A Failure's hopeful Journey

When Animo Albus saw the two people chuckling together like old friends, she shook her head and said, "Let's go, Victoria, senior Lilian is now fine."

At this moment, Victoria had a wonderful expression on her face. She could not get herself to believe that what happened in front of her was real. She muttered, "This brat is a monster."

Animo Albus let out a rare chuckle as she said, "You realized it only now?" she dispelled the purification array and walked inside the spirit dome. 

You Xi Wang had Maya come out of the shadow and sit beside the two people. They were both not any powerful than a normal body formation cultivator. Lilian was drained of spirit energy while You Xi Wang was drained from curing her. 

Lilian asked, "Say child, who is your master?"

You Xi Wang replied respectfully, "Senior my master, you may not know. But my grandmaster you would. My grandmaster is Animus."

Lilian had a surprised expression on her face. She said, "You mean that odd guy, what was he called, um the mentalist?" seeing You Xi Wang nod, she sighed, "No wonder you were so good."

You Xi Wang asked, "Senior, I have been wanting to ask you a question. If you don't mind."

The lady nodded with a faint smile, and let out a laugh when she heard You Xi Wang's question. The boy asked her why she was called the widow. 

She laughed for a bit and then said, "I was called the scarlet widow. I got this name because when I used to fight even if it was my husband against me, I will beat him to the pulp. So your grandmaster one day said, that I will be the widow one day if I did not learn restraint. Thus the name."

You Xi Wang nodded just when he was about to speak more, Victoria and Animo arrived. The two ladies bowed to Lilian as they said, "Junior(s) greet senior. Welcome back."

Lilian smiled, "Thank you." then she had a surprised expression on her face as she watched Victoria and Animo for a bit. Pointing at Victoria she said, "Are you not that old hag Waseer's disciple?"

Victoria nodded and said, "Yes, senior, I am Victoria, Grandmaster Waseer is my master." her words shocked You Xi Wang. 

He asked, "Do you mean, chess god Waseer?" his eyes were almost out of the socket.

Victoria nodded at him with a smile. She was quite happy to see You Xi Wang's reaction. Lilian pointed at Animo and said, "Your master is Animus?"

Animo nodded as she said, "I am the eldest disciple of Animus. You Xi Wang is my disciple nephew."

Lilian nodded. She mumbled, "I saw you, almost a century ago. Good girl."

You Xi Wang covered his mouth with his hand as he glanced at Animo. Lilian asked, "Child, are you okay? What happened to you?"

The boy said, "I did not expect my master ant to be a century-old antique." his tone was filled with disbelief. His words enraged Animo. Just as she was about to scold him, the boy fainted. Maya let out a sad growl. 

Lilian asked in a hurry, "Is he okay? What happened?"

Animo checked his pulse and said, "He is okay, just the soul force and spirit energy are over-drafted. We should get back to the base."

Victoria supported Lilian while Animo carried You Xi Wang. The two glided over the surface like specters, and they came out of the spirit Dome. Victoria said, "Commander Maddison, arrange for a surveillance squad to relieve these kids. They have done too much."

Fenny spoke up, "Report, supreme commander." she spoke with a salute and used Victoria's official rank to address. The latter nodded to the girl.

Fenny said, "Thank you for the concern, but the squad is well-rested. We would like to clean up the rest of the zombies." her voice was firm and did not waver. 

Victoria glanced at the squad standing behind her in rapt attention. She saw the determination in their eyes. Finally, with a sigh, she agreed, "Very well, but you are to exercise caution."

Fenny replied, "Aye, Supreme Commander." Yuki stepped forward and walked up to Animo. The elder understood her intent and handed You Xi Wang to her. Victoria did not have any opinion. Yuki called Shadow out of her shadows and said, "Go scout the way back."

Her night hound was just like her in front of the outsiders. Cold and indifferent. After a nod, it vanished. Maddison stayed behind to watch over the wrath squad until the deputy comes back. Yuki carried her beloved on her back and walked forward. Maya was in front of her. 

After a few minutes, Animo asked, "Why are we walking when we can fly?" The three seniors were confused as well. Yuki replied, "This place generates spirit energy because of the world array. Today You Xi Wang used that monster weapon. He drained 70% of the spirit energy present here. It will take a few hours to recover. So walking is better, it reduces the load on the world array."

Animo was surprised that she as an array master forgot this basic info, but a junior like Yuki remembered it. Suddenly Lilian asked, "Child, who is Tamaki Kinben to you?"

Yuki was surprised, but then she replied, "Great granduncle."

Lilian said, "That is why you carry a Katana insignia." this was lore on Metropia, known to only a few people. The Kinben family was small now, not over 100 people but in the old days, their strength was world-renowned. 

Yuki nodded again, with no change in her expression. Lilian spoke in a soft voice. "Did that old man not tell you all about me?"

Yuki replied, "He told us you were a great heroine and sacrificed yourself. But he also hated himself for being the weaker one and not being able to follow you." her voice did not change. 

Lilian asked again with her red eyes, "How is he now?"

Yuki replied, "Waiting in seclusion. The moment he breaks through to the peak of Nirvana rebirth realm. That is when he will come looking for you."

Lilian finally could not help but let some tears fall. She spoke in between her sobs. "I thought he would be gone. This old stuck up." 

Yuki spoke, "The Kinben, don't take over one wife. Even if she is dead, they will live with her memories, waiting to meet them in the afterlife." her voice softened a bit. 

She continued, "Great Grandaunt, the one who saved you, is your nephew-in-law. This guy is a skirt chaser."

You Xi Wang suddenly sat up. "Hey, I am not a skirt chaser, okay beauty yu. They just go bonkers on your husband's charm." he realized what he just did. He jumped off Yuki's back and ran ahead at full speed. 

Lilian was shocked, Animo and Victoria were shocked as well. Yuki asked, "Did he say something mean to you guys inside the spirit dome? To think you fell victim to his trickery." the ice demoness smiled like a beautiful flower blooming in the desert. 

Lilian forgot her pain and chuckled. Victoria also started chuckling, while Animo said, "Just wait till he gets to Chi'er. I will have her straighten him up."

Yuki shook her head and said nothing at all. The four people continued walking back to the base. 

...

Back on Metropia, the array hall peak. The palace on top of the desolate mountain was filled with a lot of movement now. In the past six months, a lot of students capable of array science had surfaced and were taken in by this place. They were all taught about the art of spirit arrays and stuff. 

On the highest watchtower, Animus sat in meditation. He suddenly let out a chuckled. Startling two girls who were reading books in front of him. One girl spoke in a low voice, "Lily, what do you think happened this time?"

Lily shook her head, said, "Probably found a lost screw."

The old man stopped laughing and said, "You little devils. still making fun of the old man. If not for Chi'er's sake, I would have spanked you both."

Lily hid behind Celestia, but the latter raised her head high. She spoke in her bell-like voice, "Dare you. I will tell grandma Animo, and then I will shave your remaining hair as well. Humph. Let my big brother come back. I will tell him how you captured us."

In the past six months, these two little fairies have stayed in the array hall. They have learned the theory knowledge of a fifth-grade array master. They were geniuses. What was more terrifying was that they set up illusion arrays around the students in the hall. In the past six months, except for You Zhichi, almost everyone has suffered in their hands. 

Even the grand elder, the mentalist, Animus. These two even came up with a way to break his mind-reading. Whenever Animus looked at them, they would let go of the restraint on their thoughts and let them wander freely. If the person himself doesn't know what they were thinking about, how could someone else do? They made a bet with Animus about this and won. 

Animo Albus was the witness and since he lost, he lost half of his beard as well as half the hair on his head. To think they were so terrible that even Animus was like a child to them. But You Zhichi punished them and made them read books here so as they do not trouble the other students.

Lily asked, "Why did you chuckle now?" Animus told them about You Xi Wang's adventure with a sigh. The two devils immediately became tamed. Well, You Xi Wang was their poison. You Zhichi suddenly came over. 

She listened to this all in silence. When Animus was done she said, "Grandmaster, Master sent a new. They will come back ahead of time. In a week probably. Celes, Lily, your brother will come back as well. Are you happy?"

The two girls smiled brightly and danced but they did not reply to her. Giving her the silent treatment for punishing them, for being smarter than others.