“Qivius, that brat murdered my disciple, are you truly going to shield him?!” Lester roared. “Shield him?” Qivius stroked his beard, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. “Several thousand pairs of eyes witnessed the truth. Jayson conceded, then tried to strike from behind. Jared countered to preserve his own life. In law and in reason, is blameless. It is you, Mr. Lester, who now seeks public vengeance in defiance of Swordmaster City‘s rules.”
Around the edge of the dueling stage, every grand master and elder present found his voice at once, their robes snapping in the mountain wind as they rushed to agree with the verdict.
“Mr. Massey is right. Jayson lost the match and still dared to scheme. He deserves far worse than death.”
“Sacred Sword Manor prides itself on honor, yet It produced so base a cur!”
“Mr. Lester, if you use force today, you pit yourself against every cultivator under heaven.”
The tide of condemnation washed straight toward Lester. Under the weight of so many scorn-filled eyes, and the invisible fingers pointing at his spine, his aging face flushed a violent crimson, as though someone had dashed fresh blood across his cheeks.
“S-So that is the will of the cultivators of the world, is it?” Lester whirled on Jared, his glare cold and venomous, the way a serpent fixes on its prey.
“You wretched b*stard, remember this. For the humiliation you dealt me today, Sacred Sword Manor will repay you a hundredfold! Sword Sect may shield you now, but let us see if they can guard you for life!”
Jared straightened, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and let the Dragonslayer Sword tremble in his fist. The sword’s low, iron hum swelled, sounding eerily like a caged dragon itching to break free.
“I live here in Swordmaster City…” said, his voice quiet yet carried to every corner of the square. “Sacred Sword Manor is welcome any time. But if you try another ambush, I promise, dismemberment will be the least of your worries.”
“You!” Lester shook so hard his robes rattled, yet under Qivius’ frosted stare, he forced the murderous intent back down his throat.
After one last, lingering glance at Jayson’s ruined body, flung a sleeve and barked at the disciples behind him, “Wrap up! We’re leaving!”
Disciples from Sacred Sword Manor scrambled forward, covering the corpse in white cloth before stumbling away beneath a forest of disgusted eyes.
Just as Lester’s silhouette slipped beyond the city gate, his hateful oath drifted back like a ghost on cold air. “Jared, Sword Sect, this is far from over…”
Only after the last of Sacred Sword Manor vanished did the tension in the arena ease. like a bowstring finally released.
Qivius studied Jared, respect and worry tangled in his gaze. “Do you realize that killing Jayson is the same as kicking a hornet’s nest?”
Jared clasped his fists. “I do… Yet when the way is righteous, even if ten thousand stand against me, I advance. If we tolerate back-stabbers, what sword force are we cultivating at all?”
“Well spoken-righteous indeed!” Qivius laughed, the sound bright as struck steel. “I did not misjudge you. Swordmaster City will stand witness to everything that happened. Should Sacred Sword Manor dare seek open revenge here, they answer to me first.”
He paused, then drew an emerald badge carved with sword runes. “This is a Protection Badge of Swordmaster City. With it, you may travel unimpeded through all seven big sword sects of level five. If Sacred Sword Manor causes trouble, raise this badge, and the big sects will aid you.”
The emerald badge felt warm in Jared’s palm, soft threads of spiritual energy pulsing beneath its surface. “Thank you, Mr. Massey…”
“Your wounds are deep. Go and mend them first.” Qivius clapped on the shoulder. “The championship of the Sword Championship is yours to lose…”
Corin hurried up and slid an arm under Jared. “Jared, I’ll see you to the infirmary.”
Lyra and Flaxseed pressed close, eyes shining red at the sight of Jared’s torn flesh and drying blood. A cluster of Sword Sect disciples surrounded them as they left the arena. Cultivators lining the path stepped aside, their gazes filled with wary awe.
A mere Wandering Immortal Realm Level Eight had severed an earthly Immortal expert, then slain Sacred Sword Manor’s brightest prodigy.
With that single, thunderous victory, Jared had shaken all of Swordmaster City to its core. Back in Sword Sect’s courtyard, Corin produced shimmering healing pills and personally bound Jared’s wounds.
