Wang Wei bid them farewell, and they go on their separate ways. Wu Haoyu keeps his eyes on Wang Wei till his figure was lost from his field of vision, a thought weight on his mind. Wang Wei gives him a feeling of unease like he's always planning and trying to gain something from each word he spoke.
He couldn't explain it. The novel describes him as unhinged evil and maniac that care less of it his blood relative, ethics and he do everything to achieve his goal. It rather shocks him that Wang Wei looks actually kind of like a normal boy, just with higher ambitions than others.
Zhang Cheng and Wu Haoyu report what they heard from Wang Wei to Bo Xiang and he too see the connection between the pocket domain appearance and the four disciple's unluckiness. He sent a letter to the sect. After that, they pack their things to get back to the Soaring Wind Sect to gather reinforcements.
It will need a week that they can gather enough people and go to the Great Tomb. Wu Haoyu has to get permission from his master, Liu Mu Chen, to go participate in the matter. Liu Mu Chen looks at the tea on his and sigh silently, "One does not wish to limit one's disciples and let you sit here with me forever no matter what excuse one might have. You can go, Wu Haoyu."
"Thank you, Master Liu. I promise I will return unscathed." Wu Haoyu smile and gesture his respect.
"And you must not return empty handed." Master Liu chuckles. His laughter stops and his face change, he meaningfully stares at Wu Haoyu's face, "That place is one's with lots of history with the Shu's family. I thought at first you do not want affiliate with things brings up bad memories. You my disciple are one with not just strong body, but strong of mind and soul."
Wu Haoyu laugh at his master remark. He hadn't considered that history of his. It wasn't like it's his memory so he's a bit careless disregard the fact 'Wu Haoyu' father died in that place 14 years ago. With the memory come across his mind, he remembers the gentle smile of his father, for a few memories of him he currently has, Wu Haoyu likes the father that he once had and terribly miss him. A surge of grief and sadness bottle up in his eyes. He uses all his strength to not cry at that moment... He looks up to his master, his lips stretch upwards with no hint of his real emotion. "You flatter this disciple too much, Master Liu."
In his familiar bedroom, he lay down on his bed.
A week... Will Jiang Yuze wait that long? Can he go there consider his past? He can't sleep and decide to clear his head by sword practice. He goes to the training hall with sword in hand and face exhausted. On the edge of his vision a shadow walks fast with tremendous speed on top of the roof. "Hey you there!" Wu Haoyu drop his idea of sword practice and run to catch the suspicious person that runs away with full black clothing and a black mask.
Wu Haoyu runs after the person in black until he's in close proximity, he summons his sword to pierce the air and strike the back of the person in black. He dodge the sword and pull out his sword to knock the sword off the air.
"Who sent you? What are you doing here?" Wu Haoyu proclaimed. The person in black didn't answer his question, it pisses Wu Haoyu, and he charge forward, planning to knock the other with his blow.
The person in black stood his ground and take on Wu Haoyu attack with his sword on his right hand, it shimmers in the moonlight. After quick exchange of attack, they both take on damage, they stood far apart from each other. With tranquility of the night, Wu Haoyu sudden laughter echoes. He recovers from his injury and straighten his back as he stands proudly. "You could've just told me it was you."
The person in black, though startle, didn't say a word back. "Zhang Cheng." Wu Haoyu added.
"... How did you know?" He removes the mask covering his face.
"How can I not guess my most favorite person in the world? However, if you want specific, your swords play and most obviously your sword..." He points at the white sword on Zhang Cheng hand.
"I'll take note for the next time." Zhang Cheng diligently nodded his head.
"There'll be no next time. I will drag you to the sect discipline, if you don't tell me why you are sneaking around at midnight!" Wu Haoyu frown, he can sense Zhang Cheng is about to do something stupid.
"Jiang Yuze can't wait for that long! He's cunning and creative but he's not a strong fighter. I will not wait around here for a few more days when my friend is suffering." Jiang Yuze and Zhang Cheng, though bicker and argue a lot, they helped each when in need and are close friend. Jiang Yuze put his sword back in his sheath. He glares at Wu Haoyu, "I trust that you didn't have the intention of stopping me, Wu Haoyu."
Wu Haoyu walks closer to Zhang Cheng, he only stops walking when he's standing so close, the two breathe the same air. He's caught red handed breaking the sect strict rule, the consequences will be many excruciating painful hits from disciple's hall. Wu Haoyu can tackle him and report him. Effectively being a villain that he's meant to be.
".... I will go with you. And that's not a question. If you want me to keep quiet, I will have to come with you." The decision made up in his head. Zhang Cheng's the type to accept his wrongdoing and probably won't complain when get punished. The more interesting plan is to follow Zhang Cheng and find a way to ruin it and simultaneously Wang Wei's plan too.
If Wang Wei evil plan truly evil, he will stay as the Hidden Big Villain forever and Wu Haoyu mission will fail.
"Why...?" Zhang Cheng give a look of immense confusion. Though he immediately realize that question isn't going to get him anywhere, he gives up and walk to the exist. "Let's go..." He look at his back one last time before he fly off, he was later followed by Wu Haoyu.
They avoided getting spotted and successfully exit the sect. Going through the tall wide gate, they use their flying sword to slide through the night clouds.
"Why are you still awake?" Zhang Cheng asks. Suddenly appears curious.
"I'm just happen to be awake." Wu Haoyu shrugged.
"Are you stalking me again?" Zhang Cheng remark blandly.
Wu Haoyu laughs at his words. Stalking was never in his list of villainy for the present and future. And yet he can't refute it since he did play around the accusation and not directly said he just happened to be travel in the same direction as them. "No. I just couldn't sleep and decide to go sword practice."
Zhang Cheng already pass the suspicion and believe his explanation. His mind and eyes linger on the black circle underline under Wu Haoyu's eyes."... You haven't been sleeping well. It's not good for your health." He's tries not to sound concerned in his voice, but his expression gives it away.
Wu Haoyu turn to look at him and flash a smile. "I don't need you to worry about me, darling."
"What's that even mean?" Zhang Cheng raised one of his brow as he hears the foreign words.
Wu Haoyu raised his finger and pointed at Zhang Cheng lips. "That's means... I love you." And he pull his hand away, fly ahead leaving Zhang Cheng behind looking unpleased. He's confused on what to say and what even Wu Haoyu wanted to gain from him playing this kind of game.
Since they don't have a team to wait for, they arrive to the Great Tomb swiftly because of their tremendous flying speed. It was dark, the surroundings filled with ruins and barren land where no life could be seen; no plants grew, and even the sounds of crickets and nocturnal animals were absent in the night. It creeps Wu Haoyu to not stray more than 2 inches away from Zhang Cheng. Not for long they found what they're looking right outside of the wooden and withering gate of the Great Tomb.
"I don't feel like it's a wise decision to jump to an unconfirmed danger like this. A pocket dimension so full of mystery..." Wu Haoyu stare at the wide-open radiance of pure spirit energy, without a doubt some treasure and artifacts worth would be waiting inside.
"You don't have to come." Zhang Cheng stated to him. Not caring to look at his respond because he already knew his answer. Wu Haoyu sighs and step forward and stand beside him, examining the spectacle together. For something to suddenly appear in one of the most dangerous places in the world, it didn't radiate danger and malicious aura.
"It's feels familiar...." Wu Haoyu sounds his thoughts, his eyes locked in the radiant.
"How so?" Zhang Cheng asked.
"....I was here when the carnage happens. I think it's normal to feel it's familiar." Wu Haoyu close his eyes.
Zhang Cheng reach to touch Wu Haoyu's shoulder. Though Wu Haoyu jump in leaving him behind again. He quickly rushes in to follow him. The scene from the other side was different from what he expected, the surface fills with wooden floors and the wall on every side fill with bookshelves, the repetitive of repeating bookshelves and wooden floors, he perceives it all in a spiraling image that made his slightly dizzy. Its sooths his heart to find Wu Haoyu stand just near the bookshelves in front of him.
The walk around the place, the place had limited path to walk in and most of the time they walk in a straight line in the never-ending scenery almost making them think they had walk in circle.... "I think we are in an illusion..." Zhang Cheng mumble. It was the thought both of them had while walking around the repetitive bookshelves wall.
"Yeah. Know how to break them?" Wu Haoyu glance at him with curiosity on his expression.
Zhang Cheng walks around and inspect any nuke and cranny of the surrounding bookshelves. "Illusion are not really powerful and it's only advantage is that it can manipulate the mind to think what it wants us to think."
"Sure, whatever the smart and talent guy says." Wu Haoyu sarcasm.
Zhang Chang glare at him to shut up his mouth, "...As I was saying... The first step to gain advantage over it is to realize it was an illusion which we already do. Next..." find an odd mark on the corner of the shelves, he raises his sword and deliver a swift and destructive strike, the shelves shatter in broken mess. What follows was the front of the place appears a new scenery of green and color other than the boring color of brown wood, both of them were happy at the discovery.
"Basically, destroy everything that looks weird. I'll take note of it." Wu Haoyu click his tongue as he point his finger to him.
"No... Well in short, yes." They stop the idle chatter once they start walking in the new area. It was densely packed forest of trees, not too tall and not too short and above their height. Looking far cross view, what they see was only far more trees like the one around them. They thought it was another illusion. But it was more complicated than the previous one. They can't see anything that out of the ordinary and it left them wondering around.
"What's your greatest desire, Zhang Cheng?" Wu Haoyu let out a question out of the blue.
"It's fairly simple, I want to be the top cultivator that can uphold justice and protect my loved ones." Talking about his hopes and dreams, tiredness washes away from his face and his lips stretches a smile.
Wu Haoyu heart was charmed by his gentle smile. But he can't let him know that. "Not when I'm still alive, dear brother! It is I, who will be the top cultivator of martial arts that everyone will respect and fear! You have yet to beat me after all." He purposely challenges him to fuel his goal, talking down to his face teasingly.
Zhang Cheng knew better than to indulge in Wu Haoyu squabble, he continues on walking forward while looking around, though his focus was on the person beside him. "How about you?"
"You are curious about me?" Wu Haoyu looking pleased and joyful.
"And your answer?"
Wu Haoyu let out a breath of defeat, not once today he was able to gain any villain points, taking things casual once a while might help his mind thinking of a new strategy. He stops to think for a minute and consider words to say, "Do whatever and see where it gets me. I only plan things that are essential and I go along with life for most of the time. Repetitiveness bored me to dead. I don't have any solid desire that last."
"That explain many things. But it's not entirely true." It do explain why Wu Haoyu never use the same tactics of flirting.
"Please elaborate on that remark." Wu Haoyu said it in a joking way, though he does wonder genuinely how it ties to his crafted personality.
"That doesn't ring true to me. Your inability to find any solid desire and goal in life comes from the fact that you never actively trying to seek them." Seeing Wu Haoyu clueless face, he decides to take a breath and elaborate on his point more, "I observe that you never seek experience and form close bond with anybody, your daily focus is two things; bothering me and swords practice.... My point is if you never try anything new then how can you know what you want?"
"Sure." He wishes he could deny everything Zhang Cheng said. Somehow thinking about Zhang Cheng point, he thinks back in his memory. What do 'Wu Haoyu' wants?
Wu Haoyu was born, and he's immediately destined to inherent the house despite being the second son because the first son of the Shu family was born with a disability and sickly body. Everyone treats him like a king and follow his every word like a law, he became arrogant.
His father's dead takes a heavy toll on his mind, and he became cold and short tempered. Like a child would in that situation. But Wu Haoyu is not any child, he is a child weight with expectation to inherent the most richest house in the country.
People look at his behavior as disgraceful and Wu Haoyu weighted down by everyone's expectations and insecure of his incompetence trying to prove himself, takes a high-level qi enhancement elixir that isn't suited with his child body.
We all know the story from there. Lie Jie takes the role of 'Wu Haoyu' and everything is said to be downhill from there. Cause this story of 'Wu Haoyu the Charming Flirtatious Villain' is fated with a bad end.
"It's not worth trying when it all meant nothing in the end."
"I don't understand that. No, it doesn't." He continues, "One may never be happy if never find purpose in life and more so if you never try. Honestly speaking, what is there to loose?" Zhang Cheng smile at the end sentence.
Zhang Cheng good mood is infectious, Wu Haoyu widen his lips. "You are right at that one. I might try something later if we can get back."
"I'd made sure we will."
"I'll take your words for it." Wu Haoyu grin. "I'm more worried YOU will plot for my murder." He jokes.
Zhang Cheng frown and defended, "I won't do that. That thought never crossed my mind."
Wu Haoyu find it amusing how Zhang Cheng can't read between the lines, he decides to play the act more. "It must have been unbearable to be stuck here with me, the person who assault you every day. To me it seems like a good reason, more so in this kind of place... Any corpse won't see the light of day."
Zhang Cheng stops in his tracks and looks at Wu Haoyu nonchalantly, emotion heaving down his eye lids. He scoffed, "Oh really? It means I can do anything..." He slowly approaches Wu Haoyu and mumbles, "You should be careful on what you suggest with your wild mouth, Wu Haoyu."
He walks slowly to Wu Haoyu as the grass clomp under his leather boots. A certain feeling creeps under his skin. "Why are walking close to me?..." Wu Haoyu started to get nervous unconsciously takes a step back, his action cause Zhang Cheng to raise the edge of his lips looking bloodlust and delight in his fear. Wu Haoyu caught by surprised by the unnerving smile trip on a tree root growing above the ground and he falls to his back. "Ack-!" His voice was followed a loud thud.
Wu Haoyu was not feeling any pain, however. Zhang Cheng protect Wu Haoyu's head with his arm and taken all the impact keeping Wu Haoyu unharmed. Zhang Cheng let go of his holding on Wu Haoyu's and made a relief expression seeing he was unharmed, while Wu Haoyu's head laying on the grass right in-between his arm looking up to him in bewilderment.
The look at each other quietly for a few seconds while in an awkward position. One second Wu Haoyu thought he's going to be killed the next, he was protected from a fall, he couldn't be more confused on what to think.