Chapter 265: Broken Edge
Hui raced through the grass at top speed. He brushed through the Unrivaled Under Heavens Peaks barrier, and glanced up sharply as he did. The barriers still active? Not even that worn down. Master really wasnt joking about tweaking it just before he ascended. Its worthy of being called a tenth-stage cultivators masterpiece barrier.
Though knowing Master, its something he casually comprehended and threw up, without seriously studying a single barrier
He raced on, toward where the edge of Starbound Sects barrier had been. Nothing remained of the great barrier formation except for the faint shimmer of qi on the air. He hopped to a sapling and climbed to its very tip, shielding his eyes as he looked around. His eyes narrowed, and he hurtled away. He raced off, moving faster than ever. Grass bent before his rush. Pebbles flew up behind him. A very startled caterpillar reared up as he passed, antennae twitching.
A pile of bodies laid on the ground. Most of them young, barely any sign of qi in their bodies. Atop them, shielding them with her own body, was Sis Mei.
Hui reached out, his hand trembling. He leaped over to Sis Meis side and knelt by her head, gently pushing her hair out of her face. Unlike Xixing, her eyes were closed. She wore a peaceful expression despite shielding the fledgling cultivators.
You trusted me, Hui whispered. His heart trembled. She trusted me, and I failed her.
No. This failure is only temporary. Im going to fix this. Im going to fix everything.
He looked at Sis Mei, then at the children she protected. I cant drag just her into Masters peak. I cant leave the children behind and only take Sis Mei after she worked so hard to save them. I should take all of them.
But if I do, I theres no way the All-Heavens cultivators wont notice. Argh, dammit. I I worked so hard to not get stuck in Masters peak, but at this rate
No, no. Gui Delun isnt here any longer. It should be much easier to escape these cultivators. And I escaped Gui Delun! True, I had to sacrifice my real body to accomplish that, but they arent seventh-, maybe eighth-stage like Gui Delun was. Theyre fifth stage, at worst. I can hold my own.
Taking a deep breath, Hui reached out toward Sis Mei and the young cultivators, using his qi to float them over the ground. He ran off toward his peak, dragging the children and Sis Mei behind him.
Hui glanced at the pile of bodies drifting toward the peaks barrier. A little more. Stall for a few more moments No relation. As I said, Im a mere passerby. Treat me as the atmosphere.
Im afraid I cant do that. All-Heavens Sect guards these ruins. Even if Senior is more powerful than me, I must ask Senior to leave, and leave those bodies behind, as well, Zhi Ahn said, cupping his hands to Hui. His eyes narrowed slightly. Something about this man is familiar. I cant sense his aura, but his face But then, Im sure I would recognize a cultivator this oddly proportioned, if Id seen him before. There arent many cultivators who run around with adult proportions and toddler-sized bodies.
Actually, he was the size of a doll at first. Is it this seniors habit to change his size at random?
Hui harrumphed. He looked at Zhi Ahn from the corner of his eyes. You dare?
Internally, Hui rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Its actually pretty fun to be domineering. Who would have known? Maybe I should try it a little more often.
Senior, if you do not leave those bodies now, Ill be forced to take action, Zhi Ahn said. He grit his teeth and subtly sent a pulse of qi skyward. Even if he realizes Im doing it, my only chance at survival is summoning reinforcements!
Huis eyes widened. Shit! This is why I never act domineering. Think, Hui, think before you act! Now hes called all his friends. Itll be much harder to fake my death out of this one.
Theres only one clear path out of this!
Hui gestured toward his storage ring, drawing Gu Tians sword from within. He leaped off the sapling and charged at Zhi Ahn in the same moment, throwing a flip into the gesture to obscure his usual flow of motion.
Zhi Ahn drew his sword and charged to meet Hui. They clashed in midair. Two sword strikes flew out. Passing each other, they drew to a halt, swords still held before them.
Well met, Hui managed. His head rolled off of his neck and fell to the ground. A second later, his body plopped down beside it.