Empire (Xichen X OC)

Chapter 4

Apparently, Cloud Recess had a secluded special lake which had the coldest water you could imagine. It was very effective in healing though and Xichen allowed Wuxian to go there and heal at nightfall.

I was sitting on the rooftop of the room I was given, making sure to stay in the shadows. It was almost close to curfew, but I didn't feel like being inside. I looked at the stars, remembering how I used to look at them from Celestial mountain.

I didn't know why but spending time with the boys, being part of a group and seeing the family bond between Cheng and Wuxian; it reminded me of my own good memories. In particular, it reminded of my 'younger brother', another disciple Baoshan had saved from the streets.

He was only 3 years my junior, but we bonded more than other disciples. He shared my dream of coming here but while I wanted some fame and popularity, he wanted to help those in need. Sort of like Wei Wuxian.

He reminded me of him actually even though he was not as mischievous as the Jiang discipline. I left out a sigh and hugged my knees, enjoying the trip down to memory lane. That was until I felt something dark and sinister.

Animalistic cries echoed and I quickly stood up, looking at the direction they came from. I heard about those cries but never fought them before. Zombies. My mind quickly went to what the older Lan had said about bringing Zombies and I suspected they had managed to escape.

Summoning Zixiu, I quickly flew to the forest where their cries were coming from. I saw them spreading across the area, in two groups. I headed for the one the furthest since no one was close enough to handle them.

Jumping off, I led Zixiu to stab a zombie on the chest and pin it on a nearby tree, leaving me with two. They were not that fast-moving but I made sure to be careful of their clawed deformed hands.

I took a step back, avoiding a hand that came for my head and elbowed the zombie on a very sensitive spot on the chest. It stunted him for a moment, and I grabbed the chance to turn and kick it on the side of the neck.

It slammed on a tree and fell unconscious. The one I had pinned was barely alive and was struggling against Zixiu, but I didn't let it go. I looked around for the third one before a shadow covered the moonlight above me.

Looking up, I saw the third zombie heading my way while being airborne. I bent my back, almost forming an upside bridge with my whole body and watched as the zombie missed me by a single inch.

It fell head first on the floor and I wasted no time in bringing my body up, turning and kicking it across the face with some help of my spiritual power. It flew and landed on top of its friend; both being knocked unconscious.

Leaving out a sigh of relief, I summoned my sword back in my hand just in time as I heard Wangji's guqin. I suspected he took care of the remaining zombies, but I still wondered how they got out.

Hearing movement, I turned my head and watched as Xichen and two more disciples landed close to me. They seemed surprised seeing the three knocked out zombies and me with a sword at hand.

I gave a bow to him and sheathed my sword just as the disciples used special ropes to bind the unconscious monsters.

"Little late for the fun" I found myself commenting, offering him a smile first.

He chuckled. "It would be rude of me to disrupt you"

I chuckled, suddenly not feeling the need to bow or be professional. Guess after all this time, I started to relax a little bit around him. Perhaps, it was also the fact that I just had a small battle and it always relaxed me you could say.