NOVEL NEXT 154: Can Delusions Manifest Into Reality?
As midnight drew near, the eight cultivators—Lin Songmei, Yan Mingqing, Han Youhong, Wang Taigang, Zhao Liying, Lu Qiang, Cai Yufei, and Liu Liping—gathered on a rooftop overlooking their target.
With the warehouse’s exterior looking benign, it was hard to imagine the interior had been converted to a prison. Yet, Youhong’s scouting and picture-taking abilities had revealed a grotesque inside.
From his discovery, he hadn’t seen anyone injured, but everyone seemed tired, hungry, and dirty.
“So right now the guard patrols are at the minimum,” Youhong scanned the warehouse with a pair of binoculars. “I estimate we’ll have ten minutes at most after the alarm sounds before help arrives.”
“We have eight people though, how long will it take?” Lu Qiang flexed his arms, doing some light stretches to warm up.
Too shy, or too lazy, to participate in the conversation most of the time, Liu Liping shook her head. “Lu Qiang, didn’t you listen earlier? We’re going to be defending and holding off the opposition until everyone has escaped from Pride’s territory.”
“Oh...” Lu Qiang sighed, the smile on his face dimming a few notches. “Yeah, okay, that’s going to be pretty hard.”
With her terminal buzzing, Songmei stored the snacks back into her spatial storage ring. “The inner disciples have just informed me they’re in position. So we’re good to go at any time. Who wants to make the call?”
“I’ll do it.” Youhong propped his arms up, the binoculars scanning the warehouse. “Just remember to keep quiet.”
Songmei had to agree. In their planning, they had checked and found the nearest inhabited neighborhood. Though it wasn’t too close, a battle too flashy or too noisy would still draw attention. However, because it was an unmarked warehouse, it did work in their favor because the battle would be taking place in an industrial district.
The industrial district was an ideal location for two simple reasons. For one, they could unleash more... destructive attacks, without fear for collateral damage. If Pride’s goods or supplies were lost or damaged in the fight, it was a bonus for them!
Songmei, herself, was planning on having a few arrows miss their mark ‘by accident.’ In fact, her arm—for definitely no reason at all—just had been feeling a little off. As a total coincidence as well, everyone else had also been reporting troubles with aiming over the past few days...
The second reason the industrial district was an ideal location was just because Pride’s industrial district was located at the edge of territory. Simple as that.
“Alright, final review,” Taigang whispered as everyone but Youhong gathered around in a circle. “Stealth is not on our side due to the plethora of guards. Even if it’s the least amount of guards right now, the alarm is going to get triggered no matter what. We’re going in guns blazing. Lu Qiang and I will charge towards the front doors and distract the guards. Liying will blaze a clean hole through the door and the rest will charge into to free the hostages. We’ll... improvise from there really. Understood?”
With everyone giving their hushed agreement, Taigang walked over to Youhong. “Anytime. Just give the signal.”
As Youhong nodded, everyone got into position, gathering their Qi, preparing their weapons, and loosening their bodies.
A few torturous minutes later, Youhong raised his hand, counting down from five.
Lowering his last finger, Youhong watched as seven figures flitted by him, leaping off the rooftop and into battle. Stowing his binoculars, Youhong followed suit, pulling his coat tighter and melting into the shadows.
-----
Zhang Xiaoping was a normal dude. He was just an honest to good man! Lighting a cigarette, Zhang Xiaoping reflected on his life. There wasn’t too much of note. He had no house, no car, and his girlfriend had broken up with him a couple days prior.
Zhang Xiaoping was unfettered. It was his zen mindset.
Smirking to himself, Zhang Xiaoping couldn’t help but look around. His mindset was just one reason why he was heaven’s favored child. Pulling his coat forward and puffing his chest out, Zhang Xiaoping continued his patrol with a strut.
If it wasn’t obvious, he was a cultivator. Which, of course, meant he was intrinsically better than the non-cultivators. It was a bit of an unpopular opinion, but Zhang Xiaoping had the talent to back it up. He had already opened up eleven of his main meridians as he came up on thirty years old.
He had come to Westriver because he had heard of its unique Qi. To find some work though, he had been bouncing around from job to job. Tonight, he was working under this... Vainglory person? To guard a warehouse.
Zhang Xiaoping had no idea what was in the warehouse, but cash was cash.
With his sword at his waist, Zhang Xiaoping was confident, danger was coming. It was only natural for him—as a protagonist—to run into trouble. He had done some extreme calculations in his head, pondered every angle, and was ready.
Strutting around the warehouse, Zhang Xiaoping whirled around as he heard a crack.
It was his time! The fodder had arrived! This was where he could continue his meteoric rise!
Unsheathing his sword, Zhang Xiaoping grinned as he watched the other guards rush forward towards the sounds.
How stupid.
Zhang Xiaoping had seen the videos about those up-and-coming disciples. He knew it was propaganda. There was no way they were actually in those realms. Lin Songmei? Yan Mingqing? They all looked WEAK! They had nothing on him!
With unknown enemies in the darkness, Zhang Xiaoping had an infallible plan. He’d wait for them to reveal themselves and use up their energy early dealing with the other guards. He’d then rush in, with the element of surprise on his side, wipe the floor with whoever came! He could take credit, gain recognition from this Vainglory person and even the mayor!
Zhang Xiaoping, though from a mundane background, was confident he had just as much talent. Any talent he didn’t have? He made up with his heaven-blessed luck and his unique, zen mindset.
Half a moment later, crouched behind a crate with his sword out, Zhang Xiaoping’s jaw dropped as he watched two figures rush out of the darkness and plow through a group of guards. One was radiant as the sun and the other was powerful like a tsunami.
Circulating his Qi through his body, Zhang Xiaoping clenched his sword. These were some powerful enemies...
He’d have to use his secret technique, one honed over ten years of training. As a creative genius and zen cultivator, one with the heavens, Zhang Xiaoping had created his own technique: Star Heaven’s Thirteenth Cataclysmic Celestial Star Cyclone-Dragon Falling Through The Heavens Cleaving Storm Slashes.
Keeping a keen eye on the enemies, Zhang Xiaoping began focusing his Qi as he watched a blazing spear fly past the guards, plowing the warehouse’s double doors open.
Patience. He’d have his moment soon enough.
