Heyoo, here's a chapter. Any questions or mistakes you find, post them in the comments or mail me.

Enjoy!

Chapter 31: Plans

When Lauren and Laura heard the question, they were both startled. Laura just smiled after a moment and said in a helpless tone, “Well, even if I wanted to, I don't have the money to even go there or let alone live there.”

Nalser just smiled and said in a friendly tone, “Who ever said that you would be paying? It won't be enough amends for taking your daughter but I can promise the life there is a hell load better than here. I also know a few important people in the Guild, so if you have any problems you could ask them.”

Laura and Lauren were both taken aback by the statement. Lauren was confused of what he meant but Laura understood well. She could also put two and two together on what would happen when he leaves.

She was no fool, she knew very well that her Father couldn't do anything at the moment but Nalser couldn't stay here for the rest of his life either. The moment he leaves, Hell will descend on her.

She just smiled lightly and asked, “Is it consideration for me or for yourself?” Nalser's joking attitude crumbled for a second and Laura didn't miss this. He just looked into the distance for a second and said, “It is too late for me to start making amends, the moment I die, I will be on an express trip to the lowest circles of Hell. This would be consideration towards Lauren.” As the two of them talked, Lauren was like a confused puppy. She couldn't make heads or tails of the situation, since she still didn't know about what Nalser and her mother talked about.

She decided that she'll go to sleep. When she went to be, Nalser looked at Laura for a second and said, “I hope you won't tell her about what we talked about for now. It wouldn't make much sense to her and I am afraid some complications may arise. Hate runs deep in her and she may ask something very coldblooded from me.” Laura also nodded to that, she had seen how her daughter looks at Laura's siblings and their children.

It wouldn't be a big surprise if she asked him to torture them. Currently Laura was betting on Nalser's story being true and that the Yin Flame would influence her mentality as well. To the gentler side of course. They both decided that this would be the best thing for now. Nalser looked at Laura and asked, “By any chance do you feel that your life is slipping away?” Laura looked at him with round eyes and asked in astonishment, “How did you know that? I truly do feel like that for some reason no matter how good I take care of my health, I feel my life slowly slipping away, powerlessness seeping in.”

Nalser just said, “Well, considering the poison you are poisoned with, you are still in the beginning stages of the poisoning, so there is still a chance to get back your youth, so to speak. When did it start?” Laura almost raised her voice but managed to contain herself before she thoughtfully answered, “About a year back, I started feeling weak and I started aging in a rapid pace. What poison is this?” Nalser just sighed and took out a medicine book. He found the right page soon and showed her the poison.

She read it with great interest and soon just sighed, “So, someone has been poisoning me for the past year. However, why and how?” Nalser immediately answered, ““How” is easy, why” not so much. “How” is slipping a bit into your food and it accumulates over time but if you stop eating the poisoned food, the poison will soon subside. After about a year you will gradually start turning back into looking how you are supposed to look. As for the “Why”, I have no clue. Maybe someone from the mansion wants to get rid of you so they could use Lauren the same way as they used you. That's my best guess.”

As he said that, he sighed and shook his head. It is always easy to answer “How” but never “Why”. Every person is different, it may be revenge, some plot to get something, or something else.

Nalser thought for a second and said, “Well, there are as many reasons as there are people living. I suggest you stop eating the food here, let me give get you some food. Also I think it would be best for you to go to sleep for now, your body needs more rest now than ever.” Laura just nodded and went to her room.

Nalser had another reason for sending her to sleep, this one was a bit more important. Nalser's eyes turned cold as he walked out from the house and said in an ice cold tone, “I know you are here, come out now. I need to ask you a few things.” A second after that a man dressed in black appeared next to him, leaning on the wall with his hands crossed on his chest.

He asked, “What do you need to ask?” Nalser and the man in black had begun to talk every now and then. He didn't disclose anything about his origins or why they were protecting him but he did help him out every other way he could and was permitted. Nalser just walked next to him and sat down. He looked at him in the eyes and asked, “Are the other worlds filled with arrogant brats like the Mayor as well?”

This was the main question bugging him, Xi had told him that Sect cultivators were even more arrogant. The man in black just sighed and sat down as well. He thought for a second and said, “Well, they are more annoying than these guys. Most are like “I am from the prestigious bla bla bla and I want you to bow down and kiss my feet”. Most of the Clans and Sects that have existed from times immemorial are different. Our Clan is the one of these immemorial ones, we could be called a secluded clan that doesn't go around looking for trouble but doesn't shirk back in fear if someone comes and picks a fight.”

He took a moment and then just sighed and continued, “Well, it is not that we don't have presumptuous brats like that either but most of the people understand one thing: Our Clan didn't survive this long by going around playing King.” Nalser just sat there and thought about it for a moment.

It made sense, everywhere where there was a place with deep roots, there were also people, who felt they were better because of this. The man looked at Nalser for a second and asked, “How many cycles have you completed with the “Phantom Song Sutra”?” Nalser looked at him in doubt for a second and just sighed, “Well, I have completed 19 Full Cycles and am currently refining the Flesh for the 20th cycle.”

When the man heard that, there was shock painted all over his face. He muttered, “You mean, that you have completed 19 Full Cycles in less than a year?” Nalser looked at him in confusion and asked, “Yea, is that a problem?” The man looked at him seriously and just said, “The record this far has been 8 Full Cycles in the first year, for you to be able to get this far in a year means that everyone, who calls himself/herself a genius, isn't even fit to hold a candle light to you.” Nalser was puzzled for a second and thought to himself, “Does this mean that the Sutra is somehow tied to the Clan?”

Since he didn't know for sure, he couldn't ask it either. In a roundabout way, he asked the man, “How many Cycles have you completed with the Sutra?” The man thought for a second and answered, “I have completed 48 Full Cycles and that is my upper limit. It took me 78 years to get this far.” As soon as the words fell, the man realized what he had just said and had a bitter face on.

Then he just sighed and said, “Well, I finally fell to the trap.” He understood very well that he got played this time. For Nalser however, that didn't matter, his mind was hung up on the “78 years” part. No matter how he sized up the man in front of him, he didn't look a day over 18. The man saw the look and just said in a teasing manner, “Well, I have already said way too much. I got summons so I have to leave now, there will be another person following you this time and he is not as relaxed as me. There may also be times when he comes and kicks your ass if you make any stupid mistakes in a fight. Take care.” Without waiting for Nalser's reply, he directly disappeared.

Nalser was still in a muddled state as he just stood up and said to himself in a low voice, “Xi, you old bastard, you have a lot of explaining to do.”