We had walked through the forest for a while and Liú Shuài was holding a compass in his possesion as we went Southwards.
"Tell me about this Yīnuo valley?" I said.
"There's nothing much about it but in the times of chaos like this and the peace that once was is being tampered with we can expect to encounter the worst." Liú Shuài replied.
"Like?" I asked.
"I don't know." Liú Shuài replied, "From Demon Cultivators to magical beasts." He added.
"Aren't magical beasts restricted to areas which have a very high degree of spiritual energy?" I Asked.
"There are rogues." Liú Shuài replied we halted right outside the forest and staring in a distance we could see the Southern Mountain Ranges stretching over the horizon.
"It's still very far." I said.
"There's a city in the valley which we could reach before sundown." Liú Shuài replied.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
"I have been a wanderer for the past five years." Liú Shuài replied.
"You've been around the whole country in the last five years?" I asked.
"Not necessarily, just most parts of it." Liú Shuài replied as he led the way down the small slope and we continued following a narrow path within a grassland.
We halted right next to a small hut that was stationed not so far from the hill on which we were standing and there we could hear a series of screams that were coming from inside.
"There's a problem." I said.
"Wait." Liú Shuài replied when he looked down and appeared to be staring at something.
My gaze followed his and I too realized that on the ground where we were stepping there was a strip of something that was black.
Liú Shuài bent over and touching the thick sticky thing he rubbed it on his fingers and he smelled it with his nose.
"What is that?" I Asked.
"Blood." Liú Shuài replied.
"I have never seen black blood in my life." I Said.
"You'd be surprised." Liú Shuài added when at that moment we heard the sound of the wind vibrating against a blade that was approaching us from behind and the both of us pushing each other away we separated and landed on opposite sides while three Demonic Cultivators stood in between us.
They were all wearing very long and thick dark hoods and just as they had stopped there with their blades there was an explosion that came from behind and the small house nearly collapsing a Group of Cultivators were kicked out but with their swords they landed on their feet three in number as well.
From the very cottage where they had emerged another Cultivator like the ones that were right there in front of us appeared and at that moment one launched himself at me while pointing his sword towards my chest.
I withdrew and slid backwards as I tried to get away from him and isolating him from the others, I spinned around him and then standing behind he turned his sword to Pierce me but I ceased it with both my arms in between as I threw a kick at him while he staggered backwards and there around him a thick dark cloud of smoke appeared.
He split into two more people.
I moved backwards as I halted when I collided with something and it happened to be Liú Shuài.
"What are these Demonic Cultivators?" I asked.
"I don't know but I have an idea." Liú Shuài replied.
"What is it?" I asked.
"If you kill the real one then the clones will vanish." Liú Shuài said.
"Alright." I replied as I watched keenly while the three started attacking me.
I quickened my footsteps as I usually did on those missions of the Scarlets and there with my blades I ran them through the clones as they turned to dust while I came face to face with the third who swinging his sword I guarded with my blades and by surprise I hadn't noticed that it was flexible it's edge swang towards my neck I held it with two fingers on my right hand.
The attacker span around and we both summersaulted and landed on the ground while I combined my two blades to conjure a staff which I spinned and guarded against the attacks of his sword.
He leaped in the air and conjuring a talisman he threw it towards me while I bent backwards and cut it into two with my blades using my left I also threw a talisman at him which landing on his chest it forced him to the ground.
At that moment I heard another sword coming from behind me and swinging my cape I leaped into mid air and stood on top of the head of my attacker.
Another clone laughed itself towards me and spinning I landed down while it went over the person on whom I had previously supported myself evolved into a dark mist that sprang at me.
Performing a series of hand seals I conjured a large number of talismans which I threw at the dark mist and and the talismans themselves widening into ribbons as they combined themselves together to form a rope, the most had gained it's human form and I swang it and threw it towards it's fellow.
Eventually, all five Cultivators we were back to back but the Demonic Cultivators had increased on the number of their clones they were about fifty around us.
Liú Shuài ceased my right hand and holding it tightly he swang me around and I kicked the first line of the Demonic Cultivators.
We then jumped into their midsts as they surrounded us.
Get down." Liú Shuài said as I bowed my head while he launched himself into mid air and conjuring his white Guqin he plucked the strings and an energy wave cleared the clones in front of us.
Another of the Cultivators that was resisting right in front of us pulled his pipa from his back and playing a series of notes he conjured a wave of yáng energy which cleared the clones in front of him.
The other two altogether combining their swords they swang them and conjured another ball of yáng energy which they threw at the four Demonic Cultivators themselves and trying to guard it they were struck eventually they combined to form one complex crude human like image.
Liú Shuài holding out his sword he attacked from below while spinning, the other two side to side they launched themselves at the Demonic Cultivator and the third of the strangers with his pipa leaped up and he forged a wave which hit the enemy the other three severing both his arms and legs from his body.
I wound up the event with a series of flying daggers which I thrust at his head but before they could strike him he had turned to smoke and he vanished leaving behind the other parts of his body which vanished shortly after as well.
Liú Shuài turned around and looking around at all the other three I noticed that they were all wearing a similar face.
We converged instantly while they seemed to study both Liú Shuài and myself.
"Greetings." They said as they kowtowed to the both of us.
"Greetings." We replied as we did the same while they returned their swords to their scabbards and the one in the middle conjured his pipa away.
"You're triplets?" I said.
"I am Chén Fán." One said.
"I am Chén Lín." The second said.
"I am Chén Ran." The third said.
"You can call us the Chén triplets." Chén Lín said.
"You're?" Chén Fán asked.
"Láo Yuèliáng." I said, "and this is my....." I didn't know what to say.
"I am Liú Shuài." He said when he noticed that I was having some difficulty in trying to say his name.
"Nice to meet you." the Chén triplets said.
"It's our pleasure." The both of us replied in unison.
"What was that thing?" I asked.
"A Demonic Cultivator." Chén Lín replied, "Though standardly you can call it the false face ghost." He added.
"False face ghosts are spirits." I said.
"Recently, many of these spirits have taken on human body so when you kill the body, the spirit vanishes and searches for another dead one." Chén Ran said.
"Why?" I asked.
"No one knows how they have been able to cross over to the human realm." Chén Lín said.
"Where are you headed to?" Liú Shuài asked.
"Shōumíng City." Chén Lín replied.
"That's far in the East." Liú Shuài said.
"Haven't you heard about the Campaign?" Chén Fán asked.
"What campaign?" I asked and Chén Ran tucked his hand into his cloak and from there he pulled out a piece of paper which he handed over to me and Liú Shuài.
We took it and unfolding it I read.
"The Xiūliàn Confederation." I said.
"The Emperor of Wú has passed an order allowing all the Cultivators and the Cultivation clans of the world that are interested to attend the Xiūliàn Confederation which is set to take place in Shōumíng in the next month." Chén Lín said.
"Even Rogue Cultivators are invited?" I asked.
"Yes." Chén Lín replied.
"Why?" Liú Shuài asked.
"The Līngyuè Transaction has exploded and now all the last dregs of the Féng Clan have joined their side with the exception of the pure a hundred." Chén Ran said.
"The pure a hundred?" I asked.
"After the Great Fall of the Féng Clan only a hundred of it's survivors that had proven and had accepted the mew Cultivation order of banning demonic arts of Cultivation were taken in to rebuild it." Liú Shuài replied.
"The Féng Clan opted to overthrow the Mortal governments and rule both the Cultivation and the human worlds and they were going to start by taking over the other six major Cultivation clans even though the plan ended in an absolute disaster.
Because of that alone the old remnants chose to revive themselves but at the expense of the other Cultivation sects.
Not so long ago the Yáng clan of the West was subdued and made the Primary headquarters of the Līngyuè Transaction and while Imperial troops were sent to subdue them forcefully, not a single one of them returned to the capital alive." Chén Lín replied.
"Then instead of the Capital why is the Confederation in Shōumíng?" I asked.
"Shōumíng is a spiritual ground and perhaps even the oldest, if the Līngyuè Transaction is to try and take over the martial world, a human capital isn't the place that they are after, instead, it's a spiritually rich area." Chén Fán replied.
"I see." Liú Shuài said.
"Are you also going for the Xiūliàn Confederation?" Chén Ran asked.
"Perhaps but there are things that we must first tend to and it's getting late so we need to first stop at Píng Laí Valley in Tōngjīan town." Liú Shuài said.
"Alright then." Chén Fán said.
"It was our pleasure meeting you." Chén Ran said.
"Same here." I said as we kotowed before we all separated and we went our own way.
"The False face ghosts." I said as we continued.
"Why, does it seem that interesting?" Liú Shuài asked.
"Something about all these occurrences is weird." I replied.
"About how spiritual beings are crossing over from the Netherworld?" Liú Shuài asked.
"Yes." I replied.
"Perhaps it's the doing of the Līngyuè Transaction." Liú Shuài said.
"It could be but something about the Xiūliàn Confederation isn't right as well." I said.
"The Fallen Féng Clan hopes for a revival and they are still bent on ruling both the Cultivation and the Mortal world, as far as I can think about it it must be something to do with the missing pieces of the Silver Mirror." Liú Shuài said.
"I was told that the six pieces of the Silver Mirror were destroyed." I said.
"It's want most people in the Cultivation world think but each of those fragments can react independently." Liú Shuài replied.
The Silver Mirror itself is like a spirit portal that connects all worlds and when the pieces were broken and hidden thousands of years ago, it was so that no one would be in the position to abuse their power.
However Féng Bayuán, the former leader of the Féng Clan grew ambitious to control and rule over the whole world and he believed that the Silver Mirror would lead him to the treasure that he wanted to achieve that goal.
He sent out agents some under the umbrella of the Līngyuè Transaction to all the sacred sites where the Silver Mirror was and declaring war on all the other clans they formed the Xiūliàn Summit which collided with the Féng Clan Cultivators in the battle of Língnan mountain river.
There at the peaks and in the valleys everyone fought from dusk till dawn but Féng Bayuán thinking that he had all the pieces of the silver Mirror activated them but they couldn't open because one of the pieces was missing and such being the case he was defeated and killed by the six Grandmasters however thanks to him since the fragments of the Silver Mirror were activated they can independently react on their own as spiritual pathways between all the worlds.
However to secure the treasure that could make one a ruler of the whole world, all seven pieces must be present to connect to the heart of the Netherworld where it was imprisoned." Liú Shuài replied.
"If all six pieces can react on their own then why do we need to destroy the seventh?" I asked.
"If the other pieces are activated then the seventh wherever it is is activated as well, automatically it shall be tracked down and once it is discovered then it shall be too late for the both of us.
However if one of the pieces of the silver Mirror is destroyed then automatically all of the others will die as well and the spiritual pathway shall remain forever closed and unable to be opened once again." Liú Shuài replied.
"Was I sure where the seventh fragment of the Silver Mirror is?" I asked Liú Shuài.
"Even if you didn't, you knew how to find it." Liú Shuài said.
"Who believed me?" I asked.
"Only I did." Liú Shuài replied as he halted in his footsteps and there he looked at me.
"What's wrong with me?" I asked, "Is there anything on my face?" I said.
"I..." Liú Shuài muttered.
"You what?" I asked.
"Nothing." Liú Shuài replied as he turned and he led the way.
We arrived at the entrance of Tōngjīan town and there looking up at the gates I read the golden plaque that was hanging above.
"We are here." I said.
"Follow me." Liú Shuài replied as he led the way into the busy market streets.
There were very many people that were loitering about the place and there staring at all the buildings that were inside I realised that they seemed very much taller than the ones of Yuánpīng and the place was a lot livelier it must have been much bigger as well in size.
We'd walked for a while and slowly as we approached, I noticed a Cultivation school that was nearby and looking through the gates I could see a group of students that were training in Green attires.
I raised my eyes to read the name that was written on the plaque.
"HUÁNG CLAN?" I said.
"It's one of the biggest and the seven Major Cultivation clans." Liú Shuài said.
"Won't they be hospitable to you the third Childe of the Liú Clan?" I asked.
"I don't wish." Liú Shuài replied, "I also don't think." He added.
"Why?" I asked.
"I made choices not everyone loved in my life." Liú Shuài replied as he eventually negotiated a corner and we stood at the entrance of an Opera House.
"This is?" I asked.
"Beífáng House." Liú Shuài replied as he led the way while I walked inside.
There were very many ordinary people that were loitering up and down and many women that were beautifully dressed singing there in the Courtyard.
"Everyone's gathering in the Courtyard." I said.
"It's spring and most times the peach tree leaves and the petals are carried from the surrounding hills by the wind they are eventually blown into the city.
Here the couple's watch the moonlight and drink wine while listening to the songs and admiring the stars, it's most peaceful of all places and solemn to the performing arts." Liú Shuài said.
"I thought you weren't the type of person that enjoyed this kind of leisure, you never loved the perverse world and all these things." I said.
"There are very many things that I never loved and I was the type of person that never enjoyed very many things, one day someone came into my life and introduced it all to me they made me realize that I wasn't living like I wanted, only living like most people asked." Liú Shuài replied.
"Who was that person?" I asked.
"My first love, my first kiss, my first comfort, my first peace, oh how dear we were but it is sad that this life along with myself could never let ourselves be." Liú Shuài replied.
At that moment one of the women that happened to be walking by bumped into me.
"I am sorry." she said as she raised her head and then looked at both me and Liú Shuài.
"Young Master Láo, Childe Liú?" She said as she fanned herself while she smiled at the both of us.
"Nice to meet you." I said.
She punched me on my right upper arm.
"Naughty Childe Láo, since when were you so forthright and humble?" the young woman said.
"Sorry Madame Zhāng but there's a bit of a problem with him." Liú Shuài said.
"Oh I see." The young woman replied.
"So you are here for the Spring festival?" Madame Zhāng asked as she took me by my right hand hand dragged me away while Liú Shuài followed us closely from behind.
"Yes." I said hesitantly.
"What a good chance you have dear boy!" Madame Zhāng exclaimed.
"Why?" I asked.
"Rarely we perform THE CRIMSON FLOWER and on days that are romantic like this we make an exception." Madame Zhāng replied.
"The Crimson Flower?" I asked.
"Don't you know it?" Madame Zhāng asked, "Didn't Liú Shuài tell you?" She added.
"Tell me what?" I asked.
"He really is that bad." Madame Zhāng asked.
"Tell me." I said.
"Thanks to Liú Shuài, he was able to at least challenge many of the greatest poets and thanks to him, the world to know the Crimson Flower." Madame Zhāng replied.
"Why?" I asked.
"No one would have thought that the Wanderer Childe of the Liú Clan would compose such a remarkable musical classic that narrates the beauty of love to the very horror of heartbreak." Madame Zhāng replied.
"He's that talented?" I asked.
"I was just as surprised as you are." Madame Zhāng replied.
"What happened?" I asked.
"No one really knows the kind of tragedy that he must have gone through because he has always been so lonely.
The Crimson Flower then became an anthem through which the lonely Cultivator spoke and it became a mirror through which he described the meaning of love." Madame Zhāng replied.
She brought me down at a table and there I sat while Liú Shuài took his seat right in front of me.
"I never knew that you were a songwriter." I said.
"I never was." Liú Shuài replied.
"That's not what I am hearing." I said.
"Very soon it is going to get dark, we shouldn't spend much time here." Liú Shuài said.
"I want to enjoy the petals, I want to listen to the Crimson Flower, I want to know and to understand how good you are that Madame Zhāng and every one else think you are a musical legend." I replied.
"But...." Liú Shuài was still saying.
"No buts." I replied.
"Alright." Liú Shuài replied.
The sky above our heads was already turning dark and in a short while the moon and the stars were up in the sky above our heads.
Eventually the stage was prepared and at that very moment Madame Zhāng introduced a troupe of dancers and instrumentalists that eventually every one quietened down.
The Guqin was played first and the dancers moved into the shape of a circle they started by swinging their hands as a single woman who was nearby started to sing out to the crowd.
Who can sing for you and me,
Where is my pain and sorrow,
Pure death it is I have seen,
There's only today and no tomorrow.
I bow here and cry my heart out,
My soul deeply longing to find Nirvana,
Not blest, this vain spirit abhors your affection,
My body longing satiety is in vain.
We fall and never rise,
We cry and never stop,
All alone with guilt in the heart,
Like stars from the sky we fall.
When the world is no better a home
And you forget not the pain I brought,
Hoping less to once again be made whole,
Forever like ashes in the rain we mourn.
How to compare you to my stars?
How to relinquish you for the world,
Like plums you blossom in my moon,
Like roses you give life to my day.
How be it that I come near,
How be it that I go far,
How be it that you in mind,
How be it that I put you in sight.
We fall and never rise,
We cry and never stop,
All alone with guilt in the heart,
Like stars from the sky we fall.
When the world is no better a home
And you forget not the pain I brought,
Hoping less to once again be made whole,
Forever like ashes in the rain we mourn.
I have promised you the moon,
I have promised you the sun,
My tongue has spoken in vain,
Sadly, yesteryear we were like ashes in the rain.
The dancers moved around and at that moment myself so mesmerised I stood up and walked up to the front like all the others not noticing that Liú Shuài was walking there to me from behind.
There a warm wind howling above as the female lead dancer spinning around she landed and slept on the floor, my heart broken was drawn back as another memory came to me.
I had been in that place before, that was why Madame Zhāng knew me, I once danced in that square when the lead dancer's ankle was twisted and Liú Shuài danced their with me.
I could almost feel his heart talking to me while I danced to the ancient rhyme, MY DEAREST PALACE FLOWER and just as I was falling Liú Shuài held me up and lokked me in the eye while I stared at him.
"Wonder is beyond me, where more have I to let these eyes of mine linger, what more is there for me to lose, not restrained compassions can tell where and what I want to be, in my eyes you most beautiful, you undying, you forever eternal like the sands of time." Liú Shuài said.
"Desolate is the Spirit, void is this heart of mine to cherish, if it means that for you I must lose then I am winning, and every step is taking me back to the very place where our story started." I had replied while he span me around and then holding my hands we flew up into the air as everyone watched.
"We were young, today we have grown, Because there's nothing that I want to regret when I can no longer hold you, I am unwilling to let go even if it pushes me into my grave." Liú Shuài said holding my hands and spreading them from behind we rotated there as we made our descent.
"There I gaze and watch upon you, as we burn and rise in these our most beautiful ashes and perfect Imperfections, where are you, where is that that I can not see, as long as my heart is listening as long as my spirit can feel, even when broken this heart of mine a simple thought of you it shall heal." I sang as I stretched out my leg which he held and his arms around my waist he turned me around.
And eventually rounding everything up he bent himself above me and my veil hanging loose while the Emperor with his thick beard he stared at me.
"To let go I'd rather die in this awful little world with only you, in these walls where I'm alone, there's not much I'd ask from life than to have you, even when our tears are falling and the light for us is waning I'll be still in my heart, cause it's you I only see, my most beautiful within my dearest Palace Flower." we sang as the zither persisted while other instruments started to go silent one by one.
At that moment I recalled the petals falling down and showering us while coming back to my senses and raising my hands up to the sky I noticed that a Crimson petal had fallen on if.
"I remember." I said.
"You do?" Liú Shuài asked.
"MY DEAREST PALACE FLOWER." I said.
"Yes." Liú Shuài replied as I turned around and I looked at him while the petals rained on us, there in my eyes I had envisioned him wearing that Emperor's costume while I wore the beloved dearest Concubines.
At that moment the people were screaming and others were scattering and there noticing a masked man rising up to cut Liú Shuài from behind I took his left hand and dragged him behind myself as I raised my hand to hold his sword and the moment that it landed on me it was as though everything else slowed down.
I could feel my body burning up and noticing my veins shining brightly like they normally did there was a very large force of energy that emerged from my body and striking my attacker and repelling them, the commons around me surviving the masked people entirely turned into dust they eventually disappeared.
I closed my eyes and then tired and exhausted I could feel myself landing in a pair of very strong arms that held me up.
I opened them slightly once again and realised that Liú Shuài was looking at me and slowly I could feel the wind rushing over my face that I was very certain that we were flying away.
"Liú Shuài?" I called him as I tried raising my left hand to touch his face.
"Hold on tight." Liú Shuài replied and at that moment every last bit of energy within me vanished and everything suddenly went black.
"Wake up Láo Yuè, this must be a dream." I told myself but the darkness complete I didn't know when and I didn't realise how but I was certain that I had stopped.
LATER
I opened up my eyes and looking around I found myself lying down in a plain white bed and myself wearing a green attire.
I could smell incense burning in the air and I could also hear the sound of the Guqin playing but at that moment, it was being accompanied by the sound of the flute as well.
I looked about but the first thing that I realised was that the place was so bright and slowly as my eyes grew accustomed to it I realised that there was a roof above my head with beautiful floral arrangement patterns around it and and some spirals incorporated as well.
I sat up in bed and at that moment my eyes travelling to my left I caught sight of two people that was in the room the one whom I recognized as Liú Shuài who was with the Guqin and right next to him there was another man that was nearly as old as he was dressed decently I could tell that he was most likely noble as much as he was.
His robes didn't look any different from the ones that I had spotted at the gate of the Huáng Cultivation school though they boasted a few more intricate designs and patterns, his hanfu had a fairly long train that was embroidered with some thick silver and emerald thread.
"He's up." The young man said and Liú Shuài standing up from where he was seated he walked up to my bedside along with his friend and there I stared innocently as a child waiting and wondering what was probably going on.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"The Emerald pavilion." The young man replied.
"The Huáng Cultivation School." Liú Shuài said.
"I see." I remarked as I stated around the place but there was so much Silence and peace I couldn't even hear any noise that was coming from outside.
"I don't hear anybody." I said.
"This pavilion is isolated on the Eastside of the school right next to the river, there isn't any noise because the training ground is far away." The young man replied.
"Do I know you?" I asked.
"Huáng Xiāo." The young man replied.
"Huáng Xiāo." I repeated the name for emphasis as I tried to recall whether I still remembered him but nothing familiar came to my mind.
"Do you remember?" Liú Shuài asked me.
"Him?" I asked.
"Yes." Liú Shuài replied.
"No." I replied as I nodded my head.
"It's alright, I understand." Huáng Xiāo said to me.
"What happened?" I asked, "who were those people?" I asked Liú Shuài.
"I don't know." Liú Shuài replied, "but I believe that they are from the Līngyuè Transaction." He added.
"Līngyuè?" I asked, "why?" I added.
"They're after you." Huáng Xiāo replied.
"After me?" I asked.
"Yes." Liú Shuài replied.
"Why is everyone suddenly after me?" I asked.
"I won't lie to you." Liú Shuài said, "you are very special Láo Yuè." He added.
"Everyone tells me that I am special but no one says how." I replied.
"What you did yesterday night has never happened, you possess a great deal of power and something inside you I believe amplified that strength." Huáng Xiāo said.
"Could you please speak a language that I understand." I said.
"I'll try." Huáng Xiāo said as he walked around the room he pulled something out of a drawer and there he returned towards me with it in his hands.
"What's this?" I asked.
"It's an energy detector." Huáng Xiāo replied as he put it right in front of me and there I noticed that the small stone started glowing and shaking vigorously.
"Why's it acting like that?" I asked.
"That's the energy that is flowing through your core and I realised the explosion and the immense amount of power that you emitted yesterday night, it was like no other." Huáng Xiāo replied.
"I don't know how it happened." I said.
"Even I can't start to explain how." Huáng Xiāo said, "whatever it is that is in your body it is not that easy to detect the source of such immense power." He added.
"I'm a spiritual hybrid." I replied.
"A spiritual what?" Huáng Xiāo asked.
"There is both yīn and yáng energy in my core and because of it being in balance I am sustained but should that balance be altered I was warned that in the end if both forces amount up to the same and fight each other to dominate then it could destroy me." I replied.
"Your case is quite complicated but if there is one force that is much more superior than the other then it is likely that's the nature that you are bound to take by natural order." Huáng Xiāo said.
"What type of energy is greater within me?" I asked.
"At the moment the yīn has been suppressed which is why you might end up noticing that there us going to be a great deal of change in your powers but since your channels have widened it's going to be a little bit difficult to keep that yáng ahead because whatever it is that is restricting your channels gas formed a spiritual barrier so energy can only be concentrated in and out depending on the reaction." Huáng Xiāo said.
"That's odd." I said, "prior to this I has always taken in yīn energy endlessly unless I struggled hard to confine my internal force." I added.
"It's a little bit different this time around most likely your skills have graduated." Huáng Xiāo said.
"Perhaps." I replied.
"We don't have much time Huáng Xiāo, we must get to Yīnuo valley." Liú Shuài said.
"Yīnuo valley?" Huáng Xiāo said.
"Your tone makes it sound like there is something wrong with it." I said.
"You must be aware then that most of the pathways have been blocked recently and the last that is most difficult to penetrate is the Luó Graveyard." Huáng Xiāo said.
"That place has been an unpredictable domain for centuries now." Liú Shuài said.
"Why?" I asked.
"At a time like this with spirits crossing over into the human world because of weak restrictions you do know the possibility that you have of being possesed." Huáng Xiāo asked.
"And some of these demons and ghosts that linger around aren't that easy to exorcise and unlike the sacred sites the Luó Graveyard and others around the Cultivation world are always rich in yīn energy which could tamper with your internal equilibrium." Liú Shuài said.
"I hadn't thought of that." I said.
"Can't we use another path?" Liú Shuài asked.
"I have already told you that other paths are impenetrable." Huáng Xiāo said.
"If we should get to Yīnuo valley then we must take the risk and walk through the graveyard." I said.
"We are talking about one acre of dead bodies." Liú Shuài said.
"Then if we can not go through why don't we go above?" I asked.
Liú Shuài and Huáng Xiāo looked at one another.
"We can make an attempt but we can not guarantee that it'll be very reliable." Liú Shuài said.
"I agree with him." Huáng Xiāo said.
"Then we have no other choice but to make that attempt, if there are demons and ghosts in the air above then we'll fight with them." I said.
"We must take the risk." Liú Shuài said.
"Then I'll make the necessary arrangements and I'll see you off at noon most probably." Huáng Xiāo said.
"Thank you." Liú Shuài said.
"You don't have to thank me." Huáng Xiāo said, "I have always owed you all my life." He added.
"Hmm." I muttered and nodding my head he walked away leaving both Liú Shuài and me.
"What was my relationship with Huáng Xiāo?" I asked.
"Look at the way you are saying his name." Liú Shuài said.
"What's wrong with it?" I asked.
"You shouldn't know." Liú Shuài replied.
"Then perhaps I shall ask him myself." I said.
"No." Liú Shuài said immediately.
"Why?" I asked.
Liú Shuài kept quiet.
"Say something." I added.
He persisted.
"The way that he looks at you, no." Liú Shuài muttered under his breath yet still I managed to hear him that I chuckled secretly.
"What are you doing?" He suddenly asked me.
"Nothing." I replied as I wore my serious expression.
"Have some rest, let me prepare you something to eat." Liú Shuài said.
"Thank you." I replied as I got my blanket and then I covered myself while I faced the wall.
At that moment the thoughts that I had had at night came into my head and the memory of both Liú Shuài and myself was very vivid that closing my eyes I recalled the way the petals were falling around the both of us and the way the he looked at me with so much passion in his eyes.
I had a feeling for Liú Shuài, one that perhaps I couldn't explain myself but if there was something that I was very certain of at the moment, it was that my feelings for him five years ago couldn't have been any different.