Wang Shi did not know what wrong he had committed, but when he woke up he found himself tied to a stone pillar on the training ground. Seeing his own subordinates guarding him added fuel to the fire, glaring at them he began to berate them, “How bold, this is rebellion! Daring to tie me, your father, against this pillar!”
“Untie me, your father, at once! If you don’t, I’ll tell the Cult Master to give you all a good beating.”
“Boss, don’t… don’t shout… we…”
“Even if we had the guts, we still wouldn’t dare to untie you.” The guards were shaking nervously, their backs drenched in cold sweat, as they stammered and stuttered.
“The Cult Master himself gave us the order… Even if we had the guts, we wouldn’t dare to let you down.”
“The Cult Master?” Wang Shi was taken aback for a moment, then reacted and straightforwardly shouted, “What a load of shit! I, Wang Shi, am loyal to the Cult Master till death. Besides I was drinking flower wine[30] with Brother Yang last night.”
“Who’s Brother Yang? He’s the Cult Master’s–”
Before he could finish speaking, he was stunned silent by the person who abruptly appeared. Face flushed red, mouth agape in shock, after a while he lowered his head.
“Cult… Cult Master…”
Even though Wang Shi was the Head of the Purple Guard, he was still terrified of the reclusive Invincible East. In other words, atop Blackwood Cliff, the Invincible East rarely appeared before the congregation. The title ‘Cult Master’ was terrifying in and of itself, the cultists respected and revered the Invincible East, they looked forward to the day they met the Cult Master in person.
However seeing him today Wang Shi could not speak a word, his body shook all over and his back was drenched in cold sweat. The Invincible East would forever be the Invincible East, toward Yang Lianting he could be soft and supple but in this world there was only one Yang Lianting after all. Thus, facing the masses he changed back to the aloof and alienating Holy Cult’s Master who had power over life and death, over reward and punishment.[31] Simply by silently standing before Wang Shi, the pressure of his chilling killing intent forced the guards present into kneeling on the ground, unable to utter half a word.
“Cult, Cult… Cult Master!”
Thud–
Wang Shi was hindered by the chains, but he still knelt down and kowtowed. “Cult Master, this Subordinate is loyal till death! Last night, last night… this Subordinate had a drink with Brother Yang, he knows that this Subordinate is faithful and loyal, ah!”
As if he were grasping at straws, Wang Shi suddenly thought of Yang Lianting and shouted, “Brother Yang knows I… I…”
Hearing Yang Lianting’s name, the cold glint in his dark eyes cooled till it chilled everyone to the bone, his hands hidden under the lined robe were gathering energy ready to strike in an instant. However, in his mind Yang Lianting’s words abruptly appeared.
‘I hope you’ll kill less, commit less evil.’
The hand he had raised, he lowered and dissipated its energy, after a moment of hesitation. “It’s said, you took Yang Lianting down the cliff yesterday, is this true?”
Dongfang Bubai’s voice sounded pleasing to the ear, cold yet clear. Not knowing why, Wang Shi felt faint fear and foreboding in his heat when he heard him speak. He hurriedly nodded, then swallowed dryly and stammered, “Yes, yesterday… yesterday… this Subordinate took Brother Yang down the cliff.”
Listening to him admit, Dongfang Bubai was not enraged and smiled instead, he lightly curved his lips and looked down on the Head Guard kneeling on the ground and slowly questioned him, “You all even went to a dubious and indecent… to a brothel?”
“… yes, this Subordinate was muddle-headed… Subordinate was muddle-headed… but Brother Yang, he…”
“Enough!” Not wanting to listen any further Dongfang Bubai fiercely frowned, glared at everyone present and yelled in a tone as cold as ice “In the future if anyone dares to take Yang Lianting to that kind of place, don’t blame this Seat for being merciless.” Having spoken Dongfang Bubai suddenly stretched out his hand and made his move, a strong energy wave swept over Wang Shi and the chains tying him to the stone pillar fell to the ground.
Wang Shi was stunned still, he felt relived yet could not resist feeling a little curious. Obviously, it’s normal for a man to go to that kind of place, if he mustn’t go then… What exactly does the Cult Master mean?
Dongfang Bubai lightly coughed, then turned back intending to leave, he had just walked to the entrance of the training ground when he suddenly stopped.
“Guard Yang’s heart belongs to another and they’re about to get married, this Seat doesn’t wish for anyone to try and destroy this relationship.”
After Dongfang Bubai left, the group of guards went forward to gather around Wang Shi, then lent a hand to help him up from the dirt. The guards were all talking at once about the matter that they just heard about.
“I was scared to death! The Cult Master really is the world’s first martial artist. I was so scared, I couldn’t even breathe.”
“Oh, Brother Yang really receives the Cult Master’s trust and doting. The Cult Master even worries about a great even like his marriage.”
“Who do you all think is the woman Brother Yang likes? She must be someone significant to have the Cult Master go so far as to personally open his mouth to take him under his protection.”
The topic suddenly shifting to Yang Lianting was reasonable. Dongfang Bubai had spoken so strongly just now that this matter seemed quite unusual. They all talked at once among each other, when abruptly a voice interrupted the discussion.
“Hey, do you think… she’s the Holy Maiden? Could the Cult Master have betrothed the Holy Maiden to Brother Yang?”
Yang Lianting had presently won the Cult Master’s deep trust to the point that the Cult Master got involved with his apparently upcoming marriage. The matter sounded slightly unrealistic, but if the woman he married were the Holy Maiden?
The guards glanced at each other, their hearts’ impressions of Yang Lianting gradually becoming greater and greater. The Cult Master liked him to the point, he would betroth his beloved Holy Maiden to him. If so, then wouldn’t Brother Yang be below one person, above all others in the future?
A heated discussion ensued.
“Dongfang, I heard you taught that Wang Shi a lesson today?” Yang Lianting could not help but laughingly ask while he served Dongfang Bubai’s meal. “I thought you’d kill him.”
Dongfang Bubai choked at once, his ears blushed abnormally red, yet looking at Yang Lianting’s face he feigned the collected and calm manner worthy of the cult master.
“Didn’t you hope that I’d kill less, commit less evil? If not…” Dongfang Bubai narrowed his eyes slightly and said coldly, “He dares to bring you to that kind of place, dying one thousand times would be too lenient.”
As soon as he knew that it was because of this, Yang Lianting could not help but laugh out loud. He raised his hand and patted Dongfang Bubai’s head. His hair was smooth to the touch, it was combed in a neat and tidy manner, but after Yang Lianting patted his head, his hair was slightly disheveled in an instant. Dongfang Bubai’s current appearance was completely different to his usual appearance. Not knowing why, but in Yang Lianting’s eyes such a Cult Master couldn’t be cuter.
“Yes, I hope we kill less, commit less evil, and be grateful to the heavens.” Yang Lianting had always thought that being able to be reborn really was out of God’s concern for the two of them. Therefore, in this life he had always been grateful to the heavens, and been praying to God at all times hoping to be safe and sound, joyful and happy for a lifetime.
The two of them were talking when they heard the voice of a maid from before the doors. “Cult Master the Holy Maiden seeks an audience.”
The Holy Maiden?
Hearing this title, Yang Lianting faintly narrowed his eyes.
The Holy Maiden, Ren Yingying.
Way back when Dongfang Bubai had defeated Ren Woxing, then held him captive in the Water Dungeon in Jiangnan,[32] he had begun treating Ren Yingying very well out of guilt. He had even ordained her as the Holy Maiden, a supreme position in this Sun Moon Holy Cult.
After his rebirth a long time had passed, during which he had been wholeheartedly thinking about Dongfang and consequently he had ignored Ren Yingying, but ignoring her did not mean that he had forgotten her. How could he forget how cruel this woman had been, how she had viciously used him to threaten Dongfang, how her actions had ultimately brought about their tragic ending.
Killing intent rose.
Yang Lianting’s abnormality naturally attracted the attention of Dongfang Bubai. Although he found it odd he didn’t think too much, he merely thought that he felt unhappy because the serene atmosphere between them had suddenly been disturbed. Intending to give him an explanation, he told him of the past. “I won’t keep you in the dark. After I defeated Ren Woxing and locked him up at the bottom of the West Lake, I still had a slight guilty conscience for my actions despite everything that happened. So, I ordained Yingying as the Holy Maiden. At that time, I thought if she knew her place and was content with her lot in life, I would naturally recompense her with a lifetime’s worth of glory and splendor, of riches and honor.”[33]
Yang Lianting unnoticeably took a deep breath, pretended as if nothing were wrong and forced himself to nod his head toward Dongfang Bubai in approval.
Dongfang Bubai called out to Ren Yingying and allowed her to enter. Yang Lianting narrowed his eyes slightly, as he listened to the light sound of approaching footsteps and looked at the girl who was slowly walking toward them. Ren Yingying had a good appearance, but at present she was simply a half-grown little girl. The outline of her graceful and gentle face could already be seen, she was dressed in elaborate and exquisite clothes and possessed a lofty and aloof bearing befitting her status as the Holy Maiden. Curtsying politely and properly to Dongfang Bubai, her cunning character could not be discerned beneath her pretty appearance.[34]
No wonder even I was deceived by this little girl for a lifetime. The hatred and coldness in his heart made him feel extreme pain, the look in Yang Lianting’s eyes cooled. Etiquette imposed that once a guard saw the Holy Maiden, he ought to kneel in greeting, but he as if unaware sat still and looked on as Ren Yingying was curtsying.
Yang Lianting did not kneel, Dongfang Bubai who loved and believed in him naturally felt that he was different from outsiders but Ren Yingying did not think the same. The young lady looked at the casual and carefree[35] man whom Dongfang Bubai treated as his equal. In her mind she thought This man must be the one who recently stands amidst the storm atop the cliff, Yang Lianting. A look of disgust and despisal glinted in her pupils, but she quickly left no trace of it behind and pretended to look like a lovable and meek little girl as she opened her mouth to greet Dongfang Bubai in a lively manner. “Uncle Dongfang, it’s been a long time since you’ve last gone to see Yingying.”
Dongfang Bubai waved his hand motioning her to take a seat, he was about to answer, when Yang Lianting took the initiative. “The Cult Master attends to myriads of cult affairs day after day, surely Holy Maiden can understand.”
Hearing Yang Lianting’s answer, Ren Yingying’s dislike and disgust of him worsened greatly. Out of necessity, she pretended as if nothing were wrong and smiled innocently as she noddingly said, “Of course, Yingying knows that Uncle Dongfang must be busy with the many cult affairs. It’s just been so long, Yingying can’t help but miss Uncle Dongfang a little.”
Sensing Yang Lianting’s dislike for Ren Yingying, Dongfang Bubai felt faintly perplexed in his heart. He glanced at him, then turned his head and looked at Ren Yingying to ask, “Is anything the matter Yingying, why’d you come over today?”
“Uncle Dongfang, don’t you love Yingying dearly? Can’t she come over and see you even if nothing’s the matter?” The young lady looked like she was about to sob in sadness, as she broken-heartedly said, “Today, Yingying heard a few rumors in the cult, and wanted to ask Uncle Dongfang for confirmation.”
“What rumors?”
Ren Yingying glanced at Yang Lianting, suppressed the deep disgust in her heart and deliberately put on bashful face, then she blushingly shifted her eyes away, “Must Yingying be the one to speak of this?”
“Uncle Dongfang… do you disdain Yingying now that she’s grown up, do you not want to continue taking care of Yingying?”
Dongfang Bubai creased his brows, “What’re you saying?”
“Then why is it rumored that Uncle Dongfang wants to marry Yingying to Guard Yang?”
As soon as she spoke up, Dongfang Bubai and Yang Lianting glanced at each other and fiercely frowned.