Chapter 88 Rose

"Hmm?" Disciple Sister hesitated for a moment as she observed Number One's behavior. "Aren't those the Poisonous Toad Leaves? I already had something prepared for him when he tries to get them. We can't hand everything to him on a silver plate."

Number One gritted his teeth at the final confirmation. It was her who has been sabotaging him this whole time. How many years did she spend spying on him?

"What did you plan?" Number One questioned curiously. His Disciple Sister was still in an illusion that he was her Master so he had to make the best use of it.

"I found a Heaven Rank Soul Beast that likes to feast on the Poisonous Toads. I thought it would be a good challenge for him," Disciple Sister replied casually while keeping the goods before leaning over to hold Number One's cloak. "You sound different, Master. Did something happen?"

Disciple Sister has been looking at him suspiciously from the start and it was clear he wasn't a perfect impostor. Number One still tried his best to avoid her gaze and questioned back, "Was it really this long since we last saw each other that you already forgot what your Master sounds like?"

"I'm not sure either…" Disciple Sister muttered in confusion and suddenly his chest intimately. "What happened with your condition? You barely had any energy in your voice the last time I visited you. How come you sound so youthful now? Your body has also recovered a bit."

Number One paused as he didn't expect such a turn of events. Was this how a disciple should act around their Master? His Disciple Sister was getting too comfortable with him and her voice carried an unusual softness as if she was talking to her lover.

'Don't tell me those two…' Number One thought dumbfounded and stopped himself before he imagined further. No matter what connected them, it was even better for him since he could use it to his advantage.

"I told you not to worry about me. I'm all fine as you can see," Number One replied calmly. "I drank a special elixir that helped me get back on my feet. Not sure how long it will last but I'm good for now. I just wanted to come and see you."

Number One barely spoke those words as he cringed internally but he didn't really have a choice. He thought of killing her on the spot since she wouldn't be able to dodge from up close but who knew what kind of protective Artifacts she carried? Killing her would also alert his Master and he still had no idea what their plan was.

"Gosh, you are so stubborn…" Disciple Sister lamented while finally releasing him and slowly taking off her golden mask to reveal her face. The memories that Number One had lost immediately resurfaced in his mind.

The woman in front of him was no longer a teen but instead a grownup lady with a face that screamed trouble. Even though she was looking at Number One with a soft gaze, her eyes were like a dark abyss that was about to consume him. The only difference from her old appearance was a golden tattoo of a moon that covered one of her eyes.

"If you wanted to see your Rose, you could have sent me a message. I would return to the Inner World just to meet you," Disciple Sister pointed out while taking off her hood to reveal her black locks that curled around her face. "You didn't need to come so far for me. What if your condition worsened again? I'm happy that you came but you should just rest and leave everything to me. I will bring Number One when he is ready."

'There we go…' Number One thought as the situation looked much clearer now. Rose kept mentioning his Master's condition which seemed to be the key to the whole mystery.

Number One was about to question her further when Rose grew closer again and grabbed his wrist. He was too slow to pull it away in time and she managed to drag his palm onto her cheek to enjoy his touch. He already knew his cover failed the moment her facial expression stiffened.

There was no hesitation in Number One actions as he lowered his palm onto Rose's neck but that was all he could do. Rose immediately gripped his forearm and it broke like a wooden stick with a simple squeeze of hers. What followed was brutal force smashing into his stomach which sent Number One to the ground.

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"To think I fell for it…" Rose commented as Number One struggled to breathe. He felt as if his whole torso has caved in and it probably wasn't that far from the truth.

Number One's body didn't even have the time to regenerate before Rose kicked his side to flip him onto his back. One would find it hard to believe she could generate so much power with her thin body. She wasn't even using her Soul Energy to bully him.

Pa!

Another kick knocked off the golden mask from Number One's face and she gazed at him speechlessly. The smile she had just a moment ago was replaced with a deadly stare but he only smiled with blood between his teeth. "Long time no see…"

Rose already revealed that they needed him so death wasn't on Number One's list of worries. It was clear that he was no match for her yet so he could only try to get more info from her.

"Don't be shy, kick me a few more times to vent your anger," Number One suggested after spitting blood and fixing his broken bones. He could tell she wanted to beat him further but she stopped herself at his words.

"There is no need. I understand it's all my fault," Rose replied while taking a deep breath to calm herself down. "I should have guessed you are planning to use Master's reputation to sell the pills you make since no one would believe you are this good. I was clouded by my emotions and mistook you for our Master. That won't happen again."

Rose wore her mask again and walked away without any further comment. How could Number One let her go after finally getting this opportunity?

"You really dare to call this bastard our Master after what you two did to me? He was never my Master and never will be," Number One called out after Rose which caused her to halt her footsteps.

"What did you call him…?" Rose asked coldly while looking back. "Don't provoke me. I'm not in a good mood and I might accidentally torture you."

"Sure, go ahead," Number One replied casually while slowly getting up off the ground. "You already killed my whole family. You might as well finish the job."

"Your village was chosen to die for the sake of my Soul Art. You should be grateful my Master spared you and gave you another life," Rose argued back while walking back. "Without his Legendary Artifacts, you would still be a mortal that can't cultivate. You are nothing without my Master."

"I would rather be nothing than be a puppet that is being prepared to be sacrificed," Number One guessed right as Rose stopped in front of his face. "What? Did I guess right? Is he planning to consume my Soul to steal my regeneration? Or maybe he wants to use my body as a vessel for his own Soul? Is it still too weak to accept him?"

Number One was just guessing randomly in hopes of getting any more clues but Rose didn't get provoked. "Your fate is already sealed. You can only focus on your current path and enjoy your life. We will meet again when you are ready."

Rose tried to leave again but Number One only laughed. "You want me to act as if nothing happened and await my death? I would rather kill myself now and take your Master with me."

Number One made a gun out of his fingers and placed the end to his temple. "I wish I could take you out as well but I guess I will be satisfied knowing you have to watch your Master die. You will watch his condition worsen with each month and the thought you could save him will torture you forever."

Rose stopped again but she didn't act based on Number One's expectations. She didn't try to convince him to stop and instead gambled as well. "It is too late for you. Maybe if you found out about me much earlier then I would believe you, but now? I know you won't do it. You have already tasted life and you experienced love. You finally have something that's keeping you alive and you won't risk losing that again."

Number One wanted to deny that but his mind immediately imagined Nami's smile and his motivation faltered.  Rose could see his struggle and just threw at him the two storage rings before walking away for the final time. "Enjoy your life. We will see each other again."