A FRIEND ALONG A RIDE

Few hours later, Liuxian returned back to his dormitory sitting on his bed. All the tasks he had been given were nothing like before. They were all hard and…..

“I forgot!" Liuxian said as he remembered that he had not checked the time limit. Looking at the bottle in his hand, Liuxian shook the bottle realizing that once again, he had drank everything and left very little.

Shaking his head, Liuxian sighed knowing he was in trouble as he decided to drink the remaining wine. Once again, Liuxian found himself back in the cultivation room.

“I made it back. What's the time limit? I didn't ask before and almost caused a big problem." Liuxian said.

Just like before, a scroll came down from nowhere and stopped in front of him opening itself.

[Time limit: 24 hours]

Sighing out of relief, Liuxian fell to the ground. Just then, Liuxian remebered. There were lot of ancient martial books here. Maybe one of them knew something about Banishing force sutra. Heading to the bookshelf, Liuxian stood opening the books one by one. But after hours of searching, he couldn't find anything at all.

“There is nothing at all. Are you sure that you that this move even exists?" Liuxian asked but there was no reply.

Standing up, Liuxian shook his head thinking of what task to complete first. The easiest would be bowing 500 times but then, his neck could fall off before he finished the task.

“Are you okay? Liuxian! Liuxian!” Liuxian heard someone calling his name.

Coming back to the real world, Liuxian opened his eyes to see himself sitting upright. Looking around, Liuxian saw all his roommates staring at him.

“Are you okay now?” Liuxian heard Sun Dan's voice and gazed around searching for her. She was just entering the room with a bowl of water and a cloth.

“When did all of you return back?” Liuxian asked as he stood up groaning from the headache he was having.

“I don't think that's the important question here. What is all these? Do you know that if you are caught, we will also be implicated!” Liuxian heard Tian Yin shout making his head spin.

“Enough. Stop shouting at him. At least it is us that entered and saw him. Didn't you see earlier? That wicked teacher bullied him and humiliated him across the entire school. If I was the one, I would certainly be drinking an entire bottle right now.” Sun Dan said.

“Isn't that exactly what he did?” Liuxian heard Tian Yin ask grumbling in a low voice.

“Here is some water and a dry cloth for you. You can use them to clean up." Sun Dan said happily.

" Thank you and sorry. Sorry for putting all of you in danger.” Liuxian said bowing around to them several times.

Bowing his head, Liuxian counted the number of times he bowed.

“ 1,2,3…..10, 11, 12.” Liuxian said bowing his head fast.

Shocking the rest of his roommates, Tian Yin looked at Sun Dan. Instead of replying to Tian Yin, Sun Dan glared at him.

“He's still drunk." Yang Jie said.

" It's because Tian Yin scolded him so harshly. Look at him now. He has completely lost it.” Sun Dan said.

“Sorry for putting you all in trouble…” Liuxian said as he continued to bow his head.

“Enough. There is no need to continue bowing in front of us. You are making us feel awkward.” Liuxian heard Sun Dan say making him stop.

He had managed to bow 30 times. Resisting the urge to do more, Liuxian raised his head his head smiling. He was now starting to feel lightheaded from all the alcohol he had drank. Compared to the Liquor of Desire, this liquor was far stronger.

“Look at you. You are really drunk. Take a seat. Seat down here.” Liuxian heard Sun Dan say as she dragged him pushing him to the bed.

Not resisting at all, Liuxian fell back hitting his bed and fell asleep. The liquor had been too strong for him to do anything else. Few minutes later when he woke up, Liuxian was suprised to see that his eyes were completely clear. Sitting up, Liuxian closed his eyes checking on his meridians. All his meridians were were overflowing with power. It was already evening so Liuxian didn't waste time getting to fulfilling his tasks.

The most hardest task he had received so far was visiting the Inscriptions Pleasure House. Not only because it was a pleasure house and he was meant to be studying but because the Inscriptions Pleasure House was no ordinary pleasure house. Girls from the pleasure house were very beautiful. Many people claimed that they killed people with their beauty while others claimed that they were really assassins. Plus, the Inscriptions Pleasure House didn't welcome just anyone.

With more than twenty rooms in the pleasure house, their platform was huge and only the best entertainers played the zither and danced. But many said that was not the most beautiful thing about the pleasure house. The most beautiful thing was the long icy pond at the back of the pleasure house where they said even fairies danced. The information about the pleasure house was very tight and no one could confirm it.

Sneaking out of his room, Liuxian closed the door slowly not as to wake Yang Jie who was a light sleeper. All marksmen were light sleepers anyway. Their combat preception enabled them to hear even the tiniest bit of sound. Successfully closing the door, Liuxian decided to try his luck. Using his powers, Liuxian jumped up staying in the air. His balance was now very good.

Heading near the gate, Liuxian hid as he saw some other students guarding the gate. The time for the gate to stay opened had already passed which meant there was no way he could just walk out of the school. Not to mention he didn't want anyone to know he was gone. Putting his increased core strength to the test, Liuxian hit the ground trying to jump out through the fence. However reaching up, he hit something pushing him back to the ground hard. Rolling across the ground, Liuxian groaned covering his head.

“Who is there?!” Liuxian heard someone shout from the gate.

Standing up, Liuxian ran away returning back to his room. Closing the door, Liuxian was happy to see that all his roommates were still asleep. Sighing to himself, Liuxian returned back to his bed closing his eyes. He had been given the task to visit the Inscriptions Pleasure House but the time to visit had not been stated. He could go tomorrow in the morning.

“Wait." Liuxian said to himself as he remembered the third task.

He had to return before 6am. Although the time to visit had not been given, he had been given a time to come back. Plus, they couldn't leave Enchanting Void during the day.

Leaving his room again, Liuxian stepped out gazing at the sky. The force of the field guarding the school was too powerful. He was already injured. If he tried again to leave by force, he could actually die.

“Let's go." Liuxian heard several footsteps coming and hid.

“Are you sure that we won't get caught? The last thing I want is for us to get caught leaving." Liuxian heard another student ask.

“Don't worry. I've already talked to my brother and his friends. They are the ones guarding the gate today."

Listening to their conversation, Liuxian smiled. They wanted to sneak out. Just as they were about to pass by in front of his room, Liuxian stood up clearing his throat to make his presence known. Since they already had a way, all he had to do was to tag along.

“I overheard your conversation. Did you say that you were going to leave the school?" Liuxian asked talking loud enough for his voice to be heard.

“Shut up." One of the students said gazing at the other.

Just as Liuxian was about to speak, Liuxian saw an arrow pass by him. Dodging quickly, Liuxian managed to escape major harm however, the arrow grazed his neck.

“ Combat preception, Qi Path Refinement 4.” Liuxian said as he looked at the student that had fired the arrow.

The arrow he had used had not been a real arrow. It was one formed from his qi. Although it was made from his qi, it was still as lethal as a real arrow.

“Core strength, Soul Refinement 3. No wonder you were able to dodge my arrow. What do you want from us?” Liuxian heard the marksman ask.

“I am just a mischevious lad who is very curious and smart. I have heard about the astonishing beauties of the Inscriptions Pleasure House and I want to see them. I am wondering if you seniors can help me." Liuxian said.

" And we don't?” A deep voice asked making Liuxian turn his attention.

It was a disciple in red. Among all the clans in the martial arts world, mages that proclaimed themselves as the leaders because of their magic. All the mages he had ever met were all arrogant and troublesome.

“Dear senior, I do not wish to have any sort of confrontation with you however I do know that it is against the school rules for you to be sneaking out. I do not plan to cause you any trouble and I am willing to be responsible for myself. However, if you wish to beat me up, I'm afraid it'll just attract the ones we don't wish to attract.” Liuxian said looking at the mage.

Watching as his seniors looked at themselves, Liuxian couldn't help but smile. It was obvious that these people were very afraid of the consequences. The one that they were talking about guarding the gate must have been the mage who he just met.

“Fine. We will help you out to the Inscriptions Pleasure House. After that, you are on your own." Liuxian heard his mage senior say.

“Thank you in advance, senior." Liuxian said bowing his head.

Few minutes later, all of them left the gate riding down the mountain in a carriage. The night was dark and the moon was faint. The air chill and the the place calm. Outside Enchanting Void was refreshing. Entering the city took time but eventually, they made it.

Lights shined in the city making everywhere beautiful. This wasn't his first time entering the city however, it was his first time spending the night in it. The roads were covered by different people walking through and pleasant sounds filled the air soothing the soul.

“ Do you know the name of this city?” Liuxian heard one of the senior students ask.

“Of course I know this city. Wushu city. It is said that everyone in this city is a martial artist. Even the beggars on the street. No one can be trusted and no one can be killed. The owner of the city used to be Martial Lord Nali.” Liuxian said.

“Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both… and surpass the result. This name is really worthy to be given to him." Liuxian heard his marksman senior say.

“Senior, you are really worthy of your level. However, you are a marksman. How come you are so profound in knowledge?” Liuxian asked.

“Are you saying that, as a marksman, I should be dumb without any knowledge of the world or it's poems?" Liuxian heard him ask and immediately raised his hand.

“ Of course not. I didn't mean it that way." Liuxian said.

" You have already reached your destination. Just as you promised us, this must not leak out to anyone. If we are implicated, don’t think that you can leave so freely either.” Liuxian heard one of his mage senior say.

“ Don't worry. Birds sing songs of great people. What's done in secret, how can a bird know of?” Liuxian said as he got of the carriage.