63 A Madman (1/2)
”Oh, there is only one left.” The prophet smirked knowingly as his eyes landed on Xue Wei. It was very much akin to a monster eyeing prey, and Xue Wei could not help but feel uncomfortable.
”I am fine,” he said hesitatingly. ”I don't need to be told about my future prospects.”
”Now, now, young man, don't hesitate. It is not like I will bite you,” the prophet said, and the smile on his face widened. It was as if he had found himself a new favorite toy, and that he knew something about Xue Wei that Xue Wei himself did not know.
”Tell me about yourself,” the prophet asked, and Xue Wei hesitated slightly. ”I grew up in a small town when I was a child. I am an orphan now, and my uncle has looked after me.”
Xue Wei tried to say as little as possible. He had a feeling that the more he spoke, the more he'd regret it.
”I see, you come from such humble origins, but when I look at you, I see a person who will become a great person. You will become a great warrior who makes the world change! That is if you manage to survive until you grow up.”
Xue Wei frowned. The words he said were basically useless. ”Is he just some sort of charlatan? His prophecy is so loose, and anyone can fit the bill,” he muttered to himself under his breath, but the moment Xue Wei spoke the eyes of the prophet glimmered and a toothy smile appeared on his lips.
”Well, I am done. Why don't you ask this young man to show me around?” Prophet Lan asked the commander politely while looking at Xue Wei with attention on his face, but Xue Wei quickly shook his head, ”I am new here, I am not able to show anyone around.”
The commander frowned. He was an experienced man, and he had noticed how Xue Wei had attempted to avoid this prophet a few times already, yet every time Xue Wei had tried to avoid him, the prophet had done all in his power to spend more time with the youngster.
”Mister Lan is a heavenly-sent genius, even within the middle of the continent, and he is the only prophet that our world has seen!” The commander praised Prophet Lan to the skies, and with every word he said, Xue Wei's face twitched.
”Mister Lan is going to be with us for a period of time before he continues on his adventures. While he is here, Xue Wei is to be his guide.”
Hearing this, the face of the prophet blossomed into a smile and he gave a satisfied nod of his head.
”Xue Wei is a great name!” he said with exaggerated praise. ”I will be honored to deal with someone like you while I am here in the camp. Your destiny is bright and shining; your behavior is knightly and gallant. You are a dragon amongst men and a peerless youth!”
The more Lan praised him, the higher his voice got, and soon it boomed through the entire area, making every other member of the Genius Camp stare at Xue Wei with animosity, jealousy, and complex emotions in their eyes.
”He is doing it on purpose,” Xue Wei sneered with a low voice, and his eyes were blazing with anger. ”He is intentionally making the others hate me, but why? I have never met him before, nor have I insulted him. I just want him to stay as far away from me as absolutely possible.”
”I won't,” a voice suddenly emerged in Xue Wei's mind, making him jolt in surprise. ”Now, now, don't act so scared, this is a simple trick of compressing one's voice and sending it with Qi into the mind of another. It is frequently used in the rest of the continent, but I guess this backwater place is too uncivilized to know how to do it.”
”Now, you be a good boy. Do what I am telling you to do and show me around the army camp for the next two weeks, and I will in return teach you a thing or two.”
Xue Wei was appalled. He clearly had no option other than to do what this strange prophet told him to do, but why was the prophet so interested in him?
”Don't think about it too much,” the disembodied voice amusingly laughed inside Xue Wei's mind. ”I am a collector of strange and weird things, but I have never seen anything as rare and interesting as you. It is only natural that I want to see just what you are capable of doing with your life and to allow me to have my curiosity satisfied. I will in return teach you some things that are useful to you.”
Xue Wei was unable to answer this Lan figure. He had no means to do so either, and if he spoke out loud, others would hear him instead.
The commander was aware that something was going on right now, and he dared not interrupt the conversation between the prophet and the young man, so he just waited while antsy on the side.
Although he had a great rank within the Kingdom of Heping, he felt trepidation whenever it came to this prophet. If he wished, he could wipe the entire Heping Kingdom from the face of the planet.
Although humans did not fight one another, no one wished to provoke a terrible existence. In the middle of the continent, almost every influential figure owed this prophet a favor. To go against him was truly committing suicide.
”Everyone return to your tents. You will have today off to look through the camp and familiarize yourself with the various locations, such as the dining hall, the infirmary, the bathrooms, and so on. Tomorrow, we will take you to the restricted area where our military-grade martial arts, resources, and other interesting items that only the strongest are allowed to enjoy are stored!”
”And you, Xue Wei, your task is to just follow Mister Lan around. When he has finished his visit to our compound, you will be allowed some time in the restricted areas too. But for now, learn as much as you can from this great individual.”
Xue Wei grimaced, but he still bowed to acknowledge that he had heard the order, and then he dragged his feet towards Lan, looking at him with dismay written all over his face. Meanwhile Lan grinned from ear to ear.