A Trial by Halves

How Much More?

Kunlun Mountain was once again heavily shrouded in mist when Zhe Yan arrived having been woken in the middle of an evening nap by a Disciple he couldn't remember the name of.  It had been thousands of years since he had stepped foot through the entrance way having secluded himself to regain his lost cultivation, and though he had left it some time ago, he had not wandered too far from the Peach Tree Grove.  He had seen far more than he cared to see since that war and those beasts included.

Mo Yuan wasn't informed that he had been the one to battle for the fungal grass in order to resurrect him, but on learning that Xiao Wu had gone and done the same thing for Ye Hua, his heart lurched painfully knowing exactly what state she would be in and he was on a cloud heading for Kunlun Mountain where Die Feng had taken her.

And it was their conversation on the way back that had Zhe Yan learning exactly what had happened when this Disciple had arrived on Yingzhou Island to find his junior in full combat with all four beasts.  Die Feng might not say much and he rarely let on that he knew what was going on around him, but the moment Mo Yuan arrived on the Mountain with Ye Huas body having uplifted it under strict secrecy, then he knew exactly where his Shifu was headed next.

If anyone understood Mo Yuans mind when it came to those he cared about, it was this man.  He was also the most knowledgeable having learned under Mo Yuan much longer than the rest, and he was also the most studious.  So he was well aware of what was going on the moment the soul lamp appeared with Ye Huas body thanks in large part to Zi Lan who was self punishing himself by guarding the Sea of Innocence.  The moment Shifu arrived and informed him of what he was doing, then his Sixteenth Disciple quickly turned his head the other way.

And having been involved with Mo Yuans resurrection and his brothers healing, it didn't take much for him to figure out what was going on and what was needed only he had not counted on her getting to them before him.

Leaving his Shifu to deal with Ye Huas body, he had quickly flown off the mountain to collect the grass himself.  Like Bai Qian, he did not want his Shifu to sacrifice anymore than he already had, in fact, if it became known that his Shifu had desecrated the Sea of Innocence, they might well find themselves under attack by the Celestial Heavens, so to his way of thinking, his Shifu was going to need his cultivation should that happen.

Only the moment he arrived on Yingzhou Island, then Bai Qians energy hit him like a thunderbolt.  His heart had almost dropped to his stomach knowing she was also there, but no sooner had he raced in to pull her back out again, then the sight of Taowu holding her in the air with his mouth open to rip her apart, soon had his sword raised and his anger soaring.  With every ounce of strength he possessed, he not only screamed out her name, but he threw a wave of energy directing at him and throwing him along with the others back against the far wall.

In just seconds, he not only had her in his arms, but he barely made it over the boundary before rushing her back to Kunlun Mountain.  Her injuries were horrific and the amount of blood terrifying, but she was breathing.  But it was obvious that her injuries were critical and he couldn't help but feel a little pride in among the anger and horror that was all rolled in together.

 Back then, she had always rushed head long into trouble and rarely did she have to suffer the consequences because they were all overly protective of her, Shifu more so.  The amount of trouble he'd had to save her from came back thick and fast and Yao Guangs water dungeon was at the fore front of his mind as he looked down at the face of woman who hadn't learned a damn thing, he thought to himself.

But still, he couldn't help but pity her knowing that she would have absolutely hated it.  How much more must you go through? he wondered to himself as the tears began to well.  She had suffered so much and it hurt him deeply that he had not been there to continue to keep her safe.  She was the only sister he had, and as he entered the grounds of Kunlun, then the tears were steadily sliding down his face as he carried her up the mountain and straight into the Grand Hall to be met by the rest of her brothers who quickly raced to fetch Mo Yuan.