Senlin and Shijei who had walked quite far shouted "Both of you! Stop dazing around. Come here fast!" Xianwu and Xiao yin both made their way towards them. Shijei looked at Senlin with a perplexed expression "So what were you doing at the array?" he asked. Senlin after staying silent for so long replied "Checking if that brat is a spirit or not. I feel the worst! I used my last Spirit detecting talisman and he didn't even turn out to be one!" she cursed while kicking the stones on the ground.
Shijei sighed. "I don't think it's any use, if he would have been some think like that Xianwu would have known it before us. It's true she woke up after a thousand years, but, that doesn't mean she's forgotten how to differentiate between a demon and a human." He insisted. "Tch! You don't know. I feel a very strange aura from him. Like he's hiding something very huge inside, it's too big that we can't even predict it!" she told annoyed.
Shijei looked at her curiously "So you mean to say… he's someone strong and he's hiding himself?" he asked. "Yeah…" Senlin responded. "I checked for everything. If he's a Ghost, Spirit, Undead or anything else. But now there's only one thing to check and that is if he's a demon or not!" she stated. Shijei looked forward with wonder "Xianwu is already with a demon Sovereign. How many more do you want with her?" he asked with a sigh.
"Ominous Star who soothed Nightingale, is indeed a Demon Sovereign and rules over the Inferno city. And his record of coming to the Mortal world is really less. However, the only one who could hide himself this perfectly could only be a demon king who has passed the final stage of 'Demolition' and that is him!" Senlin continued. Shijei broke into a laugh "Pfft! Do you think the Demon Sovereign has that much time in his hands to waste?!" he asked in disbelief. Senlin glared at him. "Alright, alright, if you want to check you can. I myself feel very curious. I'm afraid I only can't talk to Xianwu openly about it…" Shijei replied as his expression fell into nothingness.
Senlin glanced while walking forward and leaving him behind. "Come on… I thought I told everyone to stay together?" he asked back. The four of them walked deeper into the forest. The deeper they went the foggier and denser it became. "Xiao yin, be careful and watch your steps." Informed Xianwu. The fog became thicker making Xianwu unable to make out Xiao yin and the other two. "Everyone, stay together and don't lose your focus!" warned Shijei. But, the moment he turned around to take a look at others none were to be found. "Hey! Where did you all go now?!" he freaked out.
All four of them had instantly gone missing. Xianwu on the other hand called out making way amongst the fog "Shijei! Senlin! Xiao yin! Where are you all?" Her surroundings were completely darkened and her voice seemed to echo. However, no reply was to be heard. Xianwu turned left and right grasping her surroundings. "Fa ling…" she whispered. Fa ling popped out of her straw hat. "Be ready I might need you anytime." She continued as he nodded immediately transforming into a curved blade. Suddenly, voices seemed to ring in her ears.
"It's not fair! You always, always walk forward! Why don't you wait?" "Xian er… mother trusted you so much. So why?" "You are a disgrace! Even if you die I won't accept you as a Kindred of Yue kingdom ever again!!" "Your grace and glory? You never had one to begin with!" "Xianwu, I'm sorry! I don't think I can walk by your side anymore. Not just as a knight even as a friend…"
Xianwu's pupil shrank as her voice seemed to have stuck in her throat. "Mama… Papa… Leiren… Senlin… Shijei…?" she cried. Her voice seemed to break with every single word.
"Xianwu… as your master I will tell you one thing, right or wrong. Good or bad. Which path to take? It's all in your hands. Your destiny none can write it except for you…" Xianwu gasped "Master?!"
Memories of past flooded through her mind. Images of her ascension, her wars, her achievements, her life, her reign and even her death covered her mind. "Stop…" she cried. "What did you say?" asked a voice. "I said stop!" Xianwu screamed unleashing Fa ling who slashed through the fog. "Oh~ look what do we have here? Her resentments are limitless!" screeched a voice. "Who are you?" Xianwu asked. Sweat dripping her forehead.
"Us? We are the revealers of resentments' your glory as a heavenly Supreme resulted in your death. Your attempts to save common lives resulted in never ending scorn from your beloved ones. Betrayals, hatred and dishonesty, agony and hatred you faced everything! Now… give yourself to us we'll give you happiness." Xianwu felt an immense suppression over her. "No way!" Xianwu replied with her eyes fixated on her surroundings.
"The air is heavy. It feels strange. I wonder where others are right now. Shijei and Senlin can fight on their own but Xiao yin? That little child might be in danger… Xianwu think!!" thought Xianwu concentrating. "Young Girl… it's no use. In our territory none can escape. We devoured strongest of the strongest." The voice ran through her mind. "Xianwu concentrate! It's all an illusion. Nothing is real!" she thought. Taking a deep breath in, she sat concentrated. Suddenly a familiar voice rang in her mind. "Xianwu, Remember, inside a human body two different sides exists. One side is their real self and the other side is their real self-covered by a mask. Some people show their real self in front of others but when rejected by the world they hide themselves under that mask creating a different side of themselves. But, those who already live with a mask on their faces when rejected by the world reveal their true selves which none ever expects to witness… My little Xianwu, you are amongst the people I talked about first, amongst one's whose true self shines like sun. But remember, if someone taints you or rejects you… never put on a mask. Never change. If righteous get scorned never turn into a vicious one… Remember, if you ever face something like this then…"
Suddenly Xianwu's eyes flickered open. "Fa ling!" she called. Fa ling stood behind her into a blade viciously. "Little girl from the heavens… you can never escape! Without spiritual power you can never fight out from us. And, even if you have its impossible to escape from us! Everything in this universe rejected you! Heavens! Demons! Mortals! Then why? Why won't you falter! Where are your resentments?" screamed the voice.
"You're right! Everything you say is right! I can't even debate. However, be it scorned or rejected, powerful or powerless there was one thing I was taught, never turn into viscous! Even if the strongest being in the world tells me at that moment rather than obeying them I will close my eyes and sway…" Xianwu twirled around as Fa ling cut through the fog one by one. "What are you doing?!" the voice asked in fright.
"Illusion haunts humans, but reality cuts illusion saving them. "The 7 Sway's of Illusion" is a move without the use of Spiritual power can cut through all kinds of illusions giving light to reality!" exclaimed Xianwu twirling around the last time. Fa ling with all his strength cut through the illusions. Xianwu was instantly pulled out. Her hand was grasped by a stronger one pulling her. Xianwu with her eyes widened heard a familiar voice.
"Sister!" Xiao yin pulled her out. His expression worried and his voice tensed. It was the first time he showed this expression. "Xiao yin?!" Xianwu asked relieved. Standing on the ground, she regained her balance. "Xiao yin! Are you alright?" she asked grasping his arms with both of her hands. Xiao yin who was smiling continuously replied "I'm alright. Thank goodness sister is alright." Xianwu sighed in relief. "Where did you go?" she asked while gaining consciousness of her surroundings. "I was walking beside you and even heard one of your lackeys saying to stay close. Then, suddenly everything became foggy and I started hearing weird voices. When I tried to find you I couldn't and became worried." Xiao yin summarised the whole event into simpler words. "They didn't hurt you? Or did they?" Xianwu asked still worried.
"Not at all! They were saying give me your resentments! Give me your resentments! But I only smiled at them and they became angry and pushed me out of the illusionary space. If I remember correctly they were saying 'what in the world did we catch? Only his laugh is making our head spin' and 'this child has no resentments throw him out!' and while I was smiling they had already thrown me here…" he added. Xianwu seriously surprised gazed at him shocked "Ha-ha… even ghost's make mistakes. Xiao yin is free from resentments. He is only a kid. No wonder they threw him out. Even ghosts can't understand kids these days…" she thought.