The Dawn of the New World

"Are you not going after her?"

"Why would I do that? We have no relation."

"Even though she cares for you so?"

"Does that mean I must reciprocate those feelings no matter what? She is young and...oh so naive. It is only a fleeting emotion that she has for me. In a few years, she won't even remember who I am."

**

'A fleeting emotion? You both have been on the planet for more than a standard year and yet, she still harbors those 'fleeting emotions' for you every moment of every day. Are you sure you are not just saying that to make yourself feel better for abandoning her?'

'Abandoning her?? How am I abandoning her?! Why must I be responsible for a stranger's well-being?!'

'Oh please, you know all too well that she is not a stranger to us, not anymore. You brought her here knowing full well what fate awaits her. And now you are turning your back towards her like the coward you are. She would die for you in a heartbeat but you won't even fight for her. Once a coward, always a coward. Hahahaha~'

**

"Enough! What business is it yours what happens between her and I?" Hao Xuan shouted, startling 89 who was standing silently beside him.

"Eh?" bewildered, he bowed instantly, "My apologies if I overstepped."

89 apologized even though he hadn't spoken since they first left the room. Hao Xuan looked back and met his gaze just in time for 89 to see his eyes change from a dark red to their original green color.

'Poison?! Or a curse?'

Hao Xuan's right hand was still placed on the gold-encrusted door.

"Is Tian Zheng here yet?"

89 was confused by the sudden change in Hao Xuan's behavior but it further supported his theory of Hao Xuan being poisoned or cursed. He seemed to have no idea about what he had just done or said.

"Not...yet. His party will arrive just before the gathering starts. But most of the others are already in there."

"Hmm."

Hao Xuan looked back at the door and pushed. It didn't budge at the start but as he continued putting more and more strength it started to open little by little. He even used the other arm when it seemed to have come to a standstill and with one massive burst of raw physical power flung both the sides away.

The music that was getting louder and louder came to an abrupt stop. Irritated and annoyed, Hao Xuan strode into the main hall as if it was his own.

"What the fuck kinda door is this?! Some great 'treasure palace' you have, Dai Zhi."

Unlike what Hao Xuan expected, the "main hall" was actually a small pocket dimension of its own. On the other side of the golden door was another world entirely in a much more literal sense.

For one, it was nighttime inside. There were stars shining overhead with a few clouds roaming about here and there.

There was a giant bonfire burning in the middle with a total of nine carpets placed in a circle on the naked ground around it. Most of the carpets had anywhere from 1-2 to over 5 people sitting on them.

Only two carpets were still empty, one to Dai Zhi's extreme right side and the one next to it.

There were multiple beautiful women standing in between each of the carpets with either wine bottles or trays of food. They were dressed in what Hao Xuan thought was a standard attire for a belly dancer, barely covering anything at all.

To the left side, away from everything else was a group of five men holding various musical instruments, and right now each and every person was looking towards Hao Xuan.

Hao Xuan also recognized many of the faces trying to bore holes in his face.

Dai Zhi himself was first and foremost sitting on the opposite side of the bonfire.

The baldheaded teen Dima who was the first guardian of the Temple was sitting on the right side of the bonfire with an unknown woman.

To the left was surprisingly Xue Meng. The same saber-wielding lunatic that Hao Xuan met in the pit. There were four empty wine bottles next to him and another one attached to his lips.

After basically inhaling the bottle's contents he threw it away and looked around groggily, "Why has the *hic* music stopped? Come *hic* on!"

The music started up again but most of the people were still staring at Hao Xuan who didn't know what to do.

Dai Zhi cleared his throat and raised a glass towards Hao Xuan, "Why don't you join us, now that you'v-"

But he was rudely cut off by Xue Meng's blaring voice.

"OHH! IT'S YOU! HAHAHA! Come here, come sit next to me!" he patted the carpet next to him which from the order in which everyone was sitting, Hao Xuan quickly guessed was reserved for Tian Zheng.