Take second glances at your Face before Seeking death!

A week had flown since the departure of the mushroom. An unbearable heaviness weighed upon my heart. The mushroom was a mere nuisance, squandering my time with squabbles, however, her absence impaired me greatly.

I drilled away these unneeded feeling with work. The flow of time insinuated, to travel with her, was an eventuality. Even my heart desired so. Conversely, If I concede, Master will be disappointed.

Spotting an eagle loftily wandering in the Sky above, I notched an arrow onto my wooden bow, its frame sleek and painted with black runes. The bowstring stretched and recoiled as the arrow sliced through the air with an intimidating war cry, hitting the bird optimally on its chest.

A miserable shriek resounded in the forest, and the king of the sky plummeted. It was rare to find such a good prey. It was enough to satisfy and fund my upcoming days. I picked up my harvest and turned towards the river.

Abruptly, the wind intensified. The leaves rustled chaotically, losing their tranquil melodies in panic and fear. My ear twitched. There was the distinctive patter of feet that tried their best to negate sound. It Fell softly upon the moist grass and moved swiftly in my direction.

When I had been scammed and tricked, the only item they failed to thieve was my hair accessory. This was primarily it possessed a guise of a worn-out rope, pathetic. They did not realize its practicality.

It actually was one of those acclaimed spatial items, sustaining a wide storage space.

I quickly retrieved my Guan Dao(1). The mortal eyes could be trained to detect up to a certain speed, a speed ignorable for cultivators. From the leaves, a blade with the speed above mortal's threshold lunged forward, aiming for my fatal spots.

Unfortunately, it was still a snail's pace. With a twist and thrust drilled into my very bone, the attacker was quickly disarmed within a short clash. His broadsword landing haphazardly upon the lush vegetation.

Not allowing the attacker any opportunity for further attacks or escape, I swivelled behind him, kicked him in his knees and pointed my blade at his neck. He collapsed upon all fours, coughing.

I gazed at him with cold eyes, inspecting him. A giant man, of about thirty years, his level of cultivation only reaching Foundation establishment. I had controlled my strength, so his current severe injuries were acquired earlier.

"Don't attack randomly." I warned, and retreated, my arms relaxing, "Had you met someone else, you would be a mere corpse by now."

The man glared fiercely, and struggled onto his knees, "I will not allow you to enter into the secrets land beyond the mist!"

In this world, there were people more foolish than me.

"I didn't say anything." I raised my hand, "How could you accuse someone without knowing the facts? I didn't know about the secret lands until you told me."

The man snarled, "For a powerful cultivator to visit such a meagre village, what other reasons could there be?"

"You wouldn't believe me." I twirled my GuanDao, regarding him with the corner of my eyes.

"Ha!" The man scoffed, "Your words are already ridiculous."

"I got kicked out by my master," I explained, returning my weapon to the space. "The village took pity and adopted me."

The man instantly scrambled to his feet, arming himself, "What sin must have you committed to induce such a vicious punishment?!"

"My Master said I am too obedient to people's words." I defended myself, "If a stranger said left was right, then left was the true right, even If I knew otherwise."

"Do you think I am a fool?!" a glint sparkled in his hands concealed by his draping sleeves. A negligible whistle disrupted nature's humming, alerting my trained ears. Within a breath, a silver needle found itself trapped with my middle and forefinger, instead of the intended throat.

"Is your brain working properly?" I quizzed, truthfully curious, "Why are you desperately seeking death? You should treasure your remaining time-At your age, there is not much left."

A vein on the man's forehead threatened to pop.

"Don't worry, I won't fight with the elderly." I reassured, "Anyway, I am trying to not go to the secret land."

The Man stiffened, startled, "You aren't?"

"Master would scold me again." I answered casually, "Everyone would go, so if I went, wouldn't I be following the masses again?"

The man was speechless.

"Anyway, you are not a bad person," I retrieved a small porcelain bottle from my storage and placed it in front of him, "This is a medicine which will speed up your recovery. Don't go seeking death again!"

The man although having something wrong with his brain was definitely not an ill-intentioned person. My master told me mercy was a luxury, but I should not hesitate in offering it up when the opportunity arises.

I picked up my harvest and turned, walking away from the man. Grandpa Ling was strutting in loops at the village gate, wrinkled face crinkling further with anxiety.

"What's wrong?" I asked, perplexed.

"Ah, Little fool!" Grandpa Ling's gaze flickered here and there, nervous, "Where is Mushroom Girl?"

"She left." I tilted my head, "It has been a week."

"What?!" His voice rose, "You let her go?!"

"She wanted to leave," I stated plainly.

"You should have followed!" Granpa Ling sighed, and stumbled back onto a straw chair, "Blame this one's memory. How come I forgot such an important matter!"

I furrowed my brows, "Grandpa Ling?"

"Listen Xue Ying." Grandpa verbalized carefully, "There is a prophecy in our village "The scarlet Mushroom shall bloom the decayed seed."

"Decayed Seed?" I reiterated.

"It means divinity!" A twinkle blossomed in his eyes, "Did you know Divinity has been impossible for centuries! Cultivators are able to extend their life, but they can't manipulate the law of the worlds! With divinity, you will have true power!"

I recalled the mushroom's word, "Does the mist have to do anything with this?"

"The mist is the gate to the land," Grandpa Ling admitted, "Those who go into the secret Land will perish…unless the otherworld guides."

"Oh." I pursed my lips, "It seems I have missed a valuable opportunity."

Queerly, my heart does not sow regret. Only relief makes its distinct presence known upon a single lingering thought, 'the mushroom shall be safe now'.

"Did…the Mushroom hand you anything?" Grandpa Ling attempted.

I opened and closed my mouth, and finally settled for, "No."

In truth, among what she had given, worthless could be valuable, and value could be worthless. How would I have knowledge of the intricacies of a mushroom?

"You can leave." Grandpa Ling heaved another sigh, muttering, "How could this be? All the way here, only for nothing!"

Instantly, my dulled instinct jolted. I flipped backwards, barely avoiding a purple dagger. The culprit swiftly threw consecutive blades, each failing a hair length away from my fatal points. The areas where the daggers landed, corroded.

My blunted nose recognized an abnormality permeating the air, a flowery fragrance clouding judgement and causing lightheadedness.

"It seems I have grown relaxed." I stretched my arms and legs, "Peace is really no good. How could I fail to recognize such a terrible disguise?"

The culprit sneered. Creaking noise echoed in the vicinity, unnerving any sanity left in a madman, Grandpa Ling Short and plump stature distorted, bones straightening into their original position and length, fake fat melting into a grotesque puddle under his feet. Nails dug into Grandpa's Ling aged skin, the tan and wrinkles peeling off smoothly.

The terrible transformation revealed a seductive enchantress, a mocking smile painted on her crimson lips. She was dressed minimally, boasting her plump figure, flesh in all the right places. A pair of fox ears and tail sprouted from her body.

"It still disgusts me every time," armed with my Guandao, the world subsided, the noise and the distractions fading away, retaining only my enemy, "Grandpa's Ling is dead."

"That is not a question," The demon laughed, without a hint of remorse, "Unlike orthodox practitioners, I can't be patient with the demented."

I did not bother exchanging another word with this monster. My weapon plunged forward, swift and lethal, but in a perfect example of a snake, the Vixen slipped away for my furious onslaught, his palm aiming for my weak spots.

My lips curled up, unconsciously.

"Weak spots should not remain weak spots. Weak spots can be bait, instead." My master lectured, "Know your weak spots, improve upon them, but let the enemy trust your carelessness."

Her sharpened claws Inches away from my chest, I spun and kicked her on the abdomen, shoving her backwards. Her body smashed against the trunk of a tree, a violent crack resounding. Spared with no time to recover, my guandao was at her neck, its shiny blade tasting the sweetness of blood and sweat.

"Its seems I have been away for far too long." I commented frigidly, "How many know of this place?"

"Heh." The demon laughed, "How many of us? Wasn't it your orthodox sect who wanted us to test the waters?!"

His words did not perturb me, it was a common situation. However if I could not get rid of all the demon sect, I definitely could not annihilate the bastards who corrupted innocents into this vile path. My guandao disappeared, and in its place was a needle crafted from wood. Without giving her the openingto retalliate, I laced it with Qi and pushed it into the cut made earlier.

"disposing of corpses in this lovely place would be foul." I expressed, "You can die back in your sweet home."

"Oh?" The filth jeered, and scrutinized me with fear and irritation, "An orthodox cultivator like you using poison? I got to say that's very unorthodox-"

Her words abruptly faded into stammers, eyes widening, "That Guan Dao! You are the heir of Tranquil Mountain, Winter's Lotus, Xue Ying!"

I scratched my head, "You make me sound like some kind of femme fatale beauty."