Every Lifetime I Fall {COMPLETED but undergoing revisions}

Chapter 33: Third Life - I Hate the World but Like You

Five years went by unnoticeably like the only two seasons we have in Crimson Snow Valley. The valley only knew Autumn and Winter. We'd grown accustomed to it.

I was twenty. I'd served Master as usual, agreeing to take on assignments. Master would tell me that it's for her own purposes, but I knew that wasn't always the case. I'd track the assignment to the person who ordered the kill.

Researching the target, I would find that they were people the Immortal Sect weren't particularly fond of. A mistress of a Sect Leader who would bring shame to their legacy . A politician who spoke against the thuggery of the Immortal Sects. A former Martial Artist who once served under their secret orders.

They weren't all innocent, but they all weren't deserving of death. Like Wu Dufeng and his son. My hopes of restraining my inner turmoil was slowly fading. I was starting to suspect Master was using her followers to be the Immortal Sect Leaders' dogs. Now I wasn't only a Killer Child but also a Killer Adult.

"Your formation is unstable. You're leaving yourself open," I said biting into a peach. Lu Kai was practicing her abilities and wanted me to give her a few pointers.

She had come a long way. A meek slave turned into a strong and resilient sword fighter. Although a quick learner, she was far from perfection.

Using my wooden stick, I hit the side of her right leg and shoulder. She stepped back to avoid my attack.

"Ow. Senior Luo, that hurt."

"Imagine if it was a sword slicing into your skin. You have to be quicker!"

I went after her with my stick stretched out. She countered my attack by flying above my head. Watching her fly above, I turned around to hit her as she landed, but she was quick this time. Her wooden stick's power of heavy weight came into contact with mine.

Although only fifteen, she was much taller and her level of strength almost overpowered me. I swung my stick under and veered hers over her head. She almost lost her hold, but managed to return to her defense position.

"You're getting better," I said, "But you still need to practice more."

"Right!"

"I can't believe after all these years, you're finally going to experience the ceremony yourself." I dropped the wooden stick onto the ground.

"Is it going to be difficult?"

"No. It won't be hard. You stand there and Master casts the spell over the students."

"Mmm... okay."

"Remember, the ceremony is to solidify your loyalty to Crimson Snow Valley. To avoid Jianghu ridiculing us to be weak willed, we cannot make fools out of ourselves. That means no sex. No romantic entanglements. Unless you want to be kicked out."

I pointed a finger at her, and bit into my peach before tossing the core onto the ground.

"I didn't realized I followed you to a nunnery..."

"That's life here." I shrugged.

"As long as I am with you, I guess!"

Curious, I asked, "Why do you like me so much anyways?"

"Like-- like you?" She stuttered.

"I don't treat you that well, but you're always following me around."

"I don't follow you..."

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

"I just admire you... You're strong, ruthless, and you don't care about what people say. You're brazen, and I just like that about you."

"So I'm basically a scoundrel?"

"That's not what I'm saying!"

"It's fine. It's fine. I practically raised you, so it's understandable you're brave enough to speak your mind."

Later that night, I had another nightmare. The blood on my hands, the chilling screams in my ear, the weakness in my legs.

When I woke up, I mindlessly walked over to Hua Xue. I silently crept through the door, and sat down on the bed next to Lu Kai. Watching her sleep soundly reminded me that not everything in the world was bad. There was still one person who I could count on to not hurt me.

Squinting through her eyes, she asked, "Did you need something, Senior Luo?"

I shook my head.

"Another bad dream?" She sighed and turned the other way, falling quickly back to sleep.