In the jade hall of the jade peak, seven sect lords sat waiting.
Hai Jingyi tightened his grip on Tai Qiangs arm at the atmosphere, this felt more like a hearing all that was missing was an old guy in a white wig in a gavel to be the judge
He schooled his features so charming prince would work here so let's go with that
"elders, " he greeted bowing he could feel their eyes on him,
Ah, I know I'm gorgeous but could you stop looking I feel awkward…
he glances up at Tai Qiang meeting his eyes as if asking
Am I being arrested?
Tai Qiang gave the subtlest and I do mean the subtlest hint of a smile but it was there
Ha! so you can smile I knew it the true tsundere, the tsundere lord Tai Qiang!
"Hai Jingyi? Is that really you you've grown so tall." An old master began Hai Jingyi recognized him
Master Yu ah the beloved grandfather of every player his wise sayings were sold as e-books do not judge me I am an entrepreneur with low moral standing who milked this game for every cent it was worth and it was worth a lot of cents believe,
"Master Yu, I haven't seen you in years,"
"Well that goes without saying since we thought you were dead
"Elder Shen, I see you are well,"
oi this guy he would have had him scrapped if the weren't on a deadline and needed seven sect lords, he was rude incorrigible and flat out irritating, he never did like him even when he was just a sketch on a scrap of paper you're here on a technicality watch your ass.
He still smiled like a good little sheep though
" Hóng fènghuáng disciple Hai Jingyi, a week ago you unleashed an attack unike any we'd ever seen."
"No civillian was harmed, only the enemy was destroyed even the buildings remained intact,"
"What we don't understand is why Brother Na Nuan hid this from us, such a technique could save hundreds of lives,"
"Every sect has its own sercets, the techniques we practised were just ours,"
"Techniques ther are more than one?"
"There were twelve techniques, Na Nuan taught me some he died before I could complete the training."
"Anybooks?"
"Hua Fang burned them all."
"Does Hua Fang know these techniques?"
"He has the knowledge for one of them all of us did, but it's more convenient than deadly,"
"Which one?"
"Master called it blinking I'd show you but I'm a bit weak right now, Tai Qiang has experienced it though,"
al eyes shifted to him,
"Travelling anywhere at will,"
"Impossible!"
"That's not exactly accurate, if we can see it we can go there the mind must be sharp the image clear it's fairly easy I'm just not used to moving that fast,"
" Hóng fènghuáng disciple Hai Jingyi I believe you are playing with us such discoveries would have been published for sure,"
"It would truly benefit the world,"
"Na Nuan did not wish for that to happen of the twelve if any were done wrong it could lead to severe consequences some have grave repercussions on the wielder, in erasing one's enemies one could also harm friends."
Hai Jingyi expected the rest they'd want him to teach them, but come on you old farts I cant teach you to code you've never even seen a computer why just be happy with your cool swords and cultivation don't bring 21st-century bs into this.
"We've heard what we need to now I'd like to see one of these legendary techniques since you ill just pick the one that's least taxing,"
"If that is what you wish I can do stillness,"
he smiled at this situation he had woken up in a new world with the knowledge of how to bend it to its will so he passed it off as someone else secret techniques and treated them like a leaked secret, let everyone knows of them but no one knows about them, the web of lies he'd built had become a comfortable bed too easy to manipulate
"Elder brother Tai Shi Qiu kindly throw you cup against any pillar I apologize for breaking it for this demonstration,"
"Alright," with a flick of his wrist the cup went flying towards a pillar it was surely going to shatter but as it flew the crowd of old badgers saw it slow almost as if it was falling through tar, an eerie silence began to fall as sounds outside became distorted
"Look outside..." Hai Jingyi sounded very weak, his grip on Tai Qiang's arm tightening the seven elders rushed out seeing the world perfectly still, birds lay unmoving in the air trapped in permanent motion the people below frozen perfectly as if in a painting,
"Na Nuan knew something like this?"
"Incredible think of the possibilities!"
Hey at least pay attention to the performer you old goats! It was exhausting he'd quickly ran the pause code thankfully it didn't bug he really didn't want to know what would happen if he unleashed an error on the world, a system crash would spell disaster,
"Tai Qiang, have they seen enough?"
"Yes, they have."
"Oh good,"
the silence stopped the glass shattered birds resumed their flight the world lost its stillness Hai Jingyi collapsed into the arms of Tai Qiang
"Tai Qiang, id really like another cake would you bring me one when I wake up,"
he lost consciousness before he got his answer but he was sure he'd get that cake now all he needed to do was wake up, man he really thought pausing the game would be the easiest cheat. he was wrong! he didn't feel like throwing up but he did feel tired so very tired…
Tai Qiang carried the sleeping Hai Jingyi away from the room of vultures, Tai Shiqiu followed close after him,
"Brother,"
"He is a member of our sect they wont take him away,"
A smile lit up Tai Qiangs face its warmth reaching even Tai Shu-Qiu, "I haven't seen you smile like that in years."
now to deal with the other Sect lords,
Tai ShuQiu often wore a calm disposition which is why only his brother knew that his temper was even shorter than his eyes dulled by annoyance he didn't even wait for them to begin
"The answer is no,"
"what?"
"You were about to demand I hand him over but he is my sects disciple hence the answer is no,"
"He is of Hóng fènghuáng, I was the closest to Na Nuan, he should come with me,"
Tai Shiqiu's eyes narrowed at the Elder Shen, "What does your friendship with a dead man have to do with that boy,"
"None of you may take him if he wants to stay he'll stay you have no say in his the affairs of this sect youngest master."
"I second brother Tai Shu-Qiu," said Master Yu gathering his fan and heading out, "the boy is a student of our dearest friend Na Nuan we should respect his and his new masters decision as for the rest of us we best take our leave," it went unsaid but they all knew they'd rather leave before they were thrown out.
he walked past Tai Shiqiu, whispering "Don't let him out for a while, greed blinds even those who hunger for knowledge."
six of the seven sect lords left.