Chapter 47, Different views

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The lady who called herself Red Sin sat down nearby a large rock, leaning her back against it. It was shaped in a way where it shelters her from the rain.

She then wiped away the traces of blood on the corners of her mouth. Then painfully moving her legs slowly until it became bearable. Resting upon one another.

Her teeth gritted from the pain before she thought, 'What am I even doing. Fooling him by looking alright.'

She continued after tilting her head down, 'Who is he to me... and what is the correlation between him and that person in armor...'

Red Sin took out a glass bottle from her ring. Removing the cork with the help of her teeth before taking in some of the pills inside.

She forcefully swallowed them before thinking, "They say people who get used to taking pain would eventually feel numb from it." She coughed out a pill covered in blood before continuing, "What a load bullshit that saying was."

Red Sin rested herself while regulating her breathing. The soothing sound of the rain helped her.

The painkiller eventually kicked in.

By baring the pain when moving her arms, she managed to undress herself. Only leaving her in her undergarments.

Red Sin's eyes trailed off towards her bare legs, making her recall a vague memory. She shook her head before uttering, "Damn trees."

She made a camp fire nearby by taking out the necessary materials from the storage ring. Warming herself with the heat. Though unfortunately it didn't stop her from sneezing.

She cursed before yelling, "I swear if I caught the bloody colds!!"

Red Sin removed a set of dry plain clothes before wearing them.

As she wore the pants, she noticed it became slightly loose, 'Have I became thinner? Right, I forgotten... That I travelled for a week straight...'

She got a blanket before covering herself with it.

'Maybe I'm attracted to him... because I'm lonely after all.' She hugged herself.

Red Sin then continued her trail of thoughts after seeing her arms, 'But who would like someone like me?'

Without her intention, she still recalled the soothing light made by Tengfei, and as to how he smiled to her.

She curled herself and buried her head, 'What am I thinking about even... He's too young and... I'm... I'm...' Without her noticing, she slept.

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Inside the mellow room, where both Lihua and Tengfei peacefully sleep. Tired from today's event.

An aethereal being was currently floating and laying on the air.

Giving a gentle look at Tengfei.

Previously, she had an annoyed look due to appearing at a bad time.

She has already fixed her shattered soul, and could be considered a ghost of this world. A big upgrade from before.

There was nothing new in her thoughts. It was only about meeting physically with her brother.

Now, since she recovered her soul, maybe there is a chance that they could see each other.

Her eyes wondered to Lihua, as she gave a forced smile due to how bold she is. Wrapping her arms around him.

Since she recovered her soul, now An Fan could sense who is residing inside the necklace around Lihua's neck. Someone who originated in the same plain as her.

Not only that, she found another person. A peculiar one. She eyed a certain ring on the finger of Tengfei.

After seeing that there was nothing to do, she gazed upon the moon above. Thinking to herself, 'An ordinary person would've gone insane by withstanding these long years of boredom.'

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The burly man, Gongsun Mu, and his recently made friend, Vino Pheol. They had slimy contents on their body as evidence that they slain way too many waterjacks.

One of the administrators, who recently resented the fact that his dear friend died, made his way towards them. He gave a hollow look before handing two rings.

They picked each one before inspecting the quality of it. With a smile, Gongsun Mu asked, "Tier 1 storage ring?" He then commented, "And here I thought I'll not receive anything."

Vino Pheol placed the ring he received on Mu's hand.

He asked, "Why? You don't want it."

Vino smirked before flashing hand that had three high ended storage rings.

Gongsun Mu almost vomited blood before he commented, "Are you bringing your entire house with you!?"

The administrator 'One' went towards the duo. He bowed slightly before saying, "It's a good thing both of you stayed, or else the mood of the Elder would be... quite nasty."

Vino Pheol questioned after snapping his finger, "How so?"

'One' ignored that he randomly did that, "Well... not only a bunch of certain sects are complaining the fact that this place almost got them killed... but also the perpetrators of this incident disappeared without a trace. Including that big fat whale of theirs. So, if also there are still a bunch of waterjacks laying around, I bet he would swallow this area into a sea of electricity."

Gonsung Mu commented, "Sounds like a man that I can get along with."

The administrator shrugged. He then pointed at a portal before saying, "If you want to exit, go through to that portal there."

They both nodded before lazily doing as told.

After their leave, the administrator went back towards a pair who were waiting for answers.

He exclaimed, "I still cannot believe that a Krehorian knight would aid us in that ordeal."

"Just think of it as orders from my King." The knight shrugged.

The administrator smiled in return but didn't mask the hostility he's giving off.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure of having an audience with a Knight such as you." Asked the administrator.

Farengoth waved it off, "I'm but an amateur knights captain."

He then continued, "And I presume you already know why do I seek you."

He sighed before answering, "If it weren't for the fact that you helped us in beating one of those pesky vice-captains, slaughtering most of the mercenaries and helping any person you see... I would've urged you to turn around and leave my sight." He gave a nasty snicker before continuing, "We have indeed retrieved some information from them and it seems that they had multiple purpose for invading us."

Lou Jun raised one of her eyebrows before repeating, "Multiple?"

'One' surveyed the Kian woman in front of her. He then, after giving up with figuring as to why is she paired with a Knight, replied back, "Yes, multiple goals they had. The first task was to kill and retrieve the dead body of a lady known as Red Sin. Second was to find the run-away members of their so-called guild. Thirdly is something that I can't speak as it involves a secret of our sect. Lastly, their main reason was enslaving disciples of participated sects."

After completing, he gave a deep breath. He then asked Will that suffice?"

"No, that's plenty enough. Also, may I know the reason why they're seeking Red Sin?" Asked Farengoth.

"Simple, she is the blood fiend." Answered One.

Farengoth remained silent before nodding.

Meanwhile, Lou Jun recalled the moment where Tengfei followed Red Sin. She felt a tinge of worry.

"Anything else?" Asked the administrator.

Lou Jun surveyed him before commenting, "Most of the information seems trivial. Not important enough for them to not go to such lengths to accomplish their tasks. That is... aside from that secret."

The administrator didn't comment. His expression remained still but his hand was hovering over the hilt of his blade.

Farengoth noticed the mood of the administrator was getting worse and so he quickly left with Lou Jun.

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In the Inn

Lihua's eyes slowly but surely basked the morning sunlight, coming from the window nearby.

She rubbed her eyes before lazily getting up.

Her hair was a mess, eyes half closed and a strap of her sleeping attire was loose.

She yawned before stretching her body.

Tengfei came out the bathroom and said, "Refilled the bucket recently. Go ahead, the water is warm."

After whipping his hair, he noticed something was odd, "What's wrong?" He asked.

Lihua recalled herself kissing the cheek of Tengfei yesterday. As if it was played in slow motion.

Her face became beet red before she dived underneath the blanket. Luckily the pillow muffled her scream.

She then slowly stood up from the bed before walking towards the bathroom. Keeping her eyes away from Tengfei.

The princess entered the bathroom, slowly closing it from behind.

Tengfei was puzzled.

The pink snake Mini circled around Tengfei before rubbing her small head affectionately on his leg.

He squatted and pet the adorable creature. A comment was given by him also, "I'm pretty sure, you have grown bigger."

Mini loved the petting and after a little while, she fell asleep again.

"You sleep quite frequently nowadays. Cute adorable snake." Said Tengfei.

Lihua went out the bathroom with wet hair and new clothes. She immediately rushed underneath her blanket before uttering, "Wuuu."

Tengfei sat down on the bed before asking, "What's wrong?"

"Wuuu..." She replied.

Tengfei scratched the back of his head, "Is it about the kiss?"

Lihua's rustling stopped for a moment before half her head popped out the blanket. Having a poppy colored face. She then slowly nodded.

A scheme went through Tengfei's head as he approaches her slowly.

He then says while getting his face closer to hers, "This time let us try a proper one."

Lihua processed the words before her brain stopped working. She fell to the ground from the side.

Tengfei's worry only lasted a second before Lihua climbed back on to the bed.

She had furrowed eyebrows as her cheeks puffed out. The gray-haired young man went and sat beside her. Letting her lean onto his shoulder.

Lihua hesitated at first, but eventually asked, "How was... my kiss? What did you feel?"

Tengfei poked her cheek constantly as he aimed to tease her.

She bit her finger before asking again, "Tengfei? I asked you a question!"

He shook his hand to numb the pain. He then replied, "It felt quite nice. Joy coursed through me and I could feel the love you put behind it."

"Wuuu, I didn't expect you to say this much...."

He smiled in return. Though he looked calm, but in reality, his head is jumbled like a wild animal. Due to how he kissed her yesterday without her knowing.

A familiar voice was heard which surprised both of them.

"...So, are you both done?" The mature feminine voice asked.

Looking to the side, a ghost made of darkness came out of Lihua's necklace. Not clear in form but they could feel her presence.

Tengfei and Lihua stood up immediately.

The ghost then continued, "Since my student Lihua, revealed my identity and as to how I made that deal with her... It's only fair that I introduce myself."

Lihua's hand raised before asking, "This is unfair master. You never introduced yourself to me."

The ghost remained silent for a long while.

She then rebuked, "Be quiet."

Lihua nodded.

The ghost then said, "I am called Vlos. A person who originated from another realm. Currently seeking a physical body by using the help of this young girl."

Tengfei replied, "I guess you already know who I am but nevertheless I'll introduce myself too. Tengfei, 16, and hate cold."

Lihua commented, "Short but suiting." Before giving a wry smile.

Tengfei then bowed in front of the ghost before saying sincerely, "I thank you again for leading me to Lihua back then."

"I too had concern for my student. If it goes down to it again, I would require your help." She replied.

"No way it would happen." Commented Lihua with a cold tone.

A small exclamation made of darkness appeared on top of the ghost Vlos, "Right, I have something to say... my dear student."

Lihua tilted her head.

"I... I... forgotten." Vlos Stuttered.

"Forgotten what?"

She replied, "To praise you..."

"...Praise?" Lihua eyes then widen again when she continued, "Oh right! I did that technique flawlessly! See I told you many times that I could do it eventually!!"

She went up the ghost before asking, "Praise me now!" Like a kitten who brought a rat to her master.

Vlos shady figure didn't respond but instead returned back inside the necklace.

Lihua held the jewel before yelling, "Hey come back here!!"

"Different person from what I thought. Never expected her to be the shy and kind type."

The necklace vibrated with and shined, before the voice of Vlos could be heard.

"Have you forgotten? I still can hear you."

"It was meant for you to hear anyway."

Lihua held the necklace before kissing the jewel. She then told her master, "Thank you for helping me overcome my fear. Actually... Thank you for everything."

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Behind the Inn

"I expected that you would be here." Said Zhou Huan.

Li Meixiu turned and halted her stretching routine. She then replied, "Striking the iron while it's hot, huh."

Zhou Huan at first didn't understand, but after thinking about it again, made him reply, "Hoho, you think I'm still courting you?"

"If not, I see no reason for you to approach me." She said before wiping the sweat on her face.

Huan approached her before asking, "Is this about that girl Quafilia?"

"Yes." Li Meixiu replied bluntly.

"You can't lie, as it's comple-" He then stopped his words before assessing as to what Li Meixiu answered.

He then asked, "Jealousy?"

Cold glare was sent to him, "Never."

"Then what?" Asked the puzzled Zhou Huan.

Li Meixiu waited for a moment before replying, "Remember when I mentioned that Tengfei could be the person who was spying on you and me?"

"Yeah, and I only believed half of it." Answered Zhou Huan.

Li Meixiu bit her lip before saying, "Well, your other half was right. He's not the person and till now I feel shame for even thinking it was him."

Zhou Huan guessed her thoughts, "So... you're saying that Quafilia is the person?"

"No, It's just another hunch." Answered Li Meixiu.

Huan gave a wry smile from her answer. He scratched the back of his before saying, "Your first hunch was awfully wrong... So..."

Li Meixiu attested, "But she's more likely than Tengfei."

"I'm still puzzled. How can you conclude to this?"

The doll dropped her towel to the ground, "I don't think you notice this but I had a short moment where she showed hostility towards me."

"Maybe she just hates your sect or kind in general." He commented before slowly dragging the towel to his side without the notice of her.

She kicked his feet away before replying, "That's true if she treated Peizhi the same way. But I felt like she has a grudge on me."

Seeing that he couldn't win the towel, made him shrug, "Who knows, maybe she's jealous of your body or something."

"Another thing I recalled is that person was emitting hostility towards me and it all started after I met you."

Zhou Huan's expression changed, "You noticed too. And here I thought that I was crazy for feeling someone surveying me all this time. Not one but two people."

Li Meixiu grabbed hold of her, now dirty towel, then threw it to his face, "I can conclude that the other person might be the spy that Peizhi captured. But the other... might be her."

He caught the tower before wrapping it around his waist, "Did the person ever do you wrong? If she's only spying... then there is nothing to be so couscous about."

"Seeing as to how calm you are now, indicates that you didn't notice the gauntlets in her bag." Said Li Meixiu.

Zhou Huan was further puzzled, "Gauntlets? How does those involve?"

Li Meixiu closed her eyes, "They're the same gauntlets which that rich person back in the auction house received. Remember what happened to him afterwards?"

"He was killed..." Concluded Zhou Huan.

Li Meixiu questioned again, "Remember as to how he tried to annoy you?"

"I see where you're getting here, but that's only one occurrence... Might be a coincidence." Said Zhou Huan.

Li Meixiu hesitated at first but eventually she corrected him, "You're wrong there. There have been many women corpses found. Having their faces beaten entirely and one of them having their breasts ripped off."

Zhou Huan's air turned cold, his expression showed glints of his original self. A frown was shown before he asks, "Were they..."

The doll bit her lower lip and waited for a moment.

She then answered, "Yes, those girls."

He closed his eyes. His mind twisted entirely as he knew now who it was.

Li Meixiu noticed his change but still spoke her thoughts, "But I wonder as to why she didn't go for me."

He opened his eyes and revealed a sense of hollowness in them, "Quafilia knows very well her limits."

"So, it's confirmed that she was the person."

Zhou Huan gripped his chest, "Yes, and I'm to blame for this horrible mess." Letting his hands relieve slightly later.

"You? Why?" She pestered.

As if recalling something in the past, Zhou Huan answered, "Because I left her with that demon."

Li Meixiu eyed both the hands of Zhou Huan being covered in blood. She asked, "Works of a demon?"

Zhou Huan shook his head before replying, "This time, it's not of your concern. I'm going to fix this problem entirely."

Huan walked away but before he could get a meter away, Li Meixiu said, "I await your return, since you're going to be the next new disciple of our sect."

He gave a wave before replying, "Don't decide things without my approval. Remember that, as it may help you understand me more."

Li Meixu felt some dread behind his words.

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Inside a certain living quarter.

Li Bingmei went out of the bed before front kicking Peizhi. He dropped to the floor but still kept sleeping.

Bingmei jumped onto him which woke him up finally.

Giving out a yawn as he says, "Oh, good morning my love."

"I HATE YOU!!!" She angrily gnashes her teeth.

Noticing the nude body of Bingmei, Peizhi commented, "You're stunning as ever."

She grabbed hold of his neck, raised him up and threw him to the bed. She then yelled, "WHO THE HELL FALLS ASLEEP DURING SEX!?!?"

"We... did it yesterday?" He tried recalling with his eyes closed.

Bingmei jumped on him before slapping his face left and right as she commands, "Don't you dare fall asleep again!!"

"Yes yes, I won't have an affair with mistress Slumber. Though I can't promise that after four hours." He answered lazily.

Li Bingmei eyes turned wet as she asks angrily, "You won't even say sorry!?"

Peizhi pushed her down, gave her a kiss, before replying, "Since I probably left you hanging yesterday... It's best I finish the job or else..."

....

....

...

30 minutes later

.....

...

..

.

"Isn't that a fast revival." Said the exhausted Peizhi.

Bingmei was affectionately hugging his side with a bright smile. She even giggled occasionally.

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In a dark messy room underground.

Having the foul odor of fish.

Used clothes everywhere and not to forgot the number of boxes inside.

Sitting on the wooden crates, were four people.

Each having different expressions.

The one who had the longest length of hair and masculine look, had his eyebrows furrowed as he pinched his nose shut. He then complained, "You two have been living here for these past weeks?"

A dirty looking thin man replied back, "No worries, I was like you at first but when you get used to it... There's no issue and would feel like home."

The lady nearby stood up before covering her mouth in shock. She then yelled, "...Is that you Gin Fe!? What the hell happened!!!"

Unlike before, his neat and clean shirt was now covered in all sorts of mess. His perfect feminine face was blocked by a pair of large ugly looking glasses. Though at least his impression of being a scholar doesn't seem to be gone. he gave a shrug before replying, "I became one with poison, my dear sister."

She scoffed him before turning towards the neat looking man to the side. A man who had properly trimmed beard, expensive attire, bronze shiny skin, and a sad look on him."

She was afraid to ask, but did anyways, "Qi Huai?"

"...Yeah?" Replied the man.

Zian Fei rubbed her forehead, then laughed slightly before she felt like coughing out blood. She sat on the box before giving up.

The man beside her was Ifol, who had widened eyes ever since the beginning.

He then asked, "So, what's your story brother Huai."

"I had to meet with one of the Quail leaders who was a vixen. She wouldn't let me go for a while and you can guess what occurred at that time." As if recalling traumatic memories.

"Hoho, did you capture her heart?" Applauded Zian Fe.

"No, she's twisted as hell. Only preferring young boys."

Zian Fei spat at the ground before commenting, "Disgusting."

Gin Fe then asked, "So, what did you learned from that gray-haired fellow."

Ifol answered, "The pill effects worked wonderfully. His previous affinity changed to that of the element Light."

"You didn't bully him, now did you?" Asked Qi Huai.

"No way, we even got our ass handed to him." Ifol said.

Zian Fei coughed before correcting him, "To them."

Ifol continued, "Right, we encountered that lady called Red Sin, and it seems she is acquainted with Tengfei."

Qi Huai commented, "...Wait. How that occurred?"

"We don't know, unless we ask him ourselves." Ifol shrugged.

Zian Fei leaned forward before asking, "So your little testing gave us the results. This pills that we pain stickily retrieved out of the borders, can change someone's affinity permanently."

Gin Fe, "You're forgetting that the person must not be fully human."

"Wait... how did you deduce this..." Ifol asked with a scared tone.

"I might have tested it on one Quail members..." Said Gin Fe before he started whistling.

Zian Fei cowered, "What occurred?"

Qi Huai answered instead, "He turned into nothing but a sludge of flesh."

Both Ifol and Zian Mei smacked their face before calling Gin Fe, ""FOOL!!""

He gave a wry smile before replying, "I'll take full responsibility, don't worry about it."

Zian Fei stood up, grabbed hold onto a fish before throwing it to his face.

Gin Fe accepted the fish's kiss with shame in mind.

Ifol gave a small chuckle before asking, "Light pill is gone, ice and water merged into one, so what's element that was used?"

"Earth. But it was worth seeing someone turn into a blob." Gin Fe commented as a grin crept up.

Ifol turned to Zian Fei before asking, "How are you guys related again?"

"My father remarried his mother. Don't forget, we have different surnames also." She answered quickly.

"You may fool everyone Fei'er, but not me. I know what type of collec-" Before Gin Fe could continue, his mouth was forced to swallow a lot of water.

Zian Mei, with a flustered look, yelled at him, "Better close your mouth if you know what's good for you."

"Thanks... I was... a bit thirsty." Said the coughing Gin Fe."

"So, I presume that you tortured that outsider by now." Ifol asked.

"have you not seen my clothes? My hair? These glasses?" Asked Gin Fe.

"Right... So, what you learned?" Zian Fei was annoyed.

Qi Huai answered in his stead, "Tengfei, that half breed, it's not him."

Ifol concluded, "Which means the light pellet became to waste."

Gin Fe rebuked, "Not necessarily, there are some uses for him in the future."

"A healer might be useful indeed." Commented Zian Fei.

Qi Huai felt bored and so he proposed, "Do you guys want to see the outsider?"

"It's not like our first time seeing one. And besides, I highly doubt any sane person would wanna look at any of my brother's pieces." Said Zian Fei,

Gin Fe then continued, "I didn't finish telling as to what I extracted form that man."

"Please continue then." Ifol urged.

"Cough* So, it seems that they have been searching for a certain woman." Said Gin Fe.

Zian Fei sighed, "Let me guess, it's Red Sin. But there isn't anything new about that. Since Quail were always trying their best."

Gin Fe set the mood before saying "It's true, that man was looking for Red Sin, but for another reason."

"What for?"

He remained silent and looked at the eyes of both of them.

Gin Fe then answered, "He never told."

"..." Ifol remained blank.

"..." Zian Fei prepared to pounce at him."

Gin Fe then admitted, "He was a tenacious bugger afteral-"

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