Chapter 28, Preparation (1)

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Both Tengfei and Lihua felt awkward from the silence.

Zhou Huan revealed a wry smile at his friend before saying, "Are you busy... Or should I visit you another time?"

Lihua became flustered before scooching away.

Tengfei panickly replied, "I'm f-free, brother."

"Fine, I just want to have a small discussion. So, please come with me." Huan said.

When Tengfei came close, Huan wrapped his arm around his friend before laughing and walking out of the room.

The room was now silent as both girls were left there. Lihua was shyly playing with her fingers.

Wanting to break the silence she asked, "So, you're good friends with that guy?"

Li Meixiu replied coldly, "Him? At most we're only acquantances."

"I see..." Lihua then held her hands together.

Meixiu's golden eyes surveyed her before uttering, "I'll also ask a question. Did you and that gray haired young man... Already Fornicated? How does it feel like?"

Hearing her quetsion made her slightly hop in place. She then immediately replied back with a blush angry look, "Hell no!! Your mind is too obscene!!"

"Your expression tells me otherwise. Even if you didn't do the deed, I can see that the seed is starting to sprout inside you." Li Meixiu then slightly tilted her head to the side before pointing at her.

Lihua stood up before walking with loud steps towards her. She was gritting her teeth, and her eyebrows were knitted. After getting close, she pointed her finger towards Meixiu's chin before angrilly saying, "I'm not in love with a piece of lovable trash like him!! Got it!?"

Meixiu couldn't help but think, 'Lovable?' She then slowly put down Lihua's hand before asking, "It seems you got your dantian unsealed while we parted, little girl."

"I ain't little! I'm still growing! And for your information. Yes, I did regained my past glory!" Lihua then asumed her unique guts pose with her head tilted up and both arms curved while holding firmly on her hips. She then laughed like any spoiled princess.

Seeing all this act made Meixue feel warm inside. She then said, "No wonder he patted you. Your too adorable." Meixiu then patted the princess.

Lihua fend the hands off before replying angrily, "Only that idiot can do that!!"

"Oh, sorry. My bad." Meixiu replied with a hint of rare sadness on her tone.

Li Meixiu's eyes then glowed in yellow before surveying Lihua's body.

Seeing her mana pool made her feel shocked. Though her face expression didn't show it.

She then asked, "You have a dual elemental affinity? But I've never seen both elements merged into one... Nor in the same pool."

Her question startled Lihua as she asks in response, "Merged?"

After pondering about it, the princess then assumed a meditative posture on a bed. She then entered her Dantian area with the help of her sould form.

What she found was to her surprise...

Her once large pond which was almost double the size of Zhou Huan's was now covered in very dark green liquid.

The liquid was not calm but instead kept on creating ripples.

Lihua knew that if ripples were being seen then her mana source was currently unstable. Though nothing serious.

She escaped her soul form and found that Li Meixiu was already gone.

'We're going to need to test out your inscription rings after you rest... I fear that there might be major change.' Said Lihua's Master.

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First floor of the inn.

Tengfei and Zhou Huan was sittig on chairs beside a table. Both having solemn look.

Huan drank the earthenware mug before saying, "I might be away this coming week to start training again." He then revealed a smile before asking, "So, brother, what're you going to do for preparation? Did you already start cultivating?"

Tengfei was still under the weather but didn't show his exhaustion. He looked at Huan before replying, "Just recently, I found out that my affinity was light."

He made sure that the incident regarding Lihua being harrassed to himself. Tengfei knew for sure that no one would like someone who spreads about something personal.

"You already know that? I thought it would only be revealed to people who actually started cultivating?" Huan asked surprisingly.

The gray haired young man was having a complex face as he replies, "It seems that I had a lucky encounter with a person who in return for saving him... That man told me about my affinity."

Tengfei lied to his brother about him using his soul essence.

He felt bad, cause he has been spouting mostly lies from the strat of the conversation.

Huan hearing his answer made him give out a large smile before saying, "That's wonderful! Did he also mentioned about your mana grade?"

"Unfortunately he didn't."

"Well, doesn't matter as long as you get to know that you're a light cultivator! Amazing! Not everyone has an affinity... But just now you have the right of calling yourself a future Elemental Cultivator! Just like our past dreams... You accomplished one!" Huan was completely estatic about this as his expression showed pure joy.

A fake smile appeared on Tengfei's face while he remains silent.

He then said after a short while, "You speak too highly of me... But brother! Look at your gear! Must have took so much work!"

Huan stood up to show off as he puffs his chest.

"Praise me more! As I'm the vanquisher of many beasts and monsters!" He yelled with a mighty voice.

Though the inn keeper grew annoyed and replied, "Shut up! Or I kick you out!"

His body slumped as he appologize and sit down again.

"Tell me about your accomplishment my brother." Tengfei said happily.

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Mean while in a barely kindled room.

Two men where sitting on boxes facing eachother.

One was wearing a dirty jacket, patched pants, muddy boots and tattered gloves. Having a rough beard, eyes filled with joy, tanned skin and a happy smile. He was none other than Qi Huai.

The other person was sporting a clean white robe with cloud patterns embroided on it. Straw woven shoes and a necklace worn on his neck. His outfit was plane and simple. His face was similar to those sculptures... Almost perfect. The type that would make many females seek his attention. Aside from that... His eyes, once seen, could give out the impression of an endless sea of knowledge.

This man was using his previously worn bamboo hat as a fan. He was Gin Fe, the man who met Tengfei during his first fishing experience.

Gin Fe gave out a sigh before saying, "Why did you rent such a room?"

Qi Huai replied, "I just recently burnt down my place... So, this was the best I could afford currently." Before giving out a hearty laughter.

After eyeing the box on the ground, Gin Fe asked, "So, what happened to that missing pill? You know that master is going to beat till you vomit out your food if you lost it."

"Why would he care for only one pill? I still have the remaining six." Qi Huai replied before picking his nose.

Gin Fe was flabbergasted at his nonchalant answer. He then asked, "You mean that instead of only one... Two are missing?"

"No, one was only missing. It's just that water and ice merged with each other. A wierd occurance, though Master already predicted this."

Gin Fe nodded in response before changing topics. He then asked, "So, any clues of that outsider?"

"I found some. One, that the person was currently equiped in armored iron, hooded with a cape, red paint of scratches on the armor and most importantly... A Krehorian blade was sheathed to the side."

The young man squinted his eyes before saying, "Basically imitating those knights." Then he shrugs.

"Indeed, this outsider has been a tricky fellow to catch and has been causing us to visit many places. Like some sort of holiday trip." Qi Huai said before taking a sip on his container filled with wine.

After revealing a cup to get filled, Gin Fe then says out, "I still wonder why would this outsiders not remain and stay to the edges of continent, outside the great bone wall."

Qi Huai poured the wine as he asnwers, "You can't blame them... Our ancestors treated them like slaves, maybe wanting revenge to our kind is what they're looking for."

"If the outsiders grouped up... Then our lands will be ravaged, plundered before being burnt down."

"To this date, I heared that some of this outsiders lived in the shadows or among us... With shapeshifting capabilities."

A sigh was uttered before he said out, "I still wonder what lies beyond the reverse waterfalls, the place where this outsiders have their large kingdoms, pavillions, and palaces. Those are the true outsiders... Not like the poor mixed raced individuals scavenging for food outside the wall..."

"What we can do about it... We had so many wars in the past. Though that was when we were united... Now we're nothing but a shadow of our past glory." The young man said before taking a sip.

"They might start again another war. As signs of it brewing could be seen everywhere."

"Not our problem right now... As our biggest concern is that particular individual."

"Though before anything..." He then brought out three sticks of fried meat before continuing, "Shall we eat?"

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Back to the Assassin's Hideout

When Farengoth awoke, he found that the woman known as Lou Jun was near hear, on the ground, with a bloody chin.

Her expression was fierce and filled with the resolution to kill him.

The knight watched as the lady grew closer as she moves with the help of her chin.

Even if binded, she would do any means possible to complete her goal.

He saw the swollen eyes of hers which represented the constant holding of her tears from flowing.

In truth, he would've have put this lady away from her missery if it weren't for her dad's word.

His heart brims in rage from the comrades slain by this vile woman.

Though he suppressed the thoughts before slowly getting up. Ignoring the pain and ache from his body.

Farengoth ignored her constant curses and made way towards the limping armored woman.

He helped that woman from falling by providing his arm.

Observing this lady caused Farengoth to grimmace.

Shoulder length aubern hair, hazy eyes, a scar tracing from one ear to the other, an armor filled with scorched marks and dented areas, blood sipping from her forehead and other places, haggard breathing and smells funny.

Farengoth then asked, "Elana, you didn't have to force yourself to move..."

Even when tired, she still had the proudful tone, "I just wanted... To make sure that you're not dead... Or else.... I'll never get my duel again..."

He didn't know what to reply about that and so, he changed the topic by saying, "Judging by your appearance, it was a tough fight."

She nodded.

"He beated you fairly? With no tricks?"

Elana didn't reply for a while before eventually nodding.

You could see the depression in her eyes as she tightens her hand.

"I guess your angry because he let you live? Am I right?"

She looked at Farengoth before tears started falling her eyes. Though she doesn't look sad, only her eyes showed her true feelings.

Elana shook her head in response surprisingly. She then replied with a hoarse tone, "I'm happy... I get... To have the... chance to fight you again."

Hearing her answer caused Farengoth to wryly smile before replying, "Your quite the battle freak."

Looking around the place, which was humid and stuffy.

Farengoth then thought something was off due to not a single comrade of his not appearing to check.

He can't help but think, 'I can't blame them... Once ordered, they would comply with it until death's breath.'

The knight then brought Lou Jun and Elana out of the place. He had to drag Lou Jun with a rope though.

Once he exited the brothel, he found his comrades hurridely came to help him.

They didn't asked what happened but instead started treating the wounds of both knights.

Those people were surprised by how many survived, they didn't expect that the loss would be a lot when both of them are there. Even Elana commented to the Knight Leader, "This mission made our doubts clear as to why we're nothing but ordinary knights, the weakest type in the kingdom."

Though with that being all said, something surprised everyone in the group.

That the strict and arrogant Knight leader bowed towards them and appologized for his poor judgement.

Some of them couldn't even believe what they're seeing.

Afterwords they started cleaning what the Assassin's Guild left behind.

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Forest of Taesu, next morning

"Now can you tell me why did you bring me here *Yawn*" Said the sleepy Tengfei as he hides his eyes from the bright sunshine.

Lihua showed an arrogant look before replying, "Be grateful as I'm going to personally show you how my cultivation has returned!"

"Thanks to me that is..." Tengfei said before rolling his eyes.

Lihua crossed her arms before saying loudly, "Hmph, I have taken your contribution to heart! In the future you'll be rewarded generously!"

Seeing her attitude caused Tengfei to sigh inwardly. He then, after rubbing eye, said to her, "And here I thought you would still be crying about yesterday's incident... Oh, boy I was wrong."

"Shut up!! T-That was because I was weak in mind!" She replied flustered before give a cold "Hmph!".

"Yeah, yeah, now just get on with it. What ever you wanted to do in the first place."

Lihua breathed in before focusing the liquid mana in her dantian to turn into gas before leading it into the gate for the arm. As soon as the gaseous mana entered... It turned back to liquid before flowing through the imaginary artery. With the help of her mana nervous system, she controlled the speed of the flow till it reached into the ring on her hand.

The ring slowly started glowing before shining in green radiance.

She then gestured a hand movement which made a large dagger appear on top of her, floating in mid air.

Nothing like what she performed before... The dagger was dull looking, and had simplistic pattern.

Lihua's face grew ugly as she understood that her mana affinity change caused this.

Nevertheless she released the dagger which swooshed through the air, causing an ear-piercing sound to be heard. Before landing and engraving into a tree.

The tree was like a twig that broke in half before it's upper part fell to ground, causing a large *Tud* sound.

Tengfei and especially Lihua was having their mouth nad eyes wide opened as they couldn't believe the destruction capabilities.

Lihua nervously siad out, "My second grade inscription ring was never this brute... At most it could pierce through the tree. Though I don't have the feeling of creating multiple daggers anymore... And the control was very hard and can only let it flow in one direction."

Tengfei commented, "The dagger looks dull, lacks any sense of artistic looks, and much larger than your previous ones... Not to mention the color of it being dark green as compared to the emerald green color from before."

Lihua nodded to what he said before saying, "Just wait here a moment, I need to do something."

"Toilet? Sure, I'll wait over there."

"You idiot perverted scum! It's not that." Before she stormed away.

She then communicated with her master, 'Master, can you explain what happened to my cultivation?'

'A wierd phenenomenon indeed. Firstly, instead of having two seperate mana pools... both of the affinity merged into one. Second, the raw power and traits of darkness combined with the swift speed of wind. Since, your affinity has not been settled... The outcome made it so that your inscription ring would give out a deformed technique.'

'How do I fix this then?'

'It'll not be easy... Even in other realms, this outcome rarely happened. There are two options you could do. One is to seperate both affinities in one pool and the other... Is to accept them being merged entirely. Be advised both has their pros and cons. The former would allow you to freely control both affinity but at the same time... Their both weaker and your initial mana grade would drop. The later would bring you back to stage one but... Your power might surpass anyone though it'll be very hard and hellish to cultivate or control. Not to mention the risks which comes later on.'

Lihua blinked twice before replying, 'Then I guess I'll go with the latter! As a future peerles queen, no one would comepete against me!'

The master gave out a sigh before asking, 'Are you sure about that? You know... The training, requireds rare medical pills and all are really tough. At the same time, I too need you to be strong enough to find the materials for my revival... So, I;m kind of statified with you picking this.'

Lihua then revealed a devious smile before replying, 'I'm pretty sure this is the best decision!'

'... Don't come whining about it later on then...'

Lihua after having her dicusion returned to where Tengfei was.

She found that Tengfei was panickly running away from a pink snake like creature.

Lihua seeing this couldn't help but wonder what's going on. She knows that Tengfei was weak... But not to this extent.

Tengfei seeing that Lihua was just standing still as he was running away from his life, made him shout with a tone of pleading, "Please, HELP ME!!"

Lihua half closed her eyes before replying coldly, "You know... Even if I helped you here, you wouldn't grow... You rather just do it yourself and man up."

Tengfei then started appologizing to the small snake who was moving really quickly and aiming to pounce him.

"I'm sorry for stepping your tail!! forgive me!!"

Eventually after countless running around in circles, the snake grew tired before going back to the pond.