Chapter 31 (1/2)

31 – Luo Hong's Request

“Luo Hong's aura is rather odd…” Walking at a fast pace, Xue Qilin suddenly felt something and asked Ye Zhen.

If a Heaven Realm expert intentionally hid their aura, then even martial pract.i.tioners with higher cultivation bases wouldn't be able to sense them. As such, Xue Qilin didn't find it strange that she only sensed Luo Hong's aura when the latter was already close to the Merak Palace. Instead, she found strange that Luo Hong's aura was vague, as if it was obscured by a fog.

“He comes from the Shadow Gate, so he's very adept at controlling his aura.” Ye Zhen's answer came from behind her, and Xue Qilin adopted the “so that's the case” expression.

“Young Ancestor, Palace Master, Vice-palace Master!” A cry came from not far ahead. Looking up, they saw a middle-aged man running towards them.

“Who's that?” Xue Qilin slightly tilted her head sideways and quietly asked Qi Qiqi standing nearby.

“That's Elder Yang Yuening.” Qi Qiqi's tone changed, and she uttered, exasperated, “That said, you don't have to remember everyone's names, but you should at least recognize all the Elders, alright?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Xue Qilin agreed casually.

At this time, Yang Yuening has reached them. He cupped his hand towards Xue Qilin, which was regarded as a greeting.

“You let Luo Hong in? Why didn't you stop him?” Ye Zhen asked about Luo Hong.

Luo Hong didn't deliberately hide his aura. And although the senses of Earth Realm experts weren't as sharp as those of Heaven Realm experts, but since Qi Qiqi has sensed Luo Hong, the other Earth Realm experts should have also perceived his aura.

“He has Elder Luo's sword, and…” Yang Yuening suddenly stopped talking.

Does this guy like to keep people in suspense? A little impatient, just as Xue Qilin wanted to inquire, Ye Zhen spoke first, “And what? Elder Yang, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“… he carries a coffin.”

Coffin? Little Qing's sword? Don't tell me… an ominous premonition welled up in Xue Qilin's mind, and her eyes widened. Then, as if an eagles flapping its wings, her big sleeves flapped urgently, and she catapulted out.

Everything in her field of view quickly elapsed, and she jumped up, then with a light tap of her feet, used the ledge of a wall to propel herself forward. In a flash, the main hall was before her eyes. She pulled the brakes in front of the main hall, and before her center of gravity could adjust, she stumbled into the main hall.

Wearing a weird mask, Luo Hong stood inside the main hall, and a coffin laid beside him.

… the coffin left Xue Qilin unsettled.

She staggered up to the coffin and, using all her strength, pushed the lid of the coffin open only by a little. Her heart racing, she was afraid to open the coffin, afraid to see a person sleeping inside.

Why deceive yourself when the facts are right before your eyes?

“You don't dare to look inside? Then let me help you.”

Before Xue Qilin could react, the lid was gone. The coffin was opened by Luo Hong.

… the cyan figure finally came into her view, is was Luo Qing.

She slept inside the coffin. Her expression serene, she looked as if she was really just asleep.

But will she really wake up? Xue Qilin wanted to believe that she was just asleep. However, the pallid tender face, still chest, and body without vitality gave Xue Qilin no room for doubt.

She was dead.

Staring at Luo Qing's pale face with a dull look in her eyes, Xue Qilin extended her trembling hand and stroked the serene face.

… it was cold, bereft of warmth, bereft of human warmth.

Unwittingly, the corners of her eyes moistened.

Xue Qilin looked vacantly at Qi Qiqi standing aside.

As if restraining something inside, Qi Qiqi bit her lower lip. After biting for a long time, she bit through the skin, and blood oozed from her lower lip.

Then, Xue Qilin looked at Ye Zhen standing half a step behind Qi Qiqi. His face was expressionless. At first glance, his deep eyes looked still and serene, yet an indistinct sorrow permeated them.

Everything was pointing to one thing…

Feeling like her heart was gripped by a hand, a strong sense of suffocation made her dizzy. She forced herself to stand still, to not fall down, but she couldn't suppress the shudder that pervaded her body.

Some intense dark emotions sprang up inside her and threatened to devour her mind.

Xue Qilin looked up at Luo Hong.

A pair of empty eyes died golden were reflected in his eyes, showing no emotion, no expression.

What surprised her the most was that she actually smiled. It was a light smile, a smile that thirsted for something.