The hall fell into stunned silence. The sheer force of the grey-robed man's strike left everyone paralyzed, their disbelief palpable. Xiao He, who moments ago was poised to execute Yun Xiao with overwhelming confidence, now lay crumpled at the front door like a broken puppet, his face disfigured and blood pooling beneath him.
Meanwhile, Xiao He groaned weakly as he struggled to rise from the ground. Blood dripped from his shattered face, his body trembling from the sheer force of the blow he had received. His aura, once so oppressive, was now dim and frail.
"You... you'll regret this... Taboo Tower will not forgive..." he managed to sputter, though his voice lacked its previous menace.
The gray-robed man let out a scoff.
"Forgiveness? I do not seek it, nor do I fear Taboo Tower. Return to your masters and tell them: if they wish to meddle in Sword Cloud affairs again, they'll answer to me."
"Who..." Madame Desolate's voice trembled, her usual mocking tone replaced with unease. Her gaze fixed on the grey-robed figure standing protectively before Yun Xiao, exuding an aura of unparalleled dominance.
The man slowly straightened, the storm swirling around him dissipating as he turned his head slightly, revealing a visage obscured by the shadows of his hood. His presence alone seemed to weigh heavily on everyone in the room, as if gravity itself had intensified.
"Who dares challenge Sword Cloud in its own domain?" Madame Desolate demanded, though the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her fear.
The grey-robed man chuckled softly, a low, resonant sound that sent chills through the gathered crowd. "Sword Cloud? Is this what you call yourselves now? A den of cowards who tremble at the bark of Taboo Tower?"
The words cut deep, and the Sword Cloud members could do nothing but lower their heads in shame.
"Who are you to insult us?" Madame Desolate barked, trying to regain control. "State your name!"
The man stepped forward, his every movement deliberate, the tension in the room thickening with each step. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of authority.
"My name is irrelevant to you," he said, his tone dismissive. "But for the sake of this child..." He gestured toward Yun Xiao without turning his head. "You may call me Protector Fang."
Protector Fang? The name echoed in the minds of the Sword Cloud elders, sending ripples of recognition and disbelief through the crowd.
"The Protector Fang?" one elder muttered, his voice barely audible. "The one who vanished after the Seven Nations War?"
"Impossible," another whispered. "He was said to have fallen in battle decades ago!"
"Silence!" Madame Desolate snapped, though her own composure was faltering. "No matter who you are, you have no right to interfere with Taboo Tower's decree!"
Protector Fang's gaze shifted to her, sharp as a blade. "Taboo Tower?" He scoffed. "A bloated beast clinging to its delusions of power. Do you think I care for their decrees? Or for your Sword Cloud, which bends its knee at the slightest pressure?"
"You—!" Madame Desolate started, but Protector Fang raised a hand, and the sheer force of his aura silenced her instantly.
"You speak of Taboo Tower's might as though it is absolute," he said, his voice cold. "But let me remind you of something. Strength is not determined by decrees or threats. It is determined by action, by will, by courage. And in this hall, I see none of that."
Turning slightly, Protector Fang glanced down at Yun Xiao, who stood silent but unwavering beneath the oppressive stares of his supposed allies. "This boy," Fang said, "has more courage in his little finger than all of you combined."
Yun Xiao's eyes widened slightly, though he remained silent.
Protector Fang turned back to Madame Desolate and the crowd. "You, Sword Cloud, have betrayed your legacy. You cower when you should stand. You abandon your own when you should protect. You are not worthy of the title you bear."
Madame Desolate's face twisted in fury and humiliation, but she dared not speak.
Fang gestured toward Xiao He, still groaning in pain by the front door. "Take this dog and bring him back to his masters. Let them know that if they want Yun Xiao's head..." Fang's voice dropped, cold and unyielding. "...they will have to come through me."
Without waiting for a response, he began walking toward the exit.
The room was deathly silent. No one moved, no one dared to breathe.
Protector Fang's words lingered like a storm cloud.
Sword Cloud's legacy had been tarnished, and the shadow of Taboo Tower loomed ever larger. Yet, amidst the darkness, one thing was certain—Yun Xiao's journey was far from over.
For the first time, the Sword Cloud Sect disciples and elders felt a surge of hope. The oppressive shadow of Taboo Tower, which had seemed so unshakable moments ago, now wavered under the presence of this mysterious gray-robed man.
Yun Xiao's confidence remained unshaken, his expression unreadable as he observed the unfolding events. Inwardly, however, he acknowledged the unexpected ally with a sense of relief—and perhaps a tinge of curiosity.
Xiao He was struck so hard that he was left dazed, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.He is from the Taboo Tower!
He carries the authority of the Taboo Kill Command—who would dare to injure him?
"Stand down!" A powerful voice boomed like thunder, sending waves of pressure that struck Xiao He directly!
Bang!
Xiao He spat blood again as he was sent tumbling backward, finally rolling out of the threshold of Sword Cloud's gates.
"Who is that?"
Everyone's attention snapped to the source of the attack. At that moment, all eyes landed on a figure in a grey robe standing in the doorway.
Even Yun Xiao was momentarily stunned.
He looked carefully and saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure with disheveled white hair and a scruffy beard. The man wore a plain cotton robe, stood barefoot on the ground, and carried a massive wine jug in one hand.
After sending Xiao He flying, the man lifted the jug to his lips and drank deeply. Wine splashed everywhere—half of it pouring into his mouth, the other half spilling down his neck and chest as if he were bathing in it!
As the man turned around, Yun Xiao saw his face clearly: a rugged, middle-aged man with a gray-white beard and a disheveled appearance. But deep in his eyes, there was an unmistakable sharpness—an aura as vast as the stars.
"Sword Lord?!"
Suddenly, cries of shock erupted around them.