Chapter 1115: An Image Cursed To Stay
Watching the dried husk of a man dropping to the ground, looking like a mummy straight out of an Egyptian tomb, made everyone silent.
The first one to recover was David, who knew such things were possible. He had even heard of a legacy in New Eden that allowed a high-level player to gain control over the life force of others.
He shouldn’t have been surprised that a creature on the human side of the veil had already had access to something similar. Especially one at the level of a celestial being.
Of course, knowing of it and seeing it happen before your very eyes were always two different things.
As for the disciples under Elder Yang, not a single sound was uttered, as they suddenly imagined their own bodies withering and turning to dust. Their sudden reticence to follow in their elder’s path was almost laughable.
As the rest of Alex’s group slowly regained their thoughts, they discreetly huddled together, finding a little comfort in the proximity of their friends, knowing Alexander, David, and Kary wouldn’t let the same fate befall them.
Tian Kuo glared at the gathered disciples, his eyes feeling especially resentful to Elder Bai, even as they almost skipped over him entirely.
"I will forgive the transgression of my hilltop to anyone who understands the folly of their actions here today and starts showing more progress in their studies and practices, but only on the condition you all leave this very moment.
"Anyone who is still in my sight in ten seconds will have to suffer the pain of the Heavenly Staircase until they are on their hands and knees, begging for my forgiveness. Now, BEGONE!" he barked.
His shout was like the firing signal of a hundred-meter race, as all the disciples suddenly bolted for the side paths that led off the mountain, trying to reach their appropriate levels.
A few of them lingered for a little less than a second, throwing a glance at the group of intruders standing behind their master, wondering why he was being so deferential to them when he was so harsh to his own disciples.
But the thought didn’t stick long, even to them, quickly replaced by the vision of their husks turning to dust.
Tian Kuo was half tempted to start counting aloud, just to instill an additional dose of fear into their hearts, but he abstained from such lowly tactics. He would have his way either way, so there was no point in making them little more than cared prey.
The only person who was still glued in place, who wasn’t part of Alexander’s group or himself, quickly became evident.
Glaring at his elder with fury, Tian Kuo took slow, measured steps toward him.
Elder Bai almost twitched as each footstep got closer, his head lowered as he contemplated the mistake of following Yang Gang up here, even when he knew his reasons were not for the safety of the master.
He had known the pretense Elder Yang had fed him was a load of crap, but his duty to protect the sect and its master had overridden his doubts and reluctance, and he had gathered his students regardless.
Now, seeing what happened to said Elder Yang, he wondered if he shouldn’t have just held the man back. The loss of an Elder in the sect was already not a good thing, but to have him publicly executed like this would be a terrible blow to the morale of the students.
Plus, they now knew the insidious nature of the beast directing their lives. This could be a double-edged sword if they felt their fealties were misplaced in a being that wasn’t even human.
Only time would tell what the repercussions of this event would be.
"Elder Bai," the stern voice of the celestial fox called out to him, the latter suddenly snapping out of his thoughts.
He brought his right fist into his left palm, keeping his head low, as a sign of submission, before saying, "Master! I thought only of your safety in my actions! There was no ill intent, I swear!"
"If you are going to try to make your case, at least have the courage to look me in the eye, Bai Feng. You have been here the longest, and I thought you understood I don’t like pleading like a coward," Tian Kuo spat, the disgust in his voice clear for all to hear.
Bai Feng lifted his head, fear still apparent in his eyes, but with some modicum of resolve in his gaze.
"I apologize, Master Kuo. Far be it from me the intention of disrespecting you. I will accept any and all punishment you deem appropriate for my insubordinate actions. Just, please leave my students out of it. They only followed my orders," he pleaded, locking his eyes with the fox’s.
Tian Kuo slapped him across the cheek, the crisp sound echoing across the silent hilltop.
"Even knowing the wrong of your actions, and the ill intent of your fellow elder, you walked onto my doorstep, disciples in tow, and disrespected my direct orders. I am very disappointed in you, Bai Feng. You have broken my trust."
Elder Bai lowered his head once more, keeping his mouth shut as blood trickled down the corner of his lips, dripping on the ground before his feet.
Tian Kuo sighed, knowing the loss of one elder was already a bad thing for him. It was a terrible loss of power for an already weakening sect. If he gave in to his rage and killed another, his sect would never recover.
His work of the last millennia would all go to waste.
’Humans are still so disappointingly short-sighted...’ he mused, feeling his eternal disdain for them resurface.
After another loud sigh, he walked away from the elder, keeping his back turned to him.
"Just leave. Go set your mistakes right. Make sure Elder Yang’s students don’t get any stupid ideas, now that he’s gone. I would loathe to kill more people over the blindness of one man."
Elder Bai straightened his back, keeping his mouth shut, and walked away with hastened steps toward the lower levels of the mountain.
He didn’t even bother cleaning his bloodied mouth before leaving, the taste of iron in his mouth a reminder of his duty.
’Protect the master, protect the sect, and protect the mountain, Bai Feng. Your interests are of no import. Only in death does duty end,’ he recited in his mind.
"So. With this fiasco done, are you ready to depart my home?" Tian Kuo said to his guests, trying to brush it aside.
"Oh, we want off just as much as you do, fox. Lead the way," Alex joked, trying to erase from his mind what had happened to the Chinese man.
He had a feeling the image of the dried human husk wouldn’t leave him for a while.
’Imagine if I were weak enough for him to overpower me. This could have been all of us...’