When I awoke several seconds later, I noticed that Bai Ning Shuang was drawing closer to me. She reached out, her fingers stretching toward my face. I realized she intended to take off my mask, probably because she was curious about who I was.
I seized her hand before she could touch my mask.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Sorry." Bai Ning Shuang looked chagrined. I released her hand and then sat up, taking a deep breath. The core disciple of the Azure Water Sect studied me, her guilt turning into concern. "Are you all right? You seem pretty hurt."
"I'm fine. I recover quickly."
That was one of the advantages of Heaven and Earth Formula. It made my physical body a lot stronger than usual, and it provided me with a lot of qi. The more qi I had, the faster my rate of healing. I was practically regenerating like a starfish with the amount of qi that I circulated around my body. The cuts had already closed.
No wonder Master called this portion Heaven and Earth Indestructible Body.
Nonetheless, I couldn't allow Bai Ning Shuang to know about that. Using Seismic Step was already a huge risk. It was different from Heaven and Earth Strike, but if she was astute enough, she might link the move to a demonic sect. Furthermore, with the unnatural rate at which my body was recovering…it could only be the constitution of a monster.
"Are you really from Black Shadow Sect?" Bai Ning Shuang asked. I shook my head.
"Black Shadow Sect was destroyed a long time ago."
Her shoulders slumped and she looked away. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." In fact, it was my sect's fault. It was my predecessor who destroyed the Black Shadow Sect and took their techniques for himself. I couldn't believe the irony. Who would have thought that the successor of the one who destroyed the Black Shadow Sect would be part of those who might revive it?
Then I sensed approaching presences. These auras…they belonged to the Azure Water Sect. I took a deep breath and readied to leave.
"Your elders are here. They will be picking you up. I'll be taking my leave then."
"Wait!" Bai Ning Shuang called out. I paused to glare at her, but she was looking away shyly. "Will I see you again?"
"No," I replied and melted into the shadows, leaving her distraught and heartbroken. I didn't like that cold beauty. She wasn't my type. She was arrogant, condescending and cold, frequently insulting me in front of Lan Bei Er and trying to break us up. I wasn't a masochist nor was I desperate enough to like a girl like her simply because she was beautiful.
The further I stayed away from her, the better.
And so I returned to the Lan Manor. Taking off my mask, I went back into my room, wincing from the aches. By now my wounds had mostly healed, but there were still lingering aftereffects. I wasn't worried. By tomorrow morning, the pain would completely disappear.
"Hei Ye, are you back?" Lan Bei Er called out to me, knocking on the door. I jumped to my feet cheerfully.
"Yeah! Do you need anything?"
"I was wondering if you would like to join us for dinner," Lan Bei Er explained, opening the door and peering in. I nodded excitedly.
"Of course! I definitely want to!"
"Great! Let's go!" Lan Bei Er led me to the main dining hall in the Lan manor. "The Lan family is hosting my friends from the various major sects, so we've prepared a feast. Of course, you're invited too."
The dining hall was filled to the brim, with Lan Bei Er's friends seated around the table and servants bringing plates of food atop trays. Some topped up the tea, others brought refreshments or clean utensils, taking away soiled plates. At the head of the table sat Master Lan, accompanied by his wife. Lan Bei Er then sat on the other side of her father and gestured for me to take the seat next to her, which I gladly obliged. But my good mood was spoiled when Jian Shen spotted me and began his usual rowdy behavior.
"What is that trash doing here? Freeloading?"
"Are you insulting my guest?" Master Lan asked, his voice frosty. Jian Shen blanched.
"No…no, but surely he's not worthy of being a guest at your venerable Lan estate?"
"Why not?" Master Lan thundered. "He's my benefactor who saved my life by bringing the blood of the Red Python back."
"Are you sure he was the one who did it?"
"I saw it with my very own eyes," Lan Bei Er said, her tone chilly. "You may have doubts about how Hei Ye obtained it, but as long as he brought it back, I don't care what means he used. The fact remains that he saved my father. The results are what matters in the end."
"Actions speak louder than words," Madam Lan agreed softly, but her voice was strong and firm. "Unlike some people who proclaim about love and justice, but do absolutely nothing to help. Very hypocritical to condemn and insult the person who actually did something to help, don't you think?"
"You…you're all speaking up for him?" Jian Shen spluttered, looking to his friends for help. But none of them could meet his gaze. The logic of the Lan family's words were sound. Nobody could refute anything they had said.
Jian Shen clenched his fists, trembling visibly with rage. Somehow he managed to suppress his anger, deciding to change the topic instead.
"Junior Bei Er, you should visit the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion. I promised you a gift, a treasure from my sect earlier, didn't I? I can even prepare a dowry. Our masters have already discussed the matter."
"My daughter will not be marrying you," Master Lan said. "She already has someone else in her heart."
"What? But that's impossible!" Jian Shen swiveled toward me. "Is it him?"
"So what if I want to marry Hei Ye instead of you, Senior?" Lan Bei Er retorted. "It has nothing to do with you."
"Why? What does he have that I don't?!" Jian Shen stormed, pointing at me. "He's just trash…" He trailed off when he caught the glare from both Master Lan and Madam Lan. Not a good idea to offend the two people who were to be his future in-laws if he got his way. He cleared his throat. "He isn't as rich as me! He can't provide you any gifts or dowry! Don't be fooled by this pauper!"
"Oh, speaking of gifts…" I pushed my glasses up my nose and reached into my spatial pouch. "I noticed that you like this, Bei Er. So I bought it for you."
I produced the Sea Gemstone Pendant and passed it to her. Lan Bei Er blinked, staring at it in disbelief, and then her jaw dropped. I put the pendant in her hands and closed her fingers around it.
"A gift."
"How…why…?"
"You like it, didn't you? I saw you ask the vendor about it…"
"You were at Silver River Pavilion? But how…?" She blinked and then giggled, slapping her forehead. "Of course. I should have known that was you. You looked so familiar, but I couldn't be sure. You were there all along."
"What are you talking about, Senior Lan?" One of her friends from the Golden Thunder Sect asked, her robes golden and red, as well as bearing the thunderbolt crest. "We never saw him there, did we?"
"The one with the black dog mask." Lan Bei Er nodded, chuckling to herself. "That really suited you. It was very cute."
I was a dog person and not a cat person, so I wasn't offended. I simply nodded.
"No way! That was him?"
"The one Senior Jian said wouldn't be able to afford a sword?"
"But if he can afford that Sea Gemstone pendant, then why wouldn't he be able to afford a spirit weapon?"
A few murmurs ran through the gathered disciples. Jian Shen, on the other hand, looked as if he was about to explode.
"Are you a fool?" He sneered. "Instead of spending what little of your precious money that you have on a spirit weapon, you waste it all on a gift?"
"Ah, right. I remember you spent all your money on Ghost Iron Ore, so you weren't able to buy Bei Er a gift." I nodded thoughtfully. Jian Shen spluttered incoherently, unable to form a word as his mouth opened and closed incessantly. "My wife's joy is more important to me than a sword."
"She's not your wife!" Jian Shen yelled.
"Yes, I am," Lan Bei Er retorted. All the female disciples squealed while the males whistled.
"What…no way…" Jian Shen sagged to his seat. However, Lan Bei Er was not done. She looked at me sternly.
"Hei Ye, I appreciate the sentiment, but let's be practical. You need a sword more than I need a piece of jewelry. As long as you're armed, you can protect yourself, maybe carry out missions, and earn more money. But if you spent all of it on a pendant, then how are you going to defend yourself? Please treat yourself more importantly."
"Don't worry," I assured her and pulled out Abyssal Edge. "I got this, so you don't have to worry about me lacking a sword."
"What the…isn't that a high quality spirit sword?" A disciple from Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion blurted out. "It's even more expensive and better than Senior Jian's Silver Glazed Sword!"
Poor Jian Shen looked as if he was going to explode. I wanted to poke him with my new sword, but I didn't want to dirty the blade with his filthy blood and flesh, so I put it back in my spatial pouch. Even so, the other disciples continued to stare at my hands in awe, as if still visualizing my Abyssal Edge.
I ignored their admiring gazes and returned to eating.
"Where did you get so much money from?" Jian Shen demanded, finally finding his voice. "Did you steal it?"
"If you continue to slander my son-in-law, I'll kick you out of my house," Master Lan said, and that finally shut him up for good.
Unfortunately, he had friends and allies planted within the little group, and one of them – from the Elemental Mountain Sect this time – raised a hand.
"I mean no offense, but…you aren't from any sect, are you? Then wouldn't it be…um, bad for the Lan family's reputation?"
"So if I join a sect, it'll be good for the Lan family's reputation?" I asked before feeding myself with a mouthful of rice. The Elemental Mountain sect dude nodded.
"Yeah, but not just any sect. You have to at least be from one of the seven major sects, otherwise, to be frank, you're not worthy of Senior Lan."
"I'm the one not worthy of him," Lan Bei Er snapped. I held a hand to calm her down.
"Okay then. I'll give it a try."
"Hmm, coincidentally enough, the seven major sects will be holding their recruitment soon," Master Lan mused, stroking his chin. "I'll help recommend you, Hei Ye. Do your best to get into one of them."
That was one hell of a coincidence. To think that there would conveniently be a recruiting event so soon, it was as if this was a story and the plot was warping to fit my needs. Nah, that was impossible. I had read way too many trashy web novels. Pushing the disturbing thoughts from my mind, I nodded and put on an expression of what I hoped was resolute determination.
"Yes, Master Lan."
"What Master Lan, you should be addressing me as father-in-law."
While the middle-aged man guffawed heartily, showing no trace of his injuries from before, a single glare pierced me. Jian Shen was glowering at me silently from his corner of the table, no doubt plotting something. A grin flashed across his handsome face, and then disappeared just as quickly.
No need to guess, I already knew he was going to use his connections to prevent me from getting into the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion or something.