The blood mist had yet to settle when silence strangled the field.
Not even the wind dared breathe.
Elder Wang's pupils shrank, his cultivation sense recoiling instinctively.
A single breath… no weapon drawn, no seal formed, and yet, his disciple was gone.
Even the soul fragments were devoured.
Zhao didn't speak neither there was any need for him to speak, after all, only hungry dogs barks all the time.
His gaze, calm as stagnant death, fell upon Elder Wang, a gaze not of threat, but of indifference.
The kind of indifference that made even Nascent Soul cultivators feel like ants crawling on the robe of an ancient god.
The Elder doesn't have enough face that Zhao needs to respect, a nascent soul dog, most of the time spent on alchemy.
What face does he have? It's a heavens granted gift that his wife has passed away, or else, he had to hand her over to Young Msster for a day or two to play around.
"You..." Elder Wang's beard twitched, but his voice cracked before the second word. He clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to retreat.
"Young Master Zhao, surely you understand the balance of sect law. That disciple… acted out of line, but—"
"But?" Zhao interrupted one brow gently rising.
The word was soft yet it thundered through the bones of every cultivator present.
Elder Wang's mouth opened… then closed. There was no buts.
Zhao took a single step forward.
The sky shivered, the space trembled, and even the Crane that was flying in the sky held its breath and stayed in a single place, not to anger Young Master Zhao with its ungrateful presence.
The peach blossoms, still drifting through the sky, turned red midair stained by pressure alone.
"This Ye Chen is my friend, and without an explanation, even Yama can't take him away,"
"Friend!!!"
That single word struck deeper than sword-light.
In this world, enemies were stepped on. Allies were used. But friends? To be a friend of Young Master Zhao… was akin to becoming a shadow beneath the crown of heaven.
Didn't Ye Chen issue the life-and-death battle against Young Master, how can they be friends?
But none dared question it, not even Elder Wang.
"Young Master Zhao…" the elder finally spoke, forcing his aged knees not to bend beneath the cosmic pressure.
"This old man respects your divine cultivation and unparalleled insight, but surely even an envoy must give a reason when interfering in sect justice, my son's divine soul was also destroyed and the name left by a sinner was Ye Chen,"
Zhao tilted his head slightly. "Justice?"
A faint smile bloomed on his lips.
"Ignorance doesn't blind eyes rather mind... Elder, you know about the Ye Chen's involvement regarding your son's demise, This Zhao doubts you didn't search the soul of the sinner, if not, please enlighten me,"
Elder Wang's beard trembled, but this time… he stood a little straighter.
"I dare not lie in your grace, Young Master Zhao," he said, voice firmer now beneath the blood mist.
"I did not fabricate Ye Chen's name. It was spoken by someone else. One who was there during the incident..."
Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly. "Go on..."
The elder lifted his sleeve, revealing a jade slip.
"I soul-searched my son's maid, a low-born servant girl who survived the incident. Her dying breath… spoke Ye Chen's name,"
"Like said, Ignorance blinds the mind not the eyes, Elder you lready know what you are saying is a lie, I doubt there is even a connection between the Low born maid and Ye Chen," Zhao said.
"If there is nothing else, everyone should heed their own path if not, don't blame this Zhao for not showing mercy," He uttered with a voice cold as ice.
"Scram!!!"
The voice held too much aura, most of the disciples were sent flying.
Even the elder felt a strong pressure, causing him to bow his head, which was as prideful as the mountain.
Woosh!
Ye Chen's body floated in the air.
"Follow me," Zhao said to the immortal master.
The immortal master just nodded and followed him while stealing a few glances at Ye Chen.
"Holy Son, I have some doubt... Why are you protecting Ye Chen," She couldn't help but ask.
"Heh!" Zhao just smirked.
He had no intention to hide anything, he has the strength to overcome anything, he didn't need to lie, need to hide.
"A martial senior teaches the junior the way of life, it's the law of the cultivation world, why do you think I am saving Ye Chen?... I want to teach him the way of the world, I want him to witness the companionship between us, the difference between a mountain above mountains and an ant crawling beneath,"
"Gasp* Holy son isn't thinking of what I am imagining... Correct?"
CORRECT?
"It's as you are imagining... Ye Chen shall bear the witness of our dual cultivation, perhaps the grace has some discomfort..." Zhao glanced at the Immortal master, eyes glowing deep red.
"No, No, No, this one doesn't... This disgrace doesn't even have a physical body to warm Young Master," She hurriedly replied.
"This Young Master doesn't lack any resources or treasures, with a single snap of my finger, I can make you the most beautiful fairy to ever grace this land," He uttered proudly.
Of course, Ye Chen also heard the conversation.
He gritted his teeth but he wanted to shout but no words came out.
Ye Chen's bloodied eyes fluttered open halfway.
The sky spun above him.
Pain blossomed with every breath.
And yet…
Their voices echoed in his ears like blades.
"Ye Chen shall bear witness to our dual cultivation…"
"To witness the difference between a mountain above mountains and an ant crawling beneath…"
He wanted to roar.
But his voice, like his dignity, was sealed by the weight of a realm he couldn't even comprehend.
He could only tremble.
Yet, amid all that... There was a separate lewd, immortal feeling growing inside his mind.
He was aroused, his heart wanted to see his master being defiled by the Zhao, who was a monster, a bad guy in his life story.
Why!? Why am I feeling like this?
I should hate Zhao... My master... He is going to do something horrible to her.
Some thing immoral.
Yet... Yet... I want to see it. I feel honored that Young Master Zho for making me witness such an impure act.
Memories of Holy Maiden... The way she blushed, moaned, and acted like an immoral witch... Why, why do I wanna see them again but with my master replacing her?
Why... Why do I wanna see it?
Curse you, Zhao... If you can't make my master happy you should commit suicide. If you can't make her moan like holy maiden, you should slap yourself and bide in a cave for entire life.