THE SYSTEM IS NOT MINE

The wind blew as Yan stood in front of Hua Fain while Mutai stood to the right of Hua Fain and observed Yan. Similar, Hai Mazi glared at Yan with red eyes.

”Brother Shui, why were you in the underground prison when the mission was to accompany the wagons?” Hua Fain asked.

The wind blew as Yan didn’t look away.

”My name is Yan,” Yan said.

”And I was after the green liquid from the beginning.”

Mutai immediately took his axe out and slashed it at Yan.

”Stop!” Hua Fain said.

His axe halted one inch away from Yan’s neck as Mutai looked toward Hua Fain, awaiting an answer.

”Sir Chu Feng wouldn’t have done that,” Hua Fain said.

”Did Executioner Mo die because of you?” Hua Fain asked as he looked at Yan.

Mutai and Hai Mazi observed Yan as well, awaiting the answer.

”No...”

Yan replied.

”What happened?” Hua Fain said.

”I went there for the liquid, but the ground shook and all the bottles broke.”

”The liquid fell on the ground...”

”Executioner Mo arrived on time and caught me, then threw me away.”

”He wanted to protect the liquid that fell to the ground from the massive disturbance and the ceiling which was falling,”

”I tried to escape, moved away, I don’t know what happened next.”

”But when I woke up in the clinic, I heard he died,” Yan said.

Hua Fain walked forward. Mutai moved his axe away from Yan’s neck.

Hua Fain came too close to Yan, both of their noses almost touching each other. Then Hua Fain brought up his right hand, and it burned with blue flames.

”Do you know what it is?” Yan looked at the blue flames.

”The blue-colored flames,” Yan replied.

”Yes, and something that can turn you to ashes in a few seconds.”

”Brother Shui. No. Brother Yan.”

”Tell me if it’s not another lie you came up with,” Hua Fain said.

Yan did not say anything. He stayed silent for a minute and then said, ”I had a chance to make up the story, but I did not.”

Find this and other great novels on the author’s preferred platform. Support original creators!

Hua Fain took a step backward. The flames on his palm disappeared.

And then he looked at Yan.

”Go away!”

”From today onwards, you are no longer part of the Saint Merchants.”

”You are expelled.”

The wind blew in between them.

Yan stood still for a moment. Then he bowed toward Chu Feng’s grave, and then to Hua Fain and Mutai.

He turned around and left the place.

After Yan left, Hai Mazi turned toward Hua Fain and asked, ”Brother, why did you let him go?”

”Sir Chu Feng never harmed anyone who has not either harmed us or had intention to harm us.”

”He only imprisoned and executed people who, in their greed for the green liquid, harmed us or intended to harm us. Shui was neither of that.”

Hai Mazi stayed silent. Then she asked, ”What about the King? He used Sir Chu Feng’s death for his ulterior purpose. You could have just scared him with your flames at least.”

”Mazi. It’s not simple.”

”We can’t go against them right now. The Royal Family has a Hegemon, while I am still at Core Formation.”

When Yan left the place, he was walking through the streets of Ebonreach.

The city was very big. Lanterns lit around the shops. People were everywhere. The most outstanding building was the Royal Palace at the center, with black walls, its height reaching the sky, and at the top, the Giant Black Leaf.

”Sad, Sir Chu Feng is no more.”

”He did many good things, sad.”

”Forget about him! The war is here again. The prices will rise again. Hurry up and restock all essentials.”

”What did you say? The war is here?”

Everywhere, every corner, Chu Feng’s name was being discussed along with the upcoming war.

As Yan was strolling through the streets, he saw the familiar face again. He was chatting with some other person.

Yan walked toward the familiar face.

”Brother Cha, it was nice to meet you.” Chen Yu shook his hand with the person covered in a woolen sweater.

When the man wearing the woolen sweater saw Yan coming towards them, he immediately lowered his head. ”Brother Chen Yu, I have to go. I will meet you some other time.”

He turned around and walked away as fast as possible.

Chen Yu saw the man he had befriended moments ago leaving in a hurried manner and wondered if he had troubled him or something.

”How are you?” Then Chen Yu heard a voice from behind him. It was familiar. He turned around and froze.

”Yan...” Chen Yu’s legs trembled a little before returning firm.

”How are you here?” Chen Yu asked.

”I ended up joining the Saint Merchants. Now they kicked me out.”

Yan said.

”I understand. And good timing. You may already know, the one-year truce is breached by Shin. We are going to war earlier than we thought. Come with me. Lord Han Defu is also around.” Chen Yu said.

Yan nodded.

”Come with me. We can go back together,” Chen Yu said.

”Okay,” Yan replied.

Then both of them moved toward the house of Han Defu.

Commander Luma was practicing his swordplay under the moonlight. He noticed Chen Yu and Yan coming back and said, ”Chen Yu, you have brought someone.”

”Commander! This is my friend Yan, also a part of our unit. He is not an outsider.” Chen Yu said.

Commander Luma stopped swinging his swords and came nearer to them. Then he observed Yan for a moment. ”I remember you. You were one of the recruits. You were the one who in the previous year’s recruitment couldn’t hold the stick. The weakest cultivator.”

Chen Yu stared at Yan weirdly. Several thoughts ran through his mind.

”I have become a bit stronger,” Yan said.

”Ha... ha... so you have become a little strong. That’s good. But remember that there is always someone stronger.” Luma patted Yan on his back.

Yan nodded.

”Welcome. By the way, why have you come to Ebonreach?” Commander Luma asked.

”I came to attend the funeral,” Yan said.

”I see. You were one of the admirers of Chu Feng. But don’t tell him about it, just in case you meet Lord Han Defu. He is really in a good mood after Chu Feng’s death.”

”You guys, go in and rest. It’s already nighttime.”

Luma said.

Chen Yu nodded as he led Yan inside the mansion.

Meanwhile, Cha Choo was hurriedly moving out of Ebonreach. He bought a lantern and moved out of the city.

At the outskirts of the city, near the River Sanity, a tent was prepared.

Cha Choo arrived at the tent. ”General, this is bad. The King announced war on us during the funeral.”

The black-skinned man glanced at Cha Choo through the light of the lantern and said, ”His Majesty is prepared. Don’t worry.”

”When is Noir going to attack?” The General asked.

”In one month,” Cha Choo said.

”How foolish of him. He is giving us more time to prepare.” The General of Shin spoke.

”Let’s go back to Shin. The time is good news for us.”