Chapter 1038: Three Blades
Proofreader: Papatonks
Zhuo Fan revealed a vague smile as he refused to answer, “It doesn’t concern you so you shouldn’t ask.”
“Yes, we don’t care about your personal matters and we can’t get involved with sea demon either…”
Ling Yuntian sighed, then his eyes flashed and glared, “Then what has sir to say about Heaven Sealing Sword getting stolen and our barrier destroyed? Did you do this?”
“Yes!”
“Why?” Ling Yuntian stared at him hard and shouted, “Heaven Sealing Sword is the treasure of my sect and losing it will lead to countless losses. Sir is from western lands and all four lands suffer the same problem. Also, we each mind our own problems, so why would you then do something so grave and lead to a hopeless fate?”
“Because he is the herald of calamity, cold and cruel to anyone else’s pain or life.”
Murong Xue shouted in anger, “The central area’s case is the strongest evidence. So many lives were lost at his hand yet he holds no remorse. Sect Leader Ling, he cannot be allowed to live. For the good of the world, he has to be removed. Or disaster will only keep appearing.”
The others looked at each other but their eyes were thoughtful, each with their own idea.
Bu Xingyun, who has seen Zhuo Fan for who he is, jumped right in, “Miss Murong can’t be more right. He has to die. Sect Leader Ling, he admits to stealing the sword and should be put down as an example.”
“Sect Leader Bu, I have told you many times already. You are not in the Sun Sea Sect. This isn’t your place to make decisions.”
Ling Yuntian huffed and turned to Zhuo Fan, “Sir, you have yet to answer.”
Zhuo Fan said, “Sect Leader Ling is a sharp man. Is there a need to ask? I said I wanted to go to the North Sea but the Sea Bright Sect cut off the path to it. The only way to get there is by breaking the barrier.”
“Just for that you had the Heaven Sealing Sword stolen?”
“Just?”
Eying Ouyang Lingtian, Zhuo Fan chuckled, “It might look like a flimsy reason, but it’s crucial to me. To go to the North Sea, I stole Heaven Sealing Sword, I ruined your barrier, and I would have certainly destroyed your sect or the five lands if I had to. Anyway, those that stop me will be crushed.”
“You’re a certifiable lunatic! Just for that you put all of the northern lands at risk?” Ouyang Lingtian roared, “You could’ve said you wanted to go to the North Sea and we’d have let you. It’s easy to have it done. Why did you insist on taking the sword and inflicting such damage?”
Zhuo Fan glanced at him with mockery, “Senior Ouyang, would you have really let me if I asked? Humph, you’re too simple. If it would have been that easy, why would the Sea Bright Sect be established on the sh.o.r.es of the North Sea, monopolizing its resources?”
Ouyang Lingtian shook at the response.
“Also, you might call yourself upright and righteous, but none here is any n.o.bler.”
Zhuo Fan jeered, “Now that’s such a big issue, you’re saying opening access to the sea is nothing, that a simple request would’ve been enough. But if the sword had never been taken, would you have indulged a mere merchant’s plea? The answer is obvious. How else would you have dominated the sea’s exploitation? With that reason, the result is just as flat. Because you had the North Sea locked, I had no choice but to blow this simple matter as going to sea out of proportions. Because you stopped me, I had to move you out of the way first to continue my path. If you want to blame someone, don’t blame my extreme methods, but your greed in stopping everyone else.”
Ling Yuntian’s lips shook and relented a nod, “Yes, with Sir Zhuo being a merchant, your approval would have likely been rejected. If I were in Sir Zhuo’s place, I would’ve stolen the sword as well.”
“Sect Leader Ling, how can you say that? Just for going to sea the entire northern lands’ population is at risk. How can they compare?”
Murong Xue’s glare never subsided, “Just for himself, he spits in the face of virtue and good. His heart is twisted but also strong. He has to be put down!”
The others nodded this time, but then shook their heads soon after.
Zhuo Fan grinned, uncaring for his safety, even taking time to mock her, “Miss Murong truly is a warrior of justice. A shame the world isn’t filled with people like miss, dead set on purging evil. Some don’t wish for my death. I fear your wish will have to go unanswered.”
“Humph, be smug all you like. I’m sure Sect Leader Ling will uphold his principles and knows not to show any mercy against fiends like you!” Murong Xue glared in hatred then cupped her hands in hope, “Sect Leader Ling…”
“That’s enough, miss Murong. You don’t have to say it. I have made up my mind.”
Murong Xue perked up, taking it as a sign that Ling Yuntian took her side and was about to bring Zhuo Fan to justice. “Sir Zhuo, will your guard return?”
Zhuo Fan nodded with a smile, “Of course, you saw it yourself, she came to break me out, but I needed to tend to my wife so I didn’t leave. She’ll be back though, in a few days to go to sea.”
“Good, then we’ll wait till then. When she comes, I will personally escort you all out to sea.” Ling Yuntian hesitated as he cupped his hands then left.
Ouyang Lingtian and the people of the Sea Bright Sect understood and left as well.
Murong Xue was left dumbfounded, still as a statue.
[W-what is this? Why is he freed? He killed so many of your Genesis Stage experts and stole your sword, but you’re just going to move past it and even escort him to sea? What is going on here?]
Murong Xue was utterly confused, while the rest knew why this happened. Shangguan Feixiong had just gone through a verbal clash with Zhuo Fan and Zhuo Fan was in no rush to unseal eastern lands’ sword. But that didn’t stop him from feeling so down. He asked, pointing at the Soaring Sword, “Kid, say when. I’ll wait.”
“Wait for me before the sea.”
“Alright, but you better not forget this again. Who knows how many years it will take for us to meet again.” Shangguan Feixiong sighed and left.
Exalted Double Dragons hesitated before saying, “Zhuo Fan, we’re happy you’re alive. We wanted to look into what happened to you…”
“I understand Exalted’s difficulty and master had settled everything in my stead. I am instead very grateful to you for looking after Chu Qingcheng all these years. I have yet to step into Double Dragon Manor for even one day, but I can be considered one of you still. You can put your mind at ease, Exalted, I will always be thankful to Double Dragon Manor and western lands.” Zhuo Fan spoke over them.
Exalted Double Dragons nodded in relief. They feared Zhuo Fan would’ve hated them for not dealing with the sects back then and letting Chu Qingcheng turn like this.
With a devious otherworldly genius around and a monster watching them from shadows, the two never felt safe.
Now though, hearing Zhuo Fan’s grat.i.tude, they finally found zen.
After a couple more words, they too left.
Now there was only Wu Qingqiu, Shangguan Qingyan, Murong Xue and Murong Lie.
Murong Xue was overcome by confusion, “Brother, what is this? Why has Sect Leader Ling shown such leniency to this demon after all the hurt he’s caused?”
“Xue’er, Sect Leader Ling is in charge of the sect and needs to think of everyone.” Murong Lie took a deep breath.
Murong Xue said, still baffled, “If Sect Leader Ling is acting in everyone’s interests, then he should know how much of a disaster he is. He can’t be left alive. Now that he’s set free, many more people will get hurt!”
“Yes, this demon ought to be snuffed. If I live, more would die.”
Zhuo Fan patronized, “Miss Murong is so focused she saw me for what I am, a true demon that spreads pain and suffering. While miss Murong wants to see me dead, I have too many demon progeny around. I could stand before you and present my neck yet you still wouldn’t be able to touch a hair on it, ha-ha-ha…”
“What are you saying?”
“For the techn.o.babble-impaired, I am a demon reaping countless souls, but Ling Yuntian, Ouyang Lingtian and even Exalted Double Dragons are my children. They may deny it, but they know in their heart that they have to keep this true demon alive.”
Murong Xue winced.
Zhuo Fan continued regardless of her feelings, “You think you’re the only bright enough to see me for the danger I am? They all know. The minute I walk out will be sure to cause more suffering somewhere. Alas, their hands are tied. For I have on me three whimsical blades, flying away the minute my soul leaves my body. They’ll never see them again. That’s why they can’t touch me.”
“Three blades?”
“First is the Shangguan clan’s Soaring Sword. If I die, Soaring Sword remains sealed. It translates into the fall of the Shangguan clan, and with northern lands and eastern lands trapped, the other lands would fall as well. For the second blade, Heaven Sealing Sword, is the same with Soaring Sword. The third blade, Devil Mountain. Double Dragon Manor had been scared witless five years ago when Devil Mountain took the stage and would never do anything to a Devil Mountain disciple, lest Devil Mountain would burn whole of western lands in anger.”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed, “They don’t care about the casualties, only about getting the Heaven Sealing Sword and unsealing the Soaring Sword. This affects their future. The constant cries of the ma.s.ses fall on their deafened ears as all of their focus is set on the lands’ unification. They only care about losing their status and sects, not for the countless poor souls in pain and dying.
“That’s why I said reporting me will only make it worse for you. Because you said too much, they won’t touch me. I am now a prisoner, but I control their fates. It is not I who is locked away here now, but you, righteous warrior, obsessed with killing me!”
Bam!
The Four Snow Peak Elders suddenly appeared with grave faces, “Sect Leader Ling has ordered us to watch over Zhuo Fan and the others…”