There was a butcher's knife on the floor, fully painted red. Yuen Zhou's clothes were intact and her posture seemed relaxed. The flow of the blood on the ground wasn't coming from her direction but from the direction she was facing. He could not see who or what the source of the blood was. But it did not take a genius to understand that whatever bloody conflict may have taken place just before his entry, Yuen Zhou had not been the one to lose.
Han Xuhan whipped his head around and examined the ground behind him in the shortest possible time.
No dry leaves, no dead branches. The yard was very well maintained.
Perfect for a silent escape.
Sending a second glance at Yuen Zhou's still form through the window, Han Xuhan backpedaled quickly.
He had no reason to get involved in conflicts beyond his power level. Was Yuen Zhou a serial killer? A generic murderhobo?
He didn't care so long as he remained safe from her.
Of course, there was another possibility. Perhaps an invading team of disciples of other sects had attacked her. That had led to this hellish aftermath...but from the volume of blood on her floor, it was apparent that somebody had either died already or was close to death. Judging by Yuen Zhou's calm appearance, the former possibility was probably more plausible, because it would be irrational to watch someone bleed to death without helping just because they happened to be from a competing sect.
A death in the tournament was not uncommon, but there were obvious repercussions and punishments. It would not matter who was in the right and who was the real miscreant, because the killer would be the focus of all the fury. How many xianxia protagonists had been caught under fire just because they were present in the wrong place at the wrong time? Uncountable! Those guys survived mostly by luck, which Han Xuhan was sorely lacking.
Running away is the best option.
Sorry, sister Zhou! Better take care of the bodies yourself!
The enhancement of his senses was quite apparent to him by now. Even without turning, he could tell just when his body was about to hit the fence about the house. Stooping low and sticking to the ground, Han Xuhan slinked out of the yard successfully and decided to give her half an hour to clean up.
As he crossed the gate, he turned his face around and loudly declared, "It seems like your aunt Zhou is busy cultivating right now. Come, little Zhe, we will return half an hour later."
And then he jogged away at the unhurried pace of an Olympic sprinter.
Heaven's plan works beyond man's plan.
Han Xuhan was halfway back to his ruined but, feeling very relieved, as well as curious, when a familiar voice called him from behind.
"Martial brother, my cultivation session is over! You could've just waited a minute more. Besides, the door was not locked either! You weren't this polite the last time, were you?"
Yuen Zhou had crept behind him at some point.
Fast! Too goddamn fast!
Han Xuhan forcefully suppressed a shudder and turned around swiftly.
Don't look at her hand! Don't look at her hand! She'll notice!
Eyes were hard to control without showing signs of discomfort.
With a tremendous effort, Han Xuhan fixed his gaze on her face, eyes watering.
"Is there something on my face?" Yuen Zhou asked immediately, raising a palm to check. Her suspicious look at her fingers as she scratched her cheekbones made Han Xuhan's tummy churn.
He had to get out of this passive position!
Han Xuhan shifted his gaze toward her chest. Although his dog eyes could not see the mountain Tais there due to the loose-fitting robe and high neckline, Han Xuhan was naturally able to keep his eyes focused on that area due to the special power of every teenage boy. His eyes no longer felt any discomfort at all.
Yuen Zhou noticed, of course. But instead of getting angry at him like she should have, she looked rather puzzled.
"Martial brother...are you alright?" She asked suspiciously.
"Of course, I am!" Han Xuhan blurted out, eyes flickering between her face and her chest rapidly.
Come on, get angry, girl!
"Well, you're not exactly behaving like your usual self," Yuen Zhou observed.
He was a passionate young man looking at the subject of his passion! Why was this considered unusual? Had he been too much of a gentleman in the past?
"Aunty Zhou!" Hai Yin Zhe finally came to the rescue, crawling up on his shoulder and greeting her cheerfully.
"Papa, your back is sooooo wet and cold! I almost slipped!"
"Ah...Papa got sweaty because I was running, little Zhe!" Han Xuhan's hastily rubbed the icy sweat off his forehead and threw the snake at Yuen Zhou before her suspicion could mount higher.
"Aunty, catch meeeeeee!" Hai Yin Zhe shrieked excitedly.
Landing on her arms, little Zhe snuggled up to her and giggled in delight.
"I've carved the artificial qi pathways on little Zhe's body. Currently, she doesn't have a foundation. She can control qi to some extent now. So feel free to teach her however you prefer." Han Xuhan gave Yuen Zhou a rundown of last night's progress.
Yuen Zhou's eyes flashed as she checked the narrow channels at the anterior side of the snake's skeleton.
"If little Zhe is as talented as you say...You need to watch out for her progress, martial brother, lest it should cross yours," she remarked.
"I know. Just don't let her break through suddenly without informing me first." He sighed dispiritedly.
"I can guide her to that stage quite fast. In fact, she'll very easily reach the first layer of my technique with master and my combined guidance. But what about that zeroth layer foundation you want her to develop?" Yuen Zhou suddenly said, her tone very casual.
Han Xuhan choked on his own spit.
"Who told you about that? How do you know about that?" Han Xuhan was appalled.
"I hear about it every time you discuss it with Mu Ran. Pretty audible when you're a mid-level physique transformation realm cultivator sitting just ten feet away."
"...." Han Xuhan scratched his head for a moment and decided not to prolong the conversation.
"The zeroth layer is not a part of any cultivation technique. The Tenacious Tentacle form you'll be learning and teaching is not a registered technique under the Heavenly authority. It will not form a dao tower until you reach the peak of the physique transformation realm and survive the tribulation to the soul reformation realm. So it doesn't matter whether little Zhe reaches a breakthrough and becomes a first-layer cultivator of master's astral cultivation technique. By the time little Zhe reaches the stage of establishing her own dao tower, the zeroth layer foundation will have been laid. Neither technique will clash with the other."
This was the reason why Han Xuhan wasn't apprehensive of little Zhe's cultivation right now. He would keep a check on Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian's cultivation and keep them away from breaking through to the next layer lest it might damage his dao tower irreparably. But learning Kong Ye's astral cultivation method would not generate a dao tower for Hai Yin Zhe, meaning little Zhe would not become another 'shareholder' of the authority he had over his dao tower.
The zeroth layer foundation would only result in a separation of existence inside the tower. Han Xuhan's foundation would not be particularly affected.
In a way, Hai Yin Zhe was potentially his most powerful card. The snake could reach the peak of the physique transformation realm by practicing Kong Ye's technique while Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian would have to lag behind until Han Xuhan could find a solution to the problem with his damaged foundation.
His explanation made Yuen Zhou gape at him for a long ten seconds, her expression shifting from confusion to astonishment to shock and then to a complex countenance he couldn't even read. But she spelled out what she was thinking.
"Martial brother, you're insane."
"Thanks for the compliment." Han Xuhan showed her a thumbs-up.
"This is such a unique and interesting development," Yuen Zhou muttered to herself audibly. "If this works, so many new paths of cultivation would be opened! Martial brother!" She leaped forward and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him so forcefully that both modes of his visions blurred together into a messy mixture.
"Uh- Stoph-"
"You have to proceed carefully! I'm rooting for you!" She shouted at his face. He had never seen her getting this excited about anything. But now that she had drawn closer, he could actually smell the faint stink of blood. It had been suppressed by heavy perfume, but his enhanced olfactory nerves could still separate the familiar fragrance.
"If it isn't too much of a problem for you, can I ask your exact path of development? I really want to know how you reached this situation. None of the texts in the archives ever mentioned anything like this!"
Her extreme enthusiasm was disconcerting. But Han Xuhan went along with it and agreed because his nerves were being drawn tight the longer they stood in close proximity.
"Sure, martial sister. I'll answer your questions so long as they're not too...invasive," he smiled in a strained manner. "But not today, okay? I've got to prepare for the class today and take some rest as well."
"Alright, alright, that's fine. Some other day, maybe." Yuen Zhou nodded, seemingly realizing how strange her sudden interest appeared.
"By the way, have you made any progression on the...thing I asked you to look for?" She said as Han Xuhan was about to leave, stopping him dead in his tracks.
"Yes." Han Xuhan nodded after thinking for a second.
Yuen Zhou's eyes lit up. "When? What did you find?"
"The map is inside the sect master's bedroom. He let me have a peek because he was examining it just before I visited him; such a convenient coincidence, hahaha!"
It wasn't the best lie could come up with, but it was enough to convince her.
"Excellent! How well guarded do you think it is?" She enquired eagerly.
"Oh, we don't have to steal it, sister Zhou, don't worry."
"Huh?"
Han Xuhan smiled wide, finally feeling a bit confident. He had thought about how to keep both Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi off his back in the little deal. Yuen Zhou would continue to pressure him every day until he handed the map to her. The ruse would be hard to keep up. But he couldn't give it away too fast either in order to keep Xuan Zi satisfied.
"Sect master Zi is apparently reviewing some details in the map. He did not tell me why, but seeing my interest, he said I could borrow it once he's done reviewing."
"That works too?" Yuen Zhou looked dumbstruck. "I could have just asked? So easy?"
Han Xuhan shrugged. "From my estimation, you'll have the map in your hands by next week. See ya!"
He hastily retreated immediately, because Yuen Zhou's face looked quite gloomy from the revelation.
Watching his back disappear down the road, Yuen Zhou's brows wrinkled.
"Why is he lying?" She asked nobody in particular.
There was a butcher's knife on the floor, fully painted red. Yuen Zhou's clothes were intact and her posture seemed relaxed. The flow of the blood on the ground wasn't coming from her direction but from the direction she was facing. He could not see who or what the source of the blood was. But it did not take a genius to understand that whatever bloody conflict may have taken place just before his entry, Yuen Zhou had not been the one to lose.
Han Xuhan whipped his head around and examined the ground behind him in the shortest possible time.
No dry leaves, no dead branches. The yard was very well maintained.
Perfect for a silent escape.
Sending a second glance at Yuen Zhou's still form through the window, Han Xuhan backpedaled quickly.
He had no reason to get involved in conflicts beyond his power level. Was Yuen Zhou a serial killer? A generic murderhobo?
He didn't care so long as he remained safe from her.
Of course, there was another possibility. Perhaps an invading team of disciples of other sects had attacked her. That had led to this hellish aftermath...but from the volume of blood on her floor, it was apparent that somebody had either died already or was close to death. Judging by Yuen Zhou's calm appearance, the former possibility was probably more plausible, because it would be irrational to watch someone bleed to death without helping just because they happened to be from a competing sect.
A death in the tournament was not uncommon, but there were obvious repercussions and punishments. It would not matter who was in the right and who was the real miscreant, because the killer would be the focus of all the fury. How many xianxia protagonists had been caught under fire just because they were present in the wrong place at the wrong time? Uncountable! Those guys survived mostly by luck, which Han Xuhan was sorely lacking.
Running away is the best option.
Sorry, sister Zhou! Better take care of the bodies yourself!
The enhancement of his senses was quite apparent to him by now. Even without turning, he could tell just when his body was about to hit the fence about the house. Stooping low and sticking to the ground, Han Xuhan slinked out of the yard successfully and decided to give her half an hour to clean up.
As he crossed the gate, he turned his face around and loudly declared, "It seems like your aunt Zhou is busy cultivating right now. Come, little Zhe, we will return half an hour later."
And then he jogged away at the unhurried pace of an Olympic sprinter.
Heaven's plan works beyond man's plan.
Han Xuhan was halfway back to his ruined but, feeling very relieved, as well as curious, when a familiar voice called him from behind.
"Martial brother, my cultivation session is over! You could've just waited a minute more. Besides, the door was not locked either! You weren't this polite the last time, were you?"
Yuen Zhou had crept behind him at some point.
Fast! Too goddamn fast!
Han Xuhan forcefully suppressed a shudder and turned around swiftly.
Don't look at her hand! Don't look at her hand! She'll notice!
Eyes were hard to control without showing signs of discomfort.
With a tremendous effort, Han Xuhan fixed his gaze on her face, eyes watering.
"Is there something on my face?" Yuen Zhou asked immediately, raising a palm to check. Her suspicious look at her fingers as she scratched her cheekbones made Han Xuhan's tummy churn.
He had to get out of this passive position!
Han Xuhan shifted his gaze toward her chest. Although his dog eyes could not see the mountain Tais there due to the loose-fitting robe and high neckline, Han Xuhan was naturally able to keep his eyes focused on that area due to the special power of every teenage boy. His eyes no longer felt any discomfort at all.
Yuen Zhou noticed, of course. But instead of getting angry at him like she should have, she looked rather puzzled.
"Martial brother...are you alright?" She asked suspiciously.
"Of course, I am!" Han Xuhan blurted out, eyes flickering between her face and her chest rapidly.
Come on, get angry, girl!
"Well, you're not exactly behaving like your usual self," Yuen Zhou observed.
He was a passionate young man looking at the subject of his passion! Why was this considered unusual? Had he been too much of a gentleman in the past?
"Aunty Zhou!" Hai Yin Zhe finally came to the rescue, crawling up on his shoulder and greeting her cheerfully.
"Papa, your back is sooooo wet and cold! I almost slipped!"
"Ah...Papa got sweaty because I was running, little Zhe!" Han Xuhan's hastily rubbed the icy sweat off his forehead and threw the snake at Yuen Zhou before her suspicion could mount higher.
"Aunty, catch meeeeeee!" Hai Yin Zhe shrieked excitedly.
Landing on her arms, little Zhe snuggled up to her and giggled in delight.
"I've carved the artificial qi pathways on little Zhe's body. Currently, she doesn't have a foundation. She can control qi to some extent now. So feel free to teach her however you prefer." Han Xuhan gave Yuen Zhou a rundown of last night's progress.
Yuen Zhou's eyes flashed as she checked the narrow channels at the anterior side of the snake's skeleton.
"If little Zhe is as talented as you say...You need to watch out for her progress, martial brother, lest it should cross yours," she remarked.
"I know. Just don't let her break through suddenly without informing me first." He sighed dispiritedly.
"I can guide her to that stage quite fast. In fact, she'll very easily reach the first layer of my technique with master and my combined guidance. But what about that zeroth layer foundation you want her to develop?" Yuen Zhou suddenly said, her tone very casual.
Han Xuhan choked on his own spit.
"Who told you about that? How do you know about that?" Han Xuhan was appalled.
"I hear about it every time you discuss it with Mu Ran. Pretty audible when you're a mid-level physique transformation realm cultivator sitting just ten feet away."
"...." Han Xuhan scratched his head for a moment and decided not to prolong the conversation.
"The zeroth layer is not a part of any cultivation technique. The Tenacious Tentacle form you'll be learning and teaching is not a registered technique under the Heavenly authority. It will not form a dao tower until you reach the peak of the physique transformation realm and survive the tribulation to the soul reformation realm. So it doesn't matter whether little Zhe reaches a breakthrough and becomes a first-layer cultivator of master's astral cultivation technique. By the time little Zhe reaches the stage of establishing her own dao tower, the zeroth layer foundation will have been laid. Neither technique will clash with the other."
This was the reason why Han Xuhan wasn't apprehensive of little Zhe's cultivation right now. He would keep a check on Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian's cultivation and keep them away from breaking through to the next layer lest it might damage his dao tower irreparably. But learning Kong Ye's astral cultivation method would not generate a dao tower for Hai Yin Zhe, meaning little Zhe would not become another 'shareholder' of the authority he had over his dao tower.
The zeroth layer foundation would only result in a separation of existence inside the tower. Han Xuhan's foundation would not be particularly affected.
In a way, Hai Yin Zhe was potentially his most powerful card. The snake could reach the peak of the physique transformation realm by practicing Kong Ye's technique while Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian would have to lag behind until Han Xuhan could find a solution to the problem with his damaged foundation.
His explanation made Yuen Zhou gape at him for a long ten seconds, her expression shifting from confusion to astonishment to shock and then to a complex countenance he couldn't even read. But she spelled out what she was thinking.
"Martial brother, you're insane."
"Thanks for the compliment." Han Xuhan showed her a thumbs-up.
"This is such a unique and interesting development," Yuen Zhou muttered to herself audibly. "If this works, so many new paths of cultivation would be opened! Martial brother!" She leaped forward and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him so forcefully that both modes of his visions blurred together into a messy mixture.
"Uh- Stoph-"
"You have to proceed carefully! I'm rooting for you!" She shouted at his face. He had never seen her getting this excited about anything. But now that she had drawn closer, he could actually smell the faint stink of blood. It had been suppressed by heavy perfume, but his enhanced olfactory nerves could still separate the familiar fragrance.
"If it isn't too much of a problem for you, can I ask your exact path of development? I really want to know how you reached this situation. None of the texts in the archives ever mentioned anything like this!"
Her extreme enthusiasm was disconcerting. But Han Xuhan went along with it and agreed because his nerves were being drawn tight the longer they stood in close proximity.
"Sure, martial sister. I'll answer your questions so long as they're not too...invasive," he smiled in a strained manner. "But not today, okay? I've got to prepare for the class today and take some rest as well."
"Alright, alright, that's fine. Some other day, maybe." Yuen Zhou nodded, seemingly realizing how strange her sudden interest appeared.
"By the way, have you made any progression on the...thing I asked you to look for?" She said as Han Xuhan was about to leave, stopping him dead in his tracks.
"Yes." Han Xuhan nodded after thinking for a second.
Yuen Zhou's eyes lit up. "When? What did you find?"
"The map is inside the sect master's bedroom. He let me have a peek because he was examining it just before I visited him; such a convenient coincidence, hahaha!"
It wasn't the best lie could come up with, but it was enough to convince her.
"Excellent! How well guarded do you think it is?" She enquired eagerly.
"Oh, we don't have to steal it, sister Zhou, don't worry."
"Huh?"
Han Xuhan smiled wide, finally feeling a bit confident. He had thought about how to keep both Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi off his back in the little deal. Yuen Zhou would continue to pressure him every day until he handed the map to her. The ruse would be hard to keep up. But he couldn't give it away too fast either in order to keep Xuan Zi satisfied.
"Sect master Zi is apparently reviewing some details in the map. He did not tell me why, but seeing my interest, he said I could borrow it once he's done reviewing."
"That works too?" Yuen Zhou looked dumbstruck. "I could have just asked? So easy?"
Han Xuhan shrugged. "From my estimation, you'll have the map in your hands by next week. See ya!"
He hastily retreated immediately, because Yuen Zhou's face looked quite gloomy from the revelation.
Watching his back disappear down the road, Yuen Zhou's brows wrinkled.
"Why is he lying?" She asked nobody in particular.
