Chapter 32: Artificing and Moving

Chapter 32: Artificing and Moving

Light filtered in. The gray glow that passed for dawn in this strange realm faded up the passageway and into Huis cavern. He focused on the ghoul skin, absorbed in his work. His qi spiraled across it, from one point to the next. Every surface of the skin stood alive with his qi. The spell shimmered, a thousand glowing lines and nodes spiraling across the skin.

He focused, pushing deeper. The qi pulsed, filling the skin from the head to the toes.

Now!

Hui pulled his consciousness out of the skin.

The spell struggled. His qi bled from the skin, dissipating faster as it met the remnants of the ghouls death qi. Without him to provide constant power, it collapsed in on itself, bleeding qi into the world until there was none left in the skin. Nodes shattered. Lines faded away. With a soft whump, the last of the spell gave out.

Frustrated, Hui threw the skin on the ground and stood. He paced around the cavern, thinking.

Its not sticking. Why isnt it sticking?

Theres something Im missing. I cant sense anything else in the pig-skin, but maybe the pig-skin didnt need it. The pig-skin doesnt have any death qi, and its much smaller than the ghouls skin. No I need something else. A conduit, maybe, or an anchor but what could I use for that?

A yawn interrupted his thoughts. Xue sat up, wiping her eyes with her sleeves. Her hood fell back, revealing snow-pale skin and long white hair. She blinked slowly, lashes fluttering in the low light. Is it morning?

The fire moth descended toward her. She held out a hand, and it vanished into her palm, leaving a small reddish mark behind at the base of her thumb.

Good morning, Xue, Hui greeted her. He picked up the ghouls skin and tied it around himself. For now, Ill bring it with me. If nothing else, its a tough material that naturally sloughs qi. Itll make for good armor until I can turn it into a proper disguise.

Are you wearing that? Xue asked, mildly disgusted.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Hui glanced down. Its arm knotted around its ankle, the ghoul draped bonelessly over him, its floppy, skull-less scalp dangling across his chest. Tattered robes stained from years in the secret realm made his own robes look dingy. Bits of blood still stained its fingernails and lips. A macabre version of a tiger-skin slung over ones robes, it leant him a demonic air, somewhat horrifying and completely at odds with his handsome face and polite demeanor.

I dont have any better armor, Hui replied, shrugging.

Xue stared at it one more second, then shrugged. I never thought Id team up with a demonic cultivator

Im not a demonic cultivator! Hui insisted, though it came out a little weaker than before. I am wearing a ghouls skin but, but its a ghoul! Not a human skin. Its fine. Its like wearing a zombies skin in a zombie apocalypse. Right?

As you say, Xue said lightly, unconvinced. She stretched and headed down the tunnel out of the slate cave.

Hui followed behind her. Despite her bound feet, she moved with grace and speed. The rope gave her steps an odd shuffling sound, and forced her into a strange, almost lurching gait, but for all that, she remained well ahead of Hui.

They came out into the realm. Hui patted his ghoul skin, thoughtful. I have two objectives now: figure out how to refine this ghoul skin, and study death qi. I could try gathering more ghouls, but what if that attracts another undead cultivator? One was enough, thanks.

So what next?

Temporarily stymied, he turned to Xue. What did you come to this realm for?

You dont know? Xue asked.

Er, should I? Hui said.

She shook her head and lifted a hand. Red-painted fingernails pointed dead ahead. In the heart of this realm is a rare artifact thats said to allow one a full revival after death up to the fifth realm, so long as the soul is not destroyed. This realm was formed by an ancient master to hide the artifact. The bodies of cultivators who have gone before us, searching for the artifact, populate this realm. Or so the legend goes.

Wait, hold up! Revival? I need that artifact! Hui turned toward the center of the realm, suddenly eager. What was I wasting my time on up until now?

The Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect has been searching for it for centuries, to no avail. The secret realm only opens once every two hundred years, and it only permits cultivators at the third stage and below inside, or else their higher-realm cultivators would have retrieved it already.

Hui blinked at Xue. Youre third realm? I could have sworn she was fourth realm. I guess I havent seen her ride a sword, but to suppress two cultivators at the third realm as easily as she did she has to be peak third realm.

Xues face twisted. She looked away. Yes.

Huh. Hui waited a few more moments, hoping shed explain, but Xue tossed her hair and pressed on. Weve a long way to go, if were to catch up with the Mysterious Heavenly Forest cultivators.

Right, Hui agreed, adjusting the ghoul skin around his shoulders. I can study death qi later. First, the revival artifact!

He cast a look at Xue. I cant hope to beat someone nearly two realms ahead of me, and unlike with Chang Bolin, theres little chance of goading her into publicly torturing me to give me an opening to defeat her.

Then again, I dont need the artifact itself.

Hui cleared his throat. Xue, er, being as were both after the artifact.

She peered over her shoulder. The artifact that you learned of just now?

Yes, thats the one. Er, being as this small Foundation-Building cultivator couldnt possibly defeat you, would you grant me the chance to study it, if you won it from this realm?

What are you hoping to learn from it? Its an artifact crafted by a master, someone at a much higher realm than you or me. Even if we tried, we couldnt possibly comprehend it.

Hui shrugged. I dont need a full comprehension. Even a small insight would be worthwhile to me.

Xue swept her eyes over him. If you help me, if I attain the artifact, then I will let you study it. In return, promise me that if you obtain it, you will give it to me.

After I study it, Hui agreed readily. I want to live a long time and enjoy this life. A revival artifact is nice, but both this enigmatic Bai Xue and the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect want it. Poor little me couldnt possibly keep it from them. Better to let Xue handle the Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect, while I glimpse a few of its secrets and bound off back home, unscathed.

Shall we swear on it? Bind our lives in a formal agreement? Xue asked, pausing.

Isnt important? Not at all. I had no idea we had a genius in our midst. She wrapped an arm around him and scruffed his ponytail. Xiao Hui, our clever little genius.

Hui blushed and pushed her away. Let me go!

Xue laughed. She released him and backed away. Such a flatterer, but youre weak to flattery.

Hui undid his ponytail and tied it back up. He pulled a face at her back. Shut up! Shut up.

They ran on. The slate spires rushed past, little more than blurs on the gray background. Hui followed Xue, on through the desolate void.

All at once, Hui drew to a halt. Xue, wait.

She stopped. Hmm?

Dont you think its strange that we havent seen any cultivators or undead yet today? he asked.

Xue frowned. Now that you mention it

And that outcropping up ahead I think its the same one we sheltered in last night. Hui pointed. In the distance, the large outcropping loomed out of the fog.

Ah, how clever! I knew it, you are a genius. She shuffled over to him, steps deceptively fast, and reached out for his hair. Hui ducked away, operating his movement technique in return.

I am not, Hui grumbled.

Xues eyes glittered. A teasing smile played over her face. So humble, so humble.

Stop it. Weve got to figure a way out of here first. This has to be some kind of befuddling array, right? Hui guessed.

Which means theres two ways out: one, to find a way to dispel the array, or two, to find the proper path out, Xue replied.

Or what if we brute-forced it? Hui suggested.

Xue wrinkled her brows cutely at him. How do you mean?

Its a befuddling array, but its set up in an open area, and its not meant to be unsurpassable for cultivators at our level, so I think its quite possible. What if we marked the slates as we passed them and kept travelling in a straight line? Hui pointed out into the emptiness, between the two large slate outcroppings. We can use the outcroppings as our guides. Here, between the two, we can see both, and that way, we can ensure we dont travel in a circle.

Oh, good idea, good idea! She pounced at him, hands out for his hair.

Hui ducked into a roll and popped up beside a slate. Ill mark it with my blood. I dont have anything else

Why dont you rely on your elders instead? Xue suggested, eyes slit in a coy smile.

He looked at her, then bowed. Does the Venerable Bai Xue have an idea?

Oh, I could get used to that. Venerable Bai Xue Chuckling, Xue slapped the slate. A patch of ice crawled over the spires face.

Excuse this small Hui for questioning Venerable Bai Xues judgement, but wont that melt? Hui asked.

Xue clicked her tongue. Not until I desire it to. And even if I lose control or contact with it, it wont melt for days.

Many apologies, Hui replied, bowing again.

Xue laughed and reached for him. Let this Venerable play with your hair, and the great me will forgive everything.

Im afraid that would go beyond politeness, Hui replied stiffly, backing away.

What? Nonsense. Its a custom in our clan for higher-ranked members to freely play with the hair of lower-ranked members, Xue replied.

Bullshit, Hui shot back.

She shook her head disapprovingly, her own snow-white hair lashing around her face. How impolite. This Xiao Hui thinks hes better than the venerable me?

Of course not, Hui said, shaking his head.

Then you will let me play with your hair, yes? Xue asked, edging closer. A slight melancholy played across her face, as if hed truly deprived her of something.

Hui hesitated for a moment. Its not actually a custom, right? I mean, clans are weird. Theyre a lot more er, should I say, esoteric than sects, since theyre based around a family its easier for strange customs to arise.

Her eyes sparkled. Xue leaped at him, melancholy expression vanishing.

What am I thinking? Its just this madwoman who wants to touch my hair! Hui dodged neatly away from Xue.

Xue clicked her tongue. It almost worked.

Hui cowered away from her, covering his hair with his hands. Stay away! Its my hair, you lunatic!

Xue smiled, resting a hand on her chin. Aww, too cute.

Oh, no. What have I gotten myself into? Hui wondered, backing away slowly.