The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 82 - Trepidation

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Wangji was in a state of panic. What just happened was nothing short of a threat to his soul-bond and the look Wuxian gave him afterwards set his alarm bells ringing. The only thought going through his mind is: 'Protect what is mine!'

He rushed into the inn and made his way towards their room, ignoring everyone else on the way. He opened the door and was almost tackled to the ground by a freaked out Wuxian. The smaller man grabbed Wangji's robes and hid his face in his chest in a silent plea for protection and consolation. Wuxian was scared.

Wangji enveloped his soulmate and tried his best to soothe him. Zewu Jun entered the room in a rush: "He's gone. We couldn't find him anywhere."

Wuxian tightened his grip on Wangji's clothing and whispered: "Don't let go."

Wangji pulled the smaller man closer and whispered back: "I won't."

Zewu Jun can see Wuxian's tremors from where he was standing a few paces away and silently closes the door to give them privacy for now. They can talk about what happened once Wuxian calms down.

After a few minutes have passed, Wangji asks: "Did you see his face?"

Wuxian shakes his head: "He had no face."

Wangji frowns: "No face?"

Wuxian nods: "Just like my vision, he had no features. But I saw his.. eyes. He looked right at me like he knew who I was.. like he wanted something from me."

Wangji pulled away to look at his frightened soul-bond: "We will catch him before he has a chance to come near you."

Wuxian lets out a stuttered breath: "I.. I don't know how to explain it but.. I feel like we can't stop him. His eyes.. they carry so much anger.. so much rage. I've never felt so intimidated in my life."

Wangji tried to rub Wuxian's arms to calm him down: "We have every advantage to beat this one man. The Deities are on our side. Have faith."

Wuxian's body wouldn't stop shaking: "He had no face."

Wangji nods. Wuxian pulled on his sleeve to emphasize his point: "His face.. it was not there!"

Wangji nods. Wuxian sighs in frustration: "I don't.. how are we going to find a man without a face? I don't know if I can do this."

Wangji pulls his soul-bond until he sits down. He made him drink some water and take deep breaths: "We proceed as planned. You have a healing session tomorrow. That's all you have to deal with right now. The rest we will deal with when the time comes."

Wuxian inches closer to Wangj: "What if he finds me before then?"

Wangji smiles: "Then he will meet his demise by my sword."

Wuxian leans into his soul-bond: "I admire your confidence but I don't think you can easily kill a faceless man."

Wangji: "You underestimate how far I will go to protect what's mine."

Wuxian closes his eyes and whispers: "I believe in you."

Wangji was filled with warmth at his soul-bond's trust and helped him lay back to rest for now.

After an hour, he finds his brother to discuss what happened.

Zewu Jun: "He had no face?"

Wangji nods. Zewu Jun: "Could Brother Wei be too shocked or mistaken? It was a long distance. Maybe he didn't get a good look."