect Xiao's attacks.

Moments later, Xiao was already wounded by countless blades while her master remained unbothered.

There is always another day...

...but Xiao would rather claim her prize now!

After a furious combo of Elbows, kicks, and punches, Xiao surprised her master as she grabbed one of the descending swords.

Zhen caught the tip of Xiao's ice blade, since Xiao has no training with the sword, a venerable master like Zhen caught the blade as if it was a stick swung by a toddler.

"Stick to your fists, Xiao. You have no hope if you are going start using swords right now."

The haughty smile on Zhen's lips was mirrored by Xiao. In the world of cultivation, no matter how mighty the level of those you are going up against , your opponent underestimating you can sometimes prove to be a boon.

Xiao made her ice sword explode, forming a temporal smoke screen of ice.

Zhen smiled as she experienced a prick in her left cheek. Such a dirty trick, but in a life and death skirmish, one would resort to every arsenal in their disposal.

Unbelievable. Xiao's punch that she imbued with all of her strength failed to even bend her master's neck!

Nonetheless, victory was Xiao's. Her inner soul exhausted, Xiao collapsed once again in the snow, only this time it was wrought by joy.

"Hah, take that, master!" Xiao's chest heaved both in fatigue and excitement.

"Well done. As promised, all of the spirit stone fountain are yours. Now go forth, someone is outside is worried about you."

+++

Xiao opened her eyes to witness Liuming sleeping in her lap.

The moonlight once again seeped into Liuming's room. Xiao meditated as soon as she got back around noon. Did Liuming remain close all this time?

Liuming groaned, followed by scratching her eye, "Mistress, are you finally finished?"

"I am." Xiao cupped Liuming's chin. Her pet's sweet gesture deserved a reward. Xiao then planted a heart warming kiss on Liuming's lips.

Once the union of their lips was over, the two shared a solemn smile.

Grabbing, Xiao's hand. Liuming laid it on her chest, wanting Xiao to experience the rumbling in her breast.

"Can you feel how my heart yearns for you, Mistress? Forget Lin, I am here to offer you my everything."

Resolve melded with affection in Liuming's eyes, forming a maelstrom of love. Xiao wanted to test it, how far would Liuming go for Xiao?

"Then if I told you to leave your family and accompany me on my journey, would you? Answer me not as my pet, but as Shen Liuming."

For sure, Xiao expected Liuming would be dazed by such a question, it might even take Liuming a while to process...

"Yes, I will."

...what Xiao didn't expect was for Liuming to answer right away, without flinching.