DDD Chapter 136: Contesting the Beauty (Patreon)

As I stood there facing Cultivator Jaime, I wracked my brain trying to come up with a solution to my current predicament. At first, I planned on dancing to the rhythms and patterns of the world around us. However, after witnessing her dance, I realized that Cultivator Jaime far surpassed me in skill. I doubted she would concede on that basis.

Even if I matched Cultivator Jaime’s skill, or even surpassed it, I doubted that would make a difference. After all, her goal was to make me submit and then drain me of my vitality and cultivation. She wouldn’t give up on that, not when she held the advantage here.

If I couldn’t get her to concede, then perhaps I could turn this into a contest of attrition and outlast her. Cultivator Jaime was in late Foundation Establishment, but I was a dual refiner. I had more physical stamina and endurance than her. However, I doubted that would work either.

Cultivator Jaime was a demonic cultivator who specialized in bewitchment and enchantment. While I had more physical stamina and endurance than her, I feared that she would overwhelm my mental defenses and entrance me. At that point, she would make me concede.

Despair gripped my heart like an icy claw. Was this it? Was there no hope of victory? Was this all a futile struggle on my part? I wavered. Maybe I should just use Living Candle and inflict an internal injury on myself, one severe enough to activate my tournament token.

However, that meant giving up on the Rising Heroes Tournament and abandoning Cultivator Byron to his fate. I glanced over at him. He wore a resigned expression on his face, as if my defeat was set in stone.

“Well?” Cultivator Jaime said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Are you going to dance?” She paused. “Or are you going to make things easier on yourself and concede?” She licked her lips. “You’ve proven yourself worthy enough. I’ll make sure to treat you well.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. No. I wouldn’t give up. I refused to.

“Apologies, Cultivator Jaime,” I said, “I was lost in thought. Your performance left me in awe, and I was thinking of how I could match it. An opponent like yourself deserves my very best.”

Cultivator Jaime blinked at me in surprise, before she snorted.

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” She said. “However, enough procrastination. Either start dancing, or concede.”

I nodded, before I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, I started dancing. Instead of dancing to the rhythms and patterns of the world around us, as I planned to at first, I focused on Cultivator Jaime with Resonating Dance. It wasn’t the first time I used my innate ability in such a manner.

There was when I first met Cultivator Ryana, back in the Valley of the Misty Grave, and when I fought Cultivator Flo in the preliminaries. Both times, Resonating Dance saved me from certain doom. Now, I would use my innate ability on Cultivator Jaime and hoped it would save me a third time.

In my mind’s eye, I recalled Cultivator Jaime’s dance from earlier. Innocent and debauched. Elegant and vulgar. Sacred and profane. It was a contradiction, yet that made Cultivator Jaime’s dance easier for me to understand. I was a divine demon. My entire existence was a contradiction.

However, I didn’t mimic Cultivator Jaime’s dance. I couldn’t. Rather, I could mimic the movements but not Cultivator Jaime’s ability to bewitch and enchant. Instead, my dance complimented Cultivator Jaime’s. I wanted to resonate with her, to connect with her, and hoped that would help me achieve victory. Otherwise, I had no chance of winning.

However, despite my best efforts, I failed. Why? What was I doing wrong? Then it clicked. While I visualized Cultivator Jaime’s dance in my mind’s eye, it wasn’t the same as dancing with her. When I used Resonating Dance with Cultivator Ryana and Cultivator Flo, they weren’t mere spectators but active participants in the dance. They were my partners, in other words. I needed to do the same with Cultivator Jaime.

I stopped dancing and faced her. While she still wore her confident smirk, she regarded me with a hint of respect in her eyes. Just a hint, but it was an improvement compared to earlier.

“Interesting,” Cultivator Jaime said. “You have phenomenal talent, but no training. A shame.” She shook her head. “Your performance was nothing special. However, there was something else going as you danced. I could sense it. What did you do?”

Hmm, perhaps my efforts earlier weren’t a complete failure.

“I could show you.” I said. “Rather, I could let you experience it. However, to do that, we would have to change the rules we set earlier. Instead of taking turns, let us dance together.”

Cultivator Jaime regarded me with suspicion.

“You want me to make another concession?” She asked. “You are a bold one.”

“Yes.” I said. “However, I’m not boring. Aren’t you having fun?”

Cultivator Jaime studied me for several moments, before she chuckled.

“True.” She said. “However, this is the last one.” She gestured to me. “And I want a concession of my own. Come closer. If we’re going to dance together, let us do so properly.”

It was my turn to regard her with suspicion. Why did she want me to come closer to her? Would that make her bewitchment more effective? That was the only reason I could think of. Still, I wasn’t in a position to refuse. It was a gamble on my part, but this entire contest was a gamble on my part. Either I would seize victory through my Resonating Dance innate ability, or fall prey to Cultivator Jaime.

I walked over to Cultivator Jaime until we were just a few feet apart. Her scent teased me. Like her dance, it was contradictory. It both attracted and repulsed me, like rose-scented water that contained a hint of poison in it. When I drew close enough, Cultivator Jaime took a deep breath.

“Much better.” She said. “If we weren’t in the middle of the Rising Heroes Tournament, I would have found a way to make you mine. The scent of your starlight and demonic fire is rather enticing.”

Right. I almost forgot that she could somehow smell qi.

“Tell me,” Cultivator Jaime said, “Are you interested in becoming my husband? I promise to take good care of you. I won’t even turn you into a human cauldron. We’ll be dual cultivation partners in truth.”

I snorted and shook my head.

“I’m already married.” I said. “And even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t be interested in marrying someone like you.”

Cultivator Jaime put on a fake melancholic expression.

“Oh, what a shame,” she said, before grinning at me. “Of course, I could always change your mind. I’ll ensure that no matter what, you’ll never forget about me.”

I glared at her.

“Just shut up and dance.”

Cultivator Jaime laughed, before the two of us started dancing with one another. At first our movements were awkward, since we didn’t plan or choreograph anything. However, soon we danced in perfect harmony with one another. Cultivator Jaime was a skilled dancer, while I had my Resonating Dance ability.

The two of us danced together in a meadow covered in red flowers, underneath a moonless and starless night sky. The demon and the poisonous rose. There was something beautiful and tragic about that image, as if we were the last two people in a world on the verge of extinction. Well, almost. Cultivator Byron’s presence ruined that somewhat.

As soon as we started dancing together, I felt Cultivator Jaime’s bewitchment probe my mental defenses. It felt like some insidious and parasitic plant trying to burrow its way into my mind and soul. I used Soul Aegis Shield to protect myself, but I didn’t know how long it would last.

At the same time, I felt something when I used my Resonating Dance innate ability. Like with Cultivator Ryana, when I danced with her in the Valley of the Misty Grave, I sensed Cultivator Jaime’s… Inner dance, for lack of a better word. Or maybe inner rhythm was a better way to put it. However, unlike Cultivator Ryana, Cultivator Jaime’s inner rhythm wasn’t discordant and broken. Her heart hadn’t been shattered by betrayal.

Instead, I sensed something that surprised me. Happiness. Dancing filled Cultivator Jaime with joy. She loved it. So much so, that she devoted herself to it. Most cultivators walked on the path towards immortality. Cultivator Jaime danced upon it. I felt awe. Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help but admire this aspect of Cultivator Jaime.

I realized that this was just below the surface. There was more to Cultivator Jaime. If I went deeper, I could reach it. My intuition told me that this was the key to victory against Cultivator Jaime. However, when I tried to go deeper, something rebuffed me.

“Ah, ah,” Cultivator Jaime tutted. “Trying to peer into a woman’s deepest secrets? Naughty boy. It looks like I’ll have to put in more effort.”

Cultivator Jaime started humming. At the same time, her scent filled my nostrils. Together, the two sensations battered against my mental defenses, weakening them. I gritted my teeth and used all of my mental strength to keep her bewitchment at bay. Despite my best efforts, my demonic nature stirred. My desire for Cultivator Jaime grew stronger and stronger.

I tried to probe deeper into Cultivator Jaime’s inner rhythm. Yet, her defenses kept me out. I couldn’t find any weakness or opening to exploit. In that case, I would have to make one. I shaped my spirit sense into a barbed blade and attacked Cultivator Jaime’s mental defenses. Desperation gave me strength. My attack failed, but that didn’t deter me. I tried over and over again.

Cultivator Jaime’s expression faltered and she paled. Her mental defenses were strong, but my repeated attacks still affected her. She redoubled her efforts. I felt light, feathery touches all over my body. It was as if countless hands were caressing me all over. They teased me, driving me mad with frustration. At the same time, the assault on my mind grew stronger. My mental defenses frayed and I didn’t know how much longer I would last.

An insidious voice whispered to me in the back of my mind. Give in. Just give in. Why keep fighting? There is no hope of victory. You’ve done enough. Give in, and enjoy your reward.

I snarled in response.

My repeated attacks bore fruit when I sensed a small, almost imperceptible, flaw in Cultivator Jaime’s mental defenses. Without hesitation, I attacked that flaw with Soul Thorn Dagger and widened it just enough for a small sliver of my spirit sense to enter.

“No!” Cultivator Jaime shouted.

She stopped dancing and rushed towards me. I didn’t have time to react. Before I knew it, she grabbed my face and kissed me, shoving her tongue down my throat. She tasted sweet. All of my resistance melted away. In its place, I felt floaty and lightheaded, as if I were intoxicated. Despite this, I continued dancing with Cultivator Jaime in my arms. With my Resonating Dance innate ability, I sensed the depths of her being.

Loneliness. Deep and profound loneliness. It was similar to the loneliness I felt when I lived on Mt. Wind Dance, neglected and shunned by my kin. However, hers was a different kind of loneliness. Mine stemmed from ostracism. That wasn’t the case for Cultivator Jaime. Hers… I wasn’t sure how to describe her loneliness. Resonating Dance didn’t give me specific information. Rather, I gleaned impressions and emotions.

Her loneliness felt like being alone despite being surrounded by a crowd of people. Being unable to trust or connect with those around her. Never having anyone see beneath the surface and truly see her. It was as if she were wearing a mask and that was all people saw. They never saw the person beneath the mask. They thought that the mask was all there was to her.

Someone shoved me, breaking my concentration. I stopped using Resonating Dance as I tried to maintain my balance. Under normal circumstances, this wasn’t difficult because my Cloud Steps movement technique allowed me to maintain my balance in almost any situation. However, these weren’t normal circumstances. I still felt somewhat intoxicated.

The person who shoved me, Cultivator Jaime, shoved me again. I stumbled before falling and landing on my back, staring up at the black void above. For a single moment, it felt like the void would swallow me whole. The moment passed when Cultivator Jaime jumped onto me and wrapped her hands around my throat. Tears filled her eyes as she glared down at me, her features twisted with anger and hate. I had touched her reverse scale by peering into the depths of her soul.

“How dare you!” She screamed at me.

I couldn’t breath, but I didn’t have the strength nor the presence of mind to pry Cultivator Jaime’s off my throat. Instead, I stared up at her. Thanks to Resonating Dance, I understood her in a way few others did; in a way few others could.

The weak spot in Cultivator Jaime’s mental defenses remained. I pierced through it. Not to attack, but to send a telepathic message.

‘I see you.’ I said. ‘You are not alone.’

Through our telepathic connection, I shared my own loneliness, so that Cultivator Jaime could feel my sincerity. She froze and stared at me with wide eyes. We gazed at one another for what felt like an eternity, before she jumped off of me and ran away. Even after her hands left my throat, I held my breath. I wasn’t sure why. Perhaps I wanted this moment to last just a little bit longer. When my vision started to go dark and I saw spots, I sucked in a breath.

Afterwards, I just laid there and stared up at the black void above. A part of me wanted to chase after Cultivator Jaime, either to eliminate her or to embrace her. I wasn’t sure which. I both desired her and hated her. However, I didn’t move. The lingering traces of her bewitchment left me befuddled and light-headed. Moving seemed far too difficult at the moment. It was easier to remain like this.

I heard a burning sound and felt heat wash over me, but I paid it no mind. Instead, I continued laying there and staring up at the black void above. What felt like hours later, I heard footsteps approach me and Cultivator Bryon’s face came into view. He was covered in soot and ash.

Oh. Right. He was here. I had almost completely forgotten about him.

Cultivator Byron studied me with a concerned expression on his face. He crouched down, held my hand, and took my pulse. I felt him examine my body with his spirit sense.

“That woman poisoned you and placed you under an incomplete bewitchment,” Cultivator Byron said. “However, you’ll make a full recovery in a few hours.”

I didn’t respond and continued to stare up at the black void.

“Cultivator Darian?” Cultivator Byron asked.

“I think I did something I shouldn’t have.” I said in a dreamy voice, as if I were floating atop a layer of clouds.

Cultivator Byron’s brow furrowed.

“How would you feel if someone glimpsed at the depths of your soul?” I asked. “The part of yourself that you would never share with anyone, but those you trusted the most.”

Cultivator Bryon took a moment before replying.

“Furious,” he said, “And afraid.”

I nodded.

“Cultivator Jaime is going to hold a grudge over this.” I said. “I’ll be seeing her again in the future.”

Cultivator Byron sighed.

“Perhaps so.” He said. “However, let us worry about our present situation before we worry about what may happen in the future. We still have several hours before the Rising Heroes Tournament ends.” He glanced around. “I’ll take you to another location so you can rest and recover.”

With that, Cultivator Byron recovered our array sets and flying magic treasures, before he picked me. After hoisting me onto his shoulder, he hopped onto his flying sword and flew off.

I fell into something of a fugue state, somewhere between waking and sleep. The last thing I remembered was the lingering taste of Cultivator Jaime coating my tongue. She tasted sweet.

***

Interlude: Nova

Nova smirked as she noticed Sect Leader Rose Heart trembling with anger from the corner of her eye. Sect Leader Desert Thorn tried to calm down his wife and murmured soothing words to her, to no avail. Sect Leader Rose Heart threw a venomous look Nova’s way. If looks could kill, Nova would be dead a thousand times over.

Actually, since Sect Leader Rose Heart was a mental cultivator, she could kill with a look. No, a thought. However, she wouldn’t dare. Not here. So all she could do was glare with impotent rage. Perhaps it was petty of Nova, but she derived immense satisfaction from that.

“As you can see, Sect Leader Rose Heart,” Nova called out, grinning, “My son is not a fool, ignorant, or an ignorant fool.” She paused. “So, what does that make your disciple, since she lost to him?”

Sect Leader Rose Heart looked like she was about to have an apoplectic fit.

“Your son got lucky!” She spat out.

Nova raised an eyebrow at her.

“And?” She asked. “Luck is part of a cultivator’s strength. Regardless of how you look at it, my son defeated your disciple.”

“The only reason why he defeated Jaime is because she grew complacent and played around too much. If she had taken him seriously-…”

Nova cut her off.

“But she didn’t.” She said. “That was her downfall.” She smirked. “Perhaps she had a poor role model as an example.”

“You!”

Just as Sect Leader Rose Heart was about to leap at Nova and attack her, Sect Leader Desert Thorn wrapped his arms around his wife.

“Calm yourself, my dear,” he said, “Remember where we are.”

Clarity returned to Sect Leader Rose Heart’s eyes. They were all in Baldy’s tent as his guests. If Sect Leader Rose Heart attacked Nova, she would suffer severe punishment. She was a sect leader of one of the Seven Great Northern Sects, but Baldy was the North King. In the Northern Region, few were his equal and even fewer were superior.

“I’ll remember this.” Sect Leader Rose Heart spat out, before storming off.

Her husband, Sect Leader Desert Thorn, chased after her.

“Your ability to create grudges astounds me, Hall Master Nova.” Peak Master Sky Splitter said.

He had been there the entire time, a quiet observer to Nova’s little spat with Sect Leader Rose Heart.

“It’s part of my charm.” Nova said, grinning at him.

Peak Master Sky Splitter gave her a flat look.

“Yes,” he said in a dry voice, “Charm. That’s the word I’d use.”

Nova chuckled, before she returned to observing her youngest. Despite her confident demeanor earlier, she felt a little concerned about what just happened. Not for herself, but for her son. His actions connected his fate to Sect Leader Rose Heart’s disciple’s. They would meet again in the future, either as enemies… Or as something else. Nova wasn’t sure which she preferred for her son, and she knew he wouldn’t either, once he recovered his senses.

Still, at least it was interesting. Nova looked forward to seeing how it all played out.

***

I regained my senses an unknown amount of time later. My mind felt… Strange. I no longer felt floaty and light-headed, but I sensed lingering traces of Cultivator Jaime’s bewitchment. My desire for her warred with my disgust and repulsion. Worst of all, not all of my desire was a result of her bewitchment. When I glimpsed into the depths of her soul and saw her loneliness, I felt a kinship with her. Worst of all, I shared a part of my loneliness with her.

In that moment, I vowed to be more careful when using Resonating Dance. It was a powerful ability, but it came with some drawbacks. Resonating with an enemy allowed me to understand them and their inner rhythm. However, it also connected me to them. If Cultivator Jaime were before me and at my complete mercy, I wouldn’t be able to kill her, despite my repulsion towards her. Due to our connection, no matter how unwelcome it was, it would be the same as killing a part of myself.

I shook my head. Cultivator Jaime was gone now, and it was best if we didn’t see each other for the foreseeable future. Putting her out of my mind and focusing on the task at hand was the best solution, at least in the short term. The long term solution… Well, I would cross that bridge when I came to it.

After stabilizing my mental state as best I could given the circumstances, I opened my eyes and observed my surroundings. I seemed to be in some kind of cave. It was small, about the size of my shack back at Mt. Wind Dance. It felt a little cold, though not enough to bother me. Through the cave mouth, I glimpsed mountains. Was I in some kind of mountain range?

With my spirit sense, I noticed that a few defensive arrays protected the cave. They were Cultivator Byron’s work. Cultivator Byron himself wasn’t in sight. Had he gone off on his own after ensuring my safety? If so, I wouldn’t blame him. I didn’t know how long I had been in a fugue state, but it should have been a few hours at least. Spending that time sitting around and looking after me would’ve been a waste.

Just as I thought that, I sensed a presence flying in my direction. I tensed, but relaxed when I realized it was Cultivator Byron. He landed in front of the cave, before walking inside. When he noticed me, he paused for a moment.

“Oh, you’re awake.” Cultivator Byron said. “Good. I was starting to get worried.”

I blinked at him.

“Did you watch over me this entire time?” I asked.

Cultivator Byron nodded.

“Why?”

He raised an eyebrow at me.

“Why not?” He replied. “We have an alliance.”

I took a moment before responding.

“Thank you.” I said. “To be honest, I thought you had just left me here and gone off on your own.”

It’s what I would have done, were our positions reversed.

“I thought about it.” Cultivator Byron said with a shrug. “However, I’m trying to become a better person, this includes acting the part.”

“Once again, thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say.

Cultivator Byron nodded, before he walked over and sat down next to me.

“What do you think we should do now?” He asked. He nodded towards the cave mouth. “The immediate area around us is clear. At this point, I believe we’ve earned enough points to rank within the top one hundred. We could just stay here and rest until the end of the Rising Heroes Tournament.”

I paused in thought. After the constant fighting throughout the entire day and my encounter with Cultivator Jaime, I felt wrung out. I conserved my strength by resorting to traps and ambushes, as well as recruiting Cultivator Byron’s aid, but I still felt tired. Taking breaks mitigated the worst of it, but didn’t eliminate it. Resting until the end of the Rising Heroes Tournament sounded tempting.

And yet I couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied by that thought. It felt too much like giving up.

“If it’s all the same to you, Cultivator Byron,” I said, “I want to keep going.”

Cultivator Byron frowned at me.

“Are you that determined to rank within the top twenty five?” He asked.

I nodded.

“That’s part of it, yes.” I said. “However, I want to keep pushing myself. Only by testing my limits can I surpass them and continue to grow.”

Besides, despite everything, I hadn’t really had a satisfying fight since my match with Cultivator Flo during the preliminaries. I resorted to ambushes and traps out of necessity, in order to conserve my strength, but a part of me wanted something more.

I wanted one last battle, one where I used everything at my disposal and fought without holding back. However, it needed to be with the right opponent. I didn’t want to fight just anyone. No. It needed to be meaningful.

“Very well,” Cultivator Byron said. “I would’ve been unsatisfied with leaving things here as well. I am a disciple of Celestial Warrior Hall and a scion of Clan Gold Flame. Sitting idly by for no good reason doesn’t suit my nature. However, given what happened to you, I felt compelled to point out our options.”

I chuckled.

“Thank you for your consideration, Cultivator Byron.” I said. “I’m all rested now, so I’m ready to leave when you are.”

“Then let us go.”

With that, the two of us packed up and left the cave. We were in the final stretch of the Rising Heroes Tournament.