A hand closed around his shoulder seconds later. Elder brother!
Hui turned, brows already furrowed. Who would call elder brother?
A cute girl with wavy short hair stared back at him, big doe-like eyes wide. Though she was almost his age, she stared up at him from almost a foot shorter, tiny and dainty in all proportions. She wore short robes that expanded at the knee, accentuating her cute charm points and slender, though short, legs. Eh? You arent elder brother!
My apologies. Please, allow this small cultivator to act as your guide. Where is your elder brother? Though he couldnt see through her cultivation, he felt no pressure from her, either, not even the cold-but-welcoming aura Bai Xue gave off. Shes probably a third stage cultivator, like .
She blinked. Arent you an Azure Fang cultivator?
Not at all. This small cultivator belongs to Starbound Sect, Hui said, cupping his hands.
Ah! But youre wearing blue. Starbound Sect cultivators are only allowed to wear white, she said.
This small cultivator is an inheriting disciple. I can wear whatever I please, Hui asserted.
An inheriting disciple? A-ah! Su Caiyi apologizes for wasting seniors ti! She hurriedly cupped her hands and backed away, only to stumble into a cultivator behind her. He turned and scowled, and Su Caiyi trembled.
No, no, this small cultivator is no one amazing. My na is Hui hesitated. If I tell her my daoist na, shell probably run off. they call Xiao Hui.
Xiao Hui Ive never heard of you, Su Caiyi said hesitantly.
See? Im no one famous. Allow this small cultivator to assist you. What does your elder brother look like?
Su Caiyi blinked and wiped her face, pretending not to dry her eyes. Hes tall, like you, and his hair She gestured at Huis ponytail. But less handso. Ah, so people call him fierce. We joined the sect at the sa ti, and I get nervous when hes not around.
Ah, I understand, Hui said, understanding nothing. Nervous when soones not around? How odd. Then, should I stand in for your elder brother until we find him?
A second later, he kicked himself. She looks small and vulnerable, but shes a third stage cultivator! She could easily be several tis your age, and likely strong enough to thrash you in a fight! Stop underestimating cultivators, Hui!
To his surprise, however, Su Caiyi blinked up at him and offered him a small hand. Please?
Hui took it gracefully and led her through the crowd. As he walked, he searched for another ponytailed boy like him, about his height, but fierce. Plenty of Azure Fang disciples fit the description, but Su Caiyi shook her head at all of them. Not him, not him.
Elder sister, are you sure your brother ca with you to the tournant? Hui asked, exhausted.
She nodded. Im sure, Im sure! Ah, Su Caiyi is fine.
Hui nodded. He craned his neck again, searching the crowd once more. Then, maybe we should get a bite to eat while we wait for him to
Take your filthy paws off my Su Caiyi!
Sothing powerful barreled into Huis waist, and he went flying, Su Caiyis hand yanked from his. He landed and rolled to a halt in the square. All eyes turned to him.
Confused, Hui blinked. I eh? He laid limp on the ground, not sure whether to play dead or not. Im not bleeding, or seriously injured, but that was a surprise attack at the third stage, at least!
A huge blue wolf padded over to him, panting.
Mind made up, Hui imdiately killed his qi and played dead.
Youre the one who stole my Caiyi? Ill eat you, the wolf growled. Fierce pressure emanated from the wolf, fourth stage, if not stronger. Hui let himself get crushed into the tiles, unwilling to fight back.
Su Caiyi! False advertisent, false advertisent! What part of this wolf looks like ? Wheres the ponytail? I understand calling him fierce, though!
Elder brother, stop, stop! He was helping find you! Su Caiyi protested, running up. Her head barely ca to the wolfs shoulder, and her tiny hand vanished into its thick fur.
The wolf turned its head and looked at Caiyi. Three silvery horns shone in the sun, and then it turned back to Hui. He slled of snakes and evil. I did right to vanquish him.
Youyou killed him? Su Yan! He did nothing wrong! Su Caiyi ran from the wolfs side and gathered Hui into her lap, petting his hair back from his face. Her face crumpled, and tears fell onto Huis face.
This isnt bad. If I could get a lap pillow and have a beauty cry over every ti I pretend to dieptui! No, no, no. Im a righteous cultivator, virtuous and upstanding, with strong morals! How can I leave a maiden in distress like this?
Hui twitched, then blinked, slowly releasing his hold on his death qi. From the brink of death, he stamred, Ssis Caiyi?
Su Caiyis face brightened, while the wolfs turned murderous. Xiao Hui! Its , its ! You ca back to life?
Ah, sis nurtured back to the land of the living, Hui moaned, too weak to crawl out of her lap.
She rested a hand on his head. Its alright, its alright. Take your ti.
The wolf scoffed. Hes scamming you. Release him this instant.
Su Caiyi scowled at the wolf. Shut up! What do you know, elder brother, attacking the only one kind enough to help in my ti of need?
Thats right, thats right, Hui mumbled, unable to resist the urge to tease the wolf.
And then the world went monotone.
Hui blinked, startled, and looked around. Eh? Is this so kind of technique?
But no, I dont feel anyone elses qi. He reached out with his qi, searching, only to find he had none.
No. Not none. I only have death qi?
Confused, Hui turned to his hands. White and transparent, he could see through to the other side.
His eyes widened in shock. Eh? Did I die for real?
With a gasp, he woke up in Su Caiyis lap for the second ti.
Xiao Hui! Hes badly injured, brother, look, you snarled and he died again! We need to take him to the healers for imdiate dical attention!
Not so. I can sll him. Hes fine, the wolf grumbled, but even it looked a bit confused.
Hui sat up abruptly and stared at his hands. Flesh. Bone. He flexed them, then drew on his qi. There, as always. And death qi, as well. All as it should be.
What was that? he muttered aloud.
Turn back! Turn back, before you scare him to death again, Su Caiyi demanded.
Fine, fine, the wolf grumbled. It shook its head, its fur shivered, and a fierce-looking man about Huis age in blue robes, hair pulled back into a wild mane of a ponytail, climbed to his feet beside them. But he shouldnt enter the tournant, if hes really that fragile!
Xiao Hui, many apologies from myself and my brother, Su Yan, Su Caiyi declared, climbing to her feet so she could bow to him.
No need, no need. This small cultivator ca out of it fine, Hui assured her, jumping upright himself. Still, a needle of doubt word its way through his heart. What was that? Sothing happened to , and I couldnt control it. It felt almost like playing dead, but
Here, please, take these pills. Theyre effective on wounds up to the fifth stage, Su Caiyi said, passing a bottle to him. Please take one, before you collapse again.
Ah? This small cultivator thanks you for the gift, Hui replied, taking the bottle. Rather than take one, he tucked them into his robes. Better to use them later, when I actually have an injury.
Su Yan scowled. He wasnt injured. He didnt take a pill, even.
Su Caiyi smacked her brother on the arm. The blow couldnt have hurt, but he winced anyways. Hes probably too shy to take one in front of you, with you judging him all the ti! Apologize to Xiao Hui already!
Su Yan lowered his head half an inch. Sorry, he muttered.
My apologies as well, elder brother. I should have made it more clear that I was no threat to your sister. How? Hui mocked internally. This disciple cant apologize to make up for your siscon habits, elder brother!
Though is elder brother a cultivator who can beco a wolf, or a wolf who can beco a cultivator? Is fourth stage the barrier spirit beasts must step over to take on a human form in this world? If so Hui pet Zhubis head gently, thoughtful. Hmm I wouldnt mind having soone to talk to. Though I prefer Zhubi as he is. Hes much easier to travel with like this.
Zhubi slithered around his neck happily.
He seems better now, but I did want to get him checked on, and I still do. When I have a mont, Ill take him to Xixing, Hui decided promptly.
I hope this doesnt sour your feelings toward us, Su Caiyi said, drawing his attention back to the scene before him.
No, no, Hui assured her, smiling. He reached out toward her head, then stopped himself. Dangerous! Hanging around Bai Xue has rubbed off on ! I cant go around petting the heads of wild cultivators, Ill get my hand bitten off!
Over Su Caiyis head, Su Yan narrowed his eyes at Hui.
Hui laughed and ducked, tucking a lost strand of hair behind Su Caiyis ear instead. Then, please enjoy the tournant.
Su Caiyi blinked at him, then nodded. Yes!
Su Yan lifted a lip in disgust and harrumphed, turning away.
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