The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 148 - The Unexpected Visit

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A/N

Hello my lovely readers,

Thank you for being patient. I took a few days off to catch up with writing this story. Life sometimes gets in the way and since I'm writing this story as I post, when things get hectic, I have to prioritize.

I am grateful that so many people consider my published chapters as part of their daily routine and I will try my best to keep the updates consistent. I missed you all and I missed reading your comments as part of my routine too!

I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

PS: In case no one told you.. You are perfect and I hope you know how much you are loved!

BlakSalt

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Wuxian was not the sharing type, especially when it comes to things that might hurt other people's feelings or affect them negatively. He was not an optimistic man but he never wants to share his misery with others.

It's been many hours and he's grateful that no one asked him about the predicted future. After Zewu Jun handed him the book, he read it silently and refused to divulge anything related to the prophecy afterwards. He just handed the book back and went out the door silently. Wangji followed but didn't ask and Zewu Jun was careful not to read or allow anyone else to read the book in case the rumor about the curse was true. They certainly did not need to borrow more trouble.

Wuxian was tired. He had a stressful day and even though things went well with the fake fortune reading thing and the competition, he still felt like something was about to go wrong. He just couldn't shake that odd feeling off.

Wangji followed him until they reached their room, where Hweiru was quietly playing while waiting for them. She smiled when she saw Wuxian and jumped to hug him: "I missed you, Mama."

Wuxian smiled over his daughter's resemblance to Wangji: "You just saw me this morning."

Hweiru grabbed his robes and tightened her embrace: "It's been forever."

Wuxian's smile drops when he realizes that his little girl was actually worried about them. She sensed his anxiety before they left and silently worried if they were ever going to come back. He sighs, shaking his head. His family needs time to heal after they deal with Biming.

The next day came and went. They were scheduled to leave for Carp Tower in a few days to get the spirit pouch open. They have what they came for and now they must return as soon as possible to Cloud Recesses to secure their bounty.

The City Council Leader passed by in the morning they were set to leave to thank Wuxian for his visit. He entered the room Wuxian was sitting in with Wangji and Zewu Jun and the moment the smaller man set his eyes on his face, he tensed up.

Wuxian swallowed hard and asked with all the courage he could muster: "Why are you here?"

Zewu Jun was confused: "Brother Wei, the Town Leader is here to bid us farewell."

The middle aged man saw the look on Wuxian's face and dropped the facade: "You recognize me?"

Wuxian nods slowly: "I see you."

The brothers were both confused over the tension emanating from Wuxian. Wangji slowly grabbed the hilt of his sword while Zewu Jun angled his body to get ready to protect the smaller man if need be.

The Town Leader smiled at Wuxian: "No one has ever recognized me before."

Wuxian ignored his comment and asked again with more conviction: "Why are you here?"

The Town Leader's face morphed into a serious look: "You think that you're so smart. That I'm an easy target. I let you take the spirit pouch and the book."

Wuxian frowns: "Why?"

Biming glares at the two brothers who are finally recognizing his presence: "Tell you guard dogs to stand down. If I wanted you dead, you would all be dead."

Wuxian puts his hand on Wangji's tense arm and says to Biming: "Do you blame them? The first time we met, you violated my personal space and hurt me."

Biming touched his fake lips and said dreamily: "I remember. But I'm here in peace and I will leave quietly as long as I get what I came for."

Wuxian: "You can have the book but not the pouch."

Biming: "I'm not here to negotiate. I want what is mine."

Wuxian was starting to get irritated: "How is a pouch full of trapped innocent souls yours?"

Biming: "They are not innocent and I spent half of my adult life collecting them. I want what is mine."

Wuxian sighs: "What if I refuse to return it?"

Biming smirks at the pretty man before him: "We can compromise."

Zewu Jun was unsettled by the look on the fake Council Leader's face and interfered: "You're in no place to threaten or ask for compensation. As brother Wei told you, these souls do not belong to you."

Biming send a chilling glare towards Zewu Jun and says in a low threatening voice: "I don't know who you are, but you have no say in this conversation. Stay quiet or die."

Zewu Jun felt a cold shiver pass through his body. Biming didn't just threaten him, he was actually projecting dark energy towards the older man and it was highly unsettling.

Wuxian grabbed Biming's attention back by asking: "What do you want in return?"

Biming slowly reaches his hand across the table and Wuxian instinctively inched back while Wangji unsheathed his sword and punched it through the table, near Biming's advancing hand.

Biming turned to glare at Wangji: "Calm down. I just want to sense his progress."

Wuxian blinks fearfully at him: "Why?"

Biming frowns: "Didn't you read the book?"

Wuxian groans: "Don't play games with me. Tell me what you want."

Biming nods at his hand and says calmly: "Take my hand. I won't hurt you."

Wuxian hesitates when he sees Wangji shake his head slightly. They share a look and Wuxian slowly places his right smaller hand in Biming's.

The faceless man closes his eyes and whispers: "What a waste. We could've ruled the world, you and I."

Wuxian felt Biming caress his knuckles and a shiver went through him: "I don't want to rule anything. I just want to live in peace."

Biming's face slowly shifts back to being faceless and Wuxian grimaces at that sight.

Biming: "How did you recognize me?"

Wuxian takes his hand back when he loosen his grip and whispers: "I don't know. I just do."

Before anyone can react, Biming reached over and grabs Wuxian's retreating hand and vanishing into thin air, taking Wuxian with him.

The last thing Wuxian heard before the world around him turned colorless was his soul-bond's panicked scream: "WEI YING!"

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