Chapter 110 – 127. The Body Sect
"You're an elder of Spirit Hall. What business do you have with us?" Yang Wudi asked coldly.
"I came to invite you to join Spirit Hall and become one of its subordinate powers," Yue Guan said bluntly, wasting no time with pleasantries.
Niu Gao narrowed his eyes. "And what if we refuse?"
"Is that your answer?" Yue Guan's tone darkened as he continued, "I'll give you three days to reconsider. If by then your answer remains the same, Spirit Hall's army will come and drown the four affiliated clans of the Clear Sky Sect in blood."
"What?!" All four clan heads went pale with shock.
"Think carefully," Yue Guan said with a faint smile. "For your clans' future."
With that, he turned and left, leaving the four leaders to stew in silence.
After a long pause, Yang Wudi slammed his Breaking Soul Spear into the ground so hard that the stone floor cracked. "Tang Hao—that cursed beast, that harbinger of doom! Look at the trouble he's brought upon us! Now even our clans are dragged into his mess!"
Tai Tan's thick neck stiffened as he retorted, "How can you blame my master? It's Spirit Hall that forced his hand! Qian Xunji brought that death upon himself!"
"Ha!" Yang Wudi sneered. "You really do have the brain of an ape. Did you not hear what that elder said? Three days from now, either we join Spirit Hall or we die. That includes your Strength Clan too. So tell me, what will you do then? Betray your precious master, or die fighting for him?"
"I…" Tai Tan hesitated, then raised his chin defiantly. "The Strength Clan swore allegiance to our master. We will never betray him. If Spirit Hall wants a fight, then a fight they'll get! Not a single man of my clan will cower in fear!"
"You're hopeless," Yang Wudi muttered, rolling his eyes.
The four patriarchs began to debate their options.
Tai Tan argued for war—to fight Spirit Hall to the death. Naturally, the other three immediately rejected this. Apart from that muscle-brained fool, the rest valued survival above pride. However righteous their spirit, they would not throw away their clans in a futile clash against the might of Spirit Hall.
White Crane of the Sensitive Clan proposed escape—after all, his clan was the fastest—but scouts soon returned with grave news: Spirit Hall's spies were everywhere. Any attempt to flee would end in ambush. Running was no longer an option.
Thus, they faced a grim choice: surrender… or die resisting.
At the Strength Clan's residence, Tai Tan had already gathered over a thousand of his people. Standing tall before them, his booming voice filled the hall.
"Members of the Strength Clan!" he roared. "Listen well! Spirit Hall wants us to kneel and submit. Tomorrow, we will give them our answer—never! We once swore loyalty to our master, and we will never betray that vow. Tomorrow, we will fight to the death!"
When the assembly ended, his younger brother Tai Ming approached hesitantly. "Brother, surely we could surrender… why risk the extermination of the entire clan?"
Tai Tan's face twisted in rage. His massive hand cracked across Tai Ming's cheek, sending him sprawling to the ground. "How dare you even say that?! Don't forget, our clan only achieved greatness through our master! A man who forgets his roots isn't fit to live. As long as I draw breath, betrayal will never stain the Strength Clan!"
Clutching his swollen face, Tai Ming didn't dare reply.
Just as Tai Tan prepared to scold him further, his son Tai Nuo ran in. "Father, Chief White Crane requests your presence at the Four Clan Council."
"I see," Tai Tan said. He glared down at his brother. "If I ever hear anyone speak of betrayal again, I'll clean our own house myself—in our master's name!"
After Tai Tan left, Tai Ming's face filled with resentment.
Years ago, Tang Hao had subdued Tai Tan through pure might, forcing him to kneel and swear loyalty on behalf of the entire clan—without their consent. But what could they do? Tai Tan's fists ruled their people. Tai Ming had to swallow his hatred in silence.
When Tai Tan arrived, he was the last of the four to appear. In the great hall, he noticed a stranger waiting. The man was built as powerfully as Tai Tan himself, but his elbows jutted sharply, giving his form a strange, hard-edged presence.
"Now that all four clan heads are present," Yang Wudi said, "perhaps you can tell us your purpose."
"First, allow me to introduce myself," the man said with a calm smile. "My name is Lu Zhou, of the Body Sect."
"The Body Sect?" White Crane asked, frowning. "Never heard of it."
"That's only natural," Lu Zhou said. "The Body Sect has long lived in seclusion, but we intend to reemerge. Upon hearing that the four single-attribute clans once affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect were being threatened by Spirit Hall, our sect master sent me here to give you an offer."
"Oh?" Yang Wudi asked. "And what kind of offer is that?"
"Join us," Lu Zhou said plainly. "Pledge yourselves to the Body Sect, and we will shield you from Spirit Hall's wrath."
White Crane gave a dry laugh. "Such bold words. Spirit Hall is the mightiest force on the continent, yet you claim you can protect us from them? Forgive me if I doubt your ability."
"That's fine," Lu Zhou replied evenly. "Soon enough, you'll see whether or not we can."
"If you truly can protect us," Yang Wudi said after some thought, "then we'd be willing to join your sect."
Tai Tan opened his mouth to protest, but Niu Gao quickly shot him a warning glance, fearing the simpleminded brute would say something disastrous.
Lu Zhou turned to the others. "And the rest of you? What do you say?"
"The Defense Clan agrees," Niu Gao said.
"The Sensitive Clan as well," White Crane added.
"Good," Lu Zhou nodded. "That is all I needed to hear. I'll report this to our sect master at once." And with that, he departed.
The moment he was gone, Tai Tan rounded on the others. "What are you doing? Planning to abandon your allegiance?"
Yang Wudi snorted. "The Clear Sky Sect, as it stands, has lost all right to our loyalty."
The Clear Sky Sect? Tai Tan thought bitterly. No… don't you dare insult my master! To him, the two were not the same. Since the day he'd sworn fealty, Tai Tan's every thought had revolved around Tang Hao. The other clans might see him as a fool, but to Tai Tan, he was the loyal hound guarding his master's flock. And even if his master was nowhere to be found, he would protect that man's legacy until his final breath.
(END CHAPTER)
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