Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 67 - part a

Seeing Brother Baros at edge of death, Chao didn’t know what to do. Huifen had threatened a Morning Midst Village elder into doing his best to heal the man. She’d taken Dvora to the side to be there for the fairy. Brother Shoi-ming had flown up and unleashed his aura as he peered down on the still kneeling enemy. Big Sister Pangfua was more directly watching over the group of elders Huifen had dragged along. He was there, ready to back up anyone who needed him. Despite that, he felt powerless.

Four disciples had fallen because he’d been too late. His wife had been seriously injured even if it wasn’t life threatening. If it wasn’t for the artificial spirit in the Divine Spire, who knows what would’ve happened if the destroyed pylon wouldn’t have been patched before it could blow.

He’d chosen to save his sect’s disciples instead of inflicting justice on Sage Harnish. His wife had sought to save the disciples of their enemy and suffered for it. And now Brother Baros had tried to persuade his sect to do what is right and it was questionable whether he’d survive.

What was the point of doing what was right if the people you cared for only suffered in its wake? He was beginning to understand the ruthlessness of cultivators at the top of the world. There was a pragmatic logic to it. If they would’ve just slaughtered Harnish without any care of his disciples, the outcome would’ve likely been the same and Huifen would’ve remained uninjured. And what was the point of Baros’s actions? Had it help with anything besides getting him killed?

His eyes fell on Fairy Dvora. Baros’s efforts had only caused more suffering. And the girl’s… If she hadn’t come to warn them when they did Big Sister Pangfua wouldn’t be alive—nor Shoi-ming, many disciples and joint sect elders.

The girl had drugged him, tried to seduce him, and nearly harmed his relationship with his wife. Yet in defiance of her own sect, she’d done what was right by warning Pangfua and sending Baros to alert them to what was about to happen. If she hadn’t… They just couldn’t win.

For all the power he had grasped since Huifen had glided through the Redwood Aurora into his life, he was no closer to being able to protect those he cared for. Was it more speed he needed? More overwhelming power? What was the point if he’d never be fast enough? Ruthlessness alone wasn’t the answer. Even wisdom couldn’t change circumstances as they come. All that strength had taught him was how little power he really had.

As a new overlord aura approached, he flew up to join Shoi-ming in the air. A second one emanated moments later. He wasn’t sure if their timing boded well for them or poorly. He’d be ready for either.

There was one thing he noticed right away. The person that would arrive first had a similar aura to Sage Harnish. Secondly, this newcomer was far more powerful than their dead enemy.

He arrived high above the array formation that Harnish had set up to warn his elders of anyone trying to flee the encampment. This Sage’s wooden armor was darker than that of the rest of his sect.

The barrier didn’t blur their vision, so Chao got a clear picture of the man. Their eyes met. His beard was grey and wispy, reaching down past his chest. His hair was just as grey, but his eyes were blue as crystal, and his visage was youthful and ruddy. He didn’t have the physical stature of Shoi-ming, but Chao knew this overlord was one of the most powerful they’d ever faced. He was near the peak.

“Stay here,” Pangfua called out as she shot upward. A loud chime sounded from where she had left the formation. It didn’t restrict her.

The Morning Midst Village’s Sect Master nodded to him before turning his attention to the approaching ice fairy.

“They competed against each other in a mystic realm nearly half a century ago and developed a friendly rivalry.”

Chao nodded in response to Shoi-ming. He forgot at times that not all of the sect’s disciples were as young as he and his Huifen.

“I agree. He shouldn’t attack her outright if he plans on fighting,” Elder Alfori said, appearing at his side.

His defensive aura blared at the fairy’s sudden arrival. Since when was she so familiar?

The elder didn’t take offense. Nor did she move back in fear. “You might find it difficult to believe, but Sect Master Uilleam isn’t like Harnish.”

He let his defensive aura calm but left it active. He gave the elder a nod.

Hearing their conversation wasn’t difficult.

“Death has been kept to a minimum, “Pangfua reassured the Morning Midst Village Sect Master. “I was able to defend my group of disciples from the spire’s defensive formation, but four of them succumbed to my ice as I held it back. Sage Long Huifen faced Harnish directly. She was forced to kill him. An elder and three or four disciples were caught in the battle and killed. The only other death I know of was one of your disciples that was stabbed in the back.”

“You’re injured?” Uilleam asked, keeping his expression firm.

“Just drained of qi.”

The Sect Master grew quiet as he took it all in. It was then the second overlord arrived.

Chao didn’t hesitate to fly up to meet them. Harnish’s array formation chimed as he passed. He stayed back, not directly joining them to respect Pangfua’s request. He found Elder Alfori had followed him, where Shoi-ming had stayed put. The man seemed torn as to whether he should follow as well. Chao motioned for him to stay.

Huifen appeared at his side a moment later. She consoled him before he asked. “She’ll be fine for now. This isn’t over.”

He gave her hand a squeeze.

“Sect Master Ginevra,” Pangfua said, bowing her head in greeting.

The woman’s blond-greying hair was back in a long ponytail. Her features were sharp even from beneath her veil, and she was rather petite, but she also exuded power that Chao had rarely felt in an overlord. Her cultivation was nearly as high as the Morning Midst Sect Master’s. “Hello, Sage Pangfua,” the fairy sage replied. Glancing to her side, she added, “Uilleam.”

“Hello, Ginevra.”

“So what’s the meaning of this?”

“Harnish is dead.”

“What?” The Night Pearl Sect Master became unstable where she flew.

Uilleam went to her, stabilizing her with his qi and placing his hand just above her elbow.

She didn’t pull away from him but said with little strength. “How?”

“He plotted against the Ice Phoenix Palace to open some vault. Four of Pangfua’s disciples were killed in the processes.”

“You fought him?” Ginevra asked Pangfua.

“I didn’t. Sage Huifen stopped him. With the help of Sage Chao, she saved my life in the process.”

The fairy was there one moment, then gone the next. It wasn’t speed that masked her approach, but her presence was veiled completely.

Ginvera appeared before his Huifen. Chao placed himself and a wall of space between them, only to hear the Night Pearl Sect Master’s words after he’d wrapped his wife in space.

“How did he die?”

Huifen’s hand found his shoulder, and she whispered, “It’s okay.”

Dropping the wall of space, he soon saw the veiled woman’s features clearly. Her eyes were swollen with tears.

Chao then heard Huifen’s explanation of what happened under the water sage’s domain. She didn’t hide anything, but neither did she exaggerate. As for the techniques she used to defeat Harnish, those she kept to herself.

The woman didn’t respond in anger. Sect Master Uilleam appeared next to her, this time wrapping an arm around her shoulder and taking her hand in his as if to lead her away. Instead, he just held her there. Pangfua joined them a moment later.

“I shouldn’t have given him such freedom,” Uilleam admitted.

A pained shriek sounded.

Chao found the source, only to see Dvora standing above one of the many kowtowing disciples with a blade sunk into the back of his neck where the armor didn’t cover him.

They all moved all at once.

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Doing some rewriting here. The next part should be out tonight or tomorrow. Should have two chapters up tomorrow as well. I'm content editing before posting.