Chapter Eleven: Defying Fate

While July continued to chew and swallow her food, she glanced back at Autumn Leaf standing outside the door, then returned to eating. Only after devouring several baskets of vegetables from the kitchen did she finally pause, panting for breath. Her face still bore the dark purple bruises from a recent beating, with several swollen lumps, and her chest was stained with blood she had coughed up. Yet, her eyes seemed bright and lively as she looked at Autumn Leaf and said, “Elder, strike me again. I think I can endure another blow!”

“Wait until your wounds are healed before we continue,” Autumn Leaf replied, surprised at July's eagerness, and even more so at her determination and courage. She felt a surge of compassion, fearing that another strike might accidentally end July’s life.

“But I do feel that after your last blow, my body is much tougher! I can definitely withstand a second one. Please, Elder, strike me again! Once I receive a hundred strikes, I’ll master the divine art.”

July’s face was full of earnest longing as she spoke. Leaning against the stove for support, she forced herself upright for fear Autumn Leaf might refuse, and quickly pleaded again for another strike.

Autumn Leaf gazed at this junior sister who seemed oblivious to the meaning of death, filled with a swirl of emotions. It had been many years since she’d seen a fellow disciple with such spirit—perhaps, it was more the spirit than the person she missed. She thought back to the days of following Zheng Feixian, living a life of constant travel and battle. In those fierce fights, her fellow disciples suffered horrendous wounds—entrails spilling out as they still gripped their swords to slay the enemy, fighting on with grievous internal injuries as if pain and imminent death meant nothing, fearless in risking everything against their foes.

These years had been peaceful, with most conflicts mere contests of skill. At the slightest internal injury from a palm strike, a crowd would gather, fussing over medicines and massages. Among humans, women were usually seen as frail and lesser. Autumn Leaf did not know if this had always been the case for the Spirit-Soul Clan, but living among humans, their women too had become low in status. There were female generals and soldiers, but they were few. Even though Feixian Sect had a legendary reputation for producing women as strong as men, thanks to Zheng Feixian, female disciples were still not as numerous as the men.

Autumn Leaf had almost forgotten what real battle and bloodshed were like, but July’s presence recalled those memories, reminding her that this was the true quality, the true fighting spirit a warrior should possess. She cast aside her concerns and prepared to strike when a disciple from the infirmary hurried over with Zheng Feixian.

At the sight of July’s condition, the disciple couldn’t help but cry out, “July, you’re being reckless! Quickly, take this pill to protect your heart…”

She broke off, suddenly noticing the change in Autumn Leaf’s aura—her hair billowed as she gathered her energy, her expression stern and fierce, summoning the full power of the Sovereign Art of the Nine and Five Directions.

In a flash, Zheng Feixian darted forward, gripping Autumn Leaf’s shoulder and shouting, “What are you doing!”

But Autumn Leaf, rather than halting, slipped free of Zheng Feixian’s grasp and unleashed a palm strike through the air. This blow was the true, unyielding palm force of the Sovereign Art. Spiraling energy struck July’s body with tremendous speed, and in an instant, the golden energy spread violently outward from within. July’s body stretched nearly double in length, twisting and contorting unnaturally as if boneless. Though the blow was powerful, the recipient was not thrown back—her body merely lifted off the ground, limbs and torso grotesquely deformed by the force. When she fell, it was like a heap of mud.

All this happened in a heartbeat. Zheng Feixian, who had not expected Autumn Leaf to disregard her intervention, had no time to save July, and could only watch as she collapsed.

The infirmary disciple stood in shock, convinced July must be dead.

It was only when Zheng Feixian rushed over to check her pulse that the disciple remembered her duty and hurried to help.

“She’s alive! July is still alive!” she cried in mingled surprise and relief, hastily beginning acupuncture to save her.

Zheng Feixian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Swallowing her anger, she was about to demand an explanation when she heard Autumn Leaf’s calm voice: “She said she wanted to take the third blow.” Zheng Feixian was so furious her body trembled. It had been many years since anyone had so brazenly defied her authority. She had placed high hopes in July and cared for her deeply after years of guidance. To see July survive such recklessness, all due to Autumn Leaf’s willfulness, was infuriating.

“If you kill her—”

Before Zheng Feixian could finish, Autumn Leaf interrupted, “She won’t die. She has trained the Sovereign Art to the sixth level, but has already mastered the solid-body divine power of the seventh.”

Zheng Feixian was taken aback. The solid-body technique greatly increased one’s ability to withstand injury and was the key ability of the seventh level of the Sovereign Art. No one had ever achieved this power before mastering the seventh level itself. No wonder July had survived so many blows; Autumn Leaf had not acted carelessly after all.

Zheng Feixian’s anger subsided a little, but she still felt uneasy about leaving July’s martial training in Autumn Leaf’s hands. “You needn’t teach her anymore,” she said.

“No,” Autumn Leaf replied.

“What did you say!” Zheng Feixian was on the verge of losing her temper, feeling that this disciple was becoming ever more unruly, even daring to refuse her to her face.

“July’s talent is exceptional. Her future achievements will surely surpass Zheng Linran’s. Master, you have grown too soft these years. Though your skills surpass ours, too much kindness will only prevent your disciples from withstanding real trials. Disciples like Linran are skilled in duels, but if chaos descends and they are thrown into real war, most would not survive. July, however, can endure pain and hardship—she is a rare seed, someone who can be relied upon in times of crisis. If you teach her yourself, your kindness will ruin her. I may be reckless, but I understand restraint. My fondness for July is no less than yours, and I must be the one to guide her through real trials.”

The first part of Autumn Leaf’s words made Zheng Feixian angry, but the latter part forced her to reflect. She realized there was truth in Autumn Leaf’s reasoning, and that her motives were for the future of the sect. Her anger cooled, and she said sternly, “I’ll give you one year. If July shows no improvement under your guidance, it will be your responsibility. But if she progresses swiftly, I’ll allow you to manage Autumn Hall as you see fit.”

“Yes,” Autumn Leaf replied, withdrawing.

Zheng Feixian instructed the infirmary disciple to take good care of July’s injuries, then asked her, “Do you think I’ve been especially kind to you all these years?”