Chapter 365: Arrival

Chapter 365: Arrival

The city loomed up before them. Hui swallowed, checking his stock of talismans again. He peeked at the city from the ships rail, then went through his talismans one more time. There, there, there, yes, yes, hmm, okay, yes all settled!

My mental energy is settled, my qi is circulating nicely, all my talismans are restocked, Ive tried out the new beating stickahem, weapon, and it works fine, and and, I guess, I guess theres nothing to do but fight!

Hui swallowed, looking at the city. He rubbed the back of his neck. This is the first time Ive set off into battle. II dont like it. I dont like it at all! I want to run away from danger, but instead, Im the one creating danger. Ugh, this is completely counter to this small Huis way of life!

Li Xiang came up beside him. Ive notified the rest of the group. Theyre headed to the city, and theyll join us the moment battle begins.

Hui nodded. Are they fine with the two of us going to fight Chen Xigui without them?

Li Xiang shrugged. They dont like it, but they admit that killing Chen Xigui takes precedence, and that a small group has a better chance than a large one.

Mmm. Li Xiangs too straightforward to pick up on the nuance, but I suspect they wont actually stand by idly, waiting for the best chance to join in. Instead, isnt it more likely theyll look for the smallest excuse to jump into combat? No matter what, this is likely to devolve into a bloody battle. More motivation to kill Chen Xigui quickly, so I can escape before the mess starts! The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Hui nodded. Understood.

He checked over his and Li Xiangs disguises. Both of them had been subtly changed, unlike the suddenly-elder-looking Lu Xubo. Compared to his earlier disguise and his true face, Hui remained unrecognizable, and likewise for Li Xiang. A small gold pin glittered in her hair where the pink enamel pin usually sat, something Hui had been unable to resist adding.

He gestured at his head. That pin.

Hmm? Oh, that, Li Xiang said. She tapped the replacement disguise pin Hui had given her. Its something Ive had for as long as I can remember. I dont feel comfortable unless Im wearing it.

I wonder if its something from the original Li Xiang? Ah, speaking of As long as you can remember? Hui prompted, already expecting an answer.

Hmm. I woke up one day in the sect after experiencing a terrible fall. Master that is, Lan Taijian, fortunately was there and quickly healed me, but I still experienced some memory losses. I cant remember anything from before the sect. Li Xiang paused, then shrugged. I dont mind. I suspect there isnt anything of value in those memories.

Experiencing a terrible fall for her truth sense not to identify that as a lie, did Lan Taijian drop the newly-reformed Li Xiang down a cliff, or something? How brutal! Hui nodded. Its good that you dont mind it.

If I need to know, Ill surely discover it some day. If I dont, then it can remain unknown to me until my ascension or death. As it is, we need to focus on the battles ahead of us, rather than on some meaningless forgotten memories, Li Xiang said, looking at Hui.

Of course. I understand, Hui said.

Li Xiangs nose wrinkled.

Ah, rather than understanding, should I say that I dont feel like pressing if you dont mind it yourself? Hui said.

Li Xiangs nose kept wrinkling.

Er, well, although this small cultivator is extremely curious, its ultimately not my place to force you to remember, Hui said at last. If she could just remember what happened between Lan Taijian and Yunxu, I would know how to operate the soul array, and Id know what drove Yunxu to use the soul array in the first place! Of course Im curious. But now is not the time or the place, nor is it right for me to force someone else to remember something or not.

Li Xiang nodded. Acceptable.

Hui wiped his brow. Phew. Being truthful is hard work!

Ji Taiyu came up beside them. He gazed ahead, his hands swept behind his back. Bao Huli and I will protect the ship. Well only hold everyone back at our current stage.

Hui opened his mouth, but caught himself at the last minute. Bao Huli is pregnant, after all. Theres no need to put her in harms way. He nodded. Retreat if you must. We can find our own route out of the city.

Ji Taiyu nodded.

Master, youll protect Bao Huli, right? Bao Huli said, coming up beside him. She rested her head on his arm, leaning in close to him.

Of course, Ji Taiyu said tenderly. He instinctively lifted his hand to hold her closer, but dropped it and turned slightly away. He blushed furiously again.

Hui gazed into the horizon. Damn it, could the two of you be a little less obvious? While I was preparing for battle last night, what were you doing, huh? Huh?

Ah, no, no, it isnt reasonable to, er, properly dual cultivate on the night before a battle. No one would do that.

Except Bai Xue

Bai Xue doesnt count. When it comes to anything with dual cultivation, Bai Xue does not count!

Li Xiang shook her head. Weiheng Hui is very talented in a great many ways. Only he could reach enlightenment from such a simple statement.

More like, only he lacks the self-esteem to start gaining enlightenment from finally considering whether his own Master believed in him, Ying Lin muttered under her breath.

Thats also true, Li Xiang acknowledged.

Ying Lin glanced at Hui. How long do we have before we reach the city? I dont want to interrupt his enlightenment. He might actually gain self-esteem!

Its bad to awaken someone early from enlightenment. Ill slow the boats travelling pace to give him a bit more time, Ji Taiyu offered.

We appreciate it, Senior, Ying Lin said.

Ji Taiyu gave her a sad smile. You can call me Master if you like.

Ying Lin shook her head. Master gets jealous if I call other people Master when it isnt necessary.

Isnt necessary? Ji Taiyu asked, frowning.

Ah Im sorry. We were deceiving you, Ying Lin said, glancing at the floor.

Ji Taiyu frowned. Was that necessary? Youre the same level as me, and Second Dis that is, your Master, is far above my level. If you wanted to travel alongside us, there was no need for deception.

Ying Lin glanced at Hui. Master is a bit strange. He doesnt believe in himself, nor does he like to flaunt his strength. I dont really understand it myself, but he probably believed that there was no way to peacefully coexist without deceiving you.

Peacefully coexist? Bao Hulis eyes flashed, and her fingernails suddenly grew sharp.

Avoid being attacked by you, would be a better way to phrase it, Ying Lin said, ignoring Bao Hulis threat. She glanced at Hui. In the time Ive spent with Master, hes spent almost all of it wearing someone elses face. Hes so wrapped up in hiding who he is that hes never stopped to consider if its necessary, or if those he deceives might be hurt by his deception. Not out of malice or carelessness, but out of the assumption that everyone around him wants him dead.

You mean he lives his life assuming everyone around him wants to kill him? That cant be. What a sad and pathetic existence that would be, Ji Taiyu said, frowning.

Ying Lin shrugged. My Master is simply someone sad and pathetic. Ah, andhe makes exceptions once he gets to know people. Li Xiang, Bai Xue, even you, now, Ji Taiyu. But the general populace

I think he must have been badly hurt in the past, to the point that he lost trust in everyone and everything. To the point that assuming everyone wants to kill him became the only way to survive.

Li Xiang frowned. I know his life in the sect wasnt smooth, but it couldnt be that extreme. If nothing else, his Master would have stepped in to save him if his life was truly under threat in a way he couldnt handle.

But how much can Master handle? Much more than I can, Ying Lin argued. After a moment, she shrugged. This is all my own guesswork. I havent heard any of this from the man himself. I can only guess from our interactions.

Li Xiang furrowed her brows. I suppose I dont know what happened to him before he entered the sect, but he entered the sect at five years old. How much punishment can a child that young survive?

Maybe Im wrong. Maybe its a complex he was born with. I dont know, Ying Lin said, shrugging.

Huis eyes snapped open. He took a deep breath and circulated his qi, giving a dazed glance around as if half asleep. He glanced at Ying Lin, then climbed back to his feet. Whats a complex who was born with?

Nothing, nothing, Ying Lin said, waving her hand.

Are we talking about that Chen Xiguis hobby of killing women? Its definitely something deeply wrong with him. So firmly rooted in his soul that it can never be removed, Hui said confidently, nodding. No one who can innocently ask for women to be murdered like that can be easily cured. Hes already past the point of seeing it as any sort of taboo.

Well I dont disagree with that, Ying Lin said. She snorted and looked Hui up and down.

Eh? Why are you looking at me, Elder Sister? Hui asked.

Nothing, nothing. Ah, Master, how did your enlightenment go? That was short! Ying Lin said.

Mmm! It went well. I realized that my Master didnt believe in me, but thats because, from the beginning, no one could match up to Master. Therefore, its fine that he didnt believe in me, because Master was such a genius that he was fundamentally incapable of believing in anyone, Hui said, nodding.

Eh is that considered well? Ying Lin muttered under her breath.

Hui lightly slapped the back of her head. Dont be rude. Have we reached the city?

Were almost there. Everyone, head inside. Youll act as Ya Ais honor guards. Her sect has prepared an arrival announcement, and we shouldnt get in the way of that, Ji Taiyu said.

Right. Here we go. Hui nodded once, tense, then led the way into the heart of the ship. He patted his neck, and Zhubi readjusted his grip to curl around Huis upper arm instead. Lowering his cultivation to the fourth realm and subtly altering his aura by mixing in a trace of life qi, Hui descended to the heart of the ship, Ying Lin and Li Xiang at his side.