Leaving the classroom full of his awestruck newly accepted disciples, Zilan couldn’t help but feel, from the bottom of his heart, a genuine sense of joy.
‘One step at a time. Slowly but surely, things are starting to fall into place.’
Along the way, as he was in no particular rush, Zilan took the time to admire the scenery. He marvelled at the sheer scale of the Alchemy Association however, unlike other times, he was not longing for power of a similar degree. No, in fact this was one of the few times when Zilan was just taking what he was seeing for what it was. He wasn’t looking deeper into it nor was he analysing it. If the scenery was beautiful, he would just accept its beauty and not analyse why it appeared so appealing. If the Alchemy Association was powerful, he would just take it as that, digging deeper into the reasons for its power was currently the furthest thing from his mind.
He was in an excellent mood, to the point that he didn’t even notice the hateful glares being shot at him from all the passer-by’s who disliked him.
As he was getting closer to the camp from behind him came a voice, graceful yet oddly playful at the same time.
“Big brother~ you look so happy. Did something good happen today?”
Hearing this voice, the feeling of walking on clouds Zilan had instantly evaporated. He turned to look and just like he suspected, the lady with feathers on her head who once tried to [charm] him was there standing, looking at him in an interested manner. As if expecting something.
Zilan wanted to say that he didn’t know who she was but before he could get the chance, she spoke.
“Ah~ Could it be that Big brother knew I was coming to see you? Otherwise why would you be so happy?” She laughed at the end, unable to hold the act together.
Seeing this, Zilan was at a loss for words. He had yet to say a word but this girl was already having fun by herself, at his expense.
“Is something wrong with you?” With furrowed brows he asked.
“Hmm, what do you mean?” she smiled sweetly, tilting her head to the side in an adorable manner.
Zilan sighed, “I spoke but you didn’t listen. Your [charm] does not work on me and if I recall correctly, I told you to stay away from me.” Towards the end of his statement, his eyes grew cold.
The smile on Tausi’s face vanished. Replacing it was a distant look that for some reason caused Zilan to feel both sad and somewhat frustrated.
Tausi gave Zilan a look before gracefully nodding in a manner that seemed eerily robotic. She then turned around and began walking away. “As you wish.” Her tone of voice was unlike before, seemingly devoid of any character or emotion.
Zilan felt his heart stir. ‘That tone, she……..’
He then sighed before unwillingly calling out to her,
“What is it that you wanted?”
The emotionless statue that was the departing Tausi, as if never existed before, turned around and laughed before closing the distance between her and Zilan.
‘Was I mistaken?’ He wondered, feeling duped.
The reason he called her back was simply because the tone of voice when she was leaving reminded Zilan of a time when his emotions, to put it lightly, were in a state of suppression. That was the time he had just found out the truth about himself and his life. A time that although he didn’t wish to forget, he still didn’t want to be reminded about.
“Hmm, you really are interesting.” Her playful tone was still prevalent but along with grace, maturity could be seen as well as heard from her.
“What do you want?” asked Zilan.
“Nothing in particular.” The true answer was concealed in her heart and as Zilan was no idiot he could see it as well.
“I don’t have time for this. I’ll take my leave.” He said.
Tausi smiled seeing this, she could tell that keeping him longer was not possible so she asked one last question. In truth, she had a need for Zilan but for some reason whenever she came close to this Half Breed, her heart would rest easy and her true face would occasionally rear its head.
Many of those who knew her personally would describe her with a nickname that a large group found ‘fitting’, the beautiful sculpture. One could look and admire however, to get through the thick exterior and see what the statue was like inside was truly too difficult. Shockingly though when she was with Zilan, a sense of comfort creeped within her. She had entirely different reasons for approaching him but she could not deny that there also existed reasons as to why she was getting closer to him.
“Wait, who will you be taking as your Master?” she asked.
Zilan’s steps halted.
“I only have a single Master, I will not take another.”
After that he went on his way, leaving a contemplating Tausi. Her expression was that of unwillingness or more accurately, hesitation.
“Sigh~ It’s already too late to back out now. For both our sakes I hope you play your role well.” After whispering this to herself, her eyes momentarily took a look at a certain direction. She then smiled before leaving the opposite way.
……………………
Hidden in the surrounding foliage where Tausi had just stolen a look were three individuals. Two of the three were in the soul-compression stage while the other one was almost there.
“Young Master Kring is not going to like this.” Whispered the youngest, non soul-compression stage practitioner.
The other two looked at each other before smiles instantly broke out on their faces. The task their young Master had given them had been a difficult one indeed. To tail his fiancée and look for the scum that was trying to pry her away from his grasp was something easier said than done.
Thankfully, the sleepless nights and months of surveillance had finally paid off today. A sharp killing intent erupted from one of the soul-compression stage Beasts.
“If we take care of him now, young Master is sure to reward us even more.” He said.
His companion and also the leader of the group on the other hand frowned, as if thinking of something. He knew his young Master’s unreasonable temper fairly well and the outcome of silencing the Half Breed would most likely be them getting silenced as well. After all, this was his shame and eradicating it meant destroying anyone who knew too much about it.
After deliberating for a bit, he finally found an answer causing him to smile from ear to ear.
“This should work. Hehe, consider yourself lucky Half Breed.”
After that he vanished from his spot travelling far away. His two companions felt his aura at the late phase of the lower level soul-compression stage and swiftly followed behind him.
Before leaving, the non soul-compression Beast amongst them looked back at Zilan and directed him an icy cold glare, seemingly wishing he could tear him apart right now.
“Why would the Miss like something like him?”
Zilan who was minding his own business suddenly felt a sharp killing intent at his back. He touched his nose in a light manner before wordlessly smiling.
‘Such a passionate fan.’ He thought to himself.
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