A Rather Close Encounter

Yijin spoke with Juanbei after regaining his composure from the internal battle with Xiangliu'er. It would be impossible for him to defeat this monster without the prior mental training, but how could he train when Xiangliu was always there within him waiting for the first opportunity to extinguish the light that is Yijin's soul. In any case, the process of Yijin's composure being regained was quite quickened due to his master buying him dinner.

"Master, tell me something. Did one of us in our line somehow manage to breed with a deity?" Yijin asked in a genuine questioning tone.

"What? What are you babbling about? No way, there isn't any record of it. And even if there were I would be rather skeptical about that."

Yijin stared off into the distance for a moment trying to contemplate how his grandson had managed to create such a powerful Light Qi skill. There wasn't anyone who practiced Light Qi in the Ren Clan in history. Still, somehow Juanbei had managed to create an incredibly powerful skill that could even silence the Messenger of Gonggong.

Juanbei spoke before Yijin could come up with another insane question. "Yijin, or rather Huanzhi. I would like to ask you, just how did you come to be reincarnated as this young boy?"

"that's quite the long story, Master. I could tell you now, but I prefer not to. Once I complete the task that was given to me, then I shall reveal all of my past to you."

"That answer is what I expected from you. But what is this task that you keep speaking of?" Juanbei asked.

"I have been reincarnated for one sole purpose. The defeat of my past self's worst rival, Lu Gongfen. He was better known as the Falling Lotus Petal of Kanling Sect."

"Kanling sect you say?" Juanbei monologued to himself aloud. "I wonder if there's any correlation between the two?"

"Correlation between the two? Now what are *you* babbling about!" Yijin replied. He had been waiting to say something in rebuttal for a while now after brooding over Juanbei's constant condescendence for some reason. Doesn't Juanbei realize who he is up against?

Juanbei uttered in continuation, "Oh. Well do you remember that group of thugs that you defeated in the academy?"

Yijin nodded.

"Right, those guys belong to a group of criminals that call themselves the 'Kanling Gang.' Do you think that your rival is a part of that organization?" Juanbei asked.

"It seems plausible as he is a Dark Faction Cultivator. Tell me, though, how do you know about the Kanling Gang, Master?"

"They've come by for protection money before, but I refused to pay them. It was also coincidental that you were there that night when I was closing up shop. Earlier that same day, I had to fight off their first group of moronic goons. Now that you're here there is no more contest between us and them. They won't be coming back any time soon."

"So I'm just basically hired help? Ha, infuriating yet comedic." Yijin laughed. Juanbei also chuckled at the statement. The two continued the discussion. "But then, what about Kanling Gang. Now that they know who we are, don't you think that my rival will send more of his goons after us?"

"It's most likely possible, but I assume that he will most definitely continue gauging your ability. He probably believes due to your reincarnated body that you have very little Qi. Yet, the opposite is true. You have more Qi than I have ever seen in my life. He will continue sending executives like that Japanese man that kidnapped me."

"I assume you know what I will do to them, right?"

Juanbei grinned. "I have no doubts in your abilities, you ancient bastard."

Yijin beamed in return and eventually the two went their separate ways. Unbeknownst to Yijin, Kayegawa had been murdered by Lu Gongfen due to his failure to kill Yijin. Yijin was still incredibly wary of his surroundings, preparing himself for any surprise attacks. He was even suspicious of the homeless people on the streets. Those hobos man... a little to sus for my liking.

Yijin soon arrived at his home. He knew that Lu Gongfen had located the apartment long ago, but Yijin was incredibly confident in his abilites. Almost to the point of arrogance. Notice how I say almost. Yijin entered the elevator. Empty as usual. He always seemed to find that perfect timing where no bystanders were inside and any enemies were either already in his lodging or never there at all.

He stepped out of the elevator and warily jiggled the handle to his door. It was still locked. Yijin pulled out his keycard and rapidly swiped it onto the barcode scanning lock. Yijin entered upon hearing the trademark beep of his apartment door and quickly shut the blinds and locked the entrance again. He let himself go to his bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Anticlimactic. I know.

Upon waking in the morning, Yijin quickly dressed. He skipped breakfast and made straight for the door as quickly as he could. He was a little bit unkempt, but it was a more fashionable manner of unkemptness. Yijin quickly exited the apartment building in a few minutes and arrived at his bus stop in another ten. His usual bus was there, no suspicious characters and no hidden wolves in sheep's clothing awaited him.

The bus arrived at Hongsho School in a short period as Yijin dismounted and carried his backpack on one shoulder. His eyes were set and fixed, his eyelids slightly drooping from fatigue. Yijin's uniform jacket was unbuttoned and he looked rather casual as he entered the school's main building and headed to his homeroom. He found Xiao, Qianying and Kanzhou at the door and they entered together into the classroom.

The day passed without a hitch. All was quiet for the first time ever at Hongsho High School. There were no bullies forcing other peers to be shuttles or humiliating them. No more fake subs that were actually hardened veteran assassins. In essence, no more asses needed to be kicked at Hongsho High School. The group completed their tasks, studied and completed their homework and soon headed out all together.

Yijin took the lead and offered a dinner on him. The rest of the group quickly bit at the idea. Of course, there had to be a watchful eye carefully waiting for Yijin to make the wrong move. In this scenario, the wrong move was to go to a restaurant in the first place. Yijin was being followed. A beautiful woman walked behind the group, her brunette hair flowed in long wafts down to her shoulders. Her eyes were hazel and her soft-appearing lips curled into a smirk as she watched Yijin walk.

She wore some designer clothing and had a pair of sunglasses resting on her gentle appearing nose. Yijin didn't notice her, but it would have been right to have been wary. This woman was the Nocturnal Arachnid with whom Yijin had spoken on the phone after killing her associate. He soon arrived at the Growling Stomach Szechuan Grill and invited his friends in.

They quickly were seated at a table to the Western wall of the building. The view was nice, having a clear view of the sunset and a picturesque end of a day. They quickly ordered food and chattered about. Nocturnal Arachnid followed suit and entered. Her sunglasses dipped slightly as she lowered them on purpose. She looked directly into Yijin's eyes and winked suggestively.

She seemed to actually be around Yijin's physical age. How such a young girl became an executive of Kanling Gang? Only Lu Gongfen knows. Another Yandere-chan for the list. Yijin followed her gaze for a moment and their eyes met. Yijin blushed as he looked at her and looked downwards. "She's as beautiful as Meiying. Crap! How can I stay sane in this world? Every girl has the features that I sought in Meiying!" He thought helplessly.

He watched as the lady sat down to a table for two. She seemed to beckon him to her. Yijin excused himself for a moment as the group continued talking. He walked up to her table and sat down. "Pardon me, were you calling me to sit here?" Yijin said in a soft voice.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" The beauty spoke in reply. Yijin nodded and was about to leave when suddenly her hand reached out and gently clasped his. "Now that you're here, please sit." Yijin turned and looked her in the eyes. Her smile seemed somewhat fanatical, and her hands were cold to the touch. Yijin returned and sat down across from her at the table and she quickly called the waiter.

"Yes, please can you bring us both some Oolong tea?" She said quietly.

The waiter nodded. Yijin did not read in between the lines as she made a sort of signal with her eyebrow and the man nodded. Thus he asked the following, "Why did you beckon me to you? Was there any business you have to discuss with me."

The waiter returned at this point in time. The young lady reached out for the tea herself and very inconspicuously placed her hand over Yijin's cup of tea. The silver bracelet that she wore silently opened and a drop of a white powder almost invisibly fell into the tea. She handed the cup to Yijin and Yijin gave a bright grin.

"No particular business to discuss with you, all I must ask is the following. May I ask your name?"

"Yijin Liu."

"Thank you so much for the clarification."

He bowed his head in respect to the girl. "May I humbly request your name as well. I must know the name of such a beautiful and incredibly generous girl."

Nocturnal Arachnid looked him in the eyes as he lifted the cup to his mouth and blew on it for a moment before placing it on his lips. "My name isn't that important *my new love!*" She emphasized the last three words. As Yijin heard the words spoken, his blood ran cold.

"Nocturnal Arachnid... I knew there was something off."

"So you remember my alias! Ah, that excites me! The last one I was sent to kill didn't remember that. If only you were a part of Kanling Gang. You would be my perfect little slave."

"Believe me, I wouldn't be too bothered to be your slave." Yijin said laughing. He smiled as he drank the entire cup without fear. There was no poison in existence that could cause Yijin's death.

"That's rather surprising to hear. Maybe once I conquer you with my poison skills we could have a..." She sighed deeply with a wide beam on her face as she admired Yijin's features. "chat in private?"

Yijin smiled. "Unfortunately, my dear. I think it's impossible for you to conquer me with poison alone. Your charms are rather enticing, but your poisons will never kill a student of the Guanzi Sect Leader's Poison Experiments."

Nocturnal Arachnid held out her hand and touched his lightly. "That makes me so anxious to learn more." She giggled for a moment and stared into his eyes. "My name is Junxia. I've known you for quite a while now. I probably know you even better than you know yourself." Junxia took a napkin from the table and left a perfect kiss mark from her lipstick on it. She gave it to Yijin and blushed. "Anyways, I will be seeing you soon. Hopefully tied up in my basement!" Junxia rose elegantly from her seat across from Yijin and walked off.

It was at this moment that Yijin noticed Xiao, Qianying, and Kanzhou staring at him. Kanzhou and Xiao both were giving him thumbs up and mimicking a wolf-whistle. Yijin scoffed and muttered under his breath. "If only they knew that she had just tried to assassinate me." Yijin got up and returned to his seat with his friends. They ate and talked the evening away. Yijin exited and the group went their separate ways.

Yijin still felt Junxia's obsessive eyes watching him from the shadows. He didn't know whether to be grateful that such a beautiful girl was giving him any mind... No those thoughts could never intrude into his head. He had his beloved Meiying to worry about. Still though, one could argue that a Yandere's charms are a little interesting from time to time. Even more so, this was the sort of personality that Yijin personally enjoyed. It was why Yijin had even fallen in love with Meiying in the first place. But, it was ill-fated and as an added bonus, once he completed his mission he would have to kill himself to be with Meiying again.

Yijin, as a vessel, would have to die for Huanzhi to achieve happiness. But until then, he had to focus on building this vessel. On making Yijin into a weapon of mass destruction.

From atop the rooftops, Junxia was watching closely as Yijin strolled down the streets heading to his apartment building. "Oh Huanzhi. I've missed you so. We'll be together again. Like back in the old times when I was still the Poison Seductress of the Opera, Meiying."

HAHAHAHAHA! You thought Meiying was the innocent part of Huanzhi's life? An innocent female poet? Think again!