Feng Han rushed quickly, moving between the greywood trees in pursuit of the Firetail Fox. The sounds of crying gradually softened, dimming into intermittent whimpers. It left him wondering what the story was behind them—clearly the person was still alive, but the sounds they made were confusing.

  After reforging his body, Feng Han's already stealthy steps made him feel like a leaf floating peacefully in a gentle breeze. It was something he was always proud of, even if it was incomparable to what he felt now.

  While all the sounds swirled around him—swaying branches and rustling leaves, the crunch of gravel and duff, the soft hums of creatures stirring—Feng Han's steps were as deathly silent as night.

  Feng Han smiled. Being a cultivator was truly... liberating. He scaled a nearby tree and moved across its thick branches, facing the breeze like a kestrel. After bypassing dozens of them, he slowed down as a loud crash struck the hefty trunk of the tree beneath him.

  What the hell?

  Feng Han lurched forward, holding onto the branch as he peered down below. Is it not a trap? Who is that?

  Below, a young girl no older than ten stood shivering behind six strange looking men covered in talismans and scars. Their black robes were accented with silver chains that wrapped around their limbs. They stood rooted firmly in front of the girl, protecting her from a terrifyingly large Firetail Fox.

  The fox was overwhelming the group with its cultivation at the ninth layer of body forging, but despite the men's eyes and mouths being covered by talismans, they stood their ground and forced a standstill between them and the beast.

  Qi whipped around the area, both sides unwilling to cease their struggle. Only the little girl seemed unaffected by everything as she whimpered and cried in the back, eyes glistening, focused on the fox's form.

  [Hoh? What an interesting sight.]

  [I thought those pitiful wretches would be obsolete by now. You're seeing something quite rare, boy. Deathsworn in this backwater swamp of a kingdom.]

  "Deathsworn? What's that?" Feng Han whispered, his voice as low as he could manage to not alert those below.

  [You don't need to speak to be able to speak to me, boy. We're bonded now. Focus on my presence in your mind and let your voice drift to me.]

  [As for them... Deathsworn are many things. Criminals, scum, lowborn, trash... obsolete mortals and even cultivators who are incapable of achieving anything, thus they forfeit themselves to someone who can.]

  [Their families get wealth and security. And these men are 'forged' into something greater to compensate for it. It was quite a barbaric technique, even in my time. Truly not something I expected to see anymore, especially not here.]

  Feng Han listened and focused his mind. Baoshi's instruction was as simple as it could be, and he felt a connection where his thoughts could pierce through and touch the chalice's exterior.

  ?That sounds no better than dying a slave's death.?

  [You could say that! But also, you can't. If life is worthless anyway, you may as well do whatever you can to give your kin prosperity. Would you not consider it were circumstances different?]

  ?Well... I'm not sure. For Yue'er and Xue'er... I might be tempted, but I do care for my life.?

  [They cared just the same. However, life always finds a way to disappoint you. When alive, their efforts were meaningless, their strengths varied, as did their motivations. When all hope was lost, and death was welcoming, why not?]

  [It's true, they're no better than puppets dangling on a string, existing only for their mission. Still, by dying for their master's whims, they'd finally achieve something worthwhile and memorable.]

  Feng Han pondered Baoshi's words, focusing his mind on the chalice's form as it floated silently in his mindscape, like a single drop of gold amidst a vast, blank space.

  ?But how will death help them? Since they're protecting the girl, if none remain, she'll die too. Don't tell me, they'll do a suicidal charge and hope she runs away after??

  [Silly, boy.]

  [You're thinking too lightly of their nature. They'll kill their opponent long before the last of them falls. It doesn't matter how many of them die, as long as one lives to complete their task, they'll all benefit. Such is the life of Deathsworn.]

  ?...Are they dead or alive, then??

  Baoshi's chuckle rang through Feng Han's mindscape, a soft detachment from answering his question. Whether one considered the men dead or alive was more a matter of perspective than anything.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  ?Forget it. If the Deathsworn have their mission to perform, won't interfering be fruitless? You said a meal isn't done until after dessert, but it sounds like nothing will remain for us.?

  [You're not wrong. It's different from what I expected, but... Let's see...]

  Baoshi fell into a momentary silence. Recklessness was fatal, but so was forfeiting opportunities when they presented themselves. A hunger unfulfilled would become a grueling pit in the depths of Feng Han's stomach, one difficult to fill later. And that wasn't something she wished for.

  Feng Han remained vigilant as he waited for Baoshi. His eyes kept focus on the struggle below. Each push and pull was like dancing on the edge of a cliff. The Deathsworn struck the fox madly, pushing back at its frenzied assault. Meanwhile, the beast snarled and slashed, each staggered strike more vicious than the last.

  Each of the Deathsworn seemed to only be at the sixth layer of body forging to Feng Han's senses. They had the numbers advantage, but six against one when the one was at the ninth layer, even to Feng Han's untrained self seemed unrealistic. Reality also proved that, considering how grueling their defense against the Firetail Fox was.

  Two of the Deathsworn succumbed to injury as the beast's claws tore through their midsections, sending their bodies tumbling bloodied onto the ground as their intestines spilled.

  "Stop it, Mao-Mao! Stop... please. Xin Ming just wanted to be friends. Don't break my dollies anymore." The little girl's voice scraped out through shivers as she pressed her back against a tree. "Xin Ming just wanted a friend..."

  She cried, soft and mournful as another of the Deathsworn fell. Her eyes were unwavering as they trembled, filled with tears, and locked onto the Firetail Fox.

  Sadly, to the fox, her cries meant nothing.

  It gnashed its teeth against the fourth Deathsworn's head, its snout bloodied as the man's lifeblood sprayed out. It then turned to Xin Ming and the last two Deathsworn with a snarling grin, filled with arrogance.

  [Interesting! They want to use the beast's overconfidence for a gambit, but this is your perfect chance!]

  [Go now! Crash on top of it and disrupt its qi. Once it roils its flames in defense, I'll absorb the bodies of the Deathsworn that it tore up. In the worst case, we'll still have dessert. Best case we'll have two!]

  ?Alright.?

  Feng Han listened to Baoshi, silently nodding as he envisioned her plan. Without questioning it, he launched himself off the branch, aiming for the Firetail Fox's muscular back. The beast was taller and wider than a merchant's carriage, but without fear, he dropped like a boulder toward it.

  His fall slammed the fox's back with incredible speed and force that disrupted its frenzy before it could even react. The beast howled and erupted with flames, qi swelling through its meridians, not much different than a human's. It thrashed loudly, stomping and bucking to remove the pest that was Feng Han off its back.

  Feng Han clenched his hands, grasping at the beast's fur mercilessly with a smile on his face. His heart raced, adrenaline pumping. The urge to roar swelling in his chest, but he resisted and focused on keeping the beast's flames stoked.

  As the flames spread, Baoshi's form flashed for a split moment, causing the fallen Deathsworn to shrivel, their lifeblood drained into the chalice before anyone could notice.

  Xin Ming shielded her eyes, crying out the moment the flames swelled, but she peered through her fingers, seeing Feng Han atop the Firetail Fox.

  Her eyes gleamed like the brightest jewels as she stared at Feng Han, his long black hair cascading down his back and the flames surging around him. He resembled a knight atop a mythical beast, or a heroic immortal mid-flight, shining his presence down upon the mortal realm.

  Xin Ming's surprise was impossible to conceal. "A-amazing! Big Brother, who are you?"

  Feng Han turned to her, but looked away just as quickly as the Firetail Fox thrashed, nearly throwing him off. Seeing the girl made him lose focus for a moment. Something about her reminded him of his sisters and the days when they were mere children trying to survive. The curious gaze, filled with innocence and a hint of cluelessness. Her soft voice and the shyness that sits in the back as her interest takes precedence.

  He slammed his fist down against the fox's skull and roared, "Simmer down, damned beast!"

  Xin Ming pressed herself against one of the Deathsworn's legs, her eyes glowing with interest as she poked her head out from behind the man. "You're doing great, Big Brother! What's your name?"

  Feng Han's heart throbbed strangely—the guilt and worry for his sisters manifesting through the young girl's soft voice and curiosity. It wasn't her fault, even if it caused him to gnash his teeth and close his eyes for a moment as he calmed his heart down.

  While still grasping onto the struggling fox, he replied, "I'm Feng Han."

  "Feng Han..." Xin Ming muttered, her thoughts unknown to Feng Han as he held on for dear life.

  The Firetail Fox's fury and frenzy erupted, flames sputtering all around. It was increasingly hot even for Feng Han to handle. After all, he was also only at the sixth layer of body forging, even if it was stronger than most people's sixth layer.

  ?What now, Baoshi??

  [What? Do you need me to teach you how to fight?]

  ?What??

  [What?]

  ?...forget it.?

  [Just fight, it's clear the Deathsworn have lost their edge with your disruption, and since the girl isn't harboring any apparent malice, may as well make the most of it and steal the hunt.]

  ?Okay...?

  Feng Han sighed as he raised his head to the sky. Life was difficult.

  Xin Ming watched his strange gestures, a soft smile crossing her face.

  "Big Brother Feng Han..." she said, her voice bubbling with an indescribable feeling. "Hey! I need to ask you something—VERY—important!"

  She dramatized her statement with great force, causing Feng Han to turn to her.

  Seeing that Feng Han's attention was on her, Xin Ming asked, "Do you want to be Xin Ming's friend, since Mao-Mao is such a meanie?"