Chen Wo stared at the new intruder, his eyes narrowing as it stared deeply over Aaron's lifeless corpse.

"Branch master!" The remaining elders materialized before Chen Wo in a flash, forming a tight, defensive circle around him. Their robes fluttered in the residual winds of combat, faces etched with concern and readiness to strike.

"Who are you?" Chen Wo demanded, struggling to rise to his feet despite the agony ripping through his body. His severed arms lay nearby, blood pooling darkly on the cracked earth, staining the soil a deep crimson.

With no hands to brace himself and his legs weakened by deep wounds, he faltered, collapsing back down.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, mixing with grime and dried blood, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Urgh," Chen Wo groaned, the sound low and guttural, frustration mingling with the sharp stabs of pain that radiated from his injuries.

Qin Luo stepped forward quickly, offering a steady arm to support him. Her grip was firm yet gentle, helping to steady Chen Wo as he leaned heavily against her, his weight a testament to his depleted strength.

"Who are you?" Chen Wo repeated, his voice hoarse but insistent, locking eyes with the unknown man. Suspicion burned in his gaze, sharpened by the vulnerability of his current state.

"That's not necessary for now. I have to ensure he's never resurrecting," the man replied coolly, gripping one of his blades tightly. The weapon gleamed with a sinister edge, its chain links clinking softly as he moved with purposeful intent.

Using the blade, he tore open Aaron's chest with a swift, brutal motion, the flesh parting under the sharp steel. Blood welled up immediately, spilling over the edges of the wound in thick rivulets.

"He's a special being. An immortal. The best way to deal with him is to destroy his heart quickly after beheading him," the man explained, his tone matter-of-fact, like a seasoned hunter sharing hard-won knowledge. He then crushed Aaron's heart in his fist, the organ bursting with a wet, squelching sound, fragments dripping between his fingers.

"You must be careful. I don't think you have defeated him; he has a clone," Chen Wo warned urgently, his eyes darting around the desolate landscape as if expecting another Aaron to emerge from the shadows.

"It's fine. That's the real Aaron. He has a special mark on his stomach to separate him from his clones. This is the mark," the man assured, lifting Aaron's torn shirt to reveal a faint, intricate symbol etched into the skin, glowing faintly before fading.

Chen Wo examined it closely and nodded, accepting the explanation. Relief washed over his features, though pain still twisted his expression into a grimace.

"Thank you. I owe you my life," Chen Wo said, bowing his head slightly in respect, his voice carrying genuine gratitude amid the exhaustion.

"We can talk later. You don't look good. Let's look for someone to patch you up. Plus, knowing this guy from being my nemesis for so long, I'm sure his allies and friends will be rushing toward this very location soon. Let's get out of here; I'm going to help you escape," the man offered, scanning the horizon with wary eyes, the distant rumble of potential threats echoing in his mind.

"We don't need your help. We can take care of him by ourselves," Qin Luo rebutted firmly, stepping forward with crossed arms, her stance unyielding and protective. Her eyes flashed with distrust, the lines of her face hardened by loyalty to Chen Wo.

"I would have believed you, but seeing how battered he is while you guys were close to him says otherwise. But if you don't want my help, duly noted. I will be taking my leave," the man responded evenly, turning slightly as if preparing to depart, his chains rattling softly against his blades.

"Wait," Chen Wo called out to the man, his voice cutting through the tension. He extended a weak gesture, urging him to pause amid the swirling dust of the battlefield.

"King. My name is King," the man answered simply, his tone neutral, revealing nothing more than necessary. He stood tall, his figure cloaked in shadows that seemed to cling to him like a second skin.

"King, huh. I'm Chen Wo. I would love to repay you for your help. And it would be nice if you could tag along with us," Chen Wo offered, his words laced with a hint of alliance-building, despite the pain clouding his judgment.

"I simply got rid of an enemy, that's all. I will advise you guys to stay low for now. His allies are just as dangerous," King warned, his voice dropping to a grave whisper, emphasizing the lurking perils that could descend upon them at any moment.

"Then it will be best we move together in order to deal with the common enemy when the time comes," Chen Wo suggested, his mind already weaving strategies for future confrontations, even as his body screamed for rest.

"Branch master. We can't—"

Qin Luo tried to dissuade Chen Wo, her words tumbling out in a rush of concern, but she halted abruptly after he nodded her off with a dismissive gesture. The motion was weak, yet authoritative, silencing her protests.

"That's fine if it won't displease all of you. Plus, I really think you need to get healed as soon as possible," King advised, his gaze flicking over Chen Wo's mutilated form, noting the pallor of his skin and the steady loss of blood.

"He's right, branch master. We have to go see him. He has the best resources to help you," Qin Luo agreed reluctantly, aligning with King despite her lingering suspicions, her voice softening with worry for Chen Wo's well-being.

"Seeking help from him after I have been bested, lost my right to the successorship claim as well. Going to him will see me become a ridicule and mockery before his eyes," Chen Wo refused, pride flaring in his chest like a stubborn flame, his face contorting with the humiliation of the thought.

"My advice is that you do as she suggested. You can always reclaim all you have lost as long as you are not dead," King pressured further, his words carrying the weight of experience, urging survival over ego.

Although still keeping her guard up against him, she couldn't deny that King was doing a better job at convincing Chen Wo than the rest of them. His calm demeanor and logical arguments cut through the haze of pain and defiance.

"Alright. Let's go meet up with my brother," Chen Wo agreed finally, the decision settling over him like a heavy cloak, his shoulders slumping slightly in resignation.

"What about the girl and our plans?" Zhan Ji, one of the elders, asked, his brow furrowed with concern, glancing back at the direction of their unfinished mission.

"We will come back to finish what we started. For now, she would be monitored by Sean," Chen Wo instructed firmly, his voice regaining a sliver of command despite his weakened state. The elders nodded, gathering his severed arms carefully.

Before being carried away by the elders alongside his severed arms, Chen Wo cast one last glance at Aaron's corpse, a mix of triumph and lingering doubt in his eyes. The group moved swiftly, vanishing into the distance like ghosts fleeing the dawn.

After the departure of Chen Wo and his entourage, Aaron slipped out from an isolated space, emerging silently like a shadow detaching from the wall.

[Did you really have to do this?] The system queried Aaron, its tone laced with skepticism, echoing in his mind like a distant whisper.

"Yeah, I do. If I am to complete the system quests, I need to know where the rest of the cultivators are. I can't be searching the entire universe for them," Aaron explained patiently, his eyes scanning the empty battlefield, ensuring no stragglers remained.

[Could have just used a shadow, and pretend to slip away rather than using King.]

"That won't work. The destruction aura from his blade neutralized the shadow during our battle. If he has someone on his side with the same means, I might lose them, hence the little script," Aaron said, a sly smile curving his lips as he recalled the orchestrated deception.

[And King was your best bet?]

"Yup. He is cunning and good at playing pretend, the perfect man for the job," Aaron answered, his words revealing a hidden truth that Chen Wo and the others remained blissfully oblivious to. The revelation hung in the air, underscoring the layers of strategy at play.

The fact that King's actions were a perfectly staged performance, meticulously designed to earn the trust of Chen Wo, unfolded in Aaron's mind like a well-rehearsed play.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.