Under the lead of Hu Xiandao, the disciples grimly waited for the Crimson Sun Sect’s group to arrive. Although they were feeling nervous, they held their swords tightly as they tried to calm themselves.
“Elder Hestia, it looks like the kids won’t be able to kill anyone…” Hu Xiandao muttered quietly when he saw everyone’s reaction. He was opposed to this idea since he was a bit worried about the outcome, but since they had already come to this point, there is no turning back anymore.
Hestia smiled sweetly when she heard his words. “Elder Hu, you underestimate them too much. They might be feeling anxious right now, but with their cultivation level, it won’t be a problem to assassinate a few weaker elders and disciples of the Crimson Sun Sect.”
She might be slightly disappointed with their new batch of disciples, but she still believed that they could accomplish this task. As to where her confidence came from, it was because of the presence of the stronger disciples they brought.
Hearing that, Hu Xiandao could only sigh in his heart. He silently prayed that nothing would go wrong. He then notified the elders to prepare for the worst.
***
“Elder Shao, who do you think might have killed the young master? From what I could remember, he was secretly protected by two strong elders, so his death doesn’t seem to be simple. None of the people who came with him even came back. That means all of them were also killed together with the young master.” A middle-aged man with short hair asked. His name was Di Xuan, an elder of the Crimson Sun Sect with cultivation level at the peak stage of the 8th-rank Divine realm. He was one of the strongest elders in the Crimson Sun Sect!
The old man named Elder Shao frowned as he answered. “The young master was searching for that escaped servant and it was also reported by our scouts that he was last seen in the Silver Wing Empire. According to the scout, the young master saw that servant girl in the Heavenly Sword Tower. Our investigations will also begin there.”
Upon hearing the name of the sect, the middle-aged Di Xuan was slightly surprised. “The Heavenly Sword Tower? The sect that was established by that guy named Jiu Shen? Then, if they are related to the young master’s death, this matter might be troublesome.”
Elder Shao nodded his head in agreement. He was also cursing Jimen Kang in his heart for his foolishness. He had actually killed himself for the sake of a servant girl, he was truly an idiot! If not for Jimen Kang’s identity as the Crimson Sun Sect’s young master, Elder Shao would have remained inside their sect to cultivate…
’Even my son Shao Fenhua died under the hands of Jiu Shen’s people. If that idiot Jimen Kang has provoked the Heavenly Sword Tower, then the Crimson Sun Sect…’ Suddenly, Elder Shao felt a chill in his heart. He then stared at Di Xuan and whispered to him.
“Elder Di, I have a bad premonition about this task. You should leave the sect with me. That idiot Jimen Kang might have provoked the Heavenly Sword Tower. We would only be killed if we remain in the sect. You know the temper of that bastard Jimen Kanding. He would surely command the whole sect to take revenge for his son. We still have a chance to live if we escape now.”
Di Xuan’s eyes widened when he heard his words. Elder Shao was actually thinking about escaping the sect? However, the moment Elder Shao mentioned that, he also could not help but feel nervous. After all, Jimen Kang’s death might be related to the Heavenly Sword Tower. Although he had not yet seen Jiu Shen, he had heard countless tales about him. Those rumors even made him admire the man. No one wants to have an enemy like Jiu Shen…
When Elder Shao saw the hesitation in the eyes of Di Xuan, he said in a grave tone. “Elder Di, have you forgotten how that bastard Jimen Kanding had unfairly distributed some of our precious resources to that idiot Jimen Kanding? Those cultivation resources were supposed to be used for your breakthrough to the 9th-rank Saint realm! Do you really want to help that kind of fool? If you still have a bit of brain left, then come with me. We must go back to the sect and get those talented disciples who have been dissatisfied with Jimen Kanding.”
Di Xuan gritted his teeth and nodded his head solemnly. ’Elder Shao is right! I have enough of Jimen Kanding’s way of handling the sect!’
“Alright, I will follow you, Elder Shao, but where are we going?” He asked in a grave tone.
Elder Shao knitted his eyebrows as he pondered deeply. He then answered after a few seconds. His voice filled with remorse. “We will remain hidden for a few years to prevent the Heavenly Sword Tower from discovering us.”
“You mean… Okay. Sigh.” Di Xuan’s eyes widened, but he soon nodded his head with a heavy expression. He did not want to betray the sect where he had grown up, but he was also tired of Jimen Kanding’s tyranny.
After getting Di Xuan’s answer, Elder Shao glanced at the Elder who was leading the investigation group and walked towards him.
“Grand Elder Jimen, this matter might be related to the Heavenly Sword Tower, so I hope that you can allow me to go back to the sect to gather more of our elders.” Elder Shao said to the hunched old man.
This Grand Elder Jimen was the Grand Elder of the Crimson Sun Sect and he was also the father of the current Sect Master Jimen Kanding and the grandfather of the deceased Jimen Kang. His name was Jimen Kai, an old man with unfathomable strength.
Grand Elder Jimen did not turn his head as he replied in a sorrowful voice. “Shao Fenji, is this your final decision? Do you really want to leave the sect?”
Elder Shao’s heart almost leaped out of his chest upon hearing the grand elder’s words. He had actually heard his secret conversation with Di Xuan! He was certain that he had masked their conversation with his true essence, but Grand Elder Jimen still overheard them!
“This…”
Grand Elder Jimen shook his head with a weak smile as he said. “You don’t need to explain yourself. I know what my son has done to you for many years, but I chose to turn a blind eye to it. I even failed to educate my grandson… Bring this with you on your journey.”
Elder Shao absentmindedly took the book handed to him. When he recovered from his shock, he was again stunned when he laid eyes on the book in his hands. “This is the core cultivation technique of the Crimson Sun Sect! Grand Elder Jimen…”
The hunched old man raised his thin arm and shook his head. “Just leave before it’s too late.” He had already sensed a group of enemies hidden a few hundred meters away from their location. If his guess was right, those people might be there for them.
Elder Shao took a deep breath before he nodded his head. “Grand Elder Jimen, thank you for your understanding. If we escape alive, I will establish a new sect together with Di Xuan. Farewell.”
He walked away without turning back after bidding his farewell. He knew that this would be his last meeting with the grand elder and although he felt his heart aching, nothing else could be done. They had already made enemies with the Heavenly Sword Tower and he knew that the grand elder would never escape from the sect.
With a heavy heart, Elder Shao nodded at Elder Di. “Let’s go! The grand elder has already permitted us to go back!”
Seeing his darkening complexion, Di Xuan immediately nodded his head. He did not know how Elder Shao had convinced the grand elder. ’I’ll ask him later…’
After that, the two of them left with some disciples.
Grand Elder Jimen glanced at their departing figure with a look of regret. “To think that such talented individuals are forced to leave the sect because of my son’s foolish actions. No. It is partly my fault for not disciplining him well. Sigh.”
The grand elder seemed to have aged by several years at that moment. He regretted spoiling his son all those years ago…
“Sigh. This old man is already too old. I can only do this much to repent for what I have done. Shao Fenji, I leave everything in your hands…” The grand elder muttered to himself as he led the remaining elders and disciples of the Crimson Sun Sect.
***
“Elder Hestia, some of them left. Do you want me to chase after them?” Hu Xiandao asked Hestia.
“There is no need for that.” Hestia shook her head in reply.
