Serpent's Eyes 9

“What nonsense is this?”

Bai Nuying’s hissing, enraged voice broke the echoing silence that followed the proctor's pronouncement. Her cousin had already wrenched herself up from the earth, the dust and mud flung from her robes by the rippling force of angry qi as she reared up on her reforming coils. “Even with this wound, I am nowhere near a defeat!”

“Incorrect,” the proctor replied, turning to face her. The woman’s heeled boots did not disturb the acidic puddles and mud under her feet. “I already acted to reduce the impact of Bai Meizhen’s strike.”

Her cousin’s eyes widened fractionally, though they were still narrow and furious. Bai Meizhen remained silent, letting herself sink down, her techniques dissipating and coils flowing away. She after all was not going to argue with the proctor. She allowed the corner of her lip to quirk up as she met Bai Nuying’s eyes.

“Proctor. I understand your concern, but this was no first blood challenge, even if a wound was deep, a white serpent should not be afraid to fight with such a thing. I must..”

“Severance of the spinal nerves and meridians can be fought through by one of the Envenoming realm, especially with mastery of the Abyssal coils. However, the reagents to repair this damage aggravated by further combat is beyond any young miss’ stipend. Such a wound would require the extended attention of a physician of the Soul Formation realm. You may make a complaint to the Mistress of the Hall if you doubt my judgment.”

It was deeply, deeply satisfying to watch Nuying struggle with her temper under the withering and unconcerned gaze of one of their elder. She kept her own expression schooled carefully as her feet touched the ground. To be too outwardly smug would certainly invite censure.

But, Bai Nuying was not a child anymore either. Her hands clenched into fists, and her teeth were grit, but she did not shout or tantrum or invoke her Mother’s name. The General of Zhengjian was superior to the Mistress of the Hall, but not so superior that she would trivially override her over such a small complaint.

Not when so many eyes were on their duel, rendering it impossible to be ambiguous.

“My defenses…” Bai Nuying’s frustrated words were cut off with a click of her teeth. She met Bai Meizhen’s eyes again with a scowl.

“I am thankful for the proctor’s keen senses and swift action, saving me from lost cultivation time in the medicine hall,” Bai Nuying finished, cold and clipped.

“I am pleased to have dueled with you sister. I have learned much of the places where my style requires further polish and experience. I hope that it is the same for you.” She clasped her open left hand over her closed right fist and bowed, exactly to tradition.

“For your pointers sister, I am thankful,” the words were more acidic than the pools at their feet. She returned the bow to the exact minimum necessary for propriety.

Bai Meizhen straightened up, and so did she, without even a second between. The proctor stood over them both, looking at them with an unreadable expression, only the slight pressure of her qi an indication that she was prepared to put them both on the ground if there were any youthful explosion of tempers.

“Be thankful for your good fortune sister,” Bai Nuying said. “Such things do not come often.”

“I hope you will consider my words and how you might improve from them,” Bai Meizhen said simply.

The proctor’s eyes narrowed.

Bai Nuying’s qi distorted the air, making it waver as the surface of a lake disturbed. “Oh. I will recall them clearly.”

Bai Meizhen did hope the security on her retainers was sufficient. There would be deniable retaliation for this. But she had made her preparations with such things in mind. “That is all I ask. I hope we might speak again before I must go again, Sister.”

She was impressed with the sincerity with which she managed to say that. Bai Meizhen was swift to turn around after. Pointedly allowing her to be the one who presented her back first.

She felt very good about today.

***

“What a good show that was. Did you intend that ending? Forcing the proctor to intervene over a more drawn-out humiliation?”

Bai Meizhen sipped her wine, regarding Bai Shuye over the rim. The palace tearoom reserved for their gathering was one of the more humble ones, rich paneled wooden walls carved with intricate scrollwork and the words of past Bai poets, whose sibilant recitation formed a pleasant background… and a firm ward against eavesdropping.

“I am not so arrogant as to think my cousin is prey which I could toy with at my leisure. No, I aimed for a crippling blow because I understood that no strategem I had could be used twice, nor could I endure her blows forever. Bai Nuying would have powdered my bones if she had managed to determine the true shape of my defenses.”

“Oh, how intriguing. What shape is that?” Bai Shuye asked.

Bai Meizhen glanced away from the curve of her lips. “You insult me, implying I am so easily flattered.”

Bai Shuye laughed, leaning back in her seat, one arm thrown over its back. “My apologies, but you did make the opening.”

“I will forgive the jape,” Bai Meizhen replied.

“Though I admit I do find it interesting that would be humble even now, in private. Do you fear I will spread rumors that you are sneering in private?”

“Those rumors already exist, I’m sure,” Bai Meizhen replied. She tapped her knuckle against the jade surface of the table between them. Xiao Fen took her empty cup. “No, I prefer to keep my pride grounded. I am the victor, my guile overcame her strength. But it was not something easy. My cousin is a dangerous woman on the field, and perhaps off it.”

“Perhaps?”

“I’ve not tested her in that arena, children’s games do not count,” Bai Meizhen replied archly.

“Meticulous!” Bai Shuye laughed, raising her hand. Her own Xiao, whose name Bai Meizhen did not know glided forward.

“And you are baiting me for arrogance while being easy with compliments. My Senior Sister is thorough as well,” Bai Meizhen replied dryly.

Bai Shuye nodded, not bothering to contradict her words, her fingernails drummed on the table as the older Bai studied her intently. “Really just basic due diligence, you seem a sensible girl, but victory can do strange things to the mind sometimes.”

“Not a sentiment I think I have heard before,” Bai Meizhen said, tilting her head.

“More’s the shame. Victory can be a disease of its own sometimes. May I ask why you refused the tea and went for the wine?”

Bai Meizhen frowned at the seeming non sequitur. She considered a moment and decided to answer honestly. “The Heir of the Cai is a good friend and an aficionado of high-quality teas. To be blunt, I enjoy teas, but I am in need of a break.”

Bai Shuye blinked, and smiled again, wider and more genuinely. “Really now. I can honestly say I did not expect that answer.”

“Sometimes, the answer is not the expected. I suppose you thought I was attempting to seem more mature?”

“The thought crossed my mind. It is said that anyone who reaches the third realm is an adult, but we both know that is not really true in practice.”

“It would be strange for those with a hundred years or more under their feet to look on those with less than twenty as true equals,” Bai Meizhen agreed.

“And yet it does rankle doesn’t it, particularly when one advances as quickly as you and I.”

She accepted her new wine cup from Xiao Fen. “I can allow that. What vintage is this, I don’t recognize the scent.”

Though the toxicity was well within digestible levels, a second realm might find their stomach sizzling, but she would be fine. No trace of contaminants either.

“Something my cousin is working on. He was given a position overseeing the old Lu vineyards. No official label yet,” Bai Shuye said.

It was possible there was something both she and Xiao Fen had missed she admitted, but there was no angle from which that made sense. Besides, she did have a purging talisman if it came too it. She took a sip and blinked.

Oh, that WAS a strong-bodied wine.

“I’m pleased you approve,” Bai Shuye chuckled. “Now, let us talk about ambitions, Sister.”