Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Chapter 114: A Life and Death Battle

Hui sped through the forest. The two strongest of the life qi cultivators chased after him, both in the third stage. One, the same as him, had cultivation of the low third stage, while the other emanated an aura of mid-third stage. The stronger of the two surged ahead, then waited for the weaker of the two to catch up to him and matched his pace rather than chase ahead.

Clearly, theyre taking me seriously! Are death cultivators that scary? Ah, if only I was a no, no, no, its good Im not! I just need to find a moment to stop and explain myself

strange fluctuations, a familiar voice stated.

Cold ran down Huis spine. Hui immediately clamped down on his qi and circulated his death qi. His speed dropped, and the life qi cultivators started to catch up to him. He bit his lip, glancing left and right.

Get him! one of the life qi cultivators shouted. He slammed his hand forward, and a golden palm strike soared after Hui.

Hui tensed, preparing to soak the blow.

Oh? Whats this?

A slash of black ink soared past Huis shoulder. It impacted the palm strike, and the golden palm shattered. The black ink rushed onward, bearing down on the life qi cultivators. They threw themselves out of the way and barely dodged. The black ink smashed into a tree and destroyed it, sending splinters flying everywhere. The two cultivators fell to the ground, floored by the weight of the blow.

Hui took a deep breath. Keeping his face stiff, he looked slowly up at the cultivator before him.

Erlan perched on his brush, a second brush held in his hand. On the ground beside him, Gu Tian clutched his flute, and another two cultivators in black, one male, one female, pushed through the trees to stand beside them.

The two life qi cultivators quaked, then turned on their heels and fled. Erlan chuckled, watching them go, then turned his eyes to Hui.

Hui swallowed. He stood there stiffly, circulating his death qi, pretending to be just another ghoul.

Erlan landed and walked over, reaching for Huis face.

What would a ghoul do in this situation? Erargh! Idammit! Hui opened his mouth and bit at Erlans hand.

Erlan chuckled. Oh?

Hui froze mid-bite, mouth still open wide. His heart prickled, hairs standing up on the back of his neck. Something in the way Erlan said that one syllable warned him that he wouldnt have a jaw anymore if he finished.

Youre a death cultivator, arent you? Dont be afraid. We arent here to hurt you. The contrary, oh yes, to the contrary. He patted Huis cheek with a warm smile.

A shiver traveled up and down Huis spine. Nothing Erlan has done so far is as terrifying as what he just did.

A death cultivator is a precious thing to the more enlightened of us. Those of us who dont box ourselves in by conventions and rules. Come back with us. Or would you rather stay here and get exorcised? Erlan tilted his head.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Hui wavered. I could try to reveal myself and talk it out with the life qi cultivators but they havent stopped for a single second to allow me to reveal myself or talk! Even if I came out as a human, theyd probably just call me a demonic cultivator and attack me, at this rate! Besides, now I risk enraging Erlan and the demonic cultivators if I reveal myself.

But on the other handon the other hand, going back to a demonic sect is!

There he is!

Hui whirled. The man from the Bai Clan banquet, Gui Delun, rushed at him atop a sword, black hair swirling nobly on the wind. A strict face turned a blank expression toward Hui. Golden light glittered all around him, clinging to his body in a thin aura.

Erlan clicked his tongue and strode forward. Rushing to your death? Gu Tian, take the death cultivator back to the sect while we deal with these fools.

Gu Tian cupped his hands to Erlans back and nodded at Hui. Slapping a bag of holding, he produced a slender, silvery shuttle no bigger than a forearm and about as wide as a palm. It glowed at the rear end with the cold blue light of spirit stones. Hurry. I cant guarantee your safety if Gui Delun starts to use his more powerful attacks.

Thats right, life qi eradicates death qi, my precious death qi! If I stick around here and get seriously hit, isnt there a chance theyll wipe out my whole second dantian?

Actually what happens then? If my souls cultivation collapses, I

was I in a much bigger crisis than I thought this whole time, to be so low on death qi? Li Xiang, this small cultivator has taken your words to heart! Ill studiously gather death qi and build my souls cultivation back up to match my bodys once more!

Hui glanced back at Gui Delun, then took a deep breath and followed Gu Tian onto the shuttle. Its no big deal. I walked out of my sect, whats to say I cant escape the demonic sect? Its not as if theyll be holding me prisoner.

With a jolt, the shuttle zoomed away. Wind battered his body. Hui flailed his hands, almost falling backward. A wild reach caught Gu Tians waist, and he held on for dear life. Desperately, he wanted to circulate his qi to push away the wind and hold himself on the shuttle, but with so little death qi, he couldnt possibly circulate his qi and mask it at the same time. Ive barely got enough death qi to qualify as a mid-level Qi Gathering disciple right now! Ah, how this poor cultivator has fallen!

Gu Tian glanced back. Hold on.

Hold on? Hui asked.

The shuttle sped up.

Tears squeezed out of Huis eyes as his face distorted in the wind. He squinted and turned his head away, and out of the corner of his eye, caught sight of a golden arrow rushing at them. Hui whirled, eyes wide. The arrow rushed at them, far faster than the shuttle. Within the space of a breath, it was close enough to reach.

Dammit, Gu Tian muttered, narrowing his eyes. He pulled a jade out of his robes.

Before he could, Hui threw a barrier talisman. The arrow smashed against the barrier, and with a pop, the barrier burst. Weakened a hair, the arrow continued to rush at them. Hui threw another talisman, and another, each one weakening the arrow a little more until at last it slammed into a barrier and shattered, breaking the barrier in the same blow.

Whered you find so many talismans? Gu Tian asked, amazed.

Hui licked his lips nervously, then regretted it as the slimy texture of the ghoul skin met his tongue. Uh, I uh f found them?

Gu Tian snorted. What are you nervous for? If you killed another cultivator for them, say it. If you took them off a corpse, say it. No one cares.

Eh, Hui said. Oh, right. It is a demonic sect

Theres something familiar about that barrier, though. I almost could you throw one out again? Gu Tian asked.

Hui clutched the ghoul-skins ragged robes closed and glared at Gu Tian. You want my treasure?

A third-tier barrier talisman is no treasureah, never mind. To a Qi Gathering cultivator, I suppose it is. Its idle curiosity. Gu Tian waved his hand, putting the matter behind them.

Are you third realm? Hui asked, putting false amazement into his voice.

Gu Tian scowled. No.

Oh, Hui said. No, hes telling the truth. His cultivation base is still in the second realm. But if thats the case, why wouldnt he see a third-stage barrier as a treasure? It would be extremely valuable to a second-realm cultivator, as well.

Though come to think of it, this is one of the talismans I found on the body named Gu Tian. Its not as if two people cant have the same name, but such a coincidence, can it really only be a coincidence?

Hui cleared his throat. You are Gu Tian?

Yes. And you?

Hui froze, paralyzed. Gu Tian and Erlan have met me. I cant use my name. A fake name. A fake name! What do I go by? This small ghoul is called Xie Hao.

Xie Hao?

Hui nodded. Gu Tian, do you know a talisman expert?

Youre interested in talismans? Mmm Try asking Master Erlan, he might know.

Silently, Hui furrowed his brows. He doesnt know a talisman expert? He cant possibly be the same Gu Tian, then, since Gu Tians talismans were modified from their original formulasor at least, thats what Bai Laoren told me, back in Bai Clan when he helped me out with the talismans. For him to own modified talismans, hed either know an expert or consider himself one, or both, but he certainly wouldnt be clueless.

Well, I suppose its possible he stole them from someone else, but the evidence does seem to suggest that these two Gu Tians Ive encountered, one dead, one alive, are different people.

Abruptly, Gu Tian laughed. I, once

Huis ears perked. He tilted his head. You?

No, its nothing. Gu Tian shook his head. Almost imperceptibly, his shoulders slumped.

Hmm maybe things arent that simple, after all. Gu Tian, the kid in that illusion today has been full of mysteries. Hui put a hand on his chin, thoughtful.

Youre chatty, for a death cultivator.

E-eh? Hui said, startled. Did I make a mistake? Does he know Im not actually undead?

All the other death cultivators stomp around with their mouths shut and glare at people. Sometimes I wonder if theyre doing it to hide that theyre rotting in the head Gu Tian glanced over his shoulder at Hui and laughed. I probably shouldnt say that around you.

Hui nodded silently, his mouth shut. He tried a glare.

Its a bit too late for that, dont you think? Its fine if youre different. We arent like those orthodox sects. No one minds if youre a little weird, Gu Tian chuckled.

O-oh, Hui said. Okay. He doesnt suspect me. Quietly, he let out a relieved sigh.

A second later, he frowned. Not like orthodox sects did you come from a righteous sect?

Hmm? Oh. I suppose I gave it away. Yes, once. Id go back if I could, but thats been impossible for a long time now. Gu Tian let out a low sigh.

Ah! Could I talk him into taking me back? Hui opened his mouth.

Wait, wait, wait, Hui! Think! Use your brain! What if this is a trap? Hes a demonic cultivator. Hes already caught me being weird for a death cultivator, what if hes trying to trick me into asking him to take me back and give myself away?

Is it fine to tell me that? Hui asked, putting on a haughty air as if hed tattle on Gu Tian. Aha, Ill use your tactics against you!

Master Erlan already knows. It doesnt matter. Gu Tian fell silent, thoughtful.

Maybe he was being serious? Then isnt this my chance? Even if it isnt, hes only a second-stage cultivator! If he isnt being serious, cant I take him down? Hui opened his mouth. Gu Tian, what if

Ah, theres the sect, just ahead, Gu Tian said, pointing.

Hui slammed his mouth shut. It was a trap! If we were that close all along, if Id revealed myselfthis small cultivator would be dead! I knew it, I knew it was fishy!

What were you saying? Gu Tian asked.

Nothing, nothing, Hui replied, shaking his head insistently.

Gu Tian laughed. Youre so strange.