As I watch with my scan, the alchemy cultivator makes a few large leaps and quickly reaches the sect cultivators side.
After so initial greetings, they seem to have a aningless chat, mostly about the weather and how each of their days were going.
With this done, the alchemy group cultivator clearly changes the conversation and gives a motion to ask where soone is. Where a black sect applicant is.
Theyre definitely looking for us. Specifically, .
Of course, the sect cultivator points to our building. I had no expectations by this point that he would conceal it.
After a brief mont, I can feel the spiritual sense of them wash over us.
It takes everything I have not to look straight at them or tense my body. That would be giving them far too much information. I use my scan and body to remove any indications that Im a left to their actions.
ntally, I communicated the sa thing to the hero group. Surprisingly, they did an amazing job, with even not being able to tell sothing was wrong with the situation, from them.
As the sense continues to probe at , I dive into my thoughts.
In a sense, it only makes sense that they would find out pretty quickly.
I an, I am the only black guy that's likely to be taking this exam. Another person that looks like , coming up and taking the exam in the exact sa area, seems pretty farfetched.
Thankfully, as quickly as it had co, the spiritual sense disappears. He seems to have gotten the information he wanted. My scan informs that all it was, was that I basically match the description of my previous self.
Luckily for , he's definitely not at a high level and cant read my body's actions.
Not that he would be able to anyway. My scan helping to remove cues helps significantly with that.
Despite my thoughts, the cultivator nods to himself, as if he's confird what he's been looking for. He Casually speaks a little bit more with the cultivator on the building, before hopping back to his previous position.
From that point he seems to settle in almost as if he's just here to watch.
For the rest of the night, he doesn't move from that spot. Just sitting there and watching for any movent out of the house.
In the sa vein, I make it look like I'm nervous and unable to sleep. Occasionally going over to the hero group and checking up on them. This way, I can keep an eye out, while also masking that I dont need to sleep.
Eventually, morning cos.
i Lin wakes up and seems to have no idea that we are being watched.
I do my hardest to give off a calm impression and chat lightly with her.
I consider a bit whether to tell her, but it would likely only put her in further danger.
Shes still just a kid. Theres no way she would be able to hide her emotions fully. The cultivators sense went over us both and Im sure while he wouldnt be able to tell anything from , when we are in the open, it will be easier for him to see us directly.
Any wariness on her part could be taken as nervousness or that hes been found out.
No. Its better to have only us knowing whats going on.
That obviously failed, because she's able to read emotions using that ability of hers.
After so casual speaking, she indicates she wanted to use the notepad to talk.
It was easy to tell why she wanted to speak using it.
With a sigh, I decide to answer her questions as she asked what was going on.
Before I say anything about the situation, I let her know she has to hide her emotions to the best of her ability.
That it is imperative to not let it be known that we know sothing is going on.
After her strong affirmation, I give her the story.
The short of what I told her, was that a group was looking for . The one that had almost killed earlier.
She actually seed unsurprised about it. Like she's been expecting this to happen for a while now. Which kind of makes sense.
On the way here, I already did tell her that they are what caused to change my clothes and disguise myself. It would only make sense from her perspective that they would still be looking for .
Despite all of this, she still seems to want to stay with . The small cynical side of questions why she would want to, despite the dangers of such a thing.
Perhaps sensing the feelings and doubt that I had, she answers my thoughts.
My family had people like that after us too. They usually sit around and wait for a really long ti before trying again. Mom and dad told as long as I get to the carriages, they wouldnt dare do anything. Not even the nobles. They may find other ways to get at you, but they wont attack.
She seems so confident about this.
I feel like thats not exactly true, but there may be so truth to that. Not only that, but I get a strong feeling that since the first attack failed, big sis crane stepped in and prevented any other attempts on my life.
Sure enough, the vibe I get from the cultivator is that he is only there to keep an eye on and/or send a ssage.
That they are still there.
With that in mind, the rest of the morning proceeds relatively normally, with i Lin seemingly not worried at all. She even shows so cool things that Dana can do with her body. Stretching her like silly putty into different shapes. Things like poorly made hats or boats.
Dana seems to enjoy this in so ways too, turning into strange sculpture poses and playing tag with her.
Its a bit strange, but this does manage to calm my heart a bit. For the briefest ti, I just enjoy the silly shenanigans before .
All the way until the carriages starts to be prepped to take us to our first trial the Steps to Reflection.
To my knowledge, its a large carved stairway that continues up to the mountain for about 160km. These stairs lead all the way up to a giant gate, called the Gate of Introspection. The trial is to go up the mountain within 4 days.
Each stair isnt a small one either.
Going up them will take a lot of energy and work. Likely, this will be the way that I can get people on my side. Theres no way that everyone could make it up a mountain like this. Especially, if they are malnourished.
The good thing about it, is that if soone goes past the ti limit, they will be picked up by a cultivator and placed at the bottom of the mountain.
The bad part? They are placed there with no support other than a cultivator making sure they arent pressed into slavery, while weakened. Which apparently has happened before.
If the cultivator is generous, they will give food and water.
Nonetheless, we have to get there first.
i Lin and I travel together out the door, with holding her hand.
I subconsciously did it out of protection, but it was too awkward to take away when she brightened up about it.
As soon as the door opened, the Alchemy group Cultivators eyes locked onto us.
I made the decision to make my knowledge of his position known at this point. I stare directly at him, from his hidden position on the buildings across the road. His eyes squint, but he doesnt move.
The Hero group falls behind us and I scan the carriage in front of our dorm for any abnormalities, lowering every other scan to make sure.
Its fine and normal.
I make an additional check to make sure that no changes can be made to the space inside of it.
It cannot. It has those properties, but will not change beyond the bathroom and food.
Making a snap decision, I have the hero group join us in the carriage. Tai Ye has to climb on top of the carriage, but she is able to fit on it like before. Theres enough space inside, with the bathroom, for everyone to fit comfortably. Any instructions I make to the hero group, I make out loud. This is all to give the appearance that while they have intelligence, they still require to state my intentions for changes to plans.
I cant let them think I communicate with them telepathically.
After these intense scans, my head pounds just shy of cripplingly, but I view it as worth it. I needed to know I would be safe.
I bring the scans back to the combat version, with the added personnel valuation scan.
Heres to hoping we get this right.
The carriage rides for a few hours before we reach the stairway. The sight splays before us, as our fellow applicants leave their carriages.
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