Chapter 428: Death and Void!
"This truly is a divine pill! Not only are all my meridians repaired, but my cultivation has increased significantly!"
Zhao Dong thrust out a punch, and the aura of a cultivator at the peak of the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment surged outward!
The terrifying power made Senior Sister Dai's beautiful eyes widen in shock.
He's actually this strong!?
That made sense. If he weren't powerful, how could he have escaped Ouyang Hong's clutches?
Looking at Zhao Dong, a strange light flashed in Senior Sister Dai's eyes.
Maybe... men aren't so unacceptable after all?
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK...
At that moment, someone rapped on the door to their cave-dwelling. The three of them tensed up instantly.
Senior Sister Dai put a finger to her lips, shushing Zhao Dong, before calling toward the door, "Who is it?"
"It's me," a cold female voice replied from outside.
"Oh no! It's Master!" Qing Yu immediately fell into a panic.
"The Third Elder?" Zhao Dong's expression turned grim.
"Quick, get in!" Senior Sister Dai hurriedly opened a hidden compartment in the wall.
With no time to think, Zhao Dong pulled Qing Yu into the compartment. Senior Sister Dai composed herself and stepped forward to open the door.
"Master, what brings you here?" Senior Sister Dai bowed, her attitude deeply respectful.
Mu Yu entered the room, her beautiful eyes scanning the area before she spoke. "I had some free time, so I came to see how your preparations for the competition are coming along."
"Master, your disciple has been preparing with all my strength these past few days. I will not let you down," Senior Sister Dai replied, her expression as placid as still water, betraying no sign of anything unusual.
"Oh? Is that so?" Mu Yu nodded slightly. "Very good."
She then sighed. "You and Qing Yu were the two disciples I held in the highest regard. It's a pity Qing Yu betrayed the sect. It has broken my heart. Love is truly a deadly poison."
"Wouldn't you agree, Ruyu?" Mu Yu asked, looking thoughtfully at Senior Sister Dai.
Senior Sister Dai's given name was Dai Ruyu, but Mu Yu had never once called her Ruyu. The sudden use of her name sent a flash of panic through her eyes.
She forced herself to remain calm. "I do not understand the affairs of men and women. Perhaps Junior Sister had her own private reasons?"
"Heh, some private reasons!" Mu Yu's expression instantly turned to ice. She sneered, "You in there, come out now!"
WHOOSH!
Senior Sister Dai's face paled. "Master, what... what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?" Mu Yu laughed coldly. "You've always detested men, and I know you harbor special feelings for Qing Yu. Did you think I was oblivious? If Zhao Dong and Qing Yu weren't hiding here, knowing your temperament, you would have long since drawn your sword to confront him, wouldn't you?"
A chill ran down Senior Sister Dai's spine.
I was so careful, yet I missed one critical detail!
Mu Yu took a step forward, and the spiritual pressure of a Tenth-Level Great Grandmaster slammed down, making Senior Sister Dai's legs tremble.
Mu Yu snapped, "If you come out on your own, we can still discuss this! But if I have to drag you out myself, you will die without a doubt!"
No! Please, don't come out! Dai Ruyu pleaded inwardly, her heart pounding.
But in the end, with a soft CLICK, the hidden door opened. Zhao Dong and Qing Yu stepped out. Now that things had come to this, Zhao Dong could not let Senior Sister Dai take all the blame.
"So you were here!"
Murderous intent flared in Mu Yu's eyes. In a single step, her hand shot out, seizing Zhao Dong by the neck and slamming him against the wall.
Zhao Dong didn't resist. He was no match for Mu Yu; at best, he could only hope to escape her grasp. But if he ran, what would happen to Qing Yu and Senior Sister Dai?
So, Zhao Dong smiled bitterly. "You can kill me, but please, spare Qing Yu and Senior Sister Dai. They're innocent. I was the one who forced Qing Yu to bring me into the Blood Sect, and I was the one who forced Senior Sister Dai to hide me."
"Heh, you think I'd believe you?" Mu Yu's killing intent didn't waver in the slightest.
Although she felt some sympathy for Zhao Dong, his actions were far too brazen. She had intended to protect him, but who could have imagined he would also break out of prison? And as if dragging Qing Yu down wasn't enough, he had now embroiled Dai Ruyu as well. Two of her own disciples had become traitors in a single day. How could Mu Yu possibly maintain her standing in the sect after this?
Therefore, a powerful urge to kill Zhao Dong had already taken root in her heart.
Just as Mu Yu was about to strike the fatal blow, Qing Yu pulled a dagger from her robes.
"Insolence! You dare raise a weapon against your master?" Mu Yu immediately noticed the movement, her icy gaze piercing Qing Yu.
THUD!
Qing Yu fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. She placed the dagger against her pale neck and spoke with anguish, "Once a teacher, always a parent. I would never dare raise a hand against Master. But I cannot stand by and watch Senior die!"
With that, she slammed her forehead hard against the floor.
"I beg you to spare him, Master! If you refuse, then I am willing to die with him!"
The room fell into a dead silence. Mu Yu's face was dark as she said nothing. Dai Ruyu's brow was tightly furrowed, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Finally, with a bitter smile, Dai Ruyu also sank to her knees.
"I beg you to spare Zhao Dong, Master. If you refuse, then I am willing to die with him!"
WHOOSH!
Mu Yu's face turned completely ashen, her eyes flooded with utter disbelief.
Why? If Qing Yu was simply love-struck, doing this for passion, that would be one thing! But Dai Ruyu... what was her reason? For Qing Yu? If it were for Qing Yu, she should be trying to convince her not to die! Why would she put her own life on the line to plead for Zhao Dong? What kind of spell does this man possess?
At last, Mu Yu's grip loosened, and Zhao Dong collapsed to the floor, coughing violently. Cold sweat drenched his back. That brush with the gates of hell had been truly agonizing.
Seeing this, Qing Yu immediately crawled to Mu Yu's side and clung to her leg, crying with gratitude, "Thank you, Master, for sparing him! Thank you for your mercy..."
"I never said I wasn't going to kill him!" Mu Yu shoved Qing Yu away, her icy gaze returning to Zhao Dong. "I am going to ask you a few questions. Your answers will determine whether you live or die today!"
Zhao Dong didn't dare to be disrespectful. He hastily got up and bowed. "Please, Third Elder, ask away!"
In truth, Zhao Dong harbored no great dislike for Mu Yu. During the elder council, she had been one of the few who had spoken up for him. This was why he had chosen not to confront her from the very beginning.
This is just who I am. A drop of kindness must be repaid with a gushing spring. Besides, I know I've dragged two of her disciples down with me. The fact that she hasn't killed me outright is a testament to her inherent kindness.
Mu Yu nodded, satisfied, then sat down to the side. "Was everything you said at the elder council the truth?"
Zhao Dong raised his hand in a vow. "I swear on my Dao Heart that every word I spoke before the council was the truth. If there was half a lie, may my soul be shattered, never to enter reincarnation!"
Swearing on one's Dao Heart? For an ordinary person, an oath might be meaningless. But for a cultivator, swearing on their Dao Heart meant planting an inner demon. If the oath was false, that inner demon would be nearly impossible to remove.
At best, their cultivation would stagnate. At worst... they would perish, their path on the Dao extinguished.