Main Chapter: Story Concluded.

"You're not writing."

"I finished transcribing it."

Xuan Yi held his notebook up to Xuan Yu. There was a series of mathematical-esque symbols written in blue ink and by it was well-drawn images of a pair of hands intertwined in various ways.

"Then get up and practice."

Xuan Yi did as Xuan Yu said. However, he wasn't trying to activate the spell. He was trying to perform all 31 hand signs fluidly without error. And perform them quickly enough that the spell would not fizzle out. All while, not offsetting the pace.

"Lu Chan's island is not a place one can easily find. Even if you traverse the entire Raging Blue. Chances are you would never encounter it.

But this is where Ning Zhu ended up. And as he laid near death it was Lu Chan who healed his injuries and cared for him.

Ning Zhu who considered himself half-disciple to Lu Chan would revere the latter upon awakening. Going so far as to narrate his story and asking for Lu Chan to take him in as an apprentice.

Lu Chan would refuse, but Ning Zhu was undeterred. He stayed on the island and tried to convince the latter time and time again but never could.

Eventually, he gave up he would return to the Greater Lands and take on the Sects one by one. So, he tried to get stronger however he thought he could and prepared in whatever way he could.

Though it should be impossible to do what he was trying to accomplish as a mortal. The more Lu Chan saw of Ning Zhu the more he felt that Ning Zhu could accomplish this.

So, on the day Ning Zhu planned to leave. Lu Chan offered to take him in as a disciple.

'Ning Zhu, I agree with that kid from the Grieving Blade Sect. The entire Flowering Charms Sect did not harm you at best 1% did. Yet you killed so much."

When Xuan Yu spoke in the voice of Lu Chan it was not a fierce and mighty tone. Rather it was one that sounded like that of a common middle-aged man.

"Senior Lu, what else could I do? I'm not powerful enough to fight while holding back. I only have this one technique. I see no other paths.'

'I understand, that's why I will teach you.'

'Truly, Senior?'

'Yes, but only if you promise me something. If you destroy then you must build.'

'I will keep Senior's words.'

For 10 years Ning Zhu trained under Lu Chan. When he returned to the Greater Lands the Immortal Conference was being held. Lu Chan boldly attacked it. Going all out and defeating all who challenged him.

Then using his powers to broadcast himself across the Greater Lands he named himself Ning Lu. And called all mortals to gather in the Midlands. Together they would form a land for themselves."

Xuan Yu concluded the story there.

"Big Brother is it fine to talk about that story."

"You won't be punished for it. Though those with high pride in Sects will not be pleased hearing it."

***

Ong Jun was lying in her bed. For over a week now she had not left her room. And if she did not need to use the bathroom she would never leave her bed.

She enjoyed breakfast in bed, lunch in bed and dinner in bed. And whenever she was bored she would call in the servants, to read to her, sing or play games with her.

However, this wasn't her limit, the longer Ong Zhou could not interfere with her the worse she would get. The servants had an ongoing bet concerning whether she'll start going to the bathroom in her own room or if Ong Zhou will recover first.

As she no longer left her Bowing Grass Court. She wasn't wearing her trademark makeup. So, the Head Butler was forced to see her actual appearance.

It's not as if she was ugly, rather she was attractive enough to stand out. And her sharp narrow eyes were piercing and bright. An amber shade that most would find enthralling.

No, he was forced, because those piercing eyes remind him of how sadistic and vicious this woman was.

She had forced him to hold down a servant as she pulled the veins out of a servant and then healed him before doing it over and over again. In his eyes, Ong Jun was a monster and those brown eyes haunted his nightmares.

"Ah, Hah, Mm, Hey."

The Head Butler looked up at Ong Jun as he shivered. She wasn't even pretending to be normal anymore.

"Remind me of aaaaaaa, little thing, aaaaaaa tiny thing, k?"

Ong Jun stepped out of her bed. Her feet landing soundlessly on the carpet. She walked over to the Head Butler and placed a hand on his cheek. Her thumb touching his eye. From the moment she touched him the Head Butler was already crying.

"How. Is. This. My. Problem?"

As she said each word slowly and mechanically. Her nail dug into the Head Butler's lower eyelid, tearing it, peeling it. The Head Butler was silent his body shaking but he had to endure it.

For if he irritated her further. He would spend the whole day in her care. Or maybe he would disappear into it entirely.

So, as that nail slowly sunk into his skin. Every movement into it drawn out and delayed, he endured. As she jerked her finger with every word, he endured. As she dug her finger into his eye, garbled noise rose from his throat, but he clenched his teeth. And he remained silent.

Bored Ong Jun released him. And the Head Butler collapsed on the floor squirming. His dead-clenched jaw the only reason he wasn't screaming.

"Aoya, Yooooou, haven't answered ya'know."

The Head Butler went perfectly still and tried to speak twice before he finally could.

"Master Zhou wished to know if you had any ideas on the origin of the handwriting."

He tried not to stammer fearing that doing so would give way to more torture.

Ong Jun lifted up the paper in her hand holding it above her head as she tilted her neck at an odd angle.

'Hir Zhou it seems you couldn't guess who was next. Don't worry I'll give you plenty of opportunities, while I work my way up to you.'

She was studying it closely. As if she wasn't looking at it just a few moments ago.

"Won't fit, Nah it will, maybe it won't, will, won't, leeeeeet's, just, try, iiiiiiiiiiiiit."

The Head Butler was shaking. Ong Jun lifted his head once more and stuffed the paper inside. The squelching sound of his eyeball overwhelmed his mind just like the pain. Then he blacked out.

When he awoke he could uniquely feel something in his left eye. Yet he could see. Ong Jun had healed him, and she had healed a foreign element inside while she did.

Watching him was Ong Jun who had returned to her bed. But found her hands to be icky so she was frowning.

"Tell Zhou there is nothing to gain from the style. It is… unique and irrelevant. It sounds like the sender is not only emotionally invested but intends to draw this out. However, information that is not extracted is never to be trusted.

Tell him that he is better off figuring out who the next target is and gathering information from the next attack."

Her voice now, was perfectly refined, noble, eerily so.

"Yes, Madam."

The Head Butler stood up. With every movement, he could feel that thing in his eye. But he rather eat nails for the rest of his life then stay here, so he quickly left. Praying that Ong Zhou would quickly recover. He was the only one she allowed to control her.