Ugh—!
The thug's painful cry made the Chengs turn toward him. Before their eyes, this muscular thug began to grow thinner.
"You gave him the Qi-boosting pill?" Cheng Wei, who was about to leave, asked his daughter.
"I did. I wanted them disposed of after the mission was done but the trash failed."
"Oh?" The man barely reacted and left the hall.
Cheng Xiao's response made the thug's eyes widen. "You fed me poison!" He yelled.
Cheng Xiao approached the man who was on his knees, groaning. "And so what?"
"You're merely a thug. If you had succeeded, I would have helped out since I would be glad, but you didn't."
"You—!" The thug couldn't complete his words as he fell down.
"Is he dead?" Cheng Yu asked nonchalantly.
"Stop asking stupid questions and go check if the others are dead. Also, where are your younger brother and his stupid father?"
Since Cheng Xiao's husband was a low-class member of the Shui family who didn't awaken an element, Cheng Xiao didn't treat him with respect.
However, Cheng Yu frowned. No matter what, his father was his father and he deserved respect. But since his mother was backed up by her father, he could only keep ignoring her.
"Yi followed father to work. Father wants him to learn tailoring." Cheng Yu said it amicably.
Instantaneously, Cheng Xiao's expression changed. "What?! He wants my son to become a mere tailor."
"Mother!" Cheng Yu went after the furious woman.
After they left, two guards walked in and dragged the shriveled corpse out of the hall.
****
After meditating throughout the day, Xu Kai enters the sea in search of the Lunar Bat Rays but can't find them.
Eventually, he gave up and left the sea. He climbed a bamboo ladder into the treehouse and saw Mo Qingxian fast asleep.
Smiling, he walked over to his own 'bed' and laid down. He fell asleep a few moments later.
8 hours later…
The darkness lurking inside the room vanished as the rays of the rising sun shone through the window.
Stretching his hands and rubbing his eyes, Xu Kai sprung to his feet. His movement was fluid, like he had done this several times.
He turned and saw Mo Qingxian still fast asleep.
With a soft smile, he left the treehouse and stood on the large stone facing the sea.
"Why did the Lunar Bat Rays not appear?" While Xu Kai pondered, the cool breeze tousled his short hair.
Gu gu!
His stomach rumbled.
"They might appear tonight so I better attend to my stomach first." With great anticipation for a delicious meal, he jumped down and ran into the forest.
'I'll package Qing Xian's dish.'
TPak—! TPak—!
His feet slammed against the sand as he ran through a narrow forest path. Suddenly, he leaped, tapped his foot against a tree, stretched his hand, and held the branch.
He swung himself upward. As his body curved through the air, his eyes caught a glimpse of the ground before his feet landed on another branch.
Xu Kai sprung off the tree to another. And onto another. It was different this time, as the branch snapped, causing him to land on his back.
"Ugh!" Xu Kai grimaced, creases appearing on his temples.
Footsteps fell into his ears, causing him to forcefully sit up. He saw Cheng Long walking over.
The moment the boy saw Xu Kai mysteriously fall from the sky, fear drilled into his soul as he thought it was the spirit, Xu Wulin.
Such news was bound to cause fear and despite Cheng Wei's warning, his daughter couldn't keep her mouth shut and it was already circulating throughout the town!
The people on this island were cut off from the civilized mainland and had several superstitious beliefs. Water spirits were the most feared, as people claimed they caused the storms and tsunamis that claimed the lives of countless fishermen and other sea lifeforms.
"You came again!"
"No, no! I thought you needed to come because the Elders have hosted a competition amongst the elect junior practitioners and those who do not participate won't be present when the esteemed guest chooses who he shall take to the mainland." Cheng Long spoke hurriedly.
Xu Kai's eyes widened.
"What?! Why wasn't I informed?" He got to his feet and dashed forward. As he ran past Cheng Long, the sixteen-year-old youth called his name.
"Xu Kai. Wait!"
Xu Kai halted and turned his head. "What?"
"T... that water spirit that attacked those men, is it the same one that attacked me, Cheng Kang and Cheng Yi or is that your mother's spirit?"
"I don't know; I can't communicate with spirits."
Cheng Long shuddered and followed Xu Kai in running but Xu Kai was so fast that he vanished from his sight.
At that moment, it seemed the forest had come closer, causing Cheng Long to sweat. He kept looking around while his arms trembled intensely.
All of a sudden, a sound fell into his ears. His heart almost leaped out of his mouth as he ran as fast as his legs could take him.
Cheng Long even felt he was flying due to his crazy speed.
"AHH, spirits! Don't touch me!" He screamed, causing a lizard to freeze. It looked back and forth with confusion in its eyes.
Since when was it this frightening to humans?
****
Emerald Mountain.
Xu Kai sneaked into the line, though he couldn't escape the eyes of the three Elders. Especially Cheng Wei.
Two youths faced each other. One was the island's most beautiful flower, Shui Mei Er, and the other was Jin Tao.
Jin Tao slammed his right foot into the ground, took a deep breath and flames covered his fists.
"Be careful, sister Shui Mei!" He warned.
Shui Mei Er snickered. "Is that so?"
Unlike Jin Tao, who assumed a battle stance, she stood without one. However, they all knew she followed the path of a mage so all their tactics were done in their minds.
A water bowl was on one side of the drawn platform, and another bowl with burning coals of fire was on the opposite side.
The moment Jin Tao closed the gap, his fist launched out, heading for her shoulder but before it could touch her fair shoulder, the beauty somersaulted backward.
The other youths were astonished at her graceful bearing.
'This competition didn't occur in my past life. Did they do it because I'm holding a jade tag?' Xu Kai frowned deeply, because this could force him to reveal his strength!