"This is not what I had in mind... I was planning to return the treatment you give to me, but it seems I have given the wrong impression..." Zhang Cheng confessed as he sigh, his cheeks red from embarrassment. "You react so strongly like I was attacking you."
Wu Haoyu cannot hold to himself and burst out laughing. "Hahahaha!" He wipes the tears off the edge of his eyes and continues, "Yes, "attack"... rather more like you're about to kill me! You looked as if you're possess by a demon or something, I was spooked!"
Wu Haoyu continue to laugh to his heart content, not caring if he embarrassed Zhang Cheng. His laughter was loud and for a moment it was all Zhang Cheng can hear. Wu Haoyu's expressive curve mouth and his dimple would deepen the more he laughs, the leftover tears of joy looked like sparkling gemstone in his green eyes and even his messy hair scatter on the grass, hypnotize by the beauty of it all Zhang Cheng could not look away.
Wu Haoyu can feel Zhang Cheng intense gaze and finished off his laughter. He realized their position is really awkward, Zhang Cheng hands keep him lock in place, the 'kabedon'...that's popular among horny teens. Wu Haoyu kinda understands now, the intimacy and warmth made each other feel close both metaphorically and physically.
But still, it's Zhang Cheng and Shu Wu Haoyu, it was humorous how they found themselves in this posting. That they both agreed.
Zhang Cheng long jet black hair fell to Wu Haoyu's cheek. Zhang Cheng raise his hand to gently brushed it away from Wu Haoyu's face, their gaze locked to each other's eyes. For a split second, it was as if the whole world has disappeared, and it was only them with the feeling of each other's touch and warmth.
This feels... awkward.
"Haha.... Good joke, Zhang Cheng. Now, let's stop and continue our searching for Jiang Yuze." He forces a laugh. His sweaty palm push Zhang Cheng away.
The grass softly rustle in away that only wind might sway it. "Nice for YOU to remember me." A young man in his 20's or younger appears above them, looking down with a smile akin to a spectator just finish watching a good show.
"JIANG YUZE??" Didn't expect that the person they've been originally searching for just comes right to them. They expect of that Jiang Yuze appearance was with injuries, wound or a sign of difficulties going around an uncharted domain fill with unknown danger, they instead greeted with ever smiling Jiang Yuze with his white robe untouched by any dirt and while looking elegant holding an umbrella.
His eyes scanning to Zhang Cheng and to Wu Haoyu, he had a weird smile stretch on his face.
Noticing the odd staring they get from Jiang Yuze, they instinctively fixed their attire. "I see something amusing had happened, I accidentally interrupted it. I can't help but to come running when I heard my name being called."
"You.....seems fine?" Zhang Cheng grab both of Jiang Yuze shoulder, eyeing him from up and down then turn him to his back.
He slap Zhang Cheng hand away, "I'm not sorry if I ruin your "rescue mission". I'm not in danger in the first place. It was us who open this entrance." Jiang Yuze explained while leaning to Zhang Cheng shoulder.
"Who is "us"?" Wu Haoyu asked. Just as the word was said out of his mouth, his eyes were assaulted by a blinding glare.
A girl walk animatedly to Jiang Yuze side, her smile was lovely and sincere. Her eyes holds the glimmering shine of the thousands sun, everything gravitated towards her as if looking for salvation from the coldness of the world. She was dress in a simple village attire and her hair was braided in a beautiful flower. "I'm Meng Yao, Meng meaning dream and Yao means jade. I'm honored to meet you two."
"Warn me next time..." Wu Haoyu scrub his eyes, he almost his vision from that. Clostine that hadn't appear for a long time, hang around Wu Haoyus shoulder in her bird form.
Her eyes scanning the Female Lead. "Li Jie, the Female Lead arrived earlier than anticipated."
Just as Clostine words fell, another screen glare over his eyes. [ A gift from NEO; 50% off for any purchase made in Cheat Shop. One time use only.
NEO: Good luck my lovely puppet~ You gonna need it]
Wu Haoyu bridge nose wrinkles. 7 years and this is what his is first greeting?
Zhang Cheng looks over to Wu Haoyu, "What do you mean? Are you alright?"
Wu Haoyu shakes his head. After meeting Wang Wei he already expected everything to be thrown out of proportion, at this point he even expects the Demon Lord to appear. "I was blinded by Miss Meng Yao's beauty."
Zhang Cheng brows instinctively frown at Wu Haoyu's.
He walks to the girl and greeted her with a smile. "I'm Shu Wu Haoyu."
Meng Yao was quick to return a smile, delighted with his welcoming greeting and compliment. "I'm flatter by your praise...." Behind the man that greeted her, his friend is glaring intensely at them, her instinct screams danger. She can't tell why, the fact he dislikes her was undisguised.
She arrive a bit late behind brother Jiang, she didn't understand why brother Jiang smiling even now.
Subsequently, Jiang Yuze look at Wu Haoyu and Meng Yao as well as the scary boy– Zhang Cheng, with increasing interest, smiling ear to ear. The curiosity might as well eats her because she wants to know what amused brother Jiang so much.
It adds to the reason why she should try to befriend him. She calm her nerves down, quietly hyping herself and walk to the man right behind Wu Haoyu. She gulp her saliva. "May I know your name?"
His arms crossed, he didn't even look her in the eye. His eyes are lock to Wu Haoyu and sigh before look at her and answer, "I'm Zhang Cheng." He swiftly turn to Jiang Yuze, "What are you doing actualy?"
"Well, first let me explain--ack?" He felt a hand tugged his cloth behind his back, he saw Meng Yao gloomy and depressed face.
"Your friend doesn't like me, brother Jiang what am I going to do???" Meng Yao voice whispered in fast paced.
Jiang Yuze frown and let out a breath of frustration. "Chill, he is a tough shell to crack but he didn't hate you." He push Meng Yao by her head and ruffle her head. "We should focus the important part,"
Meng Yao understand Wu Haoyu and Zhang Cheng wanted answer, after going far just to search for Jiang Yuze whom they thought were in danger. It was a kind act of friendship, they're a great friend and they deserve answer. She owes them that.
She nods to Jiang Yuze and fix her hair before she turn her head to Zhang Cheng and Wu Haoyu, "Three days ago, I was attack by demonic cultivator. They intention was not jot to kill me, but to kidnapped me. Thankfully.."
She glance at Jiang Yuze, she flash a sincere smile, "Brother Jiang saved me. And later we found we have the same goal of reaching the secret part of the Great Tomb for....." she's hesitant to finish her sentence.
"How did you open it?" Zhang Cheng voice his question.
"Uh...well" Meng Yao was hesitant.
"You don't have to worry. I trust him." Jiang Yuze convinced her. She feels comfort in his voice, which he proceeded to shatter with; "She the last descendent of the Juanang Gate Sect Patriarch. This domain is the specialty and property of Juanang Gate Sect, obviously she's given the password."Jiang Yuze casually name drop a boom, Meng Yao expression turn to an astonished fear.
"HOW DID YOU KNOW????" She had NOT told that to him, nor anybody for that matter. The way he casually said it without any remorse or weight of that truth meant to her, annoyed her incredibly.
"Juanang Gate Sect...it's one of the Four Great Sect." Zhang Cheng touch his chin recalling everything he knew about the name. "So you are the prodigy that I heard of."
"It is rumored that the descendants of the scet it still alive and i happen to be really knowledgeable about every swords play of past and present of every sect that existed. Juanang Gate Sect always covers itself as elegant and when i saw you fight, I put two in two together and guess that you are the descendants of that sect Patriarch." Jiang Yuze answer Meng Yao question, though he said it with a smug on his face. "Why would they try to kidnap you otherwise?"
"Couldn't you keep it to yourself!? I don't mind if you know but to casually reveal my private information that I obviously didn't want anyone to know..." Meng Yao was incredibly upset and felt betrayed.
Zhang Cheng saw that she's upset, he adds, "If it can made it even, Jiang Yuze is also the last descendant of Silent River Pavillion."He quickly throw Jiang Yuze out the bus, letting him learn a lesson of respecting other people's privacy by not respecting his privacy. Very effective, 10/10 would (not) recommend.
"Really?" Meng Yao face lift up.
"Great, you just revealed the only thing that I didn't want anyone to know." Jiang Yuze punch Zhang Cheng shoulder.
"Hahahaha," She laughs,"How do you like the feeling?"
"It's different!" Jiang Yuze defended himself, sounding a bit hypocrite and stubborn.
"How so?" Zhang Cheng scoffed.
The two guys in front of Meng Yao proceeded to fight and bicker about who's wrong and right. She has a second to think to herself;
She takes shelter from the blazing heat of the sky, under the sturdy and tall tree, her expression was peaceful and calm.
"No one ever knows about it. Now that secrets is reveal, somehow, it felt freeing...."
"Keeping such secret about yourself can make you feel lonely. Escpecially when it's crucial part of yourself, and you've been keeping it for so long." Wu Haoyu standing beside her was half-consciously respond.
Meng Yao take notice of Wu Haoyu beside her."...Yeah. I'm surprised you'd understand. I guess everyone has their own demons."
Wu Haoyu scratched his neck, "Everyone has except me, of course! That's all pathetic. I couldn't understand it!" He huff his chest.
"Certainly so! We can talk about it again later." Meng Yao chuckles. Going along with Wu Haoyu's pretense. She has tons of friend, but she feel it in her heart this one group in particular is special and close to her heart. "I hope we all can be good friends. We all have a lot in common and relate, we'll never run out things to say!"
"Yeah, no" Wu Haoyu flat out said.
"What why?" Meng Yao cried out.
...
It feels like the four of them are in a school camping trip with camp all set up and fire place in the center. Surprisingly lighthearted and fun, the food was not great though since there are little ingredients and Zhang Cheng can only do so much with a questionable vegetable and a questionable bird meat, but eating them together made it taste delicious.
"Miss Meng Yao, since you open the gate. Can you lead us to the exit later?" Zhang Cheng ask.
"Yes! I can." She said.
"How about we leave tomorrow?" Zhang Cheng suggested.
Meng Yao head jerk up to face him, guilt in her expression she looks away. "I'm sorry... I have a favor to ask of you, because.... There are reason we are here in the first place."
Jiang Yuze flick his finger, "That reminds me. The demon cultivators was trying to kidnap Meng Yao to use her to find one of the Four Keys, belong to Juanang Gate Sect. You know about that right? Because I don't want to explain it."
All of them already know about the famous tale of the country. Especially Wu Haoyu, it's the reacquiring plot point of the novel in which he study throughly, "Cultivation King; Raise To The Top"
[Start the Exposition Dump]
Villain Points: 15+
A screen appears in front of Wu Haoyu eyes. He was surprised for a bit, it's been a decade since he got a mission like this. The first one was in dire situation where Zhang Cheng almost send to die. However, this mission is stupid. "Why again?"
"This world is still a novel, Li Jie. Imagine an audience looking and reading in the situation but with no context to what the story is about; is just a recipe for bad story. It has to be explain one way or another."
"Did you say something, Wu Haoyu?" Zhang Cheng asked.
"Umm... We all we could get a refresh on our memory." Wu Haoyu said.
Jiang Yuze raised a brow, "Wu Haoyu, I remember you like to read history books. Back in the sect library, you always pick one regarding war and cultivation politics on the dark days." Only half of his lips rose up,"Don't lie to me you forgot."
"Well maybe Wu Haoyu simply wants to hear it again." Meng Yao smile and raise her chin up, "Leave the storytelling to me. I'm a puppeteer after all."
Meng Yao clap her hand, "So, the world was united with the same goal of defeating the Demon Lord. After finally, the Demon Lord was defeated by the Four Great Sect. That is: The Alchemist Sect, Soaring Wind Sect, Silent River Pavilion and The Juanang Gate Sect. However, the credit thanks to the Heavenly God whom take pity on the suffering of the mortal and give aid the four sect with Four Mystical Artifacts that imprisoned the Demon Lord, which are now tittle Keys."
Meng Yao laid four individual pieces of leaf, "All had been hidden by each of the Sect. I, as the descendants of Juanang Gate Sect Patriarch, do know where one of the Four Keys is." She pick one leaf for herself.
"Well, since the backstory is set. Three days ago they try to trick my mind to giving the location of the Key.... I failed to resist the mind control. Thus, we must get to it first before they can."
"I see... Isn't that beautifully dreadful and grave." Wu Haoyu smile. Inside his head however he can visually imagine the novel blazing with fire. Don't even know what is happening, the plot point flip itself upside down. And now the important plot that supposed to happen later in the story is now comes first. Does the novel even matter at this point?!
A notification noise was sound above his head.
[Villain Point–15+]
[Total Villain Point: 640]
Meng Yao let out a heavy sigh, "I know." She feel remorse about it and the guilt weight heavy on her shoulders. "Would you two willing to help us?"
"We will help you." Zhang Cheng said without a second thought.
"I refuse." Wu Haoyu exclaimed.