Chapter 134 Cries and Silent Agony
"Stealing imperial property... The punishment awaiting is death. Bind and take him away. He will be hanged tomorrow," declared Long Xuan.
Shi Huang remained silent. With all the clear evidence, he could no longer defend Qin Chen. Some Elders even believed that Qin Chen deserved the punishment.
Qin Chen's eyes widened, a tumult of emotions swirling within him – disbelief, anger, hatred, and frustration merging into a storm.
Surrendering the Heartblade of Guo Jian to Long Tian, he realized he had fallen right into Long Tian's cunning trap!
He felt akin to a helpless prey, unwittingly digging its own grave.
Confronted with death before his eyes, fear and despair enveloped him. He didn't want to die!
The imperial soldiers bound Qin Chen with ropes. However, as they were about to leave, a voice stopped them.
"Wait!"
The voice made everyone turn their gaze to its source.
Long Tian narrowed his eyes; it was Han Yuan.
"Old man, do you still want to protect Qin Chen after what he has done?" he said coldly.
Han Yuan stepped forward, his expression dignified. "On another day, I made an oath that all Elders and sect leader heard; if Qin Chen caused trouble, I was ready to be executed! I beseech you, General Xuan, spare Qin Chen!" he implored, his words carrying a weight of sincerity.
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. The Elders who remembered Han Yuan's words from that day were equally astonished. Qin Chen himself widened his eyes, his gaze fixed on Han Yuan in utter disbelief.
However, Long Xuan remained impassive. "That's a matter between you and the Wudang sect. The boy stole imperial property, making it the empire's concern," he declared.
"What if I were to tell you that I provided all the information about the Heartblade to Qin Chen? I explained what it was, where it was, and ultimately guided him to the conflict between the alliance and the Golden Star sect," Han Yuan revealed.
Upon hearing this revelation, astonishment rippled through the assembly once more.
Long Xuan advanced a step. "If you're admitting to that, it implies you're unafraid of death. Are you truly willing to defend that young man with your life?" he inquired, his tone firm and unwavering.
"It's my responsibility. As a guardian, an educator, an Elder, and a man... I am prepared to bear the consequences. Release Qin Chen and carry out my execution!" Han Yuan declared fearlessly.
Upon hearing these words, Qin Chen's eyes widened further, and he struggled to break free. However, the imperial soldiers held him firmly.
Shi Huang stepped forward. "General Xuan, this is the plea of someone who has been loyal to me for decades. Can't you honor his request? I am willing to be the one to end his life, but please, release Qin Chen," he urged.
Faced with this dilemma, Long Xuan fell silent for a moment. Then he made his decision, "Very well, Han Yuan, you will face execution. As for the young man, his cultivation base must be destroyed! Only then will I release him," he declared.
A weighty silence descended upon the room after Long Xuan's pronouncement. Even Long Xuan himself believed it was the most judicious course of action.
Han Yuan's face was pallid, yet he was thankful that Long Xuan had been willing to heed his words.
"Then, step forward. Shi Huang, you mentioned you would carry out Han Yuan's execution personally?" Long Xuan inquired.
"Yes, General Xuan. It is my duty as well, as the leader of the sect, for failing to anticipate and prevent this situation," Shi Huang responded.
Long Xuan nodded, and with that, Han Yuan knelt down, while Shi Huang drew his sword.
Qin Chen thrashed violently, his anguished cries drowned by the torrent of tears streaming down his face, as he bore witness to Han Yuan's forced submission before the cruel hands of fate.
Han Yuan, his mentor and benefactor—someone who had bestowed upon him knowledge, enlightenment, and precious cultivation resources. Yet, in return, he offered a death sentence.
Inside him, an inferno of agony blazed, the echoes of his wretched screams mirroring the devastation consuming his soul.
In that chilling moment, Han Yuan's eyes met his, their depths filled with unspoken understanding. "Live well, Qin Chen," Han Yuan whispered, a solemn farewell.
"Proceed," Long Xuan's voice sliced through the air like a blade.
With ruthless precision, Shi Huang's sword descended, severing Han Yuan's head in a gruesome display of brutality.
Slash!
Qin Chen's heart shattered into a million pieces, his torment deepening as the lifeless body of the man who had shaped his destiny crumpled to the ground, headless and forsaken.
His eyes widened in sheer horror, tears flowing freely, staining his cheeks. Beneath the cloth gag in his mouth, he screamed, the sound muffled but carrying the weight of his overwhelming emotions—a mixture of profound sadness, seething anger, soul-crushing despair, and gut-wrenching regret enveloping him like a suffocating shroud.
The Elders of the Wudang sect averted their eyes, unable to bear the sight of Han Yuan's lifeless form. Han Yuan, renowned for his kindness and endless patience, had met his demise due to the actions of his own disciple.
Amidst the turmoil, Shi Huang stood tall and dignified, his respect unwavering. This was Han Yuan's choice, and Shi Huang honored it, even in the face of such brutal consequences.
Meanwhile, Long Tian felt a tumultuous blend of disappointment and relief. Han Yuan was dead—one obstacle eradicated. Yet, his disappointment loomed large because Qin Chen hadn't met the fate of death he believed he deserved. However, he wasn't sure if Qin Chen would truly die since he had the teleportation disc.
As Qin Chen continued to struggle and sob, the relentless imperial soldiers showed no mercy, denying him even a moment to mourn. They forcibly lifted him to his feet, their grip unyielding, their faces indifferent to his agony.
The punishment didn't cease at Han Yuan's execution; it extended to the very core of Qin Chen's being. His cultivation base, a testament to his hard-earned strength, was marked for destruction.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath the weight of unseen forces. The jade necklace adorning Qin Chen's neck radiated a brilliant golden light, soaring to such heights that it dazzled and eclipsed everything in its vicinity.
The radiant glow gradually dimmed, and the onlookers began to reclaim their vision.
Yet, Qin Chen had completely disappeared!
A collective gasp filled the air; bewilderment and perplexity clouded their minds.
"Where did he go?!"
"Damn it, he disappeared? How is that even possible?"
"Search for him!"
Conversations buzzed frenziedly, the crowd grappling with the enigma of Qin Chen's abrupt vanishing act.
Shi Huang and Long Xuan mirrored the shock etched on every face. Cultivators of the Golden Core realm should have been adept at sensing each other's presence, yet Qin Chen had utterly and mysteriously evaporated from their perception.
Meanwhile, Long Tian had harbored suspicions that such an event might unfold. However, his power had not fully returned, rendering him helpless to intervene.
He had resigned himself to the fact that Qin Chen wouldn't be found. As the teleportation disc activated, Qin Chen had undoubtedly been transported to a distant location.
Overwhelmed by exhaustion and pain, he eventually collapsed, slipping into unconsciousness.
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