Three beams of gold light landed beside Li Xiang. A mont later, they resolved into familiar faces. Xi Muchen, Cho Haoli, and Sa Zhangli stood before Li Xiang. Xi Muchen looked at her with an amused expression, his arms crossed, Cho Haoli leaned on his back foot, bored, and Sa Zhangli glared, obviously tired of disturbances.
Is there usually an enlightennt at this ti? Sa Zhangli asked, glaring at Li Xiang.
Xi Muchen shrugged. No, but theres plenty of cultivators in the city, and plenty who are not beholden to the loop. Given that anything can trigger enlightennt, and given how different the loops can be from one another, it isnt unforeseen that soone experience enlightennt suddenly in a loop, even if theyre already absorbed into the loop.
Hmph. Dont give that. This is an anomaly. Sa Zhangli flicked her sleeve authoritatively.
A-ha, is the civil servant who only knows how to wield a brush telling us what is and isnt an anomaly? You rarely leave your room during the loops, how would you know whats normal and not? Sa Zhangli, just admit it. Youre trying to look authoritative now, after you got embarrassed by that Jun Ke from the prison. Xi Muchen smiled, but there was nothing nice about it.
She wrinkled her nose. And whos the one who went out of his way to invite over and humiliate ?
Ah? I dont know what you an, Xi Muchen said, tapping his chin in mock thought.
Xi Muchen, stop being rude to the seniors, Cho Haoli rebuffed him.
Stop trying to win points by putting down. I know you hate , but its tasteless, truly tasteless. Xi Muchen shook his head in admonishnt.
Both Cho Haoli and Sa Zhangli stared at him in disgust.
In Li Xiangs sleeve, Hui shook his head. Xi Muchen, theres such a thing as pushing it too far. I dont like anyone in this situation, but I have to admit that hes gone so far that hes the one in the wrong.
More importantly, lets all agree to beat up Xi Muchen and leave Li Xiang alone to experience enlightennt. That sounds good to , what does everyone else think?
Even as he thought it to himself, he quietly drew a few dozen barrier talismans on the fabric of Li Xiangs sleeves, ready to activate them at a monts notice. Its best for if they simply walk away, but if they attempt to interfere with her enlightennt, Ill be forced to act!
Go handle your escapee. Ill handle this woman, Sa Zhangli declared.
Escapee? Its not that big a deal. The loop is almost over. For that matter, why are you so obsessed with refusing this woman enlightennt? Sa Zhangli, are you jealous? Xi Muchen asked.
Jealous? Sa Zhangli rolled her eyes. She looked at Li Xiang again and sniffed. Fine. If you insist, Ill leave her alone.
Its not that I insist. Its just that it isnt worth getting worked up for every single cultivator who experiences enlightennt. Shell forget it at the start of the next loop, anyways, Xi Muchen reasoned.
Is that the callous sort of thinking you Inspectors have?
I wouldnt expect a civil servant like you to understand the real world.
The two of them glared at each other for a mont.
Sa Zhangli harrumphed. Fine. Ill go work on finishing off the paperwork for the loops end. You go look for the escapee. And I dont want to see the loop was almost over on the forms when you bring him back.
Yes! Xi Muchen saluted earnestly.
Cho Haoli gave him a suspicious look.
Yeah I have to agree with that. I sohow feel like Xi Muchen isnt going to chase around, if only so he doesnt have to fill out those forms
Sa Zhangli marched away. Xi Muchen saluted until she left, then straightened with a yawn. Ahh Id better not find that guy.
Xi Muchen! Dont be lazy. Just because of the forms
Not wanting to do paperwork is a very valid reason to not work. In any case, Id better not find him soon. If hes still nearby, hed better hoof it out of the city before any other Inspectors catch him. Xi Muchen glanced at Li Xiangs sleeve and cocked a brow.
Eh? He knows Im here? How? How did he detect ? Is there so mark on from prison? Or is he sensing sothing that I dont know how to suppress?
Cho Haoli frowned. What do you an?
Nothing. Xi Muchen spun on his heel and walked away.
Behind him, Cho Haoli frowned. He stared at Li Xiang for a mont, then bent over, leaning down to peer into her sleeve.
Nothing but a few small scribbles in red. He shook his head and walked away.
From higher up Li Xiangs sleeve, Zhubi, Tian Lan, and Hui all let out a sigh of relief. Hui led the way down to the outer edge of her sleeve again and peered out, watching the two Inspectors walk away. Jun Ke indicated that Xi Muchen used to be on our side. Is he still working for us, if only a little?
Well, Ill take it! Im not going to complain if he wants to help for free!
Hui settled down in Li Xiangs sleeve, watching the world from within to ensure no one disturbed her enlightennt. After a few minutes, a passing sword cultivator stood beside Li Xiang. Hui bristled, ready to attack, only to realize the man was acting as her dao protector. He laughed quietly. A big dao protector and a small dao protector. Li Xiang is well and truly guarded! No one will disturb her enlightennt now!
Ti passed. The city moved on, while Li Xiang continued to cultivate. The sword slowly vanished, dissolving into motes of light which were absorbed into her body. On the third day, none of the sword remained. Still, Li Xiang continued to cultivate.
A week passed. Li Xiang abruptly opened her eyes. She went to stand.
The sword cultivator nodded. Did you achieve enlightennt?
Hui and the dragons went tumbling out of her sleeve. The small dragons and Hui all held tiny cards, built from scraps of a slip of talisman paper.
Both Li Xiang and the sword cultivator stared at them.
Hui laughed lightly and gathered up the cards. We werent gambling, dont worry! Playing for pride, pride only!
The sword cultivator squinted. Why is that what you clarified? First, explain why you were playing cards in soone elses sleeve!
Li Xiang, on the other hand, nodded. She offered Hui her hand. Will you fly with , or on your own power?
Hui quickly grew back up to his usual size, and the dragons wrapped around his neck and wrist as usual. No, no. Its fine. I can fly on my own, but thank you, Li Xiang!
The sword cultivator frowned. No ones going to ask about the card playing? Is that normal? Does this sword cultivator usually carry around a cardplaying trio in her sleeve?
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