Chapter 12 (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Leaving the canyon, Little Tian looked as if it had found what it liked. It harassed those things that flew in the air, crawled on the ground, and swam in the water. It would flee from those that were strong and killed those that were weak. The only thing that it was friendly with was the Demon Toads.
Wutian was cautious, and Little Tian was powerful. So they watched each other’s back during the journey and had gone without incident.
The Fire Cloud Clan had been busy for the past two months. Ever since Huoshi brought back the news, the Fire Cloud Clan had almost dispatched all of its disciples to search the river. But days had passed, they had still not found the emblem or Wutian’s body.
At last, the master of the Fire Cloud Clan, Huo Zhenren, joined hands with ten great elders. Using supernormal knowledge, they vaporized the river. They also dissected all the aqua monsters, but still found no sign of the emblem.
Huo Zhenren was furious. He chided Huoshi, then headed to Dragon Village. It had been over two months now; vegetation had covered the dilapidated village. Yet, there were no monster beasts around, not even a single insect. It was just quiet.
Just as everyone was bewildered, an elder used a technique and finally revealed what had actually happened before.
Beneath the vegetation-covered ground outside the village buried a dozen skeletons of old and young men and women. It was a mass burial site.
Why?
Give me back my life!
In the air above the grave, grievances lingered around, telling their sorrow and hatred. Hideous faces were roaring, howling, and crying, so no monster beasts had dared to come close.
“Is this what you have done, Huoshi?”
Huo Zhenren stood high above in the sky, draped in a red robe. His face was rosy, and even his hair and beard were of the same color. He looked like a flame with a majestic vibe and was unfathomable.
His cold voice was filled with tremendous authority. Huoshi stood in front of him and dared to make a sound. He kept his head low and was in fear.
“Once returned to the clan, you are to stay in isolation to reflect on yourself and make self-reproach in the Flaming Mountain.” He had an overpowering voice, which was the dignity of a leader.
Everyone sucked through their teeth. Apparently, the Flaming Mountain was not a very pleasant place.
“Huoshi might have acted a little recklessly. But it should be beyond-reproach. He did that for the good of the clan. I urge you to hand him a lighter punishment.” A middle-aged man petitioned.
“He is arrogant and domineering, indiscriminately killing the innocents. It was you all who spoiled him. The emblem is important, but not as crucial as the clan’s good name. If this thing leaks out, what would the world think? Would the other villages that trust us willing to entrust their young to the Fire Cloud Clan?”
Huo Zhenren had the ultimate say in the clan. His eyes exuded a fearsome sense of authority, so powerful that it looked like a pair of sun. No one dared to have direct eye contact with him.
“My brother, why don’t you allow Huoshi a chance to redeem himself? The Yan Clan is going to hold a recruitment campaign in two months. Let Huoshi bring some men to intercept those young boys and bring back those with the physique to make them our own.”
The middle-aged man was burly, draped in dazzling golden armor. He was the vice-master of the clan, Huoshi’s uncle, the clan master’s younger brother. He was the only person who dared to argue with Huo Zhenren.
“The vice-master has a point. Whatever wrong Huoshi has done, it was for the clan with good intention. Why don’t you, Clan Master, be more lenient this time and allow him a chance to redeem himself? Liuyan, you are at fault, too. So, you followed him.”
An old voice came from afar as a beam of colorful divine light flashed across the sky and stopped in midair. As it was gushing with a rainbow, it was hard to make out what was within. But judging by how substantial his energy was, this person should be more powerful than the other two.
Just when Liuyan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, she glanced at Huoshi, bit her lips, and nodded her agreement.
“You must accomplish the mission this time, Huoshi. Otherwise, someone shall replace you as the young clan master,” said Huo Zhenren after a while of silence.
Huoshi shuddered, his face turning pale. This familiar yet strange figure always meant what he said, and Huoshi had never doubted it.
“I will not let you down,” said Huoshi respectfully.
He felt sad for himself. Because of his identity, he was prestigious and a bright star in the eyes of others. In reality, he was tired of such a life. He had to be always on his guard, he dared not relax for even one moment.
Someone had long been eyeing the position of the young clan master. He could not make a mistake. Otherwise, he would fall from his prominent position and never recover again.
“My younger brother, issue an arrest warrant. Wutian has betrayed our clan, stolen the secret book, and killed our men. He is heinous and lacking in conscience. Whoever could furnish the information of his whereabouts will be rewarded five hundred Essence elixirs. Whoever captures him alive will get five thousand Essence elixirs. As for the grieving souls here, they are at your disposal. Don’t leave behind any evidence.”
After saying this, Huo Zhenren left in a trail of fire.
“Be careful, Liuyan.” The old voice came from inside the rainbow. Then it rose and disappeared into the sky.
Others faded in streams of light and left, leaving behind the golden-armored man, Huoshi and Liuyan.
“I am seeing such resentful, grieving souls for the first time. Looks like I can test my newly acquired plaything on them.” The golden-armored man waved his hand. A glow appeared on his brow, then a shadow shot out and stopped in midair.
It was a black flag the size of a palm. There were many complicated engraved characters on it. They looked like swimming tadpoles with a cold, ghastly vibe, extremely horrifying.