meeting Su Hongyue: taking responsibility
1571 Words
As Zhou Chen reached out to take them, the seals floated into the air, spinning in a perfect pattern before shooting directly between his brows and embedding themselves into his sea of consciousness. Zhou Chen flinched, startled, but since he felt no pain, he decided to leave it alone and moved on to the next platforms.
The fourth platform held three scrolls.
The first was all about formations their construction, purpose, and secrets. Zhou Chen had seen the power of formations firsthand, watching them defend an entire city during the war. Rumor had it that a skilled formation master could instantly destroy a cultivator simply by having them step across the formation’s border a terrifying thought. But few could master such an art, and its power often depended on the strength of the opponent.
The second scroll was about forgery an essential skill, since formation masters needed forged flags to build their arrays. Though masters could eventually create formation flags with their own energy, they had to reach a certain cultivation realm before they could do so.
The third scroll contained detailed information about pill refinement. Zhou Chen’s heart leapt at this he understood how crucial pills were for cultivation, especially when preparing to break through to a higher realm after reaching the Primordial King stage.
Smiling brightly, Zhou Chen stored the scrolls before turning his attention to the next platform.
This one held a small, pitch-black rock with a polished surface. Zhou Chen recognized it instantly Void Marrow. If consumed, it granted the ability to teleport through space and time. But it was unbelievably rare, created only from the Eternal Blue Flame of Immortality a flame that had existed since time immemorial and never went out. It was even said to extend a person’s lifespan by 3,000 years.
Without hesitation, Zhou Chen swept the rock into his storage ring.
The sixth platform held a full set of golden and black armor, pulsing with a powerful aura. Zhou Chen shook his head it was too large and not something he could use right away.
But before he could reject it, the armor flew toward him, clinging to his body before shrinking to his size and disappearing inside him. Zhou Chen could only smile bitterly. He was used to this kind of thing by now.
The last platform was unusual divided into three sections, with three golden leaves laid neatly at the ends, each as thin as a pencil.
“What the hel—wait, I guess I won’t be needing to curse anymore,” Zhou Chen thought, picking up one of the leaves.
It was so light he might have thought he was holding nothing if not for being able to see it.
He picked up the second leaf. Still nothing happened.
Then he picked up the third, again, no reaction.
“…Nothing.”
Zhou Chen was dejected as he inspected the three leaves carefully. “Wait… I have an idea,” he muttered.
He injected primordial essence chi into the three leaves, but nothing happened. “What a bust,” he thought bitterly.
He was about to put them back when he decided to try his luck with spirit energy instead.
BOOM!
The three leaves lit up brightly, floating out of his hands and forming a circle in the air. They began to revolve at an incredible speed until
BOOM!
The huge door at the center of the hall creaked open, and from within emerged a figure.
She looked to be about Zhou Chen’s age, her eyes deep and cold, filled with fury and killing intent. The moment she saw Zhou Chen, however, her killing intent subsided slightly. Her gaze lingered on the revolving hoop of leaves above his head.
Zhou Chen was first horrified, then stunned, then shocked Well, let’s just say he was scared shitless by the figure before him.
Yet despite the fear, he still felt a strange sense of relief. He hadn’t seen another living soul in days.
“Hello… my name is Zhou Chen. And you are?”
It was then that Zhou Chen finally got a good look at her.
She was beautiful. Similar to a jade-like ice goddess come to life. Her hair flowed down to her waist like a waterfall of black silk, her deep purple eyes unfathomable, like a starry night sky. Her fair face was flawless, cold yet captivating.
Let’s just say she was a celestial beauty, unmatched even compared to the green-eyed Ling Mai.
The maiden glanced at Zhou Chen with eyes colder than ice.
Then she moved.
In an instant, she was in front of Zhou Chen.
Startled, Zhou Chen reacted just in time, retreating like lightning.
BOOM!
He was blasted several meters across the stone room, his body slamming into a stone pillar so hard that it nearly cracked.
“Ahhhh!” Zhou Chen groaned as blood trickled down his lips.
A look of faint satisfaction appeared on the maiden’s face.
“Su Hongyue,” she said in an uncaring tone, “you are now responsible for my protection. Get up. We must depart quickly.”
Zhou Chen staggered to his feet, cursing silently.
Damn you… you’re clearly stronger than me, yet you call me your bodyguard?!
Clenching his teeth, Zhou Chen was about to speak when the hoop of leaves above him drew an arc in the air and shot straight between his brows, piercing into his sea of consciousness.
Suddenly, a suction force pulled his spirit soul inward.
He opened his eyes to find himself on an island covered in fine white sand. There was no sun, yet the place was lit as bright as day.
Ahead, in the distance, he saw the borders of the island and then, a light screen appeared before him.
On it were written the words:
"Three Divine Dragon Realms of Primordial Chaos"
Zhou Chen guessed it must be the name of the world he was currently in.
The screen shifted, revealing the image of a little girl as beautiful as a rose, playing in a lush green field.
Zhou Chen froze.
The girl looked like Su Hongyue, only much younger.
BOOM!
An explosion echoed from far away within the scenery. The young Hongyue turned her gaze toward the source of the sound.
Hummmm!
A ray of light flashed, revealing two figures a man and a woman.
They were clearly her parents.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Hongyue asked, fear in her voice.
“Something bad is happening,” her father said grimly. “But don’t worry, your mother and I will make sure you’re safe. Now listen carefully, you must go to the back mountains, where the Flames of Samsara flow. Someone will be there to help you.”
“But...” Hongyue’s lips trembled, tears threatening to fall.
“Don’t worry, okay?” her mother said gently, stroking her hair. “Daddy and I will definitely come find you when this is over.”
Hummmm!
Two more beams of light appeared, revealing two men with grim expressions.
“Your Highness,” one of them said urgently, “we must activate the city’s Blood Formation. If we delay any longer, we won’t get another chance!”
With a final look at his daughter, Hongyue’s father waved his hand, sending her flying toward the back mountains in a streak of light before heading back toward the crumbling city.
Hongyue landed and ran through the mountains as fast as she could, but soon she was being chased by a group of men.
She reached a lake of molten lava and skidded to a halt.
Fuuup—
A figure in black swooped down, grabbing Hongyue by the hand. She relaxed slightly as he smiled reassuringly at her, then carried her on his back as he dashed across the stone path over the lava pool.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted behind them.
BANG!
Hongyue was flung violently to the far side of the lake, just as the figure in black was consumed by flames.
“Ahhhhhh!”
Hongyue screamed as tears streamed down her face.
“Brother! Nooooo!”
Her cries echoed as she saw the entire city set ablaze, her brother’s figure swallowed by the lava.
Swoop!
It was at this moment that a smoky hand descended from above, pulling Hongyue into a floating pagoda. The pagoda vanished into the void as space itself fractured.
The images faded away.
Then a woman’s voice spoke softly:
“If you are hearing this now, it means you have found my daughter. I’m sorry for putting such a burden on you, but I beg you please take care of her.
Though the treasures in this pagoda are all we can offer for now, you will be handsomely rewarded when this great war is over.”
Another voice masculine in nature, trembling added:
“Please… bear with her. She’s just a child. I beg you, be kind to her.”
The screen dissolved into mist, and Zhou Chen was expelled from the strange world, landing in the very desert where he had first entered the pagoda.
But the pagoda… was gone.
Doubt crept across Zhou Chen’s face.
“Was that all just a dream?”
“Good. It’s about time you came out. I’m hungry.”
Zhou Chen stiffened.
“…Fuck. It’s not a dream,” he thought bitterly. “I’m neck-deep in responsibility.”
Slowly, he turned to face the figure standing before him.
- Writer
