Chapter 4: Xiao Ren's fate changes
Xiao Ren stood alone in the middle of the night. He was extremely nervous about this meeting with Xiao Su. When he'd seen her last, not only had he lashed out at her, but he also realized his true feelings for her, and didn't know how to face her. To make matters worse, this place was different from their usual meeting place, so he was slightly suspicious.
He wasn't suspicious of Xiao Su, his issue with her lifestyle aside, he at least trusted she was a good person, instead he was suspicious of the letter itself. He had a few enemies in the clan and he couldn't be sure this wasn't a trap laid by one of them, of course that was unlikely since no one was supposed to know that he met with Xiao Su.
Since he knew this being a trap was unlikely, he viewed his suspicions as him attempting to make an excuse to not go, so he forced himself to come. It was impossible for him to message Xiao Su with his position and he'd likely be forced to leave the clan soon, if he didn't see her tonight he might never see her again.
It was past the meeting time and yet no one had come, he couldn't help but feel more suspicious even though he kept telling himself he had nothing to lose.
Just as he was thinking of leaving, a voice called out "Are you Xiao Ren," in a cold, unfeeling tone. Xiao Ren trembled from the coldness contained in those words, it was certainly not Xiao Su. He looked around hurriedly, but not a soul was in sight. "Yes or no" The voice sounded again, even colder this time.
When Xiao Ren heard the voice, he opened his mouth in a soundless scream as he felt a sharp pain run through his head as if an ice pick ran into his brain. It didn't last long, but the intense pain had struck fear into him. "I'm not Xiao Ren." He answered quickly, for fear of them talking again. It was easy to tell that this person was way out of his league and likely didn't have good intentions, so he lied on the spot
There was a pause after his words, and, just when Xiao Ren was wondering if the mysterious expert left, an absolutely frigid voice said, "Then I have no use for you, die."
A blade of ice flew out of the dark towards Xiao Ren. He stood there watching stunned as the blade flew nearer and nearer to him, unable to move. An almost inaudible ting sounded, and the ice blade veered slightly to the left and just missed Xiao Ren, waking him from his stupor.
Xiao Ren didn't think much about what'd happened and ran. Though he wasn't sure why he was still alive, he had no doubt that this person seriously wanted to kill him. The killing intent released when they said the word "Die" left zero question of that in his mind, that one word had caused him to freeze and watch the knife come.
For the next few minutes, Xiao Ren danced on the edge of death, dodging knifes desperately. He'd only been running for a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity to him and his qi was greatly consumed. Just as he despaired that he wouldn't last much longer, he saw the General Library nearby. His eyes glowed with hope as he accelerated towards it with renewed vigor.
People like Xiao Su could enter the General Library at will, but for outer-court disciples, it was necessary to have a pass to enter, so it was a place that had guards at all hours. Xiao Ren started screaming for help at the top of his lungs as he raced toward the library. As he got closer, his relieve started to turn into worry, no one was responding to his calls.
He found his fear to be correct when he saw no guards at the entrance of the library. 'Damn it! What's happening tonight? Am I not the only one under attack?' he questioned to himself as he tried to change direction, hoping to seek help elsewhere. However, the flying knifes cut off any chance of that happening as they forced him to keep going to the library.
This wasn't the time to think about clan rules, his life was at stake, he entered the library. He dived in-between the bookshelves, hoping it would limit his assailant's attacks. It seemed to work, the knifes started coming much less frequently. Still, he knew this couldn't last, he was almost out of qi and was approaching his limits, not to mention the library was an enclosed space with one exit, he knew he'd inevitably get killed at this rate.
He couldn't let it continue this way, he had to do something, so, he started overturning some of the smaller bookshelves. It was a desperate act, that would get him in serious trouble, and he couldn't tell how effective it was, since he couldn't locate the assailant, but it was all he could do for now.
As he was reaching to turn over another one, a knife flew at him with a speed much faster than before. He was unable to react at all and the blade passed right through his stomach and shattered against the wall behind him.
Xiao Ren yelled in pain and staggered as he struggled to stay on his feet. He grabbed his stomach as blood began to ooze out of the wound from front and back. His entire being was filled with pain, he'd never been injured this badly, he couldn't think straight.
At that point, a soft glow spread from behind him and the sounds of something moving could be heard. He turned to see the spot where the blade of ice shattered against the wall covered in his blood and glowing. The sounds of movement continued and, slowly, the wall began to lift upwards until a small hole was revealed.
Xiao Ren's mind was still reeling over everything that had happening and couldn't keep up with what was going on, but his desperate body made the decision for him and he dived into the hole before he could even think about it.
As he fell, he heard more blades shattering against the wall and felt a terrifying chill up his spine knowing he would've died if he'd been a bit slower. However, soon his world was once again enveloped in pain. The hole was rocky, and he was in no state to control his decent. He bounced into many rocks and left his blood all over the walls as he descended. Once he finally hit the ground he could barely hold on to his consciousness.
He was bruised and battered all over, and he had cuts all over from dodging the knives during the chase that'd gotten worse from the fall. However, those weren't important, the biggest problem was the wound through his stomach. The pain from it nearly caused him to black out and it was bleeding heavily.
It wasn't over yet, he didn't know if the assailant followed through the hole, he had to get up. He gritted his teeth and used his arms to try and force himself up, but then an intense wave of pain radiated from his wound and forcefully submerged his struggling consciousness. His raised torso collapsed back onto the floor as he fell unconscious.
After a few moments passed, a shadow descended from above and landed next to him. The shadow was a cold-faced girl clad in a maid outfit.
He Lan looked at Xiao Ren with visible disgust and annoyance. Killing intent radiated from her eyes for a few seconds before being suppressed with a sigh. She took out some medical solutions and pills before reluctantly treating him.
Once she was sure that he wouldn't die, she quickly started hoping back upwards using the protruding rocks. Her job wasn't finished, she'd gone through the trouble of using the easy-to-clean-up ice element, but Xiao Ren had turned over multiple bookshelves that she'd need to do something about before the guards got back. Though she didn't care if he got in trouble, if anything happened to the library after Xiao Su distracted the guards, Xiao Su would be held liable as well. While complaining about the difficulties of having a foolish master, she disappeared from the pit.
Several hours later, Xiao Ren woke up groaning, he was in pain all over his body. He Lan had really only made sure he wouldn't die, anything above that, she didn't care about. But even as he groaned on the floor in pain, Xiao Ren felt a sweet relief running through him. He was in pain, he was still alive. He was aware that he'd passed out, yet he'd lived to wake up, that meant he'd survived this ordeal.
However, soon that relief turned into indignation and a burning anger. What had he done to deserve this? He was already being kicked out of the main branch to return and become the disappointment of his village, as if that wasn't enough now even his life is being targeted. What for!? He knew why, it was because he was weak. If he were strong he could've handled that assassin, if he were strong he wouldn't be forced out of the clan, if he were strong he could make a better life for his parents and village. Strength! It all relied on strength!
'I will become strong! and then, that assassin, and the ones behind him, I'll make them all pay!' Xiao Ren thought with conviction. At this point Xiao Ren's already strong desire for strength exploded exponentially, almost to the point of insanity.
'Hm? What strong desire!' an old voice sounded in a surprised tone, immediately putting Xiao Ren in an alarmed state. 'A pity, your talent's bad. If you truly wish to fulfill that desire, come to the back of this cave, there, you'll find the strength you desire.' The voice sounded again. This time Xiao Ren realized it was sounding inside his own head. He waited for a while, but he didn't hear anything else.
'The back of the cave?' Xiao Ren questioned. It was full of risks, he didn't know anything about that voice's origins or this cave, who knew what would happen if he listened to it. However, what it'd said, 'If you truly wish to fulfill that desire, come to the back of this cave, there, you'll find the strength you desire.', it was too enticing for him to pass up.
Xiao Ren gritted his teeth and pushed himself up. Waves of pain once again surfaced from his wound, but he endured it. He thought of everything he'd suffered today, being disregarded, chased throughout the clan like a rat, rolling in a puddle of his own blood. "So what if it's dangerous, I've already faced death once today, and if I have to keep living in such a powerless way, death would be preferable!" He whispered to himself through gritted teeth. His eyes shining with determination, he stepped deeper into the cave.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone