Jeon Lian’s face was a pale mess after the elders stormed off. “T-Tzuyu, what were they talking about?”
His voice was strained. For the past few days, he had been acting overly pompous and arrogant due to his daughter’s fame. Even the well-respected elders had to bow down to him, which further inflated his ego. His arrogance explained why he had the guts to lead a bunch of goons all the way to Peace Manor.
But, what happened to these elders today? Why were they so openly hostile toward Tzuyu?
Jeon Lian felt that there was something off about this. What the elder said at the end sent chills up his spine. Turning around, he looked at his beloved daughter and asked with a trembling voice, “Did you do something bad this time?”
At this point, Tzuyu couldn’t care less about Jeon Lian. Her face was completely drained of color and her expression was that of complete disbelief. Picking up her phone, she intended to dial a number with her shaking fingers but before she could do so, the middle of her palm suddenly started emitting dark smoke. In the next moment, everything turned into ash.
“No, no, that wouldn’t happen…” Tzuyu watched her phone crumble apart as darkness filled her vision. She was on the brink of losing consciousness but in the nick of time, she bit down on the tip of her tongue. All of a sudden, her mouth was filled with the distinct metallic taste of blood. This way, she would not fall unconscious. If that were to happen though, she’d go past the point of return.
Although that person no longer cared about her, she was still known to many as god’s descendant. As long as she possessed this title, she would still be undefeated.
Her mind calmed down when she reminded herself of this. She slumped down onto her chair and tried to take a sip of tea that was on the table.
However, her hand was shaking so badly that despite multiple attempts, she was unable to complete the simple act of picking up a teacup. Finally, she gave up and loosened her grip.
She remained in a state of fear throughout the night, even though no one came knocking on her door. Tzuyu could not calm down and in fact, the more she tried to do so, the more she panicked. The image of the fuming elder and his bloodshot eyes kept replaying in her mind.
It had been less than twenty-four hours and yet the effects of the elders’ threats had taken its toll on her body. She now seemed more like a dried-up twig than a human.
Just as she was about to break down, the great elder of the Jeon family finally made his appearance. Listlessly, Tzuyu took a good look at the great elder before letting out a great sigh of relief.
“Jeon Tzuyu, Master Dubhe would like to meet you.” The great elder felt no sympathy for Tzuyu despite noticing her deteriorating condition up close.
Tzuyu peered up at him as the corner of her mouth twitched. Silently, she trailed behind the great elder.
Deep down in her heart, she knew that she was about to face her final judgment.
The two of them entered the chamber one after the other. A figure stood in front of the long table, facing away from them. He had a lanky stature and the tan coat he was wearing further highlighted how thin he was. The man also had very long hair that was the color of concentrated black ink.
“Master Dubhe.” The great elder bowed slightly. “Tzuyu has arrived.”
The man snapped out of his reverie. He turned around and watched these two from afar. In the end, his eyes zeroed in on Tzuyu.
“As I have predicted.” A moment later, Dubhe looked down and chuckled to himself quietly. As he had predicted, the familiar aura that he had felt in Tzuyu had already faded. He did not need any more explanation from Lisa. He had a pretty good grasp of what was happening right now.
He narrowed his eyes and in the next second, he reappeared right in front of Tzuyu’s face. His slender fingers were now tightly wrapped around her throat.
Tzuyu’s eyes widened. All of a sudden, she could not draw out the chi in her body. Her face turned beet red as the circulation of aura within her was cut off abruptly. She could feel her body being physically lifted off the ground.
“Tell me, how did you manage to produce the aura of a master?” There was not a single ounce of emotion on Dubhe’s face. He did not seem to care about the fact that Tzuyu’s life was hanging on a thread. In fact, there was a sadistic glow in his eyes, as if he enjoyed watching Tzuyu struggle.
Her aura gradually weakened as she stared at Dubhe with a horrified expression. She could feel her life slowly seep away from her body. She had no idea why Dubhe was acting this way. Her mouth opened and closed, but not a single word was produced.
“Master Dubhe,” the elder raised his hand. Although he feared Dubhe, he felt compelled to intervene. “Young Master Jungkook has specifically ordered for her to be kept alive. An explanation to the ancient martial arts world is needed from her for the sins she has committed.” This situation would be hard to deal with if she was to die here.
Dubhe contemplated for a moment before loosening his grip on Tzuyu’s neck. In the next instant, she collapsed onto the ground limply. Reaching up, she rubbed her sore neck as she coughed and struggled for her breath. “I… I am the descendant of god.”
“Descendant?” Dubhe stared down at Tzuyu with eyes filled with disgust. “Your body is pervading with an evil aura, and you still think you’re worthy of that title?”
Shocked, Tzuyu looked up at Dubhe.
All the things she had done up until this point was because of the words Dubhe had uttered. Descendant of god! Because of this title, no one dared to mess with her, let alone threaten her life. She thought she stood on the same plane as Jungkook, or even Dubhe himself!
Dubhe was not going to let that slide. Today, he stamped out whatever sparks were left of that hope. She would never be the descendant of god!
This realization hit Tzuyu like a train. Dumbfoundedly, she sat there on the floor, unable to return to her senses.
“So, what are your plans for dealing with her?” asked Dubhe.
The great elder shook his head. “I will await Young Master Jungkook’s orders.”
Jungkook? Dubhe remained silent for a moment before he turned around and left. Knowing Jungkook, Tzuyu was already as good as dead; seeking forgiveness from him was like getting blood from a stone.
It was only after Dubhe had left that the great elder shifted his gaze over to Tzuyu, who finally snapped out of her mental daze. She clung desperately onto the great elder’s legs. “Great Elder, please save me, I beg of you! I still have so much left to live! I don’t want to die yet, Great Elder!”
Tears were flowing uncontrollably down her face as she bawled her eyes out.
The great elder looked down at the girl whom he had been watching since she was a baby girl. Despite that, something about her made him feel as if they were nothing but strangers. “Master Dubhe had already given you the title of ‘Descendant of God’. You should’ve just stayed put. Maybe if you did that, you’d still possess that title today. What a shame, you were too foolish for your own good. All you had in your mind were plots to bring down Miss Lalisa. If you played your part well, be the good little descendant of god that you were, not only would Miss Lalisa not care to make this whole screw up public, but she may likely let you live a life of decadence! Your plotted to burn her at the stake has blown up right in your face. You should have known what she did prior to her appearance in our world. Ten of you could work together against her and she’d still be able to bring you down. You are an utter fool!”
Tzuyu collapsed onto the ground when she heard the great elder’s unforgiving response. The feeling of regret swelled up in her heart and the great elder’s words shook her to her core. The thought of her mischievous plan being exposed to the world at large created an indescribable feeling in her heart.
Maybe, Lisa had already known what she was plotting from the very beginning? If that’s the case then that girl must be an incredibly terrifying person!
The great elder’s words echoed in her mind. All the misdeeds she had committed replayed in her mind. Her hands and feet turned icy cold. If she did not suddenly become aware that she was playing under Lisa’s watchful eyes all this while then the life she lived would’ve been for nothing.
Dazed, she sat on the ground, laughing and sobbing.
The great elder casually waved his hand when he saw the state Tzuyu was in. Shortly after, she was brought away by two men.
Now that death was imminent, how could Tzuyu possibly allow these people to manhandle her? She felt like a coiled-up spring, ready to explode at any moment’s notice when she felt these men clamp down on her wrist. She had already reached level 64 on the Trial Tower and was already a master at swordplay. She could take on these two insects and the great elder at the same time!
Unsheathing her soft sword that was hanging on her waist, she unhesitatingly swiped her blade at the men’s’ throats. The aura from this single slice was so aggressive that it almost tore open a hole in their space.
“How dare you, Jeon Tzuyu!” The great elder’s eyes widened.
She had already been forced into a corner, so why not? Tzuyu glared at the great elder as she tightened her grip on the hilt of her blade. No mercy this time.
Her blade, however, stopped mid-air before she could bring it across their throats.
“Bring her out, Great Elder.” An icy-cold voice sounded right next to her. “Gather the families of the victims and bring them here.”
Tzuyu’s blade was lodged between his fingers. A loud clang could be heard as the blade was tossed aside like a matchstick. After that, he proceeded to pull out a snow-white napkin which he used to wipe clean his fingers which made contact with her blade. Like Dubhe from before, his face was completely devoid of any emotion.
The great elder nodded and using his eyes, he ordered two unharmed men to bring Tzuyu away.
This time, Tzuyu felt as if someone had struck at her meridian point. Unable to move, she was effortlessly brought away.
With her arms folded across her chest, Liss leaned lazily against the doorway, watching as Tzuyu was led away. She paid no heed to the furious glare the fugitive was giving her. After all, it would not be long before she disappeared from her life forever.
“Great Elder, your men are rather weak,” commented Lisa. They were unable to handle Tzuyu. What if someone stronger than Tzuyu were to appear in the future?
“…”
The great elder was embarrassed by her statement. ‘Although you’re speaking the truth, can you not phrase it that way? I’m too old and too exhausted to put up with this anymore.’
Lisa silently smiled at the great elder.
She waited for Jungkook to pick up something before leaving the Elders’ Association together.
The great elder froze up when he saw just what Jungkook was here for. He remained in that state for a moment before returning to his senses.
***
“Brother Jungkook, you have to thank Donghyuk for this whole thing.” Lisa sang praise for Donghyuk as they strolled along. “He was the one who dug up evidence of Jeon Tzuyu casting curses on the poor helpless heirs!”
“No.” Jungkook’s response was calm. “It was me who gave him that information.”
“…”
***
The method which Tzuyu had used to prey on the young talents of the ancient martial arts world was too cruel. The victims’ families all signed a petition to have Tzuyu tried publicly. Her fanatical admirers from a couple of days ago now harbored nothing but hatred toward her. No matter where one went, killing one’s peers was something unanimously unacceptable. To atone for her wrongdoings, she was left in the harshest, cruelest detention facility of the ancient martial arts world. Jungkook entered this place once, to allow Xixi to imbue her body with an inextinguishable flame. From time to time, medical personnel would be sent in to treat her wounds, which otherwise would have been fatal.
Hadn’t she planned to burn Lisa at the stake? If that’s so, then she would continue to suffer continuously for day and night the pain of being burned alive! She must be taught what it feels like to suffer a fate worse than death!
The situation in the ancient martial arts world was equally grim. After this incident, the young talents who had been infected by Tzuyu’s evil aura saw their condition worsen by the day.
Their families were going crazy. They searched high and low throughout the ancient martial arts world for a healer but to no avail. In the end, they had to rely on Divine Doctor Rong. Unfortunately, the man was constantly drunk and his speech was unintelligible. With no other options, they had to resort to his disciple, Jackson.
Jackson knew what these people were here for. He pulled out a napkin and wiped his hands clean while telling them, “There is only one person who can save your children.”
“Who?” A spark returned to the elders’ eyes when they heard that there was still someone out there they could rely on. “Please Mr. Zhu, do tell us who that person is.”
Jackson raised his head and uttered three words, “Lalisa.”
Lalisa? Miss Lalisa?
These elders were stunned by his answer. Jackson was a disciple of Divine Doctor Rong, so there was no reason for them to doubt his words. It was fine if the person was someone else, but Miss Lalisa… they recalled how harsh and unjust when they had spoken about her a few days ago. The people of the ancient martial arts world now all shared the same feeling of regret for their attitude toward her. No one dared to make direct eye contact with her on the street.
They had even made their intention to burn to death Lisa public. Now that they had to beg for her help, their faces were all beet red. Would she even bother to listen to their pleas?
The elders left Jackson’s place anxiously.
After they left, Jackson pointed at their backs and said to his colleagues, “See that? See how evil your classmate, Lalisa is? She totally humiliated these old geezers and they still have no choice but to grovel at her feet, displaying their gratitude for her!”
Panic gripped the people of the ancient martial arts world. Those who were once loyal to Tzuyu were starting to lose their minds. However, Jungkook and Lisa had already left this place. The elders paid Taehee a visit but they were briefly turned away when she saw their pale faces.
“These people have too high hopes.” Taehee put down her teacup. A sneer appeared on her face. “It was only a few days ago that they accused my daughter-in-law of being the source of calamity for our world. Now they’re here to beg for her mercy? Do they seriously think her forgiveness is of such a low value?!”
The butler, standing not far away, put down the phone. “Madam, Master’s on the line.”
“Joowon?” Taehee immediately got up from her seat and hurried over to pick up the phone.
Upon realizing that their plan involving Taehee had failed miserably, the elders headed for the Elders Pavilion, in search of advice from the great elder. “O Great Elder, Mister Zhu has told us that the only person who could save our grandchildren is Miss Lalisa! Please, we are in dire need of your help!”
The elders have been running around in search of help for the past few days. Exhausted, tears continued streaming down their cheeks no matter how embarrassing the situation seemed.
The great elder felt conflicted about this. He didn’t care about the affairs Lisa was involved in and Jungkook was still pissed off about the ancient martial arts world. “You’re saying that Miss Lalisa can help heal your grandchildren? Didn’t the healer from yesterday say that the evil aura has already been compressed their organs? That even the Saint Healer Daluo couldn’t improve their condition?”
“Mister Zhu is a disciple of Divine Doctor Rong. His words are not to be doubted.” The possible outcomes didn’t matter to them. Lisa had already become the last straw of hope which these elders were clinging onto.
Dubhe, who had just paid Tzuyu a “visit”, came walking in. He pulled out a pure white handkerchief to wipe the bloodstains off his hands. He glanced at the elders, who were in the middle of a discussion. “You’re saying that she can save your grandchildren?” Since the dreaded evil aura had already merged with their regular chi, even he couldn’t do anything to help the poor souls.
And these people were saying that Lisa could save their lives?
The great elder bowed his head and endured the heavy pressure. “Master Dubhe, that was what we heard from Mister Zhu.”
“Very well, I will help look for her.” Dubhe glanced at these elders one final time before leaving the Elders’ Pavilion.
Everyone at the Elders’ Pavilion let out a sigh of relief when Dubhe finally left the place. “I hope Master Dubhe can persuade Miss Lalisa into helping us.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.” The great elder responded bluntly. “Do not forget the things that you lot have done.”
He left the place immediately upon reminding them of that. The rest of the elders remained standing there, with the same dumbfounded look on their faces. Again, the feeling of regret overwhelmed them. It felt as if someone had plunged a knife into their heart and twisted it around. Oh how much they wanted to dig up Tzuyu, who was incarcerated in her underground prison cell, and tear her flesh off her bones!
***
In the Capital, in the little district next to A University.
Lisa was analyzing a map on the sofa. Cheng Zhou had called and told her that the movie screening was happening tonight. He had even sent ten movie tickets over, for a viewing session at midnight.
Jiji was pacing around in the living room. After having lived here for the past few days, it had completed its remodeling of the house and was now busy with admiring the end result.
Jungkook was speaking to Hoseok over the phone.
Eunwoo and Hanbin were sitting on the other side, staring at the ten movie tickets Eunwoo seemed to be particularly excited about these tickets. The duo moved back from the ancient martial arts world alongside Lisa and Jungkook. In fact, they were staying to have dinner with them later in the evening.
Suddenly, both Lisa and Jungkook turned around simultaneously toward the same corner of the living room.
Eunwoo and Hanbin both saw the odd occurrence and they too followed their gazes.
The heating wasn’t turned on and yet the air mysteriously seemed to be heating up. In the blink of the eye, the air warped, and out came the figure of a man.
Mrs. Zhang was carrying out a plate of fruits when she saw Dubhe appear out of nowhere.
The ambient temperature suddenly dropped below the freezing point.
Lisa, Jungkook, and Jiji turned toward Mrs. Zhang, who didn’t seem to be fazed by this ghastly phenomenon. As if she had seen nothing particularly out of the ordinary, she set the plate of fresh-cut fruits on the table and generously offered them to Dubhe. “Would you like some tea, mister?”
“…”
Even Dubhe was surprised by how calm her response was. ‘Did you not see how ominous I was when appearing in your abode? No?! Why the lack of surprise?!’
Lisa and Jungkook looked at each other for a second. Mrs. Zhang was a regular human being through and through; they thought she’d jump out of her skin from the shock of seeing Dubhe materialize out of nowhere like a ghostly apparition.
“Miss Lalisa, are you willing to save the people of the ancient martial arts world?” Dubhe waited until Mrs. Zhang went beyond earshot before shifting his focus over to Jungkook and Lisa. However, it was clear that he was avoiding direct eye contact with the latter. The way he spoke sounded much more sincere than when they met him initially.
Jungkook stared back at him with ink-dark eyes. All of a sudden, the Seven-Frosted Blade appeared in front of him.
Hanbin’s gentle face was expressionless. Standing to the left of Lisa, his cold eyes remained fixated on Dubhe. Eunwoo on the other hand was munching away on Mrs. Zhang’s fruits while watching the play unfold from the corner of the room.
“Of course,” Lisa replied while shooting Jungkook and Hanbin a glance. “Let’s head over now.”
Jungkook silently stared at the ground for a second before returning his blade to its sheath. Though, there was no doubt about the hidden danger he sensed from Dubhe’s eyes.
“Mister Jeon! It’s snowing outside, so bring an umbrella with you alright?!” Realizing that these people were about to leave, Mrs. Zhang hurriedly prepared umbrellas for each of them.
Jiji was busy fiddling with the remote control and did not follow Lisa out. It looked up at Mrs. Zhang for a moment before finally caving in. “Mrs. Zhang, don’t you feel something off about that man from before?”
Mrs. Zhang was wiping the table clean when she responded: “What felt off?”
“The way he appeared isn’t how a normal human enters someone’s place.” Jiji was reminded of how odd the people around Lisa were.
“I’ve gotten used to such sights?”
Jiji was stunned. “Just what on earth did you see?”
“A little while ago, there was a period where Little Hyunsuk used to order Xixi to transform and spit fire on a daily basis. There’d be times when I am absolutely positive that Mister Jeon was upstairs and he would appear right before me downstairs at the snap of the finger. And Dog Feed too. That day, I was wiping down its vase when it suddenly vanished into thin air. I mean, you too. How can a normal robot even be able to digest food?” Mrs. Zhang put down the piece of cloth she was holding. In a stern manner, she advised Jiji, “If you guys continue on like this, I’m afraid that you all would be taken away if the outside world was to know about these incidents.” Sometimes, thinking about it worried her.
Jiji silently put down the piece of fruit it was about to put in its mouth.
A bird who could expand and spit fire, a flower and its owner that could appear and reappear like a magician, sounds like you have a lot of interesting stories to tell, Mrs. Zhang.
***
In the ancient martial arts world.
The people who had been infected by the evil aura were all tied up. Their eyes were all the color of fresh blood. Most of them have already started losing their sanity. The shaman of the Lisu tribe sighed and shook his head in disappointment after doing checks on them. “Elder, there is no end to this peril. It’s better to finish them off humanely with a clean slice from the blade. The decision remains in your hands but I still urge you to make your call as soon as possible. If we discovered this sooner, there is still the chance that they’d be saved. But in their current condition…I doubt that even our saint can do anything to save them.”
The families bawled their eyes out when they heard him say that. Nearly every one of them uttered curses under their breaths at Tzuyu, who was the cause of their misery.
All of a sudden, the atmospheric pressure spiked, which prompted the people to look in a specific direction. As expected, a group of people was slowly heading in their direction.
It shocked them when they discovered that it was Dubhe, Jungkook, Lisa, Eunwoo, and Hanbin that were approaching them. These were all the elites of the ancient martial arts world. Walking in a group together, could their presence be any more imposing?
Eunwoo stood next to Lisa. He glanced at the crying people and proceeded to snigger at them. “It’s only some evil aura. Is there even the need to cry your heart out like this?”
“Young Master Murong.” The people of the Lisu tribe bowed down respectfully at Eunwoo. Although they respected him, they were still confused as to what he was saying. “Perhaps you don’t know this but, the evil aura has already permeated their organs, no medicine can help…”
“If you can’t do it, then admit it. Why beat around the bush?” Eunwoo then spun toward Lisa. “Miss Lalisa, carry on.”
Lisa’s finger twitched. “Here I was, thinking that the healer was you.”
Eunwoo rubbed his nose and smirked. He was just acting like a professional for fun.
“Move these people indoors.” Lisa scanned her surroundings and arrived at the door closest to her. She lifted her arm and pointed her finger in that direction.
The elders did as told, without questioning her orders.
Lisa strode into the building.
“Great Elder, is there really not a problem with this?” The families of the victims all gathered around outside the locked door. “Miss Lalisa, s-she…” She wouldn’t kill their sons off, right?
“Silence!” The elders knew what they were implying and with great anger, they ordered for them to hold their tongues. They knew how powerful Lisa was. If she wanted to, she could’ve struck their children down right in front of them; there was no need to do so behind closed doors.
The way the elders responded was way too harsh, which was a signal for them to shut up.
Half an hour later, the door was pushed open with Lisa walking out. She raised her head and announced to the families, “It’s done. You can head in and take a look if you want to.”
These families rushed right into the building and following a brief silence, came their euphoric cheering. When they re-emerged, each of them thanked Lisa gratefully.
Missions that involved evil aura were right up the system’s alley.
Jungkook and Lisa left the place after her job was done.
The observers all looked at each other with unconcealed expressions of shock. S-She, really pulled it off, just like that?
They exhaled a lungful of cold air. There were once rumors that Tzuyu was the descendant of god whereas Lisa was the bringer of disasters. Looking back, the truth could never have been any more different. In the end, it was the bringer of disasters that saved their asses!
Looks like they had traded titles overnight!
The masses then shifted their attention over to Dubhe, who was looking down at both of his hands. They could not make out clearly his facial expression though.
“Miss Lalisa had managed to bring them back to life! Not to mention the fact that they were the very people who were going for her head!”
“Miss Lalisa is the ally of righteousness! I think she’s the real descendant of god!”
“To think that I supported the idea of locking her away. Now that I think about it, I feel really ashamed of what I have said!”
“…”
The entire ancient martial arts world was starting to regret its initial stance against Lisa, all while singing praise for how selfless she was when treating the people and setting aside what happened between them in the past. They reminded the families who received Lisa’s aid to be grateful for what she did.
“She managed to cure them?” The shaman of the Lisu tribe, who had been erased from their minds was shocked. He remained standing at the edge of the crowd, unwilling to leave the scene. “How did she pull that off? How is this even possible?!”
It was until he met the elder of the tribe that he was given an explanation of how these people were saved. “Nothing’s impossible. After all, the one doing the healing was Miss Lalisa. Do you have any idea who Miss Lalisa is? She’s that young lady from the desert wastelands a while back. She did God’s work, helping out people. And you’re still doubting her? Don’t you ever say such things again, else you’d get an earful from the people of our tribe!”
The elder continued lecturing him on their way back home.
Dubhe stood behind the two of them, watching the elder. Thinking back to when he had accused Lisa of being the source of disaster, feelings of self-doubt started to set in. He stared down at his hands. If he really did take Lisa’s life back then, and if Jungkook were to let it happen, perhaps these people would wage a war against him with all their might?
This pair of hands almost took someone’s innocent life.
“Master, what you said was true. I am indeed, not suited for being a Dubhe.”
The great elder sent Lisa off merrily. His attitude toward Lisa was no different from how Jungkook treated her. In fact, he was more prepared to pamper her than the young master.
The second elder couldn’t help but scratch his head at this phenomenon. Yes, Lisa was a brilliant character but was there a need to treat her with such reverence?
The great elder looked up at the falling snowflakes. He shook his head slightly. “Ever since this rumor of her being the source of calamities started spreading, she had not uttered a word in protest. She didn’t seem to mind being despised by the masses. Perhaps this was what compelled Jeon Tzuyu into plotting against her actively. However, when these people were backstabbed by Jeon Tzuyu, she was the first to stand up against her actions, by providing us with a pile of evidence. I don’t think the evidence provided was collected over the course of mere days. And those people, who were skeptics and wanted to burn her at the stake, in the end, they were the ones being saved on their deathbeds by her! Not only did she manage to wash away the suspicions about her, but she had also even managed to earn their reverence. Tell me, how could this person possibly be a commoner?”