CHAPTER 345
The Wise Move
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"Hakuo, do you think I shouldn't be angry?"
"I think you should atone with your life." Hakko stepped forward, yanking Li Shiyao up by the back of her collar as she knelt, then glared viciously at Su Cheng.
Su Cheng curled his lip. He wasn't foolish enough to confront this hothead He Guang.
Who was He Guang?
The second-ranked warrior of the Thirteen Valkyries, codenamed Dragon Slayer—a top-tier combatant!
Just look at his gear—the greatsword on his back was a Divine Weapon, and that massive crossbow was Divine-enhanced, capable of tearing through Radiant-grade armor with ease!
Ordinary Hunters or Faceless Ones would be one-shot kills!
And that battle armor she wore? Absolutely formidable. Custom-forged for her by Xiao Ai using spatial authority—not even a nuclear bomb could shatter it…
Beneath the gods, she is invincible.
Above the gods?
Above the gods? Xiao Ai handles that.
"Shiyao, what do you think?"
Su Cheng had no interest in engaging in idle chatter with He Guang. This guy was clearly here to pick a fight. He decided to deal with the dim-witted second disciple first.
"Shiyao truly knows she was wrong. Shiyao will definitely obey Master from now on."
Li Shiyu wore an expression of sincerity, but Su Cheng knew full well she only felt she'd gone too far this time. She still believed her master was overreacting.
Su Cheng exhaled deeply, deciding to lay his cards on the table.
"When I took you as my disciple, I knew you were a good child."
"She's a bright child, isn't she?"
Li Shiyu remained silent, nodding her head. Whatever her master said, nodding was always the right response.
"I promise you a thousand years of carefree cultivation, a life free from want, and endless joy."
"To me, you are dearer than my own flesh and blood, standing above all others."
"Shiyao, do you understand what I mean?"
Li Shiyu nodded, as wise as her master had said.
"Shiyao understands. Shiyao will remember Master's teachings."
Su Cheng nodded, observing Li Shiyu's earnest expression, clearly unaware that there was more to the statement.
"But even if given another chance, Shiyu would still choose to pretend not to hear."
Su Cheng furrowed his brow slightly, somewhat taken aback!
That obedient, dim-witted second disciple was gone! He couldn't deceive the Holy Maiden before him.
"Why? Isn't Shiyu the one who fears pain the most?"
Li Shiyu spoke with righteous indignation, no longer crying or drooling.
"Shiyao isn't as clever as Master thinks, nor as knowledgeable as my senior and junior sisters."
"But Shiyu knows Master cares for her and doesn't want her to be hurt."
"Shiyao fears pain, but fears losing Master even more."
"Shiyao is selfish. Shiyao just wants Master to stay with her forever. Shiyao doesn't want to do something she'll regret because of fear."
"If being smart means abandoning someone important and running off alone, then Shiyao doesn't want to be smart at all!"
Su Cheng opened his mouth… but…
True. From start to finish, he'd never once said Li Shiyu had done anything wrong.
"Shiyao?"
"Shiyao is listening. Please instruct me, Master."
"You really are a fool."
"With Master and Senior Sister protecting me, I have no desire to become clever."
Su Cheng felt numb. This Li Shiyu seemed to be getting harder and harder to deal with!
Su Cheng felt a twinge of regret. How could this guy kneeling down sound even more arrogant than when he was seated?
"Go back outside and continue kneeling."
"Can Shiyu kneel after breakfast? Shiyu's a bit hungry…"
"Shiyao, can't you tell your master is furious?"
"Shiyao will finish quickly! Shiyao is really hungry… Please, Master, you're the best! Come on!"
Shifting her knees, Li Shiyu moved closer to Su Cheng and began to pout and whine.
"Hurry back. Your punishment isn't over yet. And bring Jue'er to me while you're at it."
"Got it~"
Li Shiyu had been a little scared earlier. Honestly, she never imagined it was because of this!
She'd thought it was about her drugging the Master—that her scheme had been exposed!
That's why she'd been so terrified. Who knew it was actually about this?
After Li Shiyu left, Su Cheng turned to He Guang and spoke coldly, "You have something else to say?"
"Nothing. But what's going on, Your Excellency?"
"What?" Su Cheng thought to himself, this guy… he's becoming a real handful. Xiao Ai was easy enough to deal with, but these Valkyries of hers—not a single one of them is decent!
Each one stubborn and unreasonable, yet all of them were formidable warriors capable of single-handedly taking on a hundred foes…
In terms of personal strength, Xiao Ai didn't even rank among the elite within the Godslayer King.
After all, hers was a guardian authority. Compared to those of punishment, judgment, and execution—even among conceptual-level powers—it lacked offensive capability.
But when it comes to cultivating loyal confidants, Xiao Ai's Thirteen Attendants truly deserve the title of Valkyries.
"Your Excellency, Dragon Slayer has a question. Might you enlighten me?"
"Cut the sarcasm. I don't see myself as some 'Your Excellency,' and you probably don't regard me as human anyway. Speak plainly."
Haku smiled. Even through the mask, Su Cheng could sense her disdain.
"Your Excellency, do you regret it?"
Those eight words alone held Su Cheng in their grip for a full half-incense stick. He remained silent for a long while.
Even as Dongfang Jue stood waiting outside the door, he remained silent, leaving him to wait there.
It was like that trolley problem: Suppose five people are tied to one track, and one person is tied to a spare track. A runaway trolley hurtles toward both tracks. You have a lever at your side. Pulling it would divert the trolley onto the spare track, killing that one person but saving the five.You could also do nothing, killing five people to save one.
When Su Cheng became the Supreme Leader, that lever seemed to be forcibly thrust into his hands.
Su Cheng had no choice but to make a decision between the masses and two individuals.
Su Cheng resented why he alone had to make such a choice.
"I promised Xun Ye I'd take her to see the dawn over Yichen Valley. I dispelled the smoke signals that had lingered there for a thousand years and ended the war that had raged in Linglang River for a millennium. Yet she will never see it."
"You broke your promise, didn't you?"
"Regrettably, yes. She will never see the dawn over Yichen Valley again."
"But you just said that to you, Shiyao stands above all others, didn't you?"
Su Cheng fell silent once more. This was an accusation, yet he found no words to respond.
"Heguang, have you gained weight?"
"Hmm, I really like the look on your face when you shut up. When you speak, it just makes me feel sick."
"Otherwise, maybe I should get a mask to wear too?"
Heguang slowly turned, drew his sword, and sliced through the air before him. Black mist instantly poured out, resembling a wormhole.
"My mask covers my face, and I can take it off. But can you still remove yours?"
"Or rather, can you even tell which one is the real you anymore?"
As the black mist gradually coalesced, Hakko's figure faded away, leaving Su Cheng alone to process his emotions.
This was precisely what Heguang desired—to immerse this man in regret!
He shouldn't be able to laugh!
This damned man deserved to be tormented, to die consumed by guilt toward Lord Xun Ye!
This shameless man deserved punishment to atone for the harm he inflicted upon Lord Gu Ai!
"Jue'er, come in."
Dongfang Jue entered and scanned the room carefully, but saw no sign of Heguang.
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