Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

"Who-"

Fu Zi swung her scythe to stop Drifting Sky. It was a weapon made for her, something Dai Mian had created personally. It took the essence of a hundred evildoers to create but against Ming Yue's sword, it cracked. 

She could barely even think before Ming Yue's strike pushed her back. 

Not to mention, she wasn't even given a chance to think of her next move before Ming Yue attacked. Her Zephyr Claws lashed out as grabbed the scythe and pulled it closer to her. Fu Zi felt her body jerk towards Ming Yue's sword, swinging towards her side.

"Don't get cocky!"

In a rage, Fu Zi yanked her scythe back, pulling Ming Yue in as she punched out. 

From behind, Hua Xiong saw it all unfold, pausing for a moment when she saw Ming Yue's face. But it was only for a moment as she flew towards the two. Her hands shot out another beam of light, aimed at Fu Zi's back. 

Letting go of the scythe, Ming Yue avoided the punch as her sword swung into the damaged scythe. More and more cracks appeared on the weapon worrying Fu Zi even further. 

"One more hit like that and it'll break!"

She backed off, avoiding Hua Xiong's attack as the scythe returned to her spatial ring. As much as she didn't like it, Fu Zi did not want to risk breaking her scythe. However, what happened to her next shocked both of her enemies. 

"What?"

Their eyes widened in surprise as Fu Zi's arms took on a new appearance, becoming pale and thin. Her fingers grew longer as the nails turned into that of talons. Her mouth morphed, growing slightly longer as her teeth became fangs. It was like she had become a monster, a witch of some sort. 

"You forced me to do this! Don't think either of you will live now!"

Her voice had changed as well, taking on a more guttural sound and screechy.

She leaped forward with her arms outstretched as she went to grab them by the throats. 

"Die!"

Ming Yue charged forward with Drifting Sky as Hua Xiong stood back, providing support. Seconds passed before, her sword clashed against Fu Zi's talons. But this monstrous person moved her head forward, opening her mouth to take a bite out of Ming Yue. The latter was quick, pushing Fu Zi back. 

Slobber and drool dripped by the side of her mouth as she leaped forward wildly at Ming Yue. Fu Zi was like an animal now, charging like a boar. Her mouth was outstretched revealing the jagged fangs that were once her teeth. 

"She's quicker now..."

Fu Zi's speed nearly doubled but more importantly, her ferocity had grown to a new level. Every time she was pushed off or thrown back, Fu Zi would lunge back. Regardless of any injuries she sustained, she only grew more savage and wild. 

"Grrr- Rrauw!"

Words could barely form at this point as her mouth had fully morphed, full of fangs along a tongue only a snake had. 

"Damn it, I have to take the offensive."

Ming Yue looked at her, brandishing Drifting Sky before charging forward. As Fu Zi's ghastly figure leaped towards her, she dipped below, grabbing her by the ankle and throwing her into the ground. With her Zephyr Claws, they tore through the tendons and bones, causing Fu Zi to screech in pain. 

"Lightfall!"

Hua Xiong flew up and shot out a rush of Light Dao beams, crashing into the ground where Fu Zi was. Ming Yue jumped away and avoided this barrage before jumping back in. Only seconds had passed before the monstrous hag was sent flying out, slamming into one of the tree trunks. 

Fu Zi sputtered out weakly as blood dripped from the various wounds. She fell down, breathing harshly but glaring at Hua Xiong and Ming Yue. With every second, her body turned more monstrous, her skin lost its healthy color as the blood that flowed had become a murky brown. 

She started moving forward before running at her highest speed. 

Ming Yue readied her sword as well as her Zephyr Claws.

"Have to kill her quick before one of us makes a mistake."

Drawing out more power, she prepared to end it all in one strike. 

Fu Zi sprinted forward, eventually running on all fours as she approached Ming Yue. Just meters away, she jumped to the left and went past her, instead aiming for Hua Xiong. 

"Shit!"

Knowing her capabilities, Ming Yue chased after her only to see Hua Xiong prepared for such an attempt. 

"Light of Disintegration!"

Hua Xiong pointed her index finger at Fu Zi, a small dot of light began to form at the tip. A thin beam of white light shot out, entering her forehead. 

She trembled before twisting in pain as that beam of light wreaked havoc on her meridians. It went from one place to another, destroying her cultivation. Just like that, the rest of her body returned to its original form. 

"Is this what she truly looks like?" Ming Yue thought. 

Reverted to her true form, Fu Zi was simply an old monstrous looking hag. The nails, the fangs, her skin had boils and pus, any sense of that prettiness from before was gone. 

"Killing others just to preserve your own youth..."

Hua Xiong looked at her and watched her body get destroyed her attack. 

Ming Yue walked up and watched as Fu Zi convulsed uncontrollably. She couldn't even speak anymore but her eyes seemed to beg for mercy. Raising her sword, Ming Yue chopped down, killing her and finishing up that last of this group. 

"That's nine dead, six more left", she thought. 

Just like that three groups were gone, there were only two left. Even if all she needed to do was to kill one group, she did not want any chance of Dai Mian being reborn. 

"Next is the temple and the lake. But I should send Hua Xiong back first."

Thinking to herself, Ming Yue turned around only to find that said person pointing their finger at her. Jumping out of hiding, Hei Yue and Xiao Yin went to her side, staring icily at Hua Xiong. Even if Hua Xiong had helped them before, they would not tolerate her threataning Ming Yue. 

"If you move, I will do onto you what I did to her", she said. 

Ming Yue looked at her and put away her sword. 

"I had thought that you would be dead but I did not think that I would meet you here, Hua Xiong."

She spoke in a relieved tone but her counterpart still continued to aim at her. Hua Xiong looked surprised but what she heard, her eyes widened in a bit of shock . 

"What! How do you know my name? Who are you?"

"Did you- do you not know who I am?"

Ming Yue wasn't expecting that response and realized what had happened. 

"Could she have lost part of her memory?" she thought.

After pondering for a moment, she looked back to Hua Xiong, trying to explain herself. 

"I saved you several years ago and asked for your help not too long ago. That request of mine had ended in you sacrificing yourself and being sent here. I've had been searching for several months now, almost half a year to find you. What happened, Hua Xiong?"

Hua Xiong looked at her, trying to detect any sort of lies in those words. Her hand lowerded as the speck of light vanished. 

"Then your name?"

"It is Ming Yue."

"Ming Yue..."

Repeating the words in her mind, a flash of light appeared in her eyes as that name seemed to have triggered something. She looked at Ming Yue and walked up to her. 

"While I do not think that you are lying, you must come with me, Ming Yue. I have to have you meet with the Forest Keeper."

She then walked past Ming Yue, leading her into the depths of the Boundless Beast Forest, deeper into the tortoise's domain.