Chapter 150 (Patreon)

To watch over the rebels required the observers to be aware enough to notice any movements immediately and fast enough to get the hell out of dodge if the Rattan Armor Soldiers decided to come out in force. Additionally, Six-Eyes needed to go around the whole circumference of the lake to observe the barrier. Naturally, he couldn’t do it alone. For some reason, however, Chen Haoran was conscripted into helping him. On top of it all, there was still no sign of Xie Jin and Bao Si. He could only hope they had yet to make their way to the Center Ring.

“I’m just saying. You won’t be using your eyes if you’re dead. Giving them to me at least means they’ll still be useful.”

“For the last time,” Chen Haoran tiredly said. “I’m not giving you my eyes.”

He, Phelps, Six-Eyes, and three other soldiers were wandering the edges of the lake. One of them had been turned into an impromptu scribe, writing down various technical jargon, symbolism, and terrain features that Six-Eyes would randomly spout out every so often as they passed from one side to the other. Chen Haoran had to give the crazy bastard his credit. Six-Eyes’s vision was way better than the sight the Yellow Dragon granted him. Chen Haoran couldn’t see half the things he was describing and in the time it took him to notice the other half Six-Eyes had listed off five more.

“How about an exchange?” Six-Eyes offered. “I have various Spirit Eyes that can be traded for yours.”

“I like my eyes, thank you,” Chen Haoran politely but firmly denied.

Six-Eyes released a despondent sigh. As if he couldn’t believe Chen Haoran would reject such an incredible deal. “Well, if you ever change your mind, my offer still stands.”

It was Chen Haoran’s turn to sigh now, mentally at least. He knew Six-Eyes’s type well…. no, that was an exaggeration. He’d never met anyone quite as interested in eyeballs as Six-Eyes was, but he was familiar with people who were unhealthily obsessed with niche hobbies and interests that, when mixed with lacking social skills, created….unique characters. It was fine that they were excited, but sometimes they just didn’t recognize it wasn’t always appreciated.

“I don’t have dragon eyes, but could I interest you in snake eyes?”

Chen Haoran actually sighed this time. “Officer Six-Eyes, I mean no offense, but not everyone is as…. enthusiastic about eyes as you are. It’s a very uncomfortable topic for people who don’t share your interest.”

“Oh, I know exactly how uncomfortable it makes people. It’s a strange topic,” Six-Eye’s said.

What.

Six-Eyes turned his goggle eyes toward him, and despite them not being his actual eyes, they were far too adept at conveying his amusement. “Did you really think I wouldn’t know? Past a certain point, making people uncomfortable is a choice.”

“Oh—um.”

“I would still like your eyes, by the way,” Six-Eyes continued. “I just don’t understand how else you expect me to ask for them. Should I convince you you’re donating them to a worthy cause? Will that perhaps make it more palatable?”

Hot tip for being on the awkward end of conversations: Change the topic. It was the social equivalent of a gecko dropping its tail. Obvious as hell but still distracting enough to run away from the original discussion.

“Why do you want my eyes anyway?” Chen Haoran complained. “You said it yourself. They’re not really mine.”

“Do you think a Spirit possessing your vision is as simple as that?” Six-Eyes asked. “The act alone makes your eyes different.”

“What do you mean possession? I’m not being possessed.”

“Is it your eyes or the Spirit’s eyes that you’re seeing through?”

“It doesn’t matter. It just connects its eyes to mine. It’s not using them.”

“Even with the physical effects?”

Physical effects?

A bad feeling overcame Chen Haoran, and he quickly looked into the reflective waters of the lake. Two shining golden eyes stared back at him. The pupils slit vertically like a snake. He immediately cut the connection between him and the Yellow Dragon, and the unnatural gold faded back into familiar peach. He hadn’t felt anything, hadn’t even noticed. It was disquieting. Did the Yellow Dragon mean him harm? With everything it’s done for him and how cooperative it has been? No. He didn’t think it wanted to hurt him. At the same time, however, he had received multiple warnings so far about it from much more experienced cultivators. It had been easy to put aside before, but now….

“You see why I’m so interested?” Six-Eyes said. “Especially given your Spirit’s relation to the Machu River. The Ministry of Rites kicked me out the last time I asked to study their River Blessed’s eyes.”

“Is a Spirit supposed to be dangerous?” Chen Haoran asked. He suddenly found himself desperately desiring answers, and Six-Eyes was the only one here who could possibly answer them.

Six-Eyes tapped his chin in thought. His goggle eyes took on a contemplative look. “Spirits are an interesting phenomenon, almost as interesting as eyes. They are living constructs of both Soul and Qi. Whereas Humans are Soul, Qi, and Body. They are merged where we are separate. Naturally, the soul is one of the most intimate parts of a cultivator’s being. I don’t suppose you know any Soul Techniques?”

“There are Soul Techniques?”

“I suppose that answers that question.” Six-Eyes clicked his goggles and switched eyes from Eagles to something disturbingly human-looking. Phelps shifted uneasily on his back, perhaps feeling just as naked as Chen Haoran did right now. “Unless you’re unlucky enough to run into a particularly malevolent Spirit, then most aren’t any more dangerous to you than the average cultivator is.”

That was in no way comforting.

Six-Eyes was oblivious to Chen Haoran’s thoughts and continued. “When one is inhabiting you, however, is when things start to become tricky. Even when the Spirit means no harm, it does not guarantee no harm will be done.” He reached down and cupped water from the lake in his hand and watched it drip through his fingers. “You can picture it as your body being a cup and your soul being the liquid filling it. A Spirit is a much heavier liquid by comparison, and as it grows, it will inevitably push out your lighter soul and fill the space left behind. In other words, possession.”

Chen Haoran felt cold. “So I’m going to die?”

“Probably. If you’d like to make it faster, then you can go take a dip in the Machu River. Because your Spirit is born of it, the Machu can connect with it directly, and, water, being what it is, will immediately expand the Spirit and push your soul out instantly.”

Chen Haoran clutched his chest, where he felt the Yellow Dragon passing over his heart, drawing in ambient qi unbothered. No wonder Xi Wangmu had sounded so sure he’d die….wait.

Why did this sound familiar?

“So what would happen to the pushed-out soul?” Chen Haoran asked. “Would the Spirit have any memories of the original owner?”

“The soul gets pushed out,” Six-Eyes said. “Why would the Spirit retain anything?”

Of course. Why would he?

Six-Eyes clapped his hands. “That being said, who knows if that will happen to you. I’ve never seen a Machu River Spirit take the shape of a dragon before. Perhaps it is special.” Two baby blue eyes cartoonishly blinked at Chen Haoran. “Or perhaps you are.”

“You were saying something about Soul Techniques before,” Chen Haoran said, uncomfortable. “Will I be able to keep my soul in my body if I learn one?”

“That is the usual way a cultivator manages Spirits, yes. So long as your soul is strong enough, then it can resist being pushed out. Or you can just advance to higher realms and naturally improve the strength of your soul that way.” Six-Eyes gave Chen Haoran a once over. “Although I imagine the latter method wouldn’t be as effective given your Spirit’s abilities.”

Chen Haoran felt the back of his neck prickle despite himself. Just how much did this man see?

Connection: Negative

For once, Chen Haoran would have felt better if that said Valid instead.

“It’s not all bad,” Six-Eyes said. “If there were no benefits, then no one would risk housing a Spirit within themselves.”

Chen Haoran waited for him to finish.

He didn’t.

“Yeah? What kind of benefits?” He’d certainly experienced a few from the Yellow Dragon, but there was no telling if those were standard or not. Their documenting journey soon came to an end as they circled the entire lake and arrived back where they started at the side facing the pyramid’s steps.

“I could tell you,” Six-Eyes drawled. “You just have to make one easy payment of—”

“For the last time. I’m not giving you my eyes.”

Six-Eyes huffed indignantly. “So be it.” He turned to the accompanying Liquid Meridians. “Raise us up.”

The Liquid Meridians respectfully clasped their hands, and brown liquid qi flooded out and sank into the ground. The Earth rumbled as a square was outlined beneath Chen Haoran, Phelps, and Six-Eyes, and a solid square column began lifting them high up into the air until they could look down on the fortifications the rebels had built. Chen Haoran was grateful that he knew for a fact he could survive a fall from multiple stories now; otherwise, he’d be very scared standing up here with no safeties in place.

Still didn’t mean he liked it, though.

“Do I have to be up here?” he asked.

“Someone else has to be,” Six-Eyes distractedly said, switching between different eyes as he analyzed the Formation.

“How’s the observation going? Do you think you’ll be able to get us through?”

“Most assuredly,” Six-Eyes replied. “Although if I could get a look from the inside, that would be ideal.”

“Good luck figuring out how to do that, then,” he silently thought. Chen Haoran drew a line at invading the island without the entire Garrison backing him.

Six-Eyes sighed. “This is quite annoying. I wanted to study the Formations comprising the Secret Realm more.”

And Chen Haoran wanted to not get involved in a life-threatening situation for once, but that didn’t happen either. He kept that to himself, though. “It is what it is,” he said. “Who could have expected this whole thing would be such an elaborate trap.”

“If only I knew this would happen beforehand. I would have said something when I noticed the array maps looked suspicious.”

Chen Haoran paused. Phelps felt the way his qi tightened and stilled with him. His hand crept toward his sword. “That’s crazy.”

“Isn’t it?” Six-Eyes wistfully said. “They thought they could hide the fluctuations of the barriers in the Outer Ring, and admittedly, they did a decent job. If I weren’t also checking, then perhaps no one would have noticed someone doctored the map.”

Chen Haoran’s grip on his hilt was tight. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Well, I can’t just tell Captain Pan or Captain Liu. I’ll get in trouble.”

“You didn’t answer the question,” Chen Haoran warned.

“I simply don’t like secrets,” Six-Eyes admitted. “Particularly those that belong to others. I find they weigh down my soul and produce negative energy I don’t need in my life. I would much rather fill that space with more important things, like eyeballs or Formations. Now that I’ve told you, I feel myself lightened and free.”

Oh. So he was delusional.

Chen Haoran didn’t relax his grip on his sword. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“Well, if I were going to make excuses, which I will, all I found were some alterations of minor fluctuations in the Outer Rings that could have been anything. Now, I will admit, part of it was hubris. I assumed that no matter what occurred in the Secret Realm, I, and by extension, the Garrison, would be able to handle it, which was true. I just didn’t expect it to be so much of a time-sink.” He turned his head to Chan Haoran, and one goggle eye winked at him. “The other part of it is the same reason you’re not going to tell Captain Pan any of this. Who wants to make things complicated?”

It was not a threat. Chen Haoran felt no killing intent or presence from Six-Eyes. He did not need to because Six-Eyes was not threatening him. He was simply stating the truth. Chen Haoran wasn’t about to get more involved in this by going to Pan Gong. It was disconcerting that Six-Eyes had so quickly grasped his personality enough to make accurate calls like that. In a way, he felt like he was dealing with Song Yuelin again, where any little action on his part revealed far more than he intended.

Six-Eyes glanced back at the barrier. “Oh!” he exclaimed. “I see the man who tried killing me. You….uh…. whatever your name was, you might want to get ready to act.”

“First of all,” Chen Haoran said. “You’re a higher Layer than I am. So I don’t know why I have to be the one to act. Second: What am I getting ready for?”

“First,” Six-Eyes replied without missing a beat. He slapped Chen Haoran’s shoulder. Phelps hissed at him. “I am a Formation Specialist. I do Formation things. Second: You need to be ready for this arrow he’s about to launch at us.”

A bright green light flared atop the pyramid and flew at them with the speed of a cruise missile. The arrow was on them in an instant, expanding rapidly from a projectile into a veritable flying forest of grasping branches and coiling roots that dwarfed them and sought to entangle and crush them. A white light flashed once, then multiple times across the flying forest and chopped it to pieces before it could reach them.

Six-Eyes covered his goggle eyes with one hand and, with the other, pulled out an ointment. “I must say, my eyes haven’t stung like this since I peeped on a Crystal Transformation Realm’s underwear drawer. That’s quite the Harmonization you’ve got.”

Chen Haoran calmly sheathed his sword and followed the trajectory of the arrow back to where it originated, feeding qi to his eyes to enhance his vision and see the faces of the two figures across from them.

Bao Si stared back at him in open-mouthed shock.

What the fuck? Why was she over there?

“I do believe that’s your friend, no?” Six-Eyes stated.

Chen Haoran had pulled out half his sword when a palm was in his face. Phelps lashed out with his claw at the same time and stabbed it.

“Stop,” Six-Eyes said, ignoring his pierced palm. “Do you think I only saw her just now? If I were going to attack you, I would have done so already.”

Chen Haoran hesitated. “How the hell do you know that?”

“You don’t seriously think I didn’t notice the tantrum you threw outside. Do you? Also your heart rate rose.”

Incomprehensible. He couldn’t understand this man. There was no understanding this man. Again, he thought of Song Yuelin.

“What are you trying to pull?” Chen Haoran demanded.

“Not my business, not my problem,” Six-Eyes declared.

Chen Haoran hesitated again but finally sheathed his sword. He could see Bao Si speaking to the Rattan Armor Soldier who shot at them. Their gazes met. Chen Haoran waved. Bao Si mouthed something.

“I can’t read lips,” Chen Haoran mouthed back.

“Ah, allow me,” Six-Eyes said. “She said, and I quote, ‘You idiot. Why are you with the Garrison?’”

Chen Haoran looked back at her. “I’m an idiot? Why are you with the rebels?”

“If I may,” Six-Eyes interjected. “Seeing as she’s a native, it makes far more sense for her to be over there than over here.”

Chen Haoran frowned. “Do you think you’re being helpful right now?”

“Yes, actually. Quite a lot.” Six-Eyes switched out for a pair of red eyes that burned like torches. “I’m curious. Is that your lover?”

Chen Haoran debated answering, but in the end. It didn’t make much of a difference whether he did or not now, did it? “She’s my situationship.”

“Ah. I assume this isn’t the first time either.”

Chen Haoran did not know what sort of expression he was wearing at the moment, but he assumed ugly shock comprised the majority of it. “What the fuck.”

“Typically, people who use words like that are repeat offenders,” Six-Eyes calmly pointed out.

“No—what in the fu—” He ruffled his air in aggravation. “How the hell do you know what that word means?”

Six-Eyes pointed back at the pyramid in lieu of answering. “I believe your friend is trying to tell you something.”

Chen Haoran swallowed down his frustration and confusion and focused on Bao Si.

“Is Xie Jin with you?” she asked.

He frowned and shook his head. “Have you not seen him?”

She shook her head. At this moment, even if he were blind, he’d be able to see the ugly look on her face. He knew because he had the same one.

“Xie Jin, where are you?”

Six-Eyes looked out into the jungle. “Oh dear.”

An explosion of red qi surged over the trees. Red beasts of all shapes and species sprung out from the qi as if they came to life and stampeded as one giant wave. Out of the jungle darted a shirtless Liquid Meridian Realm with a black beetle implanted in his chest. Chen Haoran had to look twice because he almost didn’t recognize Xie Jin. Since when did he advance?

The jungle behind him disintegrated in the ravenous maws of the qi beasts. A man stalked out of the horde, passing through the beasts as if they didn’t exist. He didn’t look out of place among them. His own face was monstrous to look at, more melted candlewax than skin. Two bloody red eyes glared murder so palpable that the falling knife leaves wilted and died around him.

“I’ll kill you!” The Liquid Meridian roared.

White light lit up the sky, and Chen Haoran fell on him like a meteor.