Xianyu opened his inventory and found Tenseiga.
Just as he was about to take out the item and try again, the Chief Strategist crouched down, clamped a hand hard onto his shoulder, and said quietly, "Don't take out any more blades..."
Xianyu slowly raised his head and looked at his subordinates beside him.
They watched him with the same fervor and trust as always, their gazes unchanged.
Xianyu wanted to tell them not to look at him like that.
At least not now. Please, not now...
Xianyu tried to push himself up with his hands against the floor, momentarily forgetting the stickiness on his palms. He left only dark red smears of nearly congealed blood on the ground.
The Chief Strategist came over and supported his arm, only letting go once he was steady on his feet.
Xianyu drew a deep breath and met his subordinates' eyes.
One of them, visibly agitated, abruptly drew a sword and offered it to Xianyu. Before the subordinate could speak, he cut in.
He said, "Don't bring this up again. I'll think of something else."
Xianyu walked out without looking aside, leaving everyone behind.
He could faintly hear the Chief Strategist speaking heatedly.
"I thought he was already inhuman enough, but you lot have really outdone your teacher, haven't you?"
"You're all mad! Even if-even if he's that powerful, how could he possibly kill his own subordinates with his own hands?"
"Don't you think your ideas and demands are asking far too much of him?"
Xianyu sighed inwardly. Wonders never ceased. He had actually heard the Chief Strategist praise him.
He found a secluded, empty room on his own, sat cross-legged on the floor, removed the "mara-struck" debuff that granted bonuses to the Xianzhou, and tore away the Ginkgo Leaves growing from his arms