Chapter 325 – Truths and Lies (XI)

Chapter 325

Truths and Lies (XI)

… something weird happened. The flaming boulder that looked prime to rip everything apart and then set it on fire never quite reached Xi Zhao. He’d put his hand on the handle of the sword and was about to draw it out when the boulder just stopped, midair, and then… went up.

Like, vertically up.

Like it was a fucking rocket.

While everyone stared at the scene slack-jawed, including Long Tao, I finally figured out what happened–that thing transformed into a transparent sheen, halted the boulder, before transforming into a literal fist of gold and slamming it upward.

“H-how did he do that?!!”

“Who are these kids?!! Even I wouldn’t have been able to defend against that!”

Nobody was more confused, I imagine, than the pair fighting–the woman looked absurdly lost, and Xi Zhao was no better. Until he turned toward me.

He shot me a look of ‘subtle understanding’, and as he did, others caught it… and the chatter changed.

“… he did it?”

“From here? That’s impossible! He looks pathetic!”

“And without anyone seeing it?”

“Not even the Lord?”

“Is he a secret expert?”

“Master,” Rayce spoke up, his eyes shining with pride. “You really are amazing!”

“No, I–“

“I knew it! I knew you were hiding yourself!” Lao Shun said. “Hah. To think I was almost fooled by your ‘ignorant buffoon’ play.”

“No, listen–“

“Master is the best!” Okay, thank you, Xing Feng, but that’s not really helpful.

“Yes, Master indeed is the best.” Okay, Long Tao’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, and it was clear he didn’t believe for a second it was me. It was both a bit hurtful and also a relief; it was just as clear, though, that he didn’t actually know what happened, just that he knew it wasn’t me who did it.

“While I appreciate your concern for your disciple,” a voice streamed from the upper balcony. “Interfering is strictly forbidden.” While I wholeheartedly agreed, his words also kind of pissed me off. And I don’t know whether it’s the fact that I’ve been living here for as long as I have or that I’ve gotten some confidence in dealing with people, but whereas I’d just let it go half a year ago, today…