Wu Guang had to analyze what he heard, and what was a better place to do it if not the bath?

After requesting his assistant, or as he referred to him - jailer, to have one prepared, he was led to it in a few minutes.

Soaking in hot water was already good for his tired body, while the added herbs helped him recover far quicker.

In any case, his main goal was to use this time to calmly analyze and catalog his new findings. As well as the new questions that had appeared.

First, it was a fact that he would be allowed to leave the plane with no issues, as soon as he wanted to. This meant that his initial decision of seeking support from a local power was absolutely right on point.

Second, he was assigned some kind of protected status that forbade people from the Empire or the Sect to interfere with his leaving. If this included other decisions was something to be tested, but at least his main wish or goal was practically complete.

Third, Xue Ru had decided to somehow persuade him anyway. From what he heard it was enough to guess that it implied a strong obligation, most likely marriage, but as how it would be done...

And the new questions or mysteries were two.

With the first being, who was this Lord, Xue Ru's Uncle, that had so much power as to order practically anyone that he had met?

And the second being ampler, to determine the identity of the real power players in this plane. Even though Wu Guang planned to leave, his interest was still piqued by this mysterious Revered All-Seeing, as well the two main actors during the Island's war. After all, experts like the latter, who came from other planes, should have left some knowledge or items related to their original power. And considering that Wu Guang planned to ascend to a higher plane, why not go somewhere where he at least had some knowledge off?

Anyway, even if he did not solve any of them before finishing his matters and being prepared to leave, they would not affect him in the slightest.

With his new main and optional objectives set, Wu Guang relaxed in the bath for half an hour or so more before leaving.

Strangely, his usual guide was not present. Even more, there was not a single guard present around the bathroom!

"Did something occur?" He muttered while scanning the corridor and nearby rooms around.

Still, he found no hint of anyone except himself.

Deciding that caution was the right way, Wu Guang began expanding his aura.

At first, he covered about 100 feet around himself, but the result was the same. There was absolutely no one present.

It was not until he covered the double of the previous area that he found signs of life. It seemed that nothing serious had occurred, as the ones he felt were the guards. With them showing no signs of qi usage, most probably they were simply called for something.

"Hmm, even if they were called off, why would I be left alone here?" Wu Guang muttered while trying to guess the objective of such. Still, no idea came to mind, so he decided to move towards the guards he had sensed and ask them directly. In any case, he had no need to hide, being a guest and everything.

________________________________________________________________________

The fortress insides were a veritable maze, with corridors leading into nothing, or small rooms that had more than three doors. Still, Wu Guang had no trouble navigating it, especially with a clear destination in mind.

But the more he approached, the farther the guards moved from here. This was alarming and so he decided that it was better to be overly cautious. Stopping, Wu Guang quickly remembered the way he was led from his room towards the bath, and after checking that there was no one present on it, began returning to his room.

Moving slowly but openly, it took him a few minutes to reach his room. Still, what he did not expect to sense, but did, inside it was Xue Ru.

Still, she was the commander of the fortress and they were supposed to go on some kind of outing tomorrow, so she may have arrived here to tell him about that. With these thoughts, Wu Guang opened the door.

*Squeak*

As soon as Wu Guang saw inside the room, he inwardly exclaimed "Shit!".

Quickly calming himself, he recovered his usual countenance and greeted while asking

"Miss Xue, has an auspicious thing happen?"

One may ask why he suddenly grew agitated, but the reason was easy to guess.

Xue Ru was truly being serious when she spoke about some kind of obligation to keep him on the plane, and now... Who either but not her was inside his room with a dinner set up and dressed gorgeously?

"Ahh, no, I simply decided that a dinner with the, only, guest of my fortress should be a good thing" Xue Ru was a bit flustered, but she answered naturally.

"I see, then please forgive me for my abrupt arrival" Wu Guang knew how to keep up his manners, even if he was suspicious of all this being a honey-trap.

So it's no wonder that he had to continue behaving as normal, even though he did steal a few glances at Xue Ru.

She was beautiful enough to be considered a fairy, with white skin, flowing hair, and an extremely beautiful face. And right now she was dressed into a dress that let most of her white-jade shoulders show... In short, she had the looks referred to as Kingdom destroying beauties.

Plus, she was a cultivator, something that added that grace and demeanor that only people who constantly broke through limits and challenges had to her image.

________________________________________________________________________

The dinner went somewhat awkwardly, but overall nothing grand happened. The small talk that accompanied it was also pretty basic, with no themes more than a few anecdotes or hobbies being touched.

Wu Guang felt at ease with Xue Ru, but knowing that she had an objective in mind, he still did not forget to carefully check everything he ate or drank. Thankfully, there was nothing added. After all, it was a known matter for aphrodisiacs or similar drugs to be mixed in a drink or food to make the victim, to call it somehow, do the deed and be forced into marriage or some other commitment.

After the food was finished, which was delicious by the way, Xue Ru touched the theme she had been holding back before.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"I have heard that you intend to leave this plane. If I am allowed to ask, what is your reason for doing so?"

"Well, I do not have anything to hide in that respect" Wu Guang smiled before continuing

"I want to see other places, reach new heights, encounter cultivators of realms that I have never even heard of..."

"But..."

"Would not that be dangerous? Indeed it will, but such is my dream"

"Still, you are young enough to train and reach the peak of the possible cultivation before leaving. So why the urge to do it so quickly?"

"Hmm... Do you know how many years a Warrior Lord cultivator lives for?"

"About 500, isn't it?"

"I have read the same, but in that case... How many years do people above that level live?"

"Who knows? Most of that information is pretty much undiscovered for us"

"And that's the point! I want to see how and for how long do they live. What realms are above the Earth realm, what undiscovered techniques and skills lie behind an astral gate"

"But would not entering a new plane with more strength be better?"

"It may be so, but who can guarantee that I can reach these new heights quickly? I may be considered talented here, but who knows if it will be so on other planes? So I have to leave as soon as possible, at least to give me a few more years. Also, isn't it possible for other planes to have resources and areas that would allow me to cultivate quicker?"

"..."

For a few minutes, a silence was established. Wu Guang practically had not lied. Granted, he added a bit of fire to his words and used far lower realms than the ones he wanted to see and reach... But, he was being honest with his words.

"I understand, mostly. I can not see why someone of your age has such a dream already, after all, discovering new things is a wish of the old, but... I do understand your intention"

"Mmm"

"Still, I would like to ask you directly"

"...?"

"Would you not stay in the plane for at least a few years?"

"Why?"

"Not only the war is looming, but there are also a lot of other things happening. Let me be sincere... Your talent is something practically indescribable even for the wisest experts. It's something that with a good investment could easily change the overall shape of our plane"

"I do not intend to leave right now if that is what you were asking. I indeed plan to do so, but that's only after I finish with my obligations"

"And they are?"

"People that I consider close to me have to be safe... and an oath I have made"

"Even so, you do intend to leave this year, don't you?"

"...Yes"

"Even if you can not guarantee the safety of the ones close to you after leaving?"

"I consider that having the knowledge that I did what I needed to do before leaving is enough"

"That's!"

"A bad way to look at it? Or you intended to use harsher words?"

"..."

"It is, but I can not remain here and destroy my own goal. In fact, not even they would agree to me doing so. Yes, I do understand what you are saying. Training for a few years and securing a strong position before leaving seems like a sensible choice... But such way is not the one I want to follow"

"So you..."

"I will see through the part of the war that touches Half-Island. I will make sure that everyone I hold close can remain safe, or move them somewhere, during the rest of the war. Afterward, I will leave right away"

"Even if that signifies missing an opportunity to have a bright future?"

"You mean becoming the Sect's headmaster and being second to none but the Emperor and the heavens? I am not someone from the Empire, and neither I do consider myself indebted in any way to Half-Island. My family was assassinated there and even though a lot of people could prevent it... No one did. So, I do not have any obligations to them either... It's not different from what I was told recently, why would the Sect and the Empire risk themselves to protect the powers of the Half-Island from their own allies? Especially as these allies and the powers fought against the Empire?"

"You could aim higher! With some nurturing, you should be able to become the strongest..."

"Weapon of the Empire?" Wu Guang interrupted.

A few moments later, he added

"You think I do not understand what is happening? At first, I was a simple candidate for the matter about the Sect's headmaster and core situation. After I made several continuous breakthroughs, I became the main, if not the only, one. And now, there are you trying to make me reimain on the plane and join the Empire. I don't even doubt that you would willingly become my bride for that to happen!"

"You!" Xue Ru was angered, and well, how could she be not? Wu Guang had not only seen through her plan but also, bluntly, refused everything she may have to offer or say.

With nothing else to be said or done, and feeling that she was about to lose control, Xue Ru stood up and moved towards the door.

Before leaving, she still left a single phrase behind

"You are only a Soul realm cultivator, for now, so I do hope that you can keep yourself safe in this... so unattractive plane"

________________________________________________________________________

Only time would tell if Wu Guang's conduct and words were the rights ones for the situation. But, he was tired... very tired of having to cope with the fact that he was constantly being, or tried to be used.

Initially, he planned to keep most of this so-called 'Talent' hidden, but as things advanced, he simply had no choice to reveal more and more. Still, who knew that the slight amount of it that he revealed would be enough to catch the interest of people in the Empire? Even more, who could have known that a Sect located on the weakest island of all, one that he intended to use as a starting point, would actually be related to the power that controls the Astral Gate?

"Haaa" Wu Guang exhaled before muttering

"So many things to consider... Anyway, I am fed enough with this farce. The day after tomorrow I bind the key and begin my return journey to the 'Three Hills Sect'. After liberating the headmaster and the others from the pocket realm, by hook or crook I make someone guarantee the safety of my friends, pick up Kass Shaa'r and leave this plane. At least in a new plane, I will be able to assume another identity, and have no need to continue hiding my true self"