HIDDEN EVIL [XIAO SHUXIANG THE SERIES]
381 - The Beginning of the Storm

"I don't have a plan right now,"

Yi Wen gasped at Xiao Shuxiang's words. He looked at the young man in front of him and then said, "You can't be like that. Qian Kun was very cunning, he was a bad person. Before he takes any action, we must be prepared. Brother Xiao-"

"It's okay," Xiao Shuxiang rubbed Yi Wen's head slowly and smiled. He said, "Now I know that he's back. Whatever he does, the target is me. That Qian Kun... He won't hurt those around me. He just hurt me,"

"Brother Xiao..."

"Yi Wen, listen. I know Qian Kun is very strong. He could have taken anyone's life and even thrown the world into chaos with his own hands. But he never wanted to do that. Do you know why?"

Xiao Shuxiang said, "Because Qian Kun is only after me. All he wants is me to take the lives of the closest people I have. He wants to make a mess through my hands. The way is of course as you think, he will probably use my identity unknown to others as a weapon. That fellow.. He used human greed and their emotions to fight me."

"Ji-if you know that... Is it better to say everything? Just tell me your identity which is the reincarnation of the Destroying Star. I'm sure after everything that happened... People will still accept you,"

Xiao Shuxiang grunted softly. He shook his head and smiled faintly, "Son. The world is vast and not everyone can accept the difference. Even if there was any kindness I gave, it would still be that the wounds I made in the past were embedded in their hearts. 'Xiao Shuxiang' was a black stain that they would not be able to forget,"

Yi Wen felt a pain in her throat, she bit her lips before hugging the young man before her. She cried and sobbed, her embrace so tight.

"Brother Xiao, I know you're not a bad person. But why does no one understand? I don't like this. Are they really not going to accept you, even after all the good things you've done?"

"Humans don't care if something is right or wrong, Yi Wen. They believe what they believe. You say things that are acceptable even once, but if they don't want to believe it - you'll still be considered wrong."

Yi Wen rubbed Xiao Shuxiang's back and sobbed as he said, "I don't know Brother Xiao. I'm so sad to remember how much trouble you've been through. I don't know why the sky is so unfair to people like you. Why you never sue. Don't you feel... Is this so unfair?"

"Brother Xiao, I blame my life and I pity your life. Problems and burdens to be borne... Why should you? And why should I? Is there no one else but us?"

Xiao Shuxiang held onto Yi Wen's arm and rubbed the cheeks of the beautiful girl before him. He said, "There are things that feel very heavy to go through, but still have to go through. It is hard to accept, but it still has to be accepted. Well yeah... Sometimes life likes to give too much. But you should know, because you're strong... The sky is testing you."

Yi Wen rubbed his eyes. He rubbed the water down his cheeks, but still how much he rubbed his tears just kept falling. He sobbed as he said, "I should calm you down, but why the opposite? It's..."

"Here you go," Xiao Shuxiang hugged Yi Wen and gently rubbed the head of this fellow disciple. He exhaled as he said, "I would be so ashamed if it were calmed down by you..."

Xiao Shuxiang inwardly sighed. His gaze dropped and onto his facial expression looked slightly different. To be honest, she was extremely envious of this girl who could vaporize all things and cry. To him... That's certainly not possible.

Xiao Shuxiang took a breath and then gently patted Yi Wen on the shoulder. He said, "It's okay. Everything's gonna be fine. Let's go home,"

"Brother Xiao-"

"Look, your cheeks and eyes are really swollen like a bear. Your beauty's gone bad because you're crying,"

"Brother Xiao sucks," Yi Wen hugged Xiao Shuxiang, even though walking. He seemed to be hiding his face because of the words of this young man.

*

*

In the Butterfly Sect, Jing Mi was seen walking back and forth while scratching her non-itchy head. He was now with Hou Yong, Bao Yu, Hai Feng, and Ro Wei. They were in the back garden of the sect.

Zhi Shu came up with a tray containing a ceramic cup and some pastries. He placed the tray on a stone table and poured tea for the beautiful girl sitting while watching Jing Mi. Zhi Shu sat down on another chair and looked at this girl named Rana Qisheng.

"Wen Yi actually took my brother to where?" Jing Mi was really in a state of shock. He turned his head towards Rana Qisheng and got a smile from the beautiful girl.

Hou Yong shamelessly picked up one pastry and then asked, "Miss Rana? How many brothers do you have?"

Rana Qisheng turned his head and calmly replied, "Only me. I'm a single daughter,"

"Waaah, is your kingdom very big?"

"Among the five kingdoms, my kingdom is in third place. Actually was... My kingdom's ocean territory is more than land, which is why the livelihoods of the people are more sourced from the sea."

"Well, does that mean there's a lot of coconut trees?" hou Yong's eyes lit up brightly.

"Why?" Rana Qisheng blinked. I don't know why this young man is actually more interested in plants like that. However he did not ask any further and only nodded in response.

"Hou Yong, what tree do you mean?" Bao Yu asked and made Jing Mi turn her head.

"It was a tree with good fruit. There's no such tree here, it's just by the beach and I'm sure you've never seen one,

Jing Mi noticed Hou Yong and his friends who started discussing food. He was just about to reprimand them when he saw Hu Li and Mo Huai walking while carrying a large watermelon.

"Miss Zhi Shu, this is." Hu Li smiled and with the same smile... Zhi Shu got up from his seat.

"Thank you, Hu Li. You must be tired,"

"Not at all,"

"................." Mo Huai placed the watermelon he was carrying on the ground, beside Hu Li. He saw this white-haired young man helping Zhi Shu split the watermelon they had just picked up.

Bao Yu and Hai Feng also docked, they got the watermelon cut given by Zhi Shu. Hou Yong who was now helping Mo Huai appeared to be nudging the young man.

Hou Yong said softly, "Is it just me or is it Zhi Shu and Hu Li who have a close relationship, not as usual?"

Mo Huai replied, "That's how it is..."

"So right?" Hou Yong gasped and immediately turned his head towards Zhi Shu. He asked, "Shu'Er. Did you and Hu Li become lovers?"

Hou Yong's sudden question made Ro Wei startled. Zhi Shu himself smiled shyly and then said, "What does it look like?"

"Geez," Hou Yong was flabbergasted. Bao Yu and Hai Feng looked dumbfounded. They were very unlikely that Zhi Shu and Hu Li could have a serious relationship.

"That's right," Zhi Shu interrupted. "I even plan to introduce Hu Li to my father and mother."

"What?" Ro Wei flinched, "This can't be allowed. Do you also have to find a future husband from now on?"

"How can you do that?" Bao Yu protested, "I and Hai Feng haven't even thought about getting married. And Hu Li, what have you done to Zhi Shu?"

"I didn't do anything," Hu Li replied in an innocent tone and made Bao Yu and Hai Feng become annoyed themselves.

Mo Huai noticed it and was convinced that the disciples of the Butterfly Sect who were the same age as Xiao Shuxiang were the type of people who did not want to lose. Just look, soon after hearing that Zhi Shu is going to marry Hu Li-Hou Yong and the others so discuss to find their respective spouses.

"This is unfair," Ro Wei shook her head softly, "First is Big Brother Lu Yang Beautiful, then Brother Xiao, then Brother Jing and now Zhi Shu? Waahs... This can't be allowed,"

Hou Yong ate his watermelon and said, "From now on I will go to the brothel and take a girl to marry me,"

"Brother Hou, I'll come too." Bao Yu volunteered and made Mo Huai stare at them.

Hai Feng himself said, "If I am going to the Blood Skull Sect. The type of girl I like is like Elder Lai Kuan Ye's daughter,"

"Do you dare?" Hou Yong said, "You can die before even seeing the girl disciple at that place. Let me tell you, brothels are where you can find the girl of your dreams."

Bao Yu said, "Go with us. Let's go to Miss Shuai Niao's,"

Mo Huai gulped, these children are already sane. Surprisingly, Rana Qisheng even talked and seemed to tell the type of man that the girls liked. In an instant, the atmosphere in this place became full of discussing the male and female relationship.

Mo Huai now felt that this place was a world of adults where he should not be here. The problem was, he had absolutely no good reason to leave.

Not long after, two people in black robes came over and made Jing Mi and the others appear to be frowning. Mo Huai also saw the figures of none other than Xiao Shuxiang and Yi Wen.

Of course, despite wearing a black robe... But the two men did not hide their faces behind the hood. Xiao Shuxiang was even seen starting to take off the robe he was wearing and throw it on one of the chairs before starting to sit on the grass, take a piece of watermelon and eat it.

"Brother, where have you and Yi Wen gone?" Jing Mi approached and sat down beside Xiao Shuxiang. He was just about to protest when he saw Yi Wen's eyes that looked puffy, like they were already crying.

"What's this?" Jing Mi asked. His tone of voice and facial expression looked serious. "Yi Wen, did Brother Xiao hurt you?"

Xiao Shuxiang almost choked on the watermelon he had eaten. She looked in disbelief at Jing Mi and said, "Do I look like a person who likes to make girls cry?"

"Yi Wen went with you, of course you're in charge. There's no way Mo Huai, right?"

"Brother Jing," Xiao Shuxiang threw an annoyed look at this big man and went back to eating his watermelon.

"Yi Wen," Jing Mi again asked, "Tell me. What did Brother Xiao do to you?"

Yi Wen shook his head, his voice softly as he said. "I'm fine, this isn't Brother Xiao's fault. I only felt very guilty for what I did to Brother Xiao and even after Brother Xiao found out everything... He's staying good to me,"

Jing Mi exhaled, she reached out and gently rubbed Yi Wen's head. Hou Yong, Bao Yu, and Hai Feng also seemed to calm the beautiful girl.

Hou Yong patted Yi Wen's back softly and said, "Everyone has made a mistake. But you're really cool for admitting it,"

"It's okay," Bao Yu smiled, "This time if you take the wrong path again.. We'll try hard to wake you up."

"Let us grow up together, however," Hai Feng said, "If anything bothers you. Don't you ever hesitate to tell me that,"

Zhi Shu nodded confirming, "The matter will not be finished if it is just keeping it to itself. We're together and we're gonna face it all,"

Ro Wei stood up, she approached Yi Wen and hugged her friend. Rana Qisheng who saw how thick the friendship of these people made him look at Xiao Shuxiang. This young man was right, he would indeed like this place.

"Miss Wen, you eat too." Hu Li gave a piece of watermelon to Yi Wen and looked smiling. The nice girl said thank you.

Rana Qisheng was beside Xiao Shuxiang and half-whispered. He said, "Your friends are so good. They take care of each other. L'm... Never thought that there were people like them in one place. If I can be honest... It's hard to find friends like this,"

Xiao Shuxiang muttered, "Mn. They were friends since childhood and had gone through many things together, even circumstances that almost stepped on the gates of death. But you have to be careful,"

Xiao Shuxiang turned his head and looked at Rana Qisheng. Seeing this girl frowning made him go back on, "What do you see... It's the good side of them."

Rana Qisheng blinked, he did not understand. "What do you mean?"

".................." Xiao Shuxiang grunted softly. He smiled and looked back ahead. He took another piece of watermelon and ate it.

The atmosphere looked very calm, but the wind that blew felt uncomfortable for him at all. Although it was like a person who did not think about many things, in fact Xiao Shuxiang was currently arranging a plan about the thing he was going to do.

The Sun Killer Book was in his hands and his own identity as the reincarnation of the Destroying Star had not everyone known. On the other hand, his old enemy had already returned and this time... His relationship with the disciples of the Butterfly Sect was getting closer.

Not only that, many other relationships she now wanted to protect. In the past, he had not let the enemy see him clearly, which was why they did not know about his weakness. But now... This relationship cannot be hidden.

Butterfly Sect, Cold Cloud City, Sky Sword Sect, Alchemist Zhou Yan, Middle Sun Empire, Eastern Continent. All this could not be separated from the name 'Xiao Shuxiang'. They are a force, but also an easy target for enemies who don't care about the meaning of a relationship.

The information about all the things that Xiao Shuxiang was discussing could be easily known, even by strangers. Rana Qisheng also knew about the name 'Xiao Shuxiang' and he did not expect that this young man was called the 'Protector of the Eastern Continent'. To be honest Rana Qisheng thought it was another Xiao Shuxiang, he was even still wondering in his heart right now. Thinking that maybe he had mistaken.

On the other hand, the foreigners who were finding out about Xiao Shuxiang were cultivators from the Upper Cultivation Realm who had just arrived at this place. They used the same way that Xiao Shuxiang and his friends did to get back here.

Those cultivators were in the Big Dipper Star City now and gathered information about Xiao Shuxiang along with everything related to him. He looked carefully and from the movements of those who seemed to hide their identity - it was clear that they were after something.

The sky on that day was clear, but the gusts of wind actually brought a tense atmosphere. It was as if the time that kept turning increasingly showed signs of the opening of a veil that hid a great storm.

******