Chasing You (Arc 8+)

Beneath the Heavens (XII)

A/N: Fixing robe colours.

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An Zhangyi flitted through the air, forming a perfect arc. Once he landed onto the other side, he did not bother about the corpses chasing after him. Bursting through the gates of what was once considered one of the birthplace of Daoism, he annihilated everything in his path wherever he went.

Seeing the pathways filled with only more corpses, An Zhangyi clicked his tongue and used the bodies as a platform. He leaped onto the roof of a nearby building. Using the center and ridges of the roofs, he swiftly created more distance between himself and the wave of corpses. Following the directions given by Bao Bao, An Zhangyi navigated his way through the large grounds of the Qingcheng Fu Sect with ease. It was like he knew the area like the back of his hand.

Once in a while, the corpses would break through underneath the tiles of the roof and try to grab him, but with sharpened senses, their sneak attacks were easily avoided.

Reaching a more and more isolated area, An Zhangyi felt the back of his hair rise up. The strong malevolent yin energy increased and was suffocating as it continued to encompass him. As if it had been starved for many centuries, it hungrily searched its way to try and penetrate through his senses. This would've been an easy task if he wasn't at his golden core stage, as there would be no protection but since he was, the vehement yin energy smacked right into an invisible wall. It seemed to roar in agony and scratched at the wall, begging to be let in.

It doesn't take a genius to understand that a lot of deaths occurred here, and that the land would be labeled as a cursed ground by many for centuries even after those who had experienced this tragedy were gone. There was just too much resentment instilled into the ground and air for it to be purged immediately.

The sounds of the xiao became louder as he walked further in. It's tenebrous enervating tune played in the air like a dolent soliloquy.

In the middle of the courtyard, stood a slim figure dressed in pale blue robes marked with bamboo trees. His long hair was untied and danced in the chilly wind. He had a crazed look on his face but there was a slight sign of lucidity underneath it all. An Zhangyi stood on the edge of the courtyard, not moving an inch closer.

Seeing that his visitor had arrived, Fu Yemu finally put the flute down and perked up a smile at him, "You have kept me waiting."

He licked his lips in an athirst manner as if the most decadent meal had willingly served itself before him. An Zhangyi remained impassive to their action. His mind was slightly distracted as his hand twitched faintly from the notification he received from Bao Bao.

{Hidden Mission:
Release Fu Yemu from his confinement and vanquish the dark energy from within his body.

Upon completion: 95,000 points.
Upon failure: -95,000 points multiply by 5

Hidden mission cannot be declined. Immediately accepted upon discovery.}

When Bao Bao wanted to cough up blood the moment he saw this. This was surely blackmailing them! Threatening them to lose five times the amount of points that was going to be given if they chose not to do the mission. That was 450,000 points! They were simply asking for his heart and liver! Even the level of missions they were completing now did not award them that much. Gritting his teeth, Bao Bao decided to let his host know. He felt saddened that his poor baby's hard work was going to be taken if they didn't do this absurd task. They weren't given much of a choice here... And Bao Bao knew his baby's answer already.

Hearing the silence from his host. He started to curse the being who engineered this quixotic request. Whoever came up with this was being impractical and needed a good beating. How could they go save someone, who willingly threw themselves into the pit of flames? The better question yet was, why should they bother to save this person?!

They surely did not have a 'I am a mary sue type of character' displayed onto their faces, did they? Neither did he seem like he had the words 'I am a protagonist's system'? No! He certainly had, 'Let this Laozi smack your vision straight, I am a cannon fodder's system' above his head.

Bao Bao felt indignant and wanted to complain to Xiong Teyi, but he chose not to. He was not one to abuse authority just because it was accessible for him to. This was his first time experiencing this type of inflexibility in a mission, but there was nothing in the books that stated that a mission like this was against the rules.

An Zhangyi had an unnerving feeling from the quest, but he couldn't put a finger on what made him feel uneasy. He didn't have time to ponder on this and could only adapt to the situation as things come his way.

[It's alright. I will do it.]

Bao Bao pursed his lips.

[But host... It's impossible to do.]

An Zhangyi assures Bao Bao.

[We aren't given any other option. Also, I still have a card up my sleeve.]

Sighing, Bao Bao gave up and conceded. He felt that being safe was better than taking such a big risk, as they could end up failing to bait the chicken and lose the bait. But this was not his choice to make. It was a choice that his host had to decide for himself.

[What can I do to help, host?]

He can only provide assistance as he knew not to overestimate his capabilities.

An Zhangyi took a step forward into the courtyard.

[Find my sword.]

Bao Bao quickly went away to find the original's sword, Hanchan¹. In this world, some swords were known to develop a state of awareness and bonds with its user and are extremely rare. An Zhangyi's Hanchan was such a sword and even before its master would call upon it, it would unsheathe for him.

Initially thinking that it was going to be an easy task, Bao Bao soon figured out how wrong he was. He was not a metal detector, therefore it was like looking for a needle within a pile of hay. He also had no clue on where the lunatic would store the weapons. His mind was already not in a good state, so would one go about trying to unravel the thoughts of such a disorganized mind?

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¹Hanchan: Means cicadas in the winter, figuratively also means, mournful sound.