A single sentence laid bare a thousand-year maze!
The cold truth was spread out nakedly before him, smashing the last shred of comfort Jiang Ziya had left. His whole body shook violently, and his mind plunged completely into an ice pit.
King Zhou no longer spared another glance for his wretched state. He turned to Shen Gongbao, who sat astride his horse at his side with a calm expression, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Imperial Preceptor, I leave this man to you. Are you willing to behead Jiang Ziya for me and settle this stretch of master-sect karma?"
Faced with the Human King's charge, Shen Gongbao gently shook his head.
The black horse beneath him slowly stepped back. His black robes billowed, and the mockery from moments ago faded from his brows and eyes, replaced by a measure of release and rueful sighing.
He looked from afar at Jiang Ziya, collapsed on the ground, his tone flat and waveless.
"There is no need, Your Majesty! In the end, we are fellow disciples, senior and junior martial brothers of the same sect, bound by a master-disciple affection from one path of cultivation. Let it end here today. Leave him one ruined life."
Thinking of the old ties from their days cultivating together in Kunlun and bowing together to Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Shen Gongbao ultimately chose mercy and stayed his hand, unwilling to end his Senior Martial Brother's life with his own hands.
Seeing this, King Zhou nodded slightly and did not force him.
He raised his hand and grasped the Emperor's Long Sword at his waist, still stained with enemy blood. The blade's cold light was piercing, carrying the supreme majesty of the Human Race's sovereign, as he walked step by step to stand before Jiang Ziya.
The dying sun