Chapter – 40 - The Planning begins...

The next night the group reassembled near the same pit the pink hog had dug the day before. Having successfully snatched one of the Melding bowls from the shelves of the metal and stone building, Rihanna tore off a Balyptos Grass, and following Little Purple's instructions, both human and beast successfully bonded an equal contract. At once Rihanna was hit with a bout of haziness and confusion.

'What the heck is happening now?!'

'This must be the state of consciousness of the illusion hog. Though it has willingly bonded, but a natural level of inherent rejection will remain. This might attack the other party, depending upon the relationship between the two partners prior to the contract. Don't worry, this will pass soon.'

Feeling speechless, Rihanna held her head, waiting for the floaty feeling to pass. A short while later she felt back in her elements, and sat back steadily. A bubbly feeling erupted within, making her want to bounce around.

'Don't tell me...this is the perpetual mental state of this....thing?!'

'What thing?! You are a thing....your entire family is stuffed with things!! I am a Supreme Level Illusion Hog!! How dare you ignorant and ignoble human call me a thing?!'

Ooops! This 'Thing' sure had a terrible temper! Looked like another Emperor Level Spiritual Beast had joined the ranks.....Hail thy Pink Hog!

'Wait....I can't keep calling you Pink Hog or Illusion Hog. So if you don't want to be called a 'Thing'....then give me a proper name.'

'.....Name?? I have never had a name....only humans have names. Everyone's at the Chen Clan always called me Great Illusion Hog.'

'Wait....are you saying that you were born and brought up at the Chen Clan? Then.....don't tell me that this is the first time you have been out of the Chen Clan?!'

'So what of it?'

Aish....why did it feel like another post had just been added to her portfolio....permanent Nanny position!

'Then....would you like it if I give you a name?'

'...Oooookaaaayy...but make sure it is as majestic as my Great Self!'

Rihanna scoffed inwardly....'Great Self'?! This Illusion Hog really lived in a world of illusion herself!

'Hmmm...How about....Phantasm?'

Fluffy growled, sitting far away from the both of them. Who knows what had happened the night before.....but he definitely did not look happy at being mercilessly abandoned by his shameless master, and to no other than a shameless and ugly hussy!! And now this ugly thing had a more dignified sounding name than himself?!!

Rihanna purposefully avoided all eye contact with him.....was it out of guilt? Well...she was definitely feeling a bit blameworthy!

'Okay....sounds okay. I will grudgingly accept it. But you can't shorten it into some weird form to make it sound cute or anything! You humans have strange fetishes!'

'Okay....now that's over. Tell me Phantasm, how many people can you pull into your illusion....and of what level?'

'Weeeeelll....I can only manage at most two people at a time, and not more than Foundation Level. Also not for more than a night at most.'

Rihanna raised her brows in disbelief.....why did it feel like she was just scammed?! There were more than two people in the Alchemy building....how would she manage to bring out Su Matsao's sister? Tsk! She was hoping this Illusion Hog could help her by sharing some of the problems....looks like she thought too much.

'I....I do not have all my powers at the moment. It's a long story, so I'll tell you later. But....I can not only create illusions....I can also break them. I have the natural ability to dispel all illusion spells and elements in my surrounding. Does that help?'

'Oh!....That's perfect! Then you can help me in the study room...I only need to figure out how to let you enter the study....'

'I can help you there.' Little Purple broke through her thoughts. 'I can insert a small bit of my energy into it, and guide it through all the arrays on the mansion. Tonight, when you go in your spiritual form, I will go there with it. There is still some of that invisibility potion left in your space ring. It already has the capability to mask it's aura to some extent. With the potion, I doubt anyone will be able to sense it out.'

'Perfect. Then tonight we will go to the study and I'll memorize the map thoroughly. Since I have Phantasm now, I should also look around some more to see if there is anything else worth taking away from the study.'

'Fine. But make sure to cover your tracks. Also....what are you planning exactly? And when are we leaving?'

'I do have a plan...somewhat.....I'll tell you all as soon it is concrete. Three days from now is the Triple Full Moon. Wen Haoli will be entering the inner regions on that night. I'll make sure of the timings in these three days. That will also be the day we will strike. And right after that we will escape.'

'Have you thought about what you are going to do about the two kids?'

'Well...I did ask Young An....and he was willing to follow me. I just need to tell both the siblings to be ready. When the time is right, they will leave with us.'

'I hope you know what you are doing. Oh wait.....you like to plan everything impromptu.....and then it is me picking you out of the dumpster.....Tsk. There is already two spiritual beasts with you now. Then you'll be adding two more commoner kids....and on top of that you plan on carrying a sick child.....and you have yet to decide where you want to go.....my head is already swimming from the exertion of thinking!'

'Nothing ventured....nothing gained. And I really can't leave Su Matsao's sister here. If I had never known, maybe it would not have mattered too much. But after seeing, if I still do nothing, I'll never be able to face my conscience. Don't you say the worst thing for a cultivator is giving space for inner demons to grow? She has to come with us. Don't worry....I will give them enough trouble, so that they won't have the time to pick out their head from the muck and look for us.'

Rihanna let out a deep sigh, then cocked her head to look deeply at Phantasm.

'Since you have already bonded with me, I am sure you can also sense there is also another being bonded to me, other than you and Fluffy. You may call him Purple. And yes, he is far more stronger than any of us, but for some reasons, is unable to come out in physical form. Anyway, he will be accompanying you tonight to go to the study. I will meet you both there in my spiritual form, and get our work done. Your job is to neutralize the illusion effects of the Ever Illusion Dust. Other than that, I need you to make this hole you dug up a bit larger. At least big enough for me to fit in with another girl on my back.'

'Hey that's not a bit large! Why don't you say you want me to turn the hole into a well?!'

'O-Okay....don't get so upset....Just take Fluffy's help...Hmmm?! Do you think you can do it with his help?'

'Ooooo....Stop it! Now you are making me all shy and nervous!....Okay, but let him just sit and watch from the sides. How can I let my little Cutie Pie get all tired and dirty! If I can just see him every time I lift my head, I can dig ten more wells for you....from here, all the way to the Chen Clan!'

Rihanna felt like choking on her saliva. She gave a sympathetic and guilty glance at Fluffy, who seemed to be shocked frozen that the two master and partner had already signed and stamped a deal on him without even consulting him!! Rihanna quickly averted her eyes. Aish....she would have to spend a hell lot of time and effort to get this cranky little fox to like her again!

'Fine then. And make sure to cover up the hole with shrubs and weeds. No one should be able to make out anything's wrong with this place, even if they look very closely.'

After their little meeting was over, Rihanna looked about for Young An. It was still early, and Young An was in the large kitchen of the Secondary Family. He had been tasked to help out at this kitchen, and was in charge of washing all vegetables, fruits, meat, etc., and also disposing all kitchen waste into the large covered pit dug out at the corner of the vegetable field.

There were too many members in the secondary families, as well as a lot of disciples and guards and commoner servants. So the kitchen was busy from early in the morning to late at night. So much so, that ever since stepping inside the Su clan, Young An had not been able to take a peek at Young Siyu or Grandpa Kuroba. So today he was quite surprised to see the old man sauntering around the kitchen backyard.

"Grandpa! What brings you here today? Did you meet Young Siyu? Do you have any messages from her?"

Rihanna stared at him, feeling a bit guilty and concerned. She didn't want anything to happen to these two adorable siblings. But after she created a mess in the Su clan and escaped, the wrath of all the Su clan members would automatically fall on them, so she couldn't leave them here to suffer.

After seeing Su Matsao's sister, she could pretty much guess what these animals would plan out as their punishment. But running away with her had its own issues. She would indeed try her best, but seeing her own level of skills, it would be really difficult to protect them as well as Su Matsao's sister at all times. She needed to get as far away as quickly as possible, and settle them down somewhere safe, and then cut all connections with them. Perhaps only in that way could she guarantee their safety. Things were truly getting more and more complicated!

"No. I haven't. But there is something else I need to know from you. Remember I said that I won't be staying here for long. Well, I will be leaving soon....on the night of the Triple Full Moon. There is someone in this clan that I need to save. I can't tell you who. But once I leave, there might be trouble for the both of you. So I wish to take both of you siblings along with me when I escape.

Don't worry. I will make sure we reach somewhere far from here safely, and then I will help you both to settle down in some other city. I want you to think about what I said. I will seek out little Siyu tonight, and tell her the same thing.

Think carefully. I will be back for your answer tomorrow at this same time. Don't be too scared. I know shifting away from the place where you have grown up, the only place you have ever known is not easy, but it might not be such a bad plan. After all, the world is so big, and maybe somewhere there is a place where life is a little better than here. At least, you will have your sister by your side once more."

Rihanna patted Young An on his head, smiling gently, then turned and walked away, leaving a bewildered and confused An. After a long while, Young An turned and went back inside, his steps slow and uncertain, his hands fisted by his body and his head hanging low.