Legend of The Young Master

Chapter 104: Apologize

"She sacrificed herself to buy time for the others," Jin concluded.

"If only it had worked," Wuyi said, pointing at the footprints.

Jin examined the footprint closely, laying his staff beside it. "Well, well," he murmured, his casual demeanor slightly forced. His complexion had paled considerably. Wuyi remembered how Jin's skin had been dark and fair at the same time when they first met. It turned out it was the result of cultivating some weird method he had found.

Over the years, with the help of Wuyi's pure Qi, his complexion had returned to normal.

Jin had a frown on his face. Wuyi couldn't blame him. Despite having seen many dead bodies in this new and short life, this was one of the most gruesome. Part of him wondered if the Lotus Pavilion elder's femininity and the beauty of her hair made her mutilation all the more horrifying. Was it a form of desecration? A deliberate act of sacrilege?

Another part of him considered the calculated placement of the elder's severed arm and the tooth marks around her empty eye sockets. The creature had done this to instill terror, almost as if it were an art form.

Finally, Wuyi turned away. "Don't put on a brave face for my sake, Jin," he said.

"I've never seen anything worse, that's for sure. I have seen beasts kill to eat and just to kill, but never to make anyone suffer for the sake of torture," Jin replied, taking a deep breath. "The heavens shouldn't allow such atrocities," he added bitterly.

"Jin," Wuyi said, a sardonic smile crossing his face. "The heavens don't give a damn!"

Their eyes met briefly before Jin looked away. "I'll find out what needs to be known," he said, his expression stern. He didn't appreciate Wuyi's disdain for the heavens, especially when he was going to chant for heaven's blessing to help him.

This whole world was divided: one was righteous, and one was demonic. Earlier, Wuyi thought Demonics were the enemy of everyone, but in truth, it depended on where you lived. People supported the righteous or demonic paths. There were empires which supported the demonic path openly; this battle was an ancient battle that had continued for ages now.

The righteous path believed in order and they believed the heavens bless every human. The demonic path believed in chaos.

The situation amused Wuyi. Wuyi had all characteristics of Demonic but he was born in the righteous path and cultivated righteous Qi, so he was considered righteous. While many in the righteous path would believe Jin and his tribe to be demonic, the truth was he was more pious of the righteous path than Wuyi ever could be.

Jin touched his spirit wood staff to the center of the footprint. For a moment, the atmosphere shifted, as if they had suddenly adjusted to a new source of light. "By the spirits of the realm...," Jin started chanting in a solemn tone. Wuyi left him to his ritual.

In the courtyard, Baijian and a few others had finished collecting valuables from the bodies. Wuyi sighed. It made sense for others, but this Giant of a man was a Qi master now, still he was petty enough to rob corpses with his subordinates. No wonder he was tortured in the dungeon.

Baijian and his subordinates had also gathered the scattered body parts, reassembling them as best as they could, and covering them with cloaks. The air was thick with the scent of blood and decay.

Baijian was supervising the work. He looked up as Wuyi approached and offered a brief salute. "The young ones have earned their keep today. They collected all the parts to make full corpses that the beast tore apart," he said.

Wuyi nodded in response. He glanced at the six corpses laid out in the courtyard. Baijian handed him something—a jade locket. Wuyi examined it, then tucked it into his storage bag. "Stay alert and stay here," he instructed, patting Baijian on his large back.

"I will let Meiying and the steed stay here as well, just in case of any attack."

Baijian shrugged. "Meiying and I don't get along." Wuyi almost laughed out loud; it reminded him of the phrase from his last life, "No shit, Sherlock."

Just then, Meiying joined them. Her dark brown hair slick from the rain, and her scar was almost healed, but you could still feel that it was there at some point.

"Did Bai mess up again?" she asked, earning a glare from Baijian.

Wuyi sighed. "Both of you, focus. I need my best people on guard here, alert and ready."

"It won't return," Meiying said.

Wuyi shook his head. "Stay alert anyway. Do it for me."

Baijian grinned and clasped his hands in a teasing manner, looking at Meiying. "Since it is for you, she will do anything. Just for you," he said. Everyone knew Demoness Meiying had a soft spot for the young master; he couldn't let go of such an opportunity to tease her.

Meiying's hand swiftly reached for her sword, unsheathing it in an instant. Wuyi cleared his throat.

"He treats me as if I'm some mortal pleasure woman of ill repute. I am neither," Meiying's sword remained steady, aimed at Baijian's face.

"Apologize, Baijian," Wuyi said, his tone light but firm.

"I meant no offense, just playful banter," Baijian retorted, a wry smile forming on his lips.

"Intentions aside, you've caused offense. You know our rule," Wuyi whispered so softly that Baijian had to lean in to hear.

"Forgive me," Baijian mumbled, his tone resembling that of a chastised disciple.

"Wimp!" Meiying grinned, her sword's tip lightly touching Baijian's forehead.

"May you be cursed!" Baijian snarled.

Wuyi leaned in, "Enough posturing. Meiying, you seek respect. Baijian, if you want to be seen as a leader here among your subordinates, then learn to act like a leader. And if she challenges and beats you again, you will keep losing face unnecessarily. Learn to respect each other."

He raised his hand, "On three, step back. Meiying, sheathe your sword. Baijian, bow and apologize. Meiying, reciprocate. Three, two, one."

Meiying stepped back, performed a salute, and sheathed her weapon seamlessly.

Baijian hesitated. Then, he bowed deeply, "I humbly seek your forgiveness," he declared.

Meiying's smile was far from sweet, but it changed her face. "And I yours, brother Baijian. My behavior was regrettable."