CH7.3: Waltz

CH7.3: WALTZ

We run through the dark gloomy hallways of the first floor of the palace, the sound of our footsteps echoed within the palace halls as the shuffling of movements from where we came from continued to follow us. Do they like pain that much? Don't piss me off...

It seems that I won't be getting what I wanted tonight, but at least nothing was stolen from me. I held on to Yīhán and Qi Fei's arms, trying to pull them to run faster with the help of the swift moving steps. Why is this place so large?

We turned into another corner where Qing Fei told us to head off to. Like the hallways from before, this one is also guarded by tall stone statues. As we finally reached the end of the hallway, Qi Fei took off his ear piercing and inserted it in the ear of a statue that is attached on the wall in front of us. The earring that his twin brother gave me earlier, am I supposed to use it like that too?

This place is oddly advanced, but maybe I haven't seen enough that I came to think that everything is simple about this place. I was being narrow-minded.

A few seconds after inserting his earring, the statue moved slightly followed by a light forming a symbol which looks like an array formation being drawn around the statue. The wall disappears, and we quickly ran inside, the place had no lights, but I was able to see because of the additional ability from the bloodline. The wall reappears behind us after I inserted Qing Fei's earring to a similar statue in a separate wall, a status update appeared in front of my face and according to it, some of the guards were shouting and running towards our location while some who was quick with their feet desperately keeps on hitting the wall. One attempted to blast it with a technique, but was immediately stopped by another guard, he called the one who attempted to blast this wall a fool, can't say I don't agree. This place feels very mysterious...

I turned around and saw another hallway, it was the only hallway in this area. It seems like we're close to an exit I could see a change in lighting from the far end. I guided the two as we walked within the hallway, it felt ominous. I have a bad feeling about this...

As we reached the end of the hallway, a huge array formation appeared in the middle of the floor, this part of the hallway has a circular shape with huge pillars on the sides, there are no windows, but it wasn't very dark in this area unlike the hallway before reaching this place. This area reminds me of the circular pavilion back in a park of Beijing, the inside looks very similar, but is filled with several frames of landscape painting that creates one huge illustration of what seems to be the feather mountain. I wonder if I could see this from the outside? It seems to be hidden by the array from earlier, so I doubt that.

I walked closer towards the array formation drawn on the floor, I squatted down to examine it closely. A status update quickly appeared in front of me.

⟨⟨Array Formation Detected.

Type: Teleportation Array. Can only be accessed by selected members of the Imperial Family using a special artifact.

Status: Accessible.

Instruction: Please do not remove the artifact during the use of the array, irreversible damage may occur.⟩⟩

"A special artifact? If I'm right it should be the earrings from earlier, isn't it Qi Fei? Won't your brothers get in trouble if it were to be found by your father? That would also endanger us." I'm worried, but I don't think Qing Fei would be so dumb to put us all in potential trouble.

Qi Fei nodded, "Yes, the artifact is made by my twin brother, before we did, only Brother Qing and Elder Brother Wen are aware of the real use of the earrings. Brother Qing is an array master and an artifact master, so father will never be able to know about it regardless of the difference in power between them and according to Elder Brother Wen, father never knew about Brother Qing being both an array and artifact master."

I see, an array and artifact master... It would be great if I could have him with me especially since that's basically a cheat into becoming wealthy in this game, but then it wouldn't be good for me to succumb to what I desire, I'm not sure if it's even what I desire or if it's just this body's lingering consciousness, until I can dispel that out of me, I can't keep being greedy.

"We should go now, Yihan hold on to my arm, here..." I said as I extended my arm towards him, he held on it with both of his hands. Qi Fei followed and also held on to my...collar area

"Are you asking to be punched?" He chuckled and moved his hand lower to the sleeves of my outer robe, he proceeded to pull us inside the array, in just a split second, everything became distorted, and we found ourselves in a forest. I almost forgot that it's already morning because of how dark it was in the area of the palace where we were awhile ago, the light of the sun felt refreshing. I think I'll keep our windows open for the night.

"Let's just walk from here. Come." Stepping on dry leaves is really so satisfying! I can almost forget about missing my chance, but although I did agree on Qing Fei's request, I don't plan to uphold it forever. We will move to the higher realm, so I could get stronger, our safety wasn't my only reason for agreeing and to add to that, something still doesn't make sense to me. Why would the Imperial Emperor steal all those golden cores? He won't be able to use it all for himself...

I sighed deeply as I continued to walk, the two are now a few meters away from where I currently am, they're certainly fast, but Yihan probably just misses the dumplings.

... Lord Mao also mentioned before that this deed of the Imperial Family is correlated to me, this body most probably, which according to Qing Fei is the body of the Moon Emperor. So the Moon Emperor is a dead man? Does he plan to use those golden core by extracting its Pure Qi? But isn't the only way to do so is by practicing a forbidden technique of the Evil Clan? I think that was available in the system shop, but for some reason I can't find it anymore. Anyway, do they plan to use this body as a puppet? Is this body being the body of the Moon Emperor the reason why I gained his bloodline? Would I not obtain it If I weren't transferred into his body? Things are still very confusing, but at the very least I have some clues regarding this body and the motive for kidnapping.

I sighed as I looked around, I should take my mind off that subject for now, it wouldn't be good to get burned out. Also, this forest is really dense, but it has stone paths arranged nicely, is this forest being taken care by someone?

I turned my attention towards the two who is now several meters away from me, I can see Qi Fei whispering something to Yihan...

There he goes again.

'System, activate Swift Moving Steps.'

⟨⟨Understood. Swift Moving Steps is now activated.⟩⟩

I can feel Qi Fei talking shit about me, I wouldn't have done this if not. He's talking nonsense to Yihan again, this bastard. I should season and cook his white silk fabric when I get the chance to steal his bag. That should teach him a lesson.

I took a few steps, and immediately I am now in front of the two, as Qi Fei slowly turned his head towards me, his expression changed into an extremely terrified one. Had I been that abusive towards him? I don't think so based on my standards that is. Qi Fei let out a very loud scream as he attempted to punch me which I immediately dodged, he wobbled and fell on the stone path, to be fair, we are in a forest and the path isn't very even because of the terrain.

"Are you alive?" I asked nonchalantly. He groaned as he stood up and dusted himself, but despite the condition of his clothes, he remained clear from any wound. He glared at me and crossed his arms, is this supposed to be sulking?

"You look worse than when we were actually fighting with our lives in potential danger. Did you get chased by *Sun Wukong? Or is it Jiangshi ?" I laughed, Qi Fei only grumbled at my remark.

Suddenly a status update abruptly appeared in front of me before I realize that I was pushed towards the same spot where Qi Fei fell, Qi Fei burst into a pit of laughter as he slowly knelt on the ground.

Did Yihan just pushed me? This little bastard Qi Fei?!

"Hah! Take that! Thank you for punishing the devil, Yihan!" Qi Fei cheered the tone of his voice sounded like he was taunting me. Is this bastard an actual child? I guess my first impression of him isn't very accurate after all. Warm and nice president trope my ass, it's shit! It's dirt!