Volume 5 – Home Sweet Home
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'Hmm, it's going to be troublesome to return home. I need to think of a good reason why I didn't go back with the Divine Sword Sect but on my own. Additionally, I need allies within the sect; I might have killed my main enemies, but it doesn't mean someone likes me now.'
Ken thought to himself as he walked through the desert. The reason for his reluctance to enter it during his sect days was crystal clear. The persistent sand was a constant nuisance, seeping into every fiber of his clothing.
He detested the sensation so much that he resorted to shrouding himself in Qi, creating a protective barrier against the intrusive sand.
The heat was another aspect he hated. Despite being a fourth-stage cultivator, he couldn't stop his body from sweating, and there was never any stream to shower in during the night.
Luckily, he at least had enough water and food stored in his storage ring as he got some supplies from Elmer before the two separated.
'Well, I guess I shouldn't walk on foot.'
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Ken was standing with his hands behind his back, his silky black hair was fluttering behind him in the warm wind.
The effect of the pills that changed his voice and eye color already expired, and he washed the makeup off his face. Furthermore, he was back into his blue robes, meant for the male inner disciples of the Phoenix Feather Sect. Overall, he was back to his normal look.
Beneath his feet was a large, brown bird. The bird flapped its wide wings fervently, regretting the cursed moment it mistook the young human child as prey and dove to hunt him. The bird only recognized its mistake when a deep fear took over its brain, and it had been acting as the human's transportation means ever since.
'Danger!'
Ken jumped without a moment of hesitation off the bird's back and slowed down his descent using his Qi as much as he could. They flew only 20 meters above the ground, not high enough to injure a fourth-stage cultivator of Ken's caliber. Always vigilant, he remained in that height on purpose in case he had to jump.
"AH!"
The bird screamed in fear as it was pushed down forcibly by Ken's kick and crashed down to the hot sand. It slid on the ground for a few meters before the accumulating sand halted its momentum.
Ken quickly placed his hand on his sword's hilt and tried to find the source of the incoming danger. However, he didn't sense anything.
"Bird, get up and prepare to fly again!"
Ken shouted at the lower fifth-rank beast that was recovering from the shock. If Ken didn't kick its back when he jumped down, the bird would be cleaved to half by the attack.
"Don't make such a big deal out of it. I only want to ask a few questions, and I didn't find it comfortable to talk while you're still flying."
Ken heard a soft voice behind him. Turning around, the child saw a young man approaching him. The man's clear emerald eyes were prominent in his appearance, and his smooth black hair resembled Ken's.
"Who are you?"
Ken tried to sense the man using his Bloodlust sense, yet nothing came up despite seeing him right in front of him. It could only mean the man was beyond Ken's capabilities to handle.
"I'm just a nomad in the desert. I was just curious to meet you as you have something that belongs to me."
Ken squinted his eyes for a slight moment before it clicked.
'The evil cultivator! I still have the Luck Pill on me, so he must have sensed its presence. This man should be a seventh-stage cultivator or higher.'
"What do I have that belongs to you, Senior?" Ken asked with a calm voice, remaining unfazed as he planned his escape route in case it was needed.
"One of my personal disciples has died lately by poison. He had five pills I created, and one of them is missing. I believe it fell into your hands in one way or another."
Ken smiled and bowed as he cupped his fist at the evil cultivator. He was amused by how the man referred to Nick as his "personal disciple" while the latter was more of a luck cauldron, a tool to be used and disposed of.
"It can't be, I have never killed someone worthy of being your disciple, Senior, I will be going on my way then," Ken replied and pretended to walk away toward the bird.
"Not so fast," the evil cultivator released a powerful Bloodlust and pressured Ken's mind, making him barely capable of resisting the mere pressure. Ken was no 90% certain that the man was not at the peak of the seventh stage yet, and was about to make a gamble.
"Give me the pill or take it right now, which is it going to be?"
The evil cultivator gave Ken an ultimatum; swallow the pill or give it away. Ken understood that the man had no reason to let his pill be circulated and researched, thus he wanted it to be consumed. However, he wasn't na?ve enough to believe the evil cultivator would let him go if he chose the giving away option.
'I don't want to give up the pill yet, I can research it further. Swallowing it will ruin the pill even if I can dismantle the pill while it's being ingested from within.'
Ken weighed his options before deciding on his course of action.
"What if I still need time to consider those options? I still don't know the pill's full effect yet," Ken bought time until the settings would be right.
"Then you will have to listen to your heart, there's nothing else you can do."
"I will listen to it later. For now, goodbye."
Ken smirked impishly and threw a talisman at the man in front of him. He saw that the bird already recovered from its shock and tried to use this chance to escape, soaring to the sky.
*BOOM!*
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