Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Chapter 576: A Small Army

In a few moments, Song Wei joined them outside the brothel, quickly adjusting his collars. He cupped his hands to Hui. Disciple greets Master.

Ah, yes, Hui said, quickly cupping hands back.

Apologies for showing you such an unsightly display. Disciple has no excuses, and awaits punishment!

Er, theres no need for that, no need, Hui said, waving his hand. He lifted Song Wei out of his stance. Song Wei, youve been researching the lotus clones, right?

Ah! Master noticed! Song Wei said. His eyes glittered with excitement, and he nodded. Come with me!

He turned to go, then paused. Turning back, he drew out his sword and gestured for Hui to join him.

Ah thats alright. I can fly without a sword now, in any case, Hui said. It isnt like were going a great distance, nor will flying on his sword speed me up. Its good to use my own er, not legs, but power! Yes, my own power of flight, every now and again.

Song Wei drooped. Pouting, he asked Am I not good enough for Master?

Good enough, obviously good enough, Hui returned. He stepped forward. Maybe Ill indulge him, just this once.

Bai Xue caught him by the waist and drew him onto her fan. Hes flying with me.

Song Wei scowled at her, jealousy written all over his face.

Mm, but when it comes to indulging your disciple or your wife, obviously, your wife comes first! Hui gave Song Wei and apologetic look. It seems Ive been caught by my wife. Fly ahead of us.

Song Wei nodded. The pout vanished. Right, right! I forgot Bai Xue was Masters wife, since they visit the brothel almost as often as me!

Ha. What a claim! Song Wei, you go to brothels more often than a furnace who cultivates via dual cultivation? Bai Xue sniped back playfully. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head at him.

Song Wei blushed, as if he hadnt just claimed so himself after walking out of a brothel in broad daylight. He looked at Hui. Master, dont listen to them. Im innocent.

Er you realize thats hard to believe, right? Hui nodded indulgently anyways. Song Wei is innocent.

Is Bai Xue innocent? Bai Xue asked, leaning over him so her white hair tickled his nose.

Hui shook his head. What part of you can be considered innocent? No matter how I look at it, youre the furthest thing from innocent! Bai Xue is the opposite of innocent.

Hmm if Im guilty anyways, then I might as well commit a crime, Bai Xue murmured. The hands around his waist started dipping.

Bai Xue! Hui said, grabbing her hands. Innocent, youre innocent!

Bai Xue beamed. Were both innocent, Song Wei. Hui says so.

Sighing, Hui gazed off into the distance. Even after all this time, Bai Xue is still Bai Xue.

Ah, Im actually a little glad, though. She hadnt harassed or teased me once since we met this time, what with the kids missing. We need to keep our heads high and our chins up. Even if its stupid, its better to keep a positive outlook than to give in to despair.

Song Wei drew to a halt over a nondescript stretch of forest. He glanced around. A faint buzz passed over Huis skin as Song Wei cast his perception out. After a moment, satisfied, Song Wei dove down into the forest. The canopy swallowed him up with barely a ripple, and he vanished.

Huis eyes widened, then narrowed. He smiled. Intentionally or not, it seems I did teach my students something! Hide your hard work, disguise your intentions with illusions! Lets see what my desperately blackening lotus has been up to. He nodded at Bai Xue, indicating for her to follow.

I cant sense anything inside there. Its a black void, which neither ice nor fire, yin nor yang, can pierce. Are you sure its not dangerous? Bai Xue asked quietly.

Hui extended his own senses downward. With a tiny bit of death qi, he drilled a hole in the barrier, then peeked inside.

He froze.

Concerned, Bai Xue tightened her grip on him. What? Could you see? Is it dangerous?

Er, its not dangerous, but Hui licked his lips. Er maybe its better if Elder Sister stays outside?

Now I have to see, Bai Xue muttered. She dove into the barrier.

Trees hurtled at them, growing closer and closer with every passing moment. Hui tensed. I know its just an illusion, and still

They smashed into the illusion and burst through to the other side.

Bai Xue stared. She raised her sleeve to her mouth, but wasnt able to suppress her snicker.

Its not nice to laugh Hui said weakly.

Instead of trees, they floated over a sunny pond. Lotuses crowded the ponds surface, spreading beautiful pale flowers and broad pads toward the sun. Clear water filled the pond, clear enough to see to the bottom of it. And there, below the water thousands of lotus clones grew.

Large, human-sized, small, tiny, all sizes and variations. They grew from the lotus roots. Still more curled up on the banks, slowly forming from the dropped seeds. Hundreds. Thousands.

All of them looked like Hui, down to the last detail, rendered in perfect, painstaking replica. And not a one of them wore clothes.

Master, I noticed that the clones didnt grow like you as default. Instead, you have to circulate your qi and enforce yourself on them to make them look like you. So this disciple thought Id make it a bit easier on Master. Now you can choose from any number of bodies in any size, and they all already look like you! Song Wei beamed up at Hui, face expectant.

Er Hui coughed, forcing himself to put on a pleased face. Disciple has done well. Its just er the clothes

Master has his own techniques, right? Disciple didnt dare decide Masters robes for him, Song Wei said, shaking his head.

Uh huh, Bai Xue said skeptically, barely holding back a giggle.

Hui took a deep breath. Before the conversation could get even more off track, he waved his sleeve. In any case, they can still be reshaped, right?

Ah! Of course. Disciple noticed Masters preference for disguises. If Master prefers to mold the clone body itself, the clones are still unfinished, and ripe for molding, Song Wei said, nodding vigorously.

Good. Good. Hui took a deep breath. Its fine. Its just a small quirk. Its no big deal. I was naked in that phoenix orb, and it was fine. This is nothing to me!

Can I have one? Bai Xue asked, eyeing one of the slightly-larger-than-life clones.

No, Hui and Song Wei chorused at almost the same time.

Eh? But Song Wei has so many surely Xiao Hui wont deny his own wife? Bai Xue asked, pouting.

Ive never used them forfor evil deeds! That heretical furnace, who knows what shed use them for? Song Wei asked, giving Hui a pleading look.

Xiao Hui knows exactly what Id use it for, Bai Xue said, waggling her eyebrows at Hui.

I already said no, Hui reminded them. Ignoring the two of them, he knelt by the nearest lotus clone. Lotus clones are replete with life qi, and that life qi can be replaced by death qi without harming the clone. Can I instead change that life qi into flame qi? The lotus clones are weak to fire, but

Reaching out into the lotus clone, Hui began to circulate his qi. It cycled out of him, into the clone, and back again, forming a resonant loop. Ever so carefully, he changed a tiny amount of the clones life qi into flame qi.

The clone instantly burst into flames. Hui jumped back, startled. In mere seconds, the whole thing burned down.

Er, yeah, I really could have seen that coming. Hmm

Did Master not like that one? Disciple will do better next time, Song Wei pledged.

No, no. It was satisfactory, fully satisfactory, Hui said.

Song Wei frowned. Then why did you burn it?

Er, Master is doing a bit of experimentation right now. Sometimes experiments go wrong, Hui explained.

Song Wei nodded. Disciple understands.

Putting a hand on his chin, Hui stepped back. Lotus clones are weak to fire. The phoenixes inside me need bodies, but theyre made of fire. I could find some other clone technique, but that will take time, time we dont have. We have all these clones right here As soon as I can put the phoenixes in them, we have a small army to go search for our children. All I have to do is figure out how to make the lotus clones handle fire qi without burning up.

There has to be a way. I refuse to believe there isnt a way!