Chapter 12
Angry guard
The bold guard looked outside, his eyes scanning the rain-soaked landscape with a mixture of caution and curiosity. The rain created a misty veil that shrouded the surrounding mountains, making it seem like the temple was the only refuge from the storm. Ryujin continued to roast his pancake in the campfire, thinking to himself, "What a show-off." When the other guard went outside, Ryujin could see a few more guards standing in the rain, protecting the temple where their young miss was taking shelter. They stood like sentinels, their faces impassive and their eyes watchful, as they scanned the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
As the thunder struck again, the beautiful lady approached Ryujin, her eyes sparkling in the firelight like a pair of emeralds. "Young master, how are you?" she asked, her voice melodious and soothing. Ryujin replied, "Miss, how are you?" as he sat closer to the campfire, trying to warm himself up. The fire crackled and spat, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the temple, as the lady's gaze met Ryujin's.
The bold guard threw a pouch of money towards Ryujin, saying, "Kid, this mountain temple is small and overcrowded. Take two tails of silver and find another place." The pouch landed on the floor with a soft clink, the silver coins inside jingling against each other. Ryujin's eyes narrowed as he thought, "Who does this guy think he is?" He looked up at the bold guard and said, "Not enough, add more money." The bold guard's face darkened, and he growled, "State your price."
Ryujin took a bite of his pancake, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Twenty-four tails," he said, his voice calm and collected. The bold guard's face turned red with anger, and he started twitching. A faint aura began to emanate from his body, a dark and foreboding energy that seemed to pulse with his anger. He snarled, "Kid, don't be too greedy."
The bold guard's face turned red with anger as he glared at Ryujin, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Kid, don't be too greedy," he growled, his voice low and menacing, echoing off the temple's stone walls. Ryujin felt a surge of depression emanating from the air, and he thought to himself, "Oh damn, a True Energy Realm cultivator." He realized that if his opponent were in the Internal Energy Realm, he could still fight with his many trump cards, but this person was in the True Energy Realm, making them a formidable opponent.
The lady intervened, trying to calm the guard down, her slender fingers grasping his arm. "It was clearly his arrival first," she said, her voice soft and soothing, like a gentle breeze on a summer day. "My family members act recklessly, so I asked the young master not to mind." She bowed her head slightly, her veil rustling against her face, casting a shadow over her hidden features.
Ryujin replied, "It's okay, but can we really not reconsider the twenty-four tails?" He repeated his offer, "How about we negotiate for twenty?" The lady giggled, a melodious sound that filled the air, and took a sip from her cup, raising her veil slightly as she tried not to show her face. A hint of her smooth, porcelain-like skin was visible, but it was quickly hidden again.
"Young master, please don't joke," she said, her voice melodious, like a songbird's trill. "It's nighttime now, and it's raining everywhere outside, with possible demons and monsters lurking around." She smiled, and Ryujin felt a pang of curiosity about her hidden face. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds in the firelight, casting a mesmerizing glow.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Miss," Ryujin said, his eyes fixed on the lady, his voice filled with sincerity. The four of them sat around the fire, the bold guard's anger still simmering beneath the surface, like a pot about to boil over. Another guard, wearing a hat, stood at the door, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of curiosity and caution, his eyes darting back and forth like a hawk scanning its prey.
Ryujin thought to himself, "what was there to fear about demons and monsters; if I had known earlier, I wouldn't have been so pretentious. Two tails of silver are better than nothing." He continued eating his pancake, his eyes fixed on the group as he pondered his next move, his mind racing with possibilities.
As the rain continued to pour down outside, drumming a soothing melody on the temple's roof, the group inside remained oblivious to the carnage that had unfolded. The lady, Si Wei, brought out some steaming hot chicken laps and offered them to Ryujin, her eyes sparkling with kindness like polished jade. "Young master, if you don't mind, can we have a meal together?" she asked, her voice gentle as a summer breeze.
The bold guard's face darkened, his brows furrowing in irritation. "Young miss, we don't have much food left," he growled, his voice laced with a hint of warning. The other guards glared at Ryujin, their eyes piercing like daggers, their faces twisted in scowls.
Ryujin smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he accepted the meal from Si Wei's hands. As their hands touched, Si Wei's face flushed, and she quickly looked away, her veil rustling against her face. The air seemed to vibrate with tension, and the guards' anger simmered, their faces twisted in scowls.
The bold guard's eyes narrowed, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Ryujin seemed to sense their hostility, and a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. "Brothers, calm down," he said, his voice soothing as a gentle stream.
Si Wei's eyes met Ryujin's, and she smiled, her lips curving upward like a delicate flower. "Miss, you are beautiful and kind, and this meal brings us together. I, Ryujin, will remember it," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "By the way, may I know how to address you, miss?"
Si Wei's face glowed with pleasure, her eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky. "I'm Si Wei," she replied, her voice musical and melodious. "And what about you, young master?"
Ryujin held up a piece of chicken, ready to take a bite. "I am Ryujin, and I'm from Wutong County," he said, his eyes sparkling with warmth. The fire crackled and spat, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the temple.
Si Wei's eyes lit up, her face radiant with excitement. "My father was recently transferred to Wutong County. Now that things have settled, he asked me to go find him. What a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet Young Master Ryujin, also from Wutong County. Could you please introduce some interesting local customs of Wutong County to me?"
Ryujin's face broke into a wide smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You've asked the right person! Wutong County is..." He began to narrate, but his words were cut short by the sound of rustling outside. The guards' heads snapped towards the door, their faces tense with alertness, their hands instinctively reaching for their swords,
The bold guard gripped his blade tightly behind his back as he turned to the other two guards. "You protect the miss while I go outside and check what's happening," he commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.
"Yes, sir!" the two guards replied in unison, their faces set with determination.
Ryujin stood up from his spot near the campfire, his eyes fixed on the bold guard. Si Wei, the lady, also rose to her feet, her slender fingers grasping the edge of her cloak.
The bold guard jumped outside into the rain-soaked night, his eyes scanning the darkness intently. The rain created a misty veil that shrouded the surrounding mountains, making it seem like the temple was the only refuge from the storm. The sound of raindrops hitting the stone pavement was like a thousand tiny drumbeats, echoing through the night air.
blade tightened as he searched for any sign of the killer. His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger and determination.
Suddenly, a voice called out from the rooftop, "You finally noticed, Old Ghost Xing. You made it difficult for me to find you along the way."
The bold guard's eyes snapped towards the rooftop, his gaze locking onto the figure standing at the edge. The person jumped down, landing behind the bold guard with a menacing red aura. The air seemed to vibrate with the mysterious man's presence, his dark energy palpable.
The bold guard spun around, his blade at the ready. "You... you are the Blood Demon Sect's White Bone Elder!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of fear and determination.
The mysterious man smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You do have some insights," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Today, I am in a good mood. As long as you hand over Si Qing Yun's daughter, I can spare your life."
The bold guard's face hardened, his jaw clenched in defiance. "Even if it means death, I won't let you lay a finger on the miss," he growled, his voice firm and resolute.