Wu Yincang is one of the most influential students in the academy, so much so that he can essentially undermine some of the academy rules for his own gain and comfort. Even some of the Elders cannot overlook his influence as a mere child play anymore.
He utilizes his influence to procure his own private room, just for himself since he hates the presence of other people in a place he considered private.
In this solitary room, he can't help but to be reminded of the dear father he used to loath, once a figure full of love and compassion, kind and gentle. He is the only loving embrace he felt when his own mother hates him so.
Wu Yincang never understood why his mother, Wu Shi Myung, would shower him with such disdain.
No matter, once he ascends into the throne, he will make sure that no more hatred will be bred, even if in the process, he creates more hatred.
"Boss, I got you the message from Elder Nang" Ruen voice echoes through his chamber.
"…Have I yet to told you to announce yourself before entering my room?" Wu Yincang asked.
"I couldn't be bothered"
"Fair enough"
Ruen, the ever so brazen and rude, he is like this ever since they both met. Wu Yincang appreciates this type of person specifically because they are honest about themselves.
Hence, he is always so tolerant of Ruen transgression.
Ruen then handed Wu Yincang the paper scroll; Wu Yincang proceeded to open the scroll cleanly without any wasted movement.
'The plan has gone out of the left field, I knew we should've not involved Myung and her jealousy inside of this plan, but I believe that you have contingency regarding this failure'
"Hmph, is he naïve? How come he has yet to saw the full the extend of my plan?"
Wu Yincang replied, bewildered by this so called 'Elder' incompetence and shortcoming.
"It is a grave mistake to even involve ourselves with the Spirit King sect, unless Va Tua comes up with her own scheme, this plan has already met an impasse"
Wu Yincang said, he then prepared his own scroll and wrote what he has in mind, imparting the intent to become words etched upon the parchment.
"Deliver this to Elder Nang…" Wu Yincang presented Ruen with the parchment, to which he quickly picks up and left the scene without a word spoken.
Wu Yincang then opens the window that reveals the central courtyard of the third semester. It is packed full of students in their 16 and 19.
Usually, he cares not for such a view since the one he would've liked to gaze at isn't present today. He does so to gaze upon the Crimson Palace that is peeking its own form through the thick mist enshrouding the enigmatic complex.
"I have yet to congratulate you for your achievements breaking through the next Stage of your cultivation dear father…"
Wu Yincang said as he bowed, whether the Demon King truly notices or not is unimportant, right now Wu Yincang just wanted to do the gesture once, knowing that he has no chance to meet the Demon King until much, much later.
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Southern Region, Jiangnam province, near the city of Guzhou.
In a blacken plain, usually so green and lively, for each the blade of grass and vegetation trembles before a mighty presence. Their Life energy shriveled due to the Demonic energy lingering around at such concentrations.
For the Black Storm has arrived.
"The preparation is done…" Hu Zaujan, complete with his Black Iron armor said as he bowed in front of the Demon King forms.
The Demon King himself, done in the countless mystical artifacts of the Wu Clan, one of which is the Wu Clan sword, Blood Demon Cleaver, which rests lightly in its sheath beside the King himself.
"The situation…" The Demon King said in a slightly muffled voice, for his face is covered in a white demon mask.
"It has been confirmed, the Blade of Which Challenge Heaven, Va Lingyun Tua has depart from her position as the Sect Leader of the Spirit King sect"
Hu Zaujan declares the news.
"So it be, our opponent won't be the Spirit King sect themselves, but I reckon she carried as much force to rival us…"
The Demon King said as he turned his face to watch Hu Zaujan bowing form.
"Va Lingyun Tua is escorted by the 300 of the Ghost Keeper squad and her own apprentice, Mi Yun"
Hu Zaujan said.
"Then I alone am enough…"
The Demon King said as he undoes his crimson phoenix robe, revealing an intricate black armor made with mixture of Black Jade and Celestial Iron, the Holder of the Storm.
Yet even with such armament, Hu Zaujan remains uneasy at the fact that his king must march alone.
"Forgive me for my own transgression my lord, but you should not march alone. The Claw and the Fang is enough to deal with Va Lingyun Tua and her entoura—"
"You do not understand the power a Xiantian wield…"
The Demon King cut Hu Zaujan words off, making Hu Zaujan himself to silence himself immediately. With heavy heart, Hu Zaujan complies with the Demon King's order.
"I understand, I will impart your will… We will always be ready at your disposal" Hu Zaujan said, and with that his entire form sinks into the pool of blood that came from nowhere before that pool of blood soon dissipates.
"…" Now that he is alone, the Demon King can finally let out what his mouth has held at close bay.
A word unspoken, now he can finally speak to an old friend.
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"Right around this corner" a woman voice rings out, behind her is about 300 men and women in white robe with their face covered in the same cloth, besides her is a girl around her 20, carrying with her a large blade sheathed in a talisman-covered sheath.
All of them were currently moving in such an intense pace and speed that the 300 of those following them were in visible exhaustion, their exasperated breath creates a dissonance of empty wheeze.
Yet the woman and the girl with the weird sword remain neutral in their expression, even engaging in a conversation.
"Master, where are we going?" the girl asks, the woman who is a great beauty, with her hair tied in ornate way and wearing an intricate violet dress respond.
"Mi Yun, do you know who we are facing?" the woman, presumably Va Tua asks her dear apprentice Mi Yun.
"The Demonic Sect" Mi Yun replied, she knows how terrifying the Demonic Sect is given that her village was once raided by some of them. She even had hoped to enact revenge on those Fiends, yet her master forbids her from doing so.
"Exactly, we cannot face the Demonic Sect head on, especially if the Demon King does appear" Va Tua said, still moving in the same pace regardless of if her group can keep up with her.
'Damned Nang, you and your petty revenge have roped me in to your own conflict…'
Va Tua silently cursed Elder Nang, yet she also thinks that she is to blame for falling to his honeyed words and agreeing to his scheme, now she reaps what she sows.
Her decision to abandon her sect is to spare them the Hatred of the Demonic Sect, at least in death, she didn't have to roped others with her, that's what she thinks anyway…
"No matter, even if the Divine Spirit personally descend and wished for your death master, I will always remain by your side" Mi Yun declares, her face is fierce and reassuring.
'Stupid apprentice, why march headfirst to your death?'
Va Tua silently protests, yet she has no courage or intent to let those words out. Maybe she is the bad one here, all of this was her mistake and yet, because of her, others would die, including those she cares about.
"Incoming attack!" one of the 300 shouts, immediately Va Tua raised her hands and countless skeleton-like apparition appears from nowhere, forming a wall and block the so-called attack.
When it hits, the wall of skeletons burst into pieces flying everywhere, Mi Yun block some heading her way and some of the 300 managed to get hit, Va Tua shifted her attention behind towards the 300 to watch if some were to actually fallen to the debris, much to her relief, they pressed on despite the fact.
"He is close…" Va Tua mumbles, she then ordered everyone to stop moving. Even when she didn't order it, the 300 alongside Mi Yun formed a defensive formation around Va Tua.
And moments later, a figure appears from within the woods, with his arrival, the entire landscape was flooded with thick red mist that covered their feet and blanketed the area with a smell of blood.
The figure is like a manifestation, someone outside the fabric of the universe. His black hair stays yet didn't react to the wind, his face covered in white mask emits a red glow from where the eyes rest, in which the towering frame that is his body, donned in black armor where a black hanfu with red embroidery flows down below his waist.
He doesn't have to declare himself; his presence and sheer weight of his leaking Aura is enough to make everyone there knows who he is, the Unstill Wave of Death, Wu Hailang Raijoo.
Normally, a member of the Wu clan when they come of age receives a new name in which the broader world will refer to them as, their birth name will be known only by their family or their companion, yet Wu Raijoo has such infamy and notoriety that his true name will naturally reveal itself.
"Long time no see Wu Hailang, or should I say the Demon King?" Va Tua said, offering a shallow bow as she revealed her long sword from within the hem of her hanfu.
"Refers to me in my true name, friend" The Demon King responded, not moving an inch from where he is, his weapon is yet to be drawn.
"Fine then, Wu Raijoo. Why have you come to me?" Va Tua said, fully unsheathing her sword in its azure sheen. One of the colored blades, this one is said to slash the Heaven open, bringing calamity to rain down towards Hazhui.
Azure Sky-Clearing, Lan-Tian. Yet what Va Tua holds is but a fragment of the original one, embedded inside her own sword.
Mi Yun revels at the sight of the sword, her master seldom unsheathing it even when her life is threatened. The fact that she unsheathes it even before the Demon King made his move speaks gravity to how dangerous he is.
"Mi Yun…" Va Tua said in low and gentle voice.
"Yes master?" Mi Yun replied, looking at her with a face Va Tua has come to care for greatly.
In Va Tua mind, image of a thousand moment replays once more, living in the past long forgotten. How she scolds Mi Yun, how Mi Yun clumsily swings her sword and how she would eat dumplings alongside her.
Most importantly, the very first time Va Tua met her. Mi Yun is but a baby in between burnt buildings, yet her face remains pure despite the soot covering her face. A testament, Mi Yun is what Va Tua can become, has she not wallowed in despair.
With heavy heart comes a great action, this is the last thing Va Tua can give her dear apprenti— no, her dear daughter.
"Promise me one thing, live…"
"What?"
Before Mi Yun could respond, Va Tua slams her hands towards her neck, instantly knocking down Mi Yun before she could even understand what had happened.
As her body falls into the ground, Va Tua commands the 300.
"All of you, carry her somewhere very far away, do not let any danger befall her…" She declares.
""Yes Sect Leader"" all of them responded, still referring to her as the Sect Leader even though she is no longer one.
About 5 of them carried Mi Yun while 2 of them secured her weapon before they depart, the remaining one hesitates for a bit, not wanting to leave their Sect Leader behind, more so before a mighty opponent.
"Sect leader…" one of them muttered, their heavy heart remembers her kindness, how she treated them despite that most of the 300 were disgraced orphan whose father dies during a war and losing decisively.
"…Please be safe!" one of them shouts before leaving.
The other, inspired to do the same.
"My prayer for you sect leader!"
"We will await and serve you whenever sect leader!"
"Stay safe sect leader…"
One by one they depart, tears flowing down as they impart what will most likely be their last words with Va Tua. For them, Va Tua is a mother they never had.
Va Tua herself, unable to look behind her. Not because she is forced to keep her attention to the Demon King, but because she cannot contain the emotion welling deep inside her should she look behind and beckon the fleeting group.
She closed her eyes for a second, before opening them up to properly meet the red gaze of the Demon King.
"Thank you for allowing me this last moment, Raijoo…" she said, smiling lightly.
"…I understand" The Demon King said, his emotion hidden beneath the dehumanizing mask, yet his human self, dares not to interrupt a parent last moment with their children's. Be it an enemy or not.