2 Calm Before the Storm (1/2)

Shura woke up to the feeling of pain all over his body. He quickly sat up, further intensifying the pain. He looked down at his chest. Blood seeped through the bandages wrapped on his chest.

He couldn't see the wound, but he could feel it. It was not life-threatening, as he was still living, but it would prevent him from heavy exertion for a few days. It would also leave a big scar. Shura was just glad that he was still alive. He didn't know what happened back then. His body moved on its own and his mind started having ideas.

He fought with the assassin, no, he fought with an expert. But he had still lost. He tried to recall the feeling that he had felt as he weaved through the dense rain of sword qi, the thrill between life-and-death combat. Something came to him, vaguely, but it still came.

He had been excited. It was a wonderful excitement, a passion that he had not felt before. He was empowered. He was strong. He controlled his own life and destiny in hand, he didn't have to live powerlessly as fate and others dictated his life.

But he was still defeated. It was a natural thing. The opponent was an expert, while he was not.

An intense desire surged within his heart. He wanted to become stronger, stronger than that expert. And he wanted to fight him once again and defeat him.

Just as Shura was in the midst of thinking about his experience, someone called out to him.

”So you are awake, good.”

A handsome man dressed in fine blue robe walked up to him. He looked to be in his mid-twenties. The man exuded an aura of calm strength as if he was in control of the situation.

”You are?” Shura looked at the man in confusion.

From the look of it, this man had probably saved him after he had fainted. He probably had a reason to do so, and he wasn't simply being altruistic.

”You can call me Inspector. I'm here to ask you about the expert you confronted. He's now a wanted criminal for the attempted assassination of City Lord Mu. It was the City Lord that had saved you. I would appreciate it if you told me everything you know about the assassin.”

His assumption was right on spot.

Listening to the Inspector, a thought suddenly came to Shura. Can an assassin who hadn't assassinated anyone really be called an assassin?

”There really isn't much for me to tell you other than what others have probably told you already, Inspector. I was in a hurry to return to the city. By the time I arrived at the west gate I had noticed the gate shut and a great crowd outside prevented from entering.”

”A short time later a great explosion occurred and a man in a black cloak walked out of the city. I didn't know who he was and I didn't care either. I was in a hurry and rushed to enter the city. The cloaked man immediately attacked me as I ran near him. I was forced to defend myself. But I was only able to last about ten or so moves before his blade wounded me in the chest, making me the man you see before you today.”

The Inspector listened attentively and nodded. He then asked another question.

”Why did you run toward the assassin when you saw him appear? What was so urgent that would make you do so? From a bystander's view, and perhaps even the expert's own view, you were clearly acting aggressively toward him, so no wonder he had attacked you.”

An alarm went off in Shura's mind. Wasn't this supposed to be about the assassin? Why is he asking him about himself now? Was he supposed to tell him that a miraculous thing occurred and he had become a cultivator from a waste who couldn't cultivate? There was something special going on with his body. He wasn't dumb enough to divulge it to outsiders.

A man is guilty for just having a treasure. He didn't want to invite unwanted trouble to himself by exposing what had happened to him. But how would he answer the Inspector?

”I thought we were talking about the assassin, Inspector. How come you are now talking about me? Don't tell me the reason that I came to the city, ran toward the assassin, and fought with the assassin had something to do with catching this assassin. You're not saying I'm an accomplice of the assassin are you?”