Chapter 150 (1/2)

Xiao Chen struggled to push himself up and looked around. The walls of the cottage were bare and empty, save for the strange and odd-looking herbs and spices hanging around. He took a long swig of breath; his first since a long time, and took in the scent of medicine and herbs. But there was no one around him. Gui Xian’s disembodied voice rang again. “Lie down and don’t move around,” he snapped before his spectral form appeared.

Xiao Chen immediately realized that Gui Xian was merely a soul. He had only just regained consciousness, hence he failed to pick up his presence. He clasped his hands together in salute. “Were you the one who saved me, senior? How should I address you?”

Gui Xian giggled. “They call me Gui Xian,” he replied, “I suppose you can also address me as such.”

“I see. It’s Senior Gui Xian,” Xiao Chen said, his head nodding, “Was I out for long?”

“No more or lesser than forty-nine days, boy.”

“Forty-nine days eh…” Xiao Chen murmured to himself. He remembered how None-flower Dust had saved only him at the stronghold of Widespread Wintriness Sect. Yunya Zi must have taken Murong Xian’er back to the Skygale Sect by now.

He must go immediately to the Skygale Sect, Xiao Chen realized. He was about to push himself up when Gui Xian stopped him. “You were repeating a name when you were unconscious. A name called Xian’er? She must be important to you?”

“I have to save her!” He would never forgive himself if Murong Xian’er was sacrificed for some insidious schemes. He rolled off the bed. “Ah! What a reckless young man!” Gui Xian berated him, “Try walking for a few steps. Let’s see if you have enough strength to rescue others.”

Indeed, Xiao Chen was still too weak; in only two steps, he felt shaky and powerless. Gui Xian’s ghostly figure appeared beside him to help him to a seat. “There’s no helping it. You have just woken up after a grave injury after all. You need to rest for at least three days before you fully regain your strength.”

Impatient and brash, Xiao Chen would never have wanted to delay Murong Xian’er’s rescue if he could help it. But Gui Xian was right: he needed rest. With no other choice, he began his recuperation as bidden by the ghost physician. On the third day, Xiao Chen went outside. He smote furiously at the face of a cliff. The impact of his stroke shook the whole valley that birds and beasts were frightened, scurrying to and fro with fear.

“For the love of Heavens! First, there’s None-flower Dust, and now you! Please do not try to demolish my humble abode!”

Xiao Chen turned to face the ghostly form of Gui Xian approaching him. The former smiled impishly. “My apologies, Senior Gui Xian,” said Xiao Chen, “To have distressed you.” Not only Gui Xian had saved him from death, rather, his powers had also increased substantially, reaching Lv 9 of the Foundation Building Realm. It would not be long before the Core Forming Realm, he mused with elation.

“Whatever,” Gui Xian muttered with a note of resignation, waving him off. “Go save this Xian’er of yours.”

Xiao Chen nodded. It was imperative he made haste. He had hardly been idle for the past three days. Gui Xian had revealed to him that they were in a remote valley at the far western edges of the East Continent. He would have to traverse tens of thousands of miles to reach the stronghold of the Skygale Sect at the eastern side of the Continent, a journey that would take at least two days even with a Flying-cloud Stone.

But Xiao Chen noticed Gui Xian’s dismal frown before leaving. The ghost physical seemed troubled. “What is wrong, Senior Gui Xian?”

Gui Xian gave no reply, sighing only instead. “I have wished to leave this place myself,” he said, after pausing for seconds, “I expect my enemies to have found me by now. It may be time for me to burn everything off, after so long of staying here. Still, I have grown fond of this place…”

Xiao Chen realized his sorrow and reluctance. He needed to save Xian’er as quickly as possible, but he could not leave without finding out Gui Xian’s plight; not after the ghost physician’s kindness toward him. “Who are these enemies of yours, senior?” Xiao Chen asked. Gui Xian was a person with sufficient skills of his own to protect himself. The enemies must be powerful and strong, to be able to drive him into hiding.

Gui Xian shook his head. “It is a debt of mine toward them. Something that you should not concern yourself with…” But before he could continue, his body shuddered and his pale spectral face grew even deathlike. “Heavens… They are here…” He gasped with horror.

All of a sudden, Xiao Chen too felt a strange, tingling sensation that made his hair stand. A voice, distant and hollow, boomed over the lagoon of the valley, “You have long eluded us, Liu Yuanyu. Would you still refuse to keep your promise?”

“Who is there?” Xiao Chen growled. But he had barely finished when two figures landed on the ground with a thud. They were both clad in black hooded cloaks, with dark mists swirling at their faces, obscuring their features from being observed. Not only were their movements agile and nimble, but Xiao Chen could also feel their unmistakably strong soul power.

“Despite my best efforts, still you manage to find me,” Gui Xian muttered, sighing. “Come with us then, if you will!” One of the hooded men hissed.

Xiao Chen placed himself in front of Gui Xian defensively. “Apologies, gentlemen,” he said dispassionately, “Senior Gui Xian has shown me great kindness. I cannot let you take him away.”

“And who do you think you are? You’d best mind your own affairs,” said the other man in black coldly who immediately shot him a cold glare.

“Please leave us,” Xiao Chen said again, shaking his head, “As I said before, I will not allow Senior Gui Xian to be taken away.”

“And pray to forgive our disrespect and brusqueness, if you still wish to interfere,” said one of the hooded men, hurling himself immediately at Xiao Chen, brandishing two jet-black chains out of thin air.

Xiao Chen released a strike of his own with his two palms, sending two projectiles in the shape of golden dragons that sprouted out of his arms and hit at the two chains, propelling them back as the dragon silhouettes’ roars thundered loudly.