"And currently, you are both trespassing in my sect's territory," Liang Tianye said looking at the two juniors in front of him.
Normally, he would have just killed them off, and be done with it. It would have been better if the news of the mortal didn't spread to the other factions. However, it wasn't doable with these two.
He knew that for these two to remain in the Grasslands despite the Heavenly Demon Sect going after the intruders, it either meant they were powerful or they had treasures that helped them stay. And at this time, it could be both as well.
That combination only applied to people who had higher status among their respective powers. And no small sect would be bold enough to disrespect their Heavenly Demon Sect when they had made their stance clear.
So, it probably meant that these two were the future of the sect that was grooming him. Going after people like them would invite the wrath of their respective sect. And he knew exactly the powers behind these two.
Hence, he decided not to kill them on the spot.
While the sects behind them would be aware of the Heavenly Demon Sect obtaining such a seed, they wouldn't make an issue out of it right at this moment. However, if he attacked these two without due cause, then they would make a mountain out of a molehill. The righteous sects were especially proficient in that.
So, to spare the headache, he decided to warn these two juniors off.
He saw their expressions harden the moment he revealed his identity. The female was the first one to recover from the shock and fear. The male was still wary of him. He knew that the male would be the hardest to deal with as he looked like a blockhead who itched for a fight.
"You are the Wind Demon Liang Tianye," the male said adjusting his posture so that he could be ready.
Liang Tianye smiled upon hearing his epithet.
"Looks like my name still resounds after this many years," he said with a slight smile which he was sure felt creepy to the juniors in front of him.
"I am not afraid of you," the male said with a bravado he had seen in many men before their last moments.
"You should be," Liang Tianye said simply causing the male to glare at him. "I am sure that you have several treasures that could help you fend me off or escape from here. But, the thing with treasures is that they are very precious because they could be only used once or twice. What about the third time?"
Liang Tianye asked calmly causing both juniors to stir a little uneasily.
"That is why I advise you to leave this place. You have had your entertainment, now leave. The Heavenly Demon Sect will not tolerate any of you still roaming around this area," Liang Tianye said authoritatively.
"If that is the case, then I am sure the senior wouldn't mind us taking that mortal with us," the female said sweetly as if her honeyed words could sway him.
"Then I am sure that the Blue Wind Society Hall would receive your corpse in several pieces," Liang Tianye replied with aplomb causing the female to blanch,
"Do not test my patience," Liang Tianye continued. "I have indulged your willfulness until now. But, there is a limit to it as well. And that mortal is above discussion. I will be taking him with me."
"So, that mortal isn't a member of your sect," the male said astutely.
"Not yet, but by the end of the day, he will be," Liang Tianye said as he had nothing to hide.
He despised lying when it was not needed. Neither of these juniors could do anything about it if he wanted to take the mortal with him. So, he didn't see the need to lie about the mortal.
"I am afraid, we can't allow such a talented mortal to fall into your evil clutches," the male said righteously causing Liang Tianye to crack up.
"You seriously believe the bullshit coming out of your mouth?" Liang Tianye asked mockingly. "My patience is running thin, boy. If you don't leave this place at the count of five, I will show no mercy."
Liang Tianye announced leaking a bit of his killing intent into the air. He could clearly see both juniors tremble a little as their soul felt his killing intent. He knew that they knew that he wouldn't budge at this point. So, he felt no need to beat around the bush.
Either they left or he made them leave with their tails tucked behind.
The male and female looked at each other and communicated with their eyes. He knew the exact moment they came to a decision and what decision it was. He didn't want to do it, but if these juniors didn't have enough presence of mind, he didn't mind teaching them a profound lesson either.
"Then, you leave us with no choice," the female gritted her teeth as if she was making a difficult choice.
The moment her words came out, the male attacked him with a punch. However, Liang Tianye knew that the attack was a mere distraction. The real attack came from the female and she didn't attack him either.
The female vanished from the spot she was in and appeared beside the mortal in the distance. The mortal was stunned to see a beautiful female suddenly appear out of thin air. However, the Heart of Killing in him still sensed the killing intent within the female.
Just as he readied to defend himself, the female attacked him with her finger. At the last moment, a figure materialized between them holding that finger between its fingers.
And it was Liang Tianye.
Liang Tianye was furious at the moment. This silly bint actually thought that she had a chance to actually kill someone that he wanted to take in. The audacity and the arrogance of it really infuriated him.
This time he didn't hold back. He unleashed his killing intent entirely causing the female to knell involuntarily on the ground. By this time, the male had also realized that Liang Tianye was not within his attack range and had moved to support the female.
But, it was no use.
Liang Tianye waved his hand sending forth a burst of wind energy that sent both of them flying away. The wind energy hidden within his wave manifested in the form of small blades that couldn't be seen with the naked eye and battered at the duo, sending them flying.
The duo got up from their debacle and found themselves bleeding across their body. Their faces became unsightly as they immediately crushed their escape talismans, escaping from the place for good.
Liang Tianye watched them vanish with a murderous glare present in his eyes. He felt that he had let them off easily. Every fiber of his body wanted him to chase after them and kill them for disrespecting him.
However, his mind prevailed and he knew that he can't do that now. He slowly composed himself and turned to look at the mortal who was the cause of this entire incident.
The mortal was in a defensive posture. His eyes were defiant. And wonder of wonders, his body was still emanating the killing intent and the slaughter aura was present in his sword as well.
Liang Tianye squinted his eyes seeing that. The mortal hadn't been spared when he unleashed his killing intent. Yet, despite that, this mortal was still standing his ground.
The Heart of Killing was truly a wondrous thing. It was even able to shield the mortal from his killing intent. Liang Tianye sighed realizing how fortuitous it was for him to run into this mortal.
He was sure that this mortal would make this world tremble in fear if he was allowed to grow up. And with it, his Heavenly Demon Sect would once more reach the top spot in this continent and rule over everything.
"Hmmm, the legends were true. The Heart of Killing is truly wondrous. It even allows you to stand despite by aura suppressing you. What a wonder?" Liang Tianye said looking at the mortal.
"What? Who are you? What is this Heart of killing stuff, you keep talking about it? Are you a cultivator?" the mortal asked in confusion.
The last question however came in a different tone. There was an edge to it and a demand as well. Liang Tianye's eyebrows rose in surprise upon hearing it.
"Yes," he replied succinctly.
The change was immediate for Liang Tianye to notice. The mortal who had been merely wary of him until now was truly taking a defensive stance and there was even a little bit of hatred in his eyes now.
Liang Tianye was confused now. While he wasn't someone unaccustomed to such reactions, he had yet to tell the mortal that he was an evil cultivator. Despite not telling it, the mortal was showing such a reaction. He wondered what had happened to him to feel such hatred towards cultivators in general.
Liang Tianye knew that hatred didn't need to have a very serious grudge. A small grievance was sometimes enough to birth hatred. So, he was curious about which category this mortal fell into.
But his mind told him that as someone with the Heart of Killing, the mortal would take every small grievance personally. The Heart of Killing would nurse it into something bigger as well. This level of animosity towards cultivators, in general, needed a particular type of care, lest it burnt the Heavenly Demon Sect down on its way.
Just as Liang Tianye was pondering how to handle this, a new figure materialized in the distance. Liang Tianye looked over and found Hui Wanren standing there with an unsightly look on his face.
*****
A/N: Hey folks!
Make sure to add this book to your collection and vote with your power stones to show your appreciation for this work.
You can also check out my other book [Booking Glory] and see if it is to your liking.
Reviews and comments are truly appreciated.