A few years after meeting Xue Mo, Lu Yao felt comfortable, secure, and that she could let her guard down. These unfamiliar feelings were new to her. For the first time since she lost her mother, Lu Yao felt that she could depend on someone.
Yet, even though she felt that way, her life was harsh and cruel, one that she wouldn't forget about no matter how things changed, and the thing she knew best was that there should always be secrets. Telling someone everything about oneself always led to betrayal and miserable endings; this was something her mother always taught her.
However, as the years passed and she got to know him, Lu Yao felt that this person would never betray her, he would never disappoint her, someone she could entrust her entire being to! The feelings she developed grew with her that she even started to trust him unconditionally. And just when she was about to confess everything and tell him about her, Purple Ash went and destroyed the moment.
Lu Yao stared with clenched teeth and fists at Purple Ash as feelings of hatred, disappointment, and sadness enveloped her. A variety of emotions and expressions emerged on her usual cold face while she sighed. Purple Ash was someone who they couldn't contend with considering the strength they currently possessed. He could swap them like flies and not even use that much power!
Xue Mo saw Lu Yao's change of countenance and figured what happened. It seemed like he wasn't the only person who had thoughts about laying everything out. Still, Purple Ash's interference destroyed and expedited their plans.
Sigh. "You did something unnecessary, Purple Ash," Xue Mo said with some melancholy in his voice. "Couldn't you keep that info for yourself?" He stared at him, wearing an annoyed expression.
"What did I do?" He looked confused for a second as if he hadn't read the room's atmosphere before suddenly laughing. "Alright, I am sorry. I knew that you didn't want me to say it, but I had to test you!"
"Test?" Lu Yao, who just calmed down, felt herself heating up again. "You want to tell me that you destroyed my plans that I had been planning for several months because of a test?!" With an icy stare, she pointed her claw at him, "do you want to die?"
Purple Ash realized that the situation was direr than he initially thought. He wondered how he could rectify this situation as he knew that a simple apology wouldn't be enough. While thinking, he looked around, and when his eyes made contact with his space ring, his eyes glistened.
"I just realized my mistake; I deeply apologize for offending you, Abyssal One!" Purple Ash, a respected Sect Master of a huge sect, bowed his head. He was a dragon, a proud creature, yet still did it. This surprised Xue Mo and Lu Yao so much that even the angry Lu Yao got so startled her anger dissipated.
He took out his space ring and gave it to Lu Yao, who was still looking at him with an incredulous expression, "this ring had been with me my entire life; it also has all my possessions!" He handed it over with a neutral expression.
Xue Mo noticed that Purple Ash loved this ring even though he tried hiding his expression and for him to give it to Lu Yao was a surprise. He didn't know why he treated them with such respect even if they had dragon blood in them.
He nudged Lu Yao, who took the ring still in shock; she didn't know what was happening. "Wh-why are you doing this?" She unconsciously stuttered at how weird the situation looked, "this ring has everything that you collected in your life. Can you really bear to give it up?"
"This ring, it was given to me by my father, mentor, and the greatest Sect Master of the Dark Arts Sect," Purple Ash spoke, his eyes not leaving the black colored space ring. "If you ask me if I can give it up, I would have declined vehemently!"
"Then why-" Purple Ash stopped her by raising his hand and finally taking his hand from the ring to Lu Yao, "it's because this ring has an owner, and that owner is you!"
"This ring has been handed down from Sect Master to Sect Master through the generations. It was a memento from the Founder of the Dark Arts sect," he said with utmost seriousness. "And that person was an Abyssal Demonic Dragon!"
Lu Yao finally realized what he meant by this ring belonged to her. As someone with the Abyssal Demonic Dragon blood, he thought it was her right to have it. Seeing how sincere Purple Ash was, Lu Yao shook her head and returned the ring with a smile.
"Ah, forget it. I feel benevolent today, so I'll forgive you this time. Keep the ring, Sect Master!"
Xue Mo smiled from the side though he was still bitter, 'she was going to tell me herself. Sigh. Even though I am angry, since she forgave him, I will let it go this time.'
Unknown to him, as he looked at Lu Yao with grateful eyes while receiving the ring, he avoided danger.
"Anyway," Xue Mo spoke, catching the attention of the two, "what did you want to talk about?"
Purple Ash remembered why he took them to the side, "Actually, there is something that I need your help with!"
Hearing the serious tone and Purple Ash's narrowed slits Xue Mo and Lu Yao got interested. "What do you need?"
Sip
Purple Ash drank more of the still-hot tea, calmed his mind, and honestly said, "we have spies here."
Xue Mo didn't look surprised while Lu Yao decided to nap and jumped on the former's shoulder. "There is no organization clear of spies," he said, also drinking some tea, "good tea." He praised. "However, from the way you said it, I perceive that the situation seems to have escalated. What, did they infiltrate all the way that even the upper echelons of the Sect are suspected to be spies and there isn't anyone you can trust?"
"Exactly," Purple Ash nodded unconsciously before realizing, "wait, how did you know?"
Xue Mo looked at him with bland and cold eyes that said it's obvious. "So," Xue Mo continued ignoring the question, "you want our help in cleaning the Sect?"
"Yes, the situation is too messy, which is why I made Hesroth open the portal here. I heard that you trained the students of that subsidiary branch. From what I noticed, they seem like organized troops with great potential."
"They were like that when I left seclusion," he honestly cleared. "But they are indeed loyal, I could tell at a glance," he looked at Purple Ash, "just like I know that the respect you have for me is due to my bloodline. I saw how you treated Lu Yao before knowing about her bloodline," Lu Yao, who was sleeping, nodded in agreement.
"I won't deny it, nor did I ever try to conceal it, I don't know you, but I know of your bloodline, which assures me that you are worthy of respect. Same is for Miss Yao, who shares the same bloodline as the Founder."
Xue Mo liked such honesty and decided to converse more with Purple Ash. At the end of the talk, he finished with, "give me some time, and I will be able to help you determine who's a spy and who's a real Dark Arts member! We have 40 years to plan!" After he said that, he followed the direction Hesroth left in, leaving Purple Ash to ponder the mysterious words.