68 Heartbeat Within

*Things like sexism and racism are purely for worldbuilding and to make it more realistic. Thank you for your understanding.*

As Chu Hua and Jiang were still away from the Freedom Alliance, a vibrant young man stood within the space of a luxurious room.

It was the fifteenth floor of Elder Lan Pi Xing's pagoda, and as usual, it oozed a sense of comfort. Paper walls partially divided corners of the room, in which comfortable seats and small games were strewn about. Large and comfortable rugs were underfoot, and there was a young maiden servant preparing green tea.

The vibrant young man was, of course, Wang Yufei. Although twenty-eight years old, his dramatic achievements in cultivation had kept him of his youthful appearance. He did not look a day over nineteen.

He was stood before a seated elder that had immersed himself in a little board game that he played with a young boy in black and white robes; a servant. Despite being treated so well by a being that could only be a god compared to him, seeing Wang Yufei impatiently looming over as Pi Xing ignored him made the boy uncomfortable.

The boy had the intention to concede all over his face, yet Elder Pi Xing was simply enraptured in the game and his eyes were serious as he assessed the board of black and white pieces.

Seeing his master stuck on a move before the boy, Wang Yufei was quite surprised and his gaze changed as he looked at the young boy that was smiling helplessly and averting his gaze. Wang Yufei refocused his gaze on his master and took the opportunity to speak.

"Master, may you lend me your ear for but a moment?" He asked quietly, so as not to aggravate. Pi Xing was a strict person and would be shamelessly brutal and without remorse if he was caught in a bad mood.

Pi Xing only sighed as he looked at the board and looked to the boy in black and white servant attire.

"Oh, Qin. Your mind is quite astounding even compared to this old one. Ahh, but what a pity you have no cultivation talent. A pity indeed..." Pi Xing said as he shook his head, but the servant named Qin only bit his lip and held back tears.

Every day he was reminded of his useless aptitude while being surrounded by these demi-god-like beings. And he was only a young boy, his dreams being crushed before him were painful.

After that remark, Pi Xing turned to Wang Yufei and spoke magnanimously.

"Well, well, disciple. How often is it you come to see me, hmm? I thought you would be off coputulating with junior sisters and forsaking your talent as usual. Why have you come here?" Pi Xing was sniding, and had piteous eyes as he looked at Wang Yufei.

Indeed, before Jiang had enslaved him, Wang Yufei was exactly like his master said. He rarely came to see him and forsook the guidance of the elders. He was hedonistic and did not train his talent to the extremes.

Obviously now, however, Jiang had forcefully changed Wang Yufei's ways.

"Master..." Wang Yufei said solemnly before kneeling in repentance. He had normally paid no mind to his master, but now that Jiang had incorporated the elder into his schemes, he had to repair the relationship as quickly as possible.

"This lowly disciple has been ungrateful towards his seniors' guidance, and is worthy of a thousand lashes. This lowly disciple lived a life of pleasure and threw his talent aside, and I beg for forgiveness from my master. I swear a thousand times that I have changed my ways, and will do all I can to appease you, master.

I hope you can forgive me."

There was truly so much enmity between the two. Wang Yufei had thought of him as a blubbering old fool that lectured the young and graceful as he was out of talent himself.

And, obviously, his master thought he was an insufferable brat.

Behind the gossiping of the masses about Wang Yufei, a promising one of the younger generation, there was much enmity and friction between his own master and himself.

Pi Xing was taken aback for a moment. He thought his shameless disciple had run out of money and was here to beg for more, like he had done many times. However, this was unexpected.

"Since you have realised your errors yourself without me telling you, it seems you have truly been doing some thinking. You seem to know your wrongs, so I ask you this. How should I punish you, an unworthy disciple who has crimes?

Know this, though: the most heinous crime is to your own talent. So, how should I punish you, disciple?"

Elder Pi Xing narrated in a serious voice towards the kneeling Wang Yufei.

"This disciple will take any punishment bestowed upon himself, master." Wang Yufei unhesitatingly replied.

However, Pi Xing said something unexpected.

"No. I am asking you how you will be punished and you will answer me, child." The grave voice came and slightly shocked Wang Yufei. He knew his master to be relentless, however, it was still frightening.

"This disciple is worthy of a thousand deaths..." Wang Yufei said what was expected of him, despite the seriousness his master exuded. He was truly quite scared right now as his master was unpredictable in moments like these.

"Worthy of death." Elder Pi Xing said harshly in agreement and the atmosphere in the room became several shades darker. It seems this elder Pi Xing truly held grudges quite ruthlessly, and would kill if he was disrespected like batting an eye.

The two servants present, the maiden preparing tea and the young mind named Qin, were terrified as of present. They, who had no cultivation, could still feel the vibrations in the air and the shift of pressure that rippled outwards. The air became heavier and wanted to press them down.

Wang Yufei visibly shivered.

"Do not move an inch, disciple." A heavy voice, amplified by pressure and the sheer dominance it possessed, came forth directly overhead. The elder, once sitting away, was now standing right before Wang Yufei. His publicly recognised higher Stage 5 cultivation was terrifying.

Wang Yufei felt the air ripple and a terrifying force descending down on him. He was terrified that he might truly lose his life right here! However, he did not dare to move! His body wanted to flee terribly and his thoughts of living were raging endlessly, however, he didn't take a single movement.

The terrifying had descended with waves of power engulfing it, seemingly able to shatter Wang Yufei's head simply by placing a fingertip upon it!

However, right as the hand made contact with Wang Yufei's flowing black hair that was tied up neatly behind his head, the terrifying pressure disappeared.

An aged hand rested upon his lowered head and words were spoken.

"I pardon you, disciple. Your loyalty has been shown here, in the face of death. You may rise." The voice came from Elder Pi Xing, who had reappeared back on his seat, next to the game and the pale-faced servants.

Wang Yufei raised his sweat-laden face and looked to his master with a few remaining wisps of horror. Pi Xing was smiling happily, after all, his most note-worthy disciple had just been regained in his eyes. How could he not be joyous? Wang Yufei was a paramount genius, even in the City Lord's ranks!

"Now, why have you come here? Speak freely." The elder said with happiness still written all over his face, as if it couldn't and wouldn't disappear.

"I...had come here to sate my curiosity...master." Wang Yufei muttered before he regained his composure.

"Oh?" Pi Xing was intrigued.

"The girl, Chu Hua. My newest junior sister is quite the devilish vixen and has obviously drawn my eye..." Wang Yufei felt a vicious glare upon him.

"...but, obviously not for those reasons! This disciple wanted to befriend the soaring Fairy and get to know her. But, she is quite secretive about the simplest of things..."

The vicious glare receded. Pi Xing thought for a moment that this disciple had come for forgiveness just so he could get more information about another junior sister he wanted to conquer! The very thing he had just apologised for!

However, despite now understanding what his disciple was asking, a shadowed countenance did not leave his expression.

"I understand your interest, disciple. However, throw away any thoughts of junior Chu Hua in your heart. My saying this will maybe only incite your curiosity even further, but I strictly warn you to steer clear." Pi Xing's voice doubled in seriousness and Wang Yufei simply didn't know what to make of the words.

Was Chu Hua just that unfathomable that even his master didn't know, or was Chu Hua just that unfathomable that his master didn't dare to tell him? Either way, Wang Yufei was shocked and even a bit fearful of Chu Hua now.

"Master...?" A stupefied voice came from him.

"Sigh, disciple..." Pi Xing's eyes hardened, as if he had given in.

"Heed my words. The girl is on extremely close terms with His Excellency, from what I can tell. I must tell you this so you understand the severity. Now, heed my words and do not aggravate her. I am not telling you to avoid her, just avoid getting too close. She is likely a hurricane of trouble that even I wouldn't dare to approach."

Wang Yufei's eyes gleamed with understanding as thoughts swirled within.

"I understand, master."

...

One week after the incident with Chu Hua and Jiang, as well as Wang Yufei's meeting with Pi Xing.

The month was now March of the year 91,857 of the 34th Seed.

Jiang stood perched atop a roof in the dead of night, his eyes screening everywhere. There was even a minute amount of worry contained within, which was unlike Jiang. Simply too much had happened in the last week.

After he had seen that blinding blue light emerge from Chu Hua when he tried to enslave her, a terrifying force hit him that completely incapacitated him. He awoke minutes after with his body completely sprawled and broken in every place, thousands of meters away.

At the time, he was shocked as well as in unimaginable pain. However, he healed rather quickly and hurried back to Chu Hua, and saw the two Archdukes similarly injured with fear just as strong as Jiang's in their eyes.

General Baise was basically unmoved, aside from two deep trenches merely several meters long embedded into the earth when he was pushed back. Such a scene made Jiang reevaluate the General's power. Had he already stepped into that legendary realm above Stage 5, had his Hidden City welcomed another godly force?

He didn't ask, nor find out.

The General, surprisingly, backed away completely from the girl even though his mission was to kill her. He advised Jiang to not get too close to her, and after that, he hurriedly retreated back to the Hidden City.

The Archdukes said a few words to Jiang before retiring back to their duties at the newly-conquered Temple. They were both Captains who were born and raised in the Hidden City, and they had been given the Temple to manage when it was seized.

After that, Jiang took Chu Hua's body carefully back to the Freedom Alliance. He dared not to direct any malicious intentions toward her, in fear that the strange necklace would reactivate.

After that, he gave the body to Wang Yufei so he could take her back to the core circle, where Chu Hua's master, Pi Xing, had his pagoda. And that was when Wang Yufei told Jiang what he had learned from Pi Xing about Chu Hua.

The fact that she had a close relationship with Zheng Li, the leader of the Freedom Alliance. That explained why she had such a talisman on her. But now that Jiang knew her to be the last daughter of the Temple's Qing family, it made sense.

He knew there was information that she possessed since she was from that family, the very information Jiang knew to be the catalyst of the Temple's takeover. He didn't know what it was, but it explained why she had such a high status and even protection from Zheng Li's treasures.

General Baise asked Jiang to stay away from her due to her backing, and it was useless to know her as his Hidden City likely already possessed the information she had after the takeover. That meant she was just a useless piece that was trying to survive by all means necessary, which made Jiang reevaluate her.

Jiang was told that she was no longer detrimental to his father, the King's, plans given the circumstances. However, that didn't stop him from being interested in her.

A fallen soul in a battle of powerful families. It reminded him of himself...

Standing on the rooftop, Jiang let out a rare inkling of sadness. All that he had gone through, he had mastered the art of hate. To hate everyone, and everything, meaning that one wouldn't be restrained by innocence. Born an innocent child, the hatred he possessed had malformed him, he knew that and saw it as a sign of strength.

However, seeing a kindred soul, he didn't understand his attraction toward her. He even steeled himself to not think about her as she was just a useless woman, however, his thoughts always led to her. What was this feeling?

And now, he was waiting in the dark. Waiting to see her again. When would she emerge? It had been a week and he hadn't seen her at all? However, Wang Yufei told him that she would be walking tonight. Apparently, something big had happened and Pi Xing was now very protective toward Chu Hua.

And there she was.

Jiang perked up as he saw a figure walking among the gardens of the core circle at night, fireflies of different colours lingering around her as she looked like a fairy. She looked as beautiful as ever.

She was dressed more modestly and seemed to have a lot on her mind as she constantly drifted away into thought. She seemed to have matured a lot and her hands were placed calmly on her stomach.

Jiang thought. 'Something big had indeed happened. Other than the mission we had, what could it be though? Was Wang Yufei referring to her trauma at that time? No... It looks like there is more.'

Chu Hua was alone and walking calmly and peacefully, occasionally looking up to the sky in thought. She seemed peaceful, but also inconsolably troubled.

"Junior Chu..."

A voice suddenly came from behind her, a familiar voice. Her brows furrowed as she turned around and saw a handsome young man. She smiled like a mother would and spoke with a calm voice that lacked the allure and coquettishness as normal.

"Ah, Cousin Jiang. What are you doing here?"

They were in the core circle, not somewhere he should be.

"I was worried for you Junior Chu. After the mission, you disappeared, and I thought..." Jiang started with complicated emotions, real or fake he didn't know.

"You thought?" Chu Hua asked with a smile.

"Maybe I had hurt Junior Chu that time? I was a bit harsh and inconsiderate and I sought your forgiveness. I don't want to be a cruel person in your mind..." Jiang said with difficulty, and Chu Hua's face became warmer.

"Don't be sorry, Cousin Jiang. Your words were not unfounded at that time, and even gave rise to inspiration in me. It made me realise what was important to me." Chu Hua said with a calm that gave Jiang a bad feeling. He could feel as though they were distancing and it was because Chu Hua didn't want to be like him.

"Junior Chu, what do you mean?" Jiang asked with nervousness.

"Your words, Cousin Jiang. I don't know what you have gone through to be this way, so unforgiving of the world around you. It pains me to think you must have been through horrible things... However, your words made me realise that I am different from you." Chu Hua said and Jiang started to itch.

"I don't truly seek strength. I thought I did, but I am different. I cannot take from the world what isn't mine and be content. I am okay with living life as it comes...a mortal's life." Chu Hua then placed her hands on her stomach protectively.

"I have a purpose in life, and it is a modest one. Though, Cousin Jiang, I hope you can forgive those who have wronged you. It truly makes me sad to see you and the words you said back then. I don't want you to suffer."

"Junior Chu, what are you talking about?" Jiang said with gritted teeth and rising anger.

However, Chu Hua placed a hand on Jiang's cheek and pulled his eyes to face hers.

"I know you are a kind soul, Jiang. You just have to find yourself."

Chu Hua then took his hand and placed it on her stomach. Jiang could feel a heartbeat, a weak heartbeat.

"I have already found myself." Chu Hua said with a mother's smile.

Feeling the second heartbeat, Jiang suddenly pulled away and had a strange look on his face. "Junior Chu?! Who...who did this to you?" Jiang looked as if he was betrayed and anger started to surge in him.

"Don't be like that, Jiang! This is a joyous occasion, aren't you happy for me?" Chu Hua suddenly looked aggrieved.

"..." Jiang calmed himself down and his anger went away, or so it seemed. "Yes, you're right. Congratulations, Junior Chu. I understand now why you have been locked away by your master."

"Haha, yes! Master is quite protective of me now, but I can see he is excited about the birth. It warms my heart." Chu Hua said with a lovely laugh.

"But, I guess I should keep my distance now, Junior Chu, and let you grow in peace." Jiang said.

Chu Hua looked sad and piteous toward Jiang. "I'm glad you understand, Jiang. I am truly thankful."

"I should be leaving."

"..." Chu Hua was startled at the sudden words, but then she understood and nodded. After Jiang flashed and disappeared, she couldn't help but sigh.

She truly liked Jiang, as a friend and acquaintance. But it didn't seem he felt the same...

'Time will heal.' Chu Hua thought as she wandered the gardens alone once more.

*3,117/3,000 words*