Wind, Moon, and Blade · Chapter 4
A Temporary Alliance
Martial Artist A
You bread thief! My blade will— Gah!
Fei
*Huff* *Huff...!*
There's no end in sight.
Xien
Impressive. To think she'd hold out for this long... But soon—
Tien
No, Tien. Look closely.
Does she look tired? If anything...
Xien
...She's cutting out all wasted movements.
Fei
Haha! Hahahaha!
Martial Artist B
She's... laughing?
Fei
How delightful! Sparring with formidable opponents is always exciting!
Martial Artist C
That monster. She's taken down over thirty people and still...! Ghhk!
Fei
Next!
Tien
We can't let her ride this momentum.
Xien, let's join in.
Xien
Understood, Tien.
Serpang
Waaaaait a second!
Toto
Coo!
Tien
Mm?
Xien
A little girl... and an owl?
Toto
Coo?! Coo coo!
Serpang
Toto isn't an owl! He's a phoenix! Anyway!
Ganging up on one person is cowardly! That's just unfair!
Tien
...Hmph!
Xien
You have a point, little girl.
But perhaps that only shows how much Fei has brought on herself.
Serpang
Th-that's...! Even if Senior Sister Fei did something wrong, this is...!
Fei
Now I'm finally warmed up...!
Martial Artist D
What? She's getting stronger...!
Martial Artist E
That monster...!
Fei
What are you waiting for? Why hesitate?
The Fei you were looking for is right here! Come!
Lyn
So this is where you were, Fei.
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn...? N-no!
Toto
Coo!
That power...?
Xien
What a beautiful technique...
Tien
Powerful as well. If that landed cleanly, there'd be nothing left of your bones.
We're going too, Xien.
Lyn
...You blocked it.
Fei
Yeah. For now. That aside...
Lyn
...?
Fei
What's with that outfit?
Weren't you shy about wearing clothes that are revealing? You've changed, Lyn.
Since when did you start enjoying people's attention?
Lyn
S-stop it!
Fei
Anyway, it's good to see you. I'm glad we meet again.
Care to share a meal? I know a great place nearby.
Lyn
...Don't misunderstand, fugitive Fei.
The reason I came is due to our Sect Master's orders.
Fei
...Ah, right. Of course.
Lyn
Please return the Celestial Manuscript. Then you'll come back to the Wind Moon Sect with us.
Fei
I refuse.
I won't return the Celestial Manuscript before completing the Celestial Art.
Lyn
Then I have no choice.
I will force you to submit.
Fei
Haha! I look forward to seeing how strong you've become!
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn! Senior Sister Fei!
Lyn
Serpang? Toto... and even the Captain?
I got a rough idea of what's going on.
How about we stop here for today?
Lyn
...
Fei
...Hmm?
Others are getting caught up in this.
You don't want innocent people getting involved in this, do you?
Serpang
R-right! It doesn't have to be today!
We can deal with Fei another time, Senior Sister Lyn. Okay?
Toto
C-coo!
Lyn
...
Fei
He's quite the meddler.
But I don't dislike it. In fact, I rather like that sort.
...The wind has died down.
Fei, who had been gazing into the distance, sheathed her sword.
Fei
Today isn't the only day. Let's call it here for now.
Tien
Xien! She's getting away!
Xien
Don't worry, Tien. I've blocked her escape route.
Fei
A wind barrier? Interesting.
I can't yet cut the moon from the sky,but with the power of the Celestial Art...
I'll show you a glimpse of what it can do.
As Fei took her stance, a flash of light burst from her sheathed blade.
The wind barrier blocking her path split in half as a violent storm burst forth.
Serpang
*Cough* *Cough!* Ow! There's dirt in my eyes!
Toto
Coooo...!
Lyn
So that's the Celestial Art...
It seems the claim that practitioners of the Celestial Art can cut even the moon was no exaggeration.
Xien
...My apologies, Tien. She escaped.
Tien
No, Xien. It's not your fault. We underestimated her.
Don't worry. I've already taken measures. It'll soon be complete.
That aside...
Serpang
Hmm...? Doesn't it feel like they're looking at us?
Toto
Coo...?
Tien
If you're chasing Fei, why not join us?
Xien
There are many here seeking revenge against Fei. What do you say?
Serpang
That's...!
Lyn
Thank you for the offer, but we must decline.
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn?
Lyn
Our goal is to bring Fei back to the Eastern Continent.
But your goal is revenge. Our objectives differ.
Tien
...Isn't that the same thing?
Lyn
No. It isn't. We are simply carrying out our Sect Master's order.
Unlike you, we do not place personal feelings above our duty.
And overwhelming the few with the many is not how we do things.
Tien
Hmm...
Xien
I see.
Before we part, may I ask which sect you belong to? Your techniques earlier were impressive.
Lyn
Fufu. Thank you for the compliment.
Serpang, Toto, and I are disciples of the Wind Moon Sect.
Tien
...The Wind Moon Sect?
Xien
If it's "the" Wind Moon Sect...!
The people nearby approached and formed a circle around us.
Serpang
...Huh?
Lyn
Why does it suddenly feel like...
They're being hostile...?
Tien
Isn't that the sect Fei belongs to?
Xien
...I see now.
Your words earlier about it being cowardly to attack together, about getting other people involved...
It was all a scheme to protect Fei.
Lyn
What...?
Serpang
A scheme...? What are you talking about?
Lyn
Wait. Listen to what I have to say!
Fei stole the Celestial Manuscript from the Wind Moon Sect and fled. That's why we're chasing her as well.
Tien
The Celestial Manuscript? You mean the martial manuscript of the Celestial Sect?
Xien
A martial art from a lost sect, they say. Then show us proof.
Serpang
Didn't I just tell you?! Fei stole it and ran off with it!
Tien
No physical proof, only words as light as the wind...
Do you seriously expect us to take your word for it?!
Xien
So the Celestial Sect was merely a foothold for expansion into the West...
Tien
A secret organization of the Wind Moon Sect that existed only in rumor!
Serpang
Secret organization?! That's ridiculous! Stop making things up!
Toto
Coo!
Lyn
Everyone, this is a misunderstanding. I will explain everything, so please calm down...
Xien
And most importantly... you there, little girl.
Serpang
Huh? Me?
Xien
What did you call Fei earlier?
Didn't you call her "Senior Sister Fei"?
Serpang
Th-that's...! That's just out of habit...!
Let's all calm down and talk about this, okay?
Xien
...Did you even drag the Journey Captain into your schemes?
Tien
The Wind Moon Sect truly leaves nothing to chance...!
...I'm a part of this now?
Xien
If you are in league with Fei...
Tien
Then we can't let you leave.
Serpang
Whaaat?! How does it lead to that?!
And why are there so many people here?! Just how many grudges did Senior Sister Fei rack up?!
Toto
Coooo?!
Lyn
Serpang, Toto! Prepare yourselves!
Captain, I'm truly sorry for dragging you into this.
We will handle things here somehow. Please take cover.
Overwhelming the few with the many...
I'm not a fan of that idea either.
Lyn
...Captain.
May I help?
Lyn
...Thank you, Captain. I will repay this debt.
Disciple of the Wind Moon Sect, Lyn!
Serpang
Fellow disciple, Serpang! And Toto!
Lyn & Serpang
Let's do this!
Here we come!
Martial Artist F
Urgh...!
Serpang
*Huff* *Huff...!* There's no end to them...!
Lyn
...And this isn't even all of them. More are coming.
Tien
An opening!
Lyn
Ngh?!
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn!
This is bad...!
Xien
Do you really have the luxury to worry about someone else?
Serpang
Captain! Look out!
...My hand's tingling.
Xien
This is the second time someone's blocked my technique today...
That stings my pride a little.
Tien
Don't rush, Xien. Time is on our side.
We can take it slow... pulling their strength out bit by bit.
Xien
Pull it out... slowly? That sounds kind of...
Like having ●●●, doesn't it?
Tien
...Hmm?
Xien
Tien, having ●●● slowly and with such focus too... Hngh!
Fufu... Very well, sister. Nice and slow...
Tien
Mm?! Hmmmmn...?!
Serpang
●●●...? Senior Sister Lyn, what's ●●●?
Lyn
I-I'm not sure either...!
Serpang
Captain, do you know what ●●● is?
Lyn
Y-you shouldn't say things like that!
...This is awkward.
Lyn
Ah... Y-yes, you're right.
Sorry, Captain. But explaining that to Serpang and Toto would be—
No.
I meant it's awkward because there are too many enemies around.
Lyn
Huh...?
Huh? Ah! Yes! Right! There are too many enemies!
And... every one of them is quite skilled.
Serpang
Where are the town guards?! When are they coming?!
Xien
They aren't.
Serpang
What...?
Tien
The moment we found Fei, we cast a Heaven-and-Earth Web around the area. Our allies are stationed at every path.
Aside from those gathered here...
Xien
No one outside will know what's happening. Fufu.
Toto
Coo...!
Lyn
...We walked straight into the trap meant for Fei.
If we want to escape this... If we want to break a gap in the web...
There is only one option.
Lyn took a deep breath and steadied her stance.
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn...?! You're not—!
Toto
Coo!
Lyn
Captain.
No matter what happens next...
Don't look back. Run straight into the alley. Do you understand?
Wind Moon Sword Art, Sixth Form.
Xien
That aura...!
Tien
...Everyone fall back! Now!
Lyn
Pure Wind Serene Moon.
Tien
That much force from a sword technique...?
Xien
Just like Fei... everyone from the Wind Moon Sect is a monster.
Tien
But she can't use it repeatedly. The fact that they fled proves it.
We pursue.
Martial Artist G
Over here! The Wind Moon Sect disciples are here! ...Gah!
Lyn
Ngh...!
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn, are you okay?! That technique takes too much out of you...!
Lyn
...Fufu. I'm fine, Serpang. Don't worry.
Captain, do we continue down this path?
If we get through here, we'll reach the outskirts.
Lyn
Good. We'll have a chance to catch our breath.
???
No. You won't.
Fei
...Fast. You almost took my head off.
Lyn
Fei...!
Serpang
I thought you ran away!
Fei
Ran away?! I merely retreated to plan for later!
Serpang
That's basically the same thing...
Toto
Coo.
Fei
I'd like to punish you with some tickling, but first things first.
No matter where you go, enemies will chase you. Escape is impossible.
In my opinion...
They've cast a Heaven-and-Earth Web over the whole area!
Everyone
...
...
Fei
W-what's with that reaction? Did you all already know? Was I the only one in the dark?!
Anyway... My point is...!
We'll break through! Yeah!
Everyone
...
Just wondering...
Is Fei bad at explaining things?
Serpang
Don't get the wrong idea, Captain. Not everyone from the Wind Moon Sect is like this.
Toto
Coo.
Fei
"Like this"?! What exactly do you mean by that?!
A true martial artist speaks with their blade! Verbal explanations are for scholars!
Lyn
I presume you showed yourself for a reason.
What do you want?
Fei
...We're being chased by the same people, are we not?
Lyn
Yes, though you're the reason for it.
Fei
Then let's team up.
Lyn
I refuse.
Fei, you stole a manuscript from our sect's secret library and fled.
There is no circumstance in which we would ever join hands.
Fei
Hmm... Is that so? Then I guess that's the end of that.
What about you?
Me?
Fei
Yes. Captain, you're being chased as well, aren't you?
Even though you have nothing to do with this.
Lyn
...Ugh.
Serpang
That... is true...
Toto
...Coo.
Fei
An innocent bystander is dragged into this, yet you argue about principles before finding a solution...
You're stubborn, Lyn.
Lyn
...Even if we join forces with you, the situation won't change.
Fei
No. It will.
There's a secret passage nearby that I know about. It leads outside NOA.
Serpang
Outside...? Then we can't get help from the NOA Public Security. Isn't that dangerous?
Lyn
...No. Our pursuers don't care about anything except taking us down.
If we stay in the city, others will get caught up in the conflict. If we want to flee, leaving NOA is the right choice.
It'll also allow us to whittle away their forces one-by-one.
Fei
Now you're finally getting it.
Even for me, facing that many alone would be difficult. I need help.
So let's cooperate until things settle down.
After that, we'll settle our own matters separately. I won't run this time. I swear.
Lyn
...
Fei
So, what'll it be? Form a temporary alliance and fight? Or keep being chased?
Martial Artist E
I found her! It's Fei! She's here!
Martial Artist F
The Wind Moon Sect disciples are here too! I knew they were all in this together!
Fei
There's no time. Make your choice.
...It sounds like a reasonable proposal to me.
What about you three?
Serpang
Um, I... Toto. What do you think?
Toto
Coooo?! Coooo...?
Fei, Serpang, Toto, and I all turned toward one person.
Lyn
I...
Tien
You lost them?
Martial Artist G
Yes, ma'am! Their trail ends here.
Xien
A dead end...
Tien
Wait. Wooden boards on the ground? Could it be...!
Xien
...It's a tunnel.
A faint breeze, the strong scent of grass... it seems like it connects to the outside.
Tien
They made it outside NOA! Hurry, chase them down!
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