The killing chord sounded out from dozens of zithers at once. The root strings leapt forth, flying toward Ai Tuzi.

Ai Tuzi flinched back. The first of the strings barely missed her.

Hui halted the tree, turning it roundabout to charge at Ai Tuzi. In the same moment, he adjusted his tones slightly, resonating with the rest of the chords to draw out the note for one more moment. The remaining strings held for a few spare breaths, while the tree closed in on Ai Tuzi.

Lifting his hand, Hui allowed the killing notes to sound out. The strings lashed out from the zithers, striking Ai Tuzi one after another. The root-strings dug deep slices out of Ai Tuzi’s arms and legs. Hui adjusted his, sending the string toward Ai Tuzi’s throat. It shouldn’t kill her, but it should injure her enough for us to get away.

The string cut Ai Tuzi’s throat. She gagged. Thick red blood spilled down her robes. Grabbing her throat, she fell back, no longer chasing after the tree.

Hui pressed his hand to the tree trunk, intending to rush off, then paused. He leaped off the tree and closed in on Ai Tuzi.

Ai Tuzi lifted one hand off her throat, grabbing her sword to defend herself.

Hui caught her wrist before she drew her sword. With his other hand, he grabbed at her belt and robes, searching for something, anything. A storage ring… a dimensional pouch… any kind of storage space! Somewhere she would have hidden her artifact! Ugh, don’t tell me, she uses universe-hiding sleeves?

His hand closed around a small jade charm. He sent a bit of qi into it, and instantly sensed a storage space on the other side. Nodding to himself, Hui kicked Ai Tuzi away and leaped back to the tree. The second he landed, he blasted away, quickly leaving Ai Tuzi behind him.

Letting out a frustrated grunt, she chased after them for a few paces, only to cough up a few mouthfuls of blood. She fell back. Flicking her sleeve, she called out a medicinal pill and swallowed it down, and her injuries began healing.

“She’s already healing it?” Tian Mo stared in disbelief.

“Medicinal pills are terrifying indeed,” Hui said, nodding to himself. Ahh, it’s been too long since I had a good set of medicinal pills. Though, to be honest, I prefer regeneration techniques. Between the two, after all, one can run out of pills, but one rarely runs out of all the various types of qi!

Hmm, I feel like I might have more qi than usual stockpiled. After all, aren’t cultivators in my favorite novels constantly eating qi regeneration pills like candy? I’m generally fine without. Doesn’t that imply that I… maybe… have a lot of qi?

Hui paused for a moment, then shook his head. No, no. That’s just because of my extreme reliance on qi over pills! Yes, yes. An ordinary amount of qi, surely, for someone who doesn’t use many pills!

Hui put his hand on the tree and pushed it faster. “Still, she won’t be able to chase us for a while. She has to absorb those pills, and wait for the injuries to close. It isn’t a long time, but it’s more than nothing. In that time, we need to find a place to hide!”

“Isn’t there an obvious place?” Meimei said, crossing her arms. She nodded. “That yin-filled valley they always had us run through. There’s enough yin qi that we’re nearly blinded, so it should do something to obscure the senses of higher-level cultivators, too.”

Hui nodded. “Indeed.” Exactly where I would suggest! But… let’s not lead her there directly. He flew low, piercing into a forest and winding his way through the trees at top speed. Branches whipped past, barely missing the tree, while he dodged left and right, avoiding trunks by inches. Hui smiled, enjoying the nostalgic feeling. It’s almost like being back in Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect! The trees are smaller here, but the sensation of flying through them is the same as ever.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The disciples clinging to his tree screamed in fear as they dodged yet another branch by inches. Hui cleared his throat. “Quiet, please, let’s be quiet! We’re being chased, Elder Siblings, please!”

They darted to the right of a tree trunk. Another scream.

Meimei turned over her shoulder and glared at them. “The next one to scream gets to experience my killing chord personally.”

The disciples quickly swallowed their next scream. A few yelps and whimpers sounded out from that point forward, but no one dared to scream.

Hui gave Meimei an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Elder Sister.”

Meimei nodded. “It’s nothing—”

Their eyes met. Meimei went silent. Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.

“Eh? What is it?” Hui asked, confused. Is there something on my face? He brushed a hand over his face, then looked behind him. No… nothing behind me, either. What’s she staring at?

Tian Mo nudged him. “Er, Gui Hui, your smile is too dazzling. It’s distracting everyone.”

Hui glanced down the tree trunk. All the disciples stared at him, while the female disciples blushed heavily, barely able to make eye contact.

“Eh? My apologies,” Hui said, taken aback. He stopped smiling, a bit of concern already creeping up his spine. I’ve only cultivated charm for one day, and I’m already this charming? How concerning! Is it truly this easy to become beautiful?

Ah… well, I did absorb most of Jizhi Zhimei’s pond, full of her beauty qi concentrated into water. I suppose I can’t overlook that…

Up ahead, sun burst through the leaves of the forest. They blasted out, scattering leaves all around. Ahead, a chill wind already blew toward them. The dark embrace of the yin valley awaited.

Too bad I took all the resentment demons out. Otherwise, I’d really be leading Ai Tuzi into a trap… Hui lamented silently.

Wait, actually… He reached out mentally to the resentment demons.

A few responded, curious and idle.

Good! They aren’t all busy fighting. If you aren’t busy, then come back to the valley! I need you to protect us, Hui transmitted.

The resentment demons sent back a lackluster ‘eh.’

Hui pursed his lips. These damn demons… wait, I know. He sent an image of Ai Tuzi, then an image of the vermillion bird getting ripped apart, then Ai Tuzi again.

The resentment demons stood bolt upright. Immediately, the idle ones began rolling toward the valley at top speed.

These bloodthirsty demons… ah, well. I suppose it’s in the name, isn’t it? Resentment demons… it’s not as if they’re happiness demons or protector demons. Hui shook his head. Aiming the tree downward, he plunged into the valley.

Meimei grabbed his arm and clung on tight, barely suppressing a scream. She leaned up against him, gazing at his face. “Gui Hui, hold me, I’m scared!”

“You aren’t scared. You just want him to hug you,” Tian Mo accused her.

Meimei glared over her shoulder at him. “Shut up! What do you know?”

Hui snorted lightly. It’s like a bunch of kids fighting to be the one sitting closest to their favorite teacher. Adorable, yet slightly concerning nonetheless. Ignoring Meimei and Tian Mo, he looked back at the rest of the group. “We might be in here for some time. If you’re weak to yin… which is most of the males in the class, come here and huddle together. I’ll protect you as best I can.”

Immediately, the entire group of disciples drew close to Hui. The entire tree dipped down as the weight distribution abruptly changed. Hui jolted, startled, and threw out his hand, sending a blast of qi to the floor to push them back upright seconds before the front of the tree dug into the valley floor.

Looking back at the disciples, Hui resisted the urge to sigh. I get it. They’re all low realm. They’re all pretty weak to yin. I’ll do what I can to protect them.

Meimei glared at her fellow disciples. “You just want to get close to him, too,” she accused them.

“Meimei, come on,” Hui said, gently chiding her. It’s entirely reasonable—

“Yeah? So what? You don’t get to hog him all to yourself,” another female disciple bit back.

“Gui Hui, don’t trust Meimei. She killed her teacher, you know!” yet another disciple called out.

“Come close to me, I’ll keep you safe from Meimei.”

“Yeah, that’s right! We’ll protect you. Over here, sit with us!”

Tian Mo stood in front of Hui, throwing his hands out. “Stop it! Just because he became a little more charming, doesn’t mean you should behave like this!”

“Why not?”

“Yeah, why not?”

“Shut up, Tian Mo!”

Hui sighed, putting his head in his hands. Being beautiful is so much work. Maybe I should wear a veil, like Jizhi Zhimei does…