"How many prisoners do we have?"
"There are three, Sect Leader." "They are in the ice cave"
"Hmm, good. Where has your Shixiong gone?"
"I don't know, no one has seen him around since yesterday. Should I go look for him?"
"No, don't bother him, he will show up sooner or later." The Sect Leader continued "What losses have we had?" quickly changing his tone, suddenly becoming solemn.
"Thirty percent of our men fell in battle today."
"And since the beginning of this story?"
Xu Xinyi's voice trembled slightly, "Sixty-eight percent of our starting numbers."
These were not easy days for the cultivation world. Everywhere one turned there was turmoil, plots, betrayal.
Turning his back on him, with a weak voice the Sect Leader said to himself "It's in these moments that I wonder what you would have done in my place, Shixiong".
They heard a big thud and immediately understood what it was.
Shi ZhenXian crossed the threshold of the Sect Leader's offices with his arms crossed and the sword in his hand showing the confidence and swagger that had always distinguished him. Definitely not a Taoist look or attitude, but not even the Sect Leader had been able to do anything about it.
Or rather, he couldn't!
Shi ZhenXian had a rather sharp personality, nothing passed through him and he had never let anyone control him.
As for his master, Xin Shenzhi, to say that he had the patience of a monk was an understatement. Not only did he train the boy but he understood his potential and found a way to exploit it to the fullest. Especially as a child Shi ZhenXian was not easy to manage, but at the same time he had never dared to disrespect his master.
He just had a somewhat… expansive manner.
But this didn't make him a less reliable person, on the contrary.
The clashes had just ended, there had been losses on his side but not at all comparable to those of the Laughing Mist sect.
They could already be considered defeated two months earlier, in the penultimate clash. Today's had been the last attempt to reverse their situation.
Or perhaps the only way to meet their end in a dignified manner.
Sect Leader Guan Qiang was old but still in the best of his abilities, it was he who killed Li HengYuan and put an end to everything.
Just minutes before, Shi ZhenXian settled himself and left his rooms, he had to go and report to the Sect Leader.
He walked through the narrow streets that thinned out up and down the mountain, between his companions' lodgings and the common places. Everywhere he looked, white or black figures were lying on the ground. The white robes of his companions shone under the midday light.
Shi ZhenXian closed his eyes for a minute, then opened them again and as if nothing had happened, he continued walking towards the Sect Leader's office. He looked straight ahead, his step was confident, with each stride he seemed to jump a meter.
He took a deep sigh before putting on a smile and throwing open the doors of the building in front of him.
"Were you looking for me?"
"Here you are finally" the Sect Leader snorted annoyed "I heard that your fight was not an easy one, strange to hear that said about you. Was your opponent as strong as they said?"
Shi ZhenXian looked sideways at his shidi.
Why did you tell him that.
Xu Xinyi seemed to understand what he was referring to and lowered his gaze embarrassed. Luckily he had not said anything about the veil.
"Well he wasn't half bad. I heard that he was Li HengYuan's only disciple." he said, still trying not to get discovered.
"Yes, that's right, the boy must have been born with great talent to put you in difficulty, it's a shame that he's part of that demonic sect. So much wasted potential!"
As he spoke he slowly stroked his beard, now almost completely white. At first glance he didn't seem particularly affected by the fight with Li HengYuan, but a careful eye like Shi ZhenXian's would have recognized even the smallest difference in that look.
And these weren't the only things he was good at. One of his best skills was to make him go off the rails.
Shi ZhenXian tilted his head to the side to get a better look at him. He gave a small smile and said.
"How many compliments to someone like that, old age has mellowed you Sect L-…"
Xu Xinyi, who had already understood, stood there motionless while swallowing nervously and covering his ears.
"YOU ARE THE USUAL IRREVERENT! Old man to whom?" The Sect Leader shouted.
Well now Shi ZhenXian really recognized him. Guan Qiang was also a decidedly impatient Taoist. From this point of view, it can be said that the two were similar.
Shi ZhenXian chuckled, "Master, calm down, it's not good for your health, you should start controlling yourself more… you know, with age you have to be careful about certain things."
The Sect Leader was literally smoking from the ears. He wasn't usually short-tempered but Shi ZhenXian's attitudes had always particularly heated him.
"Sect Leader is here?"
The Sect Leader had to compose himself. He cleared his throat and straightened his sleeves.
"What is it?"
A young disciple entered the room, closed his hands and bowed to the Sect Leader "The prisoners are recovering, what should we do with them?"
"I will take care of it myself."
"Yes sir!"
He said as they both walked towards the exit.
He turned around for a moment and glared at Shi ZhenXian, who was standing there gloating and whistling with his arms crossed behind his head. Not a care in the world.
"Shi ZhenXian come with me."
"Yes sir!" She almost shouted and followed him, flashing a toothy smile.
Even though the Sect Leader might seem stern and a bit gruff, he recognized his abilities and certainly couldn't help it.