Chương 74: After All, I'm Just a...

"Just like we thought," the man said, his voice low and mellow.

"You're already corrupted… ah, the fallen king! What a lovely sight!" The moment Viper of the Roses' smile turned into a smirk, it began to drizzle. Huh? The sound of rain began to echo in Ren's ears. The drops touching his body instantly melted, steam curling in the air. This… The sound grew louder, the drizzle becoming a downpour. And an overwhelming presence— No. More than one overwhelming presence forced him to believe. The Viper hadn't acted alone, and others… were here. I'm an idiot… an arrogant idiot!

"You didn't believe me," a rough voice said, his figure appearing the next moment before the Tyrant. A hulking brute of a man, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Now you see who the fool is." Eldest of Insurgents. Ribbons danced like snakes beside him until they coalesced into a petite figure. A girl, looking no older than twelve, sneered.

"Hateful brute." Eldest of Puppeteers.

"Don't bully my baby, Man Hong," another voice chimed in. The splashed water from the stream moved into the air and gathered together into a mature woman with a full figure. She smiled gently, hugging the petite girl. Eldest of the Flowing Lineage.

"Ah, but it turned out he was right," said a young man simply materializing out of the empty air. He wore glasses with ruby frames.

"This gives him the right to mock and insult, in practice." Who is he? Ren didn't have time to search through the memories as the last but not least made his entrance. Rose petals swirled in the air, and Guan stepped out among them, his usual light smile already on his lips. Only he raised his head toward Ren, not sparing a glance at the Tyrant.

"You gave us quite a show, Brother Ren," he uttered, opening both hands.

"A pleasant one, for this coldblooded." Eldest of Roses and Serpents. Ren pulled his spear out of the melting figure beneath him. His figure blurred before he moved in front of Man Hong. They were almost at the same height, though Ren won in the vertical axis. As for horizontal… this man truly had a strange build. It's not important, he exhaled, then took a deep breath in the most dramatic sense he could. I need time."

Ahhh~" He looked down, first at the towel with obvious disdain, then at the man's pair of light orange ones. The hollowness in them was painful to watch. Man Hong frowned as though sensing Ren's pity, his lips twitching.

"I didn't expect the honor of seeing the Five Weirdos of the Human Realm together," Ren said, ignoring the reaction. His gaze shifted from one to the next.

"One worm was disgusting enough. Now, what bullshit immortal's sick games I'm indebted for you bastards to taint my eyes, I wonder?" The corner of his mouth curled up as he stood with his spear resting on his shoulder.

"You think you are still the same…" Man Hong opened his mouth, his fist rising, but he suddenly trailed off as the pair of crimson eyes snapped back to him. Ren was smiling, alright, but it didn't reach his eyes even a tiny bit. On the contrary, they shone with such blind hostility that Man Hong shivered. Someone wasn't that tactful.

"We are the Misfits! MISFITS! Not weirdos!" The petite girl shrieked, both hands on her waist. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't even reaching Ren's chest.

"Hua Ling'er," Ren uttered, picking his ear as though her mere voice offended his being. It kinda did, actually, since they weren't on the same level even when he hit rock bottom.

"Had your old man taught you some humility after Baozhai wiped the floor with you, you wouldn't be talking shit before your hair even grows longer. Wanna experience how this big brother here would teach you some?" She stepped back as soon as his eyes turned, crashing into the voluptuous woman's chest. She touched her hair, which barely reached her chin. A hoarse snort, more like a hiccup, escaped her lips. It wasn't even as effective as a brat's tantrum.

Ren's smile slowly faded as his gaze shifted to the Eldest of the Flowing Lineage. A troubled, even lamenting look settled on his brows.

"You… were a fine lady," he muttered, "once." Her gentle smile stiffened. However, someone didn't let him continue.

"For someone fallen, your mouth is still as poisonous as ever, Brother Ren," Guan said, suddenly appearing beside him and resting an elbow on his shoulder. His lips were twitching restlessly. Cinderborn reacted almost the same instant, and the vapor rising from Ren doubled, darkening. A burnt smell spread. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Guan smiled.

"Fortunately, we aren't here to debate… nor are we performing in some fancy theater," He continued, voice lethargic.

"Eh, maybe that way would be more fun, I don't know. This is fun, too. Don't you think so? Howling in pure wrath, crushing bones and skulls, while the one you protected was terrified into speechlessness. Ugh, did the last part hurt? I'm sorry, sincerely." Ren didn't interrupt him this time, yet with every passing sentence, his facial muscles tensed. How long can he continue monologuing? He wondered, trying to take his mind off the provocation. Bad decision. Truly.

"Ah, it's a true pity, you know, seeing your disciple vomiting just because you are trying to protect her. Disrespectful and distasteful. Why don't you lend her for a few weeks? I assure you I'll return her with a stomach of Draconian steel, so she could never do that revolting act again. This coldblooded one has, over the passage of years and lives, gathered no small depth of experience in the delicate art of shaping young fellows, so may this…"

Ren lifted his hand from the elbow and smashed the back of his fist right into Viper's throat.

"Did your clone not include memory transportation?" he snorted. Guan stumbled a few steps back, yet the wild smile on his lips never erased.

"G-gon't woffy… I am quite fond of you treating me." His speech returned in an instant as his half-burnt hand reached toward the crimson glow. It passed through half of it amid a shrill hiss. Ren's eyes widened. Ribbons followed before he could move, trapping his legs. The vapor above him solidified back into a viscous water-like sludge and landed on him. And two burly arms hugged him from behind, like a clamp crushing his chest. Instincts acted faster than his brain could react.

His moonlight energy went into frenzy with Primordial's Wrath, Phantom State activated, and he passed through all the bindings on him, darting forward. At the same time, Tyrant smashed its fist onto the armrest. The throne descended like a meteor, intent on severing the arm daring to sully its sovereignty… It never landed. Nor did Ren manage to reach Liuxue. He ran like mad. But something refused his advances as though the distance between them and their target had magnified infinitely.

"Oops," the young man chuckled, pushing his glasses up. Space roots! Ren didn't answer. He stabbed Heavenpiercer into the ground and raised his armored fist. Third Punch: Judgment! The punch straight-up cracked the space, heading toward Guan. Tyrant joined him in the motions, and the endless looking distance began to shrink—"Useless." A crushing aura at the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul was released. The cracked space instantly reinforced itself, and even his punch was stuck in midair along with his breath.

Silver energy flowed through his body.

"You already used that." The young man yawned. The space around him contorted, then the trembles spread around Ren. For the first time ever, Phantom State deactivated on its own. The next second, hands returned, as did the ribbons and sludge. His head snapped back, the crimson in his eyes almost overflowing.

"Wow, buddy, don't look at me like that. Don't wanna have nightmares, you know." The young man lifted both hands, pretending to be nervous. But his lips betrayed sheer, undisguised arrogance.

"I know you…" Ren whispered through gnashed teeth. Memories flooded his mind.

"You are the previous Eldest of Tomes and Myriad Arts, fallen at the hands of his own sister. A failure who got kicked out of his sect and even family like a stray dog!" The young man's face tightened. He pushed his glasses again, but this time to hide his embarrassment. He opened his mouth, but Ren had already turned back.

"GUAN! Don't force my hand!" A suppressed roar escaped his lips.

"You know what I am capable of, what can I do to you!" Tyrant rose from the throne, the heartbeat slowing, but its sound only grew deeper. A drop of crimson fell, only to be devoured by the black outside. Its place filled in an instant. Guan stopped just shy of grabbing Liuxue's throat. Blood was dripping down his hand, turning into rose petals in the air before merging with his arm. His face remained serene, as if he couldn't feel anything at all. And maybe he truly couldn't. I'll make him feel even if he can't.

"Oh?" Viper raised a brow, one eye tracking him.

"What can you do? Wait, let me answer it for you. Are you going to threaten me by cutting all resource flow into my sect in the Eldest Meeting? Or are you going to cry to your daddy to destroy our sect, like how he did to Azure Sky?" His lips curled up.

"Ah, right. He didn't destroy them. Just took a tree." Ren breathed out of his nostrils.

"And if you think you can be safe as long as you delay for time, don't you worry, brother. Lady Demoness has her own troubles to face. And the enforcers you got to trap me? They shall be no more soon. I prepared a surprise for them." He continued, ignoring the killing intent directed at him. When he was about to touch her, Little Crimson's phantom body appeared at last. She hissed threateningly, her Nascent Soul pressure erupting in full, but the painful expression on her twisted face couldn't be more obvious.

Guan just smiled peacefully. His aura answered in kind, until it reached Nascent Soul, too. A smaller version of him appeared on his forehead, smiling as poisonously. He was here with his main body. And he had broken through. Under Ren's wrathful watch, his slender fingers coiled around the pale neck. He tightened his grasp, and an almost inaudible moan left Liuxue's lips. Ren ground his teeth together, the sound almost echoing.

"If you touch her, I swear to heavens I'll kill all of you with my bare hands!" His voice struggled to come out, and only a rough shout escaped.

"I'll find whoever you cared, loved, treasured, met even once—" More and more crimson dripped from Tyrant's eyes as he shed a single blood tear. Guan burst into laughter. A sickly, deranged laugh. He held his face first, then, as though he couldn't stop himself, he held his stomach and buckled down.

"You heard that, guys!?"

"Not only did we hear, I even recorded it," the young man answered, his voice turning sinister.

"Give me a few minutes, and it will be all over the world. Every sect will learn how low the glorious First Light of Judgment fell. We are going to be famous guys! Think about it! The heroes who stopped the Corrupted Tyrant from the Supreme Sect and foiled the Fiends' nefarious plans." His embarrassment faded instantly. At the same time, a pure jade stone floated around his hand like an excited puppy.

"Heh, we should have already been famous, but you see, common people are blind," the petite girl chimed in, raising her head with a smug look.

"Kuhuhu, my baby is right. People are so blind to believe in such a man. Heh, they even called him the Future's Greatest Hope, an immortal reincarnated into mortal flesh to bring judgment into the world once again." The Eldest of the Flowing Lineage chuckled, closing her mouth with her hand.

"What a true 'Terror Incarnate.'" The rough man clicked his tongue. Amid their theater-worthy play, Liuxue struggled to gulp, then her eyes found Ren. A smile, more bitter than a cry, surfaced on her lips. Ren froze. The story she shared in the library echoed endlessly in his mind. The well stirred. It wanted release. It wanted to raise hell and break the skies. It desired so. It shall receive…

'Senior Brother… Leave me… Don't be like that fool, leaving me with a debt I couldn't carry… Please.' Her mouth moved without a sound, and as if accepting her fate, she closed her eyes. Ba-thump. I-I… Ren couldn't help himself. Something overcame him, and he nodded. A small but undeniable motion. The overwhelming auras flooded his senses once again. Even with the well… could he save both himself and her? No… Once. Twice. Thrice. His head bobbed like a broken clock struggling to tick. After all, I'm just a…

The well shut tight as the crimson broke apart. It couldn't hold its ground anymore. It bled profusely, and the black circle hungrily replaced the hollow it left. … fake. He lowered his head. Yet this time, he didn't lift it back. It was too heavy for him. It was always too heavy. How had he managed it all this time? Because he was a hopeless fool? Because he— The spark flickered. It emitted a quiet, soothing heat, as if it were sending a message to someone.

And the words etched into his being heard the plea for help. They answered.