Chapter 81
His eyes have been like that since the day I first met him. They never changed. Not for a single person. Not even for his parents. I don't know who he hates this much. Or what caused it. But I truly pity whoever receives that hatred. Yinghua suddenly spoke softly, still watching Wuming's back. "Weiyang, don't you think we always get left behind?"
"We really are free, aren't we?" Weiyang looked at her. Her eyes were fixed on Wuming with obvious longing. He sighed. "Do you want to go to him?" Yinghua nodded.
"Yes."
"But not right now." She paused. "He needs space." Weiyang snorted. "Oh, come on. If you think he needs space, that's nonsense."
"He always needs space."
"That freakin' loner." Yinghua immediately shook her head. "Don't misunderstand him, Weiyang." She spoke sweetly. "From what I know, he simply doesn't like people very much."
"He likes solitude." Weiyang looked at Wuming's distant figure and smiled faintly. "I like his solitude too." He said nonchalantly. "That's exactly why I want to be there." Yinghua stared at him for a moment before suddenly laughing. "You know what?"
"Let's practice Tai Quan." Weiyang immediately grinned. "Yup! Let's go!" Without waiting, he grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the forest at the other end of the bridge. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Wuming continued walking calmly beneath the morning sunlight. Yinghua looked back one last time. Her gaze lingered on him for several seconds before she finally turned away.
The city was bustling with life.
People moved through the streets carrying baskets and goods while merchants loudly advertised their wares. Red lanterns hung above the stone roads, swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. The smell of roasted meat, steamed buns, spices and tea filled the entire marketplace.
Wei Zhi moved through the crowded streets wearing her dark purple robes, several scrolls tucked beneath one arm while official documents rested in her hands. Every now and then she would stop in front of a government office, hand over a document, receive another, and continue on her way.
Honestly, she was exhausted. Seriously, why do I have to keep working? Wei Zhi puffed her cheeks. Oohhh, I want to enter Elder Gu's library so badly. Today I will definitely make that idiot use strategy while sparring with Wuming.
Hmph!
Her determination immediately returned. As she walked, another thought entered her mind. I wonder what the Xue Zi examinations will be like. Will I be able to use my powers fully? Soul Reapers possess tremendous offensive power...I really need to improve my defensive abilities too. Still lost in thought, Wei Zhi suddenly stopped.
Not far away sat Lin Yi.
He was comfortably seated at a small food stall near the roadside, leisurely eating steamed buns and skewers as though he did not have a care in the world. The stall itself stood beneath rows of hanging lanterns while people continuously passed by on both sides.
Wei Zhi immediately jogged toward him.
However, before reaching him, her gaze drifted toward the table beside Lin Yi.
Two men sat there. Both wore dark cloaks and bamboo hats that concealed their faces. Each quietly drank tea. What immediately caught Wei Zhi's attention were their hands.
Long fingers. Covered in blood. And on their left hands, engraved with black ink, were numbers. One bore the number three.The other bore the number four. They were Wei Yi and Shayu. Lin Yi noticed Wei Zhi approaching from afar.
A grin instantly appeared on his face.
"Yo, Wei Zhiii!" he shouted loudly while waving a skewer. "Come here! You have to try these skewers. They're fantastic!"
Wei Zhi finally arrived, slightly out of breath.
"Lin Yi Shifu, you're eating skewers out here?" she asked, confused. "I thought you had work."
Lin Yi casually took another bite before his eyes briefly shifted toward the backs of Wei Yi and Shayu.
Then he smiled.
"Well, well."
"Are you running errands for Lady Yin Fu?"
Wei Zhi frowned. What does he mean? I literally told him that only a few hours ago. Why is he asking again? She placed both hands on her waist and huffed.
"What are you talking about, Shifu?" Lin Yi merely smiled while continuing to eat. Wei Zhi huffed, breathing hard as she put both her hands on her waist."What are you talking about, Shifu?" Lin Yi smiled.
"Oh princess, don't worry about working. Isn't your work as Wuming's personal maid enough?"
Wei Zhi rolled her eyes.
"This isn't important, Shifu. I thought you had some work with me."
Lin Yi looked at her and said softly,
"You're my student, Wei Zhi."
The sweet tone immediately made Wei Zhi suspicious.
She stared at him.
"Has a scorpion stung you? Why are you behaving so weird?"
Lin Yi chuckled mockingly.
"Unlike some people, if I had a daughter or a younger sister like you, I would've treasured her and kept her by my side all this time without caring about the circumstances."
Wei Zhi blinked.
"Why are you saying such things, Shifu?"
Lin Yi only smiled.
"Nothing. Just making sure someone gets an idea."
Wei Zhi frowned.
What idea? Her gaze suddenly drifted toward the table in front of Lin Yi.
Empty.
The two cloaked men had vanished.
The tea cups were still there.
Steam was still rising from them.
Hot.
Wei Zhi's eyes widened.
"Where did they go?"
Lin Yi, who was still sitting calmly on the stall, suddenly asked,
"Wei Zhi... aren't you the last Soul Reaper?" Wei Zhi froze. "What?" Lin Yi took another bite of his skewer. "I thought you would know whenever another Soul Reaper comes close. A sense of familiarity."
Wei Zhi immediately replied,
"Of course I would know unless-" She stopped.
Wait.
Unless...Her sensing abilities were sealed.
Her eyes widened.
She immediately looked into Lin Yi's eyes.
"Are you telling me... he was here?" Lin Yi smiled. "I don't know." Just then, two figures approached from the crowd.
Zaimetsu and Ya Ting.
Both of them were wearing their academy teacher uniforms, black robes fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
Ya Ting seemed slightly flustered.
Almost embarrassed.
Lin Yi narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you both together?"
Ya Ting immediately moved a step away from Zaimetsu.
"We were merely discussing politics."
Lin Yi squinted suspiciously.
Then he stood up.
"I need both of you to come with me." He casually patted Wei Zhi's head. "Stay here, princess. Don't follow us." Ya Ting snorted.
"She won't be able to." Lin Yi burst out laughing. "If she wants, she can kill you."
He looked directly at Ya Ting.
"Don't challenge her."
"She is my student."
"Remember that."
Ya Ting crossed her arms.
"I am a Tian Zhi."
"She isn't even a Xue Zi."
Wei Zhi ignored her completely and looked only at Lin Yi.
"So you are going after him, right, Shifu?"
Lin Yi smiled.
"If you're able to follow us at our speed without using a single Zhen or Fu and relying only on sheer speed..."
He paused. "You may come." Ya Ting frowned. "But who exactly are we talking about?" Zaimetsu gently held her hand. "We'll see about that."
All three of them vanished from the bustling streets almost at the same time.
Wei Zhi stood alone in the middle of the road, the wind gently moving the loose strands of her dark hair. She stared in the direction they had disappeared and sighed.
"Sometimes I really do think I am surrounded by childish people."
She clicked her tongue.
Then she slowly brought two fingers together in front of her chest. A faint white glow flickered within her eyes.
"Shifu told me not to use spells created by others. He said that if everyone can use it, then it isn't truly mine."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"But not everyone is a Soul Reaper, now are they?"
She softly whispered,
"Nei Meto."
The next moment-She vanished.
Far above the city skies, Lin Yi and Zaimetsu were flying side by side at astonishing speed, their robes fluttering violently in the wind.
Lin Yi glanced behind him.
"Ya Ting, hurry up and follow."
Ya Ting gritted her teeth while trying to keep pace.
"Why are you going at full speed, Lin Yi?"
Lin Yi's expression remained relaxed.
"If Wei Zhi manages to catch up to you, then you will be responsible for whatever fight and consequences happen afterward."
Zaimetsu turned around.
He saw Ya Ting struggling to keep up.
Without hesitation, he stretched out his hand toward her.
"Take my hand."
Just like two shooting stars, the three figures leaped through the sky, crossing rooftops and mountains beneath them.
Ya Ting grabbed his hand and frowned. "Why are you making it sound so serious? She's just a little girl."
Lin Yi chuckled. "Yes."
"She's just a little girl." He paused. "And if you make people related to her angry because of her, it won't end well for you."
"Including me."Ya Ting looked at him strangely. "Aren't you the same person who said you would make your students' lives a living hell?" Lin Yi laughed loudly. "They are my students."
"You don't know what that actually means."
His metallic-gray eyes softened slightly.
"Those four are the only children who managed to become my students in the past two years."
"Every single one of them is exceptional."
Zaimetsu raised an eyebrow.
"What's so special about them, Lin Yi? They're just your students. I understand that they are yours, but isn't this a little too much praise?"
Lin Yi smiled mysteriously.
"I won't explain."
"I'll show you."
"Just wait a little longer."
Ya Ting snorted.
"You're talking as though she's already on our tail." Lin Yi blinked. "Tail?" He slowly pointed upward."Who said she's on our tail?"
"Look above." The two immediately raised their heads. And then-Both of them froze.
Horror appeared on their faces. Two meters above them, Wei Zhi was calmly flying alongside them. Her hands were folded behind her back. Her expression was indifferent. As though keeping pace with three Tian Zhi cultivators was the most natural thing in the world.
She wasn't even breathing heavily. She simply looked down at them. A seven-year-old child. Flying faster than them. Matching their speed perfectly. Ya Ting nearly lost control of her qi. Zaimetsu's eyes widened. For the first time since meeting the girl-Both of them finally understood why Lin Yi called her exceptional.
"And only mine to test."
The moment those words left Lin Yi's mouth, he vanished.
Zaimetsu sighed.
"There he goes again." Ya Ting blinked. "Where?" Zaimetsu pointed ahead. "On their tail." Far ahead, beside the forest line, two figures were moving swiftly through the trees. Shayu glanced sideways at the silent figure beside him. "Why are we even running?"He paused. "And was that your little sister back there?" Wei Yi did not answer. Not a single word.
Inside, however, his thoughts churned. Damn you, Lin Yi. Even after all these years, you're still predictable enough. Shayu continued talking regardless. "And what's with that weird-looking drunkard sitting behind us at the stall?" This time Wei Yi answered. "That was Lin Yi." He paused,"The previous leader of the specialized Tian Zhi team."
"The one who works solely for the Emperor." Shayu's eyes widened.
"Oh."
"I see."
The next moment-A figure suddenly appeared before them. Both men instantly retreated several steps backward. Lin Yi stood calmly in front of them, smiling as though he had merely taken a stroll.
A second figure landed beside him. Wei Zhi. Her eyes narrowed the moment she saw the man.
"Wei Yi..." Her voice was almost a whisper. Wei Yi stood silently.
His entire body remained concealed beneath the dark cloak. From his shoulders to his feet, not a single inch of skin was visible. His feet were wrapped in cloth, and a bamboo hat covered most of his face while a high collar concealed the lower half.
Slowly, he removed the bamboo hat.Only his eyes remained visible. Dull green eyes. Those eyes fell upon Wei Zhi. He looked at her petite figure. Her skinny frame. The lingering signs of malnutrition. Her long black hair tied neatly into a braid. His hand unconsciously clenched. Yin Fu, huh? We need to talk.
Wei Zhi suddenly felt as though she couldn't breathe. Her heartbeat thundered inside her ears.
He's here.
Wei Yi.
Wei Yi.
Wei Yi.
Lin Yi looked at the cloaked man and smiled. "We meet again, Wei Yi."
End of 81