Chương 24: Test

Liuxue woke up with a shudder, frantically checking her surroundings. She was in a room covered with runes from floor to walls, their soft gleam unfortunately offering little illumination. Maybe just enough to make out the bottle-packed shelves at one side, if you tried hard. A soft chuckle echoed. She attempted to sit, only to groan and sink back beneath the weight of too many blankets. At the same time, she must've realized something that should be there wasn't, as she shuddered like a trapped animal.

"Relax," Ren said, deciding this much fooling around was enough. He moved a little into the light.

"Your body hasn't healed. You need the heat." He then chuckled once again and added, "And Madam Zhang helped with the clothes." She looked at him. Narrowed her eyes. Stared harder.

"…Senior Brother," she said slowly, "why are you hanging upside-down?" Letting out a deep sigh, Ren looked down— or up, depending on perspective.

"No need to worry. No matter how absurd it looks, this is actually pretty normal." His body swayed slightly as a soft, green glow flared to life from the chains that extended from the floor to his arms, covering every part of their surface. And he had hooked his legs on a bar on the wall. She gave a suspicious look.

"Don't look at me like that, the bed is designed for upper-body wounds, these are for legs."

"Then why's there a conveniently placed bar above you?"

"For…" Ren's lips twitched a little, cursing his soul brother for a moment, "training arms when my legs were the only thing injured…" Yeah, a complete training maniac. That legend isn't made by itself, after all. Liuxue just stared at him. She said nothing, her expression didn't change, but that emptiness in her gaze told more than words. Letting out another sigh, Ren kicked the wall and landed on the ground with a pat, followed by the clanking of the chains.

"Since you're awake, I need to check on the other two brats. I'll send Madam Zhang shortly," he said, walking toward the door. However, just like he feared, he heard a movement behind him:"You have a terrible sense of humor," Liuxue uttered at last, her voice on the border of a whisper.

"Still… thank you." Ren didn't turn. How could he? He had no face to accept her thanks when he was the one who risked her life. And her complaint? What could he even say to that?

"Rest well," he muttered at last, struggling to maintain a steady tone against the annoying trembling at his hands. He closed the door behind him with a soft click. The silence lingered, a contrast with the chaos in his mind. Then he exhaled— slow, weary. Filled with guilt. You did your best, buddy, and the result isn't bad. Just focus on not making the same mistake twice. He also had to admit that the winged serpent was cooler than just a viper. It might even help her roots to reach sixth grade.

Shoving the guilt with forced optimism, he tried to focus on the positive sides as much as possible. Still, Ren couldn't keep the what if scenario's out of his mind as he strode toward the kitchen.

"Ow, ow, ow! Can't you be gentler?!" came a voice when he arrived at the outside, yanking him out of the worry spiral. Lifting a brow, Ren stepped into the scene of Ruolan rubbing something on Wenhai's black-and-blue chest, while he screamed like a pig to the slaughter.

"What's happening?" Ren whispered, quietly approaching the expressionless Madam Zhang.

"Somebody provoked your disciples, and then this happened, young master."

"Hmm?" He noticed the bruises were in the shape of two petals. Falling Petal technique of Alchemy Peak? But there's no way their higher-ups wanted to mess with me. Still, I should visit Master Shu. After all, I must lay my hands on the sacred soil too. His hands itched with desire.

"You messed up— now be a man, and don't whine like a little girl," Ruolan snorted, smearing the last of the ointment, then finished with a slap. Ren took a sharp breath in Wenhai's place as the boy's mouth opened without a sound, his eyes rolling backwards. This girl… Baozhai'll like her. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"And all done. Now, if you can lend us a bed, Madam—" Ruolan paused halfway turning, her lips curled up in a wicked way.

"Oh, hello, senior brother. I thought you were busy."

"I was," Ren said, scratching his head.

"Guess you're not much different?" Ruolan washed her hands first, but her gaze never left him.

"Yeah, thanks to our cheap master leaving us in the den of wolves, I am. Anyway, where's Liuxue?"

"Cheap master, huh?" Ren leaned on the counter, just as—"WOAH!" Wenhai roared to life, his eyes as wide as sausages.

"I am alive!"

"For now. But you'll get yourself killed if you continue this way," Ruolan uttered coldly as she took out a straw, popping it between her lips.

"The bait was obvious, yet you still pounced at it like the fool you are."

"But they insulted the Senior Brother!" Wenhai didn't step back.

"They set it up so you'd be the one to start the fight," Ruolan fought back lazily.

"But—""No buts." They are getting along pretty well. Actually… they are just like Puffy and Buffy. Ren watched two of them bickering, a strange gleam flickered through his gaze. His lazy but clever cat had always bullied his husky, even taking his food. Yet Buffy would still lick her affectionately, so silly but so cute. I gave him the right nickname, that's rare.

"Alright, alright," He chimed in when Wenhai gave him aggrieved puppy eyes.

"I'll see what it's really about. Before that, have you two decided what technique you'll use? And to answer your question, Witch, Liuxue is resting." Ruolan instantly gave him a suspicious gaze, yet she clicked her tongue as Wenhai literally jumped to answer.

"Yes!" he said, taking out a book from his ring.

"Polar Bolt Scripture! Perfect for my dual nature. And it's so cool, packed with sick moves! Style and impact, baby!" He straightened, obviously for showing off. Though he sat back on the stool nearly at the same time, exhaling sharply.

"Ow, ow… it still hurts…" He even threw a betrayed look at Ruolan. She immediately glared back as if asking, 'What? Got a problem?' until he lowered his head.

"Calm down, Pup. You can show it later; it's quite a good technique with balance. And Baozhai can help you initiate the first lightning clash for its start. What about you—""Thousand Venoms Verdant Cauldron Scripture," she said, without skipping a beat, her expression unreadable. Madam Zhang stiffened, mechanically turning to her.

"The Empress of Verdant Valley's legacy…" Ren muttered, rubbing his chin, his gaze heavy. Burdened.

"Quite a complicated choice. I assume you know the risks."

"Yeah, yeah. Lots of pain, screaming involved, horrible death. Got it," she said.

"And the endless requirement of resources," he added.

"Thought that was your job, no?" Ren couldn't help himself— he leaned forward with intrigue.

"You already see yourself as my personal disciple, huh?"

"Isn't this your only choice?" Ruolan said, her expression turning defiant.

"A broken foundation, but tons of responsibility. You need strength," she paused, exhaled deeply, " immediately."

"Ruolan—" Wenhai uttered with worry, but stopped as Ruolan glared at him.

"What? You thought I wouldn't find out? The majestic First Light of Judgment, taking disciples at his prime? And even the outer disciples dare to criticize him? Isn't it obvious he's at the end of his rope, betting everything on us? Then he should at least pay the price." She smiled faintly, her tone unreadable.

"Don't you think so, senior brother?" Poor girl. She must've been walking on eggshells since she was a child, huh.

"Looks like I've got the wolf in the crowd of sheep," he muttered, rubbing his chin. A wry smile tugged at his lips. Wenhai's eyes darted between him and her, clearly troubled. Though unlike the boy, Madam Zhang softly snorted. Ruolan clicked her tongue.

"If the wolf's what you need, then you've got nothing to worry about." Ren couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. Yet underneath this calm, relaxed facade, he felt a heat rush toward his stomach. Just associating with me caused them to be targeted. Did others think the same? For a second, he imagined the results of this. I knew it, I made a mistake by letting others into my life. His soul brother had enemies. Plenty of them. And the power they commanded…

a few newbies at the start of their journey couldn't even imagine their danger. The figures in his dream popped out in his mind, though he swept them aside in an instant. Ren felt the urge to rub the bridge of his nose. Pain throbbed behind his eyes from too many neurons firing at once. But the deed was done, and he had no choice but to accept it. Eh, why does this sound so indecent?

"So dramatic," he said, dragging a stool with one foot and lowering himself onto it.

"You make it sound like I've already fallen from grace, forgetting the fact that I could still get such techniques— even with others opposing me." She blinked, probably thrown off by the casual tone. He leaned back, balancing slightly on two legs of the stool.

"I may be crippled. But alone?" He flicked a lazy glance toward her.

"The sect stands behind me, and that's enough." I'm still not sure what to feel about this, but the truth is there. Her expression twitched, but it was clear she wasn't satisfied.

"Still doesn't answer my question. If that's enough, why did you take disciples?" A pause. She is stubborn.

"You're a sharp girl, Ruolan. But some answers take more than insight." He paused, his voice turning grave.

"They take time." He then shook his head, "Until then, how about focusing on getting stronger?" Ruolan's gaze narrowed. Wenhai's head swung between the two, his mouth opening, then closing. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

"You—""Hey! I'm still wounded, remember?" the boy suddenly shouted as if he sensed the things spiraling in a dangerous way. She stared at them both, remaining silent. The air in the room got heavier until—"…Tch," Ruolan muttered, folding her arms.

"Still a cheap master."

"Yeah," Ren refuted, staring deep into her eyes, a faint smile at his lips.

"Pick the priciest technique on the list, then call me cheap." He then turned to Madam Zhang.

"Madam, can you lend a hand and watch over them? After all, resources like that don't just grow on trees."

"As you wish, young master."

"If it's not too much trouble, you can check on their bodies too. That way, we can start the initiation as soon as I return." Madam Zhang nodded gently.

"What about my wounds?" Wenhai asked, once again giving puppy eyes.

"She can heal," Ren said, shrugging as he rose. He strode toward the door, already imagining the Witch's reaction, his lips curling slightly.

"She can heal?" Just as expected, Ruolan called, her voice shocked. But Ren didn't turn, just shot a side glance, his tone unreadable.

"Yeah?" A conflicted expression surfaced on her face. Her gaze wandered between Madam Zhang and him.

"And… she is just a… servant?" she muttered, pausing as if not sure saying 'servant' was proper. He opened his mouth, though Madam Zhang answered before him.

"Yes, little one. I'm but a mere servant of Young Master," she said, waving a hand like it was the most natural thing. Ren couldn't hold back his smirk any longer. Without saying anything, he just waved a hand, leaving behind a wide-eyed Ruolan and proud Wenhai.