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Quest Maker: 104
🕑 Added 2021-08-07 05:07:13 +0000 UTCTitle: 3 days (1)
"Is she going to be alright?"
Being a frontier city, Dragon Rising City needed to accommodate a lot of travelers so private courtyards for rents, mansions, business facilities, and whatnot, we're not in the shortage, and even the influx of spirit masters due to the Beasttaken Tides and the information of Bibi Dong and her students' bounties leaking only managed to stretch the city's accommodation only by a little bit.
Within a particular cluster of courtyards, four— to be precise, Tang Xiao and Tang Yuehua could be seen walking alongside each other. It was barely dawn, the dew on the flowers not even dry yet but this was also the best time for Tang Xiao to know about the circumstances of his group.
Right now, the Tang Siblings realized Ja Sun's value. Not the spirit bones. They were present at the site of the bet. The lure of spirit bones wasn't greater than the lure of possibly allowing Yuehua to break out of her shell and finally cultivate. To step on the path of power. This was also the reason why Tang Xiao persuaded Yuehua not to return to the Heaven Dou Empire and pursue the other mundane venture: The establishment of the Moon Pavilion. For now, Tang Xiao still hoped to run into the small group of Spirit Hall training in exile and his luck cashed out.
But what to do now?
Dai Mu definitely holds a grudge. But what of it? Personally, Dai Mu doesn't hold a candle against Ja Sun, much less a group he is comfortable traveling with that includes another peak genius and a strong one at that— Bibi Dong. However, Tang Xiao was also aware of the private bounty that was strangely exposed through mysterious circumstances. Still, the moment assassins from the Hell Civet, White Tiger, and Fire Leopard Sects arrive, there is a good chance that a few of them might recognize Dai Mu's arrangement as the Imperial Princess and may even be swayed by her status.
The sight of Ja Sun robbing Dai Mu's guards was still imprinted in Tang Xiao's mind but Dai Laohu still managed to explain the technique. Best used as a surprise and best countered by retreating and closing eyes and if the user is capable of a barrier skill, it must be used simultaneously because, through the cover of blinding silver light, Dai Laohu saw Ja Sun's proficiency in close combat. Surely, this much of information would be known by the assassins sent, too.
A proper balance was needed. Where Dai Mu doesn't feel that her presence is being ignored and where Tang Yuehua can benefit simultaneously. For the first time since Tang Xiao began taking care of Tang Hao, the younger of the two Clear Sky Twin Stars finally showed a more sensible side by keeping Dai Mu company. There was no denying it. A little bit of young attraction was present in the two, too. Of course, these were the matters for later. Tang Hao had one job— to keep Dai Mu a little rational in this. To persuade her to not try to harm everybody's interest this time because they might not be able to afford it, the cost being Yuehua's future as a spirit master, of course.
All of this could be considered when Tang Xiao questioned Tang Yuehua: Is she going to be alright?
"Last night, Sister Mu came to my room and directly discussed it with me. She said that she understands what is at stake here and doesn't want to commit anything untoward me," Tang Yuehua whispered with a stiff smile.
"She said that?" Tang Xiao's brows twitched and surprise flickered in his eyes. Tragedy matures people. No doubt, the sight of her eldest brother being defeated, the sight of her father almost apologizing, made Dai Mu understand the world a little better. If the Emperor was willing to apologize instead of flying into a rage, that only meant two things.
First, that she herself, as a mere princess, does not have the ability to rage.
Second, the opponent's background is most likely greater than their own.
Considering all this, Dai Mu chose not to sabotage her relationship with Tang Siblings again. Should Ja Sun be present here, he would already be tearful. After all, Dai Mu had grown so much using the useful teachings Ja Sun imparted that day: Face smacking.
*Thud*
*Thud*
The gates to the courtyard were rudely knocked on at this moment. A harsh voice entering the courtyard, a shout, really, that roused Tang Hao and Dai Mu from their sleep, too.
"As per the City Master's orders, we are to inspect every private quarter regularly. Open the gates!"
Tang Xiao and Yuehua sighed collectively.
"Shut the fuck up!" An enraged voice filled with spirit energy instantly shook the courtyard while Tang Xiao had already covered Tang Yuehua's ears.
---
"Everything is alright, let's go," the group of well-trained soldiers left the courtyard with resounding sounds of their metallic boots striking against the paved footpath. Closing the entrance, Ja Sun smiled and removed the disguise. Right now, he wore a white shirt with black buttons and a pair of blue trousers. Of course, these weren't Jeans, but still, the feeling of the fabric wasn't too different.
Yesterday night, he finally had his hair shortened once again. No longer did his black hair reach his shoulder but it was trimmed and neat.
"No words of luck?" Ja Sun inquired while donning a mask. In the bounty, his actual face wasn't revealed since the very beginning, he only ever showed his face to Ah Yin, or the faction he is in. Others weren't as careful and their true features were known to all.
Of course, Ja Sun could be recognized using his group and his spirit abilities. Not to mention the half-broken mask he wore in the day of shame for the Imperial Family of the Star Luo Palace.
Behind him, in the open space of the courtyard remained his teammates that still looked hesitant. It was a bold plan, that Ja Sun came up with. And it was something none of them could have suggested because it risked Ja Sun too much.
"Are you sure?" Erlong finally spoke softly.
"Yeah, I think I need good luck this time. Go ahead, wish me it," Ja Sun chuckled.
"Not that," Erlong bit her lips.
"Just stay clear of that Ground Devil Douluo," Ah Yin shook her head.
Ja Sun then looked at the other three with an inquisitive gaze but they remained silent and conflicted. Finally, Ja Sun couldn't help but sigh.
"You all should know that I always take proper precautions. Why so worried?"
"Precautions like when you kept asking for more poison?" Bibi Dong snorted coldly.
"Must be when he almost poisoned himself when absorbing his fourth spirit ring. If it wasn't for Ah Yin, I wonder if you would have survived," Hu Lana hummed curiously.
Clicking his tongue, Ja Sun finally spoke, "Cover yourself well. When I use that ability, it will also affect you. This is already the best way to divert some attention and then we can keep on taking out other pursuers silently. Remember, do not let the Tang Siblings see Caihong or Olivia no matter what when you finally contact them... hmm, I will probably return by the end of the day."
Saying this, the center of his forehead, right above the green mark, a purple light flashed brightly which made the sheen of one particular black button on Ja Sun's body go unnoticed by his teammates as he turned around.
He, of course, wore this particular shirt for a reason. To use his 10000-year-old ability without revealing the black spirit ring too much. The color of the spirit ring was instantly hidden against the button as Ja Sun covered himself in a disguise. Two pairs of silver light wings grew out of his body but his teammates only saw one particular pigeon flapping and flying high in the sky.
Unknowingly, a fleeting shadow escaped the courtyard from behind. If Ah Yin saw it, she would recognize this movement technique as the strange, incomplete mix of Storm Steps and the strange movement technique Ja Sun practiced while the both of them were sightseeing the city— Extreme Phantom Shadow.
"Let's stay inside. Once Ka-ul uses his third spirit ability, I will meet with the Tang Siblings. Worst case scenario, they might try to capture me but if Tang Yuehua's martial soul is anything like Yu Xiaogang, then she will be an asset soon enough to cover for this risk."
Bibi Dong spoke as she turned around. The mood of the group couldn't be considered great. After all, just like Ah Yin would be the best spirit master in the forest and have the greatest burden to pick up, right now, Ja Sun's skill set made him the greatest person to pull everybody's attention away. Especially, a Titled Douluo's because Yue Guan made plenty sure that even if Ja Sun's third spirit ability could remove his mental lock, it couldn't impede his eyesight.
Of course, this is also true for especially strong Spirit Douluos almost turning Titled Douluo.
But that was the effect of a purple-grade spirit ring.
What about the effect of a black one?
---
The reason for flying above the clouds and then removing the disguise was simple. Ja Sun and his group couldn't afford the knowledge of his ability for such a unique disguise get exposed at all. There was still a chance that if a Titled Douluo truly focused, he or she might be able to see through these disguises. Of course, this was based on the fact that Ja Sun didn't enhance Yin-Yang True Illusion using his pupils. But why even go through such methods to attract attention?
If this sweep doesn't reach its purpose, then it is likely that many might conclude that Ja Sun and his group had already skipped town. It may lead to all the bounty hunters rushing out to catch the tails of the escaped group. No. This would be counterproductive for Ja Sun. He wanted all of them to be right here. But his individual goals couldn't be understood by his teammate due to the trait being a secret. Still, Ja Sun's reasoning resonated with them when he emphasized their earnings by making every bounty hunter focus on him while they can silently mix with the pursuers and take them out as they wish.
This was a plan filled with holes when thought deeply about. Most of which can be filled if the group knew of Ja Sun's fifth spirit ability. Of course, for now, they had to endure it based on his insistence.
Slowly, Ja Sun descended through the clouds, and his figure, especially the two pairs of glowing wings instantly attracted attention. Not from the bounty hunters, per se, but generally.
The first to notice was a young boy looking through his window as his mother continuously berated his elder brother for the wrong he never committed. A clever ploy that will bite the kid's ass later in the form of an indignant older brother.
"Look!" The kid shouted excitedly, "It's an angel! Ma! There's really an angel, like that small sculptor of a pretty goddess!"
His shout broke his mother's shout and she looked towards the window. She didn't notice her child pointing towards the sky only, but many others out in the street.
Quite a bit distance away, eyeing the little kid discreetly was a large and round man. Greed carefully covered in his eyes by dignity as he finally looked towards the sky and instantly, Ja Sun felt his body turn cold. As if a dangerous, ravenous beast had locked its attention on himself.
'That's quick,' Ja Sun glanced down. Such forceful and blatant mental locks also reveal one's own location and Ja Sun located Ground Devil Douluo.
"There you are," Ja Sun smiled.
"Get him!"
Shrill screams echoed but these shouts were not as sharp as the whistling arrows loosened to his location, already locked onto him and a few flying spirit masters, most notably being the six spirit masters in white already ten meters away from him. But these spirit masters strangely stayed ten meters away from him. The character 'speed' branded on their robes made Ja Sun chuckle.
With the beat of his wings, Ja Sun didn't shoot towards the exit of the city but rather a large fortress in the middle.
The City Master's mansion.
By now, dozens of arrows followed him. Their flashing colors revealing their attributes and their ability to lock onto a target. White clothed spirit masters followed him like a shadow and Ground Devil's senses didn't disappear and seemed to be following him. But the mode of transportation seemed unclear and strangely fuzzy.
"Don't let him get close any further!" Soldier's angry shouts echoed and Ja Sun's lips quivered as these spirit masters trained as soldiers actually stood in a special formation that instantly created a golden pattern above them through which emerged a giant spear. An array created by a formation of soldiers!
'Arrays are useless, my ass.' Ja Sun scoffed internally as he recalled Bibi Dong's contempt for the profession. Most likely, this profession hasn't been able to create waves because of the high demand of control and resources that the spirit masters high on spirit abilities are unable to achieve.
But now, Ja Sun had attracted enough attention. One last thing remained, though— Ground Devil himself.
He wasn't planning on tackling the Titled Douluo himself. A fool's move if considered rationally.
But for his personal plan to work, he needed to guide something to Ground Devil and then buzz him out for a few seconds.
"Men, forward!"
"HAHUU!"
The spear instantly tilted, almost four meters of the blade glinting in sharp light and pointing towards Ja Sun and an equally overbearing pressure instantly slowed his movements momentarily.
"Come on, come on," Ja Sun whispered as his body spiraled towards the spear before barely dodging as the lower pair of his wings dispersed into numerous feathers that instantly shot towards his pursuers and sharply clashed against the arrows. In the sky, a brilliant game of chase unfolded as Ja Sun's maneuverability with his wings was almost similar to an actual bird. The only thing that can propel his movement is actually using a movement technique related to flying but that would be needed to be worked on later.
His time in this world has only been so much.
"Just hand us the spirit bones and we'll let you go!" One of them shouted and Ja Sun instantly took off a ring, roaring, "Here!" He threw it back and flew ahead.
The pursuers were stunned and they instantly rushed towards the ring.
"Suckers," Ja Sun snickered internally and flew high towards the cloud as he finally located Ground Devil tearing through the ground from near the center of the city and finally pressurizing Ja Sun physically with a mere, solidified intent fueled with spirit energy. There wasn't any time to lose and Ja Sun finally heard the compressed voice of one of his pursuers, "Ka-ul, our young master wishes to speak with you. If you can—"
Ja Sun's third spirit ring appeared over his button and the world turned white for everyone. Even for Ground Devil Douluo. He could still see through the spirit ability without any feeling of blindness but all forms of pressure from Ja Sun's body were removed instantly.
Three things occurred simultaneously.
A burly dark-skinned man with his eyes closed instantly slapped Ground Devil's face out of nowhere. The arm was covered with thick purple mist but strangely, the body of the man dispersed into mist, and even a purple figure flashed from the middle of this bald and dark-skinned man as it smashed into Ground Devil's head, making him grunt and fall on his knees weakly. This series of actions occurred in an instant, as if the man was waiting for this moment his entire life.
Next, Ja Sun himself flapped his wings. The multiple arrows didn't have anything to lock on as if these spirit abilities couldn't find Ja Sun.
The worst were the flying spirit masters. The bounty hunters revealed their sharp response as all of the flying spirit masters plunged to the ground. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Ja Sun instantly disguised himself as a pigeon and flew down. Because of that call from the leader of the white-robed flying spirit masters from the speed clan Ja Sun's plan changed a little. But the main focus of the plan was achieved.
The city knew Ja Sun was here and acting brashly...
Glancing towards Ground Devil Douluo who only came to be now, looking around angrily, unable to find Ja Sun in a flock of pigeons flying around frantically, the man responsible for the commotion flapped his wings and smacked away the nearby pigeon clawing on his boots.
Without any unexpected event rising, everybody's sight returned normal soon enough and the city was devouring by a loud clamor.
