It Was Saint Sunlight Sect! . . .
The man had only just begun to make his retreat, but he hadn't managed to escape entirely. Cha Eun Xiao witnessed the incredible swiftness of Xiao Mufei's advance, like a tempest marked by thunder and rolling clouds. As Xiao Mufei extended his sword, he closed the gap with astonishing speed.
Before the man could even utter a cry, Xiao Mufei's blade had cleaved through him in the sky, turning his body into a gruesome rain of minced flesh.
– Dang, dang, dang… –
The sword he wielded had shattered into fragments, scattering them like macabre confetti. A grim rain of blood descended from the heavens, painting the scene in macabre shades of crimson.
The enemy had been vanquished, but what of the brave disciple who had selflessly intervened?
Xiao Mufei withdrew his longsword, showing no regard for the remains of their adversary. He hastened to Fang Dalong's side, his voice trembling with emotion, "Dalong... Dalong... You..."
Fang Dalong's once robust form stood like a sturdy pine tree, his eyes wide with a mix of anger and anguish. His chest bore a gaping hole, exposing the ground below, and his hands were now devoid of fingers. A pool of blood had formed at his feet.
"Master..." Fang Dalong's body swayed, fear suddenly taking hold. He murmured, "Master... I don't want to die... I... I am scared... Why is it so dark..."
With that, he collapsed backward, hitting the ground with a soft thud. His vacant eyes stared at the sky, and his lips moved faintly, "Revenge... Ah..."
His breath ceased.
A heavy silence descended upon the world.
Xiao Mufei stood there, frozen in disbelief. After a prolonged moment, he erupted in a thunderous shout, venting his anger and anguish from the depths of his heart and soul, "AH!!!!!!!"
It was a moment of profound sorrow and despair.
Cha Eun Xiao rushed over as swiftly as he could, showing no concern for his own well-being, "Dalong... You..."
He clutched a vial containing a dan bead that might have saved Fang Dalong's life.
However...
It was too late.
Fang Dalong was gone.
The assailant's sword had pierced his chest and shattered his heart. Not even the most potent dan bead could reverse the course of fate.
Cha Eun Xiao too stood there in stunned silence.
Fang Dalong had given his life to protect Cha Eun Xiao, a sacrifice made out of duty, personal desire, or perhaps for the sake of their sect's brothers.
No matter the reason, he had died to save Cha Eun Xiao, and that was a debt Cha Eun Xiao could never repay.
In their last conversation, Fang Dalong had said, 'Our sect's future rests on your shoulders, Brother Cha. When you become a prominent figure, please remember me, even though I may not have been of much help as an older brother...'
Fang Dalong had been an outgoing, jovial figure who shared laughter, food, and drink with everyone. Wherever Cha Eun Xiao went, Fang Dalong followed like a loyal shadow. He would even wait outside the toilet when Cha Eun Xiao was inside, watching over him.
'You're our treasure, and I can't afford to let my guard down. We can't allow you to come to harm...'
'If anyone dares to harm you, they'll have to kill me first and walk over my lifeless body.'
These were Fang Dalong's heartfelt words.
His voice echoed persistently beside Cha Eun Xiao's ear, a haunting reminder of a promise made by many but fulfilled by only a courageous few.
Men dreaded the specter of death, and Fang Dalong was no exception. Yet, he demonstrated unparalleled valor by upholding his oath even at the cost of his own life. His voice and words remained etched in the memories of all who knew him, yet he lay silent, never to awaken again.
His final words reverberated, "I don't want to die... I am scared..."—words that resonated with the innate fear shared by all living beings.
Fang Dalong had been gripped by the same fear, but he made a choice. A choice to confront the very thing he feared the most.
Perhaps, in that pivotal moment, there was nothing else in his mind except one singular conviction: "I will never let Brother Cha die."
Xiao Mufei remained silent for an extended pause. Then, in a surge of overwhelming grief, he shouted to the heavens, tears glistening in his eyes. His anguished cry reverberated through the air, a poignant tribute to his fallen disciple.
In the next breath, he pivoted toward a macabre pile of flesh on the ground, his sword digging into the remains. His purpose was clear—he needed to unearth the identity of the assassin.
He was resolute in uncovering the truth, to ascertain who was behind the death of his most cherished disciple. To achieve that, he needed to identify the sect that sent the assassin and exact his vengeance.
"Revenge..." he murmured, and then, with an eruption of emotion, he bellowed, "Revenge!"
The earth quivered in response to the potent shout of a Dao Origin Stage cultivator. It was a chilling spectacle.
A metallic clang interrupted his rage. Xiao Mufei seized what the sword had struck—a space ring. His other hand swept over the ring, engulfing his face in a purple aura, and with a resounding explosion, he forcibly broke the soul stamp on the ring. In doing so, he accessed the space inside the ring, an act typically reserved for the owner.
It was a perilous endeavor. An error in the process could lead to the ring's explosion, releasing a potentially devastating energy surge, but at that moment, nothing mattered more to him.
His singular focus was to unmask the identity of the assassin.
Fortunately, the assassin was far weaker than Xiao Mufei, and his demise had considerably weakened the soul power guarding the space ring. The ring was opened.
Without hesitation, Xiao Mufei poured out its contents—dan beads, precious stones, weapons, medicinal supplies...
Among the items, he uncovered a jade token—a Saint Sunlight Sect identity token. He clutched it, his gaze fixated upon it, and then, with a fury-laden roar, he shouted, "Jin Nu! Saint Sunlight Sect! Damn you, Saint Sunlight Sect! There can be no reconciliation between us from this day forward!"
The jade token bore just a few words: "Saint Sunlight Sect, Jin Nu."