The smug look had not quite faded from Black Mountain's face when he heard Si Chen say they were leaving.
"Leaving?"
He froze, still holding his pose as though pointing out how the realm should be ruled.
"Brother, this is territory I just conquered! An entire sect!"
Si Chen nodded. "Mm. Well conquered."
And that was all he said.
Black Mountain's whole bearish self was beside himself.
"We... we're just giving it up?! I've only been sect master for a day..."
Red Wind spoke beside him in a hollow tone. "What, did you want to do it for a lifetime?"
Black Mountain choked, then sighed.
"So be it... I was never a bear who clung to power."
"I was only keeping this sect master's seat for you, brother. Since you don't want it, then... let it all go."
He looked utterly solemn and heroic as he spoke, as though he had willingly abandoned some world-shaking undertaking.
Listening beside them, Elder Xu felt his heart go cold.
Leaving?
This mighty expert was taking his people away?
He had become a human pet and signed the contract, and now his backer was running off?
How could that be allowed?!
Opportunity was right before his eyes. If he let it slip away like this, he, Xu Cheng, would have lived his entire life in vain!
Elder Xu drew a deep breath, stepped forward, and solemnly cupped his fists.
"Senior, please wait!"
Si Chen turned back.
Meeting those calm eyes, Elder Xu's mind raced.
At a time like this, words were useless. He had to show his commitment.
He gritted his teeth, then suddenly straightened his back. "Rest assured, Senior!"
"From today on, I... am no longer normal!"
Si Chen: "?"
Black Mountain: "?"
Red Wind: "?"
Zhou Yuan was the first to recover