Chapter 46: People Become Strange in Isolation

Chapter 46: People Become Strange in Isolation

Face wrinkled in intense concentration, Hui manipulated his qi. He guided it under his skin, separating the dead layers from his body. His skin stung, but by now, the pain barely phased him. Holding a line of qi down the front of his body, he pushed out. The qi sliced through his skin, cutting a narrow line in the skin.

Yes!

Wait, wait, dont celebrate yet. I still have to get out of this skin. Hui expanded his qi under the dead skin. It stretched, puffing up, away from his body.

All at once, he leaped forward. Wind sheered through the gap in the skin, peeling it off him. He burst free of the skin, then turned around.

The skin stood where hed stood, slightly puffier than him but fully formed. Without him in it, the skin began to collapse.

Hui pressed his hand against the skins chest. Qi flowed back into the skin. Using the spell circuits hed sensed in Xixings mask, he reinforced the skin, giving it a harder shape and a fuller form.

The skin stopped collapsing. It stood before him, a replica of himself. Hui inspected it closely.

No eyes, very little hair. Hmm He reached out and touched the face, urging the skin to stretch. The eyelids reached out and met each other, closing. I dont have anything for the hair, but Im sure theres a hair-growing technique. Cultivators like to be beautiful, after all. Ill have to find one when I get out of here. Either that, or invest in wigs.

Or become bald

Hui considered it for a few seconds, running a hand down his long ponytail, then shook his head. No, no. I cant do that. I cant ruin this handsome face.

The slash in the front of the skin where hed emerged sagged shut naturally, edges meeting. He touched the edge, thinking. A bit of glue here, or some qi to hold it together I can fix that.

At last, he stood back, nodding to himself. Its not perfect, but its good enough! Once I get out of here, Ill work on perfecting the technique. With more materials and access to a library of magical techniques I should be able to figure this out.

So thinking, he turned toward his spot on the floor. Ill ponder it while I cultivate, waiting for my skin to grow back so I can try again.

A low rumble emanated from the caves entrance. Hui whipped around, startled. Sunlight spilled in, far too bright for his eyes. He raised a hand over his face and squinted, peering into the sunlight.

Amidst the brilliant light, a shadowy form appeared. As his eyes grew accustomed to the light, the form took shape. Colors faded in. White robes. Long black hair. A white jade crown perched atop the mans head.

Master? Hui asked.

Weiheng Wu frowned down at him in befuddled silence.

Hui glanced around him. Skin-husk versions of himself stood, sat, or laid all around him. Some of the skins had huge chunks missing. Others were split in half. Toward the back of the cave, twisted, dilapidated husks piled on top of each other, dusty with age.

Just like Hui himself, every husk was completely naked.

Oh shit! I got caught up in practicing and forgot! Hui dove into the husks. He dug through them, searching for his robes. Er, haha, my apologies, Master. I wasnt expecting any visitors.

Mmm, Weiheng Wu replied. He turned coolly away from the cave, averting his eyes from the mess inside.

Has it been a hundred years already? Hui asked, yanking his robes on and tucking his worldly possessions and various loot back into place. I did cultivate some, but I mostly practiced my new technique. It doesnt feel like a hundred years passed.

No. Three.

Hui frowned. Then why am I being let out?

Weiheng Wu tossed his hair. It is no ones right but mine to punish my disciple.

Er, is that okay? Hui frowned. The Sect Master threw me in here, right?

And? Weiheng Wu asked.

Hui swallowed. Master, is it okay for you to do this? I know you dont care what other people think, but this is the Sect Master, you know?

Seeing Huis hesitation, Weiheng Wu shrugged. If I am removed from the sect, Ill simply go to another sect.

A chill passed down Huis spine. Master is there a limit to how domineering you can be?

Do you want to remain in the cave for a hundred years? Can you even survive that? Weiheng Wu asked. He glanced at Hui from the corner of his eye.

No! No. Ill come with Master, Hui replied, rushing to the caves mouth.

A golden barrier blocked his way. Hui slowed, biting his lip. Dammit, I forgot. Master, I still cant

Weiheng Wu lifted his hand and swept at the barrier. Gold light drew aside like a curtain. Ive broken through to the sixth realm. This is childs play.

Master! Congratulations

Weiheng Wu lifted a hand to silence him. I dont wish for needless noise or adulation. Im suppressing my realm so that the sect does not give me further responsibilities and diminish my cultivation time.

Mmm. Shall we go? I received an interesting invitation. You stand to benefit from the encounter.

Go? Invitation? Hui asked, tilting his head. I should leave the sect, its true. If the Sect Master notices Ive broken out well, I know Master. He isnt going to hover over me for the next hundred years. Hell, he wont even stick around for the next hundred minutes!

Weiheng Wu nodded. He held out a piece of paper to Hui.

Hui took it and unfolded it, curious. A simple message awaited him.

Inviting Peak Lord Wu to a dinner in celebration of our clans 100th anniversary.

Ah? A dinner? Wait which clan? Hui flipped it over, but there was no mark on the thick paper, no postmark, nothing.

Curious, he sent a strand of qi inside. A faint residue of qi met his probe. He pushed deeper, searching.

Icy cold climbed over his qi, icy cold and fear.

Hui yanked his hand away. The paper fell out of his hand.

Weiheng Wu caught it out of the air and tucked it into his sleeve.

Theytheyre in trouble? Hui guessed.

Weiheng Wu nodded. In trouble, and cannot openly ask for help. Therefore, I am sending my disciple to this dinner in my place.

Eh? Master

If I arrived, the mastermind might go into hiding or scurry off. The clan would be saved, but the problem would remain. To cut off trouble at the root, its best to smoke out the aggressors and obliterate them. Weiheng Wu reached into his sleeve and drew out a bird-shaped jade. Once you have discovered the source of the problem, send this to me.

Hui accepted it hesitantly. Er, what if this small disciple winds up in trouble?

Use the jade. You are my precious disciple, after all.

Master! Hui cried, reaching out to clutch the golden thigh.

Weiheng Wu dodged neatly away from his grab. Imagine, a genius like me, unable to raise a single disciple. Even I have my pride.

Even you? Master, if you were to claim to be the second most prideful, no one would dare claim first place! Hui bowed gratefully, keeping his thoughts to himself.

I only have one jade, so use it judiciously, Weiheng Wu warned him.

Yes, Master! Hui replied. Then he frowned. But you said we go?

Weiheng Wu nodded. Theres a large cultivator city nearby. Ill visit the city while you resolve the issue with the clan.

Hui nodded back. Ah, makes sense, makes sense. Master is only fifth stage, after all. Hes powerful, but not all-powerful. Ill be safer if hes close by.

Wait, fifth stage? Isnt he sixth stage?

Hui frowned, confused. Huh? Why would I think that?

No, no, Im missing the point! A cultivator city? Isnt that the perfect place to sell my talismans! I can sell them to the clan, too! I bet theyre desperate for anything to help them! Hui chuckled under his breath, barely able to hold back his excitement.

They wove through the sect. Hui glanced up at their peak, but Weiheng Wu passed it by. Master, we arent stopping by the peak?

Why would we? Weiheng Wu replied.

Hui hugged himself and scowled at his masters back. Ah, this small disciple understands that hes made dumb decisions, but its very breezy under this robe, okay? If I show up to a formal dinner with no underclothes on

Is there a reason you wanted to return? I thought it best to move quickly, so no one obstructs us.

Masters words are wise. Lets continue, Hui replied, gritting his teeth in a smile. He has a good point. I dont want to get caught by the Sect Master or by Lan Taijian. If Master thinks its a bad idea to stop by, Ill follow him. I can always buy a new set of robes in the city!

Weiheng Wu nodded.

A few disciples shot the pair an odd look as they walked along the peak, but no one stopped them. Hui stuck close to Weiheng Wu, well aware that his master was the reason none of the disciples bothered the pair of them. He glanced around him and licked his lips. Ah, I really hope we dont run into Li Xiang. She wouldnt be able to overlook us, not in a million

Light flashed overhead. Something sheered through the air, humming as it went. Hui darted to Weiheng Wus side and cowered, arms over his head.

A sword dropped from the heavens and landed at Weiheng Wus feet. Descending after it in a blaze of white, Li Xiang landed atop the hilt. She crossed her arms and glared down at the two of them. Halt!

Speak of Cao Cao and he appears Hui thought to himself, swallowing a sigh.