Chương 16: Persuasion
On the way back to his own dwelling, which was a simple apartment suitable for two people to live in, it was a gruelling session for Ace. There were many questions in his mind, that he couldn't find an answer to.
Should I really be creating the sect now? Should I really be this merciless and not give them the chance to even get close to me? Should I…
There were too many questions he had for himself, no one told him, but he knew that some of his actions were way too dominant.
There was no one to guide him on this path. He was all alone to make the decisions, even if the decisions he makes weren't the best choices.
Without even explaining in advance, he just called for a meeting to ask a simple question.
Walking on the dirt path, he realised that the current him was just pathetic as a sect leader.
I can't even afford for workers to build a proper pathway for the sect and yet my ambitions are aiming for the peak. Ace mocked himself as he immersed himself with nature.
The gentle breeze came by, the leaves swaying gently with its momentum. Looking around, he felt something wet leaking from his eye.
Am I crying?
He scorned himself as he wiped it off awkwardly even though no one was present.
The moonlight was bright, the stars accompanying it as dazzling as ever.
Soon, he returned to his own dwelling and realised that Charlotte was awake. She was seated on her bed opposite to Ace, separated by two individual opaque curtains, which she opened up by sliding it to the sides of the beds.
Sitting down on his own bed, Ace asked her, "What's the matter?"
Charlotte stood up, walked towards him and gave him a hug.
"Charlotte, what's wrong?"
Ace didn't know why, but he was feeling afraid. It was as though Charlotte was hiding something from him.
"Is this what you really want? Becoming a sect master no different from most in the cultivation world?" Charlotte questioned as tears leaked from her eyes. Even so, her eyes were determined to get an answer.
Charlotte might be young, but she has also been through her fair share of life, just like many other young cultivators in the cultivation world.
The cultivation world was cruel. People would resort to any means and even go against their moral values, so as long as they can achieve their goals and purpose, yet this was the cultivation world everyone came to terms with.
"What are you trying to say?" Ace asked as he gently pushed Charlotte away. His hand reached out to wipe the tears on her face.
*Smack*
"Answer me!" Charlotte questioned again after smacking Ace's palm away.
Was she really as innocent as Ace and Ultric thought? That was merely the disguise she had put up to protect herself just like Alexander.
The Snow family Charlotte was from wasn't as simple as what others see on the surface. To them, the birth of every child meant a new soldier that would be worth the price as long as they accomplish something with their life. The price of human life there was worth absolutely nothing.
That's why Charlotte left her family alone at the tender age of twelve, suffered and resorted to trickery in order to sail across the seas and make it onto the Zyroth continent.
Wandering around aimlessly in order to survive, her fame was gradually known and she didn't have a place she can call home or someone she can call a family member.
But when she met Ace and Ultric, she felt safe. She knew they would protect her when the time comes, they were people who truly cared for her.
Yet, why was Ace keeping so many secrets from her? Why must he hide his inner self in order to develop the sect? She might not know about Ace's past, but her instincts after spending so much time with him told her that he wasn't being himself.
"I…"
Ace wanted to explain, but what could he say? That he wanted revenge against those that plotted against his mother, in order to their master and most importantly, figure out the origin of the system and why he was chosen?
Ace also wanted to develop his sect peacefully and he believed that it would only be a matter of time with the system and cultivation heart of his, yet time was the biggest constraint that was restricting him right now.
What could he explain? Wanting to be trusted, wasn't possible to him. Charlotte however...why is she pushing him now?
"Let me guess, you want strength, you want to become strong enough in order to protect those you love and most importantly, solve problems related to your past." Charlotte made it sound like a guess, but they both knew that she arrived at the conclusion after deductions.
"I'm sorry Charlotte, but I really need to grow stronger and develop the sect as quickly as possible. If I don't, life has taught me that the weak don't possess the qualifications to protect those that they love."
Ace explained, only to realise that Charlotte's face was cold. The aura eluding from her was domineering and actually sent chills down Ace's body.
"You...you think you're the only one who desires strength? Wake your goddamn mind up you, idiot!"
*Shatter*
Roses of ice formed behind Charlotte, shattering one after another as they became sharp blades of ice.
"See all these roses? All of them look the same to you, but that's only on the surface."
Charlotte said as the roses shattered again, revealing chilling flames of different colours.
Blue, green, purple, orange, black, white, brown, red, silver, golden…
It was an iridescent display of beautiful embers that brought about intense heat with different intentions. Each flame represented a colour. Each colour represented a feeling.
"Don't you get it? Everyone in the cultivation world desires strength and from the moment you lose yourself, nothing besides death awaits you!"
The embers vanished, the dim lighting in the room diminished with a wave of Charlotte's arm.
"Charlotte...but there are just so many reasons that I need strength. So many that I'm lost alone in the darkness with countless doors, each leading to unwanted outcomes."
Ace said, his body trembling, his words stuck in his throat. These words he just said had deprived his body of all its strength.
"As cultivators, we defy the heavens to attain eternal life. This resulted in selfishness, corruption, greed and many more negative aspects. But in the end, that's just the true nature of humans. Isn't it?"
"Charlotte, did something happen?"
Ace interrupted, only to realise that Charlotte's face was already flooded with tears.
"I desire strength to, but I have never lost myself to that corrupted mindset...promise me...you'll remain your true self even after becoming a sect master. Please…"
Charlotte said weakly as she burrowed into Ace's embrace.
"I understand...thank you...Charlotte."
Ace whispered into the silent darkness, he could hear Charlotte's breathing and sense her light body rested on his. He felt blood rushing within his body.
"Don't have dirty thoughts."
Charlotte said as she placed a finger before Ace's mouth.
"I'm sorry."
Ace expressed awkwardly as he stood up and prepared to carry Charlotte back to her bed to rest, but she pushed him back onto the bed.
"Charlotte?"
"Just for tonight...hug me to sleep alright?"
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