At the very front, the Swordmaster City delegation, Qivius, stood close to Lester. His chin lifted a fraction higher than courtesy allowed, a triumph tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Jared! Drag yourself out here now!” Lester roared. “If anything bad happens to Kael, the Sword Sect will be doomed!”
The massive gate groaned open. Jared stepped through at an unhurried pace, Corin, Flaxseed, and Lyra fanning out behind him.
A slim rank of Sword Sect disciples followed, heads high, eyes blazing with the eerie calm of people who had already promised their lives to a cause.
They were hopelessly outnumbered, yet they wore the same expression, unyielding, fearless, prepared to die before surrendering so much as a breath.
“Where is Kael?” Lester demanded, each word bitten off like steel striking flint. His glare locked on Jared, murderous intent gathering so thick in his eyes It seemed to darken the sunlight itself.
“His cultivation is gone. I tossed outside the city.” Jared’s answer was delivered in a level tone, the words dropping into the silence like cold iron. Lester exploded, his roar splitting the air. “You’ve got a death wish, boy!”
Rage convulsed through Lester’s broad frame. Power from an eighth-tier Earthly Immortal surged out of like a tidal wave, making the flagstones moan underfoot. “My son’s arms were severed. His cultivation is ruined! And you dare stand here swaggering in front of me!”
“He deserved it…” Jared met Lester’s murderous glare without the slightest tremor.
“Had Master Morden not spoken, your precious son would be a corpse. Remember this, Lester. This is Swordmaster City, Ararat‘s domain. Sacred Sword Manor holds no authority here, and neither do you.”
With Ararat supporting him, Jared felt no need to retreat. He was not afraid even if Lester had gathered many sects.
Lester’s face twitched, uncertainty flashing before fury reclaimed it. “Don’t think throwing Mr. Goizeder’s name around will frighten me! Even if he arrived this very moment, you would still pay in blood.”
He pivoted toward Qivius. “Mr. Massey! Jared has maimed people inside Swordmaster City’s walls. Are we not bound to punish according to City law?!”
Qivius cleared his throat and stepped forward, robes swishing. “Jared, you have provoked multiple clashes within the city and gravely injured Scared Sword Manor’s young master. That alone violates the laws… If you acknowledge your first offense, destroy your cultivation, and surrender the Sword Sect, I may plead for leniency and spare your life…”
The words sounded righteous, but the bias bled through every word.
Jared’s brows knit in momentary confusion. He had not expected Qivius’ stance to flip so quickly. During the earlier fight, Qivius had used his status to restrain Lester from attacking. Now, was siding with Lester.
It took no sage to guess the reason. Whatever bribe the Windham family offered must have been large enough to smother any hint of conscience.
Flaxseed burst into wheezing laughter. “Qivius, did the Windham family bribe you? Kael marched in here, spoiling for a fight. He even tried to drug Ms. Lyra with aphrodisiac powder, and somehow you twist that into Jared‘s fault?”
Qivius’ expression darkened. “Mind your tongue! I have always acted fairly!”
Jared snorted. “Fair?”
“Scared Sword Manor slipped you a trinket, didn’t they?” Jared drawled, a cold, disbelieving laugh curling off his tongue. His eyes swept over Qivius, as if to see through him.
A faint tremor crossed inius’s face. He had indeed accepted Sacred Sword Manor’s gift. It was a valuable magic sword. He would not side with Lester without the gift.
Other sect leaders had likewise tasted Scared Sword Manor’s generosity, their ready swords bought and paid for with favors etched in steel.
This was the survival of the fittest. People would not do something without any benefit. The sect leaders were not close to Jared. Since the Sacred Sword Manor bribed them, they were willing to accept.
“Utter nonsense!” Qivius barked, trying to harden a wobbling spine. “Seize this arrogant wretch at once!”
At his order, cultivators surged in like dark tidewater, weapons flashing with restless spiritual light, the air suddenly thick with the reek of intent to kill.
Corin slid into place before Jared, cloak snapping back as his sword cleared its sheath. “If you want him, you step over my corpse first!”
