Wind, Moon, and Blade · Chapter 7

Conflict

Serpang

Ugh... My whole body aches...

Toto

Coo...

Fei

Stop whining and move. They're catching up.

Serpang

Whaa...? But I'm so exhausted...

Toto

Coooo...

Feels like we're heading further east.

Lyn

You're right. I saw scenery like this on the way to NOA.

I can even spot some animals and plants from the Eastern Continent.

???

So this is where you were.

Lyn

There's three of them...!

Fei

So they've already caught up to us.

???

Kehehe...

Tien

We're getting closer. They can't be far.

Xien

Oh, Tien. What about Chain Scythe Jenny...?

Tien

Ah, her... She said she could no longer travel with us.

Xien

...You didn't just let her go, did you?

Tien

She said she was leaving the alliance. I couldn't simply let her walk away.

Xien

Then... Fufu...

Tien

Hmph... Yes.

I gave her some travel money for the way back.

Even if she's a martial arts master, she's still a child. She should at least have some money on her.

Xien

As expected of you, sister. So considerate.

Besides, Chain Scythe Jenny is the weakest among the Four Heavenly Kings.

Meteor Hammer Ced, Manriki Chain Horn, and Three-Section Staff Annie...

Tien

Ah, yes... By now, Fei's group must be facing off against them.

Xien

Against the remaining Four Heavenly Kings, even they won't come out unscathed.

Fufufu...

Tien

Kekeke...

Tien & Xien

Hahahahaha!

Fei

Weak!

What's wrong with you three? You don't even know the basics of teamwork!

Meteor Hammer Ced

That's not fair! If the other two had supported me properly...!

Fei

Shut it! You're the biggest problem! You rushed in alone and got taken down first!

Serpang

Well, at least it made them easier to deal with.

Toto

Coo!

Manriki Chain Horn

Um, ma'am, what about me? What's my weakness?

Fei

Your movements are too slow! Each strike is powerful, but your transitions are sluggish!

Three-Section Staff Annie, you're the opposite! Your attacks are too light. Your weapon can't keep up with you.

Three-Section Staff Annie

I see... Thank you for your insight.

They're being taught by their enemy...

Lyn

...Weren't the three of you here to take revenge on Fei?

Meteor Hammer Ced

No. I was just hired for money.

Manriki Chain Horn

I already got the payment for that meal you dine-and-dashed on, so my grudge is settled.

Serpang

Captain's the one who paid it, though.

Fei

Ahem! Ahem!

Three-Section Staff Annie

I heard I could make friends if I joined...

Isn't that last reason kind of sad...?

Fei

Anyway, you three still have a long way to go!

Martial arts is all in the form! Like this! Then this!

That's how it's done! Do you follow?!

Meteor Hammer Ced

...Huh?

Manriki Chain Horn

What exactly are you trying to say?

Honestly, I didn't get that either.

Serpang

Senior Sister Fei is a natural genius.

But that means she's terrible at teaching people. Like you just saw.

Fei

Serpang! Toto! The same goes for you two!

Serpang

Huh? Us?

Toto

Coo?

Fei

I'll admit your bond has grown stronger. But it's still lacking.

Your movements are too simple! Aren't you relying on each other too much?

Serpang

Ngh... That's true...

Toto

Coo...!

Fei

And Lyn! The tip of your sword is wavering.

Lyn

...!

Fei

A sword follows the heart.

If the blade wavers, it means your heart is full of distractions.

Lyn

Enough.

Fei

Mm?

Lyn

That's enough, Fei. What exactly do you think you're doing?

Strictly speaking, we are enemies.

Someday our swords will clash. And yet you dare try to teach us?

Fei

Hah! Why bother drawing lines between enemies and allies?

We are martial artists.

Companions walking the path of martial mastery! Growing together benefits us all!

Lyn

Martial artist, the path of martial mastery, the Celestial Art. The same speech over and over...

Is there nothing else important to you?

Fei

Of course not! What could be more important?

Lyn

...

Fei

...You're cold, Lyn. Your gaze is colder than eternal snow.

I'm not saying nothing else matters. But to me...

Lyn

You're still immature.

Fei

Huh?

Lyn

Fei. We're adults.

Adults who must care for children and guide them forward.

And yet you're still talking about becoming the strongest? We're not children anymore.

Fei

B-but...!

Lyn

There's no point discussing this further.

Serpang, Toto, Captain. Please excuse me. I'll go get some air.

Lyn lowered her head and walked toward the stream to the east.

Serpang

Um... Senior Sister Fei, are you okay?

Fei

...For the path of martial mastery. To fulfill my duty.

Serpang

Hmm...?

Fei

If it's to complete the Celestial Art, I can do anything.

I don't mind earning hatred. I don't mind cold stares. I don't mind being judged.

Even so, walking this path without wavering is my dream, my goal, my destiny...

...That's what I should have said earlier!

Fei, you idiot! I'm such a fool! Why am I so bad with words...!

GRAAAAH!

Meteor Hammer Ced

Ma'am?! The thing you're destroying right now... Isn't that the carriage we rode here?!

Three-Section Staff Annie

P-please, calm down...!

Manriki Chain Horn

We rented that! If it breaks, we'll have to pay for it!

Fei

GRAAAAAAAAAH!

...Maybe I should go wash the dishes.

Serpang

Captain, are you going to wash the dishes? We'll come with you.

Toto

Coo!

We reached the stream and started doing the dishes together.

Serpang

How did things end up like this...?

Sect Master said it wouldn't be a difficult mission.

I thought everything would be solved if we just brought Senior Sister Fei back...

I've never seen Senior Sister Lyn treat Senior Sister Fei so coldly before.

Toto

Coo...

How were those two back in the day?

Serpang

They were inseparable.

Neither of them had parents.

So they treated the Sect Master like a father, each other like sisters.

...

Serpang

When I was little, I was really frail.

I was bedridden.

My Senior Sisters were the ones who took care of me...

I don't want to see them fight.

That's why Toto and I tried to subdue Senior Sister Fei ourselves...

...But we're still weak.

Toto

Coo...

Serpang buried her face in her knees, her shoulders shaking.

Serpang...

Serpang

*Nom* *Nom...* Hmm? What's up?

You were snacking?!

Serpang

Yeah. When I'm feeling down, sweets help me cheer up.

Captain, want some pumpkin taffy? It's really good.

I accepted the pumpkin taffy Serpang offered.

It's sweet.

Serpang

...You ate it, right? You accepted the snack I gave you?

Then I have a request for you!

...You thought I gave it to you for free?

Oh, Captain, you're so naive! There's no such thing as a free snack!

Something that sweet and unrealistic couldn't possibly exist in Lavistar. Right, Toto?

Toto

Coo.

Serpang

Now then... what should I ask for?

A house made of luxury sweets? A fountain that never stops flowing with chocolate?

Something realistic, please.

Serpang

What? You're the Journey Captain and you can't even do that?

Well then...

Maybe... Just maybe...

If Senior Sister Lyn and Senior Sister Fei ever point their swords at each other...

Please stop them, Captain.

So that no one gets hurt.

You can do that, right? No, even if you can't, you have to!

Captain, you took my snack. Toto can back me up on this!

Toto

Coooo!

Guess I have no choice.

Serpang

Ehehe. Then you accepted my quest.

The dishes are all clean now. Let's head back.

Lyn

...

Fei

We are martial artists!

Companions walking the path of martial mastery! Growing together benefits us all!

Young Fei

Lyn, I will become the strongest on the continent.

Anyone who walks the path of martial mastery must have that ambition. You feel the same, right?

Lyn

You haven't changed at all, Fei.

Not even a bit...

Sect Master

Bring Fei to me at all costs... dead or alive.

Without fail.

Do you understand what that means?

Lyn

*...Sigh*