บท 87: Election Tournament (6)

The ball merely glowed faintly at first. The color wasn't any different from the contestant before her so, feeling a bit more assured, she poured more spiritual power into the sphere. The ball began glowing brighter. She then took her hand off the ball and turned to the official manning the table.

With a bored expression, he called out. "Passed. Sign your name here. Come back in seven day's time for the first round or you'll immediately be eliminated. That's all. Next!"

Shen Tianyu wrote her name and place of residence for contact, in case of an emergency down. Then, she turned and took the umbrella from Rong Jian, smiling at him a little, before she stepped to the side to wait for him to sign up.

The official didn't comment and let them be. Knowing Shen Tianyu's situation ad. Seeing what happened with the sphere, Rong Jian put his hand on the Testing Ball without worry and sent some of his spiritual energy into it. The official repeated the same thing he did to Shen Tianyu and called up the next person.

Rong Jian walked to Shen Tianyu's side to take over the umbrella duty again and the two walked side by side as they left the registration area. As they left, they didn't notice that's the others in line all let out a breath of relief. They certainly did not want to feel that frightening aura again.

...

The couple walked side by side,but didn't hold hands. Shen Tianyu went around the shopping district and looked around, picking up things she liked. However,she never bought nor expressed the desire to buy something. She really was a penny-pincher. Rong Jian was also somewhat troubled. How could he gift her if there wasn't anything she wanted to buy? Her interests were diverse but she never showed enough desire to pay for something.

Shen Tianyu reallly did not have a lot of desire towards material objects. You can't bring them with you in death. You can't easily move them around. They are subject to ware and breakage. In the objective long run, it was all a waste of money. Things, and interest in things, were just like beauty, initially it was beautiful and attracted infatuation but then you get bored. As for things like pills and medicine... she wa son good terms with this world's greatest doctor, who was also a pill master. And that Master Physician's disciple was he underling. What could she possibly want?

The couple finally arrived at a sleeping Flower District. With no lights, no laughter, no music and no employees walking about, it really just looked like an average residential district for the rich. Only it wasn't.

With the hot sun that wa sneaking down on the, and their umbrella the whole day, starting to move West, they entered Lavender Palace.

There was no shortage of people that had followed them from the plaza, the black figure from the Forest had also been following them. The black figure already knew their true cultivation level from the Forest so he didm't worry about what would happen if all the stalkers attacked at once. Besides, he was here. He also really wanted to know, just how had that girl come to this state?

The couple wasn't unaware of the tails, they just didn't care, which made it seem like they didn't notice. These tails all what to suck up theor employer so naturally, the would downplay the other party in their reports. The couple boldly entered Lavender Palace as if they were guests there. Some of the tails had already fabricated a story of their own. Of course the couple didn't know this and even if they did, they didn't care.

...

Shen Tianyu thanked Rong Jian once they got to the staircase leading to the Third Floor rooms. She took the umbrella back and closed it. Then she bowed slightly to him and walked up the stairs, entering he room at the end. Rong Jian made a dejected face but there wa smithing he could do. He also went into his room.

There was still some time until Luo Shue came out of secluded cultivation. So, Shen Tianyu entered her space. The Ice Crystal, she currently needn't worry because it wouldn't be able to escape her space and with the golden cage made by Rong Jian, irks spiritual power wouldn't leak. She entered the Eternal Sea of Raging Flames and wandered about. Some times, she would test something out by putting her hand in the fire or attacking the fire with her contract Greek Fire. The result of the former was nothing. She didn't get burned and the flames didn't shy away form her. The result of the latter was, the Greek Flame would burn the flame in the Sea of Flames, but would not consume it. After some time, the fire would disperse.

She eventually sat down on a rock and began thinking again. About her, about her body, about Rong Jian, about... everything.

What should she do from here on? She knows Master wishes for her to wed, in fact, everyone in Yaodu did. Doubly so because her Master never married so they had no chance to experience a wedding. A wedding held by Yaodu at least. There also was not much of a ceremony when Master adopted her. He merely gathered everyone around and announced it, then left everyone to their own devices. In short, her Master was not one for festivities. But what could you expect from an elderly recluse? It should be a miracle he hasn't become a hermit yet. Though he could technically be considered one.

But... she was ugly. Not the face perhaps, but the abuse of the Shen family won't fade so easily. Especially since she concentrated on getting stronger those short years she stayed at Yaodu, rather than heal her injuries and preserve her beauty. That allowed time for the wounds to fester and scar. Now, though she could be considered healed, she also had numerous scars jam packed all over her body.