Leaving the cafeteria, she made her way to the Colosseum and found the injured. Xiao Li and Ying Hui had updated her on the situation. Turns out that her little involvement with the jade had become quite an event, even creating a large storm. Lotus glanced over to find that the headmaster had already began to discuss with the managers of the artifacts before they were quickly escorted away by the headmaster. It would seem that nobody had seen her repair the artifact. Since it's like this, then everything is fine… for now.
Lotus frowned. Someone was watching her!
Without looking back to see who it was, she continued to mind her own business treating the others with first aid. It was the most she can do as a teacher assistant of the nurse. Was it those guys? Are they about to try something while she was busy treating the civilians?
She recalled the familiar energy and the old scepter. Her little sister's scepter. Her statue. Thinking this, something dawned upon her. As if the heavens of this world were on her side, Crystal immediately sent her a message.
They were on the move!
She took a deep breath before going over to the next patient with a scrape on their knees. Once she was done, she took a deep breath and noticed the nurse arriving as fast as he could. He relieved her of her post and she remained on the side. She needed to reign in any reckless decisions and the anger in her. However, when she thought this, she realized that there were no such feelings inside her at all. Not the chilling anger or the burning sensation in her. Just the cool feeling that washes through her. She was not angry. This feeling… It has been so long since she last felt this feeling.
She took a deep breath again only to feel as though she was not alone on this lonely path of madness and frustration. All these years…
These past fifteen years of traversing on this path of cultivation by herself. The only cultivator in this world. The only one that had to shoulder the responsibility of being the key reason for treacherous villains of her world to come into this world and create chaos. For once in a long time, she felt as though she had finally settled down…
Had finally come to terms with herself…
She was alone in this world. The only immortal among mortals…
However, she finally could not feel the cold wind that once penetrated into her soul. Feelings of fondness. Feelings of betrayal and anger. Feelings of grief and frustration. All such attachments were washed clean of their dirt. All it is waiting upon her now was a calming sense of ebbing nostalgia and pure grief.
"Mo Li…" Lotus frowned as she finally realized what had been going on and whispered hesitantly in silence, "The reason why the Ancient Jade Essence could not save you was not that it failed to work and allowed you to lose your mind, was it? ... You… You silly child… My dear sister…"
In the aftermath of the destruction, she remained hidden in the shadows of the chaos in deep thoughts. Even as everyone left, she didn't say a word and simply sat on the edge of the cliff behind the school building in silence as the headmaster managed to sort out the chaos.
Finally, she had come to a discovery, "Life is eternal and cultivation means to seek a path towards the truth of the world. To follow this path isn't to be alone, but to see the world for its true colors. What I see before me can be an illusion, but what I feel is not a lie. This feeling… isn't this….. So, that's it…"
Suddenly, light shone once again, but Xiao Li and the others were ready and Little Jun tossed out the array Lotus had prepared beforehand for emergencies. However, the light was so bright and powerful that it shattered the array!
Ying Hui cried in fear and shock, "This-! But, at this time-! Brother, isn't this-?!"
"What are you afraid of?!" Xiao Li scolded her, "If it is that, then we have all the more reason to shelter her! Hurry! Grab that ancient array master finished a few weeks ago! Now!"
Little Jun didn't wait as he rushed into the study where his master usually secludes herself into to practice her arts and found the array. Without waiting, he picked it up with his sharp teeth and tossed it at the little spirit who immediately tossed it out of the ring where it immediately activated! As the array continued to stand, Lotus stayed sitting on the edge as her mind was focused solely on her heart and her eyes landed solely on the fine white line of the waves. Hours passed as the light around her continued to shine. By the time the light vanished, it was dark and the light condensed into her body. Then, a scarlet Lotus-shaped mark appeared between her brows. She stood up and brought the array back into the palm of her hand. Now, she could no longer feel the eyes on her…
No, but not that pair of eyes...
Yet, after reaching to the Hall of Mirrors, she was not about to go back as she sent Zhang Li back to the dorm in her disguise instead. Zhang Li turned around hesitantly as she was about to leave but seeing the back of her master, she couldn't help but recall the calm gleam in her eyes and the ethereal aura coming from her as Lotus made the lotus vanish with her own free will. There was also the fresh floral scent of flowers in the air as she had been standing next to her master. She can still tell that it was her master, but, at the same time, she can't tell what her master was thinking anymore. Lotus was herself. Even if she changed, Zhang Li will always follow her. Yet, the calm yet cold gleam in her eyes left her in awe. Unlike the former fiery in her eyes when she had seen the weapon or the assassin, it was like there was nothing that could irritate her, yet there was still ambition within her to keep going. It was as she had expected! Her master is really amazing!
After she left, Lotus turned around and made her way to the Hall of Mirrors without hesitation.
"Master?" Xiao Li called out to her hesitantly.
Lotus shook her head with a soft smile as she remained in the Hall of Mirrors, "Xiao Li, have everyone on standby. If something happens, I will count on all of you…"
"Big Sister…" Little Jun muttered quietly in her mind, "Will you be all right?"
Lotus nodded solemnly, "I'm all right, Little Jun… Wait for me, all right?"
Little Jun reluctantly nodded his head as Lotus stared upon the mirror decorated with bones and blue flames and whispered quietly to herself, "It's been so long since I've felt this clear-minded… Why is that? Is it you, Little Sister?"
The strange calmness that washed over her was cold and chilling, but it was hardly even painful. All the pain that she felt… Was it because she sensed her sister's presence?
"Mo Li…" Lotus muttered under her breath, "I promised you… No matter how long we have to wait…regardless of the centuries that pass by… what lives we come back into the world of the living as… I will retrieve what has been stolen from you… Sister… Little Sister…"
She magically changed her attire into the black brocade and took a step in, "I took too long to begin. It's big sister's fault… So, wait for me. Third Sister is coming."
…..
The cultivator in blue walked through the darkness of the dorm and deeper into the cavern. Bodies of canines lay about him as he confronted the collapsed body of the Alpha wolf.
"With this, I can finally prepare in peace…" The cultivator sneered viciously. Just the thought of his targets' dying breath left him with an itchy feeling of ecstasy.
Just as he turned around, the alpha wolf growled and struggled to stand. However doing so, pain shot through his body and he crumbled back to the ground. Seeing this, the cultivator huffed and ignored him as he walked away, "How pathetic..."
"How dare you!"
One of the large wolves lunged at him, but they was quickly thrown against the wall with a loud yelp. Seeing this, the alpha could not stand it any longer and forcefully stood up and growled at him as the growl echoed in the cave. He immediately lunged at him but, with one leap to dodge it, the cultivator shot a needle at the alpha as he collapsed onto the ground with his side!
He scowled and the wolf next to him yelped as it was kicked to the side by him. He sighed, "Don't worry. I'm not here to kill you guys specifically. By the time you wake up, you better pick a new leader!"