Two young men sat under an exquisite pavilion in the courtyard.
One of the two was Taishi Xuan. The other was a young man dressed in a navy-blue long robe.
The young man was not tall, with ordinary features. He did not look as imposing as Taishi Xuan, but the aura emanating from his body was exceptionally profound, like a bottomless abyss.
Nie Qian and Han Ying stood in front, their faces looking ghastly.
The moment Su Mo entered the courtyard, all four of them–Taishi Xuan, the young man in the navy-blue long robe, Nie Qian and Han Ying–glanced at him.
“Senior Brother You, Senior Brother Taishi, Su Mo is here!”
The young man in blue brought Su Mo to the pavilion and cupped a fist in a hand. He saluted Taishi Xuan and the other young man.
Taishi Xuan waved his hand and the young man in blue turned around and left.
Su Mo’s eyes first scrutinized the two men under the pavilion. Then, he glanced at Nie Qian and Han Ying, asking them in a deep voice, “Are you two alright?”
“Brother Su, we are fine!” Both Nie Qian and Han Ying shook their heads, pretending to smile.
Su Mo could tell from their eyes, however, that they were deeply worried.
“Su Mo, let me introduce you to Brother You Tianhan!” Taishi Xuan pointed at the young man in navy-blue robe and gave his name, smiling faintly.
Su Mo glanced at the young man in navy-blue robe and nodded gently. Then, he stared directly at Taishi Xuan and asked openly, “Taishi Xuan, what do you really want?”
“Su Mo, you don’t need to get so upset!”
Taishi Xuan shook his head and continued. “I’ve already investigated the matter carefully. A distant relative of the Taishi Family, Liao Yunjian, went with the three of you to the Demonic Clouds Sea and never returned.
“His weapon is now with you. Su Mo, do you have anything to say?”
Taishi Xuan’s face was wreathed with smiles. A faintly discernible scorn lingered on his lips.
The last time he went to recruit Su Mo, he was not sure if Liao Yunjian was dead. He was just guessing when he said that Su Mo had killed Liao Yunjian.
Now, he was certain. Liao Yunjian had died in the hands of Su Mo, Nie Qian and Han Ying.
“Liao Yunjian was indeed killed by me. But he’d tried to destroy us. He deserved to die!”
Su Mo said this coldly. He did not resort to sophistry. He knew that it would be useless.
He was quite sure that Taishi Xuan had investigated the matter thoroughly.
Furthermore, the Taishi Family was so powerful that they would not need any evidence to kill him. He had no need for sophistry.
“No, Liao Yunjian wasn’t killed by you alone, but by the three of you!” Taishi Xuan heard him and immediately shook his head.
Su Mo frowned slightly. What did he mean? Was he trying to drag all three of them into the waters?
He turned to look at Nie Qian and Han Ying, inquiring them with his eyes.
Nie Qian saw this and immediately spoke. “Brother Su, you don’t need to assume responsibility for us. Liao Jianyu was indeed killed by the three of us!”
“Right! Three of us will bear joint responsibility!” Han Ying said the same.
Su Mo suddenly realized that Nie Qian and Han Ying wanted to take up joint responsibility with him. They did not want him to bear the responsibility alone.
Su Mo sighed inwardly and was moved. The two of them certainly had a backbone and courage, but doing so would land them into deep trouble.
“Su Mo, do you know the consequences if I report this to the Academy’s Law Enforcement Hall?” Taishi Xuan smiled.
“What are the consequences?” Su Mo narrowed his eyes and asked.
“All three of you will have to die!” A cold gleam flashed across Taishi Xuan’s eyes. He continued. “As long as the Taishi Family applies pressure on the Law Enforcement Hall, all three of you will have to die!”
After a brief silence, Taishi Xuan continued. “Of course, I hear that you have some ties with Grand Master Huoyuan. But even if you had managed to live, the other two must die!”
Su Mo heard this and his face completely darkened. Coercion, naked coercion!
He was right. The man was really out to coerce him this time.
Nie Qian and Han Ying’s face immediately turned pale. They had no way to resist the power of the Taishi Family.
The Taishi Family had immense influence within the Academy. No fewer than 6,000 outer mansion disciples had chosen to join them.
If you counted the inner mansion disciples in, their total number would swell to 10,000.
The two of them were just ordinary talents and had not joined any factions.
“Of course, Su Mo, we don’t want things to come to a head either. It’s better for us to get along!”
Taishi Xuan caressed his chin and continued, wreathed in smiles. “If you join us, we won’t look into the matter. We’ll just treat Liao Yunjian’s death as an accident!”
Su Mo’s eyelids drooped and a towering rage consumed his heart. He wanted to kill the man with a slap.
However, he did not act impulsively. Whether he was Taishi Xuan’s equal in battle had remained to be seen. The other man, You Tianhan, was an even more awesome presence.
You Tianhan, who had never said anything, finally spoke. He stared straight into Su Mo’s eyes and said in a deep voice, “Su Mo, I have heard that you are very gifted–certainly a genius. Even our Holy Son values you immensely!
“There are only two paths before you. One is for you to join the Taishi Family. We shall then improve our cultivations together. The other is for us to send you three to the Law Enforcement Hall!
“Choose at your own discretion!”
You Tianhan said this slowly. Then, he lifted a tea cup on the stone table and started to sip.
Rage surged farther in Su Mo’s heart. His desire to kill had been kindled. These two men were totally impossible!
He turned to look at Nie Qian and Han Ying and saw their pallor. They were staring at him. Su Mo suddenly hesitated.
Su Mo did not fear them. Yet, if he had rejected them, Nie Qian and Han Ying would have to die.
Although they had not been together for a long time, they had been simple and faithful companions. He had already treated them as friends.
He did not want to see them killed.
“Brother Su… we… !” Nie Qian and Han Ying stammered, humming and hawing.
Of course, they did not want to die. Yet, they could not ask Su Mo to submit to Taishi Xuan and You Tianhan for their sakes.
Su Mo pondered and raised his head after some time, staring at Taishi Xuan and You Tianhan. He asked in a deep and calm voice, “Why don’t you give me a few days to consider?”
He did not agree to them at once. He would rather delay a few days and find a way out.
“Of course we will. We’ll give you three days. If you don’t agree after three days, don’t blame us for being heartless!” You Tianhan said.
Su Mo heard him and nodded. Then, he called out to Nie Qian and Han Ying. The three turned and left the courtyard together.
“He has broken into the Martial Emperor Realm in just a few days! He is indeed quite extraordinary!” After the three of them had left, Taishi Xuan mumbled quietly to himself. Naturally, he could see that Su Mo’s cultivation had reached the Martial Emperor Realm.
“Indeed. His Dark Force is exceptionally powerful–the equal of an Lv 3 Martial Emperor!” You Tianhan nodded.
You Tianhan mused for a while and asked, “Taishi Xuan, if we force him to join the Taishi Family, he probably won’t remain loyal to us!”
“It doesn’t matter!”
Taishi Xuan heard him and waved his hand. “So long as he joins us, Brother Tianhan, we will find a way to make him loyal!”
Taishi Xuan was extremely confident. The Taishi Family was so powerful. If Su Mo joined them, he would have to remain loyal for the sake of his future and cultivation.
