Chapter 27: Secret Mission (Part One)

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At midnight, Zhou Yu informed the old man before stepping outside.

“Du Niang, begin the scan,” Zhou Yu instructed.

Three small green dots appeared on his watch, scattered about—so faint they were almost impossible to notice. In a place like the Spirit Realm, though, colored glimmers like these were nothing out of the ordinary; this was the land most rich in spiritual energy, the most suitable place for cultivators to practice.

Guided by Du Niang’s investigation, Zhou Yu deftly avoided everyone and arrived at the lakeside where he had unblocked his left arm days before.

Tonight, thick clouds veiled the sky, completely obscuring the moon. Darkness enveloped the world, the low black clouds pressing down, yet there was no hint of rain.

“What is this lake called?” Zhou Yu asked Hua Quemo, who was already standing by the water.

“Small Lake,” Hua Quemo replied.

Zhou Yu stepped closer and said, “Your answer leaves me at a loss—such a name offers nothing to build a conversation upon.”

“Then let’s get straight to the point,” Hua Quemo said.

Zhou Yu shrugged. “Go ahead.”

“You cannot participate in tomorrow’s competition,” Hua Quemo said.

Zhou Yu crouched and searched the ground, finally finding a small stone. He tossed it into the lake, dusted off his hands, and replied, “You call it a competition, we call it a duel. For us, not participating isn’t an option.”

Hua Quemo sighed. “I know I can’t persuade you, but I have to warn you—be very careful.”

Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

Hua Quemo answered, “Tomorrow I’ll be leaving the Spirit Realm. Elder Jin has become increasingly reckless, and lately he’s been consorting with the Beast Sect. I have a feeling something is about to happen.”

“Why are you leaving? Is it because of the war with the Demon Clan?”

Hua Quemo considered for a moment. “You could say that, but I can’t tell you the real reason. I have no choice but to leave.”

“So it’s a secret mission then,” Zhou Yu said, stretching and yawning. “In that case, help me unblock the meridians in my right arm tonight.”

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Hua Quemo shot Zhou Yu a look—this kid really was shameless. He’d tricked him last time, and now wanted another favor? He replied, “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but... recently, I need to remain at my peak.”

“So your secret mission is just a fight,” Zhou Yu said. “Doesn’t sound too serious. You went through all the trouble to call me out, even used that bizarre gesture as a signal—there must be something else?”

“No, I just wanted to remind you,” Hua Quemo said. “I’ve been feeling uneasy lately, and thoughts of Yue Ming keep coming to mind, so I thought I’d warn you.”

Back in his room, Zhou Yu lay on his bed, unable to sleep.

Hua Quemo’s behavior was truly strange—he was definitely hiding something. Thinking carefully, Zhou Yu realized there must be a reason he couldn’t speak about; he had warned Zhou Yu, yet hadn’t elaborated. Why?

He tossed and turned restlessly, dawn still far off, and decided to resume his meridian training when a sudden knock sounded on the door.

The sharp rap echoed clearly in the night. Zhou Yu sat up and closed his eyes, expecting to see the scene outside in his mind, but nothing appeared. Du Niang had already set up energy crystals around the house—normally, Zhou Yu could see outside whenever he wished.

But now, he could see nothing. Zhou Yu was puzzled and asked, “What’s happening, Du Niang?”

“The energy crystals are being disrupted!” Du Niang replied, flustered.

With no other choice, Zhou Yu walked toward the door, asking, “Who’s there?”

Passing by the old man, Zhou Yu saw he was already awake and quickened his pace to answer the door.

“Morrison,” came the reply from outside.

Morrison? Zhou Yu was startled—how could it be him? But the voice was unmistakable, and Zhou Yu’s expression grew serious. On second thought, though, he relaxed.

If Morrison was knocking, he couldn’t be looking for trouble.

Zhou Yu opened the door. Morrison stood outside, his bald head—usually shiny enough to serve as a mirror—completely swallowed by the darkness.

Without a word, Morrison stepped inside.

As Morrison passed by, Zhou Yu felt a subtle pressure—the man’s cultivation had advanced yet again. He could now project a tangible aura, like a tiger prowling the woods, every movement intimidating the beasts around him.

Zhou Yu closed the door and turned. “What do you want?” he asked.

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Morrison said, “If you want to live, don’t compete tomorrow.”

“Trying to provoke me?” Zhou Yu replied with a smile.

Morrison was about to speak when his brow suddenly furrowed and his face grew anxious. “Do as you see fit,” he said, then opened the door and strode out. A few steps away, with his back to Zhou Yu, Morrison lifted his wrist and gave a slight shake.

His wristwatch glowed with a faint blue light in the darkness.

“What was that about?” Zhou Yu asked Du Niang.

“That was him interfering with the energy crystals I set up using his watch,” Du Niang replied. “But why would he do that?”

“He’s reminding me that I’m not the only one whose watch still works.”

After arriving in the Spirit Realm, all the travelers’ watches had stopped working, never lighting up again. Zhou Yu had thought he was the only one among them whose device still functioned. He never imagined that Morrison, the most powerful of them all, had a watch that was just as “alive” as Du Niang.

Following Hua Quemo, even Morrison advised Zhou Yu not to compete. Hua Quemo’s warning could be chalked up to concern—the two got along well enough. But Morrison had always been Zhou Yu’s adversary, even vowing to kill him. Zhou Yu truly couldn’t understand why Morrison would warn him.

And Morrison’s hurried departure—something must have happened.

Zhou Yu compared himself to Morrison in his mind. Morrison’s strength was indisputable. Though Zhou Yu had shown fierce power the day he went berserk, that kind of explosive fighting came at a great cost; only someone with Zhou Yu’s remarkable healing could withstand it, and overuse would destroy his meridians.

Zhou Yu sat for a long time at the stone table, deep in thought. At last, he spoke to the old man making his bed on the floor: “Master, help me with my meridian training.”

“You’ve made up your mind?” the old man asked, rising.

Zhou Yu nodded. “Let’s begin.”