The Golden Witch scoffed. "What is all this talk? Just what is it that you presume to know about me?"


    "I know exactly what you''re trying to achieve." Tao Geming said. "And I want to see where your path takes you. And I know the best ways to bring you there."


    "I don''t care what it is that you think I''m doing. And I have no interest in indulging your curiosity." A cold light beset her golden eyes. "Now, shall we wrap this up for good?"


    "You owe me on this, Fox!" Tao Geming demanded. "That kid still draws breath solely because of me."


    The Golden Witch sneered. "You have got to be kidding me. You''re trying to bargain with me now? I told you exactly how much your unsolicited favor would have bought you, and you squandered your chance by flapping that rancid mouth of yours!"


    "So your unrestrained bloodlust can even overpower your sense of pride? Let''s see it then." Tao Geming ushered her with his fingers.


    She immediately grew suspicious. "What''s this foolishness now?"


    "I said I wanted to see the real you. If the real you is the sort that stoops to this kind of behavior, then I''ll witness it for myself. Go on, repay my kindness with enmity. Come on." He performed his annoying gesture again.


    "You really think I care about my reputation?" She asked.


    "Who said anything about your reputation? What, worried I''ll spread nasty rumors about you? I don''t give a shit. This has nothing to do with anyone but you. So show me."


    The two of them glared at one another.


    "I already struck you once." She said. "What does it matter if I keep going now?"


    "Don''t try to play dumb. It''s different now that you''ve gone out of your way to ask."


    Their staredown continued.


    Tao Geming clenched his fist as the stalemate dragged on. "I can see the gears in your head turning, Fox. Our partnership''s not going to last forever. After all, you know I''ve got no interest in watching you play house. But I can tell that he''ll be gone for a while since you bothered to get yourself those new pets behind you. So during this time, I''ll help you get closer to your goal!"


    Eventually, the Golden Witch turned away.


    "You little weasel." She spat. "I despise you. Even the sight of you repulses me to my core."


    Tao Geming''s grin grew wider. "I know the hidey hole of every warrior worth a damn on this entire continent. You won''t be disappointed, you have my word."


    "You''ll only speak when spoken to." The Golden Witch hissed. "If you try to provoke me again I swear I''ll gut you, and it won''t matter how many Bai Guos you saved. And don''t you dare mention him again, not even in passing."


    "You won''t regret it." Tao Geming assured. "I already know what our first destination should be."


    "No, my first destination has already been decided." She walked back towards Liao Lan. "My disciple will lead me to the Fairy Spring Valley."


    "Are you kidding me? That''s the place?" Tao Geming snorted. "You''re just wasting your time."


    "This is not a discussion." The Golden Witch sternly put an end to his grumbling.


    Tao Geming disdainfully looked the other two women over.


    "Fine new disciples you''ve picked out." His tone dripped with sarcasm. "I see they gave you a free new pot to go with the used one. What a bargain."


    The two of them went beet red with anger. And yet they couldn''t say a word in turn. Liao Lan tugged at her master''s big sleeve and pleaded, "Master, will we really have to take this abuse the entire way there?"


    "No. Leave them alone, Tao Geming." Her few words brought the women great relief. They smugly glanced his way.


    Tao Geming looked away, turning up his nose. "Why did you pick them?"


    The Golden Witch suddenly drew close to Liao Lan. Her long finger lifted her new disciple''s chin. "That''s between my disciple and I."


    Liao Lan''s eyes went wide as she was forced to stare up into those twin suns; she flashed back to that dreadful scene in the snow where she was forced to beg for her life. The finger remained on her for only a moment, but it was more than enough to send her heart racing. Even though not so long ago she had managed to squeeze out a drop of optimism out of her conundrum, the true gravity of Liao Lan''s situation had finally dawned on her.


    In whatever game those two monsters were playing, she was just a toy for their amusement.


    The two had forgotten about her already. They walked on ahead, leaving Liao Lan shivering helplessly behind. The brush of cold fingers along her hand brought her back to her senses. Shao Luli gently squeezed the woman''s hand. Though she tried to steady her master, the girl''s hand shook too. The older woman steeled herself.


    "I''m sorry for dragging you into this, little Lu." Liao Lan whispered.


    "I''m with you to the end, master." Shao Luli was determined. Her resolve in turn gave her master courage.


    They went after the two. Though it could be said that they were all traveling as a group, Tao Geming kept his distance from the rest of them. Liao Lan was all the happier for it. Being in constant vicinity of one freak of nature already felt like more than she could handle. They spent the rest of the day on their feet, arriving at a small town late in the evening. The three women rented rooms at a crummy establishment. The day''s thrills wore Liao Lan down to a little nub, and she was just about ready to pass out on her bed still fully clothed.


    Shao Luli''s sudden intrusion was the only thing that kept her awake. She sat down next to her master''s collapsed form.


    "Master," she said, "Are you really planning to take her to Fairy Spring Valley?"


    Liao Lan sighed. "If she insists on it, what choice do I have?"


    "You never told me much about that place."


    Another wistful sigh escaped the woman''s lips. "It''s a wonderful place of culture and art. The marvelous scenery surrounding it inspired many a masterpiece. It''s one of the most beautiful places you will ever see on this earth. I loved it there..."


    "Why were you banished from there?" Shao Luli asked.


    Her expected question spoiled Liao Lan''s features with bitterness. She turned her head towards her disciple and forced a smile. "It''s ancient history. You weren''t even born back then. It''s nothing for you to worry about."


    "I''m just wondering... How dangerous would it be for us to come back? If it''s been as long ago as you say, perhaps they''re willing to let it pass?"


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Liao Lan chuckled. "Not a chance. It''s as bad as it can be. They will definitely try to kill me on sight. And if I''m unlucky enough for them to catch me alive, Lady Rose Vine won''t let me die a quick death. Of course, this is all assuming that hag is still alive... But when I left that place, I promised to myself that as long as I live, I would never come back. Truthfully, I''m no less scared of going back there than I am of disobeying that ghost haunting us."


    Her master''s words unsettled Shao Luli. Liao Lan tried to reassure her. "But you''re innocent of my crime. It''s not like they''re savages. Even if the worst comes to pass, they should let you off unharmed."


    Shao Luli shook her head. "How does that woman compare to your old teacher?"


    "I don''t know how much Lady Rose Vine has advanced since I left, so I couldn''t tell you with certainty. But although I never won against her in my whole life, there was never a time where I felt more overwhelmed than when I was fighting your new grandmaster. "


    "My ''grandmaster''... Do you really have to refer to her so respectfully like that when we''re alone?" Shao Luli seemed miffed by her master''s respectful tone. "She doesn''t seem the type to stoop to eavesdropping..."


    "And I can see you intend to take every chance you get to speak of her without the proper reverence! We don''t know a thing about her character or habits. Don''t risk it."


    "We haven''t known her long," Shao Luli admitted, "But we''ve already learned something about her. From her argument with that Tao Geming, it''s obvious she''s very prideful. She clearly intended to kill him, but stayed her hand once he leveraged her debt to him. Even if that woman did eavesdrop on us, she would never admit it."


    Liao Lan frowned. "She doesn''t need to admit anything to harbor a grudge over something we said about her. And we can''t afford even her slightest displeasure right now."


    Shao Luli went silent, her eyes cast down. After a pause, the girl spoke again, "On the bright side, if I''m right about her, she might stay true to her word and keep us safe from Lady Rose Vine."


    "Leaving aside the question of whether she can, when it comes to her character, I have a suspicion that her debt to that man wasn''t the sticking point there. There''s something else at play here I feel, which would make her less reliable than you might think. But I don''t even know if I want to pry..."


    As their conversation petered out, a sudden realization prompted Liao Lan to stand up. "All that talk about her displeasure and I''ve neglected something so obvious! The moment she gets bored of us, we''re doomed. I can''t just sit around. I need to do something to stoke her interest. Say, little Lu, this is the town with that nice little tavern by the lake, right? Do you remember?"


    Shao Luli pondered her question for a moment before nodding.


    "We shouldn''t have let her shack up in this seedy place." Liao Lan said, and then whispered something into the girl''s ear. The disciple smiled and nodded.


    Liao Lan entered her new master''s room and bowed with a polite smile. The Golden Witch was sitting crosslegged on her bed. At a glance, her mood seemed dire, but Liao Lan swallowed down her anxiety and pressed forward with her suggestion. "Master, I believe these lodgings are ill fitting for someone of your esteemed status. I have a much more appropriate establishment in mind, one with a beautiful view, the sweetest wines, and the most graceful singing girls."


    The Golden Witch raised a skeptical eyebrow.


    Shao Luli intruded on their conversation with a gasp. "Master, I''ve just remembered! They might not be willing to take in new visitors this late in the day. And without reservation...! It''s hopeless!"


    Liao Lan''s chest swelled with pride. "Silly girl! I''d like to see them turn away this Liao Lan! My name rings out around these parts! They''ll be more than happy to host us."


    Their little show seemed to have the desired effect. The master was intrigued. Liao Lan brought them to the establishment, and just as she bragged, she was recognized and allowed inside without issue. They got themselves a room on the third floor overlooking the lake. They were treated to a marvelous view as the setting sun danced in its waters. The Golden Witch seemed taken in.


    Liao Lan suddenly took place beside her, her eyes glancing interchangeably at the blonde woman and the view beyond her. With a smile, she declared, "In those crappy rooms back there, master looked so out of place. But here, your graceful presence completes this majestic view! It''s like something out of a painting... I just can''t stop watching."


    The yellow eyes gawked at her, caught off-guard by her words. A chuckle broke past her lips, though she said nothing, silently sipping her tea. But her easy smile betrayed her amusement.


    Liao Lan and Shao Luli subtly exchanged glances and nodded. The older woman bowed again.


    "If this arrangement suits you, then my disciple and I shall let you enjoy yourself. We will return in the morning to carry on with our duties."


    "Where are you going?" The Golden Witch asked.


    Liao Lan halted awkwardly. "Well, the truth is, this disciple of yours has fallen on tough times lately. So while I could afford to sponsor your stay, these luxuries are a little beyond my own means at the moment."


    The master stared at her strangely. She flicked her sleeve and produced a golden tael. "You should stay here."


    Liao Lan bowed yet again. "Master, there''s really no need for this. I don''t deserve it."


    "Don''t argue." She said, leaving the gold on her table.


    "Okay." Sensing the curtness in her master''s tone, Liao Lan quickly relented. When she took the money, the Golden Witch halted her again.


    "Put our your hands." She said, and Liao Lan did as ordered, wary all the while. A handful of jade hairpins and golden jewelry poured from her sleeve. "You can have these back."


    "My hairpins!" Liao Lan exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. "Thank you, master."


    As the two women left to secure their lodgings, Liao Lan lingered in the doorway. She threw a glance at the tyrannical woman behind her, watching those golden locks bathed in dusk''s fleeting colors. It took her a moment to snap back to her senses. Liao Lan followed her disciple out.


    ...