As soon as Nia left the room, Quinn crumpled to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Strands of ropey red energy curled off her back and neck, rising into the air and dissipating.
Chance stared at the hand on the ground, watching the blood pool at his feet and stain his shoes. He reached down for it, then paused. His fingers twitched and he squeezed his hand into a fist, retracting it.
Are you going to attack again? Chance asked softly.
Quinn let out a pained groan and writhed on the ground, trying to pick at sothing at her back. A thin sliver of tal pushed out from between her shoulder blades and clattered onto the ground. As soon as it ca free, Quinn slumped forward.
No. I have no reason to fight you any further.
Nia was forcing you to fight , right?
Quinn didnt reply. She stared at the tal like she were looking into a mirror. Chance turned away from her, looking through the smoke to try to get a glimpse at Bella. He hadnt heard anything from either her or Ocie, so everything was still fine. It probably wouldnt be long before more cultivators arrived, though.
Then youve got two options, Chance said. Stay here or leave. If youve got any designs on the power that drew you here, I wont let you pass until my friend is finished cultivating.
Quinn looked up at Chance for the first ti since Nia had left. Youd let stay?
It was pretty obvious that you werent fully in control of your actions. It would be wrong of to hold you accountable for that, but Im not going to put my own team at risk either.
Quinn nodded. I understand. I I dont know what else I can do. Ill stay.
Chance inclined his head. He listened closely for a minute, trying to see if he could hear anyone else coming. All that reached his ears was the crackle of the fire surrounding Bella. He turned back, sitting down in front of it.
Several minutes passed. Quinn dragged herself over to the wall and sat with her back to it, staring at the ground with a blank, lost expression. Chance pulled a healing pill out of one of his vials and flicked it over to her.
Quinn caught it, looking up at him with a surprised expression.
What is this? Quinn asked suspiciously.
A healing pill.
Why?
Why not? Youre injured.
Were enemies.
We were enemies, Chance corrected. I dont hate the sword. You even tried to talk Nia out of attacking . What happened was her fault, not yours.
Quinn looked down at the pill in her hands. A bitter smile flickered across her face and she put it into her mouth, swallowing. She seed mildly surprised to find that her wounds actually started to seal over a mont later.
Its wasted, Quinn said.
Kindness is never wasted.
Ill be dead soon anyway, Quinn said with a laugh. As soon as I leave the Ancient Realm, Ill return to our ho sect. Nia will have killed if Im lucky. More likely, Ill end up being made into an example.
Chances lips pressed thin.
Perhaps letting her live wasnt the right move, but killing her felt I dont know. Wrong. Not because she deserved to live, but killing soone that much weaker than felt like it would impact my Karma. Like it wasnt my place to deal with her.
Im sorry, Chance said. Maybe I shouldnt have let her live.
If you hadnt let her live, I doubt you would have let live either. Ill take a few days of freedom over having to continue living as a servant to her. At least Ill die my own woman.
Theres no way you could find another way out? Chance asked.
Quinn shrugged. I could camp the exit portals, I suppose. Wait for soone else to use them, then try to jump into their portal together with them. Its a better shot than nothing.
Sothing rumbled outside the mansion. Chance and Quinn both paused, looking up toward the source of the noise. They remained silent for several monts, listening intently. There was no more noise.
Chance slipped to his feet and his urumi slithered into his grip.
You cant hold all the cultivators off, you know, Quinn warned. There was a lot of power here. Its got to have summoned a ton of powerful people. Now that Nias gone, all bets are off. You should take your friend and run before soone stronger than us cos along.
The advice was sound. Chance couldnt argue with it but Bella wasnt going to get another break like this out of nowhere anyti soon. Theyd already agreed that there were certain risks that they had to take if they wanted to get stronger, and it wasnt like there were any cultivators here yet.
Youre free to leave, Chance said. I wont keep you here. We wont be giving this treasure up for free, though. If soone wants it, theyll have to take it from us.
Quinn shook her head in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say sothing, but was interrupted by a heavy footfall from the tunnel that Nia had retreated through. They both froze, turning toward it.
Another footfall echoed through the darkness. A second and third followed after it, each echoing ominously.
Chance tensed, readying his Essence.
Maybe theyll be willing to share. The offers still on the table for people that dont try to kill us first.
Nias head poked through the hole. Chance blinked in surprise. After everything, he hadnt thought shed actually co back. Shed struck him as entitled, not completely stupid. Then the head was followed not by a body, but by a muscled arm.
Lin ducked into the room, a languid grin on his face as he swung Nias head by his side. Quinns eyes traced her forr masters head as it made slow arcs through the air, blood dripping from its neck and splattering across Lins pants.
My friend, Lin said, extending his arms and dropping Nias head on the ground before him. You let your prey escape. I caught it for you. I hope you dont mind that I took so liberties first. I tried to speak, but she was annoying.
Lin. Chance watched the large man warily. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end at the look in Lins eyes. Hunger and deep, barely restrained fury smoldered within them. They belonged to a predator, not a human. I didnt realize youd entered the Ancient Realm.
I wasnt originally planning on it, but my conversation with the Shikari got interested. I found that I couldnt help myself any longer. I hope you werent setting up for a longer hunt. Did I interfere?
No, Chance ground out. I wasnt actually planning on killing her.
Oh. I see, Lin said. He rubbed his chin, then looked up at Quinn. Whos this?
Her forr servant, Chance replied. An unwilling participant. Im letting her rest here while she figures out what to do next. Did you co for the energy source?
Lin blinked. Theres an energy source?
Chance and Quinn exchanged a glance.
Lin looked past Chance, then burst into laughter. That? No. I dont care about that. The most interesting part of the Ancient Realm is the Hunt, and that Shikari got far too worked up. I thought I was doing you a favor by having dinner with them, but it turned out to be a favor for myself instead. It must be Karma.
Chance studied Lins face closely, trying to figure out what the mans intentions were. Everything he knew about Lin including his instincts told him to run screaming, but he was more cordial than Yeo on days that he didnt get a good breakfast.
Did you want this? Lin asked, nudging Nias head with the tip of his foot and looking at Quinn.
Quinn swallowed heavily and scooted back. I no. No. I dont want it.
Unfortunate. With how much she scread, I thought at least soone would have cared. You are Quinn, I presu?
Quinn gave him a shaky nod.
She was screaming your na when I killed her, Lin said.
Quinns face went white. For help?
No, no. She was cursing you, I believe, Linn replied, rubbing his chin with a blood-covered hand. Curious thing, to waste your final breaths in anger at another. Theyre the last traces you leave on this world. Spending them on soone else so selfless.
Quinn sent Chance a terrified glance. He didnt bla her.
I knew Lin was dangerous and insane, but this is way worse than what I thought it was. He seed pretty normal when I t him the first ti, and he was only slightly terrifying the second ti around. What in the world happened?
Lin? Chance asked. He called on his Essence, directing it to his forehead and opening his third eye. Strands of Karma swam to life around Lin in such a thick web that it was difficult to make out one from the other.
Lin tilted his head to the side. Yes?
What happened at your dinner with Shae and Jade? Did it go well?
It was enjoyable, Lin said. Not nearly worth the favor you paid , though. I thought I might pay it off so by taking care of this girl, but it seems I may have simply inconvenienced you even further.
Chance flicked through the strands of Karma, searching desperately for a familiar face. Almost as if the Karma detected his desire, the strands shifted and moved out of the way as one ca forth.
At first, all Chance could see was red. As he studied it harder, more detail erged. It was his room in the Dancing Cloud sect. Jade knelt beside Shae. The entire room was covered with blood, and Shaes arm had been ripped off at the shoulder.
Jades eyes were wide with terror and she was screaming sothing, but there was still so life left in Shaes eyes. Chance fought the bile that built up in his throat. It didnt seem like Shae was dead, and Jade appeared safe physically, at least.
Nobody died? Chance asked.
No, I promised not to kill anyone, Lin said with a gentle smile. I am a man of my word. The Shikari did attempt to leave a little early, so we had to have a slight discussion, but I left him with all the information he wanted to report back to his supervisors in Gleam.
A distant rumble shook the mansion again. Lin glanced up.
Youve got other cultivators in the area. Were you planning on sitting here for much longer? I would be curious to see how you find your way out of this one if you do. It would be interesting to see if you survive.
Do you happen to know what rank they are? Chance asked.
There are several. I noticed multiple Rank Fours and at least one Rank Five.
Chance chewed his lower lip. Even if Lee wasnt going to be a threat, cultivators of that strength were a massive problem. If they made it to Bella, there wasnt going to be much they could do.
I sense an opportunity, Lin observed. Perhaps you need so ti. I deal in that sort, and I am eager to settle the scales between us.
Chances stomach clenched, but he nodded. My friend is trying to cultivate. Shes absorbing the Essence from the treasure that fell through the roof of the mansion.
Then I shall help. It is decided, Lin said, a smile stretching across his face. That will bring us both peace. Remain here. It will be difficult for to notice you while I am working, and it would be unfortunate if sothing were to happen.
With that, Lin strode out of the room, only pausing to grab Nias head and take it with him. Once he left, Quinn let out a terrified breath.
I thought he was going to kill both of us. Ive changed my mind. I dont want to die anymore. Im finding a way out of here. Are you really allied with that monster?
Allied might not be the right term, Chance admitted, unease resting heavily on his shoulders. Im not sure getting his attention is such a good thing. I would follow his suggestion if I were you.
You think Im going to disobey soone like that? Quinn asked with a shudder. Ill be right over here, thank you. I just hope this doesnt take too long. If he doesnt pop my head like a grape, I want to get out of the Ancient Realm and never co back.
Chance couldnt help but agree with her.
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