Chapter 59: A talk about the skills

"Ah, come on! We gotta talk." I talked into thin air—or at least, that's what other people might have thought if they were around me.

However, after walking away from my brethren, I went directly to my room and closed my door shut. I was currently waiting for Goldy, who seemed to be lurking around at the moment.

[Wait! I'm coming.]

I heard a voice in my head and the very next second, Goldy was before me, in all his glory.

"I guess we're here to talk about the seventh heaven's healing skill." He spoke as he sat before me.

"Hmm, not quite. Remember how you told me that you'll talk about the silver hair phenomena later? You never talked about it. So, talk about that first, then we'll talk about the healing skill that you're going crazy over." I replied.

"I mean, it's a crazy good skill-" He tried focusing on the healing skill, however, I wasn't one to let go.

"Are we going to talk about my silver hair? Or else, I'll never talk about the healing skill!" I gave out a stern warning.

Goldy sighed. "Aren't you afraid that someone else will take that skill if you don't head straight for it?" He asked.

"Not for another six years or so." I replied.

"Ah, how many times do I have to tell you-" He was about to go on a lecture, but I stopped him in his tracks.

"This is not the future that I saw, I know! However, I'm pretty sure that this one wouldn't be discovered yet. Believe me." I assured him.

Although I was not sure about that, I still decided to act as if that was in the most secure location. In reality, that healing skill was in the most irrational place ever with the constant pressure of getting lost or getting into someone else. But he doesn't have to know that, right?

"You know that I can hear all that, right? Or did you really expect me to just listen to all the lies you're spouting?" He asked.

Damn it! This is unfair! I mean, first of all, he's listening to all my thoughts. Secondly, why is it one-sided? Why am I the only one who's at a disadvantage?

"Well, the connection to me would be established when you grow stronger. So, if you wanna listen into my crap thoughts, you need to get somewhere close to my current form in strength." He replied, giving out an ugly laugh.

Someday, damn it! Someday I'll grow as strong as you and laugh at you like that! Only then you'll feel the rage that I'm feeling right now.

"So, you heard that. Big deal. I'm still not gonna tell you the location of the seven heaven's healing skill until you talk to me about the silver hair." I spoke.

"Is that so? Fine. You wanna know what information I got on your silver hair? None. I got nothing on it. That's why I didn't want to talk to you about it. So, you were right when you said that before." He sighed yet again.

"Damn, I didn't think that would be the truth. I mean, you're the ancient gold dragon! You should know it all! Then why-" I was cut short by Goldy.

"I'm not a God yet, dude. I might be a dragon, but I haven't seen the long past when I wasn't born or the time when I was basically trapped in that mountain. Even I have limitations." He explained his side of the argument.

I calmed down. He's right, you know? He's still a mortal who hasn't seen it all. I shouldn't just put it all on him. My silver hair isn't something that's recorded in the game either. So…

"You guessed right. It isn't a power from the near future. It has to be something that existed way before I was born. Something that people forgot. A hidden power. And what's weird is that someone knew about it." He replied.

"What?"

I was surprised. Someone knew about it? How come I didn't know about that?

"I mean, someone poisoned you, right? They had to know the power's existence and the curse was meant to lock it forever until you die. Or else, why is that the moment I expel all the curse from you, you gained this power?" He asked.

It made sense. The curse was the one thing that was blocking my skill. It was as if someone didn't want the power to resurface. Or else, why would they do such a thing? Unless…

"Remember how pops talked about the former glory of the Blue Moon Sect? Maybe that's true and that's why they wanted to curse me? Some sort of leverage, maybe?" I asked.

"It's a possibility. But that would mean that those glory days aren't in the past that I existed or before that because I would've known or learned about it then. This is something that could've happened in the time that I was in the cave." He explained.

"I guess so. So that basically sums up all we know about this silver hair, huh?" I sighed.

"Not really. We know that it shows us the simulation of the future that might or might not happen according to the actions that you take." He spoke.

"Are you sure about it being a simulation?" I asked.

"Yup, pretty sure. You know, I thought it was real as well at first. So, when I saw you about to get hit by Guo Ning, I was about to intervene. However, something stopped me. Something told me that it's not real." He replied.

"What was that thing?" I asked again.

"I don't know. Instinct, maybe? I didn't sense any danger back then. The instincts were telling me not to worry." He answered.

"Hmm, as long as you can differentiate between what's real and what's fake, I'll be safe, I guess." I replied.

Just thinking about a situation where he couldn't figure that out genuinely scares me. I mean that would be my death, right?

"Don't worry about that. As long as I'm around, you'll not be in any sort of danger." He assured me.

I know that. But…

"By the way, how come you're sure that this power isn't something that came by when you were in the cave?" I asked.

"Hmm, if that was the case, there would be a lot of people using it, right? How come there's no one doing that? It's an important skill. I don't think no one would actually screw up their chances of using it." He replied.

"Maybe it's something that a group of people used secretly?" I put forth my doubt.

"Hmm, I can't deny that statement. You may be right about that." He replied.

"Still a lot to know about this power, eh?" I gave out another sigh.

"Okay. Now that's done with, are you gonna tell about the seventh heaven's healing skill?" He asked.

I took a deep breath. I got a story to tell after all.

(Third person POV)

Zhangsun Shan was basically a new man at this point. He had no one in this world that he held dear. Everyone died in that attack—or at least, that's what he heard. He didn't actually see the scene since he was asked to escape. The elders wanted the Taiyi sect to live on. And for that, he had to live on. Therefore, with a heavy heart, he had to escape when he wanted to fight alongside his family so badly.

He heard the rumor that a few others escaped as well, however they were killed by the Blood Moon Sect.

Blood Moon Sect. He started hating that name. He didn't get why they would do such a thing. He wanted revenge. Revenge for his family; for his sect.

However, he didn't have the power to do so—for now. He was hungry; thirsty; tired. He couldn't move a step more. He was far away from the Taiyi sect. If he just drops down to the ground, no one's gonna care. Thinking that he slowly closed his eyes.

…

When he opened his eyes, he was no longer on the roadside. He was in a room. It seemed as if someone dragged him out there. He felt wary. What if it was someone from the Blood Moon Sect, thinking of executing him publicly?

"You're awake!" He heard a voice calling out for him. It was an old woman. She had porridge in her hand and a bright smile on her face.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" He asked as he waved a kitchen knife that he got from a fruit bowl nearby.

"Oh, my! Is this how the younger generation treats older people who saved their lives now? Gotta tell ya, I feel like our generation treated our saviors with much more respect." The old lady laughed as if she cracked a great joke. "Ah, I don't feel like giving my delicious porridge to such an arrogant boy! What shall I do now?" She gave out a snicker.

Zhangsun Shan glanced at the porridge.it looked delicious. He wanted to eat it at all costs. "I'm sorry!"

"I'm kidding! Can't take a joke now, can you? What an adorable kid." The woman said as she handed him the porridge. "Here. Eat it. You must be feeling tired after the long journey, right?" She gave out a warm smile.