Chapter 50
HEART PROTECTION: CHAPTER 50
Yan Hui was also startled by the sword movement . She knew her senior disciple was a solemn and upstanding person . However she would've never guessed he would become so short-tempered after only a few months . Only a few words were exchanged before he swung .
Yan Hui hurriedly moved forward to block him: "Head Senior Disciple, calm down . "
Zi Chen's anger blazed high . He gathered magic into his hand and pushed Yan Hui aside: "Move . "
Yan Hui hadn't expected that and really was shoved aside .
Tian Yao's eyebrows furrowed at this sight .
When Yan Hui steadied herself and turned to look, Zi Chen was striking at Tian Yao . Tian Yao slightly shifted . It was a small movement, yet Zi Chen's sword completely missed Tian Yao . When Zi Chen was trying to reel in his momentum, Tian Yao raised his hand and lightly hit Zi Chen's wrist on its weakest point . There wasn't much power behind the blow, but Zi Chen's entire wrist became numb .
Zi Chen retreated . He clutched his wrist and sarcastically laughed: "An ordinary person . "
His words his their mark, and Yan Hui felt her face sting . She put up a stubborn front: "He's, he's just good at martial arts . He doesn't have magic . "
Zi Chen didn't want to hear Yan Hui's chatter . He only glared at Tian Yao: "My junior's messy aura is something you taught, isn't it?" His eyes darkened . "What are your intentions?" Zi Chen's tone was cold and flat .
"Intentions?" Tian Yao steadily looked back at Zi Chen . Although Tian Yao had no magic, it didn't affect his presence . "So what if her aura is because of my teachings? Ten years worth of your Chen Xing Mountain's teachings can't compare to a night of mine . I am not ashamed . "
Zi Chen was angered by those words: "Let's see how long you can keep up that arrogance . "
Magic gathered around Zi Chen's sword . The aura around it started to flow faster and faster . Even the naked eye could see the wind magic coating the blade's edge .
Zi Chen studied wind-related magic since young . Yan Hui could tell Zi Chen was going to truly face-off against Tian Yao . She looked all around in fear . Yan Hui kicked a rock that happened to be next to her . The rock hit Zi Chen's wrist right where Tian Yao had struck earlier . Zi Chen was distracted by the pain and looked at Yan Hui .
Yan Hui flashed and suddenly appeared behind Zi Chen . With a rapid movement, Yan Hui ruthlessly chopped Zi Chen's neck with the side of her hand .
With muddied magic and a muffled mutter, red light traced down Zi Chen's channels and burned throughout his entire body .
In a split second, the wind magic around Zi Chen's sword dispersed . The swirling magic also quieted . Zi Chen's body froze in place . The anger in his eyes seemed like it would torch whatever he saw .
"Yan Hui . "
Yan Hui lazily apologized: "Sorry, sorry . I sealed your channels . You'll be able to move after an hour . There's nothing to fear, Head Senior Disciple . "
How could he not worry? Zi Chen had always been steady and solemn . He was even more controlled than Ling Ziao . But now he was so angry that even words failed him: "You . . . . you . . . . " Zi Chen couldn't get the rest out . He didn't even know what to say .
Yan Hui sighed and walked off to the side to pick up a random stick:
"Head Senior Disciple, stop trying to impose on me . Now that I can no longer go back to Chen Xing Mountain, don't try to find me again . That way, the other shifus won't suspicions about you . I haven't thought about returning since I've left . Just count this meeting as making up for not seeing me off when I left the mountain . There are many miles to wander in the jianhu . From henceforth, we are strangers to each other . "
Yan Hui truly decided to sever ties with Chen Xing Mountain .
After the fox demon matter, she didn't want to nor was willing to hear any news regarding Ling Xiao . She feared one more small piece of news would thoroughly shatter her carefully protected image of her shifu .
Yan Hui leaving Wang Yu Luo, where information was gathered, was the start of her plan to avoid investigating the "truth" .
She feared there would be a day when she found out the entire truth . That she wouldn't be able to bear the truth . Therefore, she might as well flee, might as well avoid it . Pretending like nothing was the matter was the best plan Yan Hui came up with .
Zi Chen's expression changed at Yan Hui's words . He didn't get his words out before Yan Hui brushed off the branch and flung it upwards . The branch immediately hovered in mid-air .
Yan Hui grabbed Tian Yao's hand and lithely jumped onto the branch . She didn't spare Zi Chen a look . Treating the branch as a sword, she summoned a wind and used the Propelling Sword Technique .
Sponsored Content
Zi Chen's channels were sealed, so he could only stand frozen in place . The wind ruffled his hair . He was a combination of fury, helplessness, and ruefulness .
Up to now, the only person in his class who could easily use wood as a sword and fly to her heart's content was Yan Hui . She was extremely gifted, and if she stayed in Chen Xing Mountain, she might be able to overtake Zhenren Su Ying . There was a real possibly, not empty conjecture .
Furthermore, Zi Chen had hoped Yan Hui would stay in Chen Xing Mountain . How could she so casually learn things from that unknown person? What if he was a bad person? What if he had . . . . . . . . bad intentions toward her?
Yan Hui brought Tian Yao along with the Propelling Sword Technique for two hours without rest . As the branch was in mid-air, standing space was limited . Yan Hui was smaller of frame than Tian Yao . Although Yan Hui was the one piloting the branch with magic, her entire body was wrapped in Tian Yao's embrace .
It was a tight hug . Yan Hui's body heat inevitably transferred to Tian Yao .
Yan Hui's hair blew about in the wind, confusing Tian Yao's line of sight . He looked at the far-off mountains and clouds . Suddenly he spoke: "Didn't you say you wouldn't care about me?"
Yan Hui's thought hadn't been focused on Tian Yao . However after she heard his question, she froze . Then she looked at Tian Yao out of the corner of her eye: "If you have complaints, I don't mind dropping you down here . "
Tian Yao's mouth curled into a smile . He didn't ask further and changed the subject: "You didn't go easy against your senior disciple . "
"I didn't plan on fighting . " Yan Hui was puzzled . "I wanted to run, but who knew that his temper would be so high? I don't know what he was mad about . "
Tian Yao's expression slightly changed . That was good . It was best she didn't know what Zi Chen was mad about .
Yan Hui rapidly flew in twisting paths . She made sure Zi Chen wouldn't be able to follow after them before she turned to fly directly southward .
Yan Hui originally thought that since Tian Yao was following her, she wouldn't use Propelling Sword . She didn't think an opportunity would happen . However since she already lost face and ended up using it, she might as well fly straight to Xiang Li Town .
Propelling Sword was fast . The two of them arrived to the town before darkness fell .
This place could be considered Yan Hui's hometown . When she was small, she lived in a small village not far from the town . Yan Hui wasn't prepared to return home tonight . She planned to stay in town for the night .
Sponsored Content
They paid for two rooms in an inn . Although Yan Hui was the owner of a small jewelry store, she hadn't even seen the store yet . She was still in the habit of being miserly .
Yan Hui warned Tian Yao repeatedly: "For now I'll let it be . But if in the future you become successful, then the past and current expenses for eating, lodging, and traveling need to be repaid . "
Tian Yao didn't respond . His eyes were downcast as he went up the stairs, slightly hiding his contemplation .
Upon seeing this, Yan Hui tensed . Things never went well when Tian Yao had that expression . "What is it," asked Yan Hui . She looked all around and sniffed the air . She practically whispered: "Are there demons? I don't sense any . "
Tian Yao looked up at Yan Hui: "I'm a demon . "
Yan Hui was silent . Now that His Highness got his horns back, he also got his spine back too .
"It's nothing . Let's go to our rooms . " Tian Yao reached the second floor . He turned his head . There was a window at the end of the hallway . It was cracked upon to allow fresh air into the inn . "I just feel like this place seems familiar, that's all . "
Yan Hui was stunned: "How so?"
Tian Yao shook his head .
Yan Hui thought for a moment and said: "Don't think you can spout off some polished words and I'll forget the matter of you returning money . "
" . . . . . . . " Tian Yao shot her a glance and pushed the door open to his room .
Yan Hui got up early the next day . It was rare to have time to properly get up . She even brushed her hair with more care than usual . Upon exiting the room, Yan Hui crashed right into Tian Yao .
Tian Yao was stunned for a moment, but Yan Hui didn't seem to notice . She single-mindedly fell upon the inn's breakfast: "Tian Yao, did you make porridge this morning?"
Sponsored Content
This place wasn't Wang Yu Lou . They wouldn't casually let anyone use their kitchen .
Tian Yao shook his head: "No . "
Yan Hui sighed with extreme pity: "Then let's get some mantou and have breakfast on the go . "
The village was very close to the town . There was no need for Propelling Sword . The two of them leisurely walked on the town's road and exited, heading south . The houses got smaller and smaller while the fields got bigger and bigger . The smell of grass was much stronger here than in the town .
There were already people working early in the fields .
Yan Hui was walking slowly . Tian Yao also didn't talk . It was rare of those two to walk so peacefully down a road . There was no arguing nor squabbling . There was no one in pursuit or in suspicion .
"The village is right up ahead . " Yan Hui looked down the road . She slightly smiled, revealing a canine tooth . She looked mischievous: "That big tree ahead is a sign we're close to the village . It used to grow quite lushly, but it got burned down . "
Tian Yao looked to where Yan Hui was talking about . He immediately narrowed his eyes .
There was a large, broken tree in that direction . All that was left was a jumble of roots and part of a mighty tree trunk . The trunk was so big that it would take five men to entirely encircle it . It could be seen that the tree would've been very lush and green before it burned down .
The two walked closer to the tree after talking . Upon a closer look, there were charcoal traces on the trunk caused by the fire . They had become both smooth and hard after long years in the wind and rain .
Tian Yao silently assessed the tree . Then Yan Hui suddenly spoke: "This is where I first met Ling Xiao and Head Senior Disciple . " She reached out and touched the trunk . Her hand seemed especially pale against the bark . "Speaking of, I was the one who burned down the tree . Poor tree . "
Tian Yao was stunned by her words . He turned to look at Yan Hui in disbelief: "You burned the tree?"
Perhaps he seemed too disbelieving of Yan Hui . She turned to look at him: "Ya, I burned it down . "
Tian Yao blankly stared at Yan Hui when he heard her reply . He was so expressionless that it was like Yan Hui had stolen his soul . . . . . . .