Chapter 8: You Took Him Down Just Like That? Huh?

On the Crimson Square, a group of Blood Moon Sect disciples had set up tables early, drinking and amusing themselves by harassing the female disciples of two other sects. The disciples from both sects were forced to huddle together.

A Xuan Tian Sect disciple, having been beaten, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and climbed to his feet, gritting his teeth. Noticing the gaze of the Xuan Gui Sect disciples nearby, he lashed out in frustration, "What are you looking at!"

"Oh my, taking your anger out on us because you got a beating?" The Xuan Gui Sect disciples didn't indulge him at all; although they were squatting on the ground with their hands over their heads, their tone was dripping with sarcasm. "If you can't win, you can't win. Look at us; we don't have any complaints. You just had to go and provoke the Blood Moon Sect—isn't getting beaten just what you deserve? I thought you were so impressive, but aren't you a captive just like us?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Xuan Tian Sect group flared up, many of them turning red with rage. Had they not been forced to squat, they would have likely stood up and attacked immediately.

"You Xuan Gui Sect disciples have the nerve to talk? Your sect lives up to its name—like a bunch of shrinking turtles, you surrendered early!"

"Exactly. Where would a bunch of turtles get any backbone? At least we put up a fight. You are all pathetic. If I were you, I wouldn't have the face to even speak!" The Xuan Tian Sect disciples retorted coldly, insisting that they had at least resisted the longest.

"Does resisting for one extra hour even count as resistance? You talk so big, but didn't you end up captured just the same? The pot calling the kettle black—at least we know when to bow to the inevitable!"

Watching the two sides bicker, the Blood Moon Sect disciples didn't intervene, acting instead as if they were waiting to be entertained.

"Senior Brother, aren't they all captives? Why are they arguing?" a disciple who had recently joined the Blood Moon Sect asked in confusion.

The senior disciple chuckled, "These two sects were originally one, and before this, they were even larger than our Blood Moon Sect. They broke apart due to some incidents, and because of that, they've been at odds ever since."

"Shouldn't we stop them? What if they start fighting?" the new disciple asked, sounding hesitant.

"Leave them be. Their weapons have already been confiscated. If they really start fighting, we'll have a good show to watch." The senior disciple draped an arm over his shoulder. "Come, ignore them. Let's go drink!"

"Senior Brother, shouldn't we keep an eye on them?" the new disciple asked, still feeling uneasy.

"They've already been captured and have no weapons. Even if they tried to run, they couldn't." The senior disciple shook his head, his eyes filled with disdain. With this motley crew and their lack of unity, they wouldn't get far. Besides, the Head Senior Brother would be back soon; even if they grew two extra legs, they wouldn't be able to escape.

"Enemy attack..."

Just then, a cry of alarm rang out. They turned to look, only to see the disciple standing at the main gate collapse, blood spraying wildly from his neck.

A White Sword Sect disciple rushed out, clutching a long sword in one hand and a black bag in the other. "Your Head Senior Brother and the Foundation Establishment cultivators are dead! Everyone, surrender at once!"

This sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned. Many Blood Moon Sect disciples even forgot to put down their wine cups. Who could have imagined that the White Sword Sect would dare to attack the Blood Moon Sect?

"Senior Brother, they've attacked!" the new disciple cried out, his face turning pale.

"Don't panic! They probably snuck out!" The senior disciple feigned composure. "Who are they trying to scare? They dare to come to our Blood Moon Sect to seek their own deaths!"

The Blood Moon Sect disciples drew their swords and glared at Liang Chuan and the others. The White Sword Sect had long been viewed as the easiest to bully. Though they didn't know why their Head Senior Brother hadn't captured these people yet, they refused to believe he could have died at the hands of such trash!

Just then, Liang Chuan tore open the black bag and tossed a round object toward them. It rolled across the ground and came to a stop right in front of them. When they clearly saw what it was, they were terrified to their very souls.

"Head Senior Brother?!"
"Is this the Head Senior Brother's head?!"

That red hair, that expression of unwilling resentment frozen in death—it was branded deep into their hearts. They had never imagined that their invincible Head Senior Brother could die!

"The Head Senior Brother is actually dead. Could they be even stronger than him?"
"They must have been hiding their strength. Even the Head Senior Brother was no match for them!"
"How can this be real..."

Although they shook their heads in denial, fear forced them to slowly retreat. As the terror spread, their faces grew increasingly pale.

"Calm down, all of you! We have reinforcements!" one of the Blood Moon Sect disciples shouted. "The Head Senior Brother must have fallen into some kind of trap!"

This voice brought the panicked group back to their senses. That’s right! Besides the Head Senior Brother, there were still seven other Foundation Establishment cultivators. That kind of power was something the mere White Sword Sect could never resist!

But just then, over a dozen heads arched through the air and landed with a thud on the ground. Clotted blood splattered as the heads bounced. Upon seeing these, the Blood Moon Sect disciples, who had finally managed to steady their nerves, were filled with absolute horror. These were clearly the reinforcements the Head Senior Brother had taken with him. Yet, so many of them had perished at the hands of the White Sword Sect.

"Run... run for your lives!" one of the Blood Moon Sect disciples shrieked.

That single cry sent the Blood Moon Sect disciples into instant chaos.

The neatly arranged tables and dishes were overturned, and many disciples collided with one another. Even when their fellow brothers fell to the ground, no one stopped to help; they scrambled and crawled toward the back of the sect. Only one thought remained in their minds: escape. If so many Foundation Establishment cultivators had died at their hands, how could they, mere Qi Refining stage disciples, possibly be a match?

From within the sect, a figure rushed out. Upon seeing the chaotic scene, his expression shifted drastically. He was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator remaining in the Blood Moon Sect.

"Stop right there! Don't run!"

But no one listened.

"Damn it!" He raised his hand and crushed the skull of a fleeing disciple. "Whoever runs again dies right here!"

With the spray of gore and blood, the fleeing disciples finally calmed down just a fraction.

"What on earth are you all doing?" He grabbed a disciple and gritted his teeth, demanding an answer. He had been in the inner courtyard and had no idea what had happened.

The disciple he held pointed at the heads on the ground, his voice trembling: "The Head Senior Brother and all the reinforcements... they're all dead!"

Following the direction the disciple pointed, the expression on the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s face slowly froze.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators he had sent out... were all dead?!

"Senior Brother, what do we do?" one of the Blood Moon Sect disciples asked with a trembling voice. Now, only this Foundation Establishment senior brother remained.

"What do we do? We must..."

The senior brother's eyes gradually filled with bloodshot veins, and his skin began to turn a deep, bloody red.

"He's going to fight back!" Seeing the senior brother's posture, the hopeless disciples felt a glimmer of hope.

But in the next second, the senior brother dashed rapidly toward the side and vanished into the woods!

?

The Blood Moon Sect disciples were left stunned.

The Senior Brother... ran away?!