Chapter 140 140 Analysis

Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Analysis

For a few moments, she remained in that position, hovering over him, looking at him one last time. In her hand was a long stretch of white cloth. Ironically, Tayshaun had bought it at the tuck shop- hoping to use it to package his prize.

She spread it across his corpse, tucking it in at the edges, and rolling him into it.

"Uhm Ni Yang, could you help me with this?"

No answer.

"Ni Yang?" she called again.

Still silence.

A little nervous, and slightly alarmed, she snapped her head backwards- swinging her red curls as she trained her eyes in his direction.

It turned out Nexus was lost in a whole other thing.

Behind her, under the humongous mountain of black furry flesh, just beneath the pile of legs, Nexus was gazing upon a glowing golden orb shone through. It was shinning with a pulsating glow- dimming and brightening as though it was- alive?

Intrigued, Nexus inched forward, taking careful tentative steps in crouching position, and angling forward with his eyes wide open.

[NEXUS.]

He stiffened.

[BE ADVISED, THE GLOWING ORB OF LIGHT WHICH YOU SEE IS A QI BANK. IN IT IS STORED UP POWERFUL SPIRITUAL QI THAT HAS BEEN ORGANICALLY HARVESTED AND STORED UP OVER TIME.]

Nexus' head swelled with a lot of questions- but chief of them being what was it good for?

[IT HAS MANY USES. BUT IT IS PARTICULARLY POTENT IN THE CASTING OF ILLUSIONS.]

Nexus' eyes watered. A mischievous smile snaked across the lower part of his face.

[IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE ENOUGH SPIRITUAL JUICE TO BLOCK, DEFLECT, OR EVEN REBOUND ANY PROJECTED ILLUSION SENT ONTO YOU.]

Nexus' knees buckled with excitement, and his insides light up so fast, he had to refrain himself from letting the Heavenly Flame in his hand burn too bright for comfort.

Standing there, he distinctly remembered being told earlier on by the system that there just happened to be a treasure nearby. Till this very moment, Nexus hadn't really thought about it.

However, as he stood there staring at this glowing orb with twinkling eyes and a drooling mouth, he thought about all the ways this could give him an edge in this continent! His mind ran amuck with possible adventures and fun he could have with this!

"Don't tell me you're obsessing over that thing too?"

Moinca's voice suddenly came from right beside him, and Nexus almost jumped back- .very nearly extinguishing the Heavenly Flame in his hand.

"Geez Monica," he exclaimed as he caught his breath; "Maybe give me a little heads up next time before sneaking up on me?"

He caught the expression on her face, and looked at the orb- then looked back at her face again. There was a twinge of sadness in her eyes as she looked at the orb;

"I'm guessing you know what it is- don't you?" she asked.

"Do you?"

"Not really. But I have a pretty good idea."

"Me too. . ."

He trailed his eyes all over it, catching its glowing reflection in his irises. He pressed on;

"From the look on your face, I'm guessing this what you guys came for."

She nodded. Silently staring at it like it was some cursed object.

"Well," he inquired; "What do you want to do with it?"

"Not me. This was Tayshaun's quest, I was merely advising."

In a swoosh of air, she turned around sharply on her feet. Swinging her cloak behind her in the wind, she retreated back to the corpse, saying;

"It's of no use to me now though. You can keep it if you want. No one here deserves it more than you. . ."

Not completely sure what she meant, Nexus squinted his eyes, and inclined his head sideways.

". . .now come help me load his body onto the horses outside. After you're done taking your prize of course."

Nexus nodded promptly in understanding as he redirected his gaze back to the prize. In a moment, he absorbed it into the system's space- grateful that Ice Core grass wasn't the only treasure on his radar.

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After helping her load the body on Tayshaun's horse, they spent the night camped out in the open grasslands.

By the next morning, just as dawn was stretching its yellow rays and lighting up the meadows, Monica roused first, followed by Nexus a few moments later. Thankfully, before Tayshaun died, he had picked out every single morning supply they'd need.

So their morning routine was brief- especially because Nexus felt a little shy having to go number two.

Just as the sun branched out, just as its yellow head was rising up from the horizon, they both set out on their horses back to Castra city. With Monica in the lead, Nexus trotted along at a close pace. On Tayshaun's horse, placed sideways was his wrapped up corpse.

The rich sound of trees rustling to the morning breeze, echoed in the background, shadowing their every step. The presence of the corpse hung over them like a dissident cloud- also shadowing their steps. The beauty of the green lush countryside came within their fully view, and the morbid darkness began to subside.

Nexus struck up a conversation- but began with a low whistle.

Phew! He whistled;

"The country side sure is beautiful!"

"I know right?" she answered; "Makes one wonder why we chose to dwell in walled castles instead of out with nature."

"You rich girl, so you live in a castle?" he asked, pretending not to know.

She pursed her lips;

"Yeah I guess. But it's not what you think."

Nexus chuckled and tightened his hands on the reins. Just as he was about to follow up her statement with an answer, Monica finally worked up the nerve to say;

"I know you've heard the tales making the rounds about what happened with I and the Wind Wolves. . ."

Nexus shrugged; "I'm not really one for local gossip you know. Never been that guy really.

Monica stole a glance to her side, and eyed him suspiciously;

"Yeah right, so you haven't heard what people have been saying then?"

"I may have heard a few things," he snickered; "I especially loved the part where you summoned a comet, and blew up an entire valley filled with B-rank Wind Wolves. And wait, I there's also the part where you single handedly fought the leading Wind Wolf and–"

"Yeah yeah," she held up her hand; "No need to narrate the whole story champ, I get it, you heard."

Nexus laughed. And a guilty look streaked across her face;

"Look Ni Yang, I'm terribly sorry I lied to everyone about what happened. I pretty much left you out of the mix, and took all the glory for myself. I totally get if you're pissed and–"

Nexus interrupted;

"There's no need to apologize Mon. It's nothing really."

Monica's head slowly turned in his direction. The morning sun shone directly into her big black eyes and on her flaming auburn hair- bathing her in a rich bubbly halo of reddish orange.

Her shoulders heaved and her waist twirled as the horse beneath her trotted on;

"You're not mad?" she finally asked- as if holding her breath.

"What for? The important thing is we got the bastards didn't we?"