Chapter 27: Actors

[Zhang Xi Yin's Narrative]

A loud exploding sound came from inside the Zhú Pavilion. I stood quietly behind the huge ginkgo tree, wondering what could have made such a loud noise. Unfortunately, I could only view the basic data of the pavilion and the number of individual that is currently inside using the Omnicient Insight, after all it still requires me to have obtained some information related to the subject before it could provide any information to tell me what had occured and what will occur.

I rubbed the cold forehead of the snake earring.

It's your time to be useful little guy.

I spoke in a hushed voice, "Arise."

Within a second, what was once an earring hanging on my ear has now turned to a living snake, it slithered around my shoulder before settling around my arm.

How beautiful it is to have something so readily await my command.

I spoke, "Go inside that place and get me a closer scoop of the gossip. Let's play reporters, shall we? Too bad we don't have any audience."

I smiled, "Now, go."

The blue snake slithered away quickly, it looked like a moving line of blue fire as it slithered quickly on the ground before becoming transparent. It entered the pavilion through a crack that it quickly found on the wooden wall.

What a smart little guy. Who knew that Pokemons are so useful in this way too? Perhaps it was better to say, "Let's play spy"?

That reminds me, I haven't checked that little one's data yet. It would be useful if I'm knowledgeable of it's abilities and potential too.

[Inside the Zhú Pavilion][Li Qian's Narrative]

I froze upon seeing the face of the head that rolled near my foot.

This cannot be true...

A red haired man spoke, he appeared a few steps behind the head in front of me, his whole face is covered with a black object, there wasn't any holes for the eyes, but perhaps it is a mask.

He crouched down and laughed, "How do you like our little send off gift, Apprentice Li?"

This is why I left their kind...

I spoke as I tried my hardest to remain calm, "I would've been glad if it was your head and guts."

The red haired man was about to speak, but it was stopped by a gray haired guy who appeared next to him. Similar to the red haired man, his face is covered by a black mask, preventing any facial features of them to be seen.

"A grown adult lets a childish taunting play him. Quite a sight." As he spoke, I felt the same chilling sensation similar from a while ago.

Master is dead... I need to escape now.

I look around the pavilion searching for any route where I could slip through.

If this guys were the ones responsible for the current state of Master Jung, I should better be more careful around these two.

The man with the blue hair spoke, "Looking for an exit? That's no good."

He took a few steps closer to where I stood and hummed as if he was thinking of something.

"Well you may try, but the whole pavilion is surrounded by us. Go on." He turned around and sat on a chair. The red haired man shrugged his shoulders and took a step to the side, with his hands, he gestured for me to leave through the main door.

Strange fools.

I turned around and ran to the corridor that leads to the backyard of the pavilion. After checking my surroundings, I sneaked inside the storage room and pulled open a specific set of wooden drawers, inside of each are various gifts that was given to Master Jung. After pulling open the last drawer, I heard a clicking sound from the drawing room. As quick as I could, I immediately entered the drawing room and crawled under the table. Carefully and quietly, I pushed the trapdoor open. It closed after I fell from it, thankfully I landed on the hanging bed. I rolled to my right side and landed on the stone floor, in front of me is Master Jung's old study table, placed under the hanging bed. Around the four corners of the hanging bed hangs a long white silk curtain.

I look around and started searching for an artifact that I read from his personal notes. According to his notes, the artifact has the ability to transfer anything on a random location based on the current date it was used, he hid it because he thought it was questionable to be used.

Everyday from the day I read about that item, I kept wondering how exactly does the date of usage will affect the location where it would transfer...

It is very... questionable.

After some time, I managed to find it. It was amongst the useless items that are hidden inside a wooden chest, which he used as some sort of a side table.

I calmed my breathing and carefully poured Qi into the artifact.

Surrounded the whole pavilion? How stupid. I have only familiarized myself with the map of the pavilion, I have yet to study map of the whole sect!

[Inside the Zhú Pavilion]

"I wonder why Master decided to let the little kid go?"

                    "I don't know."

"Can't you at least come up with something? You're such a boring guy!"

                    "You're such an annoying loud mouth."

"You only ever speak when you want to insult me, huh?"

                    "I must use my voice to speak the truth."

"Dog shit!"

"... Hey"

"What are we supposed to do now?"

                    "Just wait."

                    "Master will deal with the kid personally."

"But, won't his identity be in danger of getting exposed if he formed any connection with that snake spawn of a child?"

                    "It must be what he needs."

[Yan Chao Xiang's Narrative][Dragon Shrine Sect, A few meters away from the Arena]

I stood quietly among a number of bodies that lies on the grass covered dirt. Their faces are securely covered by a black mask, but either way, I made sure that all of them are facing the ground. Their bodies are adorned with drops of blood, which stained the grass and dirt underneath and around them.

The image of Li Qian using the artifact finally came to my sight using my bloodline technique.

Oh, he's coming.

I chuckled.

Hurry, Li Qian, I prepared a little play for you. Even if I had to change my plans a bit, everything will always follow what I want.

I can't let that guy play gods using you. Let me lead you into a different plot.

An original story just like mine, but just as I said, it will follow what I wanted.

Poor guy. I guess you are bound to be an actor of someone's twisted tale, just like what they planned.

A moment later, Li Qian appeared covered with a fog, which quickly disappeared. His eyes were closed as he lie on the ground.

Was the artifact too much for his body that he fell unconscious? After all, he is indeed just a mortal body.

I knelt beside him and lightly shook his body with a worried expression.

I spoke gently, "Li Qian? Wake up. You'll get sick if you lie on the ground..."

He groaned before opened his eyes. His eyes widen upon seeing me, he pushed my away as he quickly stood up and taking a few step backwards.

Great, he's shaken.

His reaction makes me feel satiated!

I took a step back and raised both of my hands where he could see them.

I spoke, "Hey, it's alright. It's me Yan Chao Xiang, a friend of Lord Māo and Little Chi-- Brother Zhang. You seem... pale. Are you feeling alright?"

Go on, be vulnerable in front of me. Hang on to me.

He remained quiet for quite a long time before he hesitantly spoke in a hushed and shaky voice.

What a sight to behold.

Trust me, Li Qian.

"Master... Master Jung is dead... His head! He was beheaded!"

As he spoke, his eyes were unable to focus, he seemed to be getting even more panicked.

With a pitiful expression, he begged while kneeling on the dirt, his hands were gripping tightly on the fabric of his skirt.

"Please... Please believe me!"

I walked towards him and knelt in front of him, I wrapped my arms around him to comfort him.

I spoke as I gently rub his back, "Yes, I believe you. Don't worry..."

Suddenly, he pushed me away and shouted. His expression turned sour.

"You! You smell like them! You're with them, are you?!"

Ah, how troublesome...

With a crestfallen expression on my face, I stared straight into his eyes.

I took a deep breath.

I spoke gently, "Please, hear me out?"

He didn't answered, but his eyes continued to look at me with fear and disgust.

I spoke, "Like you, I was also attacked by these fools, but I managed to kill them. I was about to head to your location to help you, but another group of these masked guys ambushed me, I tortured them all out of anger before killing them, hence the smell of blood that lingers around me."

He spoke, "How come you knew that I was in the same predicament?"

I smiled and waved my hands, "I found out after torturing the last guy from the first group that attacked me. I knew that I won't really get anything from such lowly monsters, so I tortured the last one for information. He mentioned that their leader is amongst the ones that are sent to the Zhú Pavilion and I knew that's where you were staying at, so I planned to go there. But as I had said, I was ambushed before I could come to your aid."

I took a step closer to him, I held on his shoulders as I look straight into his eyes with an apologetic expression.

I sighed and spoke, "I apologize. I couldn't do anything at all..."

"... The lost of your Master's life, I will repay it by surrendering mine."

He froze.

That's what I want to see. Do you pity me now? I symphatize with you, my dear.