To Each His Own
Yao Wuji sighed under his breath and then took out a pill, set on restraining Cai Lie for the latter’s sake no matter the cost. Howbeit, Shi Dengtian stopped Yao Wuji, urging, “Don’t be rash, Junior Brother.”
“Senior Brother, please give me a chance to correct Cai Lie’s ways; he is just unaware of his wrongs.”
“Relax.” Shi Dengtian stepped forward and addressed everyone in the hall with his gaze. “Cai Lie, Cai Lie, you’ve disappointed me. Let’s see how many fools like Cai Lie we have. If you want to take Yun Dan’s side, step forward. There’s no need to fear anything. We’re an open-minded sect, so you have every right to an opinion just Cai Lie has conveyed his.”
Even without Shi Dengtian’s fake smile, most of the disciples feared him to begin with since Shi Minghui’s days of tyranny left them with scars. Never for a second did any disciple believe Shi Dengtian was smiling genuinely and, to the contrary, could read what it implied. Even if they got away today, there was no guarantee he would not go after them if he did come to power. Despite them not judging Shi Dengtian to be the better patriarch, the fear of two Ascension Realm ultimate immortals taking umbrage to their true voice kept them on mute.
“Hahaha, Cai Lie, I guess you take first place by default for biggest fool. Junior Brother Yao, tell everyone here, including your disciple, who is most qualified to be patriarch under these conditions,” Shi Dengtian demanded.
Yao Wuji turned his fingers into steely clamps, closed his eyes and, in the calmest voice he could find, stated, “That would be none other than you, Senior Brother Shi.”
Many disciples liked Yao Wuji for his character. And so, his statement was the nail in the coffin for Daoist Yun Dan.
“Hahaha, hear that, Cai Lie? What are you resisting for when your shifu has knelt down to me?”
Cai Lie glanced at his shifu, shut his eyes for a moment as though to steel his heart and then opened them again. “My shifu is a man with guts and principles. That coward over there isn’t my shifu.”
Trembling, Cai Lie quavered, “Shifu, you raised and educated me. I respect you more than anyone. You’re the one who should be making the right choices in this situation. I thought you had reasons for your chance, but you’re kneeling at Shi Dengtian’s feet. I don’t recognise you anymore. There’s no reason you should abandon your pride. Shifu, I will never forget what you did for me, but I can’t repay you. I know these are my last movements. I don’t want to be a coward. Hence, I am severing my ties to you.”
Each word felt akin to a knife stabbing into him, grinding their way in and twisting around in his soul, yet Yao Wuji had to maintain a straight face. Shi Dengtian gave him a smile. “I’ll cull him for you, Junior Brother Yao.”
Yao Wuji tugged his head up. “Senior Brother, please give Cai Lie another chance. He is too young to see the big picture. I will ensure he wises up.”
“You will keep your mouth shut until told otherwise,” Wan Shuiyao looked over his shoulder to warn.
“I apologise.” Yao Wuji bowed his head, palms bleeding from his fingernails digging in.
Shi Dengtian meandered up to Cai Lie. “Let’s move on with today’s agenda since there’s no debate, then. Senior Brother, only you and Cai L-”
“Count me in.”
“Wenxuan…” Daoist Yun Dan uttered upon seeing his second disciple stroll into the hall.
“Please pardon my tardiness, Shifu.” Bie Wenxuan saluted Daoist Yun Dan. “Brother Cai Lie, do share the trick to escaping Reflection Cliff’s seal once we’re done. I’m not exactly an expert in prison breaks.”
“It’s… an experience thing for me.”
Daoist Yun Dan stressed, “Wenxuan, if you make a stand here, there’s no backing down, understand?”
“I have no reason to fear death when you two do not fear it,” Bie Wenxuan casually responded.
“Well, look what we have here – another fool. Anyone else? I have enough patience to spare,” Shi Dengtian ridiculed, interrupting the conversation.
“Me,” declared Dao Yueyue, Leng Bingxue’s most famous disciple for being the personification of her shifu. “Senior Brother Cai Lie, you should’ve taught us how to unlock the seal long ago.”
Daoist Yun Dan also locked up Dao Yueyue on Leng Bingxue’s behalf for he knew she would react the way Leng Bingxue would.
“I’m behind the ball, but I’m in,” announced Daoist Yuan Hua, Daoist Yun Dan’s martial uncle and Daoist Yuan De’s junior. He assured Daoist Yun Dan with a shoulder pat whilst staring at Yao Wuji and Shi Dengtian. “Good job, Yun Dan. It’s unfortunate Yuan Cheng couldn’t make it back in time. I don’t know where he’s run off to. I’d love for him to see what his useless disciple is up to.”
“Count me in.” An elder stepped forward.
“And me.”
A trio from Frosty Peak, Pill Cauldron Peak and Mystic Rainbow Peak respectively took a stand.
Those who stepped forward spurred Yao Wuji into inwardly questioning, Is there a point in shouldering this disgrace if everyone falls here? Is there a point if Brother Yun Dan dies here?
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