Chapter 449: Ichthyic Curse
The cultivation chamber doors swung open.
Li Luo, Yu Hongxi, and Chi Chan walked out to see Cao Sheng and Shen Jinxiao by the door.
Cao Sheng sprang to his feet with a smile for Yu Hongxi. “Cultivation over? I trust all went well?” Even as he spoke, he could sense that something was off. Chi Chan was staring daggers at Shen Jinxiao, who was behind him.
“Shen Jinxiao! It must have been you!” Chi Chan’s water resonant power roared to life as she stepped forward. Wrapping him in a violent swirl of water, it formed a cocoon around him.
The water spun faster and faster as the cocoon contracted.
Crushing the space within.
Shen Jinxiao calmly raised his own crimson resonant power, dissipating her power easily enough. It steamed off harmlessly. A dark-red figure had appeared behind him.
The figure had four limbs and a demonic aura to it.
Li Luo was shocked. This was his first time seeing Shen Jinxiao reveal his resonance… he was an Ifrit resonance user?
This was a fire resonance mutation, and a rather rare one. But compared to the table variety, this one was much more aggressive.
The fire demon behind him flexed strongly, smashing through the water cocoon thoroughly. With a quick leap, Shen Jinxiao retreated a dozen paces away.
“Mentor Chi Chan, are you attacking me? Tut tut, breaking school rules now, are we?”
She stared at him, choking up with anger.
Cao Sheng was taken aback by the sudden burst of violence as well. “Mentor Chi Chan, is something wrong?”
“Mentor Chi Chan ran into complications during the refining just now,” Yu Hongxi said. “It seems like she suspects Mentor Shen Jinxiao of having a hand in it.”
Cao Sheng’s eyes widened. “Is it… the Ichthyic curse?”
Yu Hongxi’s eyes flashed with understanding for a moment. Was that the black fish on Mentor Chi Chan’s face? It seemed like this was no secret among the Violet Vibrance mentors.
However, Cao Sheng did not explain further. Yu Hongxi was still considered an outsider, and these were not his secrets to reveal.
Neither did Yu Hongxi press, understanding her position.
Chi Chan continued to seethe, her anger refusing to subside away. Her fists glowed with watery power as she prepared to attack again.
This time, an even stronger force descended, pushing her until she hunched over. A person floated down from above.
“Mentor Chi Chan, what has happened?”
Vice Principal Su Xin. She was looking serious. She had hurried over after sensing resonant power disturbances of great magnitude within school grounds.
Cao Sheng quickly explained the situation to her.
“The Ichthyic curse was triggered?” Su Xin strode quickly over to Chi Chan’s side, forcefully tilting her chin up and ripping away the veil.
“Hmm?”
She immediately saw the golden ring around the fish’s tail.
“It was sealed away? And what a strange seal. Is this some secret art from the Golden Dragon Bank?” she asked, startled.
In the past, she had been the one to seal away the Ichthyic curse whenever it was triggered. This seal was even stronger than any that she had created in the past.
Yu Hongxi was about to speak when she heard a pleading cough from Li Luo.
“Oh, just a sealing scroll treasure I brought along from the Golden Dragon Bank just in case. I had to use it since the situation was urgent.”
“We are in your debt, President Yu,” Su Xin said gratefully.
Yu Hongxi waved it away with a smile.
After carefully putting the veil back in place, Chi Chan said in a cold voice, “I suspect Shen Jinxiao did something to trigger it. I want him investigated!”
Shen Jinxiao smiled. “Ah, but I have been by Mentor Cao Sheng’s side for the whole night. I don’t think anyone would think me capable of pulling off such a fine trick right under his nose.”
Cao Sheng hesitated. “Indeed, I was on my guard the whole night. He did not do anything suspicious,” he confirmed.
“Mentor Chi Chan. I know you have resented and mistrusted me for many years, but what happened back then was a mistake. I’ve apologized to you so many times. You have never accepted though…”
Shen Jinxiao paused.
“But you should not forget who was the one who laid the Ichthyic curse on you in the first place. Please don’t slander me. I cannot bear such a heavy crime that is not mine.”
Chi Chan’s fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.
“I wonder,” Li Luo suddenly said. “Why were you suddenly here, Mentor Shen Jinxiao? And for the whole night? Things were going fine, and then suddenly they weren’t when you appeared. Doesn’t it seem reasonable for some suspicion to be cast upon you?”
“Indeed, I came to see what you were up to,” Shen Jinxiao admitted freely. “What would a mere Resonant Master cultivator be doing with two Duke experts? I confess that I suspected you of being up to no good, and so I came to protect the school’s interests.
“Or perhaps you would like to clear your name before the vice principal? Tell us what you were refining. Or what use it has.”
Li Luo smiled and shook his head. “It’s confidential.”
“Then how can we be sure that it’s not whatever you were refining that caused Mentor Chi Chan to lose control?” Shen Jinxiao said sadly. “Perhaps you’re the one looking for the scapegoat here.”
“Shen Jinxiao, shut up right now,” Chi Chan snarled.
He smirked, then he turned and left. “Mentor Cao Sheng, please escort President Yu accordingly,” Vice Principal Su Xin said.
He nodded quickly.
Yu Hongxi nodded with a courteous smile. These were school affairs. It was not appropriate for a Golden Dragon Bank outsider like herself to be involved. She took a quick glance at Li Luo and then left.
Cao Sheng eagerly followed behind her like a puppy, delighted and yet almost afraid to get too close.
As they left, Su Xin took Chi Chan by the hand and briefly conferred with her privately before she left. She only looked at Li Luo long enough to acknowledge his presence, but did not probe as to what he was doing with two Dukes.
Only Chi Chan and Li Luo were left now.
“Mentor, I’m so sorry for causing you trouble,” he said sincerely.
He was not sure why she had lost control, but if he had not sought out her help, things would probably not have turned out this way.
“It had nothing to do with you,” she assured him, then she turned and walked slowly along the stone path.
Li Luo hesitated, then followed her cautiously.
In the misty dawn, they walked silently for a while.
“Li Luo, do you know how I got corrupted by an Other?”