They completed four more full rounds of qigong. Each was a dozen repetitions of the full set of forms, back to back. With a short breather in between each round. The second last was a speed round, going about twice as fast. Shae had a harder time with that one simply because it left less room for her to manage her tar practice.

She wasn't the only one in her group of students to struggle, however. Others fell out of sync, clearly tired and not accustomed to the sudden change in pace. Even those that survived were clearly much more exhausted by it and struggled with the last set. This group didn't collapse to the ground in the same way as the last, though. Most simply dropped to one knee to breath and recover, then jumped back in on the next cycle of forms, picking up where they left off.

That was enough for their leader to call the session complete. "Alright. You're clearly done for today. Get a few laps in if you still have the energy." He waved a finger in a circle above his head and the group broke ranks.

Shae looked around, uncertain of where these laps would take place.

"New girl." The team lead called to her and waved her over.

"Yes, Senior." She nodded politely as she approached.

"Can you tar your whole body?"

"No, just the right arm and leg."

"Okay." He shrugged and pointed to the other groups that were still going. "They're doing full tar, so you can't technically join them, yet. Though I'm not sure you're supposed to be here anyway. What's your name?"

"Wise Shae, Senior..?"

"Wise? You a monk? Ah, I'm Martial Brother Bai." He smirked.

"Bai? Another one? -Ah, sorry, Senior." She bowed quickly.

"Heh heh heh," he chuckled. "You're fine. There are a few too many of us around. That's why I included my titles. Didn't see you on the signup sheet, though."

"Ah. Elder Taoying told me to show up today. Partly as punishment, and I guess she didn't like my punching form either." Shae mimed punching the air.

Bai raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, if that's your form I can see why."

She frowned at him.

He shrugged then shook a single raised finger. "Even as a joke or quick example, your form should still be immaculate."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure. Could you give me tips then?"

"I could, since you're a beginner. Yet I'm not sure what the elder had in mind. Wouldn't want to step on her toes." He looked up and gestured. "She's on her way over."

Following his gesture, she saw that Elder Taoying was slowly migrating in their direction. The groups of practicing martial students had lost a few participants and been rearranged. That had left her with two cultivators tagging along behind her, a man and woman.

"Martial Junior Bai, thank you for waiting with Little Shae. Shae did you use the time to think about your lesson?"

They both bowed and everyone turned to hear Shae's response. "Uhh, lesson? Was that the punishment? I thought that was just a warmup, Elder? I could go again, once or twice."

"Hmm. Well you did start late, I'm sure you can run through another set on your own, or do laps." Taoying nodded.

"Oh, uhm. Not just another set, or round. I mean the whole thing since I got here. I have a lot of endurance if I can use qi during recovery."

Taoying blinked at her. The others looked at each other, slightly confused.

"Oh, sorry. Elder Taoying," she added the title and bowed.

"Little Shae, that's not why we are surprised. That's much more endurance than most at your stage. Though, I suppose that's mainly from your qi recovery. I'm sure you've been told how rare that is."

She nodded.

"As for your lesson. I suppose this does mean I'll have to make the point in some other way." Taoying looked up and around the arena.

Shae hesitantly raised a hand. "Uhm. Elder, I do understand the massive difference in cultivator abilities as stages increase. Even within the same stage." She pointed at the still exercising cultivators. "That was the lesson, correct?"

Bai nodded along until she said 'correct?' Where he flinched and grimaced.

"Little Shae." Taoying smiled wide, without it touching her eyes. "If you'd learned the lesson, you wouldn't need to ask for clarification."

"Ah. So it's like that," she said flatly.

"It is. And now, we must think of how best to punish your misguided decision making."

Shae frowned and met the Elder's gaze. "Hold on. Elder, why do you say misguided? I think I did quite well during the Gatewash battle."

Among the three observers, eyebrows jumped and they exchanged glances.

Taoying held her gaze firm. "And stubborn too. Didn't I make it clear how much danger you put yourself in? Furthermore, the stronger cultivators around you would have needed to restrain themselves, limiting their own power to not harm you."

Shae chewed on her first response, re-wording it to be a little less confrontational. "I'm not certain we have the same understanding of what occurred that day, Elder. It's true that I endangered myself, that much is obvious. Yet my actions saved lives. Even at the end, Agent Apollo and I identified that Master Long's final blow would be a danger to the other defenders and she called for an early withdrawal. Long certainly wasn't hesitating on my account. He was-" she bit off her words and looked away.

"No, go on, little Shae. Tell us what you think." Taoying teased.

Shae took two deep breaths then looked back at the grinning elder. "That is a difference of opinion between Master Long and myself. I shouldn't claim to know what an Elder was thinking."

Taoying nodded down at her. "Good that you can understand that much. However, to claim you weren't a hindrance... It was a battle, to contribute at all you would need to be able to threaten the enemy. What threat did you pose, little one?"

Shae took a slow breath and looked at the ground. "I had a good quality mortal bow with me. Completely ineffective even against the smaller pangodiles because of their scales. Yet, when working together with others I was able to distract them enough for someone else to land a fatal blow."

"Hmm. Half points for that, then. And against the larger spirit beast?"

Shae swallowed and glanced down briefly. "Agent Apollo borrowed my bow to land several strong attacks against the beast. She had used up all of her own arrows. That allowed them to pin the beast down so that Master Long could prepare a final devastating attack."

"And you were unarmed while she did that?" Taoying raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you retreat?"

Shae bit her tongue. She's definitely read a report about it, or heard something. She squinted her eyes at the woman, and yet, "What kind of response are you angling for, Elder? Trying to get me to brag about what happened?"

"So confrontational. Are you sure that's what you want to do?" She spiked her qi pressure and added a bit of killing intent.

Shae expected the pressure, but the intent made her gasp quietly in surprise. It wasn't so simple as how Long threatened an attack. It was brutal and widespread. She hardly had time to parse every part of it before the elder stopped it. Shae blinked, spots clearing her vision, had that passed quick or slow?

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Taoying subtly smirked. "You handle pressure well enough, but with a reaction like that, I'm starting to doubt you could stay standing near a real fight."

Shae blinked again and thought over the elder's words. "Fine. I can agree with that assessment. Which only proves the fights I stepped into weren't real fights. Master Long didn't need to hold back because of me, he already wasn't fighting at full strength because he was using the battle as training for himself. Are we done here, Elder Taoying?"

Her smirk vanished. "Well, Little Shae. You certainly found a path to weasel out of that." She sighed and shook her head. "If intent and pressure were the only threats during a battle, then yes you would have little to fear. However, the report specifically mentioned that domains were active."

The other three cultivators gasped at that proclamation. Shae barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Taoying continued, "Speculation about another's domain is generally taboo, yet if Master Long or agent Apollo used their domain, then we can assume it was only in response to the spirit beast's own domain. We need not offer a deceased beast the same courtesy so we can discuss its Domain. Firstly, we would rarely consider a hostile conflict involving domains to be training. Second, Little Shae, do you have any understanding of what would have occurred had you stepped into the beast's? And do note that a Domain also enhances techniques, so what would have happened had you even been grazed by the beast's attacks?"

Shae held the elders gaze for a breath, exhaling stiffly. "Yes Elder. I know exactly what would have happened because I was there and I saw it happen. Agent Apollo was caught in the beast's breath attack. A crystalline mist that infected and corrupted whatever it touched. I watched it crystallize and grow as it consumed her qi. An effect that was possibly complicated by the technique passing through Long's domain, or because she had to resist his, as well. She did not use her own." Shae took a deep breath and held up a hand to delay any response.

She looked at the others around her, then back to Elder Taoying. "Evidently, certain details were omitted from the reports. I would only be willing to continue this conversation in private, Elder Taoying. Preferably with Master Long present. Are we done here?"

The three observers gasped again, likely surprised at Shae's attempt to end the conversation. The unknown man took half a step back, giving Taoying more room. The woman squinted and placed her hand on her hip, resting it near her sword hilt.

Taoying held firm, a blank mask of calm over her. The expression only vaguely suggested anger or disapproval because she hadn't resisted the earlier opportunities to smile or smirk. She increased her qi pressure, and waited a pair of breaths.

Shae held herself as firm as a mirror. The other three cultivators continued to shift uncomfortably. Shae assumed it was more from restless uncertainty than discomfort at the qi pressure. The man Shae hadn't met spoke up, "Uhm, Elder, if I may?"

Without breaking her glare she said, "Go ahead, Junior Wen."

"I saw Master Long earlier today, entering one of the private training rooms with a pair of students. Given the timing, they may be finished soon."

Shae broke their starting contest with an exasperated sigh and eye roll.

Taoying smirked. "Well. Master Long could definitively answer this little false dilemma. Was the cleansing stage girl a help or hindrance during the battle?" She asked with just a hint of sarcasm. "Junior Wen, take Little Shae to where you saw Master Long. Don't bother the man, yet you may wait around and if you run into him again ask him for clarification on the situation."

"Yes, Elder." He bowed and turned to leave, slowing when he saw Shae wasn't following.

Taoying made a subtle gesture, suggesting Shae should follow.

"Is this really necessary, Elder?" Shae asked. "It's still unclear what punishment you had in mind. I might not even object to it. I've little else to do these days."

She waited a breath without receiving a response. "And that assumes you even should be punishing me. I didn't have an official invite to the sect until after the battle."

After a beat, Taoying smirked. "Why are you so convinced that this will be a punishment? Perhaps Long will side with you and I'll decide to shower you with praise and opportunity?"

Shae frowned. The elder hadn't even tried to sound genuine.

"And once this is settled, I still intend to teach you to throw a proper punch; we'll see what your red lightning can really do. Wouldn't want to miss out on that opportunity, would we?"

Again, the other three exchanged surprised glances, this time at the mention of lightning.

Shae frowned and cycled some of her calming qi then focused on her present dilemma. It had been a while since she used either trick, yet they eagerly came to her aid. She blinked and it felt like closing her eyes for several long breaths, though her lungs barely moved.

What the hell does she expect from me? I can't very well brag about being able to handle a domain: it's not like Long was attacking me with his. She doesn't seem like she actually wants to name a punishment, not that she should be doing that. Pretty sure Long already said I was clear there. Yet she clearly wants to teach me some humility, and she brought up the red lightning, which I don't even like, didn't I explain that yesterday? If this keep up I'm going to lose it on her-

Shae's eyes snapped open to regard the elder with more scrutiny. The woman's strategy seemed obvious now. "I wasn't expecting you to behave so differently from last night. I see now that that was just an act of pity, and this is theater. Can't let the new girl weasel out of her first punishment. Even if she doesn't deserve it."

The Elder's qi didn't change, yet her intent did. It rushed forwards threatening to tear Shae apart. A clear warning that she was about to make a mistake, or already had.

With divine qi steadying her mind, Shae didn't flinch. She inhaled deeply and felt the intent. "Sharp flower petals hardened with wood qi, flung fast as arrows by the wind itself. The very presence of your qi feels like an attack. Is that what your domain is like? -ah but I shouldn't speculate about that, right?" She quickly looked at the other's surprised faces. "Some conversations should be private, yes? Something that I hinted at earlier yet it seems I need to be a bit more blunt. Sending Wen as a messenger really doesn't solve that problem, Elder. You need to talk to Master Long yourself. Goading me into spilling his secrets is beyond rude."

Shae took a quick breath and stepped forward once, into the Elder's growing intent and pressure. "If you want to know what really happened at Gatewash, ask Long. If you want to punish me for overstepping there, too bad: that also falls on his shoulders, if anyone's at all." She flicked her eyes over. "Senior Wen, if you do find Master Long, feel free to inform him that Elder Taoying expects some punishment or lesson for my supposed interference. I'll submit to whatever he thinks is reasonable." She glared at the group. Wen didn't move. "And before you think I'm expecting favoritism, I don't actually like the man. We simply don't get along well. Any punishment from him will be worse simply because it's him." She turned to leave.

She made it a few steps before Taoying spoke, "You haven't been dismissed, Little Shae."

Shae stopped and turned. "Oh, right. I still haven't quite done enough to earn some real punishment that you do have the authority to throw at me. Maybe just for all my talking back then? Perhaps there's some broad sweeping rule about disrespect you can leverage? Well, good news, I was expecting more of a workout." She pointed at the three observers. "You three. What was the first martial-related punishment you received? Doing laps or horse stance until you can't stand? Just say whatever."

The three exchanged glances, then looked to the Elder. She unclenched her jaw, licked her teeth, then nodded to them.

They blinked in surprise, then took a breath to think.

Martial Brother Bai spoke first. "Climbing the wall, running the gauntlet, then swimming the lake, and back again, until I fell off the wall or almost drowned." He finished with a shrug.

"Weighted runs to the front gate and back, like the entrance trial." The woman spoke up. "Three laps, adding a stone of weight each time." She pointed towards the admin part of the arena, where weight training equipment was also stored.

Senior Wen smirked when everyone looked at him. "A duel with someone a full year my senior."

Shae frowned at him. "How is that punishment?"

"It was for a similar offense of disrespect. I thought that I could fight someone a stage above me, simply because sword cultivators can."

"So, you lost quickly?" Shae shrugged.

"Heh heh. Not at all. It was a fist fight, he took it slow, let me think I had a chance so I would get up again and again."

"So you let someone beat you up. That's stupid and sadistic. Whoever was officiating should have stopped it. I'm not doing that, pick something else." She shook her head.

"Oh, I think you might learn a lesson from that." Elder Taoying said. "You'll have to fight someone eventually, Little Shae."

Shae frowned at her. "The last time a stronger cultivator came at me I punched him so hard he died. The time before that, I flicked a drop of lightning at him and broke his budding Dao. The time before that... Hmm, no I guess that was it, the other two don't really count. Bad losing streak for men, though. If you're going to pick someone to lose next, better get a woman, at least balance it out a bit. Though, I'd rather not fight anyone at all. Martial Senior Wen, have you thought of something else yet?"

"Uhh," he managed. All three of them seemed rather stunned.

Elder Taoying spoke up, her tone was level and questioning, yet not accusatory. "Apart from rumors of how you earned your peace-bound blade, there's no reports of you fighting or killing any cultivators."

"Hmm. Odd that your reports aren't perfect. Imagine what else you might not know about me." She pulled up her sleeve and tapped the shadow scarring on her right arm. "If you want to ask around, it was the same time I got this shadow scarring. I'm sure you can figure out who to ask. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to go borrow some stones." She hitched her thumb towards the equipment room then walked off.

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