Chapter 306: Bo Lifen Hated Herself |
Bo Lifen hated this moment.
If she used to be annoyed and upset with some ordinary but no good people coming around and expecting that a tea sommelier was a secret code for a comfort woman or a prostitute—this was worse.
In the face of a cultivator like Senior Longwei and whose motivation was going against hers, she was weak.
Incredibly weak.
She didn't want to repeat to herself about how feeble and incomparable she was right now but it was the truth.
Even if the neutrality of Heavenly Jade Pavilion were to be lifted now by herself and she summoned her sword from her inventory ring—blood like vermillion flowers would pour out of the entire building and the scent of iron would overcome the streets.
The image of not only Bo Lifen herself but those of her employees in this very room, choking and frothing in the mouth as deep purple poison filled their veins was a sight that she did not want to see.
Bo Lifen bit down on her lip.
Her chest thundered within her and she found it hard to breathe. What was this tight sensation she was feeling right now? Her throat was dry and she felt constricted.
If it was just Bo Lifen in the building alone, then she might have risked it simply because she could not stand for the injustice… but with Daiyu around, she was forced to smile back at the bastard and pretend that nothing he did was out of line at all.
"Ning Bi gets on the nerves of a lot of people, my apologies," she said. "I will finally prepare your tea immediately, Senior Longwei."
"Oh you don't have to do that for me," the man stood up and dusted his robes. "I actually don't have much time to spend here. I have only come to gather some information about a target of mine. An individual said to be of renown in the human world."
Bo Lifen's face was a blank canvas and yet her heart pounded madly.
"Since I normally refuse to visit this city infested with non cultivators, I have been a little bit behind the news," Senior Longwei admitted. "He's supposed to be a new cultivator who discovered one scripture by accident. But interestingly enough, his family is one of the big twelve here in the entire nation."
The Tea Sommelier wished that he would just say the name, but then Senior Longwei was watching both Bo Lifen and Daiyu's expression. He was looking for recognition in their eyes? Some kind of visible change to determine if they knew him?
"It's a bit hard to narrow down," Bo Lifen smiled. "Even if there are twelve families who are incredibly wealthy across the entire nation, there must be at least a thousand or more individuals."
"His name is Li Yang. I think everyone should have heard it by now."
"Oh the man on the—" Daiyu quickly stopped herself from talking.
The cultivator stared down blankly at her and prompted the lady to continue with just a look.
"Um well, he… he was on the news lately," Daiyu said and exchanged looks with Bo Lifen. "He came from Japan just a few days ago? Right, Lifen?"
Drats. Daiyu wouldn't bring up the fact that Bo Lifen knew him personally, right?
"Yes, that's what was on the news," Bo Lifen muttered.
"What did you say?" Senior Longwei scrunched up his nose in disgust. "Do not tell me that he has actually consorted himself with those in the Yamagami Society? He must be a lot more pathetic than I think if he had done that."
"Huh?" Daiyu looked at the man and then her friend in confusion. "Yamagami?"
Bo Lifen herself didn't even know what the heretic cultivator was talking about.
As if sensing the exact same problem, Senior Longwei made a face.
"Of course, most of them tend to keep to their territories so you must not be familiar with them. But ah, for someone like me who has traveled in the past in multiple countries, I have met with these shrine maidens, exorcists and other 'powered' figures.
"If it weren't for them interfering in the past, I would have already gained a Ghost King by now. Suffice to say, these Japanese people are unforgivable—I'll never forgive them!"
Bo Lifen was upset at how this guy actually threatened them with their lives and then suddenly acted deranged like this. But really, she was more upset at herself for actually putting herself in this position.
What was she supposed to do? Bow her head down and wait for him to leave?
That was said to be the best option now and what she was pursuing. Non-violence and refusing to raise her voice at those who were stronger than her.
It was almost as if her conversation with Li Yang about not wanting to pursue the art of cultivation, at least the dao that involved combat and ascending into immortality, now seemed like a terrible thing to say.
If there was any time to wish for strength, it was now.
"Hmm… you seem awfully distracted, young lady." Senior Longwei tilted his head and looked at her. He gestured to her genially. "Is there anything that you might wish to add?"
She gritted her teeth and quickly shook her head. "No. I don't have anything to say, except if you're already done with your business here in Heavenly Jade Pavilion, it would be my pleasure to see you leave."
Senior Longwei looked at her and then snorted. He drew his hand back into his sleeve and stood up. "Women these days are quite ungrateful. I was hoping that someone of your position would portray more elegance and refinement, but I was mistaken."
"Screw you." Bo Lifen spat.
"You'll regret being so rude to me," he said and then turned away.
Once the man was gone, Daiyu looked worriedly at her friend. "Are you okay, Lifen?"
Bo Lifen smiled and nodded. "Of course, just contact Ning Bi and see if she manages to find Suyin."
"Will do," Daiyu said and quickly excused herself to do just that.
Once Bo Lifen's friend was gone from the room, she sank to her knees and covered her face for a moment. Her legs were weak but she managed to still meet the man head-on despite the pressuring aura that suffocated her.
Before she knew it, Bo Lifen was already pulling out her phone and contacting the one person that came to her mind.
"Answer me, damnit."
Bo Lifen was cursing underneath her breath and was anxious that she made the wrong decision. Why was she reaching out to him? She shouldn't be bothering him at all and yet her own gut-instincts led her back to him.
Li Yang wasn't answering her call.
What was he doing?
Was the man busy?
Bo Lifen bit down on her lip and lowered her phone.
... and she failed to realize the hovering but invisible butterfly flying on her own shoulder.
———
Author's Note: Work. Work. I have work and it is unforgivable that my updates are terrible. But also yes, I may have kinda forced the "I Will Never Forgive the Japanese" line by Joseph Joestar from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Ahem.