Sunlight against closed eyelids. Drifting shadows. A faint cold breeze to offset the still heat of sumr.
Hui opened his eyes. He laid under a wisteria tree. Trailing blossoms drifted low over his face, blue as the sky above.
This doesnt seem that dangerous, he thought, sitting up. He sat atop a hill, looking down on a sect. The wisteria tree protected him from the days sun, releasing its fragrance on the breeze. As he sat up, the blossoms caught in his hair. Casually, he lifted his hand and freed them, unsnagging one of the trailing branches from where it tangled in long tresses.
Wait. Where's my ponytail?
Hui lifted his hands, then looked himself over. Large hands with stubby fingers and chubby palms, short limbs, red robes, oversized feet in black boots. This isnt my body. But whose?
Wuya! Chen Wuya! a boy shouted.
Hui jumped to his feet and looked around, startled. Where is that terrifying Senior? I almost forgot about him! And Gu Tian
He patted his sleeve and found Gu Tian where hed secreted the soul, still balled up and weak.
Phew. Gu Tian is safe. But
A boy about ten years old appeared over the crest of the hill. White robes flapped as he ran, hair pulled back from his brows and tied in a crown, ribbons trailing behind. He caught sight of Hui and ran over, smiling. Chen Wuya! There you are. Co on! Were going to be late!
Hui looked around. No one else laid under the wisteria tree. He pointed at himself. ?
Is there anyone else nad Chen Wuya? Co on! the boy said, gesturing.
Hui followed, not sure what else to do. He furrowed his brows thoughtfully, glancing at the white-robed boys back. Is this boy part of the illusion? But even in Gu Tians illusion, there was no one but and Chen Wuya. It was the sa with Li Xiang. Except for us trapped souls, there hasnt been a single living being in this realm, real or illusory.
The crows are probably like my ducks. Beings Chen Wuya cultivated, rather than actual crows.
Then if I had to guess who this boy is wouldnt he be
Fen Long? Hui tried.
The boy turned back and bead. What is it?
Uh nothing, Hui said, waving his hand. This is the Fen Long Chen Wuya kept cursing? He doesnt seem particularly dangerous to .
Well hes just a child right now. Im sure he eventually beca a terrifying cultivator, but for now
Wait. Chen Wuya and Fen Long are childhood friends? He glanced at Fen Long. Then isnt it possible that whoever it was Chen Wuya was trying to save with his spell array is in this illusion, too?
After all, this illusion is clearly special, if it holds another person than Chen Wuya.
Hui hesitated, then nodded to himself. I know I should break out of here, but staying another few minutes couldnt hurt. Maybe I can find so leverage on Chen Wuya to keep him from pecking to death again.
Er, Elder Brother, where are we going? Hui asked, following after Fen Long.
Fen Long looked over his shoulder at him. You dont know?
Should I? I forgot. Could Elder Brother please remind this small cultivator? Hui said.
Fen Long grinned, puffing up his chest. Elder Brother? Youre so polite today, Chen Wuya. Okay, fine! Since youre so polite, Elder Brother will tell you.
Im only a little polite, and Fen Long acts like this? I wonder what Chen Wuya was like as a kid. If its anything like he is as an adult Hui shook his head.
Fen Long pointed down the hill at a red pagoda. Todays the day we select our treasured weapons! In a way, it decides our entire future. Arent you excited?
Hui nodded. Internally, nervousness built in his heart. Uh-oh. Dont tell , is this as if I was re-transmigrated into an oto ga instead of a cultivation novel? If I make the wrong choice and he realizes Im not Chen Wuya, will I get a ga over? Or worse, if I choose wrongly, will it force into a death spiral imdiately?
No, no, Hui, dont be ridiculous. Its an illusion, just an illusion. Like the ancestral house. If I behave unexpectedly, it might break out of this illusion. So yes! Thats it. Ill pick the least Chen Wuya-like weapon. Nothing red, nothing black, nothing with crows! Perfect.
But first
Hui looked around them. Elder Brother, wheres everyone else?
Eh? Its just you and , Chen Wuya. Thats all its ever been, Fen Long said.
Huh? If its just an illusion playing out past events, then is it that their sect really was just the two of them? Or is it Hui looked at Fen Long thoughtfully.
In any case, it seems like were alone in the illusion. I might as well break out.
Co on, co on! Fen Long insisted, tugging Huis sleeve. He hurried ahead, dragging Hui into the pagoda.
Hui followed Fen Long inside. They stepped into cool darkness, a welco relief from the blazing sumr sun. The pagoda was packed with treasures. Swords, spears, scrolls, blades and books of every description, mirrors, jades, even a shovel propped against the wall. And that was only the first level. The pagoda continued upward, each level equally packed with treasures. Above him, Hui sensed truly terrifying fluctuations from the treasures on the higher level, enough that without the pagodas shielding, his soul might have been blasted directly into pieces.
Hui looked around slowly, taking it all in. Any weapon?
Any treasure at all. Go on! You choose first, Fen Long insisted.
Hui stepped inside, hesitant. He looked around. All these treasures are wonderful, but dammit. I cant pick the sa one Chen Wuya did. But which one would he pick?
A set of golden acupuncture needles caught his eye. Hui strayed toward them, curious. Xixing said Im basically already using spiritual dicine techniques, right? Then, if I have so acupuncture needles, I should be able to manipulate other peoples qi with ease, instead of just my own.
That Chen Wuya theres no way hed pick acupuncture needles, right? Hui reached for the needles.
Behind him, Fen Long smiled wide.
A hand closed over Huis eyes. He stumbled back, caught by the face. Grappling at the hand, he squird and managed to peer through the gaps in the fingers. Red robes flapped around him, and crows settled over the treasures, pecking lazily at them.
Fen Long. Stop this farce. No matter how many tis you make co here, my answer remains the sa. Chen Wuya lifted his hand. A red-bladed sword Hui hadnt even seen flew from the massed treasures and landed in his hand. He slashed out, and a vertical line appeared in the pagodas wall. Half of the pagoda fell away, crashing to the ground with a massive boom. Treasures rained down, shining in the dazzling sunlight.
Still holding Hui, Chen Wuya turned, pointing the red blade at Fen Long. The boy staggered back, eyes wide. Now that youve revealed yourself, soul fragnt, its ti to die.
A soul fragnt! Like I thought. Fen Long or rather, a part of him, is here, too!
Fen Long scoffed. He took a step back, transforming from a boy to a man. Dressed in blazing white, his hair tied in a crown, ribbons flying on the wind, he gestured, and a sword appeared in his hand. As long as you stubbornly refuse to change your fate, youll never escape this realm.
Who are you to decide my fate should be changed? Even knowing where my path leads, Id still try to save
Enough! Fen Long charged at Chen Wuya.
Chen Wuya t his blade and parried it easily. A soul fragnt versus a soul, which do you think wins?
Fen Long jumped back. Chen Wuya chased him, dashing through the air. Hui trailed after him like a carp flag on the wind, unable to escape. He sighed quietly to himself and gave in to being dragged.
The two traded blows, but Fen Long couldnt stand up to Chen Wuyas strength. Swords flashed, and Fen Long staggered back. He stumbled, then fell, blood pouring down his robes and soaking into the earth. A clean line bisected his torso at a diagonal.
Chen Wuya harrumphed, slashing his sword to clean it. He sheathed it and shook his head. Damned soul fragnt. It cant die in this realm. All I can do is put it back to sleep.
The illusion split open along the line of the cut in Fen Longs torso. Chen Wuya stepped through, still carrying Hui along. As they stepped back into the poppy field, Hui grew back to his usual size, and his legs dragged on the ground. Chen Wuya dropped him imdiately.
Hui caught himself and climbed back to his feet. Thank you for saving , Senior.
Chen Wuya harrumphed. He looked at Hui from the corner of his eyes. Not feeling so clever now, hmm?
Senior! You said you werent reading my mind anymore! Hui protested.
Chen Wuya turned and walked away, leaving Hui to follow after him. Focus on finding that body of yours so we can get out of here. We dont have ti for diversions.
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