Raja Kint and the man stare at each other. The man squints his eyes and smirks. “I see what you’re doing. Wanting to scare me away so that you all can leave. Showing off your limbo technique is incredible but you must be tired.”
Hearing the words “limbo technique” caused the three kids to go wide-eyed at Raja Kint.
Wan Kint says, “You still have to deal with us three. We’ve already made the trade, there’s no need to fight further.”
“I think you’ve lost negotiating rights.”
“I’m not stupid, you should’ve attacked us right away if you wanted us dead. Not wait to do a trade and send us away. Meaning that you’re injured right now.” sneered Raja Kint.
The man looked at Raja Kint and stood up taking out a red-handled sickle for each hand. “We’ll see just how weak I really am with a seventh-stage blood puppet.”
Raja Kint watches as the three kids step in front of him. “Hold him off for a bit. I’ll make a formation for us to be safe in.”
The three nod their heads, take out their weapons and stand guard. Raja Kint immediately gets to scripting his array on the ground.
That pale fool has seen right through me. Now I have to waste the last of my ki on creating a formation. Well, don’t worry pale fool you won’t escape here with your life.
The pale man looks at the three before him. With a red sickle and red clothes. While the blood puppet pulls out a hammer the size of an arm.
Swinging the hammer down onto Wu Ying she opts to dodge while aiming for a counter. As her blade slashed down the puppet moved to the side and went for an open punch. Midway through the punch, a small spear pierces its hand. Sticking the hand to the ground. The puppet pulls the spear out to find Yi Kint sweeping his other spear.
The puppet rolls forward dodging the sweep and grabs Yi Kint’s leg.
“AH!” The short spear stabs through Yi Kint’s left calf.
The pale man looks at the blood spilling out and then looks at Wan Kint. The entire time Wan Kint has never left his spot. Fearing the pale man might attempt something.
Yi Kint takes the moment the puppet struck him to hold it with all his strength. Wu Ying takes this chance to slice the puppet's head.
With the difference of one stage the puppet overpowers Yi Kint and narrowly dodges a fatal blow. Instead losing its right arm, rolling and grabbing its hammer with the left.
Wu Ying takes the puppet one-on-one in a losing position. With a missing arm, the puppet can’t fight at its full potential. Sitting down Yi Kint pulls out the spear and reaches for his pouch. Pulling out a fragrant blue pill and swallowing it.
“I think you’ve run out of time little mice.” Says the pale man as he steps forward.
“Everyone to me!”
Wu Ying uses the striking force from the puppet to quickly reach Raja Kint. Yi Kint turns, grits his teeth and runs for the array. Wan Kint reaches Raja Kint first.
“Transfer your ki here.”
Wan Kint places his hands down and the array activates. Filling up the entire space of the cave.
Seeing this Raja Kint breathes a sigh of relief before falling over from exhaustion.
Wu Ying catches him and gently lays him down.
“So the boy isn’t only talented in combat but arrays as well. Plus his control over ki is comparable to limbo realms. Along with a cunning mind and decisiveness. It would seem I've stumbled into a supreme talent. For a talent of his scale, he compares with those from factions and empires.”
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Hearing this the three realized that their junior brother may be more talented than the academy even realized.
“With the way he developed this array. There’s no chance for me to leave meaning he doesn’t want me leaving alive. Or he may want to make a deal with me.” He looked at Wan Kint. “How old is the boy?”
“Hmph, even if I knew I wouldn’t tell you.”
The pale man sat down and returned to healing. The puppet grabbed the talisman from the dead puppet, handing it to the pale man.
Wu Ying pulls out a water gourd, crushing two medicinal pills into the water gourd. Lifting Raja Kint's head onto her lap she slowly pours the water into his mouth.
Yi Kint says, “We should tell the academy about his combat prowess. They’ll definitely help him prepare for the competition.”
Wan Kint replies, “We’ll leave that to him. This is the first time he’s shown such terrifying combat.”
“Him learning arrays is a waste when he can fight so well. You heard what the man said. In some aspects, he already compares to limbo realms.”
“No, we leave it be.”
“Sister Ying back me up here.”
“I agree with senior brother on this.” Suddenly she sneers, “If I didn’t know any better I would say you’re mad at junior brother. If he didn’t say anything you might’ve not been stabbed.”
“Of course, I’m angry about that.”
Wan Kint says, “Did you really think we would just waltz out after chancing upon a cultivator like this? He was never going to let us leave.”
“We had his word.”
Wu Ying laughs, “The word of a man who turns men into puppets.”
Yi Kint looks toward the pale man. “If we give you Raja Kint will you let us go?”
The pale man opened his eyes and scrutinized Yi Kint. “Yes.”
Yi Kint turned around as Wu Ying stood up. The two stared at each other. Wan Kint is helpless as he powers the array. Yi Kint takes a step forward with both spears. Wu Ying pulls out her sword, “We both know I’ll win this duel. Just stop so we can leave together.”
Yi Kint struggled with whether his decision was right or not. But for the sake of the group, one life had to be worth it. Hence, he ran forward. A few steps before reaching Wu Ying he jumped to the side. And with all his strength threw a spear at Wan Kint’s hand.
Wan Kint roared, “YOU FOOL!”
The spear impaled his left hand causing it to move. The array flickered and the puppet snuck inside. Wu Ying couldn’t believe that someone would be so afraid of death.
Raja Kint opened his eyes, grabbed the water gourd and drank the rest. Meanwhile, a battle ensued between Yi Kint and the puppet vs Wan Kint and Wu Ying.
The pale man walked in front of Raja Kint and sat down.
“How old are you Raja?”
“Nine years four months.”
The pale man forcibly controls his mental state from the information. “You can leave whatever place those three came from and follow me. My leader is beyond the limbo realm and can provide you with plenty of resources.”
“No thanks.”
“Why?”
“No particular reason.”
The two fall silent for a few moments as the sounds of battle continue.
“Did you gain an inheritance?”
Raja Kint responds, “No.”
“Well, I won’t kill you but I will use a talisman to place an array on you. Anytime you near my leader he’ll know.”
Raja Kint watched as the man brought out a talisman and placed it on Raja Kint’s forehead. The talisman sank beneath his skin. His face became slightly paler while Raja Kint felt nothing.
“Do you place arrays on everyone you meet?”
“Only those who we deem with potential. I wanted to place an array on that boy from the Fenix Sect during the war. Sadly, they quickly won the war. And the boy was taken by a man flying through the sky.”
The pale man stood up and took out a sickle. He easily killed Yi Kint before leaving with his puppet.
Raja Kint ran his fingers along his forehead. Wondering if this leader is capable of placing arrays on souls.
Wan Kint says, “Let’s return to the sect.”