That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

32. The Death Mist

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As LanFen pressed ahead, the mist seemed to have a life of it's own, as it thickened around her.

Now that she had a feel of the strange aura, she hopped on her sword to move faster, and after flying for a few miles, she passed through what felt like an array, and a cold shiver washed over her.

Surprisingly, the mist had become lighter, and she found herself in a small clearing, with dense trees on every side.

LanFen swivelled sharply to her right, narrowly avoiding a bright green projectile.

She jumped off the sword and ducked backwards, as another green projectile flew at her, then she leapt almost immediately, to avoid the one directed at her feet.

'This technique...' On closer inspection, LanFen realized the 'projectiles' were really fans, surrounded by a bright green fiery aura.

The flying fans, combined with the unique green colour of aura, brought back an unpleasant memory.

"Show yourself. You were one of the men who attacked Jun and I on Bai Hua Mountain." LanFen felt anger curl itself around her heart, as she remembered that night.

Jun had been a child she had adopted from Bai Hua mountain, and she had raised him for half a year.

That night, she had been trying to take him back to Bai Hua Mountain, but a group of strong individuals had lain in wait...

"You have a good memory, Zhao LanFeng." A voice spoke, a second before a man stepped out of the mist. Ah, yes... Would you prefer me to address you as Xuè Shèngrén?

"Tell me, does your memory also recall that I'm already in the Black realm? Did you come here to catch to me, or will you end up dying here today?"

The man appeared to be in his late thirties, and he was dressed in dark red and black robes, but as he stepped closer, his face was illuminated by one of the glowing green fans.

It had been almost ten years since LanFen last set eyes on that face, but she recognized him, and she lifted an amused brow. "Zhou ZhuMin...? Like birds indeed have similar feathers."

Zhou ZhuMin was the nephew of Zhou ZhuFeng, the Clan Leader LanFen had disgraced at her hearing.

As a child, LanFen had grown used to the cruelty she and her mother faced from her own family, so she was hardly surprised when outsiders did the same thing...

But there were a few of note, that had made their lives miserable, and Zhou ZhuMin was at the top of that list.

Zhou ZhuMin had delighted in being cruel to LanFen and her mother at any opportunity, because the Zhou family had hated Zhao ZhuYong for many years.

LanFen had heard that her grandfather had died suspiciously, and the Zhou family had attempted to put her uncle, Lin MinXue, on the dragon seat.

But her father, Zhao ZhuYong had returned, and easily reclaimed his rightful position as Clan Leader.

This had bred bad blood between the Zhao and Zhou families, and now that she was grown, LanFen was fairly certain that they had assisted Lin MinXue in planning her father's death, and framing her mother.

As if all that wasn't bad enough, both Zhou ZhuFeng and Zhou ZhuMin had made themselves recent enemies...

"I've been looking for certain enemies, and one of them presents himself like this? I can't say I'm pleased to see you, but nor am I displeased."

Zhou ZhuMin fumed. "Hmph! In my case, I'm delighted to see you! How dare trash like you, sling mud on the Zhou family, before the Wulin?!"

He was referring to the fact that she had embarrased Zhou ZhuFeng during her hearing, and now, other clan leaders eyed the Zhou Clan with suspicion.