Chapter 134: Phrasing
Bai Xue frowned. Happily, but right here? Right now?
Hui stared at him. A second later, his cheeks burned. B-Hong Xue!The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
What? How else am I supposed to interpret that?
Hui rolled his eyes. Literally! I meanugh. I mean, if you carry me on your back, I think I can transmit what I see to you! My attacks are too weak to counter his strings, but you should be strong enough.
Hop on, Bai Xue said, gesturing.
You how are the two of you going to sync your qi so quickly? Its not a simple process! You have to have immense practice dual cultivating, specifically dual cultivating with each other to pull that off! Huang Muwen asked, startled. We need to run, not waste time on useless gambits!
Ddual cultivating, Hui mumbled. His mouth suddenly felt dry.
No worries. Im an expert. And weve done it once or twice, right, Hui? Bai Xue said.
We eh? Hui asked, confused. When?
Bai Xue let out a deep sigh. Whenever we pass energy, thats technically dual cultivating. Everyone makes such a big deal about it, but its nothing special, really. In the B Hong Clan, no one thinks twice about it. For some reason, though, most of the cultivation world puts way too much emphasis on what should be a simple, helpful technique.
Hui reeled. The world wobbled around him. Whenever we pass energy ah, when I when I healed those fellow cultivators of qi seeds, when I sent the ducks out to eat the seeds, I... did I
The luminous green strings flew toward them, cutting through the air. Hui grabbed Bai Xue and yanked him back, narrowly avoiding the string. Theres no time. I can have a moral crisis later! For now, we need to defeat Xi Guping.
Bai Xue held his hands out behind his back, offering a piggyback. He hopped onto Bai Xues back and passed his qi into Bai Xue. Bai Xue reached out and resonated with him with practiced ease, matching the fluctuations of his qi perfectly. Hui focused, reaching out to his death qi. He passed the images from his death qi to his ordinary qi, then through to Bai Xue.
Wow. What is this? Hui, what is this ability? Bai Xue asked, amazed. He looked around, taking in the strange world Hui's third eye saw.
The luminous strings lashed at them. No time to reply, Huis eyes widened. Bai Xue!
I see them. Flipping his second fan back into his sleeve, Bai Xue drew the black dagger and slashed at the glowing string. The glowing string looped around the dagger and yanked, trying to free it from Bai Xues hand.
In his third eyes vision, the black dagger glowed with a faint dark light. Hui reached out and transmitted his death qi into it. The dark light surged as the dagger resonated with his death qi and with Bai Xues qi, and the black light ate into the green string. The green string frayed, light fading. Flicking his wrist, Bai Xue severed the string.
Xi Guping gaped, then grimaced. He gestured, and all ten of his strings lashed out at Hui and Bai Xue. The one they'd sliced rushed back out to full size, its frayed ends snapping with his gesture.
Hui! Cooperate with me! Bai Xue shouted.
Of course! He transmitted more of his death qi into the dagger, and Bai Xue likewise added more qi. Hui narrowed his eyes, keeping his death qi a hair away from Bai Xue's to keep it from destroying Bai Xue's qi.
The dagger flashed, twisting through the air. Bai Xue wielded it like a fan, favoring sweeping strikes. Dancing left and right, he severed all the strings and grinned at Xi Guping. Is that all?
You! Xi Gupings face darkened. He gestured, and a pair of living puppets appeared. Loose fabric draped their bodies, obscuring their forms. Muslin veils left their faces in shadow. Little was clear about their features except that one was male and one was female. He started to send them toward Bai Xue and Hui, then hesitated, eyes flickering toward the black dagger.
Come on, send them here. Let Bai Xue sever their strings! Hui cheered, grinning widely.
Let me handle it. A burly swordsman elbowed Xi Guping to the side. His eyes were a shocking red, fierce to the extreme.
You can try. Lifting his other hand, Bai Xue waved his fan once, twice, thrice. Each time, fire rushed out of his fan, growing larger each time he waved it.
Wang Doxin, fall back! Xi Guping shouted, annoyed.
Wang Doxin shouted and sliced at the flames. One, two, a dozen slashes. His sword let out massive booms as it clashed with the flames, but his expression grew more fierce each time. Maddened red light began to glow in his eyes, and his cultivation surged to the height of the third realm.
A cold sensation passed through him, something not physical, nor magical, but which came from his heart. He closed his hands slowly. He'd lost something, but he couldn't say what. He looked at Xi Guping's withered body, throat slit, desiccated by death qi. His brows furrowed slightly.
Ive really grown more bloodthirsty since Ive joined this demonic sect! The demonic arts must be corrupting me! Ill have to be more vigilant in the future, or this little me might start killing fellow cultivators!
Though Xi Guping deserved it. Those puppets stuck between life and death I cant imagine their torment.
And of course, this small cultivator needs to be able to play dead! I cant allow a man like that, who collects living bodies, to live! No, no. I chose... the right path.
But I have to mind my bloodlust!
Bai Xue rested his hand on Huis shoulder. How are you doing?
I He looked up. Ill be fine. I did the right thing.
Bai Xue frowned at him. I meant physically.
Hui bowed, embarrassed. I almost forgot, this is a bloodsoaked cultivation world! Bai Xue could probably never imagine... that this was my first kill! Thank you for your concern, Elder Brother, but this small cultivator is fine!
Bai Xue nodded. He glanced at Huang Muwen and narrowed his eyes. He didn't say a word, but killing intent glimmered in the depths of his eyes, passing the message just fine.
Huang Muwen put his hands up. Im injured, and I couldnt see his strings! How could I jump into battle?
Bai Xue nodded, eyes still narrowed. He turned aside.
Somehow, I feel as if Bai Xue won't forget this soon, Hui noted, eyeing Huang Muwen as well.
Hui sighed. He looked at Bai Xue. Elder Brother is that really all youve meant by dual cultivation all along? Passing energy between us?
Taken aback, Bai Xue stared at him. Dont be ridiculous. Of course not.
E-eh? You two have that kind of relationship? Huang Muwen asked, staring from one to the other. Strange expressions flickered across his face as he recalled Bai Xue and Huis conversation from earlier in the fight.
Iwe Hui put his face in his hands. Hong Xue, please
Bai Xue turned away and raised a sleeve over his mouth, glancing at Hui coquettishly from the corner of his eyes. Mmm, not yet.
Hui bowed his head. I should have known I couldnt trust Bai Xue!
Theres nothing wrong with any of this, but people are going to assume things about this small cultivator that just arent true!
Well, I I suppose everyone has their own circumstances Huang Muwen said hesitantly.
Circumstances! Yes, circumstances! Hui said, latching onto the word like a lifeline. There are circumstances. Very specific circumstances.
Bai Xue smirked and shook his head. Theres no need to be embarrassed, Xie Hao. A great many men would pay to be in your position right now. In fact, one even cursed me for the honor.
Every word you say is true, so why does it hurt? Hui sighed. Theres a limit to mockery, Hong Xue.
Oh. Oh, it was a joke! Huang Muwen said, thumping his fist into his hand. He laughed and shook his head. You shouldve said so. Ive always been a bit slow with humor!
Yes. A joke Bai Xue winked.
Hui scowled at him.