As soon as Gu Meng Yao picked up the call she heard the sound of a car door slamming shut, Gu meg Yao was confused for a moment, because her brother didn't have a car. Nor did he have the mindset to spend money on a taxi. However, before she could think too much her brother's voice sounded.
"Meng Yao is this a good time?" Gu Erin asked her, and she immediately went to reassure him.
"Yes, yes, this is a good time! Why is big brother calling me, did you miss me?" Gu Meng Yao asked somewhat coquettishly. Ling Min and Shi Yaner couldn't help but sigh internally at Gu meng Yao's behavior.
Seeming to share the same thoughts Gu Erin couldn't help it, and let out a sigh, failing to hold it back. However, it seemed he was half expecting this response, but he didn't seem to hate it. Not hearing an immediate rebuke Gu Meng Yao couldn't help but get a little more excited, did her brother really miss her?
"Meng Yao this is going to sound strange but tomorrow is going to be very special. So when the time comes I'm going to need you to agree and when you are given the option choose to go to Haymire village." Gu Erin said carefully.
Hearing this strange statement, all four girls couldn't help but pause. Did her brother hit his head today? Thinking that her brother was acting strange Gu meng Yao couldn't help but question him.
"Big Bro are you okay? You aren't burnt out are you? Mom said you need to take a break from studying every now and then." Meng Yao asked, her earlier playfulness slightly diminished.
Though there was no response, instead she could only hear her brother's muffled voice coming from the other side. "Yes the North Spirit Dojo." Immediately after Gu Erin responded to her. "Meng Yao, I'm fine, but like I said, tomorrow is going to be… never mind all you need to know is that its important. Also…" Gu Erin paused. "Make sure to inform Chan Ai as well, make sure you tell her to choose Haymire village."
Immediately Chan Ai perked up, as if she had been injected with stimulants, without any shame she interjected herself in the conversation between the siblings. "Erin you want me to come too!?"
There was no answer for a while. Meanwhile on Gu Erin's end the taxi driver wondered why his passenger suddenly froze up, and was sweating profusely.
Chan Ai thinking that she had said something wrong wanted to say something to salvage the situation. But, before she could try and make amends Gu Erin's voice was heard again, but it was strange.
"N-No, you should come too, don't worry, you'll know when the time comes, you can't miss it. If I remember correctly you should be asked around midday tomorrow." He answered, but his voice was laced with trepidation. Then a sudden thought struck Gu Erin. "Sister take me off speaker now." His voice no longer wavered and was dead serious.
Gu Meng Yao unconsciously flinched at her brother's strict voice, she immediately took it off speaker, much to Chan Ai's dismay and brought her phone up to her ear.
"Did anyone else hear what we were talking about?" He asked her, his voice a tone of serious that made Gu Meng Yao feel estranged, this, this was never a tone her brother used with her.
She looked around the room, but besides the four of them, nobody seemed to be paying attention to their conversation. "No brother, it was only the four of us." She answered, but immediately regretted it.
Just as she imagined her brother immediately shot back, "Who else besides Chan Ai?!"
Not daring to lie she answered him, "My friends Ling Min and Shi Yaner." She was still spooked by the coldness in her brother's voice.
"Hmmm.." her brother gave a thoughtful hum. "Fine, you can tell them the same information. Remember tomorrow, agree to go, and when asked where when you arrive, choose Haymire. Now repeat."
"Tomorrow when asked if I want to go I will agree, and when asked where I will say Haymire." She answered somewhat meekly. She had to admit she didn't like this side of her brother. He had never scolded her or got angry with her. This feeling made her feel a little bitter in her heart.
"Good, make sure you clarify with those three as well, its important, tell them that they can tell their family, but I will not accept anyone else. Make sure to state what I told you clearly. Talk to you later Meng Yao be safe." With that her brother hung up, not giving her a chance to respond.
She looked at her phone with a confused look on her face, making the two rational girls of the group share a glance. Finally, Shi Yaner managed to muster the courage to ask her about it. "Is everything alright Meng-Meng?" She asked gently.
"I… Think? But, my brother told me to let you three know, that someone will ask you if you want to go somewhere tomorrow, you three should agree and when asked where, you should answer Haymire." She said slowly, it was obvious that she was still confused by the words her brother had spoken to her.
"Okay!" Chan Ai answered not taking Gu Meng Yao's confusion to heart, all she knew was that she was invited by Gu Erin, nothing else mattered in her mind. In fact, if one were to hear her inner thoughts, all one would hear are Gu Erin's words on repeat inside her mind.
"He also said that you should tell your family. I think… I think I'm going to ask mom about this, he's acting pretty strange." Gu Meng Yao finally said.
Although Shi Yaner and Ling Min didn't take Gu Erin's words to heart, it wasn't the same for Chan Ai. She had immediately brought out her phone and was texting her little sisters and her parents. To her Gu Erin's words were sacred, he wouldn't lie to her, so if he said it was important she would listen no matter what. If the other three were paying attention to her they would notice the crazed glint in her eyes.
***
In the North District of Jianghai City
Gu Erin had finally stopped feeling that odd tingling sensation at the back of his neck, he knew that he was going to be dancing on the edge of a blade with that girl around. Yet, Gu Erin couldn't deny that if she was able to rise to that level of competency in his past life he could help her bring out even more potential. All he hoped was that she kept her distance. He would have to take her presence into account whenever he needed to slip away for his own opportunities, the last thing he needed was a tag along constantly asking questions.
The cab finally stopped as they arrived in front of an old dojo, it looked ancient and was in disrepair, however a small stream of people was currently entering the hall. It was obvious that whoever entered the hall seemed to have a trace of seriousness. It was not like other martial dojos where members would halfheartedly practice to add to their face, instead these people looked very determined and focused. Unconsciously a smile appeared on his face.
The taxi driver who was about to ask for his fare immediately felt a shiver go down his spine, and when he saw the smile on his passenger's face he immediately froze. "Did I.. just drive with a serial killer?" He muttered in his heart, at this moment he even refused to breathe.
Gu Erin exited the taxi and was about to turn to the driver to ask how much he owed but, as soon as his feet were firmly on the ground the taxi sped off as if he had the devil on his heels. Gu Erin simply stood there with a dumbfounded expression on his face. What was this? Did the taxi drivers of this timeline not want their passengers to pay their fee?
Shaking his head, he moved on, he did not have the time to worry about such trivial things, he had to meet an old friend, and hopefully recruit a group of promising individuals. Afterall, this dojo had produced two gems, excluding the dojo master himself. Thinking of the old man Gu Erin couldn't help but smile again, at that moment a battle intent so strong washed out of him, it was strong enough to make the air seem stale and suffocating.
***
In a room filled with books and scattered pages a little devil sat huddled within his chair, the clacking of an old type writer echoing in the small room.
"Hehehe, should I read or write, Daoist Devil is not sure, hehehe."
Suddenly the door to the little devil's room opened, a figure walked in and tossed something to the little devil. The little devil's eyes opened wide as he caught the object like a dog seeing its favorite toy, yet he looked at it like it was the most precious object in the world. The little devil shamelessly threw himself at the figure's feet.
"Brother Shockwave! You gave me my first stone of power; we are eternal brothers!" The little devil said hugging the figure's leg.
The figure immediately kicked the shameless devil away , the figure had the chills as if a piece of ten-thousand-year-old ice had incased his spine. The figure immediately rushed out of the room, escaping the little devil, leaving him alone in his room of books and scribbles.
"Hehe Brother Shockwave you gave me my first stone of power." The little devil hugged his arms and swayed side to side as if in ecstasy. "Yes I'll make another chapter for Brother Shockwave, his kindness must not go unrewarded!"
With that the little devil went back to his typewriter with a fervor that would have fellow writers sweating bullets.