The three of them, who felt as though they had died once already, were also rather surprised to hear this.
The bald elder pointed at Ju Shihong again. "You're coming back to the Heavenforging Sect with me."
"Huh?" Ju Shihong, drenched in sweat and about to climb to his feet, stared in astonishment, then instinctively protested, "No, no! You were abducted from the Heavenforging Sect. By now, they must know I'm the traitor."
The bald elder said, "I'm the one it happened to. You're a traitor only if I say you are, and if I say you aren't, then you aren't. You could have been trying your utmost to protect me, only to be overpowered and abducted along with me. I need someone at my side who can contact your branch directly, and I need someone to help with the work."
Ju Shihong froze. Put that way, returning did not seem entirely out of the question.
Gong Yuanzhi and the other man exchanged looks as well.
Once the three had risen, Gong Yuanzhi patted his still-uncomfortable head and demanded in alarm and suspicion, "What did you do to us?"
The bald elder said indifferently, "Does today's Demonic Path not even know of the Heartbinding Curse? If I cease to exist completely, you will die too. Those who follow me prosper; those who defy me perish. Anyone whose loyalty wavers dies!"
The hearts of Gong Yuanzhi and the other two began pounding in terror. Each wanted to speak, but held back.
Their companion had been killed merely for saying something discourteous. None of them dared argue now.
Ripples of distortion were already shimmering around the bald elder. Clothes flew out from beneath his cloak, swirling through those ripples, and by the time they landed, they had taken on Zhen'er's original appearance.