Beheading (2/2)

The jailers scattered at the sight, staying out of the struggle.

The Cult Leader sat on the ground and continued, "The Evil-Expelling ritual lasts three days.

Tomorrow, the most you can do is seal our seven orifices so we forget the way back. You'll have to hope our souls don't become evil spirits and harm the locals, much less return to harm the people in this prison.

So if you can't break me today, you won't get another chance tomorrow."

"So that's how it is?" Xu Feng said.

Xu Feng wasn't surprised. Looking at the man before him, he said, "If I can't, I can't. What else can I do?

I came to ward you, not kill you."

"To obstruct someone's path to immortality is to be a great demon!" the Cult Leader declared.

"Come on," Xu Feng said.

He raised a hand to stop him. "How does that make me a great demon? If you're seeking Corpse Liberation, there's no talk of demons. Not one person along your path is a demon.

At most, they're trials. Don't saddle me with a charge that big. I can't bear it."

The Cult Leader was unmoved.

"I swear I'll kill you!" he said.

"Getting worked up?

Someone certain of victory wouldn't waste so many words on me.

If you were truly secure in yourself, you'd look at me like an ant. The way you're acting is downright crooked."

Xu Feng spoke plainly.

"Don't dress me in someone else's robes," the Cult Leader replied.

"The Earth-Fire Cult teaches us to repay every slight and remember every kindness and grudge.

Even if I'm going to kill you, I'll first list your crimes.

Remember this: you obstructed my path to immortality, so I will kill you! And not one person in this prison today will