Unintended Cultivator

Sen knew from personal experience with his hiding technique that people could mask themselves from a spiritual sense. In a place like the capital, that represented a huge stumbling block in dealing with or flushing out enemies. Widespread attacks were simply too dangerous and carried far too much risk of injuring mortal or the uninvolved. In a place where Sen held the high ground, there were enemies in numbers, and there was only one person’s life he was concerned with preserving, that advantage disappeared like a whisper in a night breeze. Sen lifted his hand, weaving together qi almost on instinct. Then, he brought that hand down. A wave of raw force slammed down on the forest below like a blow from a god. With the exception of a lone tree in which Falling Leaf was perched, everything in a thirty-foot circle around her was crushed flat. Trees exploded, stones shattered, and spirit beasts died.

The remaining spirit beasts, the ones outside that circle of death and mayhem, froze in place. They were either shocked into stillness by the abrupt and overwhelming violence or too frightened to move, lest they draw more of that ire down on themselves. Sen wasn’t picky about which as he lowered the qi platform until he hovered next to Falling Leaf and held out a hand to her. She gave him a bright smile, took the hand, and graciously allowed him to help her step onto the platform. She looked around at the area that had been leveled and snorted.

“You’re good at announcing yourself,” she said.

“I do my best,” said Sen. “I hate for people to die confused. They were chasing and attacking you, so I assumed they needed to die.”

“They did,” said Falling Leaf with an icy edge in her voice.

Sen nodded and did his best not to let his relief bleed onto his face.

“You noticed me watching the area?”

Falling Leaf nodded as she scanned the forest around them and said, “I knew you would come. It was convenient. I thought I’d have to get much closer to the mortal dens.”

“The houses?” asked Sen in amusement.