xiii

Liwei had run to the living room, and before she could reach the front door, something was catapulted from her window.

No, it was someone.

Liwei widened her eyes, as she watched them roll on the ground. They displayed good strength by managing to stop with a jump, and land on their feet.

"Wen Li ?" she exclaimed.

"Where's younger brother Huang ?"

"In the backyard."

"Backyard ?!" she yelled.

"There's an Existence Concealing barrier. They won't see him."

"What if they notice the array ?"

"They won't, especially not when they're too busy with the ghosts already."

The barrier was hard to spot, one needed to thoroughly investigate to find it. People usually didn't bother looking for this barrier if they didn't have an initial doubt.

"Okay then. You too, make sure to stay hidden in here. Don't let them see you."

"How much are they ?"

"We're only a dozen. But if the situation gets out of hand, they'll send a signal, and more will come down."

"Drive them away !"

"I can't yet ! Most ghosts are surrounding your house !"

"How come ?!"

"I don't have time to think with you ! I have to go back before they start questioning why I'm taking so much time."

"All right, then go back ! I can take care of whatever will happen here."

"Okay."

Wen Li rushed back to the window and jumped outside. Liwei remained where she was at first, then she ran to the window too.

She snuck her head outside. Countless black shadows circled the area, howling and sneering crazily. The more the villagers screamed in fright, the louder their laughter got.

Liwei looked at the ghosts and at how they fought against the group of Immortals that rushed down the peak to fight them. Their skills weren't good and their spells were weak.

She looked at Wen Li's fight. She was flying on her sword to reach the ghosts, and three of them surrounded her. She materialized another sword, which she used against them.

She struck at them, the sword slashing them in half ! But they were only shadows and could dissipate and re-materialize easily. Not only that, but they could divide their bodies, and create multiple other shadows.

Yes, they weren't powerful at all but were incredibly annoying to deal with. By the time one managed to get the upper hand, they would already be exhausted, and the fight would turn the other way around.

If things continued this way, Liwei was worried that they would have to call back-ups.

Half of the Immortals were fighting in the air, while the other half was on the ground, casting spells.

Casting spells was more efficient in this kind of combat. They couldn't use swords to cut their misty bodies, but since their magic was really weak, the ghosts really had zero chance against the Immortals'.

"What's happening out there ?" Lan, who had just walked into the living room, asked.

Liwei turned around brusquely. "Don't come near here ! Don't let them see you."

But Lan ignored her, as his eyes traveled to the torn window's gauze, snapping violently behind Liwei.

"What happened ?" he asked again, frowning this time.

"Don't worry, a minor spell blew it off."

"What's happening outside ?"

"Ghosts. They're currently surrounding this house."

"Why ?"

She set an array on the empty hole on her wall, like a translucent red screen, to act as a temporary window. It didn't do much except block the wind and dust from outside. She then walked up to Lan.

"Either it's a coincidence, or someone deliberately led them here."

"I have a feeling it's the latter."

His guess had been mostly influenced by the expression on her face. It was a complicated expression, completely unreadable, but it wasn't a good one.

"Then we're on the same page. Ghosts rarely attack this village. At least ever since I've settled here, I never had to deal with anything more than a few monsters or lonely ghosts. But a hoard of them ? It has never happened before."

"Why ?"

"Because the spiritual energy on this part of land is very strong, but it's an energy that evil can't use at all. The righteous kinds —to put it roughly— can though, so their powers tend to be more efficient and powerful if they take some time to gather the energy here. On the other hand, because the energy here is strong, the slightest disturbance will be felt easily, so they can't even try to do evil secretly."

"So this village is basically some sort of blessed land ?"

"Basically, yes. Also, a spirit was the first one to settle in here, making it her clan's territory. This way, the spiritual energy got even stronger."

"Wow... I never expected that this village was so blessed." he said. "But right now it's in chaos."

"It's already being taken care of."

"By Immortals ?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

It was useless for Lan to keep acting 100% clueless. Despite Liwei not talking about this topic with him, Lan had asked around in the village. He learned everything that was 'known facts', like the fact that Immortals were the only ones who had the duty to protect humans. Other kinds could if they wanted, but the obligation fell solely on Immortals.

The reason they were seen as Gods was that in a way, they were. They were a chosen bunch from Earth who had been deemed righteous and capable to hold such responsibility. For this reason, heavenly powers had been bestowed upon them.

The Gods had a lot in their hands, and they couldn't attend every evil attack happening on Earth. They couldn't ignore it either, so they collectively took this decision.

So because these were things mortals often talked about, it wouldn't be surprising that Lan knew it. Whatever he heard in the town, he knew it was safe to mention.

"Let's not stay here, one of them could be blown away here." she said.

But before Lan could agree, a black shadow flashed past the window. Liwei froze. None of the two barriers she had cast acted as protection ! She was foolishly thinking that the Immortals outside were enough to divert them.

Why were they doing such a bad job today ?

Then Wen Li's voice resounded in her mind. She was spiritually contacting her !

"Liu Liwei, take younger brother Huang and run !" she yelled.

"Why ? What's wrong ?" she mentally asked her.

"This is a set-up ! These ghosts appear weak at first, but the more we fight, the stronger they get."

"What do you mean ?"

"I can't be sure, but I think there's someone behind the scene sending power into them gradually."

"Who could be doing something like this ?"

"Someone powerful."

"Do you think they're doing this because of Huang-ge?"

"I'm convinced. It can't be a coincidence this happened a few days after he returned."

"How could anyone have known ? It can't be from letting him go out ! He's covered, changed identity, and doesn't even use spiritual power !"

"Do you... do you think there's a possibility that..." Wen Li trailed off.

After a second of silence, Liwei continued her sentence for her, "That someone was there that day we brought him back ?"

"Yes."

"We can't cross out this possibility."

"Let's discuss it again later. Take him somewhere safe, we called for back-ups. Whenever things are done here, I'll send you another message."

"All right. I'll tell you where we are then."

"All right."

Liwei had been silently standing for a while, and Lan observed her, confusion written all over his face. Why did she tell him to not stay here in case someone was sent flying in her house, but then proceeded to suddenly stop and simply... stand there ?

He wasn't sure of how to react, so he didn't call out to her and simply waited. It was a moment later when she seemed to come back to her senses.

She lifted her head to look up at him, and he was almost startled. Her expression was dark.

"This appears to be more serious than a simple ghost attack. Things will get more complicated, so let's find somewhere else to stay for now."

"Where ?"

"I'm thinking about a place, I think it's safe there."

"If we really have to, then let's go. When do we leave ?"

"Right now."

He widened his eyes. "Right now ?"

"That's what I said. Don't worry about anything here, we'll buy what we need on the way."

"O- okay then."

Lan was a bit shook by the sudden unrolling of the night, but Liwei was doing this for his own safety, after all. It wasn't his place to be stubborn.

"Here," she threw something at him.

He instinctively caught it, not even knowing what it was. He looked down at his hands. It was another red pouch, embroidered with a golden orchid. It was so light, as if it was completely empty.

"What's this ?" he looked back up at her.

"Your sword."

So it was a qiankun pouch [1], in which she put away his sword.

"Thank you !"

Worry and excitement mixed in his voice. He was still very unsure about all this and didn't know how long he'd be able to hold on in this world, but on the other hand —who wouldn't be excited to receive a sword ? And this sword was his, and it was spiritual !

He tied the lace around his belt, and tucked it from the inner side of the fabric, against his waist.

"Be careful with it. If you lose it, you can still summon it back, but don't let anyone see it. I'm giving it to you so you can practice, and in case we reach a point where you have no other choice but to use it."

"Yes, okay !"

"Good. Now come a bit closer here," she mentioned with his hand for him to get closer to her.

He complied, though he still asked, "What for ?"

"I'll cast a barrier on us. A useful one, this time."

"Which is ?"

"A protection barrier. It won't conceal us, but we don't need that right now. It'll simply act as a shield."

"Are you sure we don't need concealment ?"

"Yes. Everyone's running around, they don't have time to analyze each of them. If we run toward any direction, we'll fit in with the rest."

" Okay, I'll trust you."

It took Liwei a second to answer.

"Okay."

She made a formation with her hands and closed her eyes. A translucent, sparkly red barrier surrounded them both, but after a second it seemed to fade away. She reopened her eyes.

"It's done. I also removed the barrier around the house. Let's go now, from the back door."

Lan nodded, and they both started running. The back door was still open, and they crossed it one after the other, Liwei running behind.

"Continue forward. There's a passage on the fence."

Contrary to the front bamboo fence, this one was as tall as a wall, and Lan couldn't jump over it with his current skills. But he didn't know where the door was !

Noticing his steps slowing down, Liwei doubled him. She lifted a hand, and once she reached the fence, she pushed a bamboo. It seemed to be a random one, but the fence actually dissipated for a few seconds. When Lan looked back after they both exited the backyard, it was still there, as if nothing had ever happened !

He was impressed and noted on a corner of his head to ask her about it later.

As Liwei had told him, everyone was indeed freaking out and running around, looking for shelter. As they ran, Liwei extended her hand again toward a small house.

"What did you do ?" he asked.

"This is Madam Zheng's house." she answered. "I cast a protection barrier there too."

Seeing how —apart from him— Madam Zheng was the only person Liwei was nice to, he had already guessed she must really appreciate her.

"Why did it not emit light ?"

"It did, but because we're outside I hid it."

Lan didn't know she had the possibility to do that, but he didn't linger on it.

~

[1] qiankun pouch/bag : also known as spatial pouch/bag. It's a small pouch that expands interminably from inside, allowing one to store as many items of any size in it, without getting any bigger or heavier.