"Did you hear that Li Mei ?!"Cheng turned, his eyes fraught with worry and concern.
"What, no, no I didn't hear anything " she said, her attention on his face" Why? What's wrong Cheng ?
His face revealed a grimace, clearly disturbed by something.
"Brother Cheng are you alright, brother Cheng, Cheng "
A hand shook his shoulder aggressively, waking him from his stupor..
Cheng's brows furrowed as he tried to shake off the disturbing encounter. He felt his scalp go numb as the terrifying whisper echoed in his ears, resembling an incarnation, something dark and sinister. After a few moments, he finally regained his composure.
As Cheng collected himself, he noticed Li Mei standing beside him, concern evident in her eyes.
"Brother Cheng, are you alright?" she asked, gently shaking his shoulder. "You seemed lost in thought there. What happened?"
Cheng blinked, returning his focus to Li Mei. Her presence was a welcome distraction from the unsettling experience. He offered a weak smile and replied, "Ah, nothing... I just spaced out for a moment. It's nothing to worry about."
Li Mei watched him for a moment, sensing that there might be more to his reaction than he was letting on. However, respecting his privacy, she decided not to press further. Instead, she redirected the conversation, steering it toward a more pleasant topic.
"So, Brother Cheng, how did you end up here?" Li Mei asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. "And how long have you been exploring the library?"
"I just entered this place, but that's irrelevant, I should be the one to ask the question.
He looked at her as he barely stoped the urge to pat her.
The girl was beautiful and cute there was a certain ethereal grace to her, she was pure, she had an aura that make people wnat to pretect her.
"So , Li Mei, what about you ?" Cheng's smooth and soft voice echoed.
Her doe-like eyes, bright and curious, lit up and with a sweet smile she enthusiastically responded.
" I have always believed that knowledge is a gateway to empowerment, that is why I came to this place and immersed myself in reading books, absorbing the insights of brilliant minds who have shaped our world. You know, History, cultivation and philosophy.
Mei sweet tone transformed into that of passion as she talked.
"That can't be the only the reason, right?" Cheng calmly asked
"It 's not just the knowledge that captivates me; it is the sheer pleasure of getting lost in a story, of living multiple lives within the span of a few novels.
The life of the Bodhi Dharma, the buddha legend, or Xie Long Di the sinister dragon and his reign in the dark era, and many more are so alluring to a person like me "
Cheng looked at her as he thought, " What a rare person, Actually people like her in this world is as rare as a Phoenix, an individual who is willing to think rationaly and knows the worth of knowledge, most people here are egoist self centered people who deem strenght as the most important things in their life. Well it' s not like they're wrong"
She continued as she said:
"I have been here for more than two years, it really peaceful in this library, the first floor rarely gets any visitors, so barely any work is required and most cultivation techniques and notes starts from the second floor"
The two of them continued chatting for a long time, but as the hours ticked by and midnight approached, Cheng reluctantly realized that it was time to leave the library and return to his own abode. He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, he really missed interacting with humans, not wanting their time together to end so soon. However, he knew they would have more opportunities deepen their friendship.
"Li Mei, it has been an incredible pleasure spending this time with you," Cheng said sincerely, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I'm grateful for your guidance and the chance to get to know you better."
Li Mei's eyes sparkled with appreciation, her own smile mirroring Cheng's warmth as she blushed . "The ple-asure i-s mine, Cheng. I'm glad we had this chance to talk, I- I will be wai-ting for yo-u tomorrow" her face was so red by the time she finished talking.
" Sure, sure till tomorrow, hahahahah " he said as he left his laughter echoed in hallways.
"Mean! you're so mean !!"
Even though Li Mei looked like an ordinary person, but in front of him nothing could be hidden.
Her simple yet elegant attire, along with her peculiar jewelry and noble demeanor, affirmed his earlier suspicions. He was now completely certain that she had a rich background. He had made his best effort to leave a lasting impression on Li Mei, even though he didn't have a particular interest in reading and fantasizing. After all, wouldn't someone be more interested in a person who shares their interests? Perhaps their connection would prove valuable in the future. Building relationships was crucial for him to rise in this forsaken land, and it was the only way to do so.
On his way back to throught the forest Cheng started contemplating.
"This body is at the peak of the connate realm. I'm already twenty-two, and in this world, at this age, it's almost impossible for me to reach a high level of cultivation... and that is even if I got the change to cultivate, it's troublesome. Iit doesn't matter though, i just have to cause a ruckus before i die to gain some points for my next simulation" Cheng thought as he walked leisurely.
In his previous world, Cheng wasn't accustomed to living in the mountains or working for someone. He was naturally talented and intelligent. His keen intuition and persuasive abilities made him wealthy overnight. Whether it was a business deal or negotiation, he excelled in everything related to human behavior and communication. If he had chosen to become a politician in his previous life, he would have made a name for himself and gained significant influence in the world.
He had great confidence in himself, but in this world, his self-assurance was insignificant in the face of true power.
Just as he lowered his head, his body tensed. He felt a profound sense of danger, something he never thought he would experience in his entire life. In less than a second, he felt his blood boil as he twisted his spine at an almost impossible angle.
"Wooosh " a lightning fast arrow passed by his shoulder making his hair flutter from the sheer force. If he was even a little bit late he would have died leaving just as soon as came.
"Who's there??" Cheng Xiao shouted as a chill ran through his body. His heart sank as he pondered what had just transpired. "My precedor remained extremely low-key since entering the sect. Apart from that incident, no one even knows he existed," he thought.
The pitch-black darkness and towering trees made it exceedingly difficult for him to perceive his surroundings. Cheng's breathing quickened. This was an incredibly perilous situation, his first of its kind. He heightened his senses to the utmost, assuming a peculiar posture as if poised to strike at any moment.
...Several seconds elapsed, and nothing happened. Just as Cheng was about to make a move, he heard a rustle coming from the path of the arrow. In an instant, he vanished from sight like a leopard, reappearing over fifteen feets away from his initial position. His movement technique seemed to follow a mysterious pattern, unpredictable yet flexible.
Meanwhile, Cheng sighed with relief as he hastened towards Turquoise Peak. He had no intention of confronting those assassins; it wasn't an act of cowardice. His adversary remained concealed in the darkness, an unknown entity. What if they were a Foundation Establishment expert? he'd be dead for sure.
At this moment the only advantage he possessed was that they had clearly underestimated his power.
With remarkable speed, his body sliced through the air, deftly maneuvering from one tree to another. His movements were silent and efficient. "Hmph, nothing more than petty tricks," a cold and emotionless voice echoed in his ear before he sensed a distortion in the air to his left.
He swiftly turned, only to face a palm wreathed in ominous black flames, mere inches from his face. "Damn it!" Cheng thought, moments before a deafening explosion reverberated, propelling his body over twenty feet into the air before colliding with a tree that splintered upon impact.
"It was a trap!"