94 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

### Chapter 94: Betraying the Master The girl hailed from a humble butcher's family, and with a hearty appetite, she had grown quite plump and adorable. Compared to her peers, Qian Da Ni was notably taller and stronger. The male disciples who joined at the same time, oblivious to Xu You Qing's identity, often picked on her until Qian Da Ni stepped in to teach them a lesson. Usually lively and gentle, Qian Da Ni lay pale on her bed, her youthful face unnaturally serene. Her gaze was unfocused, her hands laid across her stomach, as if she might disappear with the slightest breeze. She barely glanced at He He before sighing, "You've grown stronger again." He He raised her hand to establish a barrier of spiritual energy within the room, casually crafting an illusion array. To any outsider peeking in, they would only see Qian Da Ni asleep and He He sitting by the bed, weeping. With these measures in place, she smiled at her friend. Her eyes, those impossible for any human, were striking: the left eye as dark as ink, contrasting starkly with the golden amber right eye that seemed to glow brightly. When "Qian Da Ni" met the gaze of that golden dragon eye, it felt like looking through the puppet body, staring directly at a being thousands of miles away. Qian Da Ni shivered, as if every stream of spiritual energy within her, even her soul attached to this body, was thoroughly scrutinized, leaving her uncomfortable. She stammered after a moment, "What a remarkable object. I remember not seeing this eye when we parted." "Someone hid it in the Hunyuan Realm, and I happened to find it. Now, it's back to its rightful owner." The notion of 'rightful owner' drained yet more color from Qian Da Ni's face. She closed her eyes, finding solace in the familiar darkness. The childlike appearance of the devil was unsettling, and the Hesitant He He from their first meeting half a year ago was hard to dispel. Now, He He felt both strange and terrifying. With hands crosses in her lap, the devil smiled sweetly and asked in a soft voice, "So, should we formally reintroduce ourselves?" "Fu Zhi." "He He," she responded, "I was called such in life. I've heard the archives of Tian Ji Pavilion are vast. If you wish to know me, you should seek them out." Fu Zhi lifted her eyelids, feigning annoyance, "Why must I do the legwork?" "I was always curious about how you came by this body," He He pondered, chin in hand. "Even with spiritual vision, it seems quite human. Peculiar indeed." "I'm more curious how you guessed my identity." He He stood to pour herself a cup of tea, explaining matter-of-factly, "I am someone missing parts of a soul, having been reborn once. I am sensitive to others' souls. Your soul hovers lightly above your body, unlike most." She answered Fu Zhi's question in a straightforward manner, though Fu Zhi did not reciprocate, instead falling into momentary silence. He He inquired, "Did you kill this girl to claim her body?" "She... was destined to be attacked and killed on her way to Yu Cang Mountain to seek a master, as ordained by the heavens. I had no hand in it," Fu Zhi spoke slowly, wearing the skin of the deceased. "I bound my soul to this body, using it as a supplement, but my true self is elsewhere, allowing rapid healing of any wound." With the living wearing the dead's visage and a spirit inhabiting a living body, they exchanged a knowing glance. He He chuckled, "So, you knew she would die but waited to claim her corpse after her passing? You heavenly servants truly are amusing." There was neither sympathy for the dead girl nor accusation of Fu Zhi. She bore no obligation to save anyone, and haphazardly altering predetermined fates was forbidden for those probing heavenly mysteries. It was merely a casual jest. Fu Zhi unexpectedly clenched her hands nervously, "Prophecies can be seen but not altered. I... am powerless in this." Ah, saints are everywhere, mused He He, observing with interest. When her left eye was intact, she'd frequently see the complex web of fate interweaving around others. Strings would inexplicably snap, but He He never felt any guilt observing, letting them face their demise. She saw destiny and heavenly decrees as nonsense. Each person should have their own path. Her only attempt to interfere resulted in— Shaking off the unpleasant memory, He He continued, "You're not one to quarrel. How did you come to be injured?" Fu Zhi paused, "...You Qing is accustomed to being bold due to her young age and had little grasp of the situation. Unable to contain her anger after being bullied, she retaliated. I'm unsure what made the sect of Tai Xu dispute with a child around seven or eight. I thought my body could regenerate, so I shielded her." "You seem to care for that child," He He noted, adorning her face with a charming smile that seemed almost sweet when on a young girl's face. It was so different from their first meeting, unsettling for Fu Zhi, who knew He He's true nature. "It was a trivial favor," Fu Zhi retorted, seemingly afraid she might use Xu You Qing as leverage. "Even for you, I'd do the same." Lies—she mentioned healing the body at the expense of her soul. Yet He He believed Fu Zhi might shield her with her own flesh, knowing He He could kill all witnesses if inadvertently exposed. "Rest easy," He He assured, "To me, she holds no value as a bargaining chip." Would she become a threat if valuable? Fu Zhi gave a wry smile. Xu You Qing had it rough. Out of all peers nearby in the sect, she found these two pretending children to be her friends, and who knows what lay ahead. "I heard you persuaded Elder Yu Ming not to conflict with Tai Xu Sect?" "The Master is straightforward and kind. How could I allow her to feud over a counterfeit?" Fu Zhi sighed and gave He He a helpless look. "Parents, friends, mentors, and sect—all I associate with are burdens. Should you threaten them, I wouldn't know what to do." He He nodded, "Knowing your thoughts, let's get to the point. Do you know what 'Destined One' means?" "Where did you hear that from?" "So, it exists?" He He scoffed, "Is there truly a chosen one?" Fu Zhi remained silent. He He’s expression turned distant, derision lining her words, "Every hero's tale involves a villain opposing the protagonist... Is that my destiny from the heavens?" The girl's expression shifted as she turned away, stating coldly, "It's all subjective. If you cease, destiny becomes insubstantial. What can it do?" "Heh, even if I do nothing, the heavens will create chaos, forcing me to be the villain. Mortal fates are hard to change, let alone something ordained." Staring at Fu Zhi's empty eyes, He He guessed, "Is that why you're blind?" "No need to speculate; I won't tell you everything. If you're so skilled, find out yourself." Slamming the teacup onto the table with force, He He’s tone was icy, "I only want to know if it’s Qin Miao." Fu Zhi wouldn’t behave mysteriously at Yu Cang Mountain without reason. If events followed divine predictions, Tian Ji wouldn't intervene, her presence being a sign of divergence. Though silent, Fu Zhi's mind raced. She moved quickly, but how He He guessed so soon was baffling. Clearly, He He benefited greatly from recent endeavors. However, alongside the deviation of the calamitous star's path, there lurked another great error in prophecy. While He He exerted no force, her presence felt suffocating. Fu Zhi wrestled internally before speaking softly, "You wouldn't believe another, even if I said so. With your own ideas, why ask me?" Truth and falsehoods mashed together to conceal a deeper truth. There exist two individuals as the Destined Ones. Returning to composure, the malevolent figure’s smile softened with charm. Remembering, she asked, "Speaking of which, hasn't Elder Yu Ming secluded herself? Does it involve the children brought by my master?" "...Two of them?" Fu Zhi turned, surprised, "Twins, perhaps?" "Oh, do you know them?" He He teased, watching Fu Zhi's shock and discomposure with amusement, "Let's hear it." Fiddling with her fingers, Fu Zhi yielded to fatigue, slipping into a more comfortable pose on the bed, her expression bewildered, "Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu are daughters of Qi Wei Jun, a peer of Yue Hua and Yu Ming—and are said to look just like their deceased mother." He He smiled. So that's the connection—a familial relation, adding layers to those involved. Looks like there’s more than meets the eye left to unravel. She slowly got up, tidied her robes, and looked down at Fu Zhi, who had already closed her eyes to recuperate. Like an old friend, she advised, "Remember not to let your injuries heal too quickly. You should put more effort into concealing your identity." With that, she decisively left, having asked all she wanted. They could no longer pretend to be genuine friends. Fu Zhi, avoiding further questioning, had even withdrawn her consciousness from her body, rendering any further emotional display pointless. Upon closing the door behind her, she noticed something hidden near the stairs leading to the deck. She chuckled lightly before turning to leave. Once He He’s figure fully disappeared, Xu You Qing, who had been sobbing under the stairs, cautiously emerged and tiptoed to the wounded’s chamber, gently opening the door to slip inside. Waking abruptly from a watery stupor, the emaciated woman opened her eyes, clouded over with cataracts, and began to cough violently. She lay on her back in the shallow pool where the water barely covered her calves. Her face and nose were submerged, though sitting up would pose no danger in the faint, milky-white pool, reminiscent of thin mist. Beneath the surface, intricate arrays etched onto the pool's bottom glowed faintly, dissipating as she fully awakened into dullness. "Ugh... cough cough..." Struggling to rise, Fu Zhi found her body painfully thin, with bones clearly outlined beneath her skin and flesh, and some areas appearing angular and gaunt. She attempted to stand, but her limbs were weak and unsteady, causing her to crash back into the water. The hard impact of shoulder and elbow against the stone pool bottom brought tears to her eyes. The disciples of the Tian Ji Sect, standing vigil by the pool, hurried to help her, lifting her to the edge to lay her down. The woman appeared very young but extraordinarily frail. The bruises from recent bumps had already turned a bluish hue. Her wet hair clung to her skin in strands, dripping water down her back. Relaxing, she allowed the disciples to attend to her unclad, skeletal form. "My Lady Fu Zhi, please refrain from such harmful practices," one disciple implored, gently drying her with a clean cloth before draping a white robe over her. Detaching one's soul is no trivial matter. In just half a year, the frail Fu Zhi had deteriorated visibly. The watching disciples helplessly witnessed her growing weakness. Yet, in mere hours, Fu Zhi would stubbornly return to the transformation pool. The enigmatic Tian Ji Sect, admitting only female disciples, meant Fu Zhi had no qualms about her fellow sect members assisting her naked and bony figure—what fear had she of sullying anyone's vision? Brushing damp hair from her face, Fu Zhi revealed a pale, wan visage. Her refined brows shadowed eyes clouded with cataracts, and her pale lips emphasized her spiritless appearance. The white robes were damp from hair and body, revealing pallid skin beneath. Gathering her robes around her, she acknowledged the impropriety, but urgency dictated her actions. Waving the disciples off, she staggered a few steps, steadying herself to move onward. The attending disciples dared not follow, fearing glimpsing something forbidden, which would bode ill for both prophet and observer. The Tian Ji Sect's rule dictates: revelations from divination and all matters of destiny, unless necessary, must not be disclosed to a second person. Fu Zhi was distinct from ordinary seers, pondering secrets within the sect. Besides the potential expulsion for unauthorized discovery, dangers lurked that could threaten life itself. The blind girl, in her damp robes, walked barefoot, swaying towards the archive. Breathing heavily, sweat beaded on her forehead even on the short walk. She recalled the sect's intricate layout but slipped on the stairs. Fu Zhi tumbled down more than ten steps, hitting the ground hard. The pain dawned slowly, only realizing later how badly she'd twisted her ankle when she tried to stand. Sitting helplessly for a while, she eventually crawled to the wall, using it to finally stand again. "Little Auntie, do you need help?" The sudden voice startled her. Unfamiliar yet not entirely unknown, the voice spoke in the darkness. Her master was Tian Ji Sect's current Tian Ji, nearing life's end. Over her long cultivation, she took many disciples, even having grand-disciples whose age and skills surpassed her own when she took Fu Zhi as her disciple. It seemed she might pass the title to this young girl post-transcendence. Fu Zhi lacked understanding in power struggles but noticed many in the sect bore her no goodwill. This "nephew," whose name escaped her, was likely one of them, otherwise why stand silently, mocking her plight so long? Yet, struggling as she was, she couldn’t be choosy. Weakly and compliantly, she rested her hand on the person’s shoulder, allowing herself to be lifted. The woman glanced at Fu Zhi’s pitiful state and scoffed, "Little Auntie, you're at the mid-stage of Foundation Formation. How can such a short walk from the pool leave you so weary?" Rarely speaking, the blind seer coughed gently before hoarsely replying, "Please, take me to the archive... No, first to Mirror Moon Residence, then to the archive to collect information on a demon named 'He He'... She might appear under a human guise. Focus on anything linked to the Tai Xu Sect." The other paused at her seamless instructions, slightly angered, "Calling you Auntie, you really dare order me around?" Fu Zhi urged, "Do it quickly. I must return to that body soon." "You..." Despite gritting her teeth, the woman knew Tian Ji's esteem for Fu Zhi and understood the gravity of what she investigated. She dared not delay, light-footedly carried Fu Zhi to the corridor’s edge. The sudden weightlessness scared Fu Zhi, who instinctively clutched the clothing of her helper. Hearing Fu Zhi’s fright, her amused bearer skipped along rooftops to frighten her further, swiftly reaching the Mirror Moon Residence. Once there, the woman gently set Fu Zhi down, who promptly shoved her away, barking, “Quickly, go search,” and slammed the door, leaving the other stewing in frustration outside. Wiping sweat from her brow, Fu Zhi's expression twisted as she limped toward the large mirror at the room’s center. She fell in front of the water mirror, gasping as she stretched out her limbs, barely reaching its base. Green spiritual energy spread from her touch, enveloping the entire surface. Fu Zhi initially intended to go straight to the archives to investigate He He, but halfway, she recalled her master Yu Mingjun, who locked herself away, possibly injured from confronting Bai Jinghuan. Crafting a mental image of her master's spiritual pattern, the water mirror linked to Yu Mingjun's vicinity. Fu Zhi's identifications made the connection clearer. Within darkness, she was surprised to hear her senior, Long Ruiqing’s voice. "Did you see those new junior sisters today? I regret entering the sect too late to witness Qi Wei Jun's grace. Quite a pity. Didn't you take me on because I looked like her? Now, seeing Qi Wei Jun’s daughters, they don't quite resemble her." Yu Ming uttered a pleading wail. ### Author's Note: If I don't continue writing soon, I'll have withdrawal symptoms. Just a little teaser. Gratitude to the little angels who cast overlord votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions during the period from 2022-04-21 35:39:02 to 2022-04-22 35:59:24~ Special thanks to the following angels for the nutrient solution: 20 bottles from Deng Yun San; 8 bottles from "Miss Sister, Come Play"; 5 bottles from Messiah; 2 bottles from Slowly. Thank you so much for your support. I'll keep working hard! No popup ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)