Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Yan Zaizen was fully determined to get answers as he exited his cultivation room. However, what welcomed his vision was Shin Xuanji dripping in blood, not his own, and his master leaning against him with a paler than usual face. His expression no longer contained that ever-present and disturbing smile, but a weakness that seemed to have seeped into his bones. For some reason, despite having no good feelings about this dirty old man, Yan Zaizen felt a complex pain in his heart.

For the very first time in his life, he saw Lin Feilin with an absolutely terrified expression. Shin Xuanji's expression wasn't much different, but there was a solemn resolve intermixed between his brows. He simply carried Han Genji towards the main door, bypassing both him and Lin Feilin as if they didn't exist.

He didn't know what to do or what was happening.

As a result, he simply stood there without moving.

However, Han Genji's voice jolted him out of his inactivity. "Fei'er, Xuan'er, and boy. Listen." He realized at that moment that Han Genji didn't even know his name; however, he didn't feel angry because of it. If anything, he just felt more complex. This could be the second time he's met this master of his, and each time blood was involved.

"Enter my quarters. You all will leave here." Han Genji's tone was slow and demanding. It seemed it left no room for any objections.

Lin Feilin followed his orders with a solemn expression without a trace of fear. Yan Zaizen did the same, but more so in confusion. He hoped he could get some answers about the situation. That was until he heard a thundering voice outside that reverberated with incredible power that caused even this cavern hall tremble.

"Han Genji! Under the authority of the Soaring Cloud Sect, I, Gao Chuyan, am here for your arrest. Cease any resistance or be put to death." The voice held a certain authority that seemed to suggest it can seize the world in judgment.

Chuyan?

Wasn't the Soaring Cloud Sect elder Han Genji killed named Gao Shiyan?

According to naming sense, they were related, and even in the same family line at that. He could assume somethings from this, and now he was frightened. Lin Feilin's expression of fear was completely justified in his eyes. If Gao Chuyan had come for revenge, then their fates as Han Genji's disciples could be imagined. If the judgment was light, immediate death. If heavy, considerable torture followed by a painful end. He glanced at the back of Lin Feilin, his mind wondered about how her fate would end up if captured. Would she be put to death or...?

He shook his head to break away from these thoughts. He had to stay focus and see if there was a chance for survival. That was his top priority and his only priority.

Despite having a slightly favorable impression of Lin Feilin, he didn't care much for the others. Han Genji kidnapped him under threat of death, forced him to become his disciple, and then left without so much as knowing his name. Shin Xuanji, however, seemed friendly but he could always feel a distinct sensation of danger and hatred emanating from him at every interaction. Having never offended the Soaring Cloud Sect, he didn't want to become enemies with a top sect for people he knew next to nothing about, and vice versa.

Who would?

Observing the largest door within the cavern hall, he had his thoughts on this. Originally, he assumed it was the exit but instead was the quarters of his so-called master. As he entered, he noticed the scenery was quite different from the other cultivation rooms. It wasn't overall fancy, but empty. The floor, walls, and ceiling were white with nothing around. The room was shaped in an evenly cubical shape, incredibly odd considering the other rooms were circular. At least, all the rooms he entered.

Han Genji, dripping with blood, left the leverage of Shin Xuanji to stand on his own with a solemn expression. For some reason, when he did, Yan Zaizen had a feeling that he was an imposing and unyielding hero of the ages. This was the only time Yan Zaizen didn't feel like he was a dirty old man, but a hero ready to stand against any and all obstacle in his way.

"I'll send you three away. You do not have to worry about the men outside." His voice carried a trace of weakness and comforting. "I'm your master. I won't let anything happen to you in our home." He turned to Lin Feilin, his words obviously seemed to be directed towards her.

Lin Feilin was jolted out of her terrified daze when those words sounded. It was as if it reached deep into her souls and pulled her back to reality, disallowing her to continue getting lost in her thoughts. Her expression relaxed and reverted back to her typical indifferent and frosty expression. It was as if the previously frightened version of Lin Feilin had never occurred.

Yan Zaizen was surprised. What level of trust would allow one to use a few words to restore someone's confidence? Their relationship, their story, must be rather deep and rich. Seeing this, he couldn't help but feel slightly envious.

"Master, where shall we go?" Shin Xuanji asked solemnly. It was only then that Yan Zaizen noticed that he was placing his hands on a section of the wall, channeling his Qi through it to produce rippling waves of energy.

"I will send you all to the Basilisk Forest." As he said that, he placed his bloody palms on the floor, performing something similar to what Shin Xuanji did but on a greater scale.

"And you?" Lin Feilin coldly inquired.

He didn't respond.

"Understood." Lin Feilin said as if she understood what he implied in silence.

'The Spatial Everburst Formation is primed, location locked, and ready. Master, at your ready.' As Shin Xuanji spoke those words, myriad of dark-silver formations revealed themselves on the plain white surface, giving it was a strange beauty. The world seemed to feel thick and heavy, while ripples appeared in the air.

Yan Zaizen felt like a small boat in a great storm - he could only go with the flow. He pretty much understood nothing of what was said, and he felt as if he wasn't even there. He felt incredibly vexed at his ignorance. He could only look towards Han Genji whose expression grew calmer and calmer with each passing second.

"Lin'er, work hard, your fate is your own. Know this." He turned towards Lin Feilin and solemnly said.

"En." She responded with a slight nod.

Turning to Shin Xuanji, "Xuan'er, never stop your pursuit of the strong. Only they can make decisions and protect the people they care about."

To Yan Zaizen, this seemed like a set of last words said to one's disciple. Wait...did that mean?

Han Genji didn't give Yan Zaizen time to think, turning towards him with the intentions to speak.

"Ninth Brother name is Yan Zaizen." Shin Xuanji interrupted and stated. His expression remained neutral, but his words contained a faint trace of hatred that couldn't be hidden.

Han Genji halted his words, turning to Shin Xuanji, and then back to Yan Zaizen. A burst of realization sparked in his mind, and a trace of apology mixed with guilt surfaced in his eyes. Seeing this, Yan Zaizen grew even more confused. Did this Shin Xuanji hate him? And if so, for what?

Han Genji could only sigh in helplessness, and the weakness in his body revealed itself, "He's your Ninth Brother now. Take care of each other, regardless of the past." He looked at Yan Zaizen's confused eyes and seemed to have thought of something, "Zai'er, you're more gifted than you know." With that, he flicked his finger, and a ray of light appeared from his spatial ring and shot towards Yan Zaizen.

He caught the ray of light and realized it was a piece of transparent jade. He couldn't figure out what it was, but it radiated slight fluctuations reminiscent of soul energy. His questions only continued to grow in number. There was just so much he didn't understand.

"It's time." Han Genji decided. The myriad of silver formations that adorned the walls started to light up rapidly around them, some started to spin rapidly in place, and others protruded out from the surface to arrive around Shin Xuanji, Lin Feilin, and Yan Zaizen. A miraculous power that seemed to manipulate the law of space radiated out. Yan Zaizen's world turned silver, and felt like a multitude of hands were gripping his body about to throw him outwards.

He tried to say something, but in the world of silver, sound felt discombobulated. None of his words were coherent, as if the sound got chopped up along the way. He could only barely see the silhouettes of his two senior disciples. Turning to what seemed to be Lin Feilin's figure, he saw her figure trembling and her fists clenched tightly.

Was she...crying?

Turning towards Shin Xuanji, he could see his figure simply staring at his direction with an unrelenting gaze.

This...?

He couldn't find Han Genji's figure no matter how he looked. He had a sudden feeling in the pit of his stomach that this would be the last time he ever saw that dirty old man.