Telling the truth is comndable, and daring to do so is an excellent character trait.
Zheng Fan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It's not worth getting angry with this fool, he silently reminded himself.
Fanli was still scratching his head like an elentary school student who had answered correctly, waiting for the teacher's reward with a shy yet proud smile.
This ti, none of the other Demon Lords around had reacted as quickly as he had!
Zheng Fan soon opened his eyes. He completely ignored Fanli's expectant gaze and lowered his head to address Mo Wan:
"Go, open the door."
Mo Wan walked to the bronze door. He currently exuded an aura reminiscent of dry ice on a stage, only his was black.
His body began to dissolve. Simultaneously, wisps of black gas, carrying the blood flowing from Miss Su's palm, started seeping through the cracks to the outside of the bronze door.
Mo Wan naturally had no concern for the fairer sex. Under his influence, the blood flowed from Miss Su's palm several tis faster. This made Mr. Chen anxious; Miss Su was already comatose, and this rate of blood loss could...
Yao Zizhan squinted but said nothing; the old man was, at heart, a ticulous egoist.
A Ming drained the last drop of wine from his waterskin, forcing his injured body to recover quickly.
The Blind Man kept his eyes closed, adjusting his ntal state.
Xue Three crouched on his three legs, both daggers drawn, tracing circles on the ground and occasionally flicking his tongue out to lick his lips.
Finally, Mo Wan's efforts paid off.
Miss Su's blood was once again drawn to the bronze mirror outside, and the bronze door reopened!
Mo Wan was the first to return, rging into the stone in Zheng Fan's hand.
And the next mont, all the Demon Lords surged out of the bronze door together, like a pack of eager, ravenous wolves!
"I'll look after Miss Su; you go kill," Zheng Fan said.
Hearing this, Mr. Chen also rushed out.
After Zheng Fan carried Miss Su out, Yao Zizhan said:
"Brother Zheng, I'll watch over this person. You go help. We absolutely mustn't let Gesang escape."
"Person? What person?"
Yao Zizhan pointed at Miss Su, whom Zheng Fan was holding, and said, "Isn't that her in your arms?"
"Isn't this the key?"
Saying this, Zheng Fan squeezed Miss Su's wound again, and more blood splattered onto the bronze mirror. The treasury door closed once more.
"Heh, this place, with a few modifications, would be perfect for a paternity testing center," Zheng Fan remarked.
"Brother Zheng, what's a paternity testing center?"
"A place where human tragedies are manufactured."
「…」
Gesang's left arm was bandaged as he moved through the forest. At this mont, he truly wanted to sing at the top of his lungs, like the real uncivilized n.
After all the twists and turns, he had not only broken free from Geda Mountain's control but had also managed to shake off the Situ Family's people.
Now, he was truly as free as a bird! He just needed to lie low for a while and secretly gather his forr trusted subordinates. After about six months, he would reopen that treasury, take its wealth, and establish his own power in the Skybreak Mountain range.
His own ancestor had started with rely thirteen warriors. What he possessed now was countless tis better than his ancestor's lot. If his ancestor could do it, he, Helian Gesang, could too.
Taking a step back, even if his grand ambitions didn't materialize, becoming a mountain king in the Skybreak Mountain range, controlling seven or eight wild people settlents, would still make him a regional power.
"Heh. Oh, right, next ti I co back, I'll have to collect their bodies. To be buried in my Helian Family's treasury is their good fortune, ah."
"Collect whose bodies?"
A voice suddenly ca from ahead.
"So crude, so crude. You've fallen into vulgarity. You should say, 'Thank you.' That would sound more refined and sophisticated."
"Blind Man, are you nuts? I'll say whatever I damn well please! Are you in charge of ?"
"Your aesthetic, your class... you're just too low-brow."
Gesang looked astonished. How did they get out? And how did they get ahead of ? he wondered.
The Blind Man erged from the woods ahead. He straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, trying his best to appear 'nonchalant and composed'.
Xue Three popped up from behind, sneering at the Blind Man's 'affectations'.
Actually, it wasn't that the Demon Lords were so much faster. It was more likely because Gesang had been a bit too euphoric. When one becos overly excited, one tends to lose focus.
If Gesang had cherished every second from the mont he closed the bronze door to leave, given his abilities and familiarity with the surrounding terrain, it would have been nearly impossible for the Blind Man and the others to catch up.
But 'joyful occasions make one spirited.' Gesang had earlier found even the wildflowers along the path beautiful. He couldn't help but admire the scenery for a while longer, all the while fantasizing about the future as he walked. Naturally, he couldn't have been moving very quickly. Moreover, he hadn't bothered to cover his tracks, making it very easy for Xue Three to find his route.
Zheng Fan, on the other hand, had given a kill order. So, the Demon Lords dared not slack off. They pursued him relentlessly, not only catching up but also imdiately forming an encirclent around Gesang.
It was like a battle between two armies: one side had ticulously planned, while the other was still blissfully unaware.
But Gesang was, after all, a formidable character. His earlier relaxation was indeed due to carelessness, but when things ca to a head, he quickly regained his composure. In the next instant, his figure flickered. He didn't charge towards the Blind Man or Xue Three; instead, he sprinted to the right. He clearly intended to flee without a fight!
However, a flash of sword light shot directly at him. Mr. Chen's sword had long been waiting in that direction.
Gesang roared. Knowing full well the sword's sharpness, he rapidly retreated. In that brief exchange of advance and retreat, Fanli and A Ming had already taken their positions. The encirclent was complete.
Mr. Chen stood with his sword, his gaze fixed on Gesang. I promised to conceal their identities, which repays one favor. Killing Gesang this ti ans I'll only owe that person a head, he thought.
"Gesang," the Blind Man began, "when my lord was inside the treasury earlier, he said you were a formidable figure. Frankly, I didn't quite agree. But as his subordinate, I couldn't very well contradict my lord directly and make him lose face.
"How can there be so many formidable figures in this world? Is every radish from the east and every sweet potato from the west supposed to be a hero?
"It's like how this world is never short of geniuses, yet those who can truly mature and have the last laugh are few and far between. It's the sa principle.
"Only those who survive to the end are true champions. Otherwise, they just end up beheaded."
While the Blind Man rambled, Gesang's gaze swept his surroundings. After the Blind Man finished, Gesang finally spoke:
"You are not Jin people?"
"Oh, look. It seems you're not a formidable figure after all, just a little bear cub. Only now do you realize we're not from the Helian Family, huh?"
The Blind Man's spiritual power, accompanying his words, began to slowly seep towards Gesang. If he could successfully influence the target's state of mind before the real battle began, it would create more favorable conditions for the ensuing slaughter.
The other Demon Lords understood this as well, so they let the Blind Man continue his prattle.
Mr. Chen was unaware of this tactic. However, he was an honest man; if the Blind Man wanted to talk, he would let him talk his fill.
No matter who wanted to show off, he, Mr. Chen, was always happy to help set the stage.
"You... you are esteed individuals from the Yan region?" Gesang asked.
In truth, there were only a few major powers involved. Yao Zizhan from Qian State was clearly not allied with Zheng Fan and his group, so it was quite easy to guess.
The Blind Man suddenly sighed. "Aiyo, why do those words, 'esteed individuals,' make feel so uneasy?"
Then, the Blind Man raised his hand and said, "No, please, don't..."
Gesang abruptly dropped to his knees. "Gesang failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended the esteed individuals from Yan! Please forgive my many previous offenses!
"Jin's fate is over; Great Yan is destined to rise! Helian Gesang is willing to submit to you, esteed sirs, to gather the wild people in the mountains for you, and to serve as a loyal dog at your feet!"
"Tsk tsk. I was wrong. It seems my lord wasn't mistaken after all. You truly are soone who knows when to yield and when to stand firm."
Gesang pleaded again with sincerity, "Please, esteed sirs, give a chance!"
"Yes, yes, there is, there is. Our General serves under Lord Jingnan of Yan; he is His Lordship's First Commander. You've certainly knocked on the right door.
"However, our lord is of noble status, and you nearly buried him alive just now. That debt cannot simply be erased. Otherwise, how would our lord maintain discipline in the army in the future?
"You will be permitted to serve in the army after you sever one of your arms. A promising future will not be denied to you then. Go on, do it."
Gesang's mouth twitched. He slowly lowered his gaze to his own arm, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. Sever my own arm? Impossible! Although he hadn't received the Helian Family's formal education, his upbringing in the mountains had taught him that a wolf could bow its head, but it must never extract its own claws and fangs. To do so would be to end up like the pigs raised in the settlents of the Mature Barbarians.
Just then, the Blind Man spoke again, "Forget it, forget it. There's no point in taking back a cripple. I'm actually worried my lord would bla for it. How about this: I'll plead for leniency for you before my lord later. A few dozen strokes of the cane should suffice as a symbolic punishnt. After all, we need to keep you able-bodied so you can be useful in the future.
"I only hope you rember this act of grace today. And, in the future, when you've achieved success and renown, don't forget this small favor I've done for you."
Hearing this, a look of joy spread across Gesang's face.
But at that very mont, the Blind Man's spiritual power abruptly surged! The spiritual power that had previously spread out and enveloped Gesang, like a fishing net, was suddenly drawn tight!
Gesang felt a BUZZ in his head, and his vision abruptly blurred. In that instant, alarm bells scread in his heart!
The Blind Man roared, "Slaughter him!"
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