As he left Three Willows Courtyard , Aizen let out a long breath, a faint smile gradually appearing in his eyes.
Beside him, Lilith accompanied him all the way, noticing the smile in his gaze and pursing her lips slightly.
"You didn't need to lower yourself so much earlier. I don't believe that even if Valentino had seriously fought you, he could have really done anything to you."
Lilith didn't fully understand Aizen's true strength, but she had a vague suspicion that he was hiding something, that he wasn't as simple as he appeared on the surface.
The two walked down the mountain path step by step, the wind blowing their robes, making a fluttering sound.
Aizen smiled and shook his head at her words, responding calmly, "Valentino is very strong. If I hadn't used a risky move to break his sword earlier, I wouldn't have come out unscathed. But since things could be resolved peacefully and with brains, why should I create more enemies? Saving face doesn't matter to me... it's nothing."
Lilith snorted, unwilling to agree but not bothering to argue further.
But from his words, she picked up on something. Aizen's strength was definitely more than he had shown, and he clearly wasn't as afraid of Valentino as he pretended to be. If he wasn't so wary, what cards did he still have up his sleeve?
Seeing her thoughtful expression, Aizen couldn't help but smile. He didn't say anything further.
It didn't matter what Lilith thought, or what anyone else thought. Aizen had his own way of doing things.
Enduring humiliation? He didn't care. As long as he could achieve his goal, bending his back was no problem, nor was using any means necessary. That was exactly how a true member of the Heavenly Demon Clan should behave.
Just now, he could have unleashed the internal Aura stored within him, overpowering Valentino directly. But he knew all too well the consequences of such a move.
Anyone who understands the world knows that if you don't kill a snake, it will come back to bite you. Although Aizen had the internal Aura to repel Valentino, he lacked a powerful finishing move or technique. He simply didn't have the means to kill him outright.
And if Valentino escaped, he would become a dangerous threat later on.
More importantly, Aizen couldn't afford to kill Valentino.
Given Valentino's status, while he wasn't of major importance within the Left Faction, killing him would undoubtedly enrage the faction's upper ranks. It would place Aizen in extreme danger.
Only by temporarily submitting and showing allegiance could he secure a brief respite.
By joining the Left Faction and aligning with Valentino, Aizen would gain protection from the faction, avoid the punishment of the disciplinary stewards, and evade the immediate pressure from Leo.
Otherwise, he would not be able to survive within the Heavenly Demon Clan.
If Valentino had insisted on killing Aizen earlier, then Aizen might have been forced to take the most drastic measures to save his life, leading to the worst possible outcome—something Aizen had no desire to see and was determined to avoid.
Killing someone could be done in many ways and at many times, but choosing the most ideal moment was the key to Aizen's plans.
At the fork in the mountain path, Lilith and Aizen said their farewells.
The black-clad disciples had their own slightly better accommodations within the Heavenly Demon Clan. Their living quarters were far superior to the thatched huts like Aizen's, located in a large valley within the mountains. The space was vast enough to house all the black-clad disciples of the western courtyard.
Aizen now had the qualification to live in these black-clad disciple residences, but he first needed to deal with the bodies of Steward Edric and Leo's attendant.
Walking along the mountain path toward the thatched hut area, Aizen wore the black robe that symbolized his status as a black-clad disciple. Along the way, he encountered several gray-clad servants.
Among them were a few he recognized. When they saw his attire, their eyes widened in shock.
Some of the bolder ones opened their mouths as if to question him, but when they met Aizen's cold gaze, none of them dared to speak.
The news that Aizen had ascended to become a black-clad disciple spread quickly. Most of the gray-clad servants were shocked and didn't believe it, though a few others, while equally surprised, felt a chill in their hearts. There were even some who took delight in the situation.
At that moment, as Aizen neared his thatched hut, he encountered a group of these gloating individuals.
They were standing at the door of his hut, seemingly waiting for some time.
Leading them were two black-clad disciples, and standing beside them were three gray-clad servants. The two bodies lying at the entrance made it clear what had happened.
"Aizen, I never would have expected it. There are so few servants who manage to ascend to black-clad disciples each year through their own strength. To think that you, of all people, would be one of them. You hid your abilities very well..."
One of the black-clad disciples, a man with a hooked nose, smiled as he spoke when Aizen approached.
Aizen's expression remained calm as he stopped five steps away from the group. He glanced at the three gray-clad servants, who looked both gloating and fearful, and gently shook his head.
"Some people think they are smart but end up doing the most foolish things, losing their lives in the process."
The hooked-nose disciple and the other black-clad man, a middle-aged man with yellow skin, both had their expressions change.
"Are you threatening us? Do you know who we are?"
The hooked-nose man's eyes flashed with a cold light, though inwardly, he had become cautious.
Aizen looked at him in surprise and said, "I was talking about the dead bodies on the ground. What do they have to do with you? Or are you the same type of people?"
"You!" The hooked-nose man's anger flared. "How dare you! I am a disciple of the Discipline Hall! Aizen, you've murdered your fellow disciples. You will come with me to the Discipline Hall to face punishment, or I have the right to execute you on the spot."
The yellow-skinned disciple's expression was equally cold as he spoke icily, "The person you killed, Steward Edric, was the cousin of Leo, a steward of the Left Faction. Even though you are now a black-clad disciple, you still have to pay the price for your actions."
He gestured toward the bodies. "Come with us. Leo is already waiting for you at the Discipline Hall. You know the consequences if you refuse."
Aizen smiled faintly and nodded, stepping closer.
"What are you doing?"
Both black-clad disciples immediately became wary.
They had examined the injuries on Steward Edric's body. Though Lilith had deliberately added a few other wounds to disguise the killing, making it look like he had died after a fierce battle, they knew Steward Edric's strength was equal to their own.
If Aizen had killed him after a fierce battle, it meant his strength surpassed Steward Edric's. If Aizen suddenly attacked them now, they might not fare any better, making them both extremely cautious.
Though cautious, they were confident that together, they could subdue Aizen. They had already come with the intention of using force, and they weren't afraid of a fight.
"I just want to..."
Aizen smiled as he stared at them, now less than two steps away. Any closer, and they would undoubtedly attack together.
At that moment, as Aizen's final word lingered in the air, the two disciples' wariness reached its peak.
Suddenly, Aizen lunged forward, then just as quickly retreated.
In that instant, both black-clad disciples' eyes flashed with cold intent, and they lunged toward the spot where Aizen had just been. However, Aizen's swift retreat allowed him to dodge their joint attack.
A shadow flashed.
Both men realized, too late, that something was wrong.