Chương 36: No Room for Humor

Paike thought about his new strength. Advancing to Middle Ruby, as well as awakening his physical cultivation, had made him nearly unrecognizable in terms of ability. Depending on how he used it, he might be able to launch her a decent way up the wall. It might not be anywhere near the top, but it might be enough to make a difference. Before he could say anything, Zhang Shuying stepped forward.

"I see where you're going with this, but allow me. I think my cultivation might be able to help." She stepped in front of Paike, lifting the hem of her robes with both hands and raising one slippered foot a few feet off the ground as if preparing to step into something. Paike frowned but understood what she was aiming for. He crouched down and interlaced his fingers as she placed her foot in his hand.

"Okay, on three," he said.

"One, two, three." As he stood, he pushed with his hands and flung her up above his head as he stood up. In one fluid, explosive motion, he went from crouching to standing with his hand above his head. Her timing was impeccable as she jumped with his assistance. With an unnatural gust of wind, Zhang Shuying shot upward. She didn't come close to reaching the top of the wall, but apparently, that wasn't her goal. She latched onto the wall a good seven meters up.

Liming, Paike, and Mi Lixian stared in awe as Zhang Shuying kicked off the wall, gaining another meter before latching on again. Just as she seemed about to fall, a gust of wind blasted their hair back, and she maintained her position, regrouping on the wall despite the handholds disappearing beneath her. To Paike's surprise, Guan Li wasn't willing to be left out. He left his perch on the top of the wall and climbed down slightly, moving in an odd, stuttering way from hold to hold.

Despite seemingly dancing on the vertical surface, he had the dexterity to reach out and grab Zhang Shuying's arm, pulling her up and helping her stay attached to the wall. Eventually, she stopped trying to hold onto the disappearing handles and closed her eyes, focusing instead on letting the wind buffet her. It held her aloft for a few seconds at a time as Guan Li towed her up a meter before pulling her closer to the wall. She just concentrated on not falling.

She couldn't fly with her cultivation—she was still far from that—but slowing her fall was doable before momentum took over. It was enough for the handful of seconds it took for Guan Li to drag her up to the next set of larger holds. With Guan Li towing her to the top, they appeared to be the first team with two people at the summit. Meanwhile, Li Feng was climbing the wall with someone on his back. Paike shook his head in disbelief. That was very impressive.

The fluidity that filled every one of his movements made Paike wonder if his physical cultivation had advanced again. There was no way Guan Li would match that feat. Guan Li might have been a slightly faster climber, but he didn't have the strength to carry someone. Well, at least not Paike. He glanced over at Liming.

"I don't know how this is going to work. I don't think I can get you that high, and Guan Li won't be able to pull you up as well." Paike desperately racked his brain, unwilling to be stuck here, unable to pass the first obstacle. Shuying couldn't make it up by herself, but with help, she could. Guan Li could clearly ascend and descend the wall at will—it looked almost as effortless for him as walking on flat ground. But how would that help the rest of them? They didn't have the right arts to support themselves.

Maybe if he had learned Acknowledgment of Worldly Matters, he might have been able to improvise using the attuned meridian. But he hadn't had the time.

"Sister? Have you made any progress with The Reed Steers the River?" He asked. Now would be an excellent time for a battlefield control technique to boost the speed and power of her allies. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Yes, brother, but only the first technique, so I don't think it would be of use now," Liming said, but she also shot him a reproachful look that seemed to say, I would have said something if I had. He raised his hands in apology before sinking back into thought.

"I might be able to do something with a song," Mi Lixian said. Paike looked over at her hopefully. But she didn't look confident.

"But, I would need time to compose. I don't have anything ready." Paike shook his head. They didn't have time right now.

"Later, if we have the same team next time, but I don't know how long we have. Good to know that it is possible, though." He was glad that he wasn't the only one thinking about the problem. He could probably launch his sister four or five meters up. Still, without the wind's assistance, it would be only half of what was needed, and she wouldn't be able to stop herself from falling while Guan Li pulled her up. Guan Li might be able to carry Mi Lixian or Liming, but definitely not Paike.

Paike was not nimble enough to make it up by himself. Looking up, he called, "Miss Zhang, would you be able to assist in supporting any of us on the way up?" Her brows knit together as she thought. She nodded hesitantly, but Paike already had an idea. Now, would they be able to communicate it well, yelling up and down the wall? Hard to say. He didn't want to make them all come back down, though.

"Who wants to go next?" he asked. Liming stepped forward, offering him her foot in the same way.

"Miss Zhang!" Paike yelled.

"Get ready to support her! Guan Li, you're probably going to have to help once she's up a little bit." They waited a few moments as Guan Li climbed down the wall slightly.

"A little lower," Paike called.

"I don't think I can throw her that high." It would have been the perfect time for Liming to make some joke about insulting her weight, but when he glanced up at her face from where he was crouched, he saw only steely determination. There was no room for her usual ill-timed humor.

"All right. Three, two…" And with a grunt, he said, "One!" as he flung his hands high. Liming pushed off with a qi-reinforced kick, shoving his hands down with unexpected force as she rocketed upward. Just barely, Guan Li clasped her wrists, and instead of pulling her in, he used the momentum to fling her several meters higher in a ridiculous display of acrobatics before scurrying up the wall after her. Liming flailed slightly but clutched the wall.

Once she was steady, she began moving upward in a more measured but fluid way. Paike's heart scrambled as he kept watch each time she slipped, but Guan Li was always there to steady her. The wind swirled around Liming, flapping her robes and hair as she did her best to stay pressed against the wall. Every time she was about to fall, a bit of air beneath her limbs provided just enough support for her to find her next handhold. Could they actually do it? Paike looked over at the last member of his team.

She might be able to make it up, but what about him? Mi Lixian had more trouble than Liming, but eventually, all four of them were at the top of the wall. Paike glanced around, realizing two of the other three teams had already moved on to the next obstacle. The last team was Ren Shu and Han Saiyan's, but those two were gone—it was just three other cultivators standing at the base of the wall. The others were nowhere to be seen. He looked up at his teammates, meters above him.

"Here let's try this," Guan Li called. With a bit of explaining, the four of them started to form a chain—Guan Li, Liming, and Mi Lixian—holding each other's ankles. Guan Li bore the weight of all three of them with little effort. It was amazing how strong cultivators were, but how long could it last? Paike still had to climb about five meters and then use them as handholds. He took a few steps back, running at the wall and jumping off. His qi had long since flushed the ache from his forearms.

This time, he was more intentional and steady in his pace, though he hurried—Guan Li, strong as he was, couldn't hold them all forever. Once he started, he felt the support of Zhang Suying's technique as the wind swirled around him. He felt lighter, and each time he moved, his limbs felt supported. With effort, Paike reached the base of the chain, grabbing onto Mi Lixian's ankle to steady himself. Using the sure handholds, he quickly climbed past her.

She began to climb as well, and within minutes, all five of them stood at the top of the wall. Paike was ready for a moment of celebration. But it never came. Everyone else was looking toward the next obstacle with determination. He let himself have a small smile before he too focused on what came next. A beam of light stretched over a pit, leading into dark, murky waters roiling with something lurking beneath.