"Aah!!"
Du Jingzhe screamed without warning and crashed to the floor, his temples throbbing and veins writhing across his aged face.
The sudden turn of events startled everyone.
No one knew what had happened. They had only seen the Speaker kneeling on the floor raise his head and meet the Pioneer's gaze before collapsing in agony.
Some of Du Jingzhe's fanatical devotees were beside themselves and immediately tried to rush forward, Tang Xin among them.
Du Jingzhe abruptly raised his hand, stopping them all.
He struggled to climb back to his feet. Though his expression was pained, a flash of wild delight shone deep in his eyes.
Thud!
He slammed his forehead against the floor and said shakily, "Thank you for sparing my life, Teacher!"
Du Jingzhe was overjoyed. He knew his teacher had forgiven him. Otherwise, with his teacher's strength, why would he have hurt him so lightly?
Clearly, his teacher still valued their old bond.
"Remember, never forget your roots. There won't be a next time. Get up."
"Yes, Teacher!"
As Du Jingzhe rose, everyone else got up as well.
"Teacher, where have you been all these years?" Du Jingzhe stood respectfully beside Bai Ye, his back stooped, cautiously trying to rekindle their familiarity.
As for the Black Queen, Tang Guo, standing on Bai Ye's other side, no one said another word about her.
A heinous criminal wanted by the Federation, one of the Five Sovereigns, the Black Queen's trial today... everyone chose to forget all of it.
"The forbidden domain," Bai Ye said flatly.
Du Jingzhe's heart jolted. Just as I thought! Teacher really did go to the forbidden domain.
He had suspected it before, except he had assumed his teacher had died in there. Instead, not only had he survived, but he had grown even stronger.