Lu Wei mustered up my breath and glanced at his surroundings. 'Who was that guy? What was his connection with Min-Ji?'
Mu Wei, who stood all alone in the garden suddenly felt as if there were a pair of eyes watching from afar.
He could feel the goosebumps coming and followed his instinct to return back before anything bad could happen. Sure, he could just regress or use his abilities, but this time he had an ominous feeling.
As he turned around and march towards the entrance, he was stopped by a pair of hands that held both sides of his shoulder. Being wary, he quickly turned around and launched a punch towards the owner of the hands.
The figure quickly stepped back and dodged the punch. As Mu Wei got a clearer view, he recognized the man as the guild master of the Beiyin guild, Lu Beiyi.
"W-what are you doing here, guild master?" The white-haired man asked, trying to catch his breath. He stared at the man in front of him with a wary gaze.
Shit. What the hell is the guild master doing here? That almost gave me a heart attack.
Lu Beiyi, who was being looked at with such a suspicious gaze, seemed to be more carefree and even gave a small smile to him. "Haha, don't be so surprised. You're making it seem like I did something wrong. I was just taking a stroll by the garden and saw you."
He was wearing a black suit and even put his hands in the air as he was saying this. Now this made it seem like he was a criminal being detained by Mu Wei.
'Right. Totally. Am I a police officer or something?'
Mu Wei didn't buy a single word that came out from this man, but for the sake of peace, he decided not to make a fuss about it and avoid as much confrontations as he can.
"I see, well I'll be going now. Have a nice day, guild master." He didn't intend to continue this conversation any further and turned around to head to the entrance.
Before he could take a step, Lu Beiyi suddenly spoke from behind, "Are you not going to ask me about Min-Ji? Or why I'm here in such a perfect moment?"
This made Mu Wei pause for a moment and slowly turned around to look at the man. This time he could really feel like his legs were turning weak. For some reason, this scene looked like it would come from a horror movie.
....
'What?'
As the two looked at each other, the silence grew increasingly louder and louder, making Mu Wei feel like they were quarantined from the rest of the world and there were only two of them left.
Mu Wei gulped, suddenly feeling the pressure of the air and how tense this scene is. A sweat dripped down from his forehead and his eyes couldn't look away from the man's golden eyes. He felt like if he were to make a run for it or even look away, he'd be dead on the spot.
As Mu Wei was pondering on whether or not he should use his abilities at this moment, a hand suddenly reached out and wiped the sweat on his forehead.
Mu Wei froze as Lu Beiyi's hand brushed against his forehead, wiping the bead of sweat with deliberate slowness. He was wearing white gloves and made this touch even more foreign. The touch sent a chill down his spine, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. It was unnervingly gentle—too gentle for someone who looked like he wouldn't hesitate to murder him right now.
"Relax," Lu Beiyi said in a low voice, his golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "You're sweating like you've seen a ghost. Am I really that terrifying?"
Mu Wei stepped back instinctively, putting some distance between them. His heart was pounding, but whether it was from fear, the adrenaline of the earlier encounter, or something else entirely, he wasn't sure.
He knows he can't trust this man nor his words at all. He can't. It's a trap.
"I—I'm fine," Mu Wei stammered, his voice betraying the unease he tried to hide. He forced himself to stand tall and meet Lu Beiyi's gaze, though it felt like staring into the eyes of a predator. "And no, you're not terrifying. I was just... surprised."
Lu Beiyi tilted his head, his smile growing wider, and for a moment, Mu Wei couldn't tell if it was genuine amusement or something more sinister. "Unexpected, hmm? I could say the same about you. Wandering into the garden alone after such an... interesting encounter with Min-Ji. Were you hoping to find her again? Or were you chasing someone? Oh wait, could it be both?"
His words hit too close to home, and Mu Wei stiffened at his words. He glared at the man and asked with full suspicion in his voice, "What do you know about Min-Ji? Did you do something to her?"
Lu Beiyi's smile didn't waver, but his gaze sharpened, like a blade glinting under moonlight. He took a step closer, and Mu Wei's muscles tensed, his hand clenching into a fist. He was fully prepared to use his abilities at this moment.
"I know enough," Lu Beiyi said cryptically. "More than you, I'd wager."
"That's not an answer and you didn't answer my other one," Mu Wei snapped, frustration creeping into his tone. The tension in the air felt suffocating, like invisible hands pressing down on his chest. A knife could cut through how thick the tension in the air was.
"And yet it's all you're going to get—unless..." Lu Beiyi leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You ask nicely."
Mu Wei's breath hitched. The proximity was unnerving, the guild master's presence overwhelming in a way that left no room for escape. His golden eyes seemed to pierce through every defense Mu Wei had, laying bare the thoughts and fears he tried so hard to hide. Ah shit, those eyes were like snakes.
"Stop playing games," Mu Wei managed, his voice shaking slightly despite his efforts to sound firm. "If you know something about Min-Ji, then tell me. What's going on? Why was she—"
"Empty?" Lu Beiyi finished for him, his tone almost mocking. "Lifeless? Like a doll that's lost its purpose?"
Mu Wei's blood ran cold. How did he know? Those were the exact words he had been thinking, the same unsettling impression Min-Ji had left on him earlier. Was he the one who did that? But why would he be here to entertain my thoughts?
"Don't look so surprised," Lu Beiyi continued, his expression unreadable once more. "It seems like you're the only one who's noticed this, not even your little friend noticed. However, shouldn't you be asking what's my connection to this matter?"
The words echoed in Mu Wei's ear and made his heart race even more. He asked slowly, "Are you saying you did this to her?"
Lu Beiyi didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped past Mu Wei, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked toward the old well at the center of the garden. The sun casting long shadows over his figure, making him look almost otherworldly.
"This world," Lu Beiyi began, his voice soft but carrying an edge of something dark, "is full of secrets. Some are harmless, little truths that people hide out of embarrassment or fear. But others..." He paused, resting a hand on the edge of the well. "Others are dangerous. Deadly. And those who uncover them rarely live to tell the tale."
Mu Wei clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "Enough with the riddles. If it is you who did this or took part in this, just say it."
Lu Beiyi turned to face him, his golden eyes glinting in the dim light. "You're brave," he said, almost admiringly. "Or maybe just foolish. But bravery alone won't save you, Mu Wei."
The way he said Mu Wei's name sent a shiver down his spine, like a caress and a warning wrapped into one. This man truly deserved to be known as the strongest, even the way he speaks sends shivers.
The white-haired man mustered up his courage and spoke.
"You're avoiding the question," Mu Wei said, his voice firmer now. "What happened to Min-Ji that made her turn like that? And what exactly did you do to her?"
Lu Beiyi's smile returned, but this time it was tinged with something darker. He stepped closer, closing the distance between them once more.
"You really want to know?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"Yes," Mu Wei said, though the word came out shakier than he intended.
For a moment, Lu Beiyi simply stared at him, his gaze so intense that Mu Wei felt like he was being stripped of every layer of protection he had. Then, without warning, Lu Beiyi reached out and grabbed Mu Wei's wrist.