Eastern border of Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement.
Pale lights flickered, white Qi surged and carved the air like soaring eagles.
Flames arose and burst into a violent flurry, showering the ground with cinders and ash.
Stepping to the side and dodging the whistling and searing projectiles was a woman dressed in robes of rich pink and red strings.
She grabbed the hem of her robe to prevent it from getting struck by any of the projectiles. Her movements were elegant and resembled something of a dance.
There was also a jade pendant, which was flailing from her waist due to her movements, and it was shaped like a duck.
"Wretched woman, we will spare your life if you give up now! Otherwise, we will bury you in six different graves!"
"Prostrate yourself before us and you can live to see another night!"
In response to their boastful demands, she conjured a fistful of string and flicked it at the two men.
As the men dodged, the strings naturally missed their targets but connected with the soil and rock of the uplifted ground and the charred walls of the surrounding buildings.
"Hah!"
Grunting, she pulled the strings, which connected to the area like a web, and caused it all to collapse in on itself.
Surprised, the two men struggle to escape from the collapsing rubble, threatening to encase them in their own ruination.
"Woman! You mock us for our demonic ways, yet you hold no care for the Settlement you are tasked to protect!"
"Fiends! This Settlement was doomed from the beginning. I do not care what happens to these buildings, or this Settlement, I just need you dead!"
"Foul wretch!"
Bursting into violent flames, one of the men exploded like a searing flame, breaking free from the cage of rubble.
Consequently, he also sent the other man flying.
"If you care not for this Settlement, then receive this, wench!"
"Watch your mouth!"
Flicking her wrist, she conjured several more red strings to pierce her opponent, who retaliated by waving his hands.
The flames on his body flowed into his palm.
Dao Art -- Soul Rending Flame!
Like the bellows of a great dragon, fire surged and swallowed the red string, then ceaselessly fell towards the woman.
"Heart Tethering Maiden!"
At the sudden call, a crescent blade of golden light shot out and collided with the surging fire.
"Dawn...?"
"Tsk..."
Prompting the man to retreat a few steps, Dawn charged forward and took a stance by the woman dressed in pink -- Heart Tethering Maiden.
"Why have you come here?"
"To aid you, Maiden. Silver Extreme sent me to aid you."
"That man..."
Sighing, Heart Tethering Maiden spared a gaze towards Dawn, who had nothing in her hands.
"Where is that weapon of yours?"
"I was on my way to meet Silver Extreme, naturally, I did not bring my spear with me. Hearing that you were ambushed forced me to come here without preparations, but I do not need my weapon to fight."
"Is that so..."
Planning to aid Heart Tethering Maiden fight off the two men, Dawn lowered a hand.
With a motion similar to scooping water, Qi pooled in her palm, then, throwing that water, a crescent blade-like projectile flew out.
It wasn't as effective as it would be with a weapon, but effect nonetheless.
"Child's play!"
Saying so, the fire fielding man batted his fist covered in a hot glow, smashing apart that crescent blade.
"So what if you have reinforcements, you are no match for us!"
"Us?"
"Look out!"
As if her knees collapsed, Dawn suddenly fell backwards with her back parallel to the ground.
Heart Teathering Maiden also took a low stance; there were red strings connected to the tips of her fingers.
Just above their heads was a white surface. As if a cloud had fallen onto them, but as the winds flowed and whistled, the black sky was revealed once more.
"Tch."
That 'white surface' was revealed to be a devastating sweep of a large blade.
It was short but very wide, thick and white, resembling more of a sheet of metal fit for a rampart's wall than a sword.
"I missed."
"Fiend!"
Dawn felt her back being tugged at as she was pulled towards Heart Tethering Maiden.
They retreated a few steps as that wide blade fell upon them once more.
"Are these two the only enemies present?"
"They are the only two I have encountered; they just so happen to wield Dao Arts which counter my Dao Arts."
"Flames spew from the first man, and a large, wide blade is wielded by that other man."
"That would not be correct."
"...!"
That 'blade-wielding man' called out as the wide blade suddenly elongated.
From a wide blade to a long blade, it pierced the ground beneath Dawn's feet as she was pulled to the sky.
"Maiden... I appreciate the aid, but you must let me go."
"We are retreating, how could I let you go?"
"Retreating? You are heading inside the Settlement, you will only bring ruin within the inner districts!"
"I understand, but as things stand, neither of us stands a chance against those two Demonic Cultivators."
"Then what is the plan...?"
"I need you to retrieve your weapon and fight properly, then maybe we can fight these two scoundrels off."
"But... the people have not evacuated, you will be implicating the people."
"I do not care."
"...What?"
"Taking out these Demonic fiends is our priority, then we must aid Senior Silver. Only then will the denizens of this Settlement receive my attention."
"..."
Dawn was dragged along by Heart Tethering Maiden's strings. She wanted to voice her opposition, but felt an odd sense of familiarity at those words.
Even then, before Dawn could voice anything, there was a tickling in her mind.
"Dawn, Maiden, I need one of you to head beyond the Southern Border of the Settlement."
"Silver, you are watching us?"
"Yes. I see your situation, but I am also keeping watch over and beyond the Settlement."
"I see. What is happening South of the Settlement?"
"Wolf King Lan is currently returning, but he is being pursued. I need one of you to aid his retreat and bring him back."
"I understand... but that would mean splitting up."
"Yes. Through my Immersion, I have detected only five enemies. The two Demonic Cultivators chasing you, Maiden, and Dawn. Another one is chasing Wolf King Lan. The Settlement Lord, that I am facing right now... And..."
"Who is the fifth?"
"I can not tell, they are beyond my Immersion, but their presence is colliding with my own."
"What does that mean...?"
"Life Taming Monarch, or even another State Cultivator, is waiting at the Southern edge of the Iron Mountain's divot."
...