Chapter 7
Yijun stares daggers at me as I continue to drink the wine. Zemin eyes me smugly like he won something. The minutes tick by as a couple of more disciples sit at the table, each looking confused. When they ask Zemin, he simply chuckles and tells them to watch. He is enjoying this a little too much right now. The tension is so thick now that I can’t help but shift uncomfortably in my seat a bit. I breathe out a sigh preparing myself for the talk I’m about to have. I open my mouth to speak only for Yijun to beat me to it.
“Honestly, I can’t believe you! Not an hour after you get injured cultivating, you’re running around drinking in a disciples’ clothes!” The other disciples begin to whisper among themselves, great. I let out a small groan as I hold up my hand to stop her before she starts yelling too.
“Look, I’m sorry about sneaking out, but I just needed some fresh air. I got a bit hungry, so I stopped by here.” Yijun starts to calm down a bit, but her posture is firm. I won’t be talking myself out of this.
“It’s good that you know it was wrong and dangerous to sneak out, you could have just walked in the garden at the [Pill Hall] if you needed fresh air. And eating such food and drinking is bad for your health when you’re healing!” All very fair points, I slump in defeat. Zemin looks even happier than he did earlier.
“I’ll head back to the [Pill Hall], don’t worry I know where to put these clothes.” With that, I grab the wine bottle and leave. The outside air is cool on my warm face. Even if it tastes bad, this wine is still pretty strong. I make my way back to the tree where the knocked-out disciple is still lying there. I strip out of his clothes and toss them on top of him, before leaping up to the roof. I reach the top on my second jump up, finding the stars twinkling in the sky. I look back at the [Earthly Meal Hall] before jumping back to the [Pill Hall]. Once my head hits the pillow, I start to drift asleep.
The sound of gunshots rings in my ears, smoke fills my lungs making it feel like I’m breathing fire. Shouting cuts across the noise in single words, then yelling and screaming follow after. Panic creeps up my throat, with tears beginning to sting my eyes. I can’t look away from it, I should but I can’t. I’m just frozen, too scared to move. Scared they’ll see me, scared they’ll kill me. Oh god, why are they here?! They shouldn’t be here! This was supposed to be a safe zone! My fingers tighten around my gun. I can’t stop shaking, I just can’t stop shaking. A shadow begins to loom over me, the clanking of metal on stone causes dread to bubble in my stomach. I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!
I spring up in bed, skin slick with sweat while I gasp for air. The dream is still so vivid, almost like that day was happening again. No matter how much you try and prepare, no one can be truly ready for war when it happens. You can’t imagine your comrades dying in front of you. While you hide like a coward, praying they won’t find you too. I put my face in my hands as the morning birds begin to tweet. I get up and change out of my combat gear, slipping into my cheap clothes after washing off. I eat breakfast with Doctor Chao again, though after I’m told to wait in his office for him. I sit in one of the chairs across the desk, twiddling my thumbs as I wait. This can only be about sneaking out last night, considering how Yijun was reacting last night I wouldn’t be surprised if the first thing she did was tell Doctor Chao. Just before I can dive too deep down the rabbit hole, the door opens.
Doctor Chao walks in with Yijun and a man following behind him. He takes a seat, while Yijun stands in front of me and the stranger stands off to the side. Yijun still looks mad while Doctor Chao looks like he already knew I would go out last night. Folding his hands, he fixes me with a hard stare.
“I assume you know part of why you are here?”
“For sneaking out last?”
“Hoho! Yes, that’s part of it. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if you would admit it or not, considering your temperament.”
“My temperament?”
“Yes, you have habits and movements of an assassin. A very skilled one at that.” He must be [Telepathic] to know something like that.
“How can you even tell if someone moves like an assassin?”
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“The way one walks and the way they breathe. Assassins are trained to essentially become ghosts. Phantoms of death that no one knows when they will strike.”
“So what does that have to do with me telling you or not?”
“Well, most assassins would rather die than reveal their intentions. Especially if they were hired to infiltrate somewhere to get to their target.” The air in the room becomes cold, his gaze becomes like razors fixing me in place.
“You can’t think he faked everything so far just to let our guards down right?” That’s a really far-fetched idea considering I couldn’t speak the language until recently.
“Like I told Yijun, I just wanted to get some fresh air. I stopped by the [Earthly Meal Hall] on the way back since I got hungry. I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble if I did.”
“I know,” of course he knows, it's like he has ears everywhere or something. “I apologize for trying to scare you, but we can’t be too careful these days. Especially since the [Demonic Cult] is more active than usual.”
“What is this [Demonic Cult]?” Doctor Chao sits back with a sad sigh before fixing his eyes on the stranger behind me.
“The [Demonic Cult] is the greatest enemy the entire world has ever faced.” His voice seems to shake the room as speaks, each word like a powerful wave. “They have ravaged the world many times, dominating those they conquer through strength and power alone. They believe strength is law, and will only follow someone who is the strongest of all creation, the [Heavenly Demon].”
“Sorry, did you say [Heavenly Demon]?”
“Correct, the leader of the [Demonic Cult] and the cruelest being to ever live. He and the cult have been silent for a long time, but they are beginning to move again. We have no idea what they may be planning so it is best to be vigilant of all things, isn’t that right disciple Fang Yijun?” The man stares at Yijun, causing her to shrink under his scrutiny.
“I apologize Peter for having to suspect you, but we needed to make sure you weren’t a spy or a member of the cult sent here for some other reason.”
“I understand why you had to doctor, had I been in your shoes I might have done the same. So now that I’m clear of suspicion, what happens now?”
“Well, since you snuck out and stole a disciple's clothes after knocking him out, you would have been sent to the sect prison for however long they sentence you. It’s not a small crime to harm and impersonate a sect member of any sect. But, I pulled a few strings and got you a somewhat lighter sentence! You will assist Elder Deng Jian for now until the [Secret Realm] is resolved.”
“What exactly will I be assisting him with?” I have to be careful of my actions, if I expose too much I could lose trust, but if I show too little they won’t see a reason to keep me around.
“Whatever he needs you for, though I must you inform of the nature of such tasks before you are left in his care. Yijun, since you have seen that he is well now, you can go back to your studies.” His smile is warm, but his eyes are firm. Whatever these tasks are, they look to require a high level of secrecy. Without a hesitant bow, she bids farewell, leaving the three of us alone. Deng Jian moves to sit in the seat next to me as Doctor Chao fixes his firm stare on me.
“Stop delaying Chao, time is of the essence right now.”
“Right, forgive me. Peter, I’m not sure what you have led so far nor can I judge you for it. I have seen children wield blades just for a rotten apple. Your talents can help us, I won’t ask you to kill anyone. All I ask is that you help gather information on the [Orange Cloud Sect] during this chance.”
“That’s something I can do but why ask me to do this now? And why them?”
“We believe that not too long ago the [Orange Cloud Sect] began learning a demonic art. Their members have gained a great deal of strength in a short time, the only way that is possible is with a demonic art. We didn’t ask anything of you before as we were not sure what your intentions were. Though your behavior has let us know you aren’t an enemy at least.” That does sound appealing, to be honest. Being able to gain strength in a short amount of time would be beneficial in a war. The more powerful soldiers you have, the greater chance you can win by simple force.
“So what exactly is a demonic art?”
“A demonic art is a cultivation technique that uses evil methods to gain power in a short amount of time. One of the most notorious art to exist was the [Demonic Lotus Bite Art], it would allow one to retain the beauty of a lotus by draining the blood of children. Another would be [Demonic Blood Beast Art] which would grow one's explosive strength in battle the more people they kill and lose themselves to bloodlust. They may grant incredible power but to gain it, you must stop being human.” I sit in silence as I digest the information Deng Jian just gave. To think people would drain the blood of children for power. I feel disgusted for even thinking that this power wasn’t as bad as it seemed. I guess that’s its appeal though, it seems everything is about cultivation and anyone would do anything to get a chance at it. Even I was tempted by it in the moment.
“Okay, I’ll do it. But I need weapons like the ones I had before.” Deng Jian smiles beside me while Doctor Chao gives a resolved nod, pulling out a piece of paper from the stack on his left, and begins writing.
“I wish you the best of luck Peter, I pray the next time I see you is for a drink and not a wound.” He smiles at me sadly, handing me the paper. I bow to him one last time, before turning and following Deng Jian out of the [Pill Hall].