"…Where is that milksop?"
Yi Ling said, walking in a dark forest with little to no lighting, so how can she thread her path in such a tumultuous terrain riddled with Beast and Jiangshi alike? Correct, she just brute forces her way through the forest, who knows just how many Jiangshi has been trampled along her way.
All because she lost track of that white squirt Demon, being swept away in flash flood like pathetic driftwood, the only thing he left is the Scent of Heaven of Yi Ling talisman that she rubs all over his souls, not body, souls.
Being an Asura of Flame, that Milksop would naturally have a lot of souls that belongs to the previous Asura of Flame, a vicious cycle of Feeble Arsonist.
And now the Scent of Heaven lead Yi Ling towards a path that is, by all account, full of roadblock. Bandits, Pekung, battlefield, Tigers and many more.
Where the fuck even is he? Yi Ling shudders at the thought that Milksop might be dying repeatedly due to some bullshit, not because she fears about his wellbeing, it's just that she hates not being the reason of his death.
"Found you, you fuck"
The scent leads her to a cave nestled among a sheer cliff, the scent of burning Nether were inside, just what the hell did he get himself into? Wait, the scent of the Nether?
"Did he…?"
Yi Ling sprint with all her might, to the point that the shockwave of her sudden movement breaks the surrounding tree and cliffs. She then jumps up towards the entrance of the cave and felt the full force of Nether energy hitting her body.
The agonizing heat and the corrosive property of the Nether energy burns her inside, Yi Ling could only recite the Mantra of White Tara to protect her from the blow out of Nether energy.
"Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayur Punye Jnana Pushtim Kuru Ye Soha"
As her entire form blanketed by the Golden Lotus and White Light, the Nether energy that is such a nuisance to her has gone away, deflected by the Mantra. Now she had enough confidence to explore the cave.
Feeling her way through the dark interior, she can't help but fear the worse. What would happen if that accursed thing were abducted inside the Nether Realm? Being drenched in the Nethersea or banished into Avicci, she cannot enact her revenge that way.
And as she stumbles upon a large interior, she can see a pair of green eyes looking back towards her, a Netherstride Sect Warrior.
She produced a Talisman from her pocket and rip it, the spell imbued within shatters forth into a ball of light that illuminates the dark cavern.
'Illuminate'
And what she saw was Nanming, unconscious and a woman about her age crouching down near him, she was naked and only have her left hand attached.
"…"
"…"
Both Yi Ling and the woman stare at each other, a profound silence fell upon both as they struggled to comprehend the odd situation, and at the same time, they both ask the same question.
""Who are you?""
Both of their voices melted with each other, before they quickly respond back at the same, comedic timing.
""That's what I'm asking""
The woman then took the liberty to quickly reply before Yi Ling could.
"Are you the friend of the Demonic Buddha in this cave?"
She asks, dragging her lantern to her left hand. Lighting up the Nether energy inside of the metal apparatus.
"Demonic what? No, why are you naked near that milksop?"
Naked woman, a sign of battle and the pathetic thing were lying unconscious, could it be? That this dastardly being had the gall to violate this poor woman and was beaten up by her?
Yi Ling then grabbed her staff with increasing hostility, but rather than being directed towards the woman, her full intent to kill was pointed towards Nanming.
"Accursed thing… You even dare rob others of their innocence? I knew I should've killed you back then!!"
She was about to swing her staff, but the naked woman stood between her and the unconscious Nanming.
"Are you his lover?"
She asks, which Yi Ling then respond with clear hostility as she stomped her feet into the cavern floor, making an echoing sound that travels through the cavern hollow interior.
"No! Why would I be this… thing lover? I am not even his friend! I refuse to be seen as someone close to him!"
The flurry of aggressive defense showers out of her mouth, the ball of light also shook according to her temperament as a dance of both light and shadow cast a disorienting play inside the cavern.
"Nanming saved my life, and I saved his… if you planned to kill him, I can't help but to protect him in return"
The woman said, as the flame inside the lantern burns brighter and brighter.
"…I am his retainer; we were split off during our journey"
Yi Ling confessed, storing away her staff as it floats just behind her form, the rabbit mask that she wears then reflects the light from both the ball of light and the green lantern that the woman holds, creating an imposing, almost dangerous play of light to Yi Ling figures.
The woman cautiously backs away and drags Nanming away from her, Yi Ling can only watch in shame for accusing both her and that Milksop of something that never happens. Once again, her aggressive nature seems to take hold of her psyche.
.
.
.
"…This is getting old"
Nanming complains, having been in this White scape again he really felt like his own Mind Palace could have a little bit more decoration, not just another Forest being burned and regrow anew.
Seeing the same whitewashed landscape devoid of anything is really annoying, if he went unconscious will he go to this place every time? That's a bit inconvenient, especially when he didn't know what would happen in the real world.
Oh, and it seems he was about to wake up. No resurfacing memory though, maybe another time.
…
"…"
But he never did wake up, is the damage he sustained so devastating that he ended up not waking up?
"□□□□□□□□, you…"
A voice calls a blocked name, but this one, this name is different… There is so much air of wrongness with that name, like it was something erased from even this reality, something that carries so much gravitas that it shook his psyche.
Nanming turned his head to see a slender, pale figure standing with only one of its legs, with a serpentine or draconic tail coiling behind him into an endless swirl of hypnotizing vortex, behind the figure is six set of arms with each two pair forming a different symbol while his main arms clasp in the middle of his torso.
"Betrayer, you dare rear your head? You… who brought ruin to us all, your kind!"
It shouts, even when its mouth didn't move, Nanming could feel a Hate so thick it transcend everything to make Nanming hear those words.
"Who are you?"
Nanming ask, this figure is not the same as a recreation of his memory, this figure does exist in the real life that somehow ended up inside of his Mind Palace, but how?
"Of course you sealed your own memories… You who were once the greatest of us all, the very concept of impermanence itself, and yet you choose to burn everything…"
The figure then went down on its two legs, it begins to walk through the very space itself, breaking and distorting everything around it as it moves ever closer to Nanming, Nanming though, held his ground, he felt that the figure couldn't really do anything in his Mind Palace.
"□□□□□□□□… you choose a Light that is not your own, to follow the mad raving of a Wicked White Flower. Your Fate is forever entwined with it… Your Death, your Destiny, everything is decided for you… I couldn't help but to extend my pity"
It speaks, before it opens its eyes. All Six of its eyes now gaze deep inside Nanming, as if it could see everything, both who he is and what is inside of him that Naming himself has yet to know, everything laid bare in front of the hypnotizing, swirling eyes.
"Your life that is not your own, your Karma that is so tangled… I hope nothing but ruin for your life O Great One, Honored One among our kind… If I exist still… I would surely slay you and bare all your perforated form across the stars that you devour"
Nanming mind is breaking under the gaze, he could see everything and anything all at once as the force of whatever was inside those eyes crushed and suffocates him to the point that not even the breath of his own self could sustain the sheer powerlessness and depthless of an Eyes that see it all and B R E A K
And Nanming was knocked out once more, inside his own Mind Palace that reels before the extreme incomprehensibility of whatever he just witnessed.
"…Among the Three Great One, you were once the figure of my utmost adoration… Look at how far you have fallen…"
The figure clicks its tongue before it closes its eyes, seeing how this… boy couldn't even handle being gazed at by the Peerless Depthless Vision speaks volume to how inferior he is compared to his old self.
No matter, the Nagaraja had already fallen, the only thing it could do is to pray. Pray that this betrayer shall never know peace, cursed to watch all its loved one burn just like how he did to his own kind.
"I refuse to acknowledge such cruel fate…"
The figure was surprised at Nanming's reply, it shifts its head to see Nanming standing once more, even when his own Mind Palace is threatening to spill forth, he perseveres through it.
"I am my own person, I am Nanming and not anyone else…"
Nanming is tired being dictated by the force that is both All-Knowing and All-Powerful, who are they to shape Nanming's life as they like?
"I will not succumb to my Wrath, I will overcome this imposed Fate! And I will…"
Nanming held his words as he steadies himself, looking straight into the closed Six eyes of the figure Nanming resolutely declares.
"…Become Human, a Kind Human, I will travel this World and makes it a better place"
"…"
The figure, named Yak'sha was stunned in its place. Seeing this pathetic excuse of his incarnation, he couldn't help but see him once more, the voice overlapping with the boy, speaking of the same dream yet in a different way.
'I will make this World a Paradise where nothing is permanent, yet their absence will not elicit Pain but Freedom'
"I will make this Cruel World at least bearable, by helping those around me no matter its cost to myself…"
How comedic, even his ego was overwhelmed by the Sin that he embraces, the First Asura speaks a word even he himself couldn't have said.
"Ha… Hahahaha… HAHAHAHAHA"
How naïve, becoming Kind in this World of imposed fate? In this reality of repeating self? Perhaps it will be even more satisfying to see him being broken by this World than to simply being killed inside of it.
"…Very well, your declaration will be heard, I will find the rest of the Nagaraja and impart to them your will… Now, away from this restraint and return to the Cruel World you wished to change"
The figure Six eyes then opens once more, before the figure sits in a Lotus position and utters a word that threatens to break Nanming's mind.
"Trisahasra-Mahasahasra-Lokadhatu"
And when the last word leaves its mouth, the White Scape shook and melted into itself, Nanming was then overwhelmed with an intense feeling of drowsiness, before he couldn't help but close his eyes.
.
.
.
"…"
Meanwhile, back on the dark cavern, both women continue to stare at each other. With one being naked and the other wearing a black rabbit mask.
"You… the infamous Rabbit Mask Demon, right? Or is it the Cruel Demon?"
"…Both of that nickname refers to me…"
"I see"
With that brief exchange, another silence dawned upon them. That is until a grunt was heard coming from a man in the middle of the room whom none of the woman seems too keen on keeping their eyes on.
A man named Hao, the very reason all of this happened in the first place had woken up. His stubbled and washed face came into view first, illuminated by Yi Ling ball of light. He soon flickers his own eyes, having difficulty adjusting it into the sudden brightness.
"W-Where am I?"
He slurred his words, like something a drunken person would say, as his sight came into view of Yi Ling who wore a black rabbit mask, he shrieks a terrified noise as he scurried away into the far end of the cavern.
"Who are you! A strongman? I promise to pay my debt in the late of this month so please give me a chance!!"
He suddenly said, begging with his eyes closed as his leg hopelessly tried to propel him through the wall of the cavern to no avail.
"…"
Yi Ling stayed quiet, but Flame Streak spoke first.
"Are you the one named Hao?"
Hao finally opened his eyes to meet Flame Streak gaze, but it's not her green glowing eyes that he locked into, all his focus fall towards her impressive set of knockers which he unconsciously salivates towards.
"…Are you the one named Hao?"
But Flame Streak didn't care about his lecherous gaze, much to the discomfort of Yi Ling who seems to be capable enough to gouge his eyes out any second.
"Yes, I am! Why do you ask?"
Hao suddenly felt brave enough to stand up and walks closer to Flame Streak who staunch her bleeding with a piece of black cloth that she rips from Yi Ling own Robe.
Each step was invigorated and eager.
"I am tasked by your old lady to—"
"Serve me? Gladly, now come here and taste my morning wood!"
Too eager, what brings about such explosion of confidence? Flame Streak was forced to remembered just how uncouth male were towards her body.
"If you do, I will have to burn your impotent member. I am not here to engage in a carnal act with you nor am I willing to"
Flame Streak tone becomes more abrasive and forceful now that she had fully realized just what kind of man Hao is, the words of the Root of Decadent came into her mind once more.
Something about this man being filled with Sins, perhaps Lust and Greed.
"Hey now, don't be shy~ I'm sure you will taste heaven once you—"
"Speak one more word and I tell your grandmother that you are raped by a group of Pekung"
Flame Streak brandished her execution blade that gleams in silver green, imbued with Nether energy it was ready to quite literally explode inside the body of whoever it was lodged inside.
Yi Ling recognized this gesture; a member of the Netherstride Sect only reveals their execution blade if they are keen on killing a Human.
"Alright-alright geez, if you're shy just say no… I'll gladly wait~"
Hao said as he makes a 'flattering' face, but all Flame Streak felt was to create a sizeable cave in inside that smug face with her hand.
Normally she wouldn't be so worked up by an act of sexual violence towards her, she had heard those vulgar words one too many times. But after being rejected by Nanming she might've harbored yet another expectation that not all males were the same, only to be proven wrong by this male.
"…"
A grunt escapes Nanming body, Flame Streak immediately shifts her focus towards Nanming, presenting her backside to Hao who had no qualm trying to hide his intentions.
Looking very intensely on the exposed buttocks, he grabs the hem of his pants and is about to pounce on her, that is until he could hear a sweat threat coming from Yi Ling.
"Do that and I will make sure you'll beg to be raped by a group of Pekung"
She said, her black eyes are somehow glowing in dark promise of extreme violence, and with that, Hao keeps his intent in mind, but he didn't hide appreciating the curviness of Flame Streak.
But just for a good measure, Yi Ling decided to sit just behind Flame Streak to prevent Hao from seeing her backside. Hao scoffed but he didn't dare to object.
"…"
Nanming came into sight, his purple eyes were greeted by a fall of black hair and a set of green eyes in between a bandaged face.
"Are you alright?"
The face said, now Nanming knows that this is Flame Streak. He opened his lazy eyes and grunted, prompting Flame Streak to go back into a normal sitting position and wait for Naming to stand up.
"What about the skeleton?"
Nanming ask first.
"Gone"
"I see"
Nanming dare not ask what the meaning of 'gone' is, if that skeleton is nowhere to be seen and is no longer a problem. Nanming then shift his gaze towards Yi Ling, but make no comment on her appearance here, instead he looks beyond her at a man who is squirming around trying to also gaze past Yi Ling.
"Are you Hao?"
He asked, this time Hao was stupefied by seeing a face that is even more divine than Flame Streak curvaceous body. So much so that he even slurred his words and didn't know how to act.
"Y-Yes"
He said, Nanming noticed his intense gaze and promptly combed his white hair down to hide his face.
"Your grandmother tasked me to seek you… Please come back to your home"
Nanming said, Hao was about to respond but the sudden wave of arousal from before seems to have been poorly mixed by his hangover.
And so, Hao was knocked unconscious.
Comedically bringing his face to kiss the floor of the cavern as he snored.
"…What is he doing here anyway?"
Nanming ask, was he kidnapped by that weird skeleton? If so, then for what? Becoming a sacrifice for Sorcery perhaps.
"…"
Yi Ling however, pouts behind her mask that she was ignored by Nanming, she went all this way to save him and all he did was to ignore her.
A thud was heard as Yi Ling slammed her staff into the cavern wall for a good measure.