112. Perfection
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"What I really want to know, is why the Cloaked woman went to such lengths to bring us all here?" Luoyin's words flustered the City Master and the Gatekeeper.
But then, the gatekeeper smiled, getting some sudden idea.
"Hmph. In my thousands of years of living, I haven't met a mortal like you." He said, elegantly drawing strokes.
The statement had the desired effect, as all those present began to whisper.
"Thousands of years living?"
"He's not mortal!"
"I thought it was suspicious that they could overpower us all!"
"Are they Immortals?"
"Were the rumours right? Is Yu Shui City indeed an Immortal City?"
But Sect Leader Xu recalled the recent happenings and gasped.
"Not only immortals live for thousands of years...! These two might be demons!!"
And that only led to louder mutters amongst the Wulin, Sect leaders, dignitaries, and disciples.
Yet the gatekeeper and City master remained calm.
This bothered Luoyin.
It was almost as if they wanted their identities revealed, which made no sense to him...
"Sect Leader Xu, you're certainly wise beyond your years..." Sect Leader Ju was saying. "...but you shouldn't simply make such an outrageous claim! Demons?! Running an entire city?!"
"I'm telling you, it's possible!"
"No it's not!" Another Sect Leader interjected. "It isn't a mere year or two... How did no one notice anything? How have they escaped Sky Realm's detection for thousands of years?!"
"Hmph. What do you know about escaping Sky Realm's detection?" Sect Leader Huo asked. "I'm on Xiaofeng's side (Sect Leader Xu)... These two really could be demons!"
But the Grand Wulin Master sighed. "Recent events, particularly around Yueyan Sect, might have bred some paranoia... Isn't this city too beautiful and peaceful to be run by demons?"
There were several nods, and he continued.
"We all know demons are evil and must consume the blood or essence of others, but for thousands of years, this City has thrived, pulling in willing residents. Peace has reigned and the City is prosperous. What kind of demon would give something so good? What is in it for them?"
"Exactly!" A citizen jumped in. "Don't insult our City Master!"
And then another, "Yes! Everyone here is content! There aren't even beggars!"
And another, "The weather and seasons are beautiful! we're all happy and at peace!"
"Don't come here and be an alarmist!" One final citizen said, and the entire crowd of spectators turned their displeased gazes at Sect Leaders Xu and Huo.
'Is this what they wanted?' Luoyin wasn't sure, and it made him uneasy, especially since this so-called City Master and Gatekeeper remained calmer than ever...
If their aim had been to sow discord, they had somewhat succeeded, as several dignitaries were now eyeing Sect Leader Xu as if he were indeed some paranoid alarmist.
But was that really it?
The disapproving murmurs and mutters were now almost louder than a roar, and Luoyin shook his head and sighed. For now, he could only stand on Sect Leader Xu's side.
Revealing these demons might keep the mortals united, so he drew in a breath...
"Aiya... Mortals tend to forget just how powerless they can be to the whims of immortals and demons." His voice was low, yet it thundered around, casting the Arena into silence. "If demons want to shroud the truth, even the Grand Wulin Master wouldn't be any wiser!"
"You-!" This certainly sparked outrage amongst quite a few dignitaries, but Luoyin calmly continued.
"Has no one noticed that this beautiful and peaceful city takes away one's sense of danger?"
He folded his arms bringing Weiyan's hand to the crook of his elbow.
"Hmph, I might as well say it... The real Yu Shui City was destroyed thousands of years ago! This city is nothing more than an elaborate painting!"
At first there was silence, and in that time, the Wulin and dignitaries could indeed admit that most of their initial suspicions about Yu Shui City had flown away on the second day.
Several could even see the ways in which the statement made sense...
But then there was a sudden uproar as the citizens all leapt as one towards the platform, determined to end Luoyin for his insolence.
As if to aid the citizens, the red barrier vanished, but Luoyin was already prepared and instantly replaced it with his crystal barrier.
Several Sect Leaders were rising in surprise to see the usually peaceful citizens act like zombies, all mindlessly clawing at the barrier in an unbelievable rage.
"Did you really believe these friendly and happy-go-lucky citizens were normal?" Luoyin addressed the Wulin. "In fact they're all brainwashed by a technique.
"Did no one notice the scrolls of jargons these people held earlier? The demons can scribble endless jargons, but these unfortunate citizens would only see the finest handwriting, spelling out whatever they're supposed to think.
"They are peaceful only because the demons want the illusion of peace, but once you mention the truth, like now, they turn into a mindless army to guard the secret."
"Young man, there's some sense to your words, but a painting...?" The Grand Wulin Master remained sceptical, his elegant brows raised. "How can everyone be fooled so completely?!"
"Tch!" Luoyin scoffed. "The illusion isn't hard to break, if you think about it carefully.
If the soil and air are so great in Yu Shui City, then why are the surrounding cities so bad?
At first, I assumed the city master was a fortune demon, drawing the luck of surrounding cities to Yu Shui, but I was only partly right.
"He's indeed a fortune demon, but he's converting most of their good fortune into power, so his master painter can keep this grand illusion afloat.
The painter- the so-called 'gatekeeper', must paint the entire city daily, taking care to detail every single thing, so he needs massive amounts of power.
"The power is also used to temporarily sate the hunger and thirst of anyone who comes in, so they can swallow the lie wholly.
"But if powerful guests stay too long, the illusion would shatter.
For example, cultivators like us... I'm sure you've already noticed the air, the food, and everything is a bit odd.
The longer a cultivator remains here, the easier it would be to see these holes, and that is why they make it unbearable for cultivators to stay for more than a few days.
"Also..." He turned to the 'gatekeeper'. "Didn't you wonder why that so-called gatekeeper must look at guests before they enter? It's so he can paint them into this beautifully gilded trap."
"This-! This makes sense!" Sect Leader Xu exclaimed. "The air bears a magnificent smell, and the food, tea, and wine are of the highest quality... But it all feels weird!"
"Too true!" Another observed. "And there was indeed an odd sensation after the gatekeeper welcomed us... Like something washed over us!"
"Exactly!" Luoyin confirmed. "The odd sensation is from leaving the real world into his internal boundary made of inks and paints." He smirked. "And the reason everything is so perfect in Yu Shui is because this fellow is a supreme perfectionist who can't stand the slightest disorder..."
The gatekeeper scowled and a strange aura filled the arena. But Luoyin wasn't fazed.
"Even the weather isn't allowed to misbehave in his masterpiece!" He continued, his smirk ever present. "The weather is perfect because he paints it that way. Beggars tend to be unruly and unclean, so they aren't allowed. The poor mostly look unkempt or unpresentable, so no place for them here.
"Dirts and debris? Not welcome in this painting, and every blade of grass or ripple of water is stroked to perfection. And why should the perfect painting not have the beauty of all seasons? He paints in fruits and flowers of every season!"
He scoffed. "Hmph. This fellow loves beauty and perfection so much that he can't even stand the look of his own face!"
The gatekeeper shot to his feet in fury, and the arena rumbled, adding to the chaos of the mindless citizens still clawing at the crystal barrier.
But the City Master caught the gatekeeper's arm, holding him back.
"Behave!" He whispered. "If you attack him now, they will band behind him! Proceed with the plan!"
The gatekeeper fumed, but withdrew his aura and forced a calm smile. He swished his brush again, and the elevated seats were suddenly on the opposite side, facing him and the City Master.
But before the occupants of those seats could react to the sudden change and disrespect, the gatekeeper calmly removed his veiled bamboo hat, and gasps filled the air.
His face was beautiful but demonic, with silvery slits as irises against orange orbs, and a light gray skin.
His appearance was monstrous for humans, but oddly beautiful- marred only by a wicked looking scar on one cheek.
"D- Demon!" A Sect Leader pointed in shock.
"Hao! I'm indeed a demon who can't stand my own appearance!" The gatekeeper confirmed.
"Hmph. So am I." The City Master said, and his human appearance faded to reveal an ugly pockmarked creature with a third eye on his forehead, and a large gold ingot floating above his head.
Several eyebrows shot upwards and almost all eyes widened, as outrage spread among the dignitaries who could now see the City Master and Gatekeeper clearly.
They had been living with demons for thousands of years...!
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