Chapter 750: Stay or Go

Chapter 750: Stay or Go

Hui looked around the prison, pressing his face up against the bars. Now that I have a better angle, do I recognize anyone here?

Unfamiliar and unfriendly faces stared back at him. A demonic cultivator with corpse-colored skin and white eyes hissed at him, and an aggressive-looking female cultivator licked her lips suggestively. Another few more ordinary cultivators checked him over, or ignored him, sitting back and relaxing or cultivating.

In the corner, tucked almost out of sight, Jun Ke stared at Hui in disbelief.

Ah! Hello, Hui said, waving. I would greet him, but I dont know if he wants them to know we know one another.

What are you doing here? Jun Ke asked, flabbergasted.

I could ask the same of Elder Brother.

Jun Ke put a hand against his forehead and shook his head. No what on earth are you doing? Why are you here? Why now?

Hui licked his lips, suddenly nervous. Er, is there a problem, Elder Brother? Should I not be here? I can leave.

Ha! Fat chance, the aggressive female cultivator said with a laugh.

You think its that easy to leave the Immortal Black Iron Prison? They wont even remove our cuffs, and even if they do, were surrounded by qi-reflecting Black Iron! the demonic cultivator followed up.

Oh, it reflects qi? Interesting, interesting. I wonder what it does with death qi? Or maybe rot qi? Iron degrades, after all. With a little rot qi, I bet itll go from Black Iron to Normal Rust. Hui cleared his throat. He smiled. Of course, of course, Seniors. Please forgive this small cultivators words. Escaping? Impossible, impossible.

If you can escape, you should, Jun Ke said, shaking his head again. This prison is dangerous. Far more dangerous than you know.

Tian Lan shook her head. No. Ill stay with you. Im tired of staying in the palace all day. Daddy says its for my safety, but its so boring! I just sit around and do nothing. I want to fly around! Explore! See the world! Find a mate!

Maybe maybe pause on that last one. You arent even a year old yet, Hui said weakly.

Whats a year? Tian Lan asked.

A very important span of time. In fact, Elder Sister Tian Lan should probably collect at least twenty-oneah, no. At least a few hundred, before finding a mate, Hui said, nodding. I almost forgot to account for dragon maturity. Though is Zhubis trouble his lack of years? He grew up very quickly in Dragon-Turtle mode. Maybe dragon maturity isnt that long or maybe its longer. I simply dont know.

Speaking of Hui touched Zhubi. You arent feeling well, are you? Is there anything I can do to help?

Zhubi lifted off Huis neck and shook his head, then settled back down again. Hui pet him, grimacing a little at himself. I feel so helpless with Zhubi. With Li Xiang, I have an idea on how to resolve her problem. But with Li Xiang, I know how she ended up like this. I know the long history of causes that has led her to her current troubles. With Zhubi it was so sudden that I simply dont know enough about his biology to help. And in terms of accepting himself the fact that he hasnt chosen to become the Dragon-Turtle again in any of these subsequent loops tells me that he hasnt come to terms with it. If theres a way to avoid putting him through that hardship, I want to take that route.

The problem is, I dont know that such a thing exists.

Time passed. Night fell, and day came again, not that there was any indication in the prison, locked so deep in the heart of the lotus.

Footsteps clanged down the metal stairs at last. Hui sat up, excited. Is someone coming? Has the time come? Come on! Im getting bored! Im going to break out from sheer boredom in a minute, here!

Xi Muchen appeared at the end of the hallway. Smiling, he nodded at the prisoners. Its a lucky day for a few of you! Lets see who!

So saying, he snapped his fingers.

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