Chapter 46: Truths and Secrets

Chapter 46: Truths and Secrets

46

Truths and Secrets

I

A silence unlike any other followed Lan Yues revelation. Lan Yue had her head down, staring fixedly at her lap. Tian Jins eyes were wide, and he seemed to be at a loss for words.

Hao Zhen took in a deep breath, leaning his head back against the trunk of the tree. He had been expecting something like this, but the truth was far more terrible than he had assumed. He then exhaled before straightening his back. What happened then? he asked, softly.

He didnt offer any words of support or condolence. He didnt think Lan Yue would respond kindly to platitudes, and he wasnt good at those things anyway.

Lan Yue looked up, her face warped in a way that Hao Zhen had never seen beforean ugly marriage of anger and agony. What do you think? she said, some bite to her voice. He took my mother away. Nobody stopped him. She trembled. Brother and Na Shui tried, but Grandfather stopped them. And Father he wished the man a good journey. She closed her eyes. Mother didnt even fight back. She just stared at Father, blankly, as the man took off with her.

Lan Yue suddenly opened her eyes. Well, go on.

What?

You have a theory, dont you? she said. There was some heat to her voice, but it was like the dying embers of a bonfire, as if she had already burned most of her anger. Isnt that what you do? Thats why you asked me about this, right?

Hao Zhen hesitated. He did have some ideas, but he wasnt sure this was the time to go over themnot after a wound had just clearly been reopened.

Maybe nows not the Tian Jin started to say, but Lan Yue cut him off.

No, she said, shooting the other boy a glare, before shifting her attention back to Hao Zhen. I want to hear it. Tell me.

Hao Zhen slowly nodded his head. All right, he said. Would you mind answering some questions first? He ignored Tian Jins uncertain look.

Go ahead.

Do you have any idea who the man is?

No.

Hao Zhen waited for Lan Yue to elaborate. She didnt. I see, he said. Well, is there anything about him you can tell me? His cultivation lev

He was a yellowsoul, she said. Grandfather told me so later. Thats the only thing anyone ever told me about what happened that day.

A yellowsoul, Hao Zhen repeated. He didnt know whether that was a good or a bad thing. A cultivator at the Yellow Spiritual Realm was far above anything they could handle, but on the other hand, the situation could have been far worse, considering there were another three spiritual realms after that. Theres only one yellow-grade organization on this island, right? he then said, turning to Tian Jin. The Resplendent Gleam Sect, yes?

Thats correct, Tian Jin said, nodding his head.

Hao Zhen turned back to Lan Yue. Is there any chance the man was a member? An elder?

Well, all right. Hao Zhen sighed. He took a moment to collect his thoughts. Lets see What should he tell them? Everything? It wasnt like there was much to say, in any case, and there was even less that couldnt be said. He didnt really have any secrets

Hao Zhen froze. Right. He did have a secret. One that he had gained quite recently. The color of his soul.

Well? Lan Yue prompted.

Give me a moment, Hao Zhen said, thinking some things over. He had decided to keep the matter of his soul hidden in case it meant something bad, but Wasnt he just creating an opportunity for the Weave to start a conflict in the future?

Maybe it did mean something bad, and Lan Yue would somehow find it out on her own, and start suspecting himor maybe it would get revealed in the worst possible moment. Instead of risking that, it was much better to simply tell her about it in a controlled environment.

Hao Zhen let out a long exhale. It seemed like he wasnt being careful enough, after all.

Before that, Hao Zhen said, theres something you should know.

What?

Yesterday, Tian Jin discovered that theres something odd about my soul. Its a bit darker than yoursand supposedly everyone elses.

Tian Jin frowned, then opened his mouth as if to say something, before stopping himself. Hao Zhen gave him a subtle nod.

Lan Yue narrowed her eyes at him. Then she looked down at herself, and then at Tian Jin. Huh. Youre right. Your soul is somewhat darker, she said. Does it does it have to do with the fact you were originally from another world?

As expected, she didnt know anything about it. Good. That seems to be the case, Hao Zhen said.

Hmmm. Lan Yue crossed her arms. But why are you telling me this now?

Hao Zhen considered his options. He could lie and come up with an excuse. Or he could just tell her the truth. The choice was obvious. He wasnt a good liar, and Lan Yue deserved his honesty.

We were unsure whether it could mean something bad, Hao Zhen said. So we decided to look into the matter first. Thats why we didnt tell you yesterday. But now Well, in hindsight, I realized that was stupid. Theres not really any reason to hide that from you, and keeping a secret was just asking for trouble.

Tian Jins eyes widened in surprise. Oh.

Lan Yue looked back and forth between the two of them a couple of times. You two she trailed off, then shook her head. Fine. I get it. She didnt look happy, but she didnt look mad, either.

Hao Zhen considered that a victory. Well, with that out of the way My previous life. All right, lets see. For starters, I was called Amyas. Amyas Auclair.

Au Auclair? Lan Yue tested the word, only partially butchering the pronunciation. Thats an odd name.

I take it you werent Chinese? Tian Jin said, pausing for a moment to remember the word.

No, Hao Zhen said. I was born in another country. Amyas is a name in the language spoken there. Auclair is a common surname. Err in that language, the given name comes first, followed by the family name. But thats not the point, he said. I didnt live in my country or both long. When I was a child, my family moved to another country because of my sister. Maeva Auclair. He paused. Eva.

Hao Zhen took in a deep breath, suppressing the sudden surge of complicated feelings that that name provoked in him. Then he chuckled, half amused, half bitter.

Youll find that, in a way, pretty much most of my life revolved around her.