Flashback no jutsu--
"Brother, what if someone bullies me?"
"I'll help you beat them up."
"What if you can't beat them either?"
"Then they'll have to step over my corpse."
"What if you aren't by my side?"
"Where are you getting all these 'what ifs' from..." The boy's eyelid twitched as he looked at the girl speechlessly, but she remained persistent, her light blue eyes filled with stubbornness and hope. Looking into her sparkling eyes, the boy helplessly sighed.
Under the starry sky, he lay on his back on the grass, observing the stars filling the sky, and slowly spoke.
"Fine, if you encounter danger and I'm not by your side, then shake the bell on this hairpin. At that moment, I will appear and save you like a hero stepping on auspicious clouds, alright?"
The girl smiled beautifully like a flower, carefully leaning into the boy's embrace and inhaling his scent, her face full of joy and enjoyment.
"..."
Pulled back from memory to reality.
Zhang Lexuan stared blankly at the suddenly appearing Lu Cheng.
She shook the hairpin, which emitted a melodious and ethereal ringing.
Was it because of this?
Did he really appear before her?
"Lu Cheng, long time no see..." Ruo Mu leaned against an ancient tree, her face pale. She looked with a complex expression at the black-robed man standing on another ancient tree, looking down at them with a beaming smile.
Three years apart, and this guy has changed so much.
However, his appearance was likely a disaster even more terrifying than a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
After all... he was an Evil Soul Master. Saving people? That was non-existent.
There was only a blood feud between them. If not for her soul power being exhausted, leaving her like a fish on a chopping block to be toyed with, she would have charged at him long ago.
"Hehe, three years since we last met, and you've all ended up in such a wretched state..."
"Where are the teachers of Shrek Academy? This couldn't possibly be a life-and-death trial, could it?"
Lu Cheng leisurely sized up the many Shrek Disciples, revealing a genial yet eerie smile.
Many Inner Academy disciples gradually fell silent, clearly sensing the strange atmosphere. Moreover, both of the newcomers were clad in black robes, obviously not the reinforcements Shrek Academy had sent...
Especially that young man; many disciples were astonished by his terrifying strength.
At his age, he was likely not much older than them, but his might just now—a single arrow—had directly pierced the defense of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, nearly crushing it to death.
He probably wouldn't be at much of a disadvantage even if he faced the Blood-Eroding Python alone in its peak state.
Was there such a freakish genius on the continent?
They seemed to have never heard of him.
"Lu Cheng, stop the sarcastic remarks. Give Lexuan a way out, and I am willing to die in her place." Ruo Mu panted softly, straightening her back and staring at Lu Cheng with a flicker of pleading in her eyes.
Zhang Lexuan was the future of Shrek Academy.
The designated successor of the Sea Gods' Pavilion.
Even if the girl had said those irresponsible words, as her senior sister, she had to do her best to ensure her safety.
"Senior Sister Ruo Mu!" Another Spirit Saint's eyes were filled with anxiety.
"My mind is made up; do not try to persuade me further," Ruo Mu said, her emerald eyes firm.
The other Inner Academy Disciples finally realized the situation.
This person seemed... not to be reinforcements.
Just escaped the tiger's mouth, only to enter the wolf's den?
"Senior Sister Ruo Mu, this is between him and me," Zhang Lexuan said softly, her light blue eyes looking indifferently at Lu Cheng. "Lu Cheng, let them go... I am willing to go with you."
"My silly little sister, why are you unwilling to even call me 'brother' anymore? You used to follow behind me every day, and I couldn't even shake you off," Lu Cheng chuckled.
Many Inner Academy disciples were filled with astonishment.
To have their senior sister, who was as cold as a fairy under the moon, cling to someone and call them 'brother'? Just who was this person?
However, soon enough, many Disciples recalled a forbidden rumor from the Inner Court three years ago. Their eyes flickered with complexity and shock; if it really was the name from that rumor, today's matter would likely not end well.
Zhang Lexuan clenched her delicate hands and bit her lip, staring coldly at Lu Cheng. "Kill me or skin me, do as you wish, but do not humiliate me like this."
"Tsk tsk, how do you know I won't kill you but would rather take you away?" Lu Cheng said with a smile.
Zhang Lexuan was stunned, her face turning even paler.
If she were taken away by Lu Cheng, she would likely return to that demon's den, the place known as the headquarters of the Evil Soul Masters...
There, it would truly be a fate worse than death.
"Afraid already?"
Lu Cheng's figure shifted, appearing right in front of her as he leisurely observed Zhang Lexuan.
A pair of beautiful light blue eyes stared fixedly at Lu Cheng, her fists clenched. The face she had cursed, longed for, and even gnashed her teeth at countless times over the past three years had reappeared before her, yet she found it difficult to remain as calm as she had expected.
He was thinner and taller, but he still had that familiar aura.
Facing the gaze that looked down on her from above, Zhang Lexuan's eyes gradually flickered away as she turned her head.
"Lift your head."
Lu Cheng's fingers gently pinched her chin, lifting her beautiful face that was pitiful yet forcedly calm...
"Too weak..."
Lu Cheng's smile faded, a flicker of disdain and disgust flashing in the depths of his eyes as he slowly shook his head.
"The physical body and skeletal structure I tempered for you—after all these years, you've only reached the Spirit Saint Peak? For your sixth Soul Ring, you didn't even dare to attempt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and instead got a ninety-nine-thousand-year Pseudo-Hundred-Thousand-Year one?
The current you... is not even worthy of being killed by me."
Zhang Lexuan's heart skipped a beat.
For some reason, she didn't feel the relief of having escaped death; instead, her mind was filled with Lu Cheng's eyes of disgust and disdain, which stung her so much that anger surged uncontrollably.
"I will not kill you..."
Zhang Lexuan bit her teeth, saying each word clearly.
"Lu Cheng, if you dare to let me go, I will spend my entire life trying to defeat you. I will cripple your martial soul and meridians, then imprison you in Heaven Dou City to kowtow and atone for your sins to the innocent people who died."
"..."
He was stunned for a moment.
Looking at the stubborn Zhang Lexuan before him, his lips moved slightly.
Then he slowly curled his lips into a mocking smile and abruptly began to laugh, laughing in an extremely unbridled and arrogant manner.
"HAHAHAHA...
Fine, then I'll wait for you to cripple me."
After a long while, Lu Cheng finally seemed to have laughed his fill and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Ruo Mu, I'll be borrowing her for now...
Remember to pass a message to Old Mu for me."
With that, he soared into the sky with Zhang Lexuan, turning into a streak of light and flying into the distance.
"Lexuan!!!"
Ruo Mu let out a roar, but her body had long since been drained. With a 'thud,' she fell to her knees, struggling to lift her head as Zhang Lexuan's figure grew smaller and smaller in her vision.
Then she fainted.
"Senior Sister Ruo Mu!"
"Ruo Mu..."
The many Inner Academy disciples around them, though heavily injured, managed to gather around.
Whoosh!
A few more breaths passed.
A majestic aura arrived from the horizon in an instant. Carrying a wine flask and a chicken leg, a completely bewildered Xuan Zi took in the scene.
"What happened?!!"
Notes:
Nearly forgot... Does my dear reader have any recommendation for me?
By the way, this novel was recommended to me by @MrSponge ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Read advanced chapters at p@atreon/holyangelicdemon
Bonus
50 PS 1 chapter
100 PS 2 chapters
150 PS 3 chapters