"I was worried you'd go over there. It's dangerous everywhere. But since you're insisting, I won't stop you." I hesitated, then sighed in the end. That fellow was far too clever. What good would worrying about him do?
Yuan Ci nodded, then said, "Take good care of Hua Ke."
I looked at him and nodded heavily. "Don't worry. If you go to the Western Teaching and some monk dares bully you, call me over."
Yuan Ci narrowed his eyes into slits and said, "Mm, got it. I'll definitely call you."
I glanced at the old monk and the three great monks again, frowning. "If you dare lay a hand on my brother, I'll tear down your Western Teaching!"
"This benefactor's killing intent is too strong. It may not be a good thing. Not being stained by karmic power is merely a cover for the eyes. When karmic retribution arrives, there will eventually be retribution." The old monk's expression changed, and although the several great monks looked horrified, they did not dare contradict him in the slightest.
"Heh, perhaps. How about we make a bet? Let's see how high the pile of ghosts beneath my sword has to grow before karmic retribution comes?" I said grimly.
The old monk pressed his palms together and closed his eyes with an utterly fearless expression.
Yuan Ci picked up the conversation instead. "All right. Stop bullying our Western Teaching. Hurry back and help Tianyi Dao through this crisis. The child has been in your care these days, but in the end, that's no substitute for having his parents by his side."
I nodded and said, "Until we meet again." Then I drifted toward the platform of the Blood Fury Lotus. Watching Yuan Ci and the old monk leave, I could not help feeling melancholy.