Lies

I was surprised—scratch that. I was straight-up dumbfounded. I didn't get it AT ALL. How come? Why is she so careless with this when her future self was all about it? This question messed with my mind.

"Are you sure about it?" I asked.

Although this is the best outcome for me, I was still concerned. Is this a fake one or something?

"Yea, I mean, why not? I don't give a damn about this skill book. If anything, it's a curse, if you ask me." Liling replied.

"You knew this is a skill book?" I asked.

The original—in-game Liling; she wasn't aware of it being a skill book. Then how come she knows? Or was she acting in the game?

"Of course I do. This wretched thing is a skill book that ruined people's life." She bit her lips as she spoke.

"Ruined people's lives?" I asked.

I never knew about this story. Maybe that's because the main characters are the only ones I saw using this power.

"Well—it's nothing. If you succeed in learning this, make sure to burn the heck out of it. This skill shouldn't see the light of the day." Liling warned me.

"Why, though? It's such an excellent skill. I'm tempted to teach my underlings." I replied.

"If that's the case, better be ready to see their dead bodies—that is, if you survived learning it." She said ominously.

I sat down on the floor when I heard them. It intrigued my mind. What's the reason behind her harsh words towards this skill? How come she isn't willing to tell me about it?

"So, don't keep me waiting." I spoke as I scratched my hair.

That's when I noticed it—it was black. I actually forgot to turn on my special skill. I acted like an idiot and no one pointed it out. Thankfully, everyone other than Liling who saw me, are dead. So, there's nothing much to worry about, that is, if Liling doesn't try to screw me over. I should do something about it.

"Huh?" Liling looked confused after seeing my actions.

"I'm just not gonna leave until I learn about why you hate this book so much." I replied.

Liling sighed. "You just got what you're looking for. Wouldn't it be smart if you just bugger off? Why are you even here? Just go away." She roared.

She isn't wrong. However, Liling is a unique character for me; a mysterious person. Like, I knew nothing of her other than that she's an old lady. And now, even that seems to be vastly different. So, of course, I'm intrigued. I'm a sucker for tales, you know?

"I'm intrigued." I told her the truth.

"And? Why would I care about that?" She asked.

"I don't know. I thought maybe you did." I sighed. I thought of saying something totally random, just to keep her attention on me. "Don't you feel kinda lonely here?" I asked.

"Meh, I was fine when there were bandits for me to hunt in my free time. Now that's gone as well because of you!" Liling sneered.

"Hey, don't blame me for that! It's their fault for arriving here when I was lurking around." I replied. "So, what are you gonna do now that the bandits are dealt with as well? Wait. I got a better question. How come you're here in the first place? The last thing I heard was that most of the Tao sect members had migrated from here. How come you stayed back?" I asked.

"Wait, you knew about the Tao sect as well?" She asked, not masking her surprise at all.

"Well, I did quite some research on stuff." I replied with a smug look on my face, which was visible to me alone—a shame, if you ask me. Looking smug is the only thing my face does well.

[Shame on you! Relying on your previous life's memories and calling it research.]

{Well, I did research deeply about the World of Cultivation in my previous life! So yes, it is something that I found out by research!}

[....You ain't wrong about that.]

{Glad you understood it.}

After my brief conversation with Goldy, I looked back at Liling, who still looked confused as before.

"Research, huh… Interesting." She replied.

I guess she didn't want to dig any deeper into it since I would try it as well, so she kept it short.

"So, why are you even here? You never told that." I urged her to speak about it.

"Well, it's an old promise of sorts." She answered.

"Related to the skill book, I believe." I put forth my assumption.

"That's right." She nodded her head in agreement.

"What is the promise?" I asked.

I was testing the waters. Quick shot questions usually screw up a person's guard. And that was what I tried doing here as well.

"You see, the sect elder made the one with the trash book in their hand to protect it within the Noncho village until someone worthy comes by for it." She replied.

"Don't you have to be a member of the Tao sect, though?" I asked, based on the info from the game.

"Not really." She answered.

This meant that she lied to Zhangsun Shan about being a member of the Tao sect to receive the skill book. Why? We'll never know.

"Interesting. Then why didn't you give it to the bandits and escape?" I asked.

"No. Then I would be cursed by the book. The person who receives the book should be recognized as a brave soul by the one handing them the book—me." She replied.

"Well, you could've made yourself believe that they were one." I spoke.

"Not really. Even though you do that, your subconscious mind thinks otherwise. So, I'll be screwed." She replied.

I sighed. "Anyhow, good to hear that you thought of me as a brave soul!" I felt a bit flattered on hearing that.

"Yea, thankfully, that was the first thing that my subconscious thought of you before realizing that you're a bit on the crazy side." Liling heaved a sigh as well.

"Hmm, if you're gonna act brave, it's better to act crazy as well. Those to gel well." I replied before having a chuckle for no reason.

Somehow, Liling joined me in the chuckle session as well, before turning serious. "Now, when are you gonna get out?" She asked.

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