Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

Urgent footsteps resounded.

The Swordswoman pushed open the door, walked to Xu Xingke's opposite side, sat down, and glared at him.

Xu Xingke was seriously eating, not even lifting his head.

"Now we're in big trouble, the news has already spread." The Swordswoman had no choice but to speak.

"What has spread?"

Xu Xingke scooped up a mouthful of food, continuing to eat as he asked.

"The Chaos Spirit Light announced that the 'king species' is within Shen Ye, and might descend into the mortal world at any time. All the major powers are aware of this." The Swordswoman said.

"Oh."

"Oh, my ass! Everyone's panicked right now, and quite a few suggest taking care of Shen Ye." The Swordswoman irritably said.

Xu Xingke looked up at her.

She did not avoid his gaze, as if asking back what to do now.

"Hey." Xu Xingke said.

"What?" The Swordswoman responded attentively.

"Pass the chili sauce." Xu Xingke said.

The Swordswoman deflated and handed over the chili sauce from the table, grumbling:

"That kid is only in his teens, and now everyone knows he's possessed by an insect body. How will he live from now on?"

"You're worried about him." Xu Xingke said.

"Yes," The Swordswoman admitted, "I haven't seen a newcomer wield a sword like that in many years, and I don't want such a person to die so young—"

"In this era, humans die too often for my liking."

"So you sent him to me to be mentored." Xu Xingke said with conviction.

The Swordswoman rubbed her forehead, picked up a bottle of wine, poured Xu Xingke a full cup, then herself as well.

"Here's to you." She lifted her cup.

"With so many swordsmen, what about his way of using the sword captivated you?" Xu Xingke asked, not lifting his cup, fixing his gaze on the Swordswoman.

"Most people, when they use weapons to kill the enemy, act in anger, filled with surging killing intent, venting their emotions, wishing they could use all of their strength." The Swordswoman said.

"And him?" Xu Xingke asked.

"He's just performing a 'slash'." The Swordswoman said.

"But he still ended up killing the enemy." Xu Xingke said.

"Because after the slash, the enemy is meant to die, that's cause and effect—"

The Swordswoman elaborated further: "The matter is inherently complete, so he's fully focused on completing that one strike, not desperate to kill someone."

"—This really suits my taste, so I think he deserves to live."

"Why not take him as your own disciple and train him in swordsmanship?" Xu Xingke sidelong glanced at her.

The Swordswoman touched her face, worriedly saying:

"I'm so beautiful, if I were to take him in, what if rumors started?"

"You're worried about that?" Xu Xingke was surprised.

He picked up his wine cup, clinked it with the Swordswoman's, and they both drank the wine.

"I'm single, of course I worry about rumors." The Swordswoman said.

"Then get a boyfriend and get married."

"But I want to play games; men would only hinder my fun."

"You're too playful, Swordswoman—you just can't be bothered to mentor a disciple, right?"

"Haha, you know me."

No sooner had she spoken.

The door was pushed open again.

One powerful warrior after another entered the room.

—These were warriors from all the major powers.

They crammed the entire room, circulating around Xu Xingke, their eyes fixed on him.

Xu Xingke, unaffected, continued to sit there, dipping his chopsticks in a bit of chili sauce, scooping up a mouthful of rice, washing it down with a swig of strong liquor, savoring his food.

"Xu Xingke."

Finally, someone could not help but speak up.

"Speak if you have something to say." Xu Xingke smiled, picked up a bite of food, and shoveled it into his mouth along with the rice.

"Your student has a problem, they say he's been possessed by an insect," another person said.

"That's not true, it's a rumor," Xu Xingke said.

"The Chaos Spirit Light said so himself," yet another person added.

"The Chaos Spirit Light stole the Insect Body, and to cover it up, deliberately slandered my student," Xu Xingke explained.

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Xu Xingke took a sip of his drink, his brows furrowed, and said, "I left the Great Tomb with my student, and he was completely fine; the Chaos Spirit Light is the one with the problem."

"—You should believe me, not that Divine Artifact, after all, we're human."

"Really? Can you swear on your own reputation?" Someone asked.

"It's true," Xu Xingke nodded.

"Either swear or bring your student here, so we can see for ourselves," someone else suggested.

"Right, exactly."

"That's the way to do it, to put our minds at ease."

"Let your student come forward."

"Where is Shen Ye? Come out!"

The crowd echoed in agreement.

The smile vanished from Xu Xingke's face.

He put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, placed his hands on the table, and looked from left to right.

"Are you trying to tell me what to do?"

This sentence burst forth from between his clenched teeth, charged with a terrifying murderous intent.

For a moment,

Everyone instinctively avoided his gaze.

"I've said my student is fine. Whoever wants to keep causing trouble here, step forward and say it to my face."

Dead silence.

"Come on—"

"Where is everyone?"

"Step forward and repeat what you just said, in front of me," Xu Xingke spoke calmly.

Utter stillness.

Not a single person stepped forward.

Only the Swordswoman still sat across from him.

The Swordswoman too was looking down, silent.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Five minutes.

Not a sound could be heard.

Xu Xingke picked up his chopsticks and started to eat again.

"If no one's going to talk, then get out," he said, not looking up.

In a few minutes,

Everyone had left.

The room was empty.

Only the Swordswoman still sat across from him.

The Swordswoman thought for a moment, waved her hand to set up a Barrier, and then asked,

"Is the insect really not in Shen Ye?"

"It is," Xu Xingke said.

"Then earlier—"

"They said Shen Ye was possessed by an insect, but that's not accurate."

"Then what is it?" the Swordswoman inquired curiously.

"Shen Ye sealed the insect inside himself, that's not the same as being possessed."