novelraw Chapter 1163 - 1162 - Peng's Orders
Chapter 1163 - 1162 - Peng's Orders
A large courtyard was assigned to the Heavenly Maiden Sect. As an ancient supreme power, they were given the best accommodations the Rubyfire Kingdom could provide. While the vast majority of their party was in the lower city inns, the core of the group took up the courtyard.
Peng, the Vice Sect Master in charge of combat and support matters, was fuming in her room. The disrespect of that beast was beyond tolerable but her Sect Master's orders rang in her head.
{Do not alienate the Triple Maester no matter what. War Maiden Katara's report was clear that he is very clear on his bottom-line. We need his prowess for the future to be an ally and not an enemy.}
She felt her pride rankle at bowing to any man but a beast especially! Why should they court such a rude being regardless of their skill!
She knew better than to voice her words but she was currently demolishing a training dummy to vent her rage.
Her legs were a blur as the kicks shattered the wood and steel like they were nothing. She was covered in a sheen of sweat but felt much better afterward.
She went to go to the bath but found one of the True Maidens waiting for her.
"Is there an issue?" She was worried things had gotten out of hand but the woman in front of her was not familiar.
She tried to place her but she oddly could not. She had hand picked all the True Maidens so who was this person?
Before she could demand answers, a dark badge was produced that made Peng nearly fall down.
"A servant should always be ready to receive a superior, don't you think, Peng?" The True Maiden, or rather the agent pretending to be one, smirked at her.
The woman's features were difficult to see which made Peng realize that her true masters had come!
It was often their way to impersonate a trusted aide but to make the features unremarkable to the point nothing could be remembered!
"Please command me!" She knelt with her face in the dirt. She was so happy to be of use to her true masters!
"You are but one of a few we have sent to contact the Emerald Immortal. Do not aggravate him at this time. Entice him to your sect so our agents can ensnare him when his guard is down. Do not allow your pride to interfere." The woman's voice was crystal clear and firm.
Peng nodded firmly but then frowned.
"The Emerald Immortal scorned us already. How should I make amends?" There was no arrogance in her voice now. She was purely a pawn for her masters.
The True Maiden impersonator tilted her head before smirking.
"Tell him about the poisoned girl. He can't cure her but it should entice him while explaining your attitude." Peng's eyes went wide.
It was not that she did not understand the plan but it contradicted her orders from her sect from long ago. Internal issues, even to guest elders, should be isolated from the world.
The fact the messenger knew about the sick girl spoke of how far their power infiltrated the sect!
"I–I can't use–" Peng was trying to deny it when her head was slammed into the stone beneath her feet. She had not even seen the True Maiden move!
"It was not a request! Obey or become fodder for the Mistress!" A cold sweat spread across Peng's backside.
She could not summon Qi nor move a muscle but the aura of the True Maiden was only at the Heaven Realm! How was that possible?!
"Please! The Sect Master would find out instantly if I used that leverage. It would expose me!" A creak of bone was heard as the pressure increased. Peng was starting to weep but she was only telling the truth!
"Tell him about the sick girl, or your worries end here." Peng was dead either way! If she revealed an internal issue, it would expose her to more than censure! She would be interrogated at best and crippled at worst!
"I will be killed either way!" She screamed and the pressure stopped increasing. She could only wait as death hovered at the edge of her senses.
"We have confirmed this. Troublesomely stubborn!" The pressure lifted from her skull and Peng slowly looked up only to be sent smashing into the wall! It shattered and she definitely heard and felt her limbs break!
What was that force?! Peng had met messengers before but they were never that strong!
"We will take another approach. You will do all in your power to get him to your sect. Everything! If you fail, death will be a fond dream for you." Peng was panting but slowly looked up one last time in desperation.
"There is only 1 thing he wants! He wants the location of the inverted mountain!" She was not a fool. She had set out feelers and the Emerald Immortal had a singular goal. He had only become more focused on it as he did whatever it was he needed to prepare.
It was clear he was not running headlong into death so he had to be preparing to assault the inverted mountain.
The True Maiden sneered.
"DId you not hear what I said? Everything means everything! Do not pester us with the details! If he wants to find us then give him everything he wants!" The True Maiden suddenly wavered in front of her before smoke began to curl up from her body.
What was happening?
The True Maiden looked disinterestedly at the melting flesh.
"So weak, only a fraction of my power was enough to destroy it. Make sure to purge the remains." It was the last words spoken as the once living woman was reduced to a pile of goo! It even melted the clothes!
Peng summoned a healing pill and then used her Fire Laws to completely scorch the disgusting remains while her body shivered inside.
Just what was that?! Why had that messenger been so strong? Who was the poor wretch used like a puppet?
She would have to wait for–
An emerald claw slammed her into the far wall shattering that as well. She screamed as new pain wracked her body.
"Vile creature! You think I was not prepared?!" The Emerald Immortal was covered in scales of the same color as his hair as his reptilian eyes looked at her coldly. "Did you all really think I would send up a flare and not have every corner of this city under my thumb?! How idiotic do you take me for?!"
His voice boomed and shattered the stone columns around them!
Peng was helpless but that was not all, her storage ring was breached somehow! Her darkest secrets were laid bare as True Maiden guards came in. They found the partially scorched remains that were clearly inhuman but turned their swords and spears on the Emerald Immortal.
"Release Lady Peng, now!" The man did not even glance as a black blur sent all the True Maidens flying back but unharmed.
"Open your eyes! Look at her ring!" His words made their heads snap down but before they could scoff, shock spread from them.
A cracking black dagger was clearly full of Fiend Qi was present with other vile items clearly marked with Peng's aura!
"I expected many things, but a Heavenly Maiden working with Fiends was low on my list! What did that thing say? Tell me everything right? Well you are certainly going to do that?!" The dragon claw yanked her into the air and Peng saw the world blur before she was slammed into the ground once more.
Blood flew but she did not pass out nor feel death closing in. Instead, she felt like her body was healing! Further, several traps on her person shattered like so much cheap glass!
How was he doing that?!
The True Maidens seemed confused but could see she was not dying.
"Well?! Going to stay silent forever?! You have your orders, do you not?!" Emerald flames roared suddenly and the Fiend artifacts were turned to ash! That fact shocked not only the True Maidens but Peng as well to her core!
How could there be any power to defy those monsters?!
"Please! I had no choice! They helped my sister survive–" A dragon roar shook the courtyard as several walls and pillars shattered. An entire wall collapsed to reveal the street beyond it!
"NO CHOICE?! You know the price for their favors?! They can only give by taking! They can only steal the souls of others to survive and you say you had no choice?! Do not give me that line!" Everyone in all directions suddenly felt compelled to kneel but Peng was still deep in the claws of the man.
"Husband, I am here." The beast woman with black fur ears and tail suddenly appeared next to him and took his free hand. The emerald flames retreated and even the scales retracted.
"Thank you, Chu. I always lose my cool like that." She squeezed his hand but Peng could only look on as the cold emerald eyes never left her. "Now, you will tell me everything I want to know and I mean everything. I want all the names and orders. I want it all."
Peng knew she had been going to face death when the messenger gave her those orders but looking at those emerald eyes she actually wondered if her masters had angered the one being they never should have.
A smile flitted across her face at the thought but hope died a moment later as his face came close to hers.
"You will not be forgiven. Those tools had the scent of old blood on them and remnant souls. I know them of old. You helped them before the Corruption. You are one of their pawns that kept herself safe while others died. Tell me I am wrong." Silence filled the room as the True Maidens finally looked at her in disgust and rage.
Peng was all alone in the room! Tears formed but she was taken from the courtyard into the air! How could the man fly? Peng was filled with questions but those emerald eyes only demanded answers.
All the orders weighing on her heart fell away and she was left with only 1 truth.
This was the end and she had the choice to die a pawn or reclaim a bit of her humanity at the very end of it all. Tears flowed as the wind whistled in her hair and they closed in on the main palace.