"Oh ho," the creep hugged his arms. "The young master seems mad. Quiet a scary sight, isn't it?"
He wasn't talking to Shi Lihua. But, at the rooftop. "You two."
A part of the roof fell in between them, two figures dropped down. Their swords aiming straight at the stranger's mask. Shi Lihua was also pushed behind one of the bodies.
It was Wu Huan and Luo Yang.
"This sucks. I was going to stick my sword in your freaking brain in another second...Pervert," Luo Yang scowled. He had his free hand raising, ready to blow the person in front to bits.
Totally opposite to him, Wu Huan had the calm gaze of a river, his protective arm shielding his shixiong and his other one holding his blade.
[That sword...it's finally out.]
Shi Lihua was reminded of their times during the training. Wu Huan was never able to use his sword and always resorted to using a dummy. While his master was understanding, Shi Lihua wasn't able to take it in as easily.
First of all, he had never seen anyone in his whole life not being able to use their very personal spiritual weapon despite being its master. This reality sounded absolutely more like a joke. The sword would always tremble when it was called, but it would never leave its scabbard. And, he was the most frustrated at the fact that this had made his special effort to train Wu Huan pretty went very unprogressive.
He had also inquired why this idiot shidi was able to level all the way up to the eighth state of the golden core. What he received was, "The sword was ok before so I was able to progress. But, it's been two years now since I haven't been able to level up. I've only been practicing soul cultivation to make up for the lack of physical cultivation."
Two years. This shidi would have been at the Nascent Soul level by now if he had been able to practice with his sword. Shi Lihua himself had only reached the Nascent soul half a month ago. It seemed like he was underestimating him.
But, when he asked why it wouldn't obey his master, Wu Huan would also chuckle and say, "It's a very independent sword. I must have worked it too hard that it wants its hibernation. Don't worry, it will come out in an emergency situation."
"Wu Huan," Shi Lihua called while looking at the silver blade. "Step back. Let us handle him."
"..."
"Hey-" He tried grabbing his cloak but he wouldn't move an inch to look back or answer him. "It's too dangerous. You haven't fought with your sword for such a long-"
"Hau'er," Luo Yang suddenly spoke. "I know you don't want to see him get hurt but look after yourself for once. Your cloak is soaked with blood."
[Blood?] He touched the back of his head. Sure enough, it was sticky.
"Hahaha, that's right. I hit the sweet spot for extra sleep time. I know it took your shidi a lot to wrap that up, but I just felt like doing it, you know. Now you need an extra stitch. Good luck, Wu Huan." His tone made it pretty obvious that he was grinning behind the mask. Even with the two swords aiming at his throat, he looked merely unperturbed.
Shi Lihua wanted to say he was fine because even if he had to die, he would kill this guy no matter what. But, he had an inkling that it wasn't the right time for this, especially when Wu Huan acted so strangely.
Suddenly, someone appeared timidly by the door. He must have been listening in for quite sometimes. "Second young master, we're done." It was the guy who had fetched him earlier. He eyeballed the four people nervously before running off when he received an approving nod.
"Well, it seemed like I've got no time to play. Too bad I can't cut up you two. But, I'll tell you something," the creep sighed happily, wrapping his hands behind his back. "We will meet again. I'll make time to come visit. Hahaha."
Swoosh.
Wu Huan had charged in, to the shock of everyone. The tip of his sword was just a fingernail away from stabbing the side of the creep's head when he turned to walk away. Almost in an instance, Wu Huan flipped back, this time aiming at his neck. His target darted down, paddled into the air, and tried to plant his feet on the other's sword. But, it was thrown into the air just in time. Wu Huan jumped to retrieve the blade and aimed at the creep again.
Shi Lihua barely could keep up with their agility, a part of him was overwhelmed with concern, and another part of him was surprised. It all happened too fast and the two had already broken out of the roof to continue their fighting.
Luo Yang grabbed Shi Lihua, "What are you waiting for? He's going to get killed! That freak is no joke! He's a devil!"
"Wait-" the Shixiong pulled away from his sleeve, eyes glued to the two figures. "L-let him...let him fight."
"What?" Luo Yang looked incredulous. "Hua'er! Is this really you? He-"
"Look."
Wu Huan seemed to struggle a bit evading the stream of attack but he was slowly gaining the upper hand. Luo Yang watched a few more minutes and he finally figured out.
"He's about to level up!"
"Not just by one stage either. He's finally catching up to his true stage."
"Huh? What?"
"He's catching up to me. The early stage of Nascent soul."
"...How the hell would he level up at such circumstances? Won't he face a Qi deviation? Isn't it the more reasons to stop him?"
"I'm not sure but, if I'm not wrong, this is the case master has once told me about." Shi Lihua was completely white in the face. Even if he stopped Luo Yang, it still didn't mean he wasn't concerned about the other person's life. This was one of those times when he felt the utmost useless.
When you spiritually leveled up, it must be in your priority to meditate and go into seclusion to do your absolute best not to face a Qi deviation. Aside from such a method, you would never be able to control or prevent it. At least, that was what everyone knew.
"When I reached the sixth stage of Golden core, I was fighting a very powerful foe," Master Ciu had told him before Shi Lihua went into seclusion.
"W-what? Then master..."
"Something triggered me. It was the blurriest moment of my life but amidst my emotional turbulence, I seemed to be able to cultivate that strong energy and level up."
Shi Lihua blinked, "How about Qi deviation? Are you bound to face it in such circumstances."
"In all honesty, I do not know. But, one thing I was sure of was that I was able to escape unscathed because of that something. Hua'er."
"Yes...?"
"Humans' emotions are really strong forces. It can either destroy or elevate souls. You mustn't underestimate it. Honor it, instead."
"Emotions?" Luo Yang, by now, had put away his sword. He couldn't resist watching them anymore. As strange as it sounded, he knew there was some truth to it because he had also felt a powerful emotion that wasn't his earlier.
He felt it at the rooftop.
He felt it when Shi Lihua cried.