Chapter 56 Betray Your Master or Save Your Son—Choose

Chapter 56 Betraying Your Master or Saving Your Son, You Choose...

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The few men charging forward abruptly halted, their eyes wide as they stared fixedly at the Abyss Fish sword in his hand.

Yuan Xiao was also puzzled. At most, he was only at the Golden Core stage of cultivation—could his intimidating presence really be this strong?

Little did he know, it wasn't him they feared, but the sword in his hand.

Who didn’t know that the Abyss Fish was the bonded sword of the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord?

This sword was sentient; aside from the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord, no one could wield it—not even Yuan Qichen, whose cultivation was on par with the Immortal Lord's. Yet this youth before them held it effortlessly.

A life-bound magical artifact could only be inherited by someone of the same bloodline. In other words, this youth who called Yuan Qichen "Father" was actually...

The son of the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord.

More precisely, he was the son of the Demon Lord Yuan Qichen and the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord.

A collective gasp—

Those who realized this drew a sharp breath, feeling as if they were in a dream. Some even wondered if they had stumbled into some unknown, bizarre illusion.

How did these two end up together?

Weren't they sworn enemies with a blood feud? Weren’t they rivals who had been locked in pursuit of each other for over a hundred years?

And yet, they actually had a son? And he was already this old!

Was this right?

How was this even possible?!

No one doubted the father-son relationship between the youth and Yuan Qichen—they looked far too alike.

Ever since Yuan Xiao stepped into the formation meticulously prepared for him by Sheng Yiming, the face-changing talisman had lost its effect. Aside from the three individuals who were fully aware of his identity, only elders like Nie Zhangdong had seen him before.

No wonder... No wonder, when the Young Master of the Demon Realm came seeking trouble and was captured that time, Yuan Qichen, failing to rescue him, claimed that he was Que Zizhen’s son.

They had all thought it was a deliberately provocative joke, but it turned out to be the plain truth!

Nie Zhangdong nearly choked with rage, just like Senior Brother Xuan Heng had back then.

Over a hundred years ago, when they were still young, Que Zizhen, being aloof and socially awkward, might have been easily deceived by a cunning demon like Yuan Qichen—that much was understandable.

But the youth who drew the Abyss Fish was only around thirteen or fourteen years old, which coincided with the period when Yuan Qichen’s relationship with the various righteous sects was at its most tense. No matter how Nie Zhangdong racked his brain, he couldn’t figure out how the two had managed to conduct their liaison in secret.

"Yuan Qichen has always been cunning. Zizhen must have been bewitched by his demonic arts, leading to this catastrophe," Nie Zhangdong said, his face flushed with anger, his voice trembling. "Zizhen, quickly recall the Abyss Fish!"

Not only the elders of the Tian Shu Palace, who had watched Que Zizhen grow up, but even the members of the various righteous sects were equally bewildered.

Nie Zhangdong claimed Que Zizhen had been bewitched by Yuan Qichen, but Yuan Qichen was already at death's door—hardly in a state to maintain any bewitching arts.

Moreover, from the moment Que Zizhen rushed into the forbidden land without regard for his own safety to guide the youth’s Golden Core formation, to just now when he immediately supported the weakened Yuan Qichen, it didn’t seem at all like he was being coerced.

The sect leader of the Carefree Heavenly Sect, who had always been on good terms with Pei Tianhe, looked at his old friend with sympathy, as if on the verge of saying, "You have my sympathies."

Yet Pei Tianhe was calmer than expected. He walked through the path the crowd had unconsciously cleared and slowly approached the three of them.

"Zizhen, sheathe your sword."

Que Zizhen lowered his head, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

Yuan Xiao was his biological son, and though Yuan Qichen had no formal spousal recognition, they had shared an intimate relationship. Pei Tianhe wasn’t just asking him to sheathe his sword—he was asking him to step back and expose his partner to danger.

"Sheng Yiming committed the first offense and brought this upon himself. I can overlook that. Although the library pavilion has sunk to the bottom of the lake, the Record Books can still be retrieved. As your master, I do not seek his life. I only ask that he answer for his crimes at the Punishment Hall and return the Huangting Heart-Protecting Mirror."

With the interests of the Tian Shu Palace at stake, Pei Tianhe had already made the greatest concession. Seeing Que Zizhen remaining unmoved, he lowered his voice and commanded, "Que Zizhen, sheathe your sword!"

Que Zizhen stiffened.

"You old fool, don't even think about it!"

After cursing, Yuan Qichen coughed several times, too weakened to maintain his fury.

Taking away the Huangting Heart-Protecting Mirror was no different from taking Yuan Xiao’s life.

The demonic patterns spreading to his neck mingled with blood, creating an eerily mesmerizing sight. He sneered, gripping Que Zizhen’s collar tightly. "Betraying your master or saving your son—which will you choose?"

Yuan Qichen thought it over and felt only exasperation.

He was the one who taught him to develop human emotions, to feel love—so how could he not choose him now?

Yuan Xiao snapped his head around.

What saving his son? What did that mean?

His mind, just cleared, went completely blank, and for a moment, he forgot how to think.

The adults had no attention to spare for him.

With that simple statement, Yuan Qichen acknowledged the relationship between his son and Que Zizhen, his gaze burning as he demanded an answer.

Pei Tianhe had made every concession he could and was also waiting for Que Zizhen’s answer.

Que Zizhen remained silent.

The debt of honor owed to his master and sect, the blood ties, and the love he cherished—anyone would find it difficult to choose.

Either be disloyal or be unfilial.

After what felt like an eternity, Que Zizhen gently laid Yuan Qichen down, pulled the dazed Yuan Xiao behind him, but never once sheathed his sword.

"Master," Que Zizhen advanced and knelt. "Your disciple is unfilial. I am willing to accept punishment in A-Chen’s stead."

Pei Tianhe choked out, "You—"

The surprise in Yuan Qichen’s eyes turned to horror in an instant. He glared furiously. "Que Zizhen!"

Thinking his master hadn’t heard clearly, Que Zizhen repeated, "Your disciple is unfilial. I am willing to accept punishment in A-Chen’s stead."

"Very well."

Pei Tianhe was furious, gritting his teeth as he bit out the words, "Twenty Soul-Scattering Lashes—are you truly willing to endure them?"

The reputation of the Punishment Hall’s Soul-Scattering Whip was notorious, even eclipsing the renown of the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord himself.

"Ten strikes of the Soul-Scattering Whip are enough to take an ordinary person's life; twenty strikes, even if he is at the Great Perfection Stage, he might not survive." Sect Leader Baili of the Carefree Heavenly Sect was astonished that Pei Tianhe would be so ruthless to his treasured disciple.

Ji Jianping felt a chill and disagreed, "Master Pei is impartial, but the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord is truly foolish. If he had sheathed his sword and slain Yuan Qichen to prove his innocence, wouldn’t everyone have been satisfied?"

Given Pei Tianhe's prestige and Que Zizhen's strength, no one would dare openly criticize them.

Sect Leader Baili shot a sidelong glance and asked curiously, "Would Sect Leader Ji be willing to slay his own wife and child?"

Ji Jianping froze, then flushed red. "That's not the same thing at all!"

In Que Zizhen's view, it was the same thing.

He bowed and said, "I accept the punishment. But the Huangting Heart-Protecting Mirror is what keeps Yuan Xiao alive. I beg your forgiveness, but I cannot return it."

Pei Tianhe angrily snapped his sleeve and raised his voice, "Nie Zhangdong, go to the Disciplinary Court and fetch the Soul-Scattering Whip!"

"Sect Leader, are you really going to..."

"Fetch it!"

Nie Zhangdong had no choice but to turn and leave.

Yuan Qichen was also angry, furious that even in such a situation, Que Zizhen still sought to preserve his loyalty to the sect.

Hadn't he had enough of the Soul-Scattering Whip over a hundred years ago?!

He made a request that made everyone's jaws drop.

"I am willing to take ten more lashes, and I beg the Master to conduct a soul search on Little Martial Uncle."

Supported by Yuan Xiao, Yuan Qichen stood up, the anger in his eyes fading, replaced by a complicated helplessness.

In Que Zizhen's eyes, the truth was more important than anything.

And when it came to Yuan Qichen, uncovering the truth had become an obsession.

Pei Tianhe finally looked back at him.

They had arrived at the same time, both learning of Sheng Yiming's death simultaneously, yet Que Zizhen resolutely proposed a soul search, as if convinced there was more to the story.

If that was the case, so be it.

"Sect Leader Baili, I trouble you to bear witness."

Given the recent incident with Young Miss Yu, Que Zizhen's request for a soul search wasn't as hard to swallow.

Moreover, Sheng Yiming had just died, his soul still lingering nearby, yet he would not feel the pain of the soul search, making it the perfect time to proceed.

Baili agreed without hesitation.

The result of the soul search was astonishing. The Huangting Heart-Protecting Mirror had been integrated into the Mountain Protection Formation by Sheng Yiming of his own accord. Although Yuan Qichen had intended to kill him, he had not actually caused his death.

After Yuan Qichen left, Sheng Yiming had strangled himself to death.

Everyone was speechless.

The move was too ruthless. If Que Zizhen had not had the nerve to suggest the soul search, who would have thought that someone could actually strangle themselves to death?

Nie Zhangdong hadn't expected it either.

Holding the Soul-Scattering Whip, he stood frozen, unsure whether to hand it over.

Que Zizhen, still kneeling straight, did not forget and reminded, "Please administer the punishment, Master."

The Soul-Scattering Whip was once again placed in Pei Tianhe's hand.

Throughout the three continents and four realms, everyone showed him respect, yet he could not bring himself to say, "Forget it, let's stop."

Pei Tianhe ran his fingers over the whip handle, his voice strained. "I said twenty lashes, so it will be twenty lashes."

With the first strike, Que Zizhen didn't make a sound. His black robes concealed the blood, hiding the wounds. The familiar scene reminded Yuan Qichen inevitably of the young man in white he had seen in the illusion.

Just as stubborn.

But back then, Que Zizhen had already reached the Great Perfection Stage. Now, Que Zizhen was only at the Refining Void stage—how could he withstand twenty lashes of the Soul-Scattering Whip?

"Father..."

Yuan Xiao's wrist was bruised from how hard he was gripping it.

Yuan Qichen stared intently as Pei Tianhe carried out the punishment. Memories overlapped, and he felt tears welling up.

After ten lashes, Que Zizhen had not yet collapsed, but he was barely human anymore, his face frighteningly pale, swaying dangerously in the wind.

"Enough!" Yuan Qichen could no longer hold back and shouted, "You old bastard, are you really going to beat him to death?"

He took two steps forward but saw Que Zizhen shake his head at him.

Damn it!

Pei Tianhe tightened his grip on the whip and raised it again.

Eleven, twelve.

Yuan Qichen's tears finally fell.

Thirteen, fourteen.

"Que Zizhen, make him stop! Any more and he'll really die!" he cried out.

Fifteen, sixteen.

Que Zizhen was shaking uncontrollably.

Seventeen, eighteen.

Que Zizhen crumpled in agony but struggled to rise again.

Nineteen.

Yuan Qichen burst out cursing.

"Que Zizhen, you bastard! You weren't there when I was being hunted down, you weren't there when I almost died giving birth, and now you're trying to be a hero? If you die, who will I get even with?"

As the final lash fell, Yuan Qichen let go of Yuan Xiao and sprinted to his side, managing to keep the fool from collapsing to the ground.

The two leaned against each other, blood staining their clothes.

Seeing the tear stains on his face, Que Zizhen wanted to raise his hand to wipe them away but lacked the strength, and could only manage a strained smile as he said, "Don't cry."

Yuan Qichen gritted his teeth. "You're the one crying."

Que Zizhen simply smiled.

He said, "Finally, I chose you without looking back."

With that, he rested his chin on Yuan Qichen's shoulder and passed out completely.

Yuan Qichen stared blankly, lost in thought.

The cost of making that choice was far too high.

"Old fool," he raised his eyes, his gaze sharp. "I'm taking Que Zizhen with me. From now on, he's done with Tianshu Palace."

Pei Tianhe frowned, his expression equally stern. "You don't get to decide for Zizhen."

"Wasn't twenty lashes enough to sever his ties? I say it is, so it is!" Yuan Qichen said in a tone that brooked no argument.

As if to confirm his words, Xi Yue and the Sixteen Generals of the Four Directions made a graceful entrance, forming a semi-circle behind them.

As always, Xi Yue ignored advice and insisted on doing things her way, leading the demon generals in a respectful bow. "The Sixteen Generals of the Four Directions have come to welcome you. We request our honored leader and young master to return to the demon realm."

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Author's note: The premise has come full circle. [Owl]