n

n

nSeth took his soul essence, separating it from the lake and approached the unconscious Meiyi.

n

"Wait! I was not joking Seth. The moment you infuse your soul inside her, you will be practically feeding her with your power, I hope you prepare yourself.

"

nSeth heard Lexi's voice and breathed for a moment, steeling his resolve.

nHe approached his hands towards her mouth and let her drink the

"water

" he took from the lake.

nThe soul essence entered her and disappeared, merging with her soul. It was a really simple process for Meiyi, just like breathing.

nHowever, for Seth it wasn't. His soul felt like it was electrocuted first not causing too much pain, but a numbness spread to every part of his being. Then a pain like a really small cut started to appear inside him. The small cut started to get bigger and the pain escalated to new heights. A searing sensation appeared making the pain get to unbearable levels.

n

"Arrgh!

"

nThe first groan of pain escaped from his mouth, but he didn't voice out anything other than the first sound. Just when he thought that the pain was strong enough, it started to increase again.

nLexi didn't want to waste Seth's efforts. 'What is done is done.' She would rather take this chance and treat the girl. With Seth's soul imprint inside Chun Meiyi Lexi could feel a connection with her body. It didn't take ten seconds and the poison inside Meiyi was already purified. It wasn't a strong poison by the way, just the means of treating it were scarce right now.

nVery soon, Meiyi's consciousness returned and she woke up inside a place that was different for her. The first thing that came into her view was a really beautiful blue lake, but she didn't have enough time to appreciate it after witnessing Seth's figure squirming around on the floor.

n

"Seth!

" She ran towards him, approaching his

"body

", the projection of his entire soul, that was the lake.

nHis soul was in a really bad situation right now, as the pain kept increasing, but fortunately for him, the piece of his soul he had ripped to gift it to Meiyi, wasn't big. So, after reaching a certain peak, the pain started to decrease slowly.

nAlthough it didn't last for long, it was quite a fearful experience. The pain he felt would be imprinted deep inside his memory. A feeling of weakness and tiredness rose inside of him, making his eyes a bit muddy.

n

"Seth! What happened?

" Meiyi started to panic and took Seth on her lap, trying to understand what was actually happening.

n

"Don't worry Meiyi, everything is alright now. Those people will never hurt you again.

" Seth weakly said. His voice was low and devoid of strength, but it was still livid.

nTears started to fall from her eyes. She was glad that she could see him one last time. He came for her. The guilty she felt after pushing him away the last time they met, kept eating her conscience all this time.

nHer self-esteem has never been high, with all those people calling her useless. The only person that didn't push her away, was the one that she pushed away. She felt like a hypocritical during all this time that Seth had disappeared.

nSeth on the other hand, has never once thought that she was hypocritical. He has always admired her, for her never yielding stance before all that bullying, that she suffered. The last thing he would call her, would be useless. Now that his soul was inside her, he could feel directly, how lowly she thought of herself.

n

"Seth, I'm sorry for lashing out on you the last time. You treated me so well, yet...

"

n

"Silly girl, do you think something like that would ever bother me? You might not know, but you have been one of the brightest gems in my life. The four months we have passed together, training, studying, laughing and discovering things together, were so precious that I would feel happier every time I remembered them.

"

nMeiyi tears didn't stop falling at all. Actually, they increased in quantity, because his words made her feel valuable. Even the tiny moments he passed with her were valuable.

n

"Can I really be together with you?

" She asked slowly and trembling.

nSeth stood up from her lap and embraced her.

n

"Please, never leave me Meiyi. Let's be together alright?

"

n

"Okay.

" This time, she finally accepted his feelings. When Seth confessed for her the first time, she felt unworthy. Every time she remembered him, something would gnaw her emotions, throwing her self-esteem down the bottom.

nBut now, she finally accepted him.

nA link formed between their souls. It came from the other direction this time. Meiyi subjected herself to the Soul Link and some words appeared inside her head.

n

"After tasting from my soul, there is no more life for you without me.

" She said it, word after word, completing the rites for the ritual.

nA link formed between them and their souls felt closer, like they were meant for each other. The tiredness Seth was feeling was replaced by a refreshing sensation, since his soul received her soul essence that was missing from the beginning. All that pain he felt, turned into an illusory memory.

n

"What?! How?

" Seth could not believe that Meiyi have done the Soul Link ritual.

n

"I don't know, some words simply appeared inside my head and I felt like speaking them, they gave me the feeling of proximity with you.

"

n

"Do not worry, it must be because of your soul essence inside her.

" Lexi spoke for only he to hear. Since Meiyi was inside Seth's soul plane, if Lexi wanted, she could talk with her.

nThe scenery changed and they were back inside Meiyi's backyard.

nThis time, Meiyi went forward and kissed him lightly. She felt more attracted to him now that they were connected, but still their love was very pure right now, devoid of any lust yet.

nBang!

nA door slammed against the wall and someone entered the backyard.

nLilian first sight was Seth kissing with Chun Meiyi. When he suddenly vanished, she had guessed that he would come here, since if there was someone that he cared about and would spare no efforts to protect, it would be Chun Meiyi.

nHowever, she never expected that he would expose his strength just to have a sweet time with his girlfriend. If it weren't for the dead bodies she saw along the way, she would really believe it was such case.

n

"I can't believe that every single time I come after you, I catch you kissing a girl. I should have expected something like that.

" Lilian's apprehension died down. She guessed that whoever has caused such acts have already suffered by Seth's hands.

n

"Hm? Oh, Lilian. It's good to see you again.

" Seth separated from Meiyi and greeted Lilian.

n

"Sigh... Shameless.

" Lilian gave up.

n

"Who did this?

" Lilian pointed towards the disciples' bodies.

n

"I think he said he was Tao Yong's older brother. There was another very similar person with him.

"

n

"Tao Zhong? Why would he come after you? He should have entered the Labyrinth.

" Lilian was trying to put the pieces together, but nothing came on her mind.

n'Tao Zhong?' Seth remembered that name, from somewhere. He thought for a moment and recalled that Valic has told him about the Tao Zhong before, coupled with the Hellish flames form the Cerberus Clan... Something was off.

n

"I remember that there was a female disciple that came to deliver something called Fire Labyrinth token some days before. She said it was a gift from some people called Tao Changming and Tao Zhong.

"

n

"A Fire Labyrinth token? Could you please show me it?

"

n

"Sorry Lilian, I don't have it with me now. Your sister vehemently asked me if she could have it and then I gave it to her.

"

n

"Yuyin asked for it?! Ahhh! I can't believe that that troublemaker would have the courage to do this.

" Lilian started to get flustered.

nHer anxiousness kept increasing, realizing that the little imp could have entered the labyrinth.

n

"I have to go, if Yuyin entered the labyrinth she could be in danger!

" Lilian didn't even say goodbye and she was already going towards the Fire Labyrinth entrance.

nSeth saw how Lilian was acting very anxious and knew that it was another trouble that was coming their way.

n

"Meiyi, this vortex above us is the entrance of a secondary dimension within our own. It will stay opened for a week only. You saw how flustered Lilian was, with your own eyes. I can't let her enter the Labyrinth alone and I have another objective to complete inside it too.

"

nMeiyi lightly laughed and said:

"Don't worry Seth, I'll be waiting for you return.

"

n

"Alright, I'll try to be as fast as possible, so I can come back and have some private time with you.

"

nHe wasn't feeling pain anymore and his body seemed to be even lighter than when he arrived, so he directly left her house, disappearing from her sight once more, however, this time, she felt her connection with him even when they weren't near.

nSeth didn't head to the labyrinth directly. He went to a remote part of the forest nearby first and activated his mana, making a black shadowy circle open on the ground, from where two people slowly emerged.. They were fully covered in a black fog that was slowly moving around their bodies.

n