"I've... failed..." He uttered his last breath before the world before him turned to black and collapsed.
The Cloud knights who was beside him saw a couple of enemies broke through their formation and rushed towards the people behind them. "S-Shit!" They almost broke formation but suddenly a blurry figure rushed towards the incoming enemies.
The Denizen of abundance thrust his blade forward to only strike empty air.
'Pretentious palm strike!' Qin Shaoqing who dodged low brough his palm forward and as his palm met the enemy's chest Qin Shaoqing activated his drain ability and disembodied voice.
"Boom" A loud booming sound resonated, produced by disembodied voice. Being drained of yang energy the enemy collapsed instantly, shocking everyone who saw it.
Qin Shaoqing who stood tall started to emit his calming aura and steadfast demeanor in full blast, and every Cloud knight who felt this couldn't help but compare this presence to General Jing Yuan.
Even Guinaifen who saw this couldn't help but rub her eyes as if dreaming, but the Qin Shaoqing who seemed easygoing a minute ago turned to such imposing figure.
"Be steadfast Cloud knights, we will win this battle!" Qin Shaoqing's resolute voice resonated throughout their mind.
The Cloud knights who heard him responded with a war cry of their own "HAAA!"
Qin Shaoqing who took a deep breath rushed forward past the Cloud knight directly facing the horde.
The Denizens of Abundance who also felt his aura felt threatened and instantly attracted everyone who was near him, significantly reducing the pressure the Cloud knights delt.
'Left abdomen, right arm, neck' Qin Shaoqing's Absolute Sword Sense told him which part his enemies aimed for and dodged accordingly.
Each time he dodged, he would perform a palm strike along with the booming sound and each strike, a denizen of abundance would fall.
To have such a powerful ally who was surrounded by enemies yet seamlessly dodged all of their attack was mesmerizing in itself and to hear each strike that shook the air would kill an enemy, they felt victory was at hand.
And the citizens who witnessed the scene felt as if the General himself came down personally to deliver righteous action.
"HAAA!" With Qin Shaoqing attracting agro, Cloud knights pushed forward with ease.
Qin Shaoqing who was dodging with great difficulty felt only invigorated, as even when his stamina was exhausted his drain completely replenished all lost strength.
The Denizens of abundance who felt the tide has turned decided to retreat as staying here will only be a losing battle and soon the once endless wave receded.
"WOAAA!" Cloud knights cheered in vigor and most eyes was directed towards Qin Shaoqing whom they looked with admiration.
The pressure he released rivals that of a General but his face felt unknown to all of them. Everyone wondered who is this figure.
But before they could ask, Qin Shaoqing took a step forward. "W-wait sir, where are you going!" One Cloud knight gathered the courage to ask, stopping Qin Shaoqing in his track.
"Me? I'm going to rescue my disciple!" Qin Shaoqing proclaimed and continue walking.
Everyone felt touched seeing him walk towards the enemy's territory in the hope of rescuing his disciple. The ones who wanted to ask who he was couldn't gather enough courage to stop such a valiant figure and soon he was gone from everyone's sight.
....
"Blergghhh" Qin Shaoqing who was against a wall threw up once more, the memory alone of him walking out brought him great embarrassment.
'General? Me? Hah even I am not shameless enough to call myself that'
"Ugh" Qin Shaoqing who recovered from his shame shook his head, he ultimately blamed his system who forced him to act cool.
His mission was completed so he wanted to look at the reward.
[Phantom Presence: Everybody near you will naturally overlook your presence]
"Hmm, seems like a decent ability." Qin Shaoqing commented.
Though its not invisibility, it is somewhat akin to invisibility as everyone would unconsciously ignore him if he choose so.
The only downside is whenever he talk or make his presence known, this ability becomes basically useless.
Activating the ability he felt no change in his body but to truly test it he went to a relatively open space and every denizens of abundance that passed through the area, they would think of him as air and overlook him.
Qin Shaoqing now realized with this ability he could roam around dangerous area without consequence and sighed in relief.
'Sigh, so my worry of surviving the area was solved by the system, I misunderstood you system.' With that thought Qin Shaoqing walked through the street with leisure, passing every Denizens of Abundance without a care.
With his mind free to wonder, Qin Shaoqing was reminded what he said before leaving the safe zone.
Sushang, right.
Looking at his system, he finally noticed the killing spree Sushang was on finally stopped a while ago.
Though Qin Shaoqing was confident by his student's strength, he couldn't help but worry a little, that little thing was a novice in terms of thinking ahead and there was the possibility of her overexerting her strength when its not needed.
But needlessly worrying without doing anything won't save her, so instead of thinking he increased his pace to where he and Sushang parted. As Qin Shaoqing walked, a familiar figure among the crowds of denizens caught his eye. 'No.. it can't be.'
Not wanting to believe his eyes, he walked closer, each step his legs became heavier as his face hardened.
Qin Shaoqing mind froze as he looked at one figure. 'Bai Ming' One name resonated in his mind.
Though her face was covered in thick golden branches and leaves one hole that revealed her eye told all what he needed.
'Tsk.. And here I thought you'll die by old age.' Qin Shaoqing tried to humor himself but no amount of comfort can settle his sorrow heart.
In truth, though he tried to hide it Qin Shaoqing deeply trust Bai Ming, not only she had taught the ways of stall business, she also was ordinary, a woman unaffected by the world around her and a figure that felt no different from earth peoples, and because of that he felt at ease when talking with her.
Though humans is quick to adapt, some can't bear to act all the time, mask will weather and worn eventually and only Bai Ming was the only one who he can take off his mask to.
'You didn't deserve this' Biting his lips and his mind wavered, looking at Bai Ming who seemed oblivious to Qin Shaoqing's presence could clearly see the pain in her eyes.
Even when she looked at him with distrust when Guinaifen publicly shamed him, he just shook his head and smiled, even when she detest him, the thought of a kindred soul in this unknown world brought enough comfort.
Several memories played in Qin Shaoqing's mind, the carefree voice of Bai Ming pained him a little. 'Tsk you're lucky you can have your own residence, my uncle always smoke and drinks, its hard to even breath inside. When I get enough money, I might finally be able to buy my own house'
'Hey have you heard of the new ghost story? It said one night in Aurum Alley. mist rolled in unexpectedly and neighbors supposedly heard a child giggling'
Standing still for minutes, Qin Shaoqing who was a statue finally talked "Bai Ming..." he whispered.
Bai Ming who heard him finally noticed him, her movements instantly transformed into a battle stance but seeing her eyes tremble when seeing him, he knew there was a fragment left of Bai Ming's sanity.
"Let me.. relieve you of your pain." Qin Shaoqing stepped forward. 'Yes, please..' Bai Ming's eyes seemed to say that exact phrase, but her body that had been taken over by madness launched forward to Qin Shaoqing with the intent of killing him.
'Forgive me..' Qin Shaoqing dodged the incoming blade and pull her into his embrace. 'This friend has failed to save you.' He knew this situation was out of his control but his emotional self couldn't help but blame himself.
When Qin Shaoqing's ability activated cyan cold-fire busted from his body, enveloping both of them. Creating a beautiful yet tragic imagine.
Bai Ming who once struggled in his embrace began to falter before her arms became powerless.
"Thank.. you." Bai Ming's faint voice tickled Qin Shaoqing's ears, and her crazed eyes eased before closing.
"No, thank you, you deserve rest." Qin Shaoqing replied, but hearing no reply he kept his embrace, unknowingly his flames intensified.
[Detecting an unexpected emotion]
[The unexpected variable is forcibly changing an ability.]
["drain" has evolved to "Ghostly flames"]
Qin Shaoqing who couldn't afford to look at his system kept embracing her before letting go.
'This world is unforgiving, the Luofu you stand on has a sole purpose of killing a god.' Qin Shaoqing reminded himself. Looking at the disease caused by that god Qin Shaoqing began to understand the hatred that was sown deep into this place.