Chapter 20: Trace of Evil (1/2)
Instantly, everyone's eyes landed on this unremarkable Bamboo Peak disciple. Tian Bolis and Surin looked at each other. Surin smiled, nodded.
The Bamboo Peak disciples surrounded him. Ludaxin hit heavily on Shaw Danon's shoulder, said: ”You stinking brat, never knew you had such luck.”
Shaw Danon scratched his head and stuck out his tongue. Amandla regretfully slapped his head: ”I should have put a bet on who may get the number one wax bead. Heh, heh, must be unexpected!”
”Get out.” Hidi pushed him away, then told Shaw Danon: ”Xiao Fan, you are going to be useless in round two anyway, give this to me!”
Shaw Danon never expected his Shijie would say that. He was startled, then said: ”Oh.” He proceeded to hand the paper to her.
Xavion said quietly: ”Xiao Shimei, don't mess around.”
Hidi chuckled. She held out her finger and flicked against Shaw Danon's forehead, said: ”Silly, I was just joking.”
Shaw Danon blinked, and laughed.
Vasp Caelo frowned, announced: ”Good, the sortation has completed. In a moment, come see me and report what number you received. Later they will be posted on a list on a red board, so you can check who your opponent is. Now, Head Shixiong has prepared a speech.”
The disciples immediately grew quiet. Master Doyal Shen left his seat and walked slowly to the front. His eyes swept across the disciples, then said: ”Everyone, all of you are Jadeon's hope for our next generation. Everyone here possess great potential. In the future, the position of master, elder, or even the head may be succeeded by one of you.”
Many Jadeon disciples were excited.
Master Doyal Shen showed a gentle smile: ”Of course, to get this far and attain the seat of elder and master, you all need to work hard.”
Everyone said at same time: ”Yes.”
Master Doyal Shen held his long, then nodded: ”We Jadeon clan, since Master Jadeon to now have always been a well known faction of Good. Today, we are the leaders of the Good cultivators in this world. The Good rise up while the Evil hid themselves. People live peacefully. The remaining Evil, however, are treacherous and vicious. Their hearts never die. In the recent years, there are signs of Evil preparing to rise up again. In the times like this, they need the Good to get rid of them. So everyone must focus on cultivation, strengthen your mind. If we are strong, the Evil can find no opening for them!”
All the disciples shouted: ”Understand Headmaster's teaching!”
Master Doyal Shen smiled: ”Good, good. Another thing I want to announce: To encourage Jadeon disciples, I have discussed with masters and elders and it has been decided from now one, the winner of Seven Peaks Tournament will receive a small prize.”
”Ah!!”
Master Doyal Shen looked at those young disciples, said: ”The reward for this session is: Union Mirror.”
”What is that?” Shaw Danon had never heard of it before. He turned to Hidi and Amandla, but they were also confused. Other young disciples appeared to be lost, too. But, for the older disciples, such as Kevern, Xavion and Baako, their faces shone with the rare excitement and yearning.
Hidi noticed Da Shixiong knew something. She got closer and asked: ”Da Shixiong, what is Union Mirror?”
Xavion whispered: ”Union Mirror was the esper of Master Wu Fang Zi, the tenth head master of Jadeon. I had never seen it before, only heard master told me it is one of our faction's treasures. Extremely powerful. The one unique feature of it: if the spirit power of the caster is strong enough, Union Mirror can reflect all attacks. The caster will be undefeatable.”
Everyone's mouth opened wide, Amandla stammered said: ”That, that means invincible?”
Xavion shrugged: ”I am not sure how it looks exactly anyway. But master shouldn't be wrong about it this time,” he peaked at Master Doyal Shen, then whispered: ”it seems the masters had to pay a great price into holding this tournament.”
Everyone's faces were strange. Most people swallowed. With the treasure in front of them, even as cultivators, their stable minds were shaken.
Master Doyal Shen stopped for a moment, smiled as he watched the disciples were discussing about the tournament. After a while he said: ”Good, so bassically that is it. All of you return and take a rest, for tomorrow morning the contest will begin.”
Together the Jadeon disciples saluted, said: ”Yes, Headmaster.”
Master Doyal Shen nodded: ”Go.”
The disciples left the hall, leaving the elders and the heads remaining. Master Doyal Shen turned and smiled to the elders: ”Shixiongs, you shall rest, too. Beginning from tomorrow, there will be many competitions that need all of you to take care of.”
Some elders had wrinkles all over their faces, while others appeared very young. They said nothing and left the hall. Finally, only the heads of the seven houses were in Crystal Hall.
Master Doyal Shen slowly took back his kind smile. His eyes swept through the six other people, said: ”Okay, only seven of us are here now.”
On the right, Head of ”Sun Rise Peak” Shang Zheng Liang frowned, asked: ”Head Shixiong, what do you want to tell us?”
Master Doyal Shen nodded. Slowly said: ”I checked Master Spirit.”
Everyone was shocked.
※※※
After the incident at the stairs, the disciples were still frightened as they were passing the pond. This time Water Kirin was peacefully sleeping.
Passing the Rainbow Bridge back to Cloud Sea's square. Baye said a few things to Shaw Danon then left with disciples from Dragon Head Peak. Shaw Danon went back to Bamboo Peak's people, listened to Xavion talk about things that need to be regarded and about lodging. As Shaw Danon was listening to him, he suddenly recalled, cried: ”Damn!”
Everyone was surprised. Hidi asked: ”Xiao Fan, what it is?”
Shaw Danon looked around, said urgently: ”I was talking to Baye and forgot about Ashh. Now, I have no idea where he went.”
Everyone realized they hadn't seen the figure of the grey monkey. They immediately searched the square. The disciples from other houses were already gone, but there was no sign of Ashh.
Shaw Danon was anxious. Since two years ago he brought Ashh from the ancient valley, for two years, he and the monkey (plus Big Yella later on) had lived together. Peak of Widows was inconceivably large. How could he ever be able to find him again if Ashh went into the forest and looked for wild fruits.
Shaw Danon suddenly heard Hidi ”Huh?” He turned and saw Hidi grinned and pointed: ”Look.”
Everyone could not help but laugh. Ashh was sitting on Big Yella's back. It screamed and waved at Shaw Danon. Big Yella's jaw was closed tightly. Its mouth was holding a bone.
Big Yella carried Ashh and arrived in front of them Ashh jumped on Shaw Dannon's shoulder. Shaw Danon patted its head and made a mad face: ”Where did you go?”
Ashh wasn't scared. It grinned, pointed to Big Yella, then gestured with its hands. Shaw Danon watched it for a moment, then suddenly asked: ”Where did you find this bone?”
Ashh gestured again and pointed to one end of the square. Shaw Danon looked at Xavion. Xavion quickly looked around and saw no one nearby. He whispered, embarrassed: ”That place is Peak of Widow's dinning hall.”
Everyone was startled, laughed, then shook their heads. Xavion lead them to one end of the square, said: ”We shall go to the dormitory now. Xiao Shimei, you are a girl, we have arranged for you to join the Bamboo Height's Shimeis. No problem, right?”
Hidi shook her head, smiled: ”I wanted to talk more with Baako Shijie anyway. Plus, I can help Da Shixiong to say some nice words to her.”