HIDDEN EVIL [XIAO SHUXIANG THE SERIES]
216 - Foreign Figure

Unceasingly Xiao Shuxiang sighed as he followed Elder Meng Hao Niang's footsteps from behind. This woman took him to an unexplained place. He even had to leave his friends.

"Chairman Meng," Xiao Shuxiang said. "Didn't you have any pity on me? I haven't even been treated and you're telling me to follow you right away,"

"You're an alchemist, there's no need to be treated by anyone else."

"Geez," Xiao Shuxiang shook his head softly and then said. "Do you think an alchemist is not a human? I could die too, you know..!"

"If you complain again, then forget about your intentions of attacking the Demon Valley Sect."

"Then then forget what I said just now," Xiao Shuxiang puffed his cheeks. The woman before him was indeed very difficult to persuade.

Xiao Shuxiang continued to follow in the footsteps of Elder Meng Hao Niang. Several times he exhaled and focused on recovering himself. He also thought about the location of the error on his sword movement that had made him lose.

Along that path, there were no more voices from Xiao Shuxiang. Elder Meng Hao Niang was curious and turned his head, he saw the young man who was still following him seemed to be so focused on his own thoughts.

*

*

Xiao Shuxiang blinked as he arrived at a spacious room, yet it was filled with the scent of herbs.

It was actually not what was more important, but what was seen before him.

Xiao Shuxiang saw that there was a pot that was so big and so tall. He was stunned to see an ancient pot that was somehow many years old. Even that enormous object had its own suppressing aura.

"Chairman Meng ...."

"I was looking to use a pot to concoct herbs. Help me clean the inside,"

?!

Xiao Shuxiang flinched and directly stared at the woman who had the heavy drunken facial expression. He blinked and then said, "So I was brought here just to clean this big thing?!"

"What you call 'big things' are ancient treasures that are hundreds of thousands of years old. There are many human lives that have been saved by pills that have been made using this heirloom. You should be proud to have the opportunity to clean it up."

Xiao Shuxiang looked at Elder Meng Hao Niang and felt strange with this woman. He did not care about human life at all, let alone being proud of the lunge in front of him. What he cares about right now is himself.

"Chairman Meng," Xiao Shuxiang spoke softly, "You yourself saw my condition. Can't you ask a disciple of this sect for help?"

"Why ask a student for help if there is a servant in this place? Have you forgotten your job?" the sniffling sound and cold gaze of Elder Meng Hao Niang was like a loud blow inside Xiao Shuxiang's chest.

Protector Ling Qing Zhu was trying to calm down. Xiao Shuxiang smiled bitterly, "It really can't argue with you. Alright. Just needs cleaning, right? I'll do it now,"

Xiao Shuxiang took out a cleaning tool made from the trunk of a shrub and started darting to then get into the pot.

Elder Meng Hao Niang said, "You must clean it properly and no dust should be missed. Understood?"

"Yes, no problem..!"

Xiao Shuxiang's voice echoed. Elder Meng Hao Niang started to sit on his long chair while leaning back. He took out his lab pitcher and started drinking wine as was his habit all along.

Inside the pot itself, Xiao Shuxiang could not see anything. The surrounding situation is dark, the atmosphere is gripping and full of herbal aromas and dense dust. He coughed a few times and covered his nose.

"Actually how long has this thing not been cleaned?! My nose was sick," Xiao Shuxiang coughed and started to take out a white-winged butterfly.

The wings of the flying insect were glowing and made this place even brighter. It's just that it doesn't cover the gripping nuances of this thing at all.

The air around Xiao Shuxiang was warm, but it was also stifling. He began to clean the walls of the pot while covering his nose and did not forget to curse.

"I really did. This was the first time in the life of a Xiao Shuxiang doing this kind of thing." Xiao Shuxiang coughed and again said, "Big shout. You should be proud of being so lucky to be cleaned up by this Venerable Xiao Shuxiang,"

Although it spoke in its usual tone, Xiao Shuxiang's voice still echoed. It made Elder Meng Hao Niang who was outside could clearly hear it.

Elder Meng Hao Niang snorted and shook his head softly, "Your Highness that Delinquent Boy .... I even just found out he can argue with inanimate objects,"

"You don't have to drop your dust over my head...! Oh, my God, that's so rude."

Elder Meng Hao Niang turned his head. The echo made him blink. I don't know what Xiao Shuxiang was doing inside there, but Elder Meng Hao Niang was sure the young man could indeed argue with anything.

Inside the pot, Xiao Shuxiang patted the dust on his front bangs hair. He was just about to return to his curse when his butterfly that perched on the wall suddenly absorbed.

!!

Xiao Shuxiang flinched. He sure didn't do anything. It's just that it hasn't been able to make a sound, this huge pot suddenly shook. He saw a white light forming around the wall and began to curl into ancient carvings.

"Chairman Meng?" Xiao Shuxiang called Elder Meng Hao Niang out of feeling strange about this change. There is just no reply from outside.

"Chairman Meng? Did you hear me?! Something's wrong with this thing. Elder Meng..!"

It was undeniable that the panic seen on Xiao Shuxiang's face, let alone the tremors on this pot got bigger and started to emit a powerful ringing sound.

Xiao Shuxiang dropped the cleaning tool in his hand and directly covered the ears. He called out to Elder Meng Hao Niang, yet there was still no answer.

Just about to try to get out of this place when the ancient carvings around the wall before him gave off such a dazzling light. Xiao Shuxiang spontaneously closed his eyes.

When the vibe and dazzling light no longer felt - Xiao Shuxiang started to open his eyes. He gasped for air before noticing the circumstances around him.

!!!

Xiao Shuxiang was surprised instead of playing. He was not in the pot, even under his feet there was no pot floor that he had previously been stuck on. The surrounding nuance is like a vast nature with thousands of stars. He even saw something that had never even been witnessed before.

"Place .... What is this place?" Xiao Shuxiang looked around. Under his feet there was even a glowing object floating about. He felt himself resting on the frozen air. He even saw that there was a ruined building and floated far in front of him.

Xiao Shuxiang was very uncomfortable with this feeling. Even breathing feels stifling. For some reason, he seemed to be in another realm.

"Updated .... I thought that the path of cultivation would set me apart from death and become an immortal being. But apparently no one can violate destiny."

!!!

Xiao Shuxiang stared. He heard a foreign voice and then circulated his gaze around. It was just that, there was nothing but him and the strange objects around him.

"I spent almost the rest of my life cultivating and occasionally I descended into the lower realms. To bring a child whom I chose and educated with the same teaching .... That I've got."

"Whose voice is that?" Xiao Shuxiang was most unhappy with the circumstances in which he heard voices, yet there was no one he saw.

Not to mention, he did not know the way out of this very foreign place. He heard a voice and was forced to listen.

"Among my guidance disciples, there is one I am very proud of. The boy was born into a simple family, he had a pure, talented heart and I saw he was able to realize what I couldn't do."

"I'm just focused on reaching the highest level and not at all looking at humanity getting to the lowest point. This is the biggest regret of my life. Why would I reach the highest level of cultivation, if not save humanity."

"That which I have obtained all this time and is my greatest work .... I passed it on to my talented and pure student. He has the same vision and mission as me. He is the embodiment of my dreams,"

Xiao Shuxiang held his breath as he began to see the dots of light gathering in front of him and condensing.

Those points of light formed the figure of a man dressed all in black. It looks to be around thirty years old with a clear appearance. His eyes were bright and sharp, but it was calmer and non-threatening.

Xiao Shuxiang did not know who this figure was, yet there was a feeling that was familiar to him. It felt familiar, somehow.

"You ...."

"He was a loving student. He has a strong soul and a firm, unshakable heart. His love for man makes him strong, but also gives him weakness. The huge mistake he made, did not make his purity stained at all. I'm the one who's guilty,"

!!

Xiao Shuxiang was like hearing a thump in his chest. He did not dare to take a long breath. The atmosphere in his heart was very nervous and unsettled.

"I made two of the biggest mistakes. I gave my love to one student and I ignored another. But the two never disappoint, they take the right path. The overlooked became an admired legend, while the person I loved most spread his kindness in other ways. I was the one who disappointed you,"

Xiao Shuxiang could practically hear the sound of his own heartbeat. His back was covered with sweat. Unknowingly he and the figure in front of him looked at each other.

"..............." Xiao Shuxiang was nervous. Either this figure was indeed staring at him or just looking at the empty air. This was because he felt that his presence was not really realized. Or maybe this is the memory realm of the pot owner, the heirloom he cleaned before.

The problem is, somehow his chest is tight. Sweat spots even formed on Xiao Shuxiang's forehead. He knew this figure was foreign to him, but there was something that made him feel familiar.

Xiao Shuxiang involuntarily said in a voice so silent that it was barely audible, "This is not your fault..."

Xiao Shuxiang was surprised to find his tone trembling slightly. He himself was not even sure of spouting such a remark.

"Relatedness cannot be corrected, even time is no longer on the side of this low. Now, I can only wait with the remains of the soul I have. Wish someone would be willing to help this lowly one to obtain peace of soul."

"..............." Xiao Shuxiang now understood. The figure before him was a piece of soul. Perhaps his own words were not heard because of it. This foreign figure also returned to voice.

"This simple knowing that life does not exist only in one world. The heirloom I passed on to my students and which I hope can help him .... It just made him meet a sad ending."

"Now this piece of soul is getting weaker. I thought that this simple one would not be able to meet him. But not expected .... My students are in front of me."

!!

Xiao Shuxiang jumped in shock, he looked back and saw no one else in this place. He looked at the figure in front of him and nervously asked, "You were just talking to me?"

"..............." the figure was silent for a moment, as if to notice what was in front of him and then said. "Is there anyone other than you in this place?"

!!!

Xiao Shuxiang stared. He was actually about to take a step back, but his legs were hard to move. Really, Xiao Shuxiang had previously thought that the figure before him was unaware of his presence. It was because he had spoken, but there was no reply.

Xiao Shuxiang gulped and nervously asked, "A-You .... You who?"

"..............."

The figure did not answer Xiao Shuxiang's question, but in return-he showed a gentle smile. For a moment, there was only a stunned feel of silence.

It didn't take long, the figure began to open its voice. He was polite and gentle. "This simple one is Duan Wenyang,"

?!

******