Chapter 369

Bao Tong laments that a retreat token in the three kings inheritance would let him move without retreating early. Li Qiang toasts Fang Yuan for killing Century Boy, now calling him a scum of the strength path, though he had talked closely with him moments before. Fang Yuan leaves his own cup down and tells Century Boy’s godchildren to get lost if they do not want to stay. The cave empties by half. Some remain and kneel: a godson calls Fang Yuan his savior from a father forced on him, a goddaughter begs to serve, and an old man in his seventies asks to call him godfather. ^{ch. 369}

Fang Yuan laughs at the flattery, then turns grim and scorns the bootlickers, saying he likes killing and crime and despises praise of kindness. He tells them to gather strength and take revenge if they wish. His beast phantom kills one on the spot, and the rest flee in a pathetic state. The remaining Gu Masters look unsightly, for Fang Yuan kills easily and makes Century Boy seem lovable by comparison. Only Bai Ning Bing, sitting on his left, stays tranquil. ^{ch. 369}

Li Qiang, cup still raised, forces a smile and urges killing the fleeing godchildren to pull out the roots, offering to do it himself since he has memorized their faces. Fang Yuan declines, keeping his reasons unspoken. He declares that on the demonic path he fears no revenge: if the whole world wants it, he will exterminate the world, and anyone who succeeds proves him too weak and deserving of death. The Gu Masters call him ruthless to others and even more ruthless to himself, and their hearts go cold. Having intimidated them, he proposes a drink and reveals many secrets of the three kings inheritance, while Li Xian wonders what he is after. ^{ch. 369}

The banquet in the cave Fang Yuan now occupies lasts over two hours, and the guests feel their trip was not in vain. Century Boy’s torn corpse lies on the ground, and no one glances at it. Demonic Gu Masters all more or less share the understanding that losers are always in the wrong. ^{ch. 369}

Rain falls on Tie Ruo Nan, several months after her companions fell, as she stares dazed at tombstones carved with the names Tie Mu, Tie Dao Ku, Tie Xian Hua, Tie Ao Kai and Tie Ba Xiu. She blames herself for living while they died, a rising star of the righteous path that Fang Yuan dropped into the abyss. Tie Xuan Zhi, head of Tie clan’s four old-timers, offers condolences. An aged voice behind him asks whether she is still like this after several months. The rank four upper stage Tie Xuan Zhi, sensing nothing, turns to attack, but a wizened hand on his shoulder tells him to compose himself, and a formidable force suppresses the primeval sea in his aperture until he cannot move. ^{ch. 369}

Seeing the old man, he blurts out old clan leader. It is Tie Mu Bai, the previous generation clan leader. Tie Mu Bai says he has abdicated and is no elder, so Xuan Zhi may call him Mu Bai. Tie Xuan Zhi bows deeply and refuses, but Tie Mu Bai answers that the name is meant to be used. Tie Mu Bai walks on to Tie Ruo Nan and tells her that Tie clansmen are buried where they die, since dying on the battlefield is their greatest honor. He lists Tie Ba Xiu, Tie Mu, Tie Dao Ku, Tie Xian Hua, Tie Ao Kai and her father Tie Xue Leng as the same, and says it will be so for him and for her. ^{ch. 369}