Chapter 2

As the lifeless body fell to the ground with a thud, Yunzheng stared at it while he flicked his sword. The blood spattered around but not even a drop of it could be seen on his clothes. With a melancholic sigh coming out of his mouth, he took out a handkerchief from his pocket waist and stroked the blade.

"What a merciless man." 

A sarcastic tone appeared from all directions, making it harder for anyone to pinpoint the source. When he heard that voice, Yunzheng snorted. One of his eyebrows raised and he tightened the grip on his sword. At the same time, he guided his energy within and his vigilance raised. 

"Spare me the villain mockery," he spoke, glancing behind him even though it was an empty place, "It's such a cringe line that my ears couldn't bear to hear it."

Out of thin air, a figure materialized and he stared at Yunzheng in silence. He wore black garments equipped with leather armor that covered all of his vital parts. With a black scarf which hid half of his face and a pair of short swords hanging at his back waist, he took a single step forward. 

"Rubbish talk, as usual, but I'll get straight to the point. You know why I'm here, don't you, Crimson Tempest?" Pulling out the short swords in a reverse grip, the man continued, "The most dangerous traitor got betrayed. What do you think will happen to the betrayer?"

In the next moment, a thundering eruption sounded from afar. The faint brush of wind that traveled to his way was coming from the direction of the encampment and confirmed what he had in mind. In response to the man's words, he forced a smile. His eyes narrowed, and he dropped his shoulders. 

"I know that The Heavenly Society was never a group that's as righteous as their reputation claimed it to be. So don't spit your righteous nonsense to me. It's nauseating."

Shaking his head, the man replied, "Just like what you've done to the Usurper, Zhou Ye, it has to be done."

"Yes, it has to be done…" Without bothering to hide his hostilities anymore, Yunzheng pointed his sword at his counterpart, "Killing all of you, that is."

After his sentence fell, ten more figures materialized from thin air. They all dressed in the same garment and dashed side by side with the previous man. Ready to receive their joined attack, his step crossed dozens of meters before arriving at one of them on the far left. The enemy held a spear and with that in mind, Yunzheng tried to close the gap as much as possible to make his foe unable to react with his sword. 

"Be careful! His sword, the Western Resurgence, is a spiritual weapon!"

The cry came too late for Yunzheng had already slashed at the man more than six times in a heartbeat. Still, his skilled opponent was able to parry half of the strikes with the pole part of his spear. As for the following strikes managed to cut off one of his fingers, the area that was near the tendon on his feet, and a long line of blood at the right side of his neck. 

Another rushed behind Yunzheng, trying to attack Yunzheng's defenseless back. Though the invisible barrier was erected the second Yunzheng's instinct felt the slightest danger, his foe succeeded in tearing apart such basic defensive measures while a large amount of energy was collected at the tip of his weapon. 

Yet, before his thrust could connect to his target's flesh and bone, scarlet light enveloped his vision. Before he knew it, he felt the sensation of weightlessness as everything around him spun nonstop. In that split second, he saw his familiar body rooted straight with a headless neck and a flying sword which faced his colleagues at unprecedented speed. 

Seeing the now unarmed Yunzheng, two more opponents lunged together while the rest were either encircling the area to not give a chance for their target to escape or dealing with the sentient weapon. 

Whilst fighting against the pair of masters who would hold the title of elder in their respective sect, Yunzheng made a stance and raised both of his fists. With just his hands, he parried the precise swings at his body as he faintly heard the ringing of a bell from a very far away place. 

' "Hey… Yun Zheng…" ' 

In his trance, he felt so calm while a vivid image of a balcony that over viewed the entire city at night flashed in his head. There stood a robust man who had a short white beard and white hair, despite his youthful face. Beside the man was Zhou Ye and another familiar figure he hadn't seen for a long time. When the white-haired man grinned, Yunzheng could feel the nostalgia of confidence.

' "Our God's Slaying sect, would be the greatest amongst all! With comrades and friends, like all of you that are not inferior to any sect's head, we would be able to finally achieve our shared dreams… together!" ' 

The white-haired man's firm words haven't once failed to reassure him and how Yunzheng missed it so much. And as he recalled those long-lost moments, another memory slithered into his mind.

' "Is it really fine for you to be here…?" '

Despite the worrying tone she uttered, a woman in an emerald dress was tiptoeing and coiled her arms around his neck. As her fragrant breath brushed his left ear, she whispered in a soft voice. 

' "It pains me to share you, who has already been engaged with Zhou Ye's sister, Yun Zheng. Tonight, at this very moment, could you help me forget this pain…?" ' 

A teardrop rolled on her cheek and when he saw that, an unbearable ache assaulted his chest, making him unable to breathe. Right when he was about to indulge in this reverie for a little longer, a stuttered shriek snapped him out of it. 

"M-Monster!!"

His irises focused, and he realized that there were scattered bodies of those masters. Some of them were cut into several parts, another had their chest and face sunk, and the rest were beheaded. 

The only one left that looked at him with a horrified gaze was none other than the first man who approached Yunzheng in the beginning. 

Yet, his state was far from being healthy, for the man was clutching to his severed arm and blood soaked his clothes. Staring at his opponent, who had lost the will to fight, Yunzheng sighed before he said. 

"Although The Heavenly Society is conceited, they aren't fools. You think your masters thought that me, the man who assassinated One of the High Emperors and Zhou Ye, the Pale Banshee, would be killed by weaklings like you?" 

Turning his head to the sky, he infused his voice before he said with gritted teeth, "Isn't that right?! Council of Heavenly Society?!!"

"As expected of master Yun. You could notice us this fast."

A reply came out and this time, five people were materialized whilst they stood high above, looking down on both the pawn they had sent and Yunzheng who displayed a sneer on his face. Meanwhile, the one in the middle of the five, who looked like he was in his middle forties, flashed a gentle smile and continued his previous speech. 

"The legacy of the founder of God's Slaying sect, have you already destroyed it?" 

"It has already been done," still maintaining his sneer, Yunzheng commented sarcastically, "Why? You regret not getting it for yourself?"

"How absurd!" One of the five chimed in as the old woman narrowed her eyes at Yunzheng. Without waiting for Yunzheng's answer, she resumed, "You think we would either care or touch vile cultivation from an evil sect like yours! Do not belittle us!"

"Let's get this done with," another said with impatience. His azure eyes glanced at the person in the middle and commented, "All of us shouldn't be here in the first place. This would stain our name if it's known." 

"I know," after finishing his words, blinding light flashed on the hand of the man in the middle and others followed. With all of them descending to the ground, the man said, "Do not resist us, Yun Zheng. All of us are as strong as you."

"And let myself be killed without any resistance?" Chuckled Yunzheng before he unleashed a torrent of energy from his figure and uttered a single word, "Come."

"How futile…" remarked one of the five who dressed like a monk. A moment later, five massive energies and aura alike burst forth. Collapsing upon Yunzheng's body before he felt his very bones and flesh being pressured and grinded. As if he was entrapped within a very thick swamp, where he was barely able to move. 

Still, he rushed forward as he let out a roar. His speed and movement were much more sluggish and slow, incomparable to what he had displayed. Watching his struggling behavior, some of the five snickered while the man who acted as the leader of the group rushed on their behalf, the rest made hand signs which would conjure techniques that would bind Yunzheng's movements further. 

"In this Divine Palace of Five Stars formation, you couldn't win." 

Stating those words with an emotionless face, the man blocked every blow from Yunzheng in ease before he slashed at Yunzheng's right hand. The scarlet sword leaped into the air and was about to pounce at the man who hurt its master. Before it could, however, three flying weapons, a halberd, a dagger, and a saber, blocked the sword's path and entangled with it in the air. 

A sword plunged into Yunzheng's chest until it came out of the latter's back. As a stream of blood flowed out from Yunzheng's mouth, the man whispered.

"At least, now you have satisfied your vengeance and will be able to pass on peacefully."

When he heard that, rage rushed to Yunzheng's head and made him cough out a mouthful of blood. His wrathful eyes stared daggers at his counterpart before he uttered with gritted teeth, "Vengeance? You think I would begrudge my junior, Zhou Ye, all this time?! He just has different goals in the middle of our journey and I won't hold him accountable for what has happened."

Listening to Yunzheng's genuine anger, he became silent before he tilted his head. Subconsciously, he mumbled out loud, "...Then why?"

"Why did you betray him and agreed to our request? Why would you do such a thing to your best friend?"

Coughing out a few more times, strength was leaving him and made Yunzheng fall to his knees. With a grin, he used everything he had to lift his chin, staring right into the man's eyes and said, "If you want... to know it so bad… Go follow me in hell, you bastard…"

A displeasure flickered within the man's gaze before he twisted the handle of his sword and began to pull it out slowly. Suppressing the urge to scream out loud, Yunzheng's anger faded and was replaced with emptiness and tiredness. 

While his sight became blurry and the world became muffled, he sent a brief glance to a specific person of the five. Laughing in a despondent manner, he spoke out with his last breath, "Soon… It will be… Your turn…"

With the darkness enveloped his vision and he lost the rest of his senses, an image of the past came back to him once more. The scene of Zhou Ye standing in front of a grave with tears streaming down from his eyes, accompanied by the downpours around them, Zhou Ye gazed at Yunzheng's direction and the latter felt his heart skip a beat when he heard the cracking voice. 

' "Yun Zheng… Are you… Going to hate me as well…?" '

Noticing Zhou Ye's trembling fists and shoulders, words stuck on Yunzheng's throat while he felt he tried to not fall in despair. In a weak attempt to make a smile, he heard his own reply.

' "No, Zhou Ye… I won't hate you...'" ' 

Right after, Zhou Ye dashed to Yunzheng and hugged the latter so tight. Sobbing noises ensued and Yunzheng was rooted in the spot, gazing at the clouded, bleak sky as he felt the world dimmed. 

The scenery changed, and this time, he found himself staring at the unbelievable view with wide eyes. A bloody pool formed on the floor and a woman in an emerald dress was lying there, without the faintest breath coming out of her nose. In front of the corpse was another woman, who he shared a bed with this morning. His fiancee stood there with a bloodied saber on her hand and said with a soft voice. 

' "She claimed that she is the love of your life and I shouldn't have tied you down when you didn't even love me…" ' 

Turning her head to face him, her bloodshot eyes welled with tears, a contrast to the wide grin she showed to him. 

' "Hey… Isn't what she said weird, dear?" '

The world shattered and the previous darkness filled his vision once more. At the same time, an old man's voice rang inside of his head.

' "Mistakes are there for us to learn and to not repeat them. They are our best experiences and our fond memories." ' 

'Teacher…' 

That thought came to him and uncontrollable regret flooded within. With a despairing, choked voice in his head, he mused, 'Teacher… I couldn't learn from my mistakes… I'm not like you…' 

Soon, his consciousness felt sluggish and his mind muddled. Whilst he felt the cold, endless void that embraced his whole being, he let go and fell into a long, long slumber.