The sword fell from Zhang Cheng's trembling hand, realization hits him. He just killed a human being. It's not he regrets doing so. What's scare him is how fleeing and easy it is, the man that stand up mighty high above the heaven, is now lying on the ground. Dead. Is it that easy to take someone's life?
His stomach flip and his hand desperately trying to keep his food from getting out.
He throws away the sword and let his knees drop to the ground beside Li Jie, he was leaning his head to the wall trying to stay conscious. His hand trying to hold the blood from pouring out of the wound, that is...if he can reach his back where the wound is. Ah Cheng is too panic to think straight and help him. Everything seems futile.
"b-big brother.... I'm sorry-so sorry! It's so my fault!" He looks disheveled as he cries.
Modern soul who never experience pain that scale higher than a sprained ankle, Li Jie trying his best not to pass out. "It— is not.... your fault." He forced out his voice. Being too busy handling the immense pain, he didn't make eye contact. Ah Cheng has to live; Li Jie won't let his hard work went to waste. But every air he took in made his wound hurt even more.
Big brother's back is injured, he is trembling and in pain, his face is pale, and his breathing is weak and little. Zhang Cheng clenched his fist hard that his palm bleed. It's frustrating, he can't do anything and so powerless. "We -we, we should get out!"
Zhang Cheng manage to pull his self together faster than any kid would. He thinks of others before himself and focus on the solution when he needs to. He'll definitely be a good protagonist in the future. "... Zhang Cheng. Promise me something?"
Zhang Cheng nod his head aggressively, as if not enough he screams, "Yes!"
Li Jie didn't want to lose to a kid, he shakily takes a shallow breath. He closed his eyes and when open again it was steady and calm, "Over there, on the small table, push down the green vase. After that, you'll see a hidden escape route, go there and escape! Promise me that."
"Yes, I will promise you we'll escape." Zhang Cheng smile shine bright with hope.
Li Jie was silent, "..." His face became increasingly pale, he didn't make any attempt to move, which lead Zhang Cheng to believe a horrifying thought. He's not going to come with him.
"NO! I WON'T leave you! Please, come with me. I'll carry you!" Zhang Cheng desperately pled with teary eyes.
"Shussh... Not too loud, they'll find us." He then sighs helplessly, it's not like he going to let himself get killed, he's not keen to meet Neo in the underworld again. He gently touches Zhang Cheng cheek, "Do you trust me, little Ah Cheng?" Zhang Cheng wordlessly shake his head up and down. "Trust me, I'm going to live and see you grown up to be a strong man."
".... Is this a trick?" Zhang Cheng immediately see through his intention. "Big brother—"
"My lord?" Noticing it's been quiet for a long time; Right Hand call out from the door.
"Zhang Cheng, please." Li Jie anxiously hold Zhang Cheng's shoulder. "I beg you please!... Listen to me." They don't have too much time, if they're caught right now, he doubts he could do anything. But if he's the only one caught he could persuade them with his trump card and not revealed his identity to Zhang Cheng. After today, Zhang Cheng must not learn about his character identity.
"Big brother..." Tears fell from his eye socket, his tiny hand grip on Li Jie robe. He doesn't seem to be budged.
"Okay. We will escape together...." Li Jie gently pet Zhang Cheng hair, this time the boy didn't refuse it and received it will a big relief smile on his face.
A small support from Zhang Cheng, Li Jie manage to walk to the vase and push it. "You go first." He said to the little boy. Zhang Cheng didn't question it and obediently go first.
"My lord?" They are getting more suspicious and tried to open the door. Thankfully, the door magically got jam from the inside. Li Jie for the first time got to see the plot armor in action.
"Big brother, let's go!" Zhang Cheng nervously begged; he raise his hand up to Li Jie. Wearing a complicated expression, Zhang Cheng heart felt cold from fear of what Li Jie might thought of doing.
"Please forget about me, Zhang Cheng." He swiftly closes the escape door, in a loud bang.
Bang
The sound echoes in the room, Li Jie let out a relief breath. The only thing that's left is the two man that's trying to break the door.
As if waiting for the cue, by the floor slap close echo, the plot amor stop and the door got burst open by the two men. "My lord!" Right Hand gasp in shock. The first thing he saw entering was the body of his master bath in blood and motionless 12-year-old Li Jie pale from blood lost and pain.
Left Hand hold out his dagger and pointed at Li Jie, "Did you do this? I knew I should've killed you before!" Before he plunges himself to Li Jie, Right Hand stop him.
"Where's your other friend?" Right Hand look around the room and yet found no corpse of the little boy. "Did your friend abandoned you?"
Li Jie softly shakes his head, "No. I force him to."
"So, he did leave you." Intimidating aura from Left Hand suddenly stop, as if he sympathizes with him. Li Jie doesn't need it though.
"..." Stars started hanging around the edge of his sight.
Right Hand give a sympathetic smile, "My master is now gone. And I have no interest in killing a dying child, neither do I have intention of helping you." He crouches beside Li Jie with emotionless and blank expression.
Li Jie bites his lips trying to stop from passing out. With his trembling hand, he takes off his fox mask and unveiled his emerald eyes.
Scarlet Blossom Pavilion, one of the most infamous and influential sects in the martial arts world because of their effective but cold-blooded mento. The hilt of their blade has a poison that would paralyze their opponent, and some made kill in a single cut. People would avoid having conflict with them.
They are not the most powerful in strength, they are rich as heck because they run many successful businesses such as selling flower and perfume that are popular among the high society. With all that, the Patriarch of Scarlet Blossom Pavilion, is his mother. His mother is known to be bleeding heart woman yet affectionate to her youngest son and her one-of-a-kind green like eyes that they both share.
Right Hand and Left Hand were both surprised by his identity. Firstly, they had heard the rumor about a cruel, ruthless and arrogant prince of Scarlet Blossom Pavilion, saying he could beat people up without reason. After stalking him for long enough, he wasn't like the rumor suggested and a complete opposite of it. "So that explains why a sword could take down our lord. Beside the fact he's dying anyway."
"I strike you a deal. Help me and I'll reward you handsomely." His voice is low almost like a whisper.
Left Hand step forward, "Why should we trust a kid like you?"
His consciousness is leaving him at any second now, he curses how the two really is difficult to persuade. "Come on, man... You won't lose anything if you do, instead gain a ton... My mother eventually will find me, and if she finds a corpse, she might not let you guys go..." his vision gave up on him later on.
"...." Left Hand give Right Hand a look, waiting for his decision on the matter. Even as bloodlust as he is, he doesn't want to mess with the Scarlet Blossom Pavilion, that name fill to the brim with mystery and air of death coming to those who stand on their way. Conflict almost always ends with gruesome and sickening deaths.
Right Hand return a look of understanding. With a few glances they both come into agreement to help the boy.
...
"Master what happened last time?!" The little servant, Bao Lin sobbed.
Ji Lie's face remained pale with pain, his head throbbing from stress. Since waking up, he has been confronted with Bao Lin's tear-streaked face, shouting and scolding without mercy, just as he regained consciousness. If this continues, the stress might actually become life-threatening.
"It's just an accident." His voice sound dry and hoarse, it even surprises him.
Up till now, Li Jie respond was a nod and guilty expression, hearing his voice sounded so sickly, Bao Lin heart feels heavy, and his nose feels stuffed with emotion. Sniffs "Don't—sniff you know how important you are?! If anything happens to you my head will be hanging off the Madame's wall! Don't give me that 'accident' excuse! I don't want you to die. You don't know how terrified I was..."
He pauses for a bit; the memory of these two days was painful for him. "I don't know what you've gone through, but you were in so much pain I feel so helpless-- I can only watch as you lay motionless, I check every moment to see if you were actually breathing. What am I going to do if you die because I let you go alone!"
Bao Lin cry didn't stop, even he thought it was annoying, his hands cover his face but was like putting duct tape to a crack on river wall.
Li Jie feels guilty, he raises his hand and caressed Bao Lin head. In the end, he just let his servants vent his frustration and worries on to him and attentively listen without complaint. Night arrives with tranquility; Li Jie was on his own with the window open and allow the moonlight shine in the room.
Two black clothed man, appear on the side of Li Jie's bed without making a single sound. "Young master Wu, we came in with a report."
Li Jie that was laying peacefully on the bed, rose up and turn to them. "Please do so."
"The boy, Zhang Cheng seems fine, physically as far as I can tell." Right Hand put emphasis on the physical part as to tell Li Jie that kid probably crying river and carry a lot of mental traumas after all that happened. "I arrange all the weird things that you want to deliver to the Zhang family. And pay bunch of thugs to fight Zhang Cheng... I know you wanted revenge but why ask to not hurt him? That's the worst revenge plan I've ever heard."
"Because if he didn't awake his qi soon, I'll be dead!" Li Jie said it a way that he didn't care the two understands him, he has to get the thing out of his chest, or he might consume by guilt.
Left Hand roll his eyes in annoyance, "It's either you are stupid and crazy, or you're just another psycho for our boss. But it's none of our business now, what is our business though is that you have to pay off our deal." He extends his hand to Li Jie.
"You guys... don't hold your horses do you?" He smiles awkwardly. He hands over a heavy and big pouch to Left Hand palm. "How is it?"
Left Hand open the pouch, his eyes wide open and he smile with satisfaction. "More like it."
Right Hand raise a brow. "Master Wu Haoyu, what you're giving us, is a national treasure in other people's eyes. Are you sure?" Left Hand give him a sharp glare and later sigh as his hand massage his temple.
Wu Haoyu blink, "Huh? That's fine I guess, I did promise you both a handsome reward. Besides, I'm rich."
"Fair enough." The two agrees.
"Although, in a condition that we act as if the event never happened, it wasn't me that's with Zhang Cheng and you never meet me, don't even mentioned my name. Got it?" His expression was serious, making it clear he meant every word he said.
The two raised a brow, confusion written all over their face. "You're a weird kid."
"I agree." Left Hand nod his head in an agreement.
Wu Haoyu lips twitched, "I don't care about what you thought of me! Now just go far away from this place as you can." He crossed his arm.
"Aww, our young master Wu is pouting. Guess I have no choice." Left Hand said with sarcasm.
"May we meet again, young master Wu Haoyu."
"Huh, actually, may our path never collies." Wu Haoyu said sarcastically.
"Haha, more or less." The two then disappeared as quickly as they arrive.
As he's about to rest, Neo appear out of thin air. Wu Haoyu hair stand on end, thinking it was a ghost. Well, he might be, in the account that he's floating around, supernatural being and has no solid body.
"Neo, it's just you." Wu Haoyu take out a breath of relief.
"Hehe, seems like you got yourself into trouble the minute I didn't lay my eyes on you. It's not a complain though, it's rather a compliment! You have your way of making thing interesting for me!" Neo smiles are even brighter than before and more genuine, somehow it gives Wu Haoyu the creeps.
"I prefer not get compliment from you... So, what are you doing here?"
"Not much, it's just that if you keep running around and do whatever you want, like you did two days ago, the whole world probably go into chaos and destruction. "
"Wow, nice for you to say that now." Wu Haoyu said with sarcasm. "If only you appear to tell me that when I met Zhang Cheng in the alleyway! I mean, nothing stopping you! —Augh...my back..." He carelessly moves too much and wound on his back reacted with giving him sharp pain that made him hold his breath.
"And ruin the fun for everyone? That's the point of this is diving into uncertainties and reveal the possibility. Besides, you manage to pull it off in the end and no harm done." Neo shrugged his shoulders with no care of the world's destruction. In the world's destruction, he probably finds entertainment at people's misery and drink tea while volcano erupted...
"So, i give a system to monitor you 24/7! Meet Clostine, she will be working with you from now on." He clap his hand and present a floating transparent board like a proud creator.
[Administrator bio-data— age: 12, talent: 10, health: 3 strength: 19, Cultivation: Qi Refinement— early stage, Character: Wu Haoyu, side villain]
[ Mission: Be the big boss— be the most prominent villain character that set up and support the main character charm, as the heroic, strong willed and kind-hearted protagonist. Take the role that the big villain does and bring all harm to the protagonist.
Each villainous act will be rewarded with villain points, reaching a certain point will make the administrator qualified to open the shop.]
[Villain points: 0]
Wu Haoyu tilt his head and point at the bottom number, "I think there's something wrong with the number. If I recall correctly, I get 100 points saving the protagonist, right?"
[Excuse me? I did not make a mistake.] Clostine seem offended and mad at him.
"After the problem you cause today, the number seems right. You are out of character, OOC for short. You threatened the protagonist safety, you help him kill the villain and also made him like you. The only thing that saves the plot and your mission is your mask. By the pure reason that you send the world in a panic mode, they deducted your point by 100." Neo said it in a matter-of-fact tone that annoyed Wu Haoyu to the bone.
"The world? So, it has consciousness too... This got to be a joke." He covers his face with his hand.
"The world got feelings too. My advice, you have to be careful and not offend them because the consequences is not pretty."
All the talking with Neo always manage to give him a migraine. He ignores Neo and sleep for the rest of the day.