Wu Huan entered Mo City once again. He had known that the city was still ungoverned by a solid head family. In the growing panic of the demon king's return, the Sects had their hands full in security affairs to sit through a convention sorting out the perfect candidate. With Taohua building its wall, Lan Yan dispatching disciples to investigate, and Yin Dragon Sect minding its own business, Gao Li was temporary given the duty to oversee a city similar to its own.
The man was very pleased because his ego was never always only lying on the amount of gold he possessed. He wanted to take over the whole cultivation world. A lofty ambition.
Wu Huan's first destination to finding Shi Lihua was the Blessed Mortal temple. If he had truly killed Yin Fan's secret lackeys, he was bound to escape through the West gate. Mo City was an obvious guess.
The front wooden doors wouldn't budge on his first try. It seemed to have been blocked by something inside. With a big grunt, he broke it with his spiritual energy. Wu Huan cringed at the loud noise and he quickly stepped inside. Unlike his first visit, there was no one to mind and clean the temple. Spiderwebs clung from the high ceiling to the ground, and he could see his footsteps from the long-settled dirt.
Wu Huan quietly entered the room Shi Lihua was used to be held captive at. Sunlight shone through the huge hole in the roof they had made. There was a rat that scattered once Wu Huan laid his eyes on it. He hadn't checked the other room but he was already feeling dejected. If Shi Lihua was here, he would have come out once he had sensed his presence.
Wouldn't he?
Suddenly, he heard what sounded like footsteps along the hall. Rushing without much caution, Wu Huan hurried to check the new visitor. It was a man in a black rope who had looked shocked running into an unfamiliar face.
"You're from Yin Dragon Sect, aren't you?" His footsteps were deliberate inside the hollow hallway. Without much explanation, Wu Huan summoned Peizhi. The man who had already picked up the danger took a few steps backward. He had grabbed his own sword but his face already gave away that he was intimidated. "You're here to find Shi Lihua, aren't you?"
"Who are you? How did you-"
"What's going on?" a group of similarly dressed people barged into the scene. The man seemed to regain strength in his feet then as he began to point his sword.
"He's an enemy. Kill him."
Peizhi followed its master. Wu Huan might have not gone into much real action for the past months but he had already put his sword deep into at least half of their freshes in a half incense stick. One of them came running at him from behind for a surprise attack while he was engaging in another fight, however, he immediately kicked his legs and jump high in the air watching his two enemies gaping up at him.
In an instance, he landed successfully on one of their shoulders. With a confident grip, he plunged Peizhi into the skull. Blood swayed onto his chin and only then he did realize how cruel it had looked. All the remaining disciples froze in shock. And when Wu Huan turned to them with such a bloody face, they rushed out of the hall, their tails behind their legs.
"Hang on!" Wu Huan missed a collar. He needed to interrogate them.
Just then someone appeared at the end of the hall. The peach blossom rope and phoenix gaze were no other than of the person he had been looking for.
Shi Lihua wordlessly beat them up. After that, he picked out a timid guy and pulled him out of the hall.
"Shixiong," Wu Huan tried but his face never turned to him.
"Does your young master have any association with the demon king?" Shi Lihua guarded the disciple's throat with his sword. "Speak or I'll drag every one of you to your deaths."
"I-I-I don't know. I really don't know. We are only doing what's been told!"
"I'll give you another second" His eyes held the red rims of anger. Wu Huan noticed the slight hollow of his cheeks. He must have had a rough journey.
The disciple was finally getting on his knees with tears, "I-I-I don't know much. But, we are told to ship the 'items' every week to the temple through the underground. Please, young master. Please don't kill me..."
"Shixiong," Wu Huan had grabbed his pale hand that held the sword. Only then did Shi Lihua seemed to rediscover his presence. His tight face relaxed but he quickly went on a scolding mode.
"Wu Huan. What are you doing here?"
The disciple took the advantage to slide out of the frame.
"I'm here for you. You should have expected this after sending me the letter." He let go of the hand and pointed Peizhi at the crawling disciple. "Take one more step and I'll chop off your legs. Yin Fan must have underestimated you sending these idiots. "
"Wu Huan, return back to the sect. You don't know what Yin Fan is capable of. Listen to me and go back."
The shidi sighed, "As always, you don't trust me. You taught me more than Master and yet, you don't acknowledge my capability. Shixiong, am I that incapable to you? Shall I not call you my shixiong anymore? Am I not deserving of my title?" That aggrieved face, the worried lines of his brows, and stubborn lips. Looking at Shi Lihua brought him a mixture of sadness and anger. He had been chasing for this man worrying about his safety and yet, here he was, embarrassing himself. Why waste his time for a person like him? Why even bother?
"Wu-"
Wu Huan had indirectly cut him off mid-sentence when he sliced his sword into the man's neck. Shi Lihua watched him in shock. When the disciple's head rolled onto the ground and perched against his feet, his face turned to the man he used to call 'shixiong'. All he saw now was a man that hadn't thought he was ever enough. Just like his uncle. "I can summon Peizhi at my will now. Do you know why? Because I was worried about you. Because I couldn't BEAR knowing that you're out there putting yourself in the sight of your enemy. YOU'RE all I care about. But, listen to yourself. Go back to the sect? For what? Train like an idiot when I don't even have a chance at proving myself? When my title and position are just empty words? Have I not have any values in your eyes?"
A tear easily slipped down his cheek and he hated himsekf. All of a sudden, his heart jolted in pain making him a little faze. Nonetheless, he aimed his sword at Shi Lihua the moment he had stepped closer looking concerned. The sword tassel swayed clearly in between them.
"Don't."
"But," His sharp eyes directed towards his chest and it would be an understatement to say that he was only worried. He was scared. Scared by this strange outburst. Just what happened to Wu Huan all this time he was away?
Wu Huan had fought to keep his sword straight but, it was too late. His vision turned black and his heart was beating out of his chest. He could no longer breathe properly.
"Look who it is?" A voice rang in between his desperate gasp for breath and Shi Lihua's frightened face. It was Yin Fan he saw in the corner of his eyes. Just in time from this sudden appearance, Wu Huan felt to the ground.