love at first sight... // zhuiling

Chapter 49

 A cultivator with a grey mask descended from above, and stood in between Jin Ling and the group of cultivators. He wore grey robes and carried a jian.

"Huh, I didn't know you made friends in the mortal world, your Highness."

"Leave now." the anonymous person said sternly.

"And what if I don't?" the heavenly cultivator mocked.

The anonymous person said nothing, then unsheathed his jian, revealing its sharp blade.

"Alright, alright. If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get." the other heavenly cultivator responded, backing up. 

He then suddenly lunged, his blade moving towards the anonymous cultivator's neck. The anonymous cultivator easily dodged the attack and aimed for the heavenly cultivator's stomach. The heavenly cultivator attempted to dodge the attack, but the masked cultivator's sword had already entered him. Blood stained his robes and flowed down the masked cultivator's jian. 

The anonymous cultivator showed no mercy, plunging his blade deeper inside. Blood started to seep out of the cultivator's mouth. They stared blankly at the masked cultivator with fear in his eyes. Eventually, the masked cultivator forced his blade back out, causing him to collapse. His junior heavenly cultivators helped him, as he spat out blood. The masked cultivator put his jian by his side, blood still dropping from the tip of his blade.

"You got l- lucky thi- this time... ne- next time, you bet I- I'll be- beat you." the heavenly cultivator stuttered, before him and the rest of the group disappeared to the heavenly realm.

The anonymous cultivator sheathed his jian and turned to Jin Ling, who was still on the ground. He held his hand out to him and smiled.

"They're gone now. You can get up."

Jin Ling put his hand into his, and helped himself up. Jin Ling quickly patted the dust and dirt off his robes.

"Thank you." Jin Ling said.

"Of course. Heavenly cultivators always come here, thinking they're some hot shot. How about I stay with you? There won't be any heavenly cultivators around me." the anonymous cultivator replied.

"Sure." Jin Ling replied. Any help from any cultivator was good for him.

"Well, I need to go back to my home. I don't feel like cultivating anymore. I'm living with one of my assistants, Zou Fang."

"Nice." 

"By the way, I've never even asked for your name. My name is Jin Ling, courtesy name Rulan."

"I... I don't have a name." the anonymous cultivator responded.

"What?"

"Maybe I did have a name before, but I don't have any recollection of my name, so I've been calling myself *Wuming to other people."

"That's okay, I'll call you Wuming then, too."

For the rest of the trip, Jin Ling talking about his experiences and told life advice to Wuming. Wuming seemed to be enjoying it, laughing at certain parts and comforting Jin Ling at others. When they finally reached their home, Jin Ling found it abandoned, with not a single person in sight.

"Where did Zou Fang go?"

On the table, they found a note, written by Zou Fang himself.

I'm sorry, your Highness. Opportunities have opened in the heavenly realm and it was hard to reject the offers. Do not worry. Chen Ye and I will look after you.

Jin Ling sighed, before setting the note down, and sat on his bed.

"What happened?" Wuming asked.

"My assistant, Zou Fang, ascended to heaven." Jin Ling informed.

"Oh..." Wuming replied. "I take back what I said about heavenly officials. I'm sure General Zou Fang will be a good person."

"Thank you. He will appreciate that." Jin Ling replied.

*Wuming in Mandarin literally translates to "No name"