Lin Qian left Xuan Tian's room and headed back to Bai Xunli's. She needed to re-check the seal in Bai Xunli's Immortal Core. She didn't want any more surprises springing on her surgical partner.
Xuan Tian was sitting cross-legged on his bed. He'd been testing the limit of the seal placed on his Heart Core and finding ways to cut the threads.
Jing Xue was curled up on the floor like an ordinary dog.
"And you always said that you're not a dog," Xuan Tian murmured and closed his eyes, returning to testing the seal.
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Ling Yu was at the side of the lake, throwing stones into the water. She was still feeling sour after being kicked out of the room.
Chen Zhaoyun approached her. Among the four disciples, he had been the closest to her. He had quietly appointed himself her number one guardian, knowing how important she was to Xuan Tian.
"What's wrong?" he asked her gently.
"Nothing." She kept pouting and throwing stones.
Chen Zhaoyun smiled lightly. "It doesn't look like nothing."
He waited a beat. "Hey, it's me, Er Shixiong. You know you can talk to me."
Ling Yu sighed loudly, but still didn't say anything.
Chen Zhaoyun just stood there, waiting for her.
He picked up a few stones and threw them into the lake as well.
"It's just…" Ling Yu started.
She threw the remaining stones in her hands away and turned to Chen Zhaoyun.
"I'm worried about him and he kicked me out!"
Chen Zhaoyun faced Ling Yu. "Kicked you out?"
She nodded. "Yes! It's obvious they didn't want me to hear their discussion!"
Chen Zhaoyun chuckled. "So, what if they did?"
"Er Shixiong!"
Chen Zhaoyun continued to chuckle. "Ling Yu, there's one thing you must understand. Xuan Tian Shengzun… is not your peer."
Ling Yu didn't say anything, but she pouted and looked at Chen Zhaoyun.
"Shengzun is not your friend. No matter how friendly he is to you, or how kind, he is not your friend."
"He is someone even Shizun bows his head to."
"Have you seen Shizun bow his head like that to anyone? He doesn't do that, not even to Mu Shengzun."
Ling Yu sighed. She was thinking about what her Er Shixiong was saying. She had to admit that he was right. But deep down, she had always believed she was special to Xuan Tian. The way he acted around her was different than he was to others.
That was five years ago, silly. He might've changed. Her mind blew those words into her already sour heart.
"Xiao Wu, did you hear what I said?"
"I did," Ling Yu replied half-heartedly.
"Do you understand?"
Ling Yu took a deep breath before answering. "I do."
"But I don't agree," she quickly added.
Chen Zhaoyun laughed. "I know you've missed him these past five years. And now he's here again. The reunion in your head is completely different, isn't it?"
He playfully knocked her nose. "Wipe that sour expression from your face. He's asking for you."
"Who?"
"Xuan Tian Shengzun. He's looking for you."
Ling Yu immediately lit up. "Why didn't you say so?!"
"I wanted to remind you about who he is."
"And who you are," he added.
Ling Yu tried to hold her smile. "Thanks, Er Shixiong." And she ran back into the house.
Chen Zhaoyun watched her back and murmured, "I don't want you to get hurt, Xiao Wu."
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Ling Yu stood in front of Xuan Tian's door. She was feeling both excited and nervous. This would be their real reunion, unlike the last night, when they didn't know who the other was.
She inhaled sharply and knocked.
"Come in." Xuan Tian's voice from the inside replied.
Ling Yu opened the door and entered.
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Gu Tianzhu found Han Zhaofeng at the back of the house. He looked around and had to handed it to the man, he knew how to choose a great location. The view from where he was standing was spectacular. There was a small waterfall not far from the house and behind the waterfall was the vast, lush and mysterious Siling Forest. At the foot of the waterfall, there was a little pond, perfect for swimming or fishing.
They just came out of a meeting with Xuan Tian, where they heard about what happened to Bai Xunli during her capture.
"Sealed?! Tortured?!" Han Zhaofeng was in shock.
He knew Bai Xunli were bound to be tortured, but he didn't expect it would be that far. And he hadn't gone to see Bai Xunli, because he was afraid to see accusations in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Han Zhengzun." Xuan Tian expressed his empathy.
Gu Tianzhu was sitting quietly. His face grim, his jaws clenched. He too, felt the rage toward Lingxu. He was imagining if one of his disciples was treated like Bai Xunli, he would've gone to war with Lingxu.
Han Zhaofeng closed his eyes tightly. He took deep breaths few times, trying to calm himself.
"And now… and now how is she, Shengzun?" Han Zhaofeng asked shakily.
"She is resting. Doctor Lin Qian is still monitoring her."
Xuan Tian inhaled, "I called both of you here to discuss our situation."
Han Zhaofeng exhaled loudly few times and opened his eyes. Looking straight at Xuan Tian, "Go ahead, Shengzun."
Gu Tianzhu nodded, "Please, Shengzun."
"We found… something… inside Captain Bai."
He sighed, "Have you two heard something called the Black Worm?"
Both of them shook his head.
I guess this is the first time the Black Worm is discovered in Human Realm. Xuan Tian thought.
"A Black Worm is a man-made black spirit energy that can be bred and controlled."
Xuan Tian proceeded to explain leaving out the origin story of the Black Worm.
"What?!"
Both Han Zhaofeng and Gu Tianzhu were in shock. They didn't believe what they were hearing. How could something so malicious exists?!
"And… and… and… now this worm is in you, Shengzun?!" Gu Tianzhu were shaking thinking the consequences of Xuan Tian being corrupted and controlled.
Xuan Tian nodded, "Yes. But don't worry. I have something that prevents it from corrupting and controlling me, right now." Although I don't know for how long.
"Can the worm be killed?" Han Zhaofeng asked. He too felt the same impending doom Gu Tianzhu was feeling.
"It can be killed by a very pure and strong spirit energy. Purple Qi is the best. But it needs to be refined and strong enough."
"And… not only that… the seal which was in Bai Xunli's Heart Core, now is in yours, Shengzun?" Han Zhaofeng asked.
Once again, Xuan Tian nodded. "Yes. But it doesn't seal my whole Heart Core, only a third."
He sighed, "But I couldn't use my spirit energy like before. I… if I suppress my cultivation down to Low Immortal 4, I'll be fine."
Gu Tianzhu's eyes widened, "You… only… Low… 4?"
"Yes."
He chuckled lightly, "I'm worse than your disciples, Gu Zhenren."
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Gu Tianzhu looked at Han Zhaofeng. He had suffered the most. Gu Tianzhu couldn't imagine if it was him. He probably would've lost it a long time ago.
Gu Tianzhu had received additional information from Xuan Tian that sent him reeling. Xuan Tian revealed that the Black Worm came from the Celestial Realm. And he explained further as of why he hasn't been fully corrupted.
Celestials are sure different beings. Even their villains are on different level.
Gu Tian took a seat beside Han Zhaofeng.
Han Zhaofeng didn't react.
They sat in silence, only sound came from the waterfall.
Han Zhaofeng inhaled and spoke, "It's a trap."