Book 6: Chapter 6: Gaps

Book 6: Chapter 6: Gaps

I did not seduce a heavenly being, said Sen through gritted teeth as he glared murder at the turtle.

If you say so, muttered the turtle, clearly not believing a word of it.

Can we please get back to the whole diverged from the method problem?

I didnt say it was a problem. I just said that its a thing that happened.

So, its not a problem?

I didnt say that, replied Elder Bo with dignified equanimity.

A murderous rage swelled inside of Sen. Hed already seized the hilt of his jian before he clawed back a trembling, fragile thread of control. Sen had already been furious with the turtle and this unwillingness to keep speaking plainly was stoking that fire. He forced himself to release the hilt of the jian but he was shaking. Theres no point in continuing with this, he told himself. Youll just do something stupid. Sen stared at the divine turtle for several long seconds before he turned on his heel and started walking away down the beach. As the distance grew, Sen started to believe that the turtle might let him leave. That hope was dashed when he felt a burst of qi behind him. Before Sen could even turn around to look, the turtle was looming in front of him.

You dont respect started Elder Bo.

That was as far as he got before Sens fist crashed into the bottom of his jaw. Much to Sens surprise, it seemed to stagger the turtle. Sen couldnt decide if it was the blow itself or simply surprise that he had dared to strike the divine spirit beast in the first place. Either way, Sen wasnt about to let that momentary advantage pass him by. A second punch caught the turtle on the side of the head with a noise that boomed out across the water of the cove and sent an explosion of sand in every direction. Sen ruthlessly battered the turtles head and legs, unwilling to relinquish even a shred of the momentum, desperately seeking to keep the beast off balance. Once hed thrown that first punch, Sen knew he was committed. Hed initiated this fight and there was only one way out the other side. He had to kill this turtle before it regained even a shred of equilibrium.

Sens eyes narrowed. Killing me. Or do you plan to drag it out?

Why would I kill you?

Thats usually how fights end between cultivators and spirit beasts, answered Sen.

Fight?

Elder Bos mouth opened and huge booming noises erupted from it. The sound was so loud that Sen felt like his brain was being slammed against his skull over and over again. He decided later that was the reason it took so long for him to figure out that the turtle was laughing like Sen had said the funniest thing in all of history.

A fight, said Elder Bo. Youre ten thousand years too early for us to have a fight. I was just waiting until youd worked out some of your anger. Seems like you had a little breakthrough there as well, which is always nice.

Sen gaped up at the turtle, not sure whether he felt offended or relieved. He had to admit that the turtle didnt look to have suffered at all from what, apparently, the spirit beast had thought of as some kind of mild temper tantrum from Sen. Shaking his head, Sen looked at the massive foot that was, on balance, resting pretty gently on his chest.

Well, if youre not going to kill me, why are you pinning me to the ground.

I just didnt want you to hurt yourself.

Thanks, said Sen in the driest tone he could manage as he decided that offended was, in fact, the right reaction.