With one last wave of hot air, the scorching flames that had turned people into ash disappeared. Only a thin blue glow surrounded Chen Wentian's figure standing imperiously over his subjects. This was not the justice of the common people or one based on fairness. This was the justice of the strong, an overwhelming strength that commanded complete submission.
One sect of disciples was wiped out and there were only four sects left, three of the so-called four great sword sects as well as the Tower of Swords. A gust of wind swept over the half-empty arena. Although the morning would not have been cold to these strong cultivators, they all shivered uncontrollably.
Disregarding these people, Chen Wentian glanced briefly toward the sky. The two Spirit Kings, Huang Wuji and Gong Liyun couldn't be seen but he knew they were somewhere nearby. He could faintly sense their aura. Since they hadn't shown themselves, his actions were still within their acceptable range. He didn't really care since he was now a Spirit King too but it was better to maintain a good relationship.
His head tilted back down and he stared at the remaining three representatives from the Four Greats in turn. He made them sweat for a while and then said in a serious voice, "For this attack against my disciples, I am willing to place the blame entirely on the Mount Xiong Sect and the Yang Clan. I can spare your lives but only under one condition. I want your three sects, The Mount Yun Sect, the Mount Huang Sect, and the Mount Tai Sect, to get rid of the Mount Xiong Sect for me. You have one month to get this done. After one month, I do not want to hear the name Mount Xiong Sect ever uttered again in this subcontinent!"
"Thank you, Immortal Chen!"
"Thank you, Immortal Chen!"
The three representatives smacked their foreheads against the stone floor several times as they bowed.
"The Mount Tai Sect swears that we will place a kill-on-sight order for members of the Mount Xiong Sect!"
"The Mount Yun Sect swears that we will immediately besiege Mount Xiong to prevent anyone from escaping!"
"The Mount Huang Sect swears that we will carry out Immortal Chen's orders!"
Chen Wentian waved his hands and dismissed them, "How you do it is up to you. Whatever resources you can steal and rob will also belong to you. Also, you don't need to report to me after you are done. I will know if you have done a good job or not."
"Yes, Immortal Chen!"
Then, like a horde of rats, the three sects scurried away in all directions and disappeared into the city nearby. Given a new lease on life, they couldn't run away fast enough. They had expected to die a horrible death but by a twist of fortune, they were spared. Their future was still uncertain but it was at least better than that of the Mount Xiong Sect.
He turned away from them and walked towards the solitary representative from the Tower of Swords.
Peng Lingxi stood with her back straight and her expression calm. She watched Chen Wentian approach. When he stopped a meter from her, her eyes darted toward his eyes before quickly shifting away. Her life was now in his hands.
Those few words filled her heart with a sense of irony. Her life... in his hands... she had wished for those words to be true many times but under a different meaning and far different circumstances. Life was so strange. Fate and fortune were so unpredictable. She could only walk forward step by step along this new path that was in front of her.
When Chen Wentian stopped in front of her, Peng Lingxi spoke up before he could, "Immortal Chen, the Tower of Swords was not involved in the Yang Clan's scheme but we are not blameless. My deceased and former master, Immortal Desolate Sword Peng Yuefeng, was jealous of Immortal Chen's talented disciples, especially Wu Qianyu. He saw her as the biggest threat and directed the disciples of the Tower of Swords to kill her within the Forest of Swords."
She said all of this in one go and only paused to take a deep breath. She quickly continued before he could reply, "Immortal Chen, I know that such an action is unforgivable in your eyes. It is unforgivable in my eyes as well. I would have never agreed to such a plan and my deceased master knew that. He left me out of the plan completely and I was not aware of it until this morning when we all returned. In fact, my desire has always been to become friends with the disciples of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Within the forest, I had amicable encounters with several of your disciples and even assisted them in fighting off the disciples of the Four Greats. Please believe me when I say that I personally bear no ill will towards you, your disciples, or your sect!"
She finished and bowed deeply.
They fell silent. Nobody from the Tower of Swords dared to speak up. There was nothing she said that they could refute.
Chen Wentian studied the person before him. He wasn't a fan of eloquent people, especially one that was so excessively handsome.
He glanced behind. Lin Qingcheng and Li Yuechan both nodded to him. He didn't need to ask what they meant, he already knew.
He crossed his arms and sighed before saying, "The main evildoer, Peng Yuefeng, is already dead but I don't believe this automatically absolves the rest of them of their sins. Peng Xiling, since you are the representative, tell me, how would you punish these disciples of the Tower of Swords?"
Peng Lingxi didn't hesitate and replied, "Death, Immortal Chen, they deserve death. If Immortal Chen is still unsatisfied, I can personally slay these people that have offended you. I only beg that you spare the rest of the Tower of Swords as they are truly innocent."
"You... want to kill them yourself?" He asked, surprised, "They are your senior and junior brothers. You are a disciple of the Tower of Swords. No matter what, isn't this improper?"
"Immortal Chen, I am willing to do anything if you can spare the Tower of Swords from destruction."
"...?" He felt something didn't sound quite right but he couldn't exactly grasp it.
She looked up into his eyes with steely determination, "I can do anything. I can kill for you. I can renounce the Tower of Swords if you so wish."
Her voice then changed from firm to soft in an instant, a voice that only he could hear, "I can do anything. I can even be your concubine if you like!"
Chen Wentian coughed, choking in surprise. This was the last thing he expected, especially from another man.
"I'm serious!" Peng Lingxi whispered. "Look!"
Before he could run away, she unfastened the front of her clothes with lightning quickness. She had already decided on this so her movements lacked any hesitation.
Before he could avert his eyes, a peculiar sight emerged like a morning's first light. There was pale skin, a slender neck, and thin shoulders. The only piece of clothing that remained was a silk-white undergarment. The front of the fabric was smooth and flat except for two gentle swells. They were small, like two small hills on a prairie, but they were unmistakable to all men in the world.
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