Chapter 4: Odd Behavior

Chapter 4: Odd Behavior

4

Odd Behavior

I

Throughout his life, Tian Jin had been woken up in many different ways. From the gentle calls of his mother, to the strict commands of his father, to the glare of the sun and the prodding of wild animals. He had never been shaken awake before, however, and now that he was experiencing it, he decided that he didnt care for it.

Groaning, he opened his eyes. The shaking had already stopped, but he still felt perturbed. His vision slowly focused, and he saw someone staring down at him, blocking the sun and casting a shadow over him.

Hao Zhen? He was still a little drowsy from his sleep; he couldnt remember the last time he had slept that deeply. He shook his head and focused on the person again. Yesmessy dark brown hair and an angular, pointy face. Hao Zhen.

And then he remembered

Hao Zhen!

He sat up and stared at Hao Zhens chest. There wasnt a tear on his robe, and the boy appeared fine. Tian Jin breathed out in relief. It had been his first time using his spiritual skill this way, so he hadnt been sure whether it would work. At the time, however, it was the best idea he could come up with.

His gaze moved past Hao Zhen and fell on Ke Lis corpse. He couldnt help but frown. He had met Ke Li a few times before, and he used to have a good impression of him. To think that it would come to this

Du Qing would pay. Hed make sure of it, and itd be happening sooner rather than later.

Tian Jin?

Tian Jin realized that Hao Zhen was looking at him. Right, he reminded himself. Hao Zhen was involved in this now. Hed have to explain the situation to him first.

You must be really confused right now, Tian Jin said as he stood up, brushing the dirt and grass off his robe. First of all, I must apologize. What happened was my fault, in a way. Im currently at odds with

No, no, Hao Zhen said. We can talk about that later. I need you to tell me something first. Duo Lan. Do you know whether shes involved in what happened?

Duo Lan? Tian Jin started. Right. She was their teammate for this mission. Now that he thought about it, he realized that he hadnt seen her since they had each set off in a different direction yesterday. He quickly scanned the surroundings, looking for signs of her.

No, shes not here, Hao Zhen said in a dry voice, making Tian Jin look at him again. Anyway, do you know if shes in on Ke Lis plan?

Tian Jin slightly furrowed his brow as he regarded the boy in front of him. Hao Zhen seemed different, somehow. Granted, he hadnt interacted much with him, but Tian Jin remembered him being a quiet, awkward boytraits that Hao Zhen had yet to show since Tian Jin had awoken.

No, Tian Jin said. As far as I know, she has nothing to do with this. Duo Lan hated him, this much he could tell, but he didnt think it was to the point she would try to murder him. Then again, it wasnt as if he had been expecting an assassination attempt from Ke Li, either.

Hao Zhen slowly nodded his head, his expression slightly relaxing, but still somewhat tense. So Ke Li didnt mention her last night? And you didnt see her, either?

Thats right.

All right. Hao Zhen scratched his head, then reached into his robe and produced a jade slip before tossing it to Tian Jin. I went through Ke Lis spatial ring, and I found this. It contains Du Qings request to kill you.

Surprised, Tian Jin looked down at the jade slip in his hands, then channeled his spiritual power into it. Moments later, he confirmed Hao Zhens claim. Du Qing's instructions were clear. Tian Jin tightened his grip on it. If he showed this to the sect elders, Du Qing would

Just to be clear, youre not thinking of showing this to the elders, are you? Hao Zhens voice tore straight through his thoughts.

Confused, Tian Jin looked at the boy in front of him, who was giving him an impassive stare. If before he had simply thought that Hao Zhen seemed different, now he was certain of it. The Hao Zhen he had traveled with for the past few days wouldnt have been able to muster a stare this intense. Tian Jin felt like he was being judged. It was an odd feeling, if not uncomfortable.

Wait, Hao Zhen cut in, giving him a confused look. How do you know all of that?

Ke Li told me. Tian Jin shrugged. Before you arrived.

Hao Zhen closed his eyes and slowly exhaled. Of course he did. Evil gloating. He shook his head. Go on.

Evil gloating? Tian Jin was beginning to wonder whether Hao Zhen had hit his head when he crashed into that tree. That could explain the way he was acting. He'd have to ask him about that later.

The spiritual beacon Ke Li set offit contained poison. Ke Li set off the spiritual beacon when I was nearby, knowing Id come over, then used his spiritual skill on me. He thought that even if I managed to put up any resistance, the agony caused by the poison would be enough to wear down my willpower. Then you arrived, and he stalled you until you consumed enough of the poison for it to start having an effect on you. Ke Li himself wasnt affected because he had taken the antidote pill beforehand.

Im assuming that Ke Li also told you this?

Right before you arrived, yes.

Hao Zhen sighed, motioning for him to continue.

Well, once the poison started working on you, Ke Li used his spiritual skill to command me to kill you. That was when I had an idea. My spiritual skill Tian Jin trailed off.

Right. His spiritual skill. Tian Jin hesitated. He hadnt told anyone about it, but Well, there shouldnt be a problem in just revealing what it could do. And Hao Zhen deserved to know this much. I have a spiritual skill called Zenith Nullification Gauntlets, Tian Jin explained. It lets me nullify anything magical in nature that it comes into contact with, though its first form only works on red-grade targets. Yesterday, while punching you, I nullified the spiritual power I had infused into the punch as well as the poison in your body.

I see, Hao Zhen said, nodding his head as if he had already been expecting something like this. And then? How did you beat Ke Li?

I was only in danger because he ambushed me before I could use Zenith Nullification Gauntlets. He then suppressed my ability to use my spiritual skill using his own spiritual skill, as he wasnt sure what mine could do. When I pretended to kill you, however, Ke Li thought I was only activating it to deal you a finishing blow, so he allowed me to use it. After I punched you, I immediately used the Zenith Nullification Gauntlets to nullify the effects of Ke Lis spiritual skill on me, picked up the sword I had dropped, and ran him through with it.

Hmm. It adds up, Hao Zhen said, ponderous. One last question: How did you manage to resist Ke Li for so long? Didnt you say his spiritual skill could control cultivators a level below him? Youre a second-level, right?

I am, Tian Jin said. It wasnt as if that was a secret. As for how I managed to resist I think it had to do with my willpower. Mine was much stronger than his, so even though he was at a higher level, he couldnt fully control me.

Your willpower. Of course. Hao Zhen rolled his eyes. Theres nothing willpower cant solve.

Tian Jin frowned. What are you talking about?

Hao Zhen blinked, a little startled, then looked away. Its nothing. Just Just ignore me. Im sorry. Im acting a bit strange right now, I know. He sighed. Anyway. After killing Ke Li, what happened next?

Huh. At least Hao Zhen seemed to recognize how odd he was acting right now. And he even seemed apologetic about it. Some of Tian Jins annoyance simmered down. Not much. I tried to walk over to you to see how you were doing, but I guess I was too tired and ended up passing out. After that

Tian Jin stilled. Behind Hao Zhen, stepping onto the clearing, was a tall girl with a squarish face, dark eyes, and short brown hair. She was the last member of their team, Duo Lan, and upon seeing them, her eyes widened.

You! she cried out, and Hao Zhen immediately turned around. Where were you? she demanded. Ive been looking for you all morning! Out of the corner of his eye, Tian Jin noticed Hao Zhen move to the left in an attempt to block Ke Li's corpse from view.

Then, just as Tian Jin was about to start explaining the situation, Hao Zhen threw something at Duo Lan, who caught it instinctively.

A jade slip? What does this

View it, Hao Zhen said. Then well talk.

Duo Lan hesitated, glaring at the two of them with palpable suspicion, then closed her eyes. A few moments later, her eyes snapped open. She first looked down at the jade slip with a blank expression, then shifted her gaze to them. Ke Li She trailed off, glancing at the jade slip again.

failed, obviously, Hao Zhen said. He stepped to the side, revealing Ke Li's corpse. Now we can talk.

Watching from the side as Hao Zhen promptly stopped Duo Lan from completely misunderstanding the situation, which could have had potentially disastrous consequences, Tian Jin found himself thinking that maybe Hao Zhens change in behavior might have been for the better after all.