Chapter 14

Lui Yang was falling and he was falling fast. But it felt like heaven to him. His heart was jumping around inside his chest with joy. The speed was exhilarating and fun.

But too bad it had to end as he was quickly approaching the second terrain.

*Splash!"

Lui Yang plunged straight into the river and got swept away by the strong current. He swam a great distance further out before climbing back onto shore. Taking out a talisman, he used it to dry himself. Looking around at his surroundings, he could only see fields of grass and a forest in the distance.

'Let's see....'

If he could remember correctly there should be a legendary temple nearby. One that Zhang Tian had found, after escaping Lui Yang's attempt to murder him. In the novel Zhang Tian escaped and found a world defying treasure called the eye of Yin. An ice technique cold enough to freeze a whole continent. It was a treasure worth dying for.

But the funny thing about it all was that at present, Zhang Tian wasn't here.

[Do you think he died up there with the rest?]

'It would be unexpected if he did.'

But an advantage, since he wouldn't have to lift a single finger to kill him.

"He's the protagonist. The halo should come in clutch when ever he faces a life threatening situation."

[Would the same be said if you had attempted to kill him?"]

Knowing how the novel had proceeded, Lui Yang would have said yes. But things were now different. "The Lui Yang before had never killed anybody. But I have, more then I can count. Unlike him I was breed to kill since birth. Zhang Tian wouldn't have the slightest chance of escaping."

System 197: ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ *Poor host. His childhood must have been so tragic.*

"Feeling sorry for me?"

[Yes!] (⁠｡⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)

"You shouldn't."

[How can you say that?] (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠) *Poor Host. He must be really traumatized.*

Lui Yang rolled his eyes. "You really are a useless system."

[Take that back. I am very useful."

"No your not. Your completely and utterly useless."

System 197: *Dammit!! And here I was sympathizing with you, never again!* (⁠ノ⁠ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ⁠)⁠ノ⁠彡⁠┻⁠━⁠┻

Lui Yang chuckled in silence. 'That's how it should be. You shouldn't feel remorse for a killer.'

~•~•~•~•

Lui Yang walked and walked, deeper into the forest without stopping for a second. Letting his legs take him wherever, in hopes he'd wonder upon the frozen canyon. Where the eye of Yin would be. So far he had zero luck in finding anything that had any resemblance to ice. There wasn't a frozen lake nor any frozen water in sight.

Just land, grass and trees. At this point he was nearing close to the end of the terrain. Without spotting a single spec of ice.

It wasn't until late into the afternoon that Lui Yang decided to finally rest and stop blindly walking everywhere. He sat down on the ground and leisurely leaned his back against a tree. Sighing, he began to talk to the system. "If you didn't know, this is what we call a plot whole."

[What's a plot whole?]

"A plot whole is when the author becomes a lazy ass writer. And decides to leave out 'alot' of details and information one would desperately need if you was put in the same predicament as me."

A plot whole. Lui Yang was now experiencing a plot whole in the novel that did not describe how Zhang Tian encountered the Eye Of Yin. He just did. And by doing so gained a powerful treasure that was very dangerous.

"Ahhh... this is annoying."

[Would host have me search the whole terrain?]

"Why are you just now asking me that?"

[I thought host already knew where it was.]

"Even if I did it still would have helped and saved me a lot of time if you had mentioned this earlier."

[....] *Host makes a valid point.*

But before the system could even activate it's scanning, the loud sound of a twig snapping could be heard close by.

Someone was here.

Lui Yang turned his gaze in the direction of the sound and saw a pair of familiar eyes staring back at him. "Shixiong, your here?" Zhang Tian's voice was full of surprise. But then he smiled, "I've been looking all over for you."

System 197 was a bit shocked. [He really did survive.]

'Like an undead cockroach.'

"How did you find me?" Unlike his shidi, Lui Yang wasn't smiling in the least.

"How else? I followed you of course."

"You followed me?"

"Yes." Zhang Tian looked at him with eyes that were cold but sparkled under the sunlight, like expensive black jewels. "I figured if anyone could survive, it would be you."

'...Followed me?'

Lui Yang had a feeling that it was more then that. He had covered his tracks while he traveled. He was even dragged a few miles up stream before deciding to travel back on foot again. Yet he was followed, followed how? The only thing that could track him specifically was a high grade treasure, which he was sure Zhang Tian's didn't have.

"Shixiong-"

"Zhang Tian." Lui Yang stood up and looked at the other with a scrutinizing gaze. "I no longer acknowledge you as my shidi nor a fellow martial brother. We have no relationship so I don't care where you go as long as it isn't here with me."

"And if I don't decide to leave, then what?"

"I will take it as a threat and assume you'd want to fight." Lui Yang gestured toward his sword in a threatening manner. He warned coldly, "Leave. Or lay down your life."

Zhang Tian folded his arms, while tilting his head side says in a manner that fully displayed his amusement. He never had a weak person threaten him before. With his power no one had ever dared. It was only right that the weak feared the strong. But why was it that this human in particular seem to not fear anything. What right did he have when he was such a delicate little thing. A single sweep of his finger could kill him. If he decided to wrap a hand around his pretty little neck and apply the slightest bit of pressure to it, the younger would die.

Did he not understand the difference between heaven and earth?

"If I fight you, you will die." Zhang Tian spoke truthfully. "Matter of fact it wouldn't even be a fight. Just a one way slaughter."

'Is he for real? He can't be serious right? A one way slaughter? Does he think me that weak?'

As much as Lui Yang doubted it he felt that there was some truth to his words. He didn't know why but his intuition was telling him that it was true. If he was to attack Zhang Tian right here right now, he'd die.

But why?

'Zhang Tian, Zhang Tian, Zhang Tian.... Zhang Tian. What. Is up, with you?'

Lui Yang began to study him from head to two. Same face, same hair, same body. Yet it felt like he was looking at a whole entirely different man.

'Think, think.... think Lui Yang. What is it? What am I missing?'

In the original plot, Zhang Tian was still small minded and petty. But things didn't go according to plan. He's been acting different since Zhao Xui Shen had announced the opening of the hidden realm. His behavior changed, his skills got better, but his attention towards Lui Yang was the same. If anything it got worse.

'What does he want? It's as if I've suddenly grabbed his unwavering attention-...'

Attention!!

That was it. It felt like a bucket of water had been splashed over his head. Everything that was foggy was now clear as day. He could now finally see it.

Everything now made since. The sudden change in behavior, the odd questions, and the long glances.

Oh, this was funny. This was 'really' funny.

He wanted to laugh so badly right now it was ridiculous. Why didn't he see it earlier? The more he noticed now the more obvious it was. The person in front of him was not the real Zhang Tian but an imposter. Someone playing the part of Zhao Xui Shen's head disciple. And he knew exactly who it was.

It was no other man but Qin Shi Yun himself. The target he had been looking out for since he had arrived at the entrance.

'How clever. How very clever.'

Just when he thought he would have to go out and find Qin Yun, Qin Yun had found him instead. And had hide in plan sight, right up under his nose in the form of his shidi.

Speaking of which, Qin Yun being in disguise as his shidi only ment one thing. That the real one was dead.

Zhang Tian, one of the protagonist's in the novel was dead.

'hahaha... Oh, this is just too easy.'

He had killed two birds with one stone. While not doing much of anything, the results had already revealed itself.

"This is great news."

[It is?]

"Why wouldn't it be? In the end I really didn't have to lift a single finger to kill Zhang Tian. And I've also peaked Qin Yun's interest."

[True. But Zhao Xui Shen love meter is still one percent and Qin Yun's is zero.]

"Not for long it isn't."

Lui Yang pulled out his sword and pointed it towards Qin Yun, staring at him with eyes as if he was staring down at an enemy. "How long are you going to play this game Zhang Tian. Or should I say brother Qin Yun."