Chapter 4 - Olympic Charge

Should i let him know i'm here ? Maybe not... Why is this brat so calm, as if he's walking into a tavern ? Fowliang were tailing Larchen, while the spirit form Larchen followed the situation. He was close to having a panic attack.. , so absurd.. His nerves were.. strange, his mood strange as well..

Hey Fowliang.. he said... hoping she'll hear him, he just... was going to lose his fricking temper any minute. He didn't care that much about finding out what happened. Hey elder Fowliang can you see me ?

There was no answer, clearly it was not something that was technically possible. Hey, you've a great ass... Go this way Fowliang.. he punched a tree.. Uh, why is there a mark on this tree ? Is he leaving them to find his way ? Fowliang thought out loud.

Larchen the disciple moved on his way, he didn't leave any marks.. Uh, how is he finding his way ... Fowliang mumbled.. Looks like its going to rain.. which is great if lightning strikes, it'll boost my powers.. Looks like luck follows this idiot.. i'm starting getting curious..

Looks like this is the old weather hall, of the old sect.. he found his way to a strange place..It is of course now accompanied by.. no one.. If he find some treasure maybe we can share it.... She was drooling...

Larchen the ghost was having a headache... once again..

Hmm, maybe i can fix this place out, Larchen looked about as he often did.. slowly searching the place.. in his methodic manner. He pushed a mechanism that looked like a triangle, the lock snapped revealing a safe inside the wall. I, the old wily grandmother of the sect leave this artifact to my nephew, a note said. Larchen didn't react, he thought he'd discard the note.

There was another mechanism on the safe, which led to the reward. The note was probably some clue, if he knew himself and he did, he'd never, ever solve it, even if he stood here for a century.. He kept moving...

What, is he leaving already ? What a moron.. I cannot believe this.. Fowliang said. She moved in lightning speed, breaking the lock, let me help myself then, honorable grandma.. What is it ? She looked at the paper.. It's to deed to a restaurant in town.. Fowliang had an expression of strange surprise..

She remembered this little dweeb just then, from yesterday's class. His form was terrible but he managed to get lucky to pass. His name was Larchen, he was a regular moron, who gave her lusty looks while he was trying to complete simplest sets.. He always looked like he was ready to tongue her canals unlike other disciples who acted more secularly.. She didn't really pay him any particular attention, there were lost of members in the sect, nobody could keep in mind an obscured visible.

Anyway, let me follow him some more it's my duty, after all, as an elder, to protect him.. yes, with this deed, i can settle my debts... finally. Just see he look on the faces of those idiots once i suddenly clear my name.. I can't wait. He might die out here.. He helped me out, even if unwittingly so better pay my debt.. A cultivator's heart demon was a terrible thing, which this idiot clearly had.. it was so obvious, he was like a walking cultivation diversion.

This place is much smaller than the maps claim.. She looked around, just a few buildings remained here in this section. He is stopping again, he probably found another treasure, its like a metal detector.. I can't stay in this place any more though... just about time i leave.. She.. stood there indecisively.. for a moment, unable to move.. what if he got another treasure ?? Should i risk it a bit more ? He is after all an asset to me... when you think about it.. better keep an eye on him. Risk and reward, she was starting to feel extremely faint.. yet the treasures just lay near.. She compared the risk... then decided to tag along, at least until he leaves this region.

Life only happened when there was proper focus, it was like blood, this place was our of focus, it was shredded as if all the puny details in the world were flowing through it. Although she recognized the issue, the dark magic was different, it wasn't something she could solve, many tried... and failed always. Even slow by slow, she would be overwhelmed, as if she was food for monsters..

She moved near him, disregarding the safe range to keep out of notice, getting close to him would help, he was probably immune to this place, or else he wouldn't be able to walk over here so non chalantly as if it was his grandfather's bakery. It would extend the time she could stay here. Only a person.. who was so childish, would do stuff like this.. which was, grave robbing.. All these things belonged to the sect. But she wasn't big on rules or enforcing, it wasn't really something she would care about.

Larchen sighed.. another document. People REALLY liked writing nonstop nonsense huh ? He peeled of the read seal to open a sack of documents. It was a spy correspondence, the cook of the old sect, were spying for cold iron sect... great knowledge, and totally useless now.. Larchen suddenly stood up,
as if he heard something.. he stood there for a while more, then started to flee in highest speed he can muster..

Then a bell rang, while an array activated after some automated warning... He was barely safe.. She wasn't..


Uh, what is this ? She looked around.. She was so enraged. He wasn't immune to the magics, he just hacked them. It was a memory spell, which operated in a backwards time.. She just realized it when he started fleeing.. before she could say anything, she was ensnared in his stead.. I never know when to stop.. when fortune helps me huh.. There was no way out, since the mechanism required soul demon so that you can ignore the main ... let's say current or string that a regular cultivator drew energy from. it was normal logic, or common sense, that everyone had. The only
way out of here was a heart demon. Old sect was truly an evil place, she thought.

She didn't panic, just yet...She ran through all her memories to find a solution.. She compared notes and made calculations.. to see what would work.. She prepared her excuse in case he found him. She started refining a blood clone.. to see if she can use it to break through. She imitated a heart demon... She was proud when she unmade a few seals.. The net barrier shifted colors, but it didn't dispel. Situation was bound to get worse for her , her memories have started to get jumbled, due to the effect of the forest.

Ghostly Larchen stood above the scene.. He looked at his other self.. Who was oblivious to the situation.. Regardless of what happens, Fowliang would need medicine.. If she could break through, it'd be very over dramatic... In fact she would only survive if Larchen stayed near and decide not to venture further.. It was a necrophage party after the dark.. When they attack, it'd turn to a light festival... That is why, safe places were undervalued, they were stable, they were fun, when you trained diligently.. however stale, it was rewarding when you advanced. Instead when a person went hunting they got hunted..

She ignited her hand, trying it on the barrier , it didn't work. She looked at her hand.. what would not be affected by such a high grade fire ? She increased the intensity and tired again. Aha, i found the solution, damn i'm soo clever.. She finally managed to tear herself off, But then it was pitch black.. she could see nothing.. Her vision faded.. she fainted..

Hey, hold steady, Larchen said, carrying her towards a campfire..

You... you camp out here in the night ? are you out of your mind ? I've never seen such a ridiculous thing in my entire life.. Look at all the artifacts you collected.. But, how do you protect yourself from all these hostile things.. ? You fight them ?

Ehm, i've devised a protective contraption, it keeps them away, they don't like its smell or something..

Ridiculous... Even so, they'll smell life on you, you are so brazen to light a fire ...

Larchen shrugged.. Anyway teacher.. What were you doing at the common house ?

You recognized me ???

Yeah, then you started tailing me..

Good, very good Larchen, you tricked me.. You trapped me on the array on purpose ?

No.. i had no idea.. But for the tricking, i make my survival by acting non chalant.. but i'm not an idiot.. Anyway teacher.. you are a famous person i couldn't just let you die here.. Let me help you..

I need to get out of this place sooner the better, Fowliang said. I'm completely helpless..

Larchen couldn't help but gulp, regardless then shook his head off.. I'll help you out.. in the morning..

I'll be too much in the effect then, we need to go now..

Fine...

They sprung like a meteor, but it was not much help, the spirits descended on them like a hungry host. Fowliang kicked some away as lightning sparkled, while Larchen tried to keep on course. They descended from the sky towards the southern part of the city like a meteor..the crash landed with all the remaining spirits either burned away, or retreating back to the dark land.

She was in a horrible state.. she was mumbling nonsense and had no memory of anything, while they found her next morning, with barely any clothes or weapons she was only holding a deed to a popular restaurant.

Larchen looked at his ward-off device, which has been destroyed.. almost 6 months of work gone.. He toiled, sweated, and almost destroyed his health to make these ventures...More importantly, he had no memory of last night.. He just wandered back to his room by instinct then fell asleep. As usual, he felt so depressed as if a monster was roaring in his soul...