Red Talon Piercing The Darkness

Making it back an hour before Xuan Hua checked up on him next, Hong Zhao quickly drew a bath and lowered himself down in the tub. Having it in his room was a godsend. In his profession, there was no such thing as too many baths. He had stored the blood soaked rob into his storage ring the moment his feet hit the stone floor.

Sighing in relief, he used a small amount of his flame elemental qi to warm up the tub. As steam hit the ceiling, he sighed and looked up. As he soaked, the water turned red underneath him. It almost seemed as though he was just soaking in a tub of blood. He held his breath and dunked his face within the red tinted water, leaving even more red mixed within. When he raised his head out of the water, he wiped his eyes and saw a familiar figure in front of him.

A woman in a satiny red dress stood inches from the tub. Her hair was neatly in two buns and her pale complexion was in stark contrast with her dark eyes which glared down on Hong Zhao.

Instead of talking to her, Hong Zhao only glared up at the godly figure. He knew that she knew he was under guard, so anything she had to say would wait until later. Instead of talking, she left a jade slip on the desk without saying anything. When he blinked next, she had already left.

Looking at the desk, Hong Zhao's curiosity was peaked. For Lan to make a personal delivery, it had to be important. He finished with his bath as quickly as he dared and disposed the water before making his way to the desk. He picked out another robe which was indistinguishable from the one he had been wearing earlier. After dressing, he picked up the jade slip and put it to his forehead. A beam of white light shot from the slip to his forehead and he began to understand that this was a new technique.

Following the instructions, he found the name was shadow puppet. He watched the description of the ability and saw that he could summon up to ten small creatures using his qi. These creatures were not for attacking. If he were to try to attack with them, they would only dissolve into smoke at the first hit. If nothing else, they would be good for a diversion. He was a little confused as to why Lan thought it would benefit him until he finished the description. If the creatures were to survive and meld back in with his qi, the memories of the creatures would also meld with his.

Hong Zhao's eyes shone with excitement when learning this. His intel gathering would significantly increase when using this ability. Months of scoping out an area could be shortened by weeks with these creatures. He could make them into rats, or other critter like creatures, yet they would only resemble shadows of said creatures. Unless someone took a deep look at them, they would pass as the creatures they were meant to be.

With a giddiness inside, Hong Zhao went to the bed and took the talisman from under the blanket and stored it once more. There was a slight qi fluctuation as it went into his storage ring. The moment it went away, Hong Zhao heard feet shuffling on the floor outside his room. He took his place once more atop his bed and began cultivating before Xuan Hua opened the door.

"What was that?" The man asked as he looked in the room, yet his voice fell upon deaf ears. He looked on as Hong Zhao was deep within his meditation. "Maybe the fluctuation was caused by his cultivation technique?" He questioned himself before sighing and shutting the door once more.

When he left, Hong Zhao opened his eyes once more and looked at the door. Maybe that would count as the next check? He didn't think on it anymore as he went through the instructions for his new technique. Following them, he brought forth qi from his dantian and began to try to form them into the creatures. The first time he attempted to form the puppets, they turned into small globs of qi for a few seconds before turning into puffs of smoke. Yet Hong Zhao was not deterred. If every technique were so simple to use, the world would not be full of geniuses, instead, it would be full of lazy cultivators who put no effort in their training.

Hong Zhao stayed in his room for weeks training. He would train two hours at a time. When Xuan Hua poked his head in, he would ensure he was cultivating. When his qi was fully replenished, he would train shadow puppet until his qi reserves were diminished once again. He would cultivate every other time Xuan Hua appeared. The man had become a perfect time piece.

He also didn't forget about his promise to his guard and went to the training arena before the sun set each day to spar with the man. As he did, he sharpened his reflexes and tested his strength against him, though he did what he could to limit the man's knowledge of his abilities. He after all didn't know where the man's true allegiances lay.

Like this, three weeks passed. With the qi he had stolen from the three men, as well as his qi stones and qi absorbing pills, he cultivated like a mad man in between training. After the three weeks ended, he opened his eyes which shone white, the telltale sign of a breakthrough. He had finally made it to the third star warrior rank. With a thought, he activated shadow puppet and ten small mice surrounded him. A smile appeared on his face as he sent a mental instruction for them to go to acquire intel. Ten black streaks went through the window into the darkness below.

Hong Zhao gave a smile which didn't quite make it to his eyes. If one were to see him, they would shiver uncomfortably. The look he displayed was not one of a child, but one of a man on a mission.