Master finally came by then, and he grabbed me by my arm, hauling me off the ground.
"Master," I sobbed. "What are you doing?"
He tsked and pulled me away from the clearing. Completely surprised, I struggled to get out of his grip. "Stay still," he squeezed my arm with enough force to bruise.
I quietened, but my heart still ached. Why the f*ck did the Master not care? Junior brother is right there, and he's... dead.
"Master-"
"Shut up." Master shoved me to the ground and unsheathed his sword, the sharp metal making a light twanging sound as it revealed itself in the sun. It seemed as if everything went in slow motion as Master pointed the tip of his sword straight at my heart.
Oh sh*t.
What the h*ll is happening right now?
My voice was barely above a whisper, but I knew he heard me say, "Master?" He tsked again and thrusted the sword, and its edge nicked me slightly in the cheek.
"Didn't I tell you to shut up? Stupid Jin Yahui." His face was entirely blank as he returned to his previous stance. Then, his arm began to go back for a thrust that I'm afraid would no longer be aimed for my cheek.
Asagoisnawoain. What can I do?
What is this?
Millions of thoughts went through my mind in that second, and I swear that my brain cells had never been so abused before.
It was when the sword was a mere inch away from my heart that I realized it.
Master called me 'Jin Yahui'.
All this time, he called me 'Disciple Yahui', and if this is a cultivation world... then this can be an illusion made by a whatever-it's-called.
With desperation pulling at every fiber of my being, I called out, "Stop! This isn't real!"
And then the sword pierced my heart.
.............
"Disciple Yahui?" Master's voice came from somewhere far away. "Disciple Yahui?"
I cracked my eyes open slightly and could immediately tell that I'm still in the d*mn hot pink forest. Groaning as I sat up, I rubbed my temples.
"You were in an illusion array, Disciple Yahui," Master said, his entire aura exuding a solemn reverence.
Yeah, no sh*t, Sherlock.
It took a while for me to get my bearings, but once I did, I jumped up and started running again, a very distinct location in my mind.
It may have been an illusion array, but I know that I heard rustles before I entered it. And even if those rustles were a part of the illusion array, I still want to hold onto this hope that junior brother is over there, alive.
Once again I went through the familiar weaving through the trunks of the trees and jumping over exposed roots before I found the clearing of a nightmare I hoped would never come true.
It look exactly the same- fallen trees with oozing black stuff, paste made out of worms (ew), and.. a body in the middle of the field.