Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

As soon as the Fifth Senior Sister arrived, she smelled the faint scent of blood. Not wanting to think otherwise, she quickened her pace, arriving at the site of her dead brothers and sisters. 

"Who did this?"

Her eyes flashed as she spun back, swinging her scythe defensively as scanning the area but Fu Zi saw nothing. She still kept her guard up. 

"Only the fifth position disciple is here... Shouldn't there be three?"

Ming Yue felt somewhat confused. She had been expecting three but there was only Fu Zi. 

"Were they killed in earlier fight? Or are they somewhere else?"

She did not make a move yet, wanting to wait and make sure. If the Fifth Senior Sister was truly alone, Ming Yue would make her move. So she waited, minutes passed as Fu Zi continued to wacth her surroundings before suddenly shouting out. 

"Come out here! I know you're watching me right now."

Her voice echoed through the trees only to be met with silence. However, Fu Zi looked towards a single direction, her eyes confident as she pointed her scythe there. 

Ming Yue watched the scythe go in the opposite direction of her. 

"Who is she pointing to?"

Following the scythe, she looked at the same direction, trying to see who was there. 

Moments later, a figure emerged from trees and stepped forward. 

"Hmph, you've been following me since we fought the Gold Tusk Elephander. Who are you?" Fu Zi asked. 

She lowered her scythe, staring at this mystery person. 

"Indeed, I noticed the commotion and watched as you not only slaughtered that poor beast but your own comrades as well."

Revealing herself, Ming Yue was shocked to find that it was Hua Xiong!

But there was something different about her. Apart from her clothes which were simple white robes, her expression and behavior was completely different. There was all but a trace of that apathy from when the had met. Rather it seemed like, Hua Xiong had reverted to her softer and kinder self. 

The white streak of hair had grown thicker and was let down, reaching her hips. As for her eyes, the white iris seemed to shine brightly as the other had a greenish glow to it. 

"What of it?" Fu Zi snapped back, "What does it matter to you?"

The grip on her scythe tightened as she grew wary of her. 

"Earth Realm? What is a young girl like her doing here? There is more to her."

Watching her every move, the Fifth Senior Sister began to circle around Hua Xiong, spinning her scythe slowly. The blades began to open wide as fangs grew out and the eyes of the skull began to release a dark light. 

Her eyes stayed on Hua Xiong like a hawk, waiting for her to move. 

"I can't let you continue on like this. Someone as brutal as you should not have entered these grounds."

Hua Xiong did not move from her place as she continued to speak but Fu Zi scoffed at those words. 

"And what can you do? If talking is the only thing, I'm afraid that its going to take more than that."

"No, of course not, but this is where it ends."

Hua Xiong's hands began to glow of a white light which seemed to emit motes of emeral light. Pointing her hands forward, she began to shoot out beams of light at the Fifth Senior Sister. 

"Hmph, so you made your move."

Fu Zi's expression grew serious as she dodged the attack. It wasn't just one or two beams but a constant stream, all aimed towards where she stood. 

She played it safe, no daring to approach Hua Xiong just yet. At the same time, Ming Yue watched the fight. 

"She's alive but... she is different. I have to help her either way", she thought. 

Turning towards Hei Yue and Xiao Yin, she had them both stay before readying herself.  Forming her Zephyr Claws, she quietly left her spot, running through the trees to get closer and find a chance to strike. 

Meanwhile. Fu Zi carefully looked at Hua Xiong, eyeing her up. 

"Her attacks, it doesn't seem like she was the one that killed the other group. Then that means that there is someone else."

It wasn't hard for her to figure this out but upon realizing this, she did not dare take any chances. If she revealed any sort of weakness or blindspot, that other person would strike. Unfortunately, staying defensive against Hua Xiong was beginning to become more difficult. She had switched from attacking her hands to her fingers. The beam attacks had grown smaller and numerous, she could not dodge all of it. 

"Might as well kill her first. It doesn't seem like she has any other cards."

Fu Zi suddenly changed directions, going from circling to charging towards her. 

"Do you dare?!"

Hua Xiong stepped back and swung her arm out, releasing a moon- shaped beam of light at her enemy. It illuminated the place, flying through the air and aimed towards Fu Zi's waist. But this disciple swung her scythe down, cutting the attack right down the middle and continued her way. 

The two fanged blades split apart, ready to chomp down on Hua Xiong's body. The black light within the skulls eyes grew even stronger as if it was hungry for fresh meat.

Hua Xiong retreated, attacking with every step she took but Fu Zi gained on her. The attacks she sent out while accurate and strong, were somewhat easy to predict. 

"I guess I was afraid for nothing."

Fu Zi was only a few meters away when she thought this but the next thing dispelled her sense of security. Just a moment later, she felt an intense aura around her. It was as if every tree was filled with murderous intent. Every blade of grass was a warning to her to not come any closer. Furthermore, this pressure was not pointed solely towards Fu Zi but Ming Yue as well who had been following the pair. 

"Could it be... the tortoise?" She thought.

She remembered what the captain had said, anyone who dared to come close to Hua Xiong would would be met with power without compare. Even though she wasn't receiving the brunt of it, that strength was shocking for it rivaled that of Rank 5 beasts. 

For Fu Zi, it was like facing something along the lines of an army of Gold Tusk Elephanders. 

"Is this... rank 9? 10?" 

She could barely think, retreating at once. Looking at Hua Xiong, she had only become more wary of her. 

"Who are you?" She asked.

Hua Xiong looked at her, preparing to attack once more. 

"No one, I am just a caretaker. And the one I'm caring for would like for you to die here."

Fu Zi spun her scythe as she looked at her.

"I have the tusk buy it seems that the Parasol hasn't been taken yet. If I retreat, I doubt she will be able to keep up but... would the tortoise be able to?"

She had figured it out when that pressure made its appearance. There was only one beast who could do that. She was still shaken but, her mind was firm as she glanced at the Five Element Parasol, which laid on the ground.  The commotion between Ming Yue and the other group had uprooted much of the ground including the Parasol. 

Thinking for a moment, Fu Zi made up her decision, looking at Hua Xiong. In a split second, the fangs on her scythe retracted and the blades closed up as she turned and ran. 

"Stop!" Hua Xiong yelled out and chased after her. 

Heading towards the Parasol, she went to snatch it but Ming Yue was a step ahead of her. 

"Reaping Blade."

She emerged from the shadows of the trees, attacking from the side as her sword revealed itself.