Wind, Moon, and Blade · Chapter 8
Where We Stand
Fei
Straight punch! One!
Union Members
One!
Fei
Put some spirit into it! Two!
Union Members
Two!
What's going on here?
There were a lot of people chasing us, but we somehow managed to subdue all of them...
And for some reason, they were now training as they threw punches to Fei's calls.
Serpang
Don't overthink it, Captain. It's easier to just go with the flow.
It used to be like this sometimes in the past.
Even people who hated Senior Sister Fei ended up befriending her after sparring with her.
Toto
Coo!
Serpang
What is it, Toto? You want to train too?
I hate anything bothersome, but... Hmm...
It's been a while, so maybe I'll join in. Ehehe...
Lyn
Serpang? Toto?
Serpang
*Gasp?!*
Toto
Squawk?!
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn?! Since when...?! No, I mean...!
It's Toto! Toto said he wanted to train!
Toto
Coo?! Coooo?!
Lyn
...Fufu.
Go ahead.
Serpang
Huh...? Really? Is that okay?
Lyn
You said you wanted to train. There's no reason to stop you.
Don't mind me.
Serpang
Ehehe...! Let's go, Toto!
Toto
Coo!
...Are you okay?
Lyn
Once this situation is resolved, I'll have to cross swords with Fei again...
But I don't want Serpang and Toto worrying about that too.
More importantly... were you worried about me? I'm touched.
You're such a good boy. Fufu.
For some reason, Lyn patted my head again.
???
...I see.
Tien
So you really did come to capture Fei.
Lyn
Tien... Xien...
Xien
There's no need to tense up. We have no intention of fighting you.
At least not right now.
Fei
Again! One!
Serpang & Toto & Union Members
One!
Tien
...We'll wait until the training is finished.
Serpang
I've got no energy left... I can't move...
Toto
Coo...
Fei
Stop being dramatic. It wasn't even that tiring.
More importantly...
Have you been waiting long?
Tien
...Hmph.
Serpang
Huh?! Why are they here?!
Senior Sister Lyn? Captain?! What's going on?!
Lyn
They said they had something they wanted to discuss, so I invited them in.
It would be best if we could settle this through conversation.
Fei
So, what did you come here to talk about?
Xien
Fei, we have a proposal for you.
Fei
A proposal...? I seem to be receiving a lot of those lately.
Lyn
...
Fei
Well? What is it?
Tien
Give up martial arts. For the rest of your life.
Xien
Then you won't have to suffer the consequences.
Fei
I refuse.
The Celestial Art, martial arts, and the path of martial mastery are my life.
Your proposal is no different from telling me to give up living.
Tien
Then the negotiation is over. Very well.
Xien
...Disciples of the Wind Moon Sect. And Journey Captain.
Serpang
W-what?! Are we fighting right here?!
Toto
Coo!
Lyn
...!
...
As I prepared for an attack, Tien and Xien bowed their heads.
Tien
We're sorry.
Xien
Our apologies.
We learned through a contact on the Eastern Continent that the disciples of the Wind Moon Sect really were pursuing Fei.
Tien
And that the Journey Captain had nothing to do with this.
Xien
We dragged an innocent outsider into our grudge...
Tien
We sincerely apologize for that.
Tien and Xien bowed deeply once more.
Serpang
Well... Better late than never, I guess...
Toto
C-coo...
Lyn
...Your sincerity has come across. Please lift your heads.
Tien
Thank you for forgiving us. We will repay this debt somehow later.
...But we cannot forgive Fei.
Xien
Fei is our sworn enemy. We refuse to live under the same sky as her.
Fei
Hmm...
Tien
There is a wide clearing in the center of the eastern bamboo forest.
Xien
Meet us there tomorrow at this time. We'll settle this.
Tien
If we win, Fei, you must give up martial arts. If we lose...
Xien
Then we will do whatever you ask of us.
Tien
Let's go, Xien.
Xien
Understood, Tien.
Wait.
Tien
Huh?
May I ask what happened in the past?
Fei
Yes. I'd like to know as well.
What did I do in the past to earn such deep hatred?
Tien
...Hmph!
Xien
...Tien. Let's tell them.
Tien
Xien!
Xien
Not for Fei.
But for the Journey Captain who got caught up in this.
Tien
...Hmph.
Long ago, there was a martial sect. It no longer exists.
One day, a young girl knocked on its gate.
Fei
Don't tell me...
Xien
That's right, Fei. It was you.
Tien
Our sect master, our own father, accepted your challenge.
Without holding back just because you were young, he fought with everything he had.
But he was utterly defeated...
Shocked by the loss, our father entered seclusion training. Eventually...
Serpang
N-no...!
Toto
Coo?!
Xien
It wore him down, so he quit martial arts and became a merchant.
He had a knack for business and quickly became wealthy.
Serpang
Huh?! I thought this was going to be tragic!
Toto
Coo! Coo!
Fei
...No. That's not the important part.
The master they trusted abandoned the path of martial mastery.
The light that had guided their way disappeared, leaving them alone in the dark.
That's what you're trying to say, isn't it?
Tien
...Hmph.
Xien
My sister and I had trained in martial arts with our father since we were young.
But one day, after just one single day...
Tien
Only Xien and I were left in the training grounds.
If you've ever lost someone precious you believed would stay by your side...
Xien
Then you might understand how we feel.
Lyn
...
Xien
Disciples of the Wind Moon Sect. And Captain.
Even if we must make enemies of all of you, we will take revenge on Fei.
Tien
We meet tomorrow at this same hour, in the clearing of the eastern bamboo forest. Don't forget, Fei.
Until then.
Xien
May you remain well until tomorrow.
Fei
Tien and Xien...
What do you think of their coordinated technique, Captain?
Tien of the Fan. Xien of the Iron Mace.
Close range and long range. A simple combination, in theory. But when those two combine their skills...
In another sense, they're more troublesome than a Voidborn.
Serpang
That's true. We really struggled against them.
Toto
Coo.
Fei
But if they can't use their coordinated technique, things change.
I'll take one of them! You'd better not touch my opponent! That one's mine!
As for the other one...!
Lyn
*Sigh...*
Fei
...Hmm?
Lyn
You seem to be misunderstanding something.
The order we received from the Sect Master was to bring you back to the Eastern Continent.
Whether you lose to Tien and Xien, or give up martial arts...
Frankly, it has nothing to do with us.
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn, but... That's...
Toto
Coo...!
Fei
...Right. I know.
But Lyn! Fighting strong opponents! That's an experience you can't buy, even with a fortune!
Haha! As someone walking the path of martial mastery, it's an opportunity one can't miss...!
Lyn
To begin with, Fei...
All of this happened because you're obsessed with the path of martial mastery.
Fei
...
Lyn
Is the Celestial Art really that important? What's so great about being the strongest?
Because of the path of martial mastery, you betrayed the sect master who took you in.
You abandoned your fellow disciples and left. And now you shamelessly ask for help?
If your actions now are the result of following the path of martial mastery...
Then the path of martial mastery and the Celestial Art... are truly pathetic.
Fei
...!
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn...? That was a little harsh—
Fei
...You have a point.
Our temporary alliance was only until things settled down.
Now that only Tien and Xien remain, it's fair to say we are no longer allied.
Serpang
Senior Sister Fei? Wait...!
Fei
In the end, we are enemies.
Isn't that what you're trying to say?
Lyn
Yes. That's correct.
Serpang
Wait...! Both of you, calm down!
Fei
Then there's no need to drag this out.
Lyn
Yes, Fei. You're right.
I grant you the initiative.
Fei
Giving me the first move? That's rather generous.
Lyn
A courtesy to the past.
Serpang
Senior Sister Lyn... Senior Sister Fei...!
Toto
Coo...!
We're having stew for dinner.
Serpang
...Captain!
Stew tastes even better if you let it sit overnight.
So how about extending the temporary alliance until tomorrow?
Serpang
Y-yeah. He's right!
Let's keep the temporary alliance until tomorrow. Toto, Captain, and I vote yes!
Toto
C-coo...!
Serpang
Three votes out of five! Ehehe...! Hehe...
Fei
...Mm.
Lyn
...Very well.
After dinner ended in a heavier mood than ever...
Lyn and Fei disappeared somewhere. Serpang, Toto, and I walked around the area.
Serpang
Thanks for helping us, Captain.
That was close. It scared me wide awake.
Toto
Coo.
Serpang
...The weather's nice.
The wind is blowing from the Eastern Continent. I can smell bamboo.
Did I tell you before? I used to be really frail.
When I was lying in bed, Senior Sister Fei, Senior Sister Lyn, and Toto would come play with me.
...Those three are like another family to me.
I was really happy back then...
I really was... ehehe...
Toto
...
Serpang
...*Sniffle*
Ngh... *Sniffle!* Why...?!
How did it end up like this...?!
Toto
Coo...
Serpang
Someday, Senior Sister Lyn and Senior Sister Fei will definitely end up fighting...
When that happens... what should I do?!
Leave it to me.
Serpang
*Sniffle...* Huh?
You hired me, remember?
I'll stop them.
Serpang
Captain...
Ehehe... Right, I paid you in pumpkin taffy and made the request.
...Thank you, Captain.
Toto
...Coo!
After Serpang stopped crying and fell asleep back at camp with Toto...
I quietly slipped out and walked toward a hill where the moon hung bright above.
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