114. Narrow Road
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A wave of gasps filled the arena as dignitaries, Sect Warriors, and disciples alike all stared in shock at the individual before them.
This indeed wasn't the Luoyin they knew, and this Luoyin had long silvery hair, golden irises in black-lined eyes widened with shock, and his skin bore a perfect luster and faint glow.
"You lowly mortals, you adopted a deadly serpent, treating it as one of you!" The City Master thundered. "This fellow is indeed an immortal, but not just any immortal!"
The gatekeeper took it from there. "This fellow is none other than the enemy of all three realms...
"Yin Xiaolong!!"
A silence followed.
Then the arena erupted into shouts of alarm, disbelief, and rage.
"What is going on here?!"
"Yin Xiaolong... among us?!"
"This entire time, we were deceived?!"
"If this is true, weren't we indeed raising a serpent by our side!"
"Impossible!" One refuted. "Haven't we all seen the drawings of him?! How can you suddenly say he is this flower-faced individual?!"
"Could it be that those drawings were wrong?!"
Sect leaders, elders, and disciples all turned toward Zhang Luoyin with disbelief, and his hand tightened around Weiyan's hand.
"Do you still not believe it?" The city master spread his arms wide. "Haven't you fools wondered why the so-called 'Zhang trash' could suddenly cultivate again?"
"Or why strange events followed him around?" The gatekeeper added. "Or why he could escape dangers no mortal could? Look at the immortal glow around him...
"Do you still hold doubts?!"
"Impossible!" An elder cried. "Wasn't Yin Xiaolong killed about a year ago!"
The gatekeeper sneered. "Yes, yes, he died... But who ever said he couldn't be reborn within someone else?" He didn't hesitate to fuel the fire. "Here he is, hiding among mortals, corrupting your sects from within, and plotting his return!"
'I was careless...!' Luoyin quietly admitted in his heart.
These demons could have simply revealed their identities, but that would have rallied all humans against them, even if they accused him of being Yin Xiaolong, especially since he was clearly on the mortals' side.
So the demons had deliberately hinted at being immortal, hoping someone like Sect Leader Xu would accuse them of being demons instead.
They had known that Sect Leader Xu had experience with demons, since his sect had survived three different demon attacks- the fortune demon from years ago, the eye-eater, and the cloaked woman herself.
But even Sect Leader Xu hadn't been the one to speak out, they hoped Luoyin would likely jump in to keep the peace amongst the mortals, and they had been right...
In being the one to reveal the demons, Luoyin would be forced to show far more knowledge than a 'regular mortal' should know, and that would it easier for them to turn the tables on him.
The Mortal dignitaries indeed believed he was Yin Xiaolong!
He thought quickly...
The Sky Emperor now knew he was innocent, but 'distant water couldn't quench a fire'. He had no idea how long it would take for Sky Realm to intervene.
He could always escape...
Not one person present could stop him from disappearing from here.
But he worried about what that would mean for the Yueyan sect who had harbored him thus far, especially Weiyan, who had supposedly killed him, and had been hailed as the 'hero who had slain the black dragon'.
He couldn't dream of moving an inch, so he could only watch the demons smile in triumph, their mocking voices rising over the chaos.
"Heh!" The City Master scoffed. "Who among you can deny what lies before your very eyes? You are pointing fingers at us while nurturing the enemy of Sky Realm itself!"
The weight of the accusations rained down like a storm, and murmurs swelled among the sects, with disciples and sect warriors shrinking back with fear, while the dignitaries glared down at Luoyin.
Their trust was wavering and doubt festered.
But amidst the endless waves of suspicion, hatred, and disapproval, a few voices rose up, filling Luoyin's heart with hope.
"Silence!" Sect Leader Xu's voice boomed across the arena, his sword pointed directly at the gatekeeper and city master.
"You devils dare sow discord here?" He swished the sword.
"I won't speak for anyone else, but Xiaoyin's (Luoyin) presence has saved us a great many times, including against your so-called mistress!"
"You-!!"
Sect Leader Xu glanced round at the other leaders. "If not for Xiaoyin, wouldn't we still be swallowing the lie of Yu Shui City?! I say, these devils simply want to turn us on each other!"
Xu Min and Xu Wen appeared beside Luoyin, making him realize that he had somehow withdrawn his barrier.
Xu Min's face was pale with shock, but his eyes were determined. "Zhang Yin is closer to me than a brother! I don't care what he was in the past! In this life, he is simply Zhang Yin, and that is enough for me!"
Beside him, Xu Wen was equally shocked, but folded his arms and scoffed. "Hmph. I already guessed he wasn't normal, but he was willing to hang out with us mere mortals, and has guided us all this while... No matter who he is, he remains my Shixiong. I stand by him as well!"
A ripple of shock passed through the crowd at their declarations, especially when Tao Yun and Li San also appeared to stand by Luoyin.
And then another voice, colder and sharper, rang out.
"Sect Leader Huo of Huofeng Sect also stands by Zhang Luoyin."
The arena turned silent. Sect Leader Huo, the strongest Sect Leader had spoken, and his eyes were like blades, daring anyone to challenge his authority.
"Truth be told, there's a war in Sky Realm!" Sect Leader Xu announced. "And the ones in the wrong are also immortals- immortals who were looked up to and trusted for thousands of years!"
"Exactly." Sect Leader Huo confirmed. "As mere mortals, we can no longer believe what either side says.
"I'm not saying Zhang Luoyin is not- was not Yin Xiaolong, but if the near-millenium-old Floral deity can be revealed as a traitor now, then might not the black dragon be revealed as someone else tomorrow?
"You can choose to remain as mindless sheep, but we'll trust our own eyes for now!"
"The Zhang Luoyin we know is indeed surrounded by inexplicable occurrences, but," Sect Leader Xu beamed down at Luoyin. "...he's also kind, and a shining light who never fails to stand up for what is right.
"And he never hoards knowledge, but shares it! Apart from the fact that his words can sometimes make wrongdoers vomit blood, he does not seem capable of what the black dragon has done!!"
'You didn't have to add that last bit!' Luoyin mentally protested, but he was nearly moved to tears at this level of support from his father-in-law, his friends, and Sect Leader Huo.
'Is it so simple to be accepted? To be trusted?' He wondered, his heart heavy with an immense feeling. 'Then why...?'
Why couldn't Tianlong or Fei Yun have some trust or loyalty for him all those years ago?
He had only known these mortals for about a year, but his immortal friends of several thousands of years hadn't done this much!
Meanwhile, his supporters' words had settled over all ears in the Arena, making several to question all they had heard about Yin Xiaolong and the black dragon so far...
The demons' smiles faltered, as their plan to unbalance Luoyin was fast slipping.
But just as their hope waned, a quiet voice spoke.
"You're really Yin Xiaolong..." Weiyan whispered, her voice breaking. "Caoyang... It was me who... killed you...?"
"Y- Yanyan!" Luoyin turned to her, his heart sinking fast.
Amidst the commotion, he had forgotten what this meant for her!
Xu Weiyan's hand trembled in his, and her beautiful eyes brimmed with tears, her face pale as death.
"Yanyan, wait! Y- You never killed me! It was -... You were contr-!"
But her own guilt tore through her like a blade, and before Luoyin could finish, she ripped her hand free and stumbled back, shaking her head.
"I never deserved you... I never have should..." Her words dissolved into sobs as she turned and fled, leaping from the platform, and disappearing from the arena.
"Yanyan!" Luoyin shouted, chasing after her, his chest burning with anxiety.
Not only had he hurt his dear one, but there was no telling what danger she might get into in this strange place.
But though he had instantly followed, she was suddenly nowhere in sight.
"Yanyan! Yanyan!!" He endlessly called, but there was no sign of her...
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Back at the Arena, the demons smirked.
"Hmph! We didn't kill Xu Weiyan, but our goal to unbalance Yin Xiaolong was still achieved!" The city master whispered. "We should have done this from the start!"
"You're too naive. If she's still alive, would he be unbalanced enough to lose against that person? We might still be punished for not killing her, but it shouldn't be too bad." The gatekeeper calmly observed.
"And besides..." He placed his veiled bamboo hat over his head. "I'd rather no one had seen this ugly face of mine!"
"Tch! Aren't you nitpicky?! You're considered pretty compared to other demons!"
The gatekeeper merely grunted. "What do we do now?"
"Mistress instructed us to ensure the mortal leaders remain here. Might as well put them all together!"
"Hao!" The gatekeeper swished his brush. "Then no further need for appearances!"
The Arena vanished, but the platform remained, growing even bigger than before.
Darkness was falling with dusk, heightening the desolation of their surroundings, but the mortals could barely register all this as the gatekeeper gave another swish of his brush, and the entirety of the guests- almost a thousand when combined- were suddenly on the platform,
trapped within the red barrier which was back in place.
"What do you intend to do with us?!" Sect Leader Ju demanded, but the gatekeeper simply reclined in his chair.
"All you have to do is wait." He said. "The Mistress has her own plans for you..."
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Meanwhile, Luoyin leaped from tattered roof, to tree, to ground, searching for Weiyan, who seemed to have vanished into the dusky and foggy air...
"Yanyan!" He called out, but to no avail.
He tried sensing her through the seal on her hand, but couldn't feel anything.
He tried using Yuan Jing to seek her out, but couldn't find anything!
And he wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but the fog was steadily growing denser around him...
A sudden ripple tore through the sky, and a chilling, yet familiar aura descended.
'Fei. Yun...?!'
"Isn't it a narrow road between enemies...?" A familiar voice spoke, and the fog up ahead cleared to reveal a figure in black robes, his hair grayish with brilliant green tips.
It was indeed Fei Yun, the Fate Immortal...!
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