Book 2: Chapter 32

Cyil smiled as his words startled the Immortal Refugee leader into gaping with an open, oval-shaped mouth.

“Esteemed Elder,” the man immediately knelt on one knee and saluted Cyil with cupped fists. “I apologize for not receiving you properly. This mere trick must be like child’s play in front of your eyes.”

“Not at all,” Cyil replied, still smiling. “I find that this illusionary barrier has something more to it, can you tell me what it is?”

A puzzled look flashed on the man’s face before he quickly began explaining: “what senior is referring to must be the bewildering aspect that I added in for fun. It can confuse a majority of people, but senior has a soul domain so it will have no effect at all.”

“My soul domain. You know what it is?” Cyil no longer smiled, but gave the man a hard look. The soul domain suddenly expanded to encapsulate the man within.

The man trembled, but otherwise remained on his one knee. He didn’t dare move. “Senior, I apologize if I offended you with any of my words. Please forgive me.”

After asking for forgiveness, the man clamped his mouth shut and kept his eyes lowered, waiting for judgement.

Cyil let the silence drag on for a while before he finally alleviated the man’s worries. “I was just a bit surprised someone knows of soul domains. Raise your head and tell me your name.”

Relief dawned on the man’s face and he quickly scrambled to his feet. “Senior, I am Yang Wu--at your service.”

“Yang Wu,” Cyil repeated, as he thought the name sounded familiar, but also alien. “What an odd name.”

“Yes, yes,” the man was now tense again. He had decided to tell Cyil his birth name, because he was worried of angering the senior, but if the senior (Cyil) harbored ill intentions then perhaps only his big brother could help the immortal refugees. The biggest problem was that his big brother was not here. In fact, Yang Wu didn’t know where on Nakrul his brother had gone.

The man’s jittery responses and gestures greatly intrigued Cyil. “Yang Wu, I have no place to stay tonight. Can I rest my weary soul in your home?”

“It would be my honor to host Senior. Please come this way.” Yang Wu began to lead the way across the courtyard still active with the illusion and bewildering formation.

Cyil inwardly laughed at Yang Wu’s probing tactic.

Without hesitation Cyil followed Yang Wu through the formation, not missing a beat.

When Yang Wu saw how Cyil was unaffected by the formation he sighed and laughed at how he had previously misjudged this hidden expert. Then, thinking back to his haughty words, Yang Wu grew embarassed. What if the senior had heard him? That would be…

And of course, Cyil was not omnipotent so he did not hear or even see Yang Wu when Yang Wu was still in the tower. Instead, Cyil had felt a fluctuating soul hidden up in the tower thus he happened to glance up there. But Yang Wu knew none of this.

After the two walked in silence the entire time, Yang Wu led Cyil to a vacant room attached to the tower. “Senior, we usually have no guests so please pardon me for not preparing a better room. Please rest and call me if you desire anything. A feast will be prepared to celebrate your arrival shortly.”

After saying his words, Yang Wu paused, expecting some sort of response, but Cyil simply nodded, pushed open the door to the room, and shut the door behind him.

“What an eccentric senior!” Yang Wu exclaimed, breathing out a sigh of relief. “I hope he can agree to my request. No, I hope he won’t outright end me when I ask him.” With that Yang Wu skittered away to infrom everyone not to offend their esteemed guest and to prepare the feast.

Cyil on the other hand, sat inside the room, inside of the Immortal Refugees headquarters’ inner courtyard. “That was easier than anticipated, don’t you think?”

“Hahaha,” The Nefarious Saint burst into laughter, “Cyil my boy, you sly dog. Who knew you could act so well! Even I would be fooled!”

Cyil also laughed, because the situation really was a little too comical. “I hadn’t expect to be called a senior so soon. I’m only 15 after all. Though, I do find it strange Yang Wu would fear me so much. His soul strength is quite strong, but nothing I need to fear. His physical strength on the other hand seemed like a bottomless pit.”

The Nefarious Saint’s laughter slowly died down, before he spoke in serious tone. “You’re right. He should be a rank 8 warrior if not higher. Even I couldn’t get a clear read, which in itself is a huge problem. Should he realize that you’re just a 15 year old boy who somehow have a soul domain, I’m afraid we could be in danger.”

Cyil frowned, displeased by the fact that some variables were out of his control. He had thought that after he powered up with his soul domain he would be in more control of his surroundings and his safety. But just as he felt secure another variable would wedge itself into the equation, rendering him vulnerable.

“We’ll just have to be careful then,” Cyil replied. “I think it will be worth it.”

The Nefarious Saint concurred. “Based on what I saw, the immortal refugees is definitely not simple. Not only do they have attributeless techniques, but they also know about soul domains. If we can learn some of their secrets, it should benefit you greatly.”

“Right, plus I have someone I promised to meet here,” Cyil smiled once more before sitting cross-legged in meditation, awaiting the feast.

***

Selia’s breathing exercises was disrupted by the tumultuous hubbub in the main hall. “What’s going on,” she thought. The Immortal Refugees headquarters was a very private place that was always quiet. They did their best to keep a low profile and only a few years ago actually began making a public appearance in the annual mercenary headquarters. ‘One step at a time’ her father had told her. ‘We have to integrate ourselves slowly, one step at a time’, he had emphasized.

Selia would constantly argue otherwise, but as she grew up and began to understand the underpinning details, she no longer argued. In fact, she supported the idea of keeping a low profile even more.

The headquarters was always quiet, so what could cause so much noise?

Selia was in no mood to continue her breathing exercises and went to find her father--he would know what’s going on.

As Selia made her way to her father’s room, she saw her junior brother and sisters scrambling around, setting up tables, decorations, chairs, and plates.

“What’s going on,” Selia asked one of her junior apprentice sisters. “Why are you all setting up a banquet?”

“Young Lady--” the junior apprentice sister began.

“--call me Selia. Why are you always so formal, Little Dumpling?” Selia placed her hands on her hips and scolded Little Dumpling.

“I’m I’m sorry, Young. I mean Selia. It’s just that your family has done so much for us all that we owe you our lives many times over so--”

“--okay okay. It was my uncle who did all the work, but Little Dumpling, tell me what’s going on.” Selia didn’t want to talk about the past, because she was looking towards the future.

Little Dumpling blushed as she realized she had gone off topic. Then she shook her head and explained with fervor. “Lady Selia, you don’t know about our special guest?!”

“Special guest? When did we accept guests...wait, did someone actually manage to pass father’s tests?!” Selia’s face grew deathly pale, turning her into a ghastly beauty.

Little Dumpling laughed behind her hand. “No, of course not lady Selia. This special guest is supposedly someone who is very important and leader actually refers to him as ‘senior’!”

“Whew”, Selia’s face regained some color. “Is it someone we know? Father wouldn’t casually call someone else senior. He’s very stubborn and prideful.”

Little Dumpling smiled as she looked at Selia who had definitely inherited her father’s stubbornness and pridefulness. “Lady Selia, we weren’t told much, but leader says we should do nothing to offend this senior and that we were to prepare a feast for him.”

“What is father thinking,” Selia couldn’t make out why her father would do so much for this ‘senior’. She couldn’t remember the last time a feast had been prepared for someone. Even when her uncle came home, her father simply toasted her uncle with a few cups of precious wine then left it at that. “I’ll go find out right now.”

Selia prepared to stomp off to find her father, but she heard a uproarious laughter boom across the main hall.

“Good,” Selia recognized the laughter. “Here he comes.” Selia as well as others turned towards the sound.

“Welcome leader,” everyone, except Selia lowered their heads, bowing towards their esteemed leader.

“Fa--” Selia began before her words were caught in her throat. Selia’s large eyes were glued to the person walking and chatting with her father. What?!

“Nefarious Saint you bastard, what are you doing here?!” Selia instantly charged up to Cyil, preparing to punch him in the face, but was interrupted by Yang Wu who stepped in front of her and released a loud “Hmph!”

Selia was repelled by the force, but not hurt. Shock filled Selia’s face. Her father had actually protected the Nefarious Saint? What was going on?!

Selia immediately pointed towards Cyil, who watched everything like a bystander. This irked her even more. “Father, that stupid boy was the one who,”

“Stop! Keep your mouth shut.” Yang Wu rose his voice, something Selia had not heard for a long, long time.

Instantly, Selia obeyed because she was at a loss for words.

After seeing that Selia was no longer going to offend the senior, Yang Wu turned to Cyil and profusely apologized .

“Not a problem at all that these juniors would suddenly act rashly in the face of a stranger.” Cyil replied with a chuckle, while maintaining the air of elder. “Let’s enjoy this feast that you’ve set up for me.”

“Absolutely,” Yang Wu laughed. “Senior has a broad mind and has seen many things and is truly wise. Come, let’s eat. I hope senior is not disappointed by what my humble home has to offer.”

Cyil said no more and took a seat at elevated place at the head of the sprawling table. Cyil sat next to Yang Wu, but was even a bit higher, indicating their positions.

When people saw this they gasped, but said nothing, especially after seeing what had happened to Selia. Everyone knew Yang Wu loved his daughter and would always spoil her. She was his only living relative aside from his older brother, the esteemed legend. He never once raised his voice against her even when she had done wrong. He would at most reprimand her in a calm tone. In fact, people had never even heard the leader raise his voice on any occasion, except in laughter.

As everyone had their own thoughts, the feast began. And though it was awkward at first, alcohol and delicious food loosened up the atmosphere considerably. Of course, Selia was nowhere to be found as she had retreated to her room. Thus, by the end of the night nothing eventful happened and the feast went on as a feast should have.

***

It was after the feast now and Cyil was being personally escorted to his room by Yang Wu. Throughout the entire time Cyil had been the one to ask the questions, with Yang Wu answering. Occasionally Yang Wu dared to ask his own questions, but it was only in connection to the questions Cyil had already ask. Yang Wu was being very careful with this eccentric senior.

“It was a pleasant feast, the most food I’ve eaten in awhile. For now, I’ll take my leave Yang Wu.” Cyil nodded to Yang Wu, preparing to enter his room. But just as Cyil was about to push open the door he heard a plop sound shake the ground, followed by another loud thump.

Cyil could sense what had happened but he couldn’t believe it. Cyil turned around to confirm with his own eyes and indeed there was Yang Wu, with both his knees on the ground and forehead buried in the cracked tiles.

“Please esteemed elder!” Yang Wu began with a firm voice, unashamed of his decision. “I have never begged anyone in my life, but today I beg you! Please, I beg you save my daughter!”

“Your daughter?” Cyil was still taking in the sudden change of events and instinctively asked in surprise. “Selia?”

“No,” Yang Wu trembled and his voice wavered. “I have another daughter. For a long time I have led everyone, even Selia to believe she has died, but she is still alive. She is Selia’s older sister.”