章 7: Maybe I Should Just Knock Myself Out
He wore a hood over his head, casting a subtle shadow across his short white hair while his bangs covered his light-coloured eyes that gazed straight at Yu Xuelan.
There was a hint of solemnness in his expression every time his lashes lowered and lifted. Everything about his stare produced the impression that he had just experienced hundreds of years of nothing but suffering.
She stood still as stone, bewildered, as she thought her heart had stopped beating.
Numerous questions polluted her mind. "What is Wu Zhitian doing here? Did he hear my entire conversation with Luo Ran? Did he see me kill Luo Ran? Why isn't he saying anything? But it wasn't like I physically stabbed her. So indirect murder?"
A perplexed look smeared across her face as she stared at the figure dressed in all white. She immediately closed her widened mouth, attempting to conceal her shock.
Wu Zhitian prepared to open his mouth to speak, but a sudden explosion from the backside building interrupted his speech.
She whipped her head in the noise's direction. Yet, the white-clad cultivator kept his eyes fixed on her as if he didn't hear any explosion at all.
She knew the explosion was definitely Huo Yan, Long Wen's sacred weapon, a sabre. Moments later, Long Wen walked out of the backside building, holding a spirit pouch as she sheathed her sabre with the other.
Long Wen glanced at the muddled mess lying in front of Yu Xuelan before stiffening her face. It was not in disgust at the body but annoyance as she saw the man behind her.
The three of them stayed silent, staring at each other with different emotions evoked within them.
"What is the Sect Master of ShenMing Wu doing here?" Long Wen said with a hint of pettiness in her tone, causing Yu Xuelan to look back in extreme shock.
She thought, "Sect Master? Since when?? What happened to his father?"
She noticed that Wu Zhitian was still staring at her and immediately averted her gaze back to the front, where Long Wen was also glaring. This left her with no choice but to stare blankly at the ground, hoping to avoid this extremely awkward situation.
She thought, "Should I move out of the way?"
Did something happen between Long Wen and Wu Zhitian for her to glare at him like that? Though most importantly, Yu Xuelan wanted to know why Wu Zhitian looked so dead, as if he went through hell and became a demon god. And to think she thought this Lin Yuhe girl looked dead! Was this some competition of who could look the most dead or what?
"You're not going to answer me?" Long Wen insisted.
Wu Zhitian responded, "Why does it matter?"
His voice was low yet soft, almost soothing to the ear. Just when Long Wen was going to reply, a young boy dressed in white cultivation robes came running in, panting and huffing. Sweat drenched the young disciple's forehead as he ran next to Wu Zhitian.
"Master Wu! I finally caught up with you. How did you disappear so fast? This disciple needs to train harder!"
Wu Zhitian nodded upon the young disciple's presence, yet the only question that arose within Yu Xuelan's mind was "Why are more and more people coming??"
Long Wen clicked her tongue and looked down at the lump of flesh.
"How come there's another one?" She asked and walked towards Luo Ran's indescribable body.
"Lady Lin, what happened here?" Long Wen asked.
Yu Xuelan attempted to pour horror and fear into her expressions.
"Lady Lin?" Wu Zhitian mumbled under his breath.
Yu Xuelan opened her mouth and started stuttering. All eyes were now staring at the black-robed girl, who stood in front of the corpse, completely puzzled. She took a deep breath and her hands trembled.
"A demon came and ripped Miss Luo apart," Yu Xuelan quivered.
Long Wen and the young disciple were taken aback by her words.
"Luckily, this cultivator came to protect us and dispelled the demon already, but it was too late because Miss Luo was already dead..." Yu Xuelan trembled and turned away, shivering in fear as she faced Wu Zhitian.
If he blows my cover, I'm running.
She glanced up at Wu Zhitian, who just stared at her with his usual stone face, though strangely, there was a hint of surprise.
Yu Xuelan continued, "If it weren't for him, I would've died!"
"But Sect Master Wu, I thought you gave up on killing demons?" The young disciple asked.
What?!
"Yeah, did you have a change of heart?" Long Wen joined.
What??
Her soul flew further and further away and she didn't know whether she should just pretend to faint or continue with her act. Wu Zhitian, as usual, stayed silent as he stared indifferently at everyone.
The girl wanted to dash out right then as all the cultivators were looking at the sect master with curiosity, expecting him to give them an answer that satisfied their tastes.
"Well, I can't be disappointed in him if he blows my cover now," she thought.
Yu Xuelan prepared to explain, "Actua-"
Wu Zhitian nodded, "I dispelled it."
She blinked confusedly at the white-haired boy.
"Whatever, as long as it's gone, then that's all that matters," Long Wen replied.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips and she looked at the white-clad cultivator with eyes beaming with light as if she was looking at a divine being. The moment their eyes met, his throat dried, and he immediately looked away.
Long Rei, the apprentice from Zheng Long, walked out of the main building with a handful of talismans.
"Young Madam Long, I finished setting up the talismans in the main buil-"
Long Rei stopped his speech as he noticed the mess that was on the floor. After examining the area, he noticed the excessive amount of jewellery that scattered on the floor and the prominent red cloak made from brocade fabric.
"Miss Luo?" Long Rei questioned.
"It was a demon, but the Master of ShenMing Wu got rid of it already," Long Wen replied and stole a glance at Yu Xuelan.
"Oh, greetings Sect Master Wu," Long Rei clasped his hands and gave a bow.
Long Rei cleared his throat and continued, "I have finished setting up the talismans in the main and eastern residence."
"Good work. Give me the rest and I'll set them up myself. You go send the report back to the Tiger Palace."
"Yes, Young Madam Long, but what about the person who broke the barrier?" Long Rei questioned.
"The gate is closed off now so there shouldn't be any trouble, but I will search into this matter in case they search for other gates."
Yu Xuelan awkwardly looked at the clump of flesh on the floor. The culprit was actually right in front of their eyes. Just dead.
"Get the servants to clean the body up," Long Wen ordered.
"Yes, Young Madam."
クリエイターの想い 
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xbemoo Summary
HaiShen Yu: Water-based cultivation methods
Yu Xuelan (Daughter of the late Sect Master)
Yu Yang (Current Sect Master and Yu Xuelan's uncle)
Zheng Long: Earth-based cultivation methods
Long Wen (Daughter of the Sect Master - Yu Xuelan's childhood friend)
Long Rei (inner disciple)
ShenMing Wu: Wind-based cultivation methods
Wu Zhitian (Sect Master)
Shu: (Won't be mentioned till Book II)
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