The Mysterious Voice

Lu Zheng quickly averted his gaze.

His heart continued to palpitate as his mind fell into disorder.

'Who is he? What am I doing here?'

Such questions continued to pop up in his mind.

Gradually, he was being swallowed by terror.

"I guess it's normal for you to fear me." The imposing, mysterious voice echoed a giggle. "Come here."

Before Lu Zheng could regain his composure and act to his command, the ocean of blood suddenly trembled.

He looked below and panicked as he saw the blood swirling violently.

It suddenly formed into a pillar, bringing him up into the sky.

It halted when it reached a certain height.

He did not even dare to imagine looking below.

He remained frozen for a while, before seeing another pillar stopping in front of him, as though they were creating a path.

It continued until it extended towards the mountain of bones.

However, it did not even reach the peak.

Somewhere in the middle of the peak and the center.

He knew the purpose of the path in front of him.

What he only needed to do was to walk towards it until he reached the end of the path.

However, whenever he thought a single blunder would lead to his death, he could not muster the courage to stand up.

He continued to hesitate and contemplate, until the impatient, imposing voice echoed again.

"Don't make me wait."

His body unconsciously stood up by itself.

He fell into panic, but strangely, his body remained still.

He continued to observe his body and was horrified when he saw it moving on its own.

His body continued to walk on the path of pillars.

He was anxious for a while before regaining his composure.

Despite his heart palpitating, fearing to face the unknown, he had to remain calm.

When he arrived at the end of the path, standing on a single pillar, he did not dare to look back, below, side by side, as he only stared at the single direction.

Even when he could not dare to gaze at the terrifying pair of eyes again, he dared to, since it appeared the voice did not mean to scare him.

Only that…

'He is stronger to the point he can instill fear on me without even trying to.'

He deeply sought to obtain such power.

When he met the pair of crimson eyes again, shaped into beasts, this time, he tried to stop his palpitating heart beat.

He tried his best not to be scared.

"Oh?" His voice echoed again.

Aside from his crimson eyes, his face was obscure.

Even the bloody light from the sky could not reveal his face.

His crimson eyes were what he only saw.

"Now that you are back to yourself again. I have a question."

Lu Zheng gulped and nodded.

"Alright, I ask you, how come I am here?"

Suddenly, there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere.

Sweat crawled out of his skin, especially his forehead, slithering downward.

Even when he felt irritated by it, he was not concerned.

No, he could not be concerned by unnecessary things right now.

After all, he only had one thought in his mind.

'If I lie, I die.'

So, he was pondering how to answer his question.

However, he also knew he could not waste any more time, after imprinting on his mind that the voice above him hated to wait.

Hence, he had no choice but to answer truthfully, "I-I don't know.."

"Hmm…" The voice hummed and the crimson eyes suddenly vanished.

When it appeared again, he said, "I thought so. A being like you can't summon me. Last thing I remember was being ganged up on and dying. I thought this was the after life until I saw your memories and what you see in your eyes."

Lu Zheng was lost for words.

He was shocked, too.

The imposing voice continued, "Is this karma?"

The voice sighed.

Lu Zheng remained quiet for a while, before it echoed again.

"What year is it now?"

"It's the year of the Rising Phoenix."

Lu Zheng could finally communicate with him without stuttering.

"Year of the Rising Phoenix? What nonsense is that?"

The voice snorted.

"Oh, right. We have that one in my world, too."

The voice paused for a while before continuing, "Have I returned to the past? What timeline is this?"

It was a question that Lu Zheng could not answer.

The voice asked again, "What country is this?"

"Country?"

It was a foreign word to Lu Zheng.

"The name of your place."

"Ah." Lu Zheng quickly understood. "We are currently in Ebonshade City, a city under the White Tiger Territory."

"White Tiger Territory?"

"Yes. The White Tiger Clan governed the White Tiger Territory, even naming it by themselves. They currently reside in the White Tiger City, the only larged-sized city."

"How arrogant. To rule a province and call it their territory." The voice hummed in amusement. "How interesting."

Lu Zheng did not reply.

"What grade is Ebonshade City?"

"Middle-Grade."

"How many provinces are there?"

"There are known five territories, or provinces. They are named after the five Great Sects: Azure Dragon Province, White Tiger Territory, Vermillion Bird Domain, Black Tortoise Region, and Golden Serpent Domain."

He paused, ruminating, and continued, "There was also the legendary Central Plain, too. It was surrounded by these five territories but divided by the seas. However, others said that it was a mystery how to get to that place."

The voice hummed.

Lu Zheng could see the crimson eyes disappearing again, as though the owner was closing it, then slowly opening them again.

It gazed at him, causing his soul to shiver in terror.

Yet, Lu Zheng maintained staring at those eyes, as the voice echoed again.

"I still have many questions, but you need to stay alive first. Do you want me to take care of that person?"

The thin crimson pupils left and gazed at his back.

He followed his gaze and his heart trembled to see a projection of his benefactor's back, entering the treasure trove of his clan.

He was furious, even growling, as he heard the voice echoed again in a mischievous tone, "Do you want me to take care of that man for you?"

"Y-"

Lu Zheng was about to reply before shaking his head.

He turned around and met the gaze of the crimson eyes again.

This time, he was bolder and daring.

"I want to avenge him by myself, but I beg for you to give me power to do so. Even if I sold my soul to you, I wouldn't mind."

"Hmm…" The voice hummed in interest, as it replied, "How about this? You acquire power by yourself as I will help you."

The crimson eyes gazed on the projection again, as it continued, "You remember the two corpses you killed? Stab them with your nails. I will absorb their blood and I will help you recover your strength and even get rid of the poison." 

Lu Zheng's eyes sparkled.

He did not dare to question his ways anymore and nodded.

"You better worry if you can move, first."

Those were the last words he heard from him, as Lu Zheng regained his consciousness in reality.