Chapter 147

  Great Questions (II)

  Long Tao once again thought back at the tome his strange Master showed him. He'd never seen an art quite like it before in his life. Then again, he hadn't really seen arts like his Master's in general.

  Aegis of Infinity...

  It was a bold name, and yet, it still somehow felt understated. If it had been auctioned off by the Golden Dragon, it would have likely fetched the worth of a Tower. Not that he ever knew anyone who could have actually practiced the art.

  While 'Demonic Vessel Physique' wasn't anything extraordinary--all Vessel Physiques, ultimately, rang from the same original bell of it all--the other requirement was... different.

  So different that he nearly screamed in shock once he recognized it.

  Dreadline.

  The word itself sent shockwaves throughout his mind, rattling it in ways that it hadn't been in a long, long time.

  Dreadline.

  Such an ancient word that it took even him a few moments to recognize it. Per the legends, it came from one of the first 100 Emperors of Mankind, as they were called--Emperor of Dread. It wasn't a title given out of affection, as his very existence inspired that feeling in not just lesser cultivators but other Emperors and Empresses, too.

  That was why his entire bloodline was hunted into extinction--eerily, seldom the only example of such a thing in the early days of Martial Gods, but certainly one of the first.

  Though he'd heard whispers before that the bloodline survived, he had never encountered it.

  Well, in fairness, to say that it 'existed' even now was a stretch--technically, Wan Lan did have it, but she may as well not have. It was locked and dormant, and there wasn't a soul alive or dead besides perhaps the original Emperor of Dread himself that could help her manifest it.

  ... no.

  There was one.

  He stopped and glanced back through the trees, where he saw the ordinary-seeming middle-aged man stand up and dust off his robes, mumbling something under his breath--Long Tao felt his ears itch as he was certain the Master was cursing him out.

  That inconspicuous-looking man that he would not have cast a second look toward was an anomaly that defied expectations.

  Long Tao had confirmed it by now--his Master had an inordinate capacity to create arts that nobody else could. How, why, or where this gift came from... none of that mattered. The man could conjure up otherwise nonexistent arts from seemingly thin air.

  Rather than a gift... it was more of a curse, Long Tao felt.

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  Were he to ever be discovered by any of the Divine Powers, he would be hunted down and executed on the spot. Anything that defied Heavens to such a degree was intolerable in their eyes--including Long Tao himself as well.

  Such a gift... it had to be protected.

  It was hardly a new revelation for him--he'd already become conscious of the fact that he had grown fond of the man, but it was as though layers kept being added onto the already existing mountain.

  Effortless kindness, anomalous existence, and now the gift of creation itself, something reserved for only one of the Seven... not to mention the shocking gaps in knowledge.

  It was clear that his Master didn't really have much common sense when it came to the world of martial arts. And yet, here and there, he'd showcase bits of knowledge that even Long Tao would consider one of the world's secrets.

  "A-ah, Senior Brother," he was woken from his thoughts by the stuttering voice of a young woman. Turning over, he saw Wan Lan exit the tent, quickly bowing and looking away, her cheeks flushed faintly. "Hello."

  "Hm. How are your wounds?" he asked.

  "Much better, thank you for asking. Uhm," she fiddled in place for a moment before bowing yet again, this time to a full ninety degrees. "My deepest apologies, Senior Brother! I have doubted you and I--"

  "--save it for someone who cares," he interrupted her, inspecting her closely. It was just... remarkable how perfect that art was for her. Tailor-made. Well, it made sense--it was tailored for her, specifically. "We've paused it for a while, but it's time I reinstated daily spars. You won't be fighting just me but other kids, too."

  "A-ah, of course!" she quickly recovered, standing up. "E-eh? Others? But, they are... no, wait, are they also like, like you?"

  "... in some ways," he grinned faintly as he replied. "Don't be too discouraged. You're probably stronger than them at the moment."

  "... probably? But... aren't they still in Qi Condensation?"

  "One thing you'll learn about our Master quickly," he said. "Is that the Heavenly Chosen kind of... gravitate towards him? It'll be good for you."

  "... you sound much older than you are, Senior Brother," she smiled and chuckled, seeming to relax slightly. "It's... a bit reassuring, oddly."

  "You should go see Master," Long Tao said. "He's found an art for you. Who knows? If you perfect it, you might force me to draw my sword."

  "... you never hold back, do you?"

  "Oddly, I really do."

  "... pfft." She covered her mouth and stopped herself from laughing forcibly. "Very well. I will go and see Master."

  He watched her leave for a moment before turning over, stopping once again; there, just in front of the tent, were the three sets of differently curious eyes.

  "Senior Brother," Dai Xiu was the first to speak up, her expression serious. "Are you getting red?"

  "... what?"

  "That's what men do, I was warned! They get red with girls!"

  "..."

  "Senior Sister, it's inappropriate," Xi Zhao commented from the side.

  "What's red?" Light asked, her eyes widening with curiosity.

  "Listen, Light--if a boy ever gets red with you, run! He'll become a beast!"

  "Oooh! What kind of a beast?"

  "Scary beast!"

  Long Tao felt a headache incoming, rubbing the bridge of his nose. This was why he liked when Master was around--most of these inane things were oriented toward him, but now... he was the recipient. It was honestly remarkable how patient Master was with them all and never once seemed frustrated when these little moments occurred.

  "You three clearly have too much free time on your hands," he said. "I already informed Wan Lan, but you should know it, too--starting tomorrow, I'm reinstating daily spars. And I'm increasing the difficulty."

  "... no! You will go red on us, too?! Senior Brother, come back! Don't become a beast!" He honestly couldn't tell whether the 12-year-old girl was just screwing with him or if she genuinely believed her words.

  He also couldn't tell which would be worse.

  Xi Zhao must have realized that the last rope of patience within him was snapping because the former quickly put his hand over Dai Xiu's mouth and dragged her back into the tent, all while Light watched it with great curiosity.

  "Xi Zhao," she mumbled. "I get it! His cheeks were red! That's what it must mean!"

  ... will they be fine?

  Eh, he shrugged it off. It wasn't his job to take care of them. It was his Master's.

  Long Tao almost laughed in anticipation as he walked past the tent, wanting to find a small space for himself to cultivate in peace.