I Don't Like You

An hour after Wei Rong's estate was infiltrated, a servant walked into the room in order to check if the man needed anything. When she entered, she noticed that the bed had still been made and the wash basin untouched. When she commented to the guard, he was absolutely certain that the man had gone into the room after nodding good night to him.

When Wei Rong's absence was noticed, the guard went to Wei Ye's room and confirmed that the young master was also gone. His room was as pristine as it was when the last servant cleaned it. "Maybe they have gone on a family outing?" The guard said to himself as he walked to the entrance to the estate. When he asked the guards at the front, they also had not seen the estate's lord. "We should see this as a family trip or training adventure. Master Wei Rong has been known to disappear from time to time in order to strengthen himself."

As the guards and servants of the Wei estate were preparing to take some much needed time off while the estate lord was out, Zheng Guo slept comfortably in his four poster bed within his own estate. He dreamed of breaking through to the warrior rank and continuing on in his usefulness to Li Xiao. He smiled as he could almost feel the breakthrough, but then he felt something off. His eyes shifted within his closed lids as he sensed a murderous aura. Such aura did not come from a cultivation base, but from the mind of a cold, calculating killer. Someone who had killed many people as they lay as he did.

Though he came back to consciousness at the feeling of such a hostile presence, he did not open his eyes. He instead scanned the room with his qi to try and locate the threat, yet nothing was visible to his senses. He shivered slightly as a cold sweat formed on his back, dampening the sheets under him. And then, he heard the slight tap from something being put down on his desk. When he looked over, he saw a ring, yet no one who accompanied the sound.

"I don't like you." A child like voice whispered from the corner of the room.

"Who are you?!" He demanded as he looked at the corner, yet all he could see is darkness.

"I have had to work many times with people I don't like." The youthful voice said thoughtfully, yet that voice seemed like it came more from a demon than a boy. "If I have to do so for a while, it won't hurt me at all. Just know that it will come with a price." The voice chuckled sinisterly. "In that ring is a gift to you. Do what you will with it. Do not come to me for assistance, instead, I will know what to do on my own. But know this-" The voice paused slightly and the darkness seemed to creep up on the city lord. "Keep your hands off of my friends."

"It's you!" Zheng Guo launched the blanket off of him and stood up suddenly, but in the split second it took for him to perform this action, Hong Zhao was already gone. The only thing left of him was an echoing chuckle as he left the room.

Zheng Guo stared at the door with not a little fright. This young boy was able to escape his cell and come to his bedside completely undetected. Even if he wanted to, he didn't know if he would be able to put a leash on such a monster. After such uncomfortable thoughts, his eyes went to the desk where the ring lay. It was a white jade ring, he could tell this even in the darkness. Such rings were only found on nobles or someone who immense wealth.

Summoning up his courage, the city lord went to the table and with shaky fingers, picked up the ring. When he placed his ownership on it, he inserted his qi to see what was inside. When he did, his eyes went dark. Within the ring rested the bodies of his opposition and his son. Both were cleanly executed without any mess. A simple hole was blown perfectly through both of their skulls. There was no sign of struggle. Wei Ye still held a slight smile upon his lips, as if he were thinking something pleasant when he died, showing how fast his death must have been. And when he looked at Wei Rong, the man looked as if he were still peacefully sleeping.

A chill went down the city lord's spine. "He could have killed me just as easily as he killed Wei Rong." He said in a shaky voice. Was this a message that Hong Zhao was trying to send him? Even if it wasn't, he could tell that the child could kill him anytime. Whether it be in a pleasant conversation, or during a peaceful rest. In his mind, he had no doubt that he would have to do as this child said, if he wanted even a moment of peace within his life.