Crisis Brews, Killing the Body and Destroying the Heart

Crisis Brews, Killing the Body and Destroying the Heart

"Hmm? You're the one he injured?"

There was a hint of surprise in the Protector's voice, along with a trace of scrutiny.

"You broke through to the mid-Grandmaster stage two years ago, and your realm has long since stabilized. Yet you actually lost to a hundred-household officer of the Imperial Guard?"

He paused, and his tone suddenly darkened:

"Could it be that this man is also a Grandmaster-level expert?"

A Grandmaster-level powerhouse had actually been assigned the mere position of hundred-household officer. When had the Imperial Guard become so extravagantly staffed?

The male Grandmaster lowered his head and replied:

"I exchanged a palm strike with him, but I was completely outmatched."

"Bai Yan's palm force was extraordinarily overbearing. His True Essence was far more profound than mine."

"Based on my judgment, his strength should be at the late Grandmaster stage, or perhaps even higher. He may have reached the peak Grandmaster stage!"

The Protector asked again:

"How old is this man?"

The female traitor immediately replied:

"About twenty years old. He looks extremely young."

"That's absolutely impossible!"

The Protector lost his composure for the first time. His voice held barely suppressed shock and fury, and the figure behind the gauze curtain seemed to sway slightly:

"How could a young man of about twenty possibly be a Grandmaster-level expert?"

"Not to mention that he might even be at the peak Grandmaster stage. Have your brains been kicked by donkeys?!"

Seeing the Protector fly into a rage, the three immediately slammed their foreheads to the ground and began trembling.

The female traitor said fearfully:

"I wouldn't dare deceive the Protector. That Bai Yan truly is a young man of only about twenty!"

The male Grandmaster followed up:

"I wouldn't dare utter a single falsehood either. Bai Yan's palm force was incomparably fierce, and his strength must not be underestimated."

"To severely injure me with a single palm strike—only someone at the late Grandmaster stage, or even the peak Grandmaster stage, could accomplish that!"

Seeing how resolute the two were and how utterly free of falsehood their tones sounded, the Protector, despite having a thousand reasons not to believe them, had no choice but to believe most of it.

"Could there really be such a monster in this world?"

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

"Even the Cult Master back then was already over twenty when he broke through to the Grandmaster stage, let alone the peak Grandmaster stage."

"Among the various sects and schools of the martial world today, a twenty-year-old at the Connate stage is already an unparalleled genius. It is absolutely impossible for a twenty-year-old to be a peak Grandmaster!"

"This man is carrying a tremendous secret! An absolutely tremendous secret!"

The Protector's heart pounded wildly, and his breathing quickened. He felt that he had guessed the truth.

He did not believe that anyone in this world could break through to the peak Grandmaster stage at twenty.

The only possible explanation was that Bai Yan had encountered a heaven-defying fortuitous opportunity.

Even he could not help feeling tempted by such an opportunity.

"Investigate! Investigate this to the bitter end!"

The Protector suddenly growled, his voice turning savage and sinister:

"Find out every detail of Bai Yan's background and origins! His master and lineage, his past, every move he has made since joining the Imperial Guard—not a single detail may be missed!"

"This man is carrying a tremendous secret. That secret must be put to use by our Cult!"

"Even if there is no secret, this man absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

"For someone like him to serve the Great Yu Imperial Court is a mortal threat to our Cult. He must be eliminated as soon as possible!"

"Otherwise, he will one day become an unparalleled Grandmaster, and by then it will be too late!"

"Yes, Protector! We obey!" the three answered in unison.

"That will be all. Withdraw."

The Protector waved his hand, his voice once again as calm as an ancient well.

"We shall take our leave."

The three kowtowed and saluted once more, then backed away with bowed bodies until they had exited the underground palace.

Only after the stone gate of the underground palace had fully closed did the three exchange glances and release a collective sigh of relief.

They could all see fear and lingering dread in one another's eyes.

Every time they met this Protector, they were terrified, as though they had walked through the gates of hell, afraid that the Protector might kill them on the spot if they made even the slightest mistake.

Among the Six Great Protectors of the Demonic Cult, the one above them was notorious for his mercurial temper, bloodlust, and cold cruelty.

Early the next morning, Bai Yan arrived at the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau.

Along the way, every Brigade Leader and Squad Leader respectfully saluted Bai Yan.

"Good morning, Captain Bai."

"Greetings, Captain Bai."

"This subordinate pays respects to Captain Bai."

Bai Yan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, as though he were inspecting a group of high-ranking officials under his command.

On the way to the hundred-household office, Bai Yan spotted a familiar face and immediately approached with a smile.

"Well, well? Isn't that Captain Zhao?"

"It's been a few days. Have your injuries fully healed, Captain Zhao?"

When Zhao Gaozhong saw Bai Yan, his face became as ugly as if he had swallowed a fly.

His injuries had improved somewhat over the past few days, so he had wanted to go outside for a walk, bask in the sun, and clear his mind.

He had never expected to run into Bai Yan by sheer coincidence.

Zhao Gaozhong said nothing and turned to leave, but Bai Yan stepped in front of him first.

"Don't go, Captain Zhao. I came this time to apologize."

"I'm truly sorry about what happened last time. I went too far and accidentally injured you, Captain Zhao."

"Of course, you can't put all the blame on me either. Who would have thought that your strength was so weak, Captain Zhao? You're a dignified hundred-household officer of the Imperial Guard, yet you couldn't even withstand a single palm from me."

"But no matter how you look at it, I was the one who injured you, Captain Zhao, so it was my fault."

"How about this? I'll host a banquet for you at Baiwei Tower tonight and offer you my apologies. What do you say, Captain Zhao?"

Looking at Bai Yan's beaming face, Zhao Gaozhong trembled with rage and nearly ground his back teeth to pieces.

Killing the body and destroying the heart!

He was killing him and destroying his heart!

What did he mean, saying his strength was too weak?

What did he mean, saying he could not even withstand a single palm?

And besides, in his current sorry state, could he even go to Baiwei Tower?

What would he go there for—to die in bed?

What kind of compensation was this? What kind of apology was this?

Zhao Gaozhong glared fixedly at Bai Yan, his eyes bloodshot and his fury bordering on madness. He wished he could flay Bai Yan and pull out his tendons.

If looks could kill, Bai Yan would have died countless times by now.

"Bai Yan, what exactly do you want?"

Zhao Gaozhong ground out each word, as though forcing it through clenched teeth.

Bai Yan gave a mocking, sarcastic laugh.

"Oh, my, Captain Zhao, what are you talking about?"

"I came here specifically to apologize, and while I'm at it, to thank Captain Zhao as well."

"Captain Zhao, you truly are a great benefactor. I accidentally injured you, yet you put aside our past grievance and handed me the chance to earn merit. What an expansive heart you have!"

"If it weren't for you, Captain Zhao, I wouldn't have had the chance to establish such great merit."

"You tell me yourself, Captain Zhao—shouldn't I thank you?"

"You..."

"You, Captain Zhao, are an absolutely wonderful person!"

"I..."

"I, Bai, am truly overwhelmed with guilt!"

"Damn it... Bai Yan, you're going too far!"

"Don't think I'm easy to bully. I'm warning you—I'm not someone you can provoke!"

Zhao Gaozhong could endure no longer. He shoved away the Brigade Leader supporting him, raised his still-mobile left arm, and prepared to strike.

"No, my lord! You mustn't! Don't act rashly!"

"Bai Yan is provoking you. You absolutely cannot attack!"

"Let's go back first. Once your injuries have healed, it won't be too late to seek revenge!"

The two Brigade Leaders wrapped their arms tightly around Zhao Gaozhong's waist and dragged him away by main force.

Even after he had been dragged far away, Zhao Gaozhong turned his head back and did not forget to leave them with a harsh warning.

"Just you wait, Bai Yan! You wait for me! I'll definitely be back!"

Watching Zhao Gaozhong flee in disarray, Bai Yan could not help letting out a derisive laugh.

"I didn't expect this fellow to have made progress. He actually managed to hold himself back. He's even changed his temperament after a few days apart. Is he planning to evolve into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?"

Bai Yan admitted that he had been gloating. He had deliberately come looking for trouble.

As long as Zhao Gaozhong had dared to attack, Bai Yan would have crippled his left arm this time and made him lie in bed for another month.

It was just a pity that Zhao Gaozhong had been exceptionally good at enduring today, leaving Bai Yan without a chance to strike.