Chapitre 7 : Departure and Blackening

Lost was accepted by Kana almost immediately after their meeting. She didn't given him a choice. Their resonance was far too strong for her to miss this opportunity. She felt deep inside her that this young man would not be like her others disciples. After a Month, She discovered that Lost had the same memory capacity as her if not even more. So, She taught him all her knowledge. He could now concoct spirituals medicines even making poisons. His Qi essence pills was not fraud. He could surpass her in a few year. Lost spent most of his time in the woods refining his potions using all the spirituals herbs he could get in the village or in the Elder Kana storeroom. He had drastically improved his Alchemist skill and had unlocked the Blackmith skill. He had found ancient scrolls in a dusty corner of the storeroom and was trying to make a weapon for his dual sword skill. Purple eyes had several attempts but unfortunately, He needed a better performing steel which was sorely lacking in KongDe. He decided to be patient and wait to find a steel Merchant outside the village. He had been living here for almost a year and the day to leave was quickly approaching.

He folded the cauldron in front of him and threw some medicinal herbs into it. He infused his spiritual energy and purified them. While he was transforming them with his Qi, he could hear Ziha scolding Hong Xue who had to frolic once again without anyone realizing it. This child spent his time disappearing for a moment when he or Zia had their backs turned. Most of the time, it was while he was taking his nap. Everyone thought he was sleeping but in the end he managed to get out without anyone knowing. Hong Xue had learned to walk very early under their proud eyes. At the beginning, they were happy but they quickly disillusioned when they underwent his little escapades at night or during the day. Ziha tried to be obeyed but nothing helped. This child had a strong character despite his young age. Lost shuddered thinking at the boy's piercing red gaze. He didn't know why, but Lost had the impression that he was always watched by Hong Xue. He often felt uncomfortable and his mind ached to flee as far as possible but he grown to love this child. He considered him like his little brother accepting all his oddities.

"You have gone to level 25! You succeeded in making a pill of high blood concentration. You can now obtain the Title of Wise Alchemist. You are unlikely to miss a recipe now.

- Thanks Sysy. I think it's time to go. Master Kana doesn't seem to have any more new things to teach me. In addition, Ziha takes care of Hong Xué properly. I'm sad to leave them alone when they have become attached to me but I would like to experience this world instead of staying in one place for a lifetime."

Lost sighed and put the cauldron offered by Kana in his inventory and placed the pill in a small ceramic bottle before also placing it inside. He dusted off his green and gold disciple's robe to remove the grass dust that had settled during his concocting and undid his bun thus letting his hairs fall over his shoulders before using a green and gold ribbon to tie it in ponytail.

" If you want to go, go ahead but first, you should discuss it with Ziha or she won't react nicely. She seems to be a little too attached to you. "

Sysy felt that Ziha had a different feeling than a little sister towards Lost and it wasn't good. The system didn't understand why but his instinct whispered to him that the young woman would be in danger if she insisted on her love for Lost. She wouldn't accept Purple Eyes' refusal and, in the worst case scenario, would find a way to follow him outside. Sysy knew that Lost longed for a free life without ankle chains.

Lost said nothing knowing full well that Sysy was right. He had noticed the insistent and possessive looks of Ziha. She also liked to take his arm when he walked around the village square tasting the food from the street. She had tried to hold his hand once, but was rejected outright by Lost. Since then, she hadn't tried again but she couldn't help staying close to him. She didn't need to express her feelings because they showed in her face and the way she behaved. Lost had no desire to accept them. He only saw her as his little sister and that will never change.

" I know. Don't worry. At worst I would tell her that I have someone I love even if it's cowardly of me.

- Partner ... Are you a virgin? Do you think Unicorns are going to visit you galloping towards you from a rainbow? To be dense is one thing, but your naivety exceeds all my expectations. "

Sysy's stunned voice bothered Lost, who clenched his lips in embarrassment. He rubbed his forehead to regain consistency and left the woods. He saw Ziha giving a lesson to the little master. Hong Xue ignored the young woman since he was too busy playing with a kind of white glass ball.

"Truly this child was incorrigible." Lost breathed exasperated by the overly mature behavior of the little one. He really didn't behave like a baby. He was adorable with his chubby face and snow-white hair but his eyes sometimes lacked the innocence of a child. Maybe it was his imagination and that he was making films ? In any case, Lost feared the period of adolescence that was to follow. Hong Xue already stood out from the crowd with his unique appearance and his heritage as a guardian and his kinship with the snake clan. Lost hoped that the child's character won't become cruel and bloodthirsty like in the game. He hoped with all his heart.

He rejoined them with a graceful and serious posture attracting the glances of certain villagers who were returning from their hunting trip.

Hong Xue raised his head towards him cutting off Ziha in her speech. He followed Lost with his eyes, not missing a single part of his return. The reincarnated soul engraved every movement of this handsome man in a memorie's box hidden deep inside his heart. . He had, of course, let a tiny part of his aura infiltrate Lost's spiritual energy from day one in order to watch over him and protect him. He knew what the young man was doing behind these trees from A to Z. Hong Xué won't give Lost any chance to run away from him. He could tell that the man wanted to leave, noticing the absent look he displayed at times. He knew it but he would never give him that chance. Lost was his. Hong Xue's behavior seemed selfish but he couldn't imagine living a lifetime without him. He already lived two life without him and it was always full of suffering and despair. Lost was his anchor on this earth, his light in the darkness. No way to part with him again. He would spill blood if he dared to leave him.

Purple eyes approached him and stroked his hair with a benevolent look and with a hint of something that Hong Xue could not decipher.

"- Did you escape from your room again ? You know Ziha doesn't like your secret's getaways. Don't do it again or I'll tie you straight to your cradle okay?"

Hong Xue could hear Lost's little hint of nervousness in his voice but he couldn't help loving his warmth at the same time. He was the only one who managed to appease him. He wanted him right away, but its current condition was not helping him. He was in a hurry to grow up in order to make him understand who Lost belonged to.

"- I do not know why he persists in disappearing I do not know where! This kid is going to drive me crazy. He is only one year old and he manages to wear me out!

- Calm down Shimei. I found a simple way to take care of these."

Ziha and Hong Xué stared at him at the same time. One looked at him with hope and the other with curiosity and apprehension. Sysy was also wondering what stupid idea he was going to come up with again. Lost folded his arms proud to share his idea.

" - Let's put bars above the cradle that we will lock during naps and at bedtime !"

A heavy silence fell in front of the KongDe wood. You could hear the birds chirping and the sound of the wind before Ziha burst out laughing not expecting that. Hong Xué was still, frozen and shocked by the idea. He loved this man but sometimes he wondered if he should burn his brain to get rid of his idiocy.

" Ahahahahah !! Partner is the best joke you've made in a long time! A baby in prison! Ahahahaha..."

Lost turned red and sulked a little before fleeing towards the house wanting to forget the shame he had just suffered. His reaction made everyone agree: He was so cute. Everyone thought of hugging him and not letting him go. Ziha finally calmed down and carried little Xué home with a smile on her lips. Lost was truly a ray of sunshine brightening up each passing day.

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The next day Elder Shu had Lost come to the main residence hall following the letter Xiang'er had delivered to him. He was against Lost going away from them. He appreciated the young man as his own grandson and preferred to have him with him than in this world of cultivation. The contents of the letter had made him sad and disappointed at the same time. He thought Lost would stay with them longer than a year. He sat down in his seat and poured himself some tea that his servant had placed on the small table next to him. The wait seemed to drag on for him as only five minutes had passed. It was when he put down his cup that he saw Lost appear at the entrance. The young man walks elegantly towards him and salutes him neatly.

" - Lost, my child, come sit next to me! Let's calmly discuss the subject of your visit."

Lost did what the old man asked him to do while sticking to his decisions.

"- I took into account your letter but are you sure of your request ? This village protects you from the outside world but if you leave us we will not be able to do anything to help you.

- Elder, we already talked about this before this letter that I wanted to leave. I have some important business to take care of and I believe the time has come. Hong Xué and Ziha no longer need me."

Elder Shu sighed in sadness. They did indeed talk about it a lot during their drinks, but the more time passed the more he moved back the moment. He also had hoped that Lost wouldn't really take action, but apparently he was serious. He couldn't stop the young man so he might as well give him his freedom with a smile.

"- I understand but I confess that your departure will sadden us all. Did you talk to Ziha about it ? When are you going to leave? Do you have all you need?"

Lost couldn't help but smile despite the circumstances. The villagers had welcomed him sincerely as a member of their family and that warmed his heart. Some had tried to rip him off others to kick his ass but he had managed to find real people without a mask. He thought he would never feel this human warmth one day, but KongDe had truly become his home, his haven of peace. Elder Shu was like a grandfather to him and no one will ever be able to claim this place.

"- Elder, precisely about Ziha, I intend to talk to her calmly face to face. I don't know how she will react but I sincerely hope that after my departure you will take care of her. She quickly loses her cool with Hong Xué. I'm afraid their relationship will break down if no one stops it.

Elder Shu squeezed the palm of his cane, sadly accepting the favors Lost begging for.

- Child, you already know that I consider her as my little girl and Hong Xué is the son of our savior. Even without asking, I intended to take care of them.

- I know it and I thank you for all this but I wanted to say it at least. Elder, I plan to leave as soon as lunch ends. This will be my last dinner with Ziha. My things are already ready. I just lack nourishing pills that I have to collect from Shifu Kana.

Lost stood up before Elder Shu's miserable gaze and allowed himself to hug him like a son hugging his father. The old man did not reject him and let him do it knowing that they may not see each other again.

They left without another word and each took their own route. When Lost returned home, Ziha was sitting at the table waiting for him to eat. She had already dropped the little one off at Elder Kana's as Lost had asked her this morning. She was happy and struggled to prepare a good meal. The smell of sautéed pork she had caramelized with black mushrooms and rice assaulted his nose but knowing the conversation that awaited them, the urge to eat passed.

He sat down in front of her and looked for the right words. Ziha having watched for hours the young man understood that something was wrong. She put down her chopsticks anxiously waiting for Lost to speak.

"- Ziha I'm not going to beat around the bush. I promised Head Yoon to bring Hong Xué to safety and I did. A year has already passed so Ziha I ..."

He didn't have time to finish his sentence when an uncomfortable sensation paralyzed him. He could no longer move or speak. He saw a black aura envelop him and then he lost consciousness hearing Sysy's worried voice in the distance.

Ziha hadn't moved, her fists clenched and her gaze lost. She knew the rest of what he was going to say to her and had to prepare several arguments to urge him to stay with her. she hadn't expected to see him pass out in the middle of his speech. She got up and rushed towards him worried and frightened by this situation. Seeing that he had no reaction to her calls, she ran to Kana's house with all the speed she was capable of and stormed into her home.