Chapter 19: A Bizzare Meeting
"Why so serious?" A husky voice echoed, its force slicing through the air like a sharpened blade. Kyorin's hair stood on end, the weight of the words pressing down on him.
He spun on instinct, delivering a high kick toward the source of the voice. The attack was blocked effortlessly. A firm grip closed around his ankle, holding him in place with unnerving strength.
Kyorin twisted, delivering a second kick to free himself, but as he landed, he felt a sharp pain shoot through his leg.
His ankle had been dislocated in the struggle, but Kyorin didn't falter. With a quick, almost mechanical motion, he twisted it back into place, standing tall despite the pain.
The newcomer stepped forward, his presence alone exuding an overwhelming pressure. Kyorin's eyes narrowed, his instincts screaming danger.
DEVA's voice broke the silence, sharp and urgent. "Oi, kid. Run. This one's a level 95."
"No," Kyorin responded flatly, his tone devoid of hesitation, despite the looming presence of the old man before him.
DEVA's voice echoed in his mind, crisp and tinged with mockery. "What do you mean, 'no'?"
"Do you think I can escape?" Kyorin replied, his irritation barely concealed.
A hum of realization reverberated in his consciousness, followed by a shift in DEVA's tone to one of realization. "Ah, I forgot. You're not me—how incompetent, unable to flee from disaster." Her words dripped with condescension, and for a brief moment, Kyorin's forehead vein throbbed in irritation.
Kyorin's brow twitched, the vein on his forehead threatening to burst. He exhaled sharply, reigning in his frustration. There wasn't time to entertain DEVA's habitual jabs; not when a far greater threat stood before him.
"A level 95, huh?" Kyorin's sharp eyes scrutinized the old man, the gulf in power between them glaringly apparent. He clenched his fists, instinctively bracing himself.
Winning was a far cry, and escape seemed equally unlikely. The old man's demeanour left no room for such delusions—he wasn't going to let Kyorin leave unscathed.
"Say, who are you, kid?" the old man finally asked, his voice calm but edged with curiosity.
"A new neighbour," Kyorin replied smoothly, his hands clasping together in a salute. The gesture was simple but deliberate, an attempt to project calm despite the tension.
The old man's eyes glinted with interest, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Ah, do you also follow the path of Taoism?"
The unexpected question caught Kyorin off guard, but only for a moment. He quickly masked his surprise, his mind racing to piece together an appropriate response.
"Not exactly," he said, his tone measured and unassuming. "I once saw a master salute like this. I figured it was a form of greeting."
Kyorin lied as effortlessly as he breathed. While concepts of Taoism existed in this world, they were far different from the philosophy he knew.
It was a set of practices made following the nature of RE that was rich in this world, unlike the Taoism practices that used Qi and were mostly based on the enlightenment of one's path, which Kyroin knew.
The old man studied him in silence, his gaze penetrating yet inscrutable. The faint smile on his face didn't waver, but Kyorin couldn't tell whether the man had accepted his explanation or seen through it entirely. Either way, the tension didn't dissipate.
DEVA's voice resounded again, soft yet insistent. "You're not exactly defusing the situation here."
Kyorin ignored her. His focus remained entirely on the old man, his body coiled like a spring, ready to react. Words had bought him a momentary reprieve, but it wouldn't last long.
The air between them was thick with unspoken intent, and Kyorin knew it was only a matter of time before the storm broke.
"Is the senior perhaps affiliated with them?" Kyorin ventured cautiously, his voice steady despite the apprehension gnawing at his gut. He fully expected the old man to deny the claim—perhaps with a scoff or a curt dismissal.
Much to his dismay, the old man's response was shamelessly simple. "I am."
Kyorin's body tensed, his breath hitching for a fraction of a second. It wasn't the answer he wanted to hear, as to why someone so old was interested in a young woman—Was he a pedo?
Within the confines of his mind, DEVA let out a sharp, mechanical cough, a garbled sputter as if choking on discharged currents. Her voice, tinged with both sarcasm and unease, crackled into clarity. "The oil has run out," she mused cryptically, "but there's still a flame burning in the lantern."
However, just as Kyorin was about to label the old man as a pervert, two voices called out from behind him.
"Master Xuanmiao?"
The voice was unfamiliar, but the one that followed sent a wave of relief through him.
"Kyorin."
Kyorin froze.
The sound of his mother's voice was unmistakable, and within moments, he felt her familiar embrace envelop him.
Peeking over her shoulder, Kyorin's gaze locked onto the petite girl with salmon-colored hair. His thoughts raced. 'Wait, did she just call that old man… master?'
His pulse quickened, and sweat began to bead on his forehead. Even DEVA couldn't hold back her reaction, spitting out a sharp, "DAMN! He is worst than I thought" within his mind.
Before either of them could spiral further into misunderstanding, the old man chuckled and spoke. "Ah, Changli, you've arrived."
"Yes, Master. The disciple is here," the girl replied, giving a respectful bow.
The air of misunderstanding began to lift, but Kyorin remained wary—not just of the old man but now of the girl as well. His mother's grip loosened as her attention shifted to the two men lying unconscious nearby.
"Oh no," Xia murmured, her mind leaping to a conclusion. 'He was kidnapped… and saved by this old man.' With tears of relief in her eyes, Xia turned to Xuanmiao and gave him a deep bow. "Thank you for saving my child, sir."
"Wait, Mother, there's a misunderstanding!" Kyorin protested, panic edging his voice.
But Xia wasn't having it. Her worry had overwhelmed her, and she quickly pinched Kyorin's ear, dragging him away from the alley. "Didn't I tell you not to leave the house?" she scolded, her voice a mix of relief and frustration.
"Ow ow ow, wait mother I, they—"
"Shut up!"
Kyorin winced, muttering protests under his breath, but with Xia's swift "shut up," he had no choice but to comply as they disappeared around the corner.
Left behind, Xuanmiao and Changli watched the pair go. The old man stroked his chin, a thoughtful glint in his eye. "Quite the interesting new neighbours we have in Hongzhen," he mused aloud.
Changli, however, remained silent, her eyes brightening slightly as they rested on Xia. But when her attention shifted to Kyorin, a flicker of envy crossed her face, though she said nothing.
Xuanmiao's lips quirked in a small smile as he observed his disciple, his thoughts unreadable as he uttered, "Let's go home, Changli." as Changli just nodded. "Yes, Master."
.
.
.
Caw - Caw
The crow cried out against the backdrop of the orange sky as dusk settled in, a chill sweeping across the land. Kyorin, seated cross-legged as instructed not to leave his home, pondered deeply over his Forte, trying to understand its nature.
In truth, Kyorin wasn't unaware of what his Forte was, but he struggled to comprehend how it translated into this world—a world where RE was used instead of QI.
If only QI were present, Kyorin could have reached his second Awakening no perhaps the final Awakening swiftly. Yet, despite this, he didn't let the difference deter him. He had time, as DEVA had often said.
"Humph, he should have asked me for help," DEVA grumbled from the depths of Kyorin's mental consciousness. Meanwhile, she secretly communicated with Long.
"Esteemed Mother, I can't understand. You say this mortal is from another Realm with a unique Forte, but what makes him so special? He's but a 1-star Resonator," Jue inquired.
DEVA's response was calm. "True, he hasn't achieved anything of significance yet..."
"Yet?" Jue pressed.
"I believe he just needs time to reveal his true abilities," DEVA replied, her thoughts drifting. 'Hmm, I wonder if he's already realized that the current Xia is but an illusion.'
As DEVA silently mused, the physical Xia appeared, announcing, "I'm back!" Kyorin, deep in meditation, heard her voice but didn't respond, focused on his thoughts.
Suddenly, someone shook him, interrupting his concentration. Kyorin frowned, displeased, and opened his eyes, expecting to meet his mother's face.
Instead, his gaze met another face—radiant yellow eyes and pink, slalom hair. He jumped, exclaiming, "Whoa!" as Xia appeared beside him with a smile.
"Oh, I forgot to announce, we have guests," she remarked casually.
Just then, a familiar husky voice called out, "Sorry for troubling you."
"No need, you are our benefactor," Xia responded graciously. The elderly man, Xuanmiao, stepped forward, his gaze meeting Kyorin's.
"We meet again, kid," he said with a knowing look.
To be continued...