First Friends

Steadying his heart, Hei tries to maintain his calm. As he suppresses the raging inferno within his chest, he waits quietly as Gao slowly recovers from his emotional breakdown.

"Tell me, what exactly did they do to you all? It has been over 2 weeks." Hei's voice sounds quite calm and composed but based on the situation, it seems oddly strange. Gao's mind seem to suddenly clear as he hears Hei's voice.

"Young Master…They found out about our betrayal a week ago. From then on, as the captain of the squad, I was forced to watch my brothers…suffer from various kinds of torture. They forced me to sit and watch as my brother's bones were slowly broken in multiple places. They forced to transform and their bodies used as training dummies for the juniors."

"Until they were on the brink of death…that is when everything was put on hold. Now, they are being hung at the front of the sect naked in shame. Their already ruined bodies are being used as a display to warn everyone else."

"To send a message…the Young Bastard had me beaten to resemble the person Young Master sent to him with a message…He sent a message…"

"I received your greetings little Tianxiong if that is even your name. I am quite curious as to what an Immortal King at most can do to my sect. Return my forces in one piece and I will consider leaving you with your cultivation. I know where you stay from these traitors and could easily have you dispatched. But I will give you the chance to come kneel before me and beg for forgiveness. Only then will I make my judgment."

Hei calmly listens to Gao's words as he looks at the sky. This wasn't just mockery, it was actually clear contempt! Not only did this Shenlong Weilan completely disregard his existence and considers him to be a mere Immortal King leveled combatant but he even said he would judge him after Hei kneels before him.

Remembering the description of the torture those dragons experienced leaves a bitter feeling in Hei's heart. For some reason Hei remembers the short interaction he had with them. From ticking them to actually giving them benefits and guiding them a bit, all of this is clearly remembered by him.

For some reason, he gets the feeling that somehow, not only is he feeling anger from being disregarded but a deep resentment can be felt whenever he remembers the pain they should have gone through. Hei's voice rings in his dimension, "Shu…what I am feeling, is this normal?" Hei cannot help but ask this seemingly ridiculous question.

Shu thinks for a moment before slowly replying, "Master, I believe this is what one calls pain from knowing that someone more than just a random existence has been harmed. Based on analysis, Master should have developed some sort of emotions towards them."

Mao's voice is heard calmly, "Master, this feeling you are experiencing, could it be that Master has taken them as more than pawns? Only Master will know what the issue at hand is truly." Hei thinks for a full hour before he finally manages to process what has happened.

"Gao, lets go. We are heading to the Nameless Sect." Gao's eyes widen in shock and curiosity but before he can finish, Hei's hand has already grabbed him as an astral gate has formed. Hei runs directly in and appears right in front of the Nameless Sect. The gate behind him closes as Hei's physical body actually reverts back to his human form.

Gao's eyes sparkle with shock and a feeling of happiness. He thinks to himself, "Young Master is showing me his human form…he trusts me…does that mean he considers me his friend?" Hei stands at the gate of the sect as he awaits the guards to approach.

Surprisingly, the gates simply open as the guards pretend to not see him. A small opening is made in the sect's protective barrier and they are both able to see inside from this opening. What greets them is the angry face of Wuya staring at Hei. She completely disregards the horrible looking Gao.

Hei walks in with Gao who looks around with apprehension. He wonders silently, "Why did the Young Master bring us to the Nameless Sect?" Hei walks up to Wuya. Just as she is about to berate him, she notices Hei's unusual expression. If she didn't know better, she would have thought she was looking at an almost different person.

For some reason, his bearing which seemed arrogant and slightly spoiled but mysterious kid seems to have transformed into a much calmer and even more mysterious one. He seems slightly sad but decisiveness and maturity can be seen within his dark eyes. She silently nods to herself, "Seems you have experienced quite a bit Hei. You have a lot of cursing to receive."

Hei calmly states, "I have a request. I am going to Lan Ling Yue so follow me." Without waiting for a reply, Hei walks off with Gao tailing behind him in suspicion. "

Walking towards the familiar blue house, Hei stands at the outside of the barrier. He notices that she is actually watering her plants. She looks at Hei for a brief moment then continues to water the garden with a light smile hanging on her face.

Hei walks through the barrier. Gao hesitates as he observes this beautiful young female. "Is she Young Master's…Young Master is affiliated with the Nameless Sect which means he deliberately didn't…"

Gao's memories of how Xing Lang and the other forces of the Nameless Sect was actually sent to their home without harm. This leaves a sour feeling in his mouth as he is unsure what to think about this Young Master he adores so deeply.

He follows behind Hei. Sure enough, he is able to pass through the barrier. Hei stops in front of her as he calmly observes her actions. Deliberately choosing to ignore him, she continues to water her garden with utmost care. Hei calmly waits as his patience seems unending.

Finally, she completes her task. Putting down her watering can, she smiles and nods to Gao. "Hi, you must be a friend of Hei? I'm Lan Ying Yue." Her sweet and calm voice accompanied by her beautiful smile shakes Gao to his core as he stares dumbly at her.

He barely manages to calm down before nodding. "This…this…this one here is Gao! Nice…nice to meet you! Hei...friend of Hei…" Lan Ying Yue finally looks at Hei as she smiles charmingly. "What's wrong? Did something happen to you?"

By now, Wuya actually silently arrives and stands to the side as she watches this small even play out. Her smile also seems to show her interest as she wonders what happened why Hei suddenly returned with a dragon from the Hidden Dragon Sect who looks like he was beaten to a bloody pulp.

Hei finally asks a question which leaves them all stupefied. "What is the cultivation level of the Hidden Dragon Sect's Patriarch?" They all furrow their brows as they wonder why he would ask such a random question.

However, Gao respectfully answers, "Reporting to Young Master, it is widely known in the sect that the patriarch recently broke through and became a Celestial King. It is said that with his battle power, he can possibly rival most Celestial Emperors."

Hei nods as he calmly says, "Tell your father to send over a Transcendent Saint or 3 Celestial Emperors. I do not want them to kill anyone, just to make sure that their patriarch doesn't interfere in my affairs." The 3 instantly take in a cold breath of air as the stare at this kid in shock.

"Wh….what!? No way! This…Hei, I cannot….I refuse to." She shakes her head repeatedly.

As if he never heard her words, Hei actually continues, "It would be best if they are sent over as soon as possible. Furthermore, Wuya, send out a few persons to completely destroy over 20 zones that are under the control of the Hidden Dragon Sect."

A small vein appears on the side of Wuya's face as she glares at Hei. Gao stands there as his heart is filled with fear but he still holds a bit of hope when he hears Hei's commanding attitude for his brother's sake. This makes him feel a multitude of emotions.

He contemplates many things, "The Young Master is named Hei. He wants to mobilize forces from the Beast Constellation Sect…that woman must be Xing Wuya…she herself is already powerful. He wants forces from this blue haired woman as well. He even wants to wreak havoc in the zones."

Wuya angrily shouts, "This is a training exercise. We aren't getting involved in both sects' war fully. The only thing we will do is send out persons to temper themselves. Yinghua isn't being treated too badly. She even received a birthday party. That son of their patriarch fancies her. He even sent many gifts to the clan, to gain its good favor and has made his intentions clear that he will propose marriage in 3 days' time."

Hei firmly replies without the least bit of backing, "I already told you what you're supposed to do. Xing Yinghua's rescue will only be secondary. I want…no, I will retrieve those 5 dragons at all costs." Hei's forceful and serious gaze creates a pressure which causes even Wuya to click her tongue in surprise.

"Oh? By 5, you mean the dragons that betrayed their sect and sold information to have Shenlong Weilan killed? So that person they gave information is you and this Gao is the same Gao from the reports then. So what if they were captured? You failed in your plans, deal with it. This isn't a kid's game."

She brutally berates Hei as she shakes her head in disappointment. However, Lan Ying Yue stares at Hei as she notes silently to herself, "His gaze is different. He went to save that Xing Yinghua due to face. He hated that the clan he is affiliated with is being disrespected. However, this…looks different. He seems to really want to save them."

Hei nods a few times, "I see…then you're useless to me. Scram since you're not worth fart then." He turns to Sapphire Jade as he completely ignores Wuya's raging and cursing for him to have respect to seniors.

"Will you fulfill my request or not? Tell your father I said he should send them." She shakes her head, "You know I would help you if I could but father really is in a precarious situation. Any movement of experts can be the starting point of something serious. I know you want to…"

Hei interrupts her, "Tell that black cat to send a Transcendent Saint or 3 Celestial Emperors. If he does, I Liu Hei will personally visit and discuss what he originally wanted me to do." The previously smiling Sapphire Jade instantly turns serious as she stares at Hei.

"You…you said…Hei, you're truly a bastard…" Wuya suspiciously looks at Hei. "You kid, you have been in contact with 'Him' before?" She looks at Sapphire Jade as she tries to figure out what really is happening.

Lan Ying Yue laughs a bit, "You truly are a bastard, you know that Hei? You could have told me that you really are…" She doesn't continue her sentence. She just shakes her head in confusion. "But if you're really….why? Why suddenly want to help father just to save a few random persons you got to betray their sect?"

Hei doesn't reply and simply takes out a large number of spatial rings. He tosses a ring to Gao as he walks off into the house. His voice can be heard from within the house, "Exchange all those rings for astral stones, law stones, living herbs and seeds."

The door closes behind Hei as he heads straight into the bathroom and actually begins taking a bath. He mutters to himself, "I will save them. I will not use my astral spirits but I will save them. Even a god must at some point possess friends who worship him. They are weak and insignificant. They have nothing to offer me that will be beneficial."

"However, when I told them many things so they can think of currying favors with me, they only cared about helping each other…not to exploit me for a single goal but to gain help for their survival and freedom while I get to reap my own benefits."

"They made sure that they could get something while I get something in the process, not randomly use my power for their own good like I am a pawn. I don't care what anyone thinks; they will become…no, they are my First Friends."