621 The Strong Intent to Kill (2/2)

Sangsang said, ”I cried once a few years back. It was that night when I left Old Brush Pen Shop.”

Ning Que replied, ”Don't cry anymore in the future.”

Sangsang lowered her head and murmured in agreement.

Ning Que's lips landed on her smooth forehead and then trailed downwards to her lips.

Sangsang opened her eyes slightly and her lips parted.

Ning Que hugged her tightly and kissed her with quiet determination as if he was going to crush her slender body into his own. Only if he did that, would she not be seen by others and be taken away.

Sangsang was 16 years old, and while she was thin and weak, she was an alluring young woman. Ning Que reached into her shirt and caressed her.

Sangsang said softly, ”Let's have a baby.”

”When you get better,” said Ning Que as he looked into her seemingly transparent eyes.

”What if I never get better?”

”We are going to leave Chaoyang City in two days. Let's talk about this once we find a safe place.”

”But where will we truly be safe? The Academy?”

”If we cannot return to the Academy, then the safest place would be where there isn't anyone.”

The cloud in the sky grew larger and thicker.

The shadow cast by the cloud swallowed more than half of Chaoyang City. When the sun rose, an extremely short period of light would fall upon the city. Then, as the sun rose above the cloud, the city descended into gloominess once more.

Since last night, thousands of Yuelun Kingdom soldiers led by Ascetic Monks from the Buddhism Sect searched the streets and alleys of the city currently enshrouded by the cloud. The search was thorough as no one dared to be careless about it. They knocked on every door and searched water vats and grain cellars. They would only stick a piece of red paper on the door to signal that the house was clear after the Village Head and three neighbors confirm that there were no outsiders staying in the house.

While a large area of Chaoyang City was covered by the cloud, the suspects were slowly eliminated as each house was searched. They would eventually find the two who were hidden under the cloud.

The time came earlier than how it was expected by everyone. Not even Master Qi Mei of the Xuankong Temple, Luo Kedi, or his 18 West-Hill Divine Guards had expected it.

An Ascetic Monk from the Xuankong Temple led dozens of soldiers on a search, following a stream. Suddenly, a black crow appeared on a withered tree in front of him.

The Ascetic Monk frowned at the crow. He waved his hand lightly to shoo it away. But the black crow did not seem afraid of humans. Instead, it rushed at the monk and squawked shrilly.

After several caws, the black crow flew around the Ascetic Monk's head thrice and towards the stream. It landed on another tree after flying hundred feet ahead and cawed twice.

Cultivators, in general, were believers of Haotian. While the disciples of the Buddhism Sect believed in Buddha, they also deeply believed in fate. When he saw the odd behavior of the black crow, the Ascetic Monk expression turned grave. He indicated for the dozens of soldiers to continue their search and then walked alone towards the black crow which was north of the stream.

After several miles, the monk had crossed the distance of about five or six streets. The Ascetic Monk watched as the black crow flew into a little courtyard hundreds feet away by the stream. The monk's expression changed.

Following that, the ascetic monk's gaze landed on a green tree. He saw a clear hole made by a fist on the trunk of the tree and his pupils shrank, his demeanor changed drastically.

He suddenly thought, that if the legendary twosome were really in the courtyard, then they might sense him should his meditative heart be thrown into chaos from his fear. With that thought, he composed his meditative heart and calmed down. He forced everything that he had seen and speculated out of his mind.

The Ascetic Monk placed his palms together. He was expressionless and bore no thoughts, looking like a murky unpainted clay idol. Then, he walked away from the stream slowly, crossed through a narrow alley and walked to a certain location instinctually.

He walked through several streets in such a state. Not even the calls of his fellow disciples, nor the strange glances that the soldiers gave him could stop him as he continued his slow walk to the White Tower Temple.

The bells of the White Tower Temple roused the Ascetic Monk into a state of consciousness. He looked at his fellow disciples who gathered around him, and a lost expression appeared in his eyes. Then, he suddenly awakened and looked extremely frightened. With a light puff, he vomited blood and said weakly, ”I found them.”

Luo Kedi looked at the small courtyard in the distance. His mountainous body did not tremble the slightest and his face, which looked as if it was carved with granite, was expressionless. The burning fire in his eyes that signaled his intent to battle seemed to burn everything he looked at into a smoldering pile of ash.

18 West-Hill Divine Guards dressed in red cloaks stood on both sides of him respectfully. They carried with them broad Divine Blades which looked heavy.

Master Qi Mei stood beside Luo Kedi, looking at the courtyard quietly. After a long moment of silence, he said, ”Who would have thought that the Daughter of Yama would hide in Chaoyang City?”

The two powerhouses stood two streets away from the courtyard. They maintained this distance because their intent to kill was so strong that not even their states could obscure it.