Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu were standing idly a good distance away from the hut, both in deep pools of thoughts of their own. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were being chased around by a giggling Hai Yin Zhe. Why Han Xuhan had not summoned them back to his dao tower was a bit puzzling to Yuen Zhou. But she hadn't thought much of it, opting to wait and see what else Han Xuhan would reveal to them once his secret conversation with Mu Ran ended.
"What's taking them so long?" Xiao Wu complained in a bored manner.
"Maybe we should shout and tell them to hurry up and finish their business fast," Yuen Zhou suggested.
"...Why did you have to make it sound so perverted?" Xiao Wu mumbled under his breath with a disgusted expression.
"What did you say?" Yuen Zhou squinted at him.
"Nothing."
Just as Xiao Wu was about to walk over to shout at the distant hut, both of them noticed a blurry silhouette shooting through the sky, headed toward them like an arrow. The origin of the silhouette seemed to be the top of the mountain peak where Master Kong Ye resided.
Sure enough, the moment the silhouette landed on the ground, Kong Ye's sharp features became clear. The area he had landed on formed two small ravines as he skidded forward unstably because of the momentum.
The panicked expression on his face made both Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu tense up. They rushed over to him, followed by the three startled skeleton minions.
"Where is Xuhan? Is he here? Have you seen him?" Kong Ye fired a volley of questions even before managing to gain a proper footing from his botched landing. Not only did his face radiate panic, his tone too was filled with urgency.
"He's there, in my house." Xiao Wu pointed out, adding, "What's wrong, master? What's going on?"
Kong Ye looked like he wanted to wave their concerns off and rush to the hut himself. But he seemed to think of something at the last moment and glanced at the three minions standing behind the disciples.
"Did anything significant happen within the last half hour?" he asked Zhanxian, who nodded hurriedly.
"Master tried to-AH?!"
Zhanxian was silenced by a fierce wing slap from Tun Shi Tian.
"Master visited another sect and had a run-in with a powerful cultivator there," Tun Shi Tian said while glaring at Zhanxian. "His life was in danger, but he has managed to pull through and solve the problem."
Kong Ye turned to look at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu, his gaze questioning.
"A gross oversimplification, but yes, that's the gist of it. Can you tell us what's wrong, master?" Xiao Wu said, confirming Tun Shi Tian's account.
"He's there, you say?" Kong Ye asked back, avoiding the question. His gaze bore into the hut in the distance. "Who's with him? Mu Ran?"
"Yes! But what-"
"Disciple Xuhan is in an incredibly dangerous situation right now. I require your assistance in saving him. Come with me," Kong Ye cut Xiao Wu off and gestured at them to follow him.
When Yuen Zhou stepped back inside the yard unannounced, she found Mu Ran holding a knife over his arm. Before she could react, the knife swung down and painted his palm red.
"I, Mu Ran, acknowledge you, BROTHER!"
Yuen Zhou's gaze flickered towards Han Xuhan, who was sporting a similar cut on his palm, albeit much smaller in size. It was barely leaking blood at all.
"I, Han Xuhan, acknowledge you, BROTHER!"
"Let us lock arms and form the blood pact!" Mu Ran declared, bringing his hand toward Xuhan's outstretched palm...only to pause.
"Er... I think you cut yourself on the wrong hand, Brother Ran," Han Xuhan remarked after trying in vain to grip Mu Ran's hand.
Mu Ran quickly cut himself on the other palm too and snatched Xuhan's palm with his, mixing their running blood together. Drops of after drops of crimson painted the soil beneath them as they maintained the grip.
"The drying blood cements our brotherhood! The healing skin covers our camaraderie! Let this unbroken grip be the testament to our infallible fraternity!"
Mu Ran's heartfelt shout might have continued had Yuen Zhou not decided to intervene at this point.
"Brother Xuhan! Don't move! You're in danger!"
Both boys turned to look at her with absolute befuddlement clouding their faces.
"What?"
"Danger? Where? How?"
"It's not something I can explain! Just stay still and keep calm! I've already sent out Brother Wu to contact Master. He can definitely crack down on the spiritual pollution-"
Yuen Zhou stopped dead in her tracks, looking guilty. It was clear to both of them that she hadn't intended to say the last part out loud.
"Spiritual pollution? Good heavens!" Mu Ran yelped as he turned to look at Han Xuhan, expecting to see him equally panicked.
What greeted his gaze was, however, a pair of frosty, placid eyes radiating the faintest hint of bone-deep contempt.
Mu Ran unconsciously tightened the grip he had on Han Xuhan's palm.
"Hnggghhh-!"
A foot crashed into his left kneecap with so much force that Mu Ran lost all sensation below his knee temporarily. Incredibly enough, he hadn't seen Han Xuhan, a fourth-layer weakling's oncoming kick.
How? Even those around his own cultivation level weren't this fast, nor so powerful!
Barely had he managed to digest the kick when he felt a seating pain being emitted from his hand.
The palm that had wrapped itself around Han Xuhan's hand now sported several strips of torn skin and rent muscles. Streaks of blood coated the metallic armor covering Han Xuhan's fingers.
From outright disbelief, Mu Ran's thoughts switched to a surprised realization.
The armor pieces from the void zone! So that was what Han Xuhan had relied on to injure him!
...But why?!
Meanwhile, Yuen Zhou, who had recovered from the shock much faster than him, shot out like a coiled spring.
The ruse she had employed to bait out the enemy had worked perfectly! He was under the impression that although he had been found out, he had an opportunity to escape!
Yet she barely managed to touch the corner of Xuhan's robe as he executed a series of unbelievably fluid footwork and sidestepped both her fists and flying daggers.
Mu Ran examined the rapidly healing skin of his hand. There were two injuries on it, one made for Xuhan, the other made by Xuhan.
Spiritual pollution, was it?
Mu Ran raised his arms and moved his qi into a familiar circuit.
"Astral-"
"STOP!"
Kong Ye appeared right behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't damage him spiritually right now! Your uncontrolled spell will do more harm than good. Let me handle this!"
Xiao Wu rushed into the yard, followed by Han Xuhan's three minions. None of them could quite believe their eyes as the ongoing battle between Yuen Zhou and Han Xuhan unfolded.
No matter how many punches, kicks, and hidden daggers were thrown at him, Han Xuhan dodged them like a fluid shadow. His speed was nowhere near enough to be her match. Yet even the fastest of her strikes barely seemed to nick him. Han Xuhan's body seemed to have no bones, no weight, and was made up of the world's strongest rubber.
It was almost akin to watching an adult playing around with a toddler.
"What the hell happened to him?" he heard Tun Shi Tian, the owl, squeak half in awe, half in horror.
Mu Ran had practiced his combat skills a few times with Han Xuhan. He could tell clearly that none of these moves and maneuvers were supposed to be a part of his blood brother's arsenal.
"Disciple Zhou, that's enough." Kong Ye yelled. "You're letting the enemy harm his body! He's not physically capable of performing any of those movements."
Yuen Zhou retracted her latest punch halfway and became still. Han Xuhan, on the other hand, staggered slightly as he took several steps back and leaned on the fence of the yard. But the placid, almost dull expression on his face remained unchanged throughout the ordeal.
"Such a weak body...Had I known it earlier, tsk, tsk, tsk," he mumbled to himself, eyes downcast.
"Who are you? And why have you taken possession of my disciple's body?" Kong Ye said as he slowly strode forward.
"If you wish to see him dead, you're welcome to take the next step," Han Xuhan replied.
Kong Ye sighed, turning to look at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu with an expression that said, 'I told you so,'.
"Answer the questions," Yuen Zhou growled impatiently. The dagger in her grip twitched, hinting at an unfinished battle intent.
Han Xuhan, or whoever was possessing his body at the moment, ignored her and faced Kong Ye's scrutinizing gaze.
"Which Celestial? I was under the impression that your faction still sticks to the rules and regulations, at least on the outside. Since when did they start handing out gifts at the level of a Solarsight? You couldn't have perceived my existence otherwise. You do understand the gravity of such transgressions, right?"
Kong Ye looked as dumbfounded as the rest of them faced with the inquiry.
"...What are you even talking about?" he said in reply after a lengthy pause.
The disdain radiating from Han Xuhan's eyes grew stronger.
"Ignorant as ever. Truly, the worst of all unextinguished creatures. Whatever, it is none of my concern now since I've been discovered. Tell your lords to go cry about it in their upcoming assembly, as usual. And turn off that talisman array you've placed around this mountain. Your dearest disciple isn't dead, and I'm sure you don't want to be the one to cause his death."
"You're going to kill him either way. Best I spare him a dignified death before you use his body to do something dishonorable," Kong Ye said calmly. Before he even finished speaking, he had activated the array.
"Astral Eclipse!"
Thousands of thin, black rays of light shot up from the soil, blinding every opened eye. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu fainted immediately. The three minions flickered and disappeared from their spot.
"So ruthless?!" The entity possessing Han Xuhan yelped, making Kong Ye grimace.
At least it was fearful of death! That was more than enough leverage right now! That was good news!
Amidst the storm of gathering shadows, Kong Ye sensed his first disciple's body losing balance and falling to the ground. Even the powerful spiritual body possessing him wasn't capable of withstanding what Kong Ye's system could unleash with some preparation.
With a flick of his qi, the array was deactivated. Kong Ye strode forward and knelt over Han Xuhan's body, examining it thoroughly. A vacant look appeared in his eyes which all four of his disciples would have recognized had they been conscious.
From within his robe, he pulled out a syringe filled with a colorless liquid.
"Let me level the playing field for you, disciple. That is all your master can do for you now. Don't disappoint me!"
Han Xuhan's eyes flickered open, the same dull gaze making its appearance once more.
"Hear your disciple's last scream-!"
He was greeted with the sight of a long syringe stabbed into his neck before his world went dark once more.
Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu were standing idly a good distance away from the hut, both in deep pools of thoughts of their own. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were being chased around by a giggling Hai Yin Zhe. Why Han Xuhan had not summoned them back to his dao tower was a bit puzzling to Yuen Zhou. But she hadn't thought much of it, opting to wait and see what else Han Xuhan would reveal to them once his secret conversation with Mu Ran ended.
"What's taking them so long?" Xiao Wu complained in a bored manner.
"Maybe we should shout and tell them to hurry up and finish their business fast," Yuen Zhou suggested.
"...Why did you have to make it sound so perverted?" Xiao Wu mumbled under his breath with a disgusted expression.
"What did you say?" Yuen Zhou squinted at him.
"Nothing."
Just as Xiao Wu was about to walk over to shout at the distant hut, both of them noticed a blurry silhouette shooting through the sky, headed toward them like an arrow. The origin of the silhouette seemed to be the top of the mountain peak where Master Kong Ye resided.
Sure enough, the moment the silhouette landed on the ground, Kong Ye's sharp features became clear. The area he had landed on formed two small ravines as he skidded forward unstably because of the momentum.
The panicked expression on his face made both Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu tense up. They rushed over to him, followed by the three startled skeleton minions.
"Where is Xuhan? Is he here? Have you seen him?" Kong Ye fired a volley of questions even before managing to gain a proper footing from his botched landing. Not only did his face radiate panic, his tone too was filled with urgency.
"He's there, in my house." Xiao Wu pointed out, adding, "What's wrong, master? What's going on?"
Kong Ye looked like he wanted to wave their concerns off and rush to the hut himself. But he seemed to think of something at the last moment and glanced at the three minions standing behind the disciples.
"Did anything significant happen within the last half hour?" he asked Zhanxian, who nodded hurriedly.
"Master tried to-AH?!"
Zhanxian was silenced by a fierce wing slap from Tun Shi Tian.
"Master visited another sect and had a run-in with a powerful cultivator there," Tun Shi Tian said while glaring at Zhanxian. "His life was in danger, but he has managed to pull through and solve the problem."
Kong Ye turned to look at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu, his gaze questioning.
"A gross oversimplification, but yes, that's the gist of it. Can you tell us what's wrong, master?" Xiao Wu said, confirming Tun Shi Tian's account.
"He's there, you say?" Kong Ye asked back, avoiding the question. His gaze bore into the hut in the distance. "Who's with him? Mu Ran?"
"Yes! But what-"
"Disciple Xuhan is in an incredibly dangerous situation right now. I require your assistance in saving him. Come with me," Kong Ye cut Xiao Wu off and gestured at them to follow him.
When Yuen Zhou stepped back inside the yard unannounced, she found Mu Ran holding a knife over his arm. Before she could react, the knife swung down and painted his palm red.
"I, Mu Ran, acknowledge you, BROTHER!"
Yuen Zhou's gaze flickered towards Han Xuhan, who was sporting a similar cut on his palm, albeit much smaller in size. It was barely leaking blood at all.
"I, Han Xuhan, acknowledge you, BROTHER!"
"Let us lock arms and form the blood pact!" Mu Ran declared, bringing his hand toward Xuhan's outstretched palm...only to pause.
"Er... I think you cut yourself on the wrong hand, Brother Ran," Han Xuhan remarked after trying in vain to grip Mu Ran's hand.
Mu Ran quickly cut himself on the other palm too and snatched Xuhan's palm with his, mixing their running blood together. Drops of after drops of crimson painted the soil beneath them as they maintained the grip.
"The drying blood cements our brotherhood! The healing skin covers our camaraderie! Let this unbroken grip be the testament to our infallible fraternity!"
Mu Ran's heartfelt shout might have continued had Yuen Zhou not decided to intervene at this point.
"Brother Xuhan! Don't move! You're in danger!"
Both boys turned to look at her with absolute befuddlement clouding their faces.
"What?"
"Danger? Where? How?"
"It's not something I can explain! Just stay still and keep calm! I've already sent out Brother Wu to contact Master. He can definitely crack down on the spiritual pollution-"
Yuen Zhou stopped dead in her tracks, looking guilty. It was clear to both of them that she hadn't intended to say the last part out loud.
"Spiritual pollution? Good heavens!" Mu Ran yelped as he turned to look at Han Xuhan, expecting to see him equally panicked.
What greeted his gaze was, however, a pair of frosty, placid eyes radiating the faintest hint of bone-deep contempt.
Mu Ran unconsciously tightened the grip he had on Han Xuhan's palm.
"Hnggghhh-!"
A foot crashed into his left kneecap with so much force that Mu Ran lost all sensation below his knee temporarily. Incredibly enough, he hadn't seen Han Xuhan, a fourth-layer weakling's oncoming kick.
How? Even those around his own cultivation level weren't this fast, nor so powerful!
Barely had he managed to digest the kick when he felt a seating pain being emitted from his hand.
The palm that had wrapped itself around Han Xuhan's hand now sported several strips of torn skin and rent muscles. Streaks of blood coated the metallic armor covering Han Xuhan's fingers.
From outright disbelief, Mu Ran's thoughts switched to a surprised realization.
The armor pieces from the void zone! So that was what Han Xuhan had relied on to injure him!
...But why?!
Meanwhile, Yuen Zhou, who had recovered from the shock much faster than him, shot out like a coiled spring.
The ruse she had employed to bait out the enemy had worked perfectly! He was under the impression that although he had been found out, he had an opportunity to escape!
Yet she barely managed to touch the corner of Xuhan's robe as he executed a series of unbelievably fluid footwork and sidestepped both her fists and flying daggers.
Mu Ran examined the rapidly healing skin of his hand. There were two injuries on it, one made for Xuhan, the other made by Xuhan.
Spiritual pollution, was it?
Mu Ran raised his arms and moved his qi into a familiar circuit.
"Astral-"
"STOP!"
Kong Ye appeared right behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't damage him spiritually right now! Your uncontrolled spell will do more harm than good. Let me handle this!"
Xiao Wu rushed into the yard, followed by Han Xuhan's three minions. None of them could quite believe their eyes as the ongoing battle between Yuen Zhou and Han Xuhan unfolded.
No matter how many punches, kicks, and hidden daggers were thrown at him, Han Xuhan dodged them like a fluid shadow. His speed was nowhere near enough to be her match. Yet even the fastest of her strikes barely seemed to nick him. Han Xuhan's body seemed to have no bones, no weight, and was made up of the world's strongest rubber.
It was almost akin to watching an adult playing around with a toddler.
"What the hell happened to him?" he heard Tun Shi Tian, the owl, squeak half in awe, half in horror.
Mu Ran had practiced his combat skills a few times with Han Xuhan. He could tell clearly that none of these moves and maneuvers were supposed to be a part of his blood brother's arsenal.
"Disciple Zhou, that's enough." Kong Ye yelled. "You're letting the enemy harm his body! He's not physically capable of performing any of those movements."
Yuen Zhou retracted her latest punch halfway and became still. Han Xuhan, on the other hand, staggered slightly as he took several steps back and leaned on the fence of the yard. But the placid, almost dull expression on his face remained unchanged throughout the ordeal.
"Such a weak body...Had I known it earlier, tsk, tsk, tsk," he mumbled to himself, eyes downcast.
"Who are you? And why have you taken possession of my disciple's body?" Kong Ye said as he slowly strode forward.
"If you wish to see him dead, you're welcome to take the next step," Han Xuhan replied.
Kong Ye sighed, turning to look at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu with an expression that said, 'I told you so,'.
"Answer the questions," Yuen Zhou growled impatiently. The dagger in her grip twitched, hinting at an unfinished battle intent.
Han Xuhan, or whoever was possessing his body at the moment, ignored her and faced Kong Ye's scrutinizing gaze.
"Which Celestial? I was under the impression that your faction still sticks to the rules and regulations, at least on the outside. Since when did they start handing out gifts at the level of a Solarsight? You couldn't have perceived my existence otherwise. You do understand the gravity of such transgressions, right?"
Kong Ye looked as dumbfounded as the rest of them faced with the inquiry.
"...What are you even talking about?" he said in reply after a lengthy pause.
The disdain radiating from Han Xuhan's eyes grew stronger.
"Ignorant as ever. Truly, the worst of all unextinguished creatures. Whatever, it is none of my concern now since I've been discovered. Tell your lords to go cry about it in their upcoming assembly, as usual. And turn off that talisman array you've placed around this mountain. Your dearest disciple isn't dead, and I'm sure you don't want to be the one to cause his death."
"You're going to kill him either way. Best I spare him a dignified death before you use his body to do something dishonorable," Kong Ye said calmly. Before he even finished speaking, he had activated the array.
"Astral Eclipse!"
Thousands of thin, black rays of light shot up from the soil, blinding every opened eye. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu fainted immediately. The three minions flickered and disappeared from their spot.
"So ruthless?!" The entity possessing Han Xuhan yelped, making Kong Ye grimace.
At least it was fearful of death! That was more than enough leverage right now! That was good news!
Amidst the storm of gathering shadows, Kong Ye sensed his first disciple's body losing balance and falling to the ground. Even the powerful spiritual body possessing him wasn't capable of withstanding what Kong Ye's system could unleash with some preparation.
With a flick of his qi, the array was deactivated. Kong Ye strode forward and knelt over Han Xuhan's body, examining it thoroughly. A vacant look appeared in his eyes which all four of his disciples would have recognized had they been conscious.
From within his robe, he pulled out a syringe filled with a colorless liquid.
"Let me level the playing field for you, disciple. That is all your master can do for you now. Don't disappoint me!"
Han Xuhan's eyes flickered open, the same dull gaze making its appearance once more.
"Hear your disciple's last scream-!"
He was greeted with the sight of a long syringe stabbed into his neck before his world went dark once more.
