Are you all insane? Jie rasped as they sprinted. Were all going to
His words caught in his throat as he spotted Quinn standing beside Jade, a worried expression on her face. He skidded to a stop, stumbling and nearly tripping over his own feet. Quinn ran forward, grabbing Jie and pulling him into a tight hug.
Jie stiffened for a mont, then let his shoulders slump and returned the gesture. They only held it for a mont before Quinn stepped back, holding Jie at arms length.
Im sorry. I should have helped fight, but
You would have just gotten in the way, Bella said. I havent fought together with you before. It wasnt the ti and this isnt either. We need to move. Is there sowhere safe we can hide? You can talk there.
Quinn looked to Jie. He paused for a mont, then gave them a sharp nod. Yes. Theres an abandoned house that I and so of the others use at night when we need to be left alone. Follow .
Jie took off and the rest of them sprinted after them. They shot through the dark alleys, even as shouts started to rise up from the street as the Brackern Sects reinforcents arrived, only to find one of their sect elders dead on the street.
Chance could help but feel a little abashed about the entire performance. It was supposed to be a quick talk and a stealthy escape, not a giant fight that called the entire sect down on them. Still, he couldnt think of a single thing he would have changed. The two n hed killed had deserved it.
His words to Nia floated through his mind as they ran. Chance had said that he didnt have the right to choose who lived and died, but then hed gone and killed one man with a surprise attack, then aided in killing a second.
It wasnt the first ti hed thought about it, but the thoughts were growing more prominent with every fight he had. Self defense was one thing, but he was actively hunting people down now.
For an instant, Chance felt as if he could feel Yamishs gaze on his back.
I wonder if this is what happened to Yamish. He cultivates Balance, but maybe at one point, he was trying to cultivate Good Karma as well at the start. But thats not the sa. He was actively working to keep balance with good and evil acts. Im doing the right thing.
or am I just deluded?
That thought didnt sit too well with Chance, but it didnt change the visions hed seen in Drayan and Earns Karma. No, there was no doubt in his mind that theyd deserved death. He was just the instrunt the universe had chosen to deliver their Karma.
Sothing ward deep within Chances chest, but he didnt have ti to properly look at it while they were running. Hed take a look later, once they were safer. Relatively safer, at least.
Jie led them through alley after alley, weaving through them with the expert skill of a man who had made this particular trip hundreds of tis before. The shouts of the guards soon faded into the distance as they traveled deep into the sect.
Their rushed pace slowed as the alleys started to erode and the age of the buildings increased significantly. Chance could practically feel the average cost of living drop as they continued on, stepping over molding food tossed into the alley days or weeks ago from the streets.
Even the streets outside of the shadows were less populous and darker. The glimpses Chance caught through the alleys showed run down shops and abandoned houses, their materials old and often starting to collapse.
Here, Jie said as they arrived at a crumbling two story building. The top floor had completely given away, and rubble littered the alleyway around them. He stepped through the door, which was already cracked open. Watch your head when you step in. Your foot too.
Quinn slipped inside and Chance followed after her. His foot slipped slightly as he ducked inside, saving him from smacking his forehead against a jutting rock, and he staggered over a hole in the ground.
The room was small, with a tiny old bed stuffed into the corner and a stairwell leading up to the second floor. The rest of it had been done in by fallen rubble, and even the stairwell led to nothing, as a big section of the wall had fallen right on top of it, blocking the path off.
Jie stared at Chance. I told you to be careful.
I was, Chance replied, turning as Bella stepped inside. Her forehead rippled with crystalline Essence as she avoided the hole in the ground and walked straight into the brick. It cracked, snapping in half. Bella didnt even blink.
Right, Jie muttered under his breath. Cultivators.
Jade was the last of them to enter. They all piled into the corner of the room and sat down, finally taking a few monts to gather their breath and think.
I cant believe you survived, Jie said. His eyes were locked onto Quinn as if the rest of them werent even there. When Nia took you into the Ancient Realm, I thought
I did too, Quinn said. She swallowed heavily and glanced at Chance. I should have been. Nia got herself killed by so crazy cultivator. That doesnt matter now, though. We need to get everyone else out of here.
Jie looked down at his hands. He turned them over, shaking his head in disbelief. All these years, and you just killed Drayan on a whim. I cant believe it. Im actually free.
He squeezed his eyes shut and turned away, wiping a sleeve across his face and clearing his throat. Jie shook his head. It doesnt matter, though. All of you need to leave. Youre strong enough to get out of here. If you stay
Shut up, Jie, Quinn said, her words nowhere near as harsh as their aning. Im going to free the Brackern sect. All of it.
As are we, Jade said, setting her jaw. Chance was supposed to confirm with you if the Brackern sect was keeping slaves, but I think this is confirmation enough.
You cant take on an entire sect, Jie said with a firm shake of his head. I can never repay what youve done for and Quinn. But it took two of you to kill Drayan, and hes not the strongest elder in the sect. Theyll be on their guards now.
What are we supposed to do? Quinn pounded a fist into her thigh. I wont leave anyone like this, Jie. Not you. Not them. We actually have help! Three real cultivators. If we work together, we have a chance.
Jie let out a heavy sigh. Or youll just get killed. Youre free, Quinn. Im honored that you returned for , but
Bellas hand fell on Jies shoulder. He twitched, jerking to stare up at her. A blue do rippled out of Bellas shoulders, passing through him and solidifying around them. Quinns eyes widened and she shot to her feet, nearly hitting her head on the stone above them.
Whats she doing?
Dont worry, Chance said. Bella wouldnt hurt anyone.
She would, however, share so choice words. Chance couldnt hear any of what Bella said through the do, but he could see Bella furiously gesturing and pointing as she spoke. Jie shrunk back from her, his face going pale, and nodded his understanding.
Bella snapped her fingers and the do dropped. All of them stared at her.
What? Bella asked.
Nothing, Quinn said, quickly averting her eyes. Chance didnt bla her. If he didnt know Bella better, he probably would have been terrified himself.
Now that I think about it, Bellas situation wasnt all that different from theirs. She wasnt a slave, but if she did anything that Vex disapproved of, he would either hurt her or the people around her.
Lets get back on topic, Bella said. Exactly how many sect elders are we up against, and how strong are they?
Quinn glanced at Jie, but he didnt offer up any more protests. She pursed her lips in thought.
There are six of them. Five now that Drayan is dead. Arlen, a Rank Four. Rial, a Rank Five. Timone, a Rank Five. Vernan, a Rank Six. And Naveed, who is at least a Rank Six. Ive never seen him fight, but as I ntioned before, hes the head of the sect. I dont think we can directly fight them unless any of you are hiding sothing really powerful.
Chance and Bella exchanged a glance. They both still had the artifacts theyd taken out of the Ancient Realm, but they had absolutely no idea what they did yet. And, no matter what they were, Chance doubted they were going to sway the scales nearly enough to let a group of Rank Threes challenge the elders of a sect.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
We might be a little bit outmatched, Jade admitted. But that doesnt an we can stop. If we can pick them off one by one, then we have a chance.
Against a Rank Four, sure, Chance agreed. But a Rank Five? Or a Six? I dont know about that. Even if were using Wards to isolate them one by one, I dont think we can handle soone that much stronger than we are in a direct fight.
So this whole argunt was for nothing? Jie asked.
No, Bella said with a shake of her head. Just because we cant challenge them directly doesnt an we cant find a way to get people out of their grasp sohow.
Well, we arent doing anything today, Quinn said, chewing her lower lip. After breaking Jie out, the whole sect is going to be on guard.
As good a ti as any to work on figuring out a plan, Bella agreed. Whats the likelihood that anyone finds us here?
Ive never seen anyone co here before, but Ive also never seen a sect elder get killed, Jie said. He shrugged. Ive got no idea, but theres absolutely no way were going to get out of the city right now. Were probably safer here than anywhere else.
Then I propose we take the rest of the day to recuperate, Bella said. I havent had proper sleep in a while, and I know Chance hasnt either. Id imagine its not much different for Quinn at that matter. Why dont we rest for the next few hours, then reconvene at night and see if anyones thought of sothing useful?
Nobody voiced any issue with that.
Im going to try to clear a little area upstairs, Bella said. Thatll make it less packed down here.
Ill guard the door. We can swap off, Jade offered.
Chance followed Bella up the stairs, stopping before the fallen section of wall. Bellas body rippled as her Essence activated and she dug her fingers into the stone, lifting it with a grunt. She pushed it back slowly, taking care not to make too much noise. Chance tried not to stare too hard when Bella literally lifted the stone off the ground with one hand, clearing the stairwell in one move.
She stepped out onto the top floor, carefully setting the stone to the side. Chance poked his head over her shoulder. The top floor even smaller than the bottom floor, as the majority of it had caved in. It was basically just a small nook with a roof and a stairwell.
Bella walked over to the corner and sat down against the wall. Chance flopped down beside her.
Well, Bella said, drawing the word out and keeping her voice low. That could have gone better.
Could have gone worse.
She let out a soft laugh. Always optimistic. I guess youre right.
Maybe we should take your own advice and just rest for a little, Chance suggested. We can figure out what well do about this later. I dont know about you, but Im exhausted.
Yeah, Bella muttered.
Neither of them spoke for a few monts. Bella shifted, leaning to rest her head on Chances shoulder. Chance froze, then let the tension seep out of his body and rested his own head against Bellas.
Of all the ways he could have imagined taking a break to get so rest, this certainly wasnt one hed complain about.
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