Chapter 21: The Bonds Between Master and Disciple Dissolve Like Smoke and Clouds!
Page (1/3)
“I know Master has always needed this, so I secretly infiltrated to find it for you. From now on... Zhai Zhe, you and I are no longer connected. Cough, cough, cough!... Cough, cough!”
Shi Murong handed the Heavenly Scar Dragon Flame to Zhai Zhe, her eyes filled with both admiration and disappointment for her master. Those lively eyes were so sorrowful here, stirring unease in one’s heart.
After uttering those final words, the tenderness in Shi Murong’s eyes gradually turned icy cold, as if the palm strike just now had completely severed the emotions she had held for so many years.
It utterly cut off all ties with the other party.
Zhai Zhe’s pupils contracted sharply. No! It shouldn’t be like this!
Watching Shi Murong cough up fresh blood in great gasps after speaking, Zhai Zhe’s eyelashes trembled in fright, and the hand holding the Heavenly Scar Dragon Flame began to shake uncontrollably!
“Heavenly Scar Dragon Flame... it really is the Heavenly Scar Dragon Flame!”
To fully master the legacy of the Ancient King, Zhai Zhe had been relentlessly searching for traces of the Heavenly Scar Dragon Flame.
In the end, he only knew it survived within the demonic path but could never obtain it.
Yi Xing was his greatest rival; even if Yi Xing didn’t use it, the righteous path wouldn’t get hold of it either. How could it possibly be given to the enemy?
Yet now, his once-favorite and now most despised disciple had personally brought it to him!
Zhai Zhe’s heart was a tangle of emotions, and suddenly he understood.
“They all said you betrayed the sect, but it turns out you did it for your master...”
How brutal Yi Xing was, Zhai Zhe dared not imagine. For Shi Murong to obtain these things, how much humiliation and endurance it must have cost!
His most despised junior disciple had always cared for him, forsaken by everyone else, all for their master!
Shi Murong said nothing, silently watching Zhai Zhe’s mind conjure images, her pale face violently coughing blood, moments away from death.
“No, you won’t die. You have so many magical treasures; you absolutely won’t die.”
“You’ve also taken the divine medicine; you definitely won’t die.”
“When you survive, we will share the power of the divine medicine, and I’ll have greater confidence in reshaping your root constitution!”
“That’s right! I absolutely won’t let you die!”
As Zhai Zhe spoke while tending to Shi Murong’s wounds, his words made her want to slap him away!
Truly worthy of being the beloved master of a feel-good story—though he aroused pity and affection, he still wanted the divine medicine’s power. Was that not asking Shi Murong to bleed for him?
He cared for his disciple, but he cared more for himself.
Wasn’t Jiang Wanwan, out of favoritism, always using Shi Murong as a stepping stone to soar to greater heights?
Little did she know, one day she would be bitten back, her carefully plotted affection turning against her!
Zhai Zhe didn’t notice the murderous intent lurking in Shi Murong’s eyes as he frantically tried to save her.
He fed her many high-quality pills, hoping to save her.
Yet all was in vain.
Shi Murong’s coughing worsened, to the point she could no longer speak.
Page (2/3)
Seeing the once radiant figure reduced to this, many felt a complex mixture of emotions deep in their hearts.
Could it be that they had all misunderstood? That Shi Murong had acted all along for the good of the sect leader?
No one noticed that the demonic path was stirring restlessly at this very moment.
After confirming there was no hope, Zhai Zhe silently embraced Shi Murong and stood, preparing to return to the main peak.
Madness flickered in his eyes.
Faintly, Shi Murong heard Zhai Zhe’s sickly voice: “Disciple, since I cannot save you, then sacrifice yourself for the sect and become one with it.”
“You are in me, and I am in you; this will be your final contribution to the sect.”
Zhai Zhe knew he shouldn’t think this way, but that was divine medicine!
Would it not be a pity to waste it on someone dying?
At worst, he would avenge Shi Murong.
“Whoosh!”
In an instant, Shi Murong suddenly teleported out of Zhai Zhe’s embrace. Zhai Zhe’s lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes cold and fierce: “I knew you were faking it! Prepare to die!”
He didn’t trust Shi Murong at all. To prevent a sudden attack, Zhai Zhe had already prepared defenses in secret.
With a grand wave, he swung his spiritual sword toward the area still imbued with Shi Murong’s aura!
However, when he saw the scene before him clearly, his pupils shrank abruptly, and it was too late to stop!
No! How could this be!
In the eyes of the Heavenly Dao Sect’s members, a single feather had just pierced through the great formation guarding the sect, attacking Zhai Zhe’s back with strange power!
At the last moment, Shi Murong had somehow summoned power to destroy a teleportation artifact and block the attack meant for Zhai Zhe!
“Shhhk!”
“Murong!!!”
Mo Zichuan and Shangguan Yun shouted in unison, eyes wide with shock!
Zhai Zhe felt the emptiness of his embrace and looked down to see Shi Murong, pierced through the heart by that feather.
This was no ordinary feather! It was a spiritual arrow blade crafted from feathers!
The power on it rivaled that of a Divine Spirit, and residual traces of demonic energy lingered.
Had the sneak attack struck Zhai Zhe, he would have been either dead or crippled!
Yet Shi Murong not only bore the arrow’s strike but was also severed by Zhai Zhe’s sword!
This time, it felt as if her soul had been utterly annihilated!
“No!!!”
Zhai Zhe shouted; the situation was entirely different from his expectations.
Page (3/3)
He had prepared for an ambush, and even if suddenly attacked, he wouldn’t have been injured. But his vigilance was against Shi Murong.
He never expected someone to attack with power strong enough to break through the great formation’s barrier!
He had judged others with a petty mind, suspecting good intentions.
Looking at the sword blade embedded in his body, Shi Murong pulled the corner of her mouth into a mocking smile.
It was as if to say to Zhai Zhe, “Look, this is your trust in me.”
Nothing more than this.
Zhai Zhe was deeply provoked by her gaze; his eyes reddened, lips trembling, but no words came out.
He could not speak, but Shi Murong had something to say.
“In this life and the next, the karma between master and disciple is resolved. From now on, we are enemies.”
“I hate you all.”
Shi Murong spoke silently, her voice unheard, but Zhai Zhe understood her meaning.
No! This was the disciple he had raised since childhood!
He panicked, reaching out to grab Shi Murong, but caught only empty air.
Shi Murong’s figure smiled bitterly, then dissipated like smoke before the eyes of the Heavenly Dao Sect’s members!
Originally... she might have still clung to life for a while longer!
But the secondary harm inflicted by Zhai Zhe left her no chance of revival!
“Master! Why! Why did you attack again?”
Mo Zichuan could no longer hold back; the woman he adored vanished before his eyes, and it was his most beloved master who dealt the blow!
Though Zhai Zhe’s heart ached, hearing his disciple’s accusation, he frowned displeased. The authority of the sect leader would never allow him to admit any fault.
He could not be wrong; if anyone was to blame, it was Shi Murong!
“Silence!”
“Shi Murong is a heinous criminal; her death is deserved. Not subjecting her to harsher punishment is already leniency!”
Wrong? He was the youngest sect leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect—how could he be wrong?
From afar within the demonic path, Shen Beijia cast a sinister smile.
“She truly never disappoints.”