Rivers of the Night

Chapter 793: Vice

Master Uyon’s heart sank. He already knew it was too late now. No matter what they did, there would be no going back.

Uyon himself was a Saint, but he had already ended up in this situation. Ironically enough, if his disciple were here, these things wouldn’t have happened so easily.

The last time he had seen Ayame, she had successfully managed a smooth breakthrough into the King Realm after holding back for so long. But she could at best hold her own against the weakest Chosen.

Many speculated that once she returned from this mission, not only would she have the right to challenge for a position amongst a Demon Prince faction, but she would also have the strength to defeat a Chosen of the Demon Duke as well.

But that was where their problems began.

In Uyon’s opinion, it was likely that the Demon Duke Urong wanted Ayame as a member of his Chosen and was offended by the fact she wanted to progress to a Demon Prince territory so badly. But it would be unbecoming of a Demon Duke to personally take charge of such a thing, so he just allowed his underlings and Chosen to handle it.

Master Uyon had then been sentenced with trumped-up charges, and maybe the only reason he hadn’t already been killed was because they were all waiting for Ayame to finally get back.

They hoped that she would cross a line too. By then, the Demon Duke Urong would have reasons to force her to stay behind and become one of his Chosen.

Theron didn’t know any of this, but he had his own guesses... guesses that he didn’t really care about right now because he was looking toward Chosen Inshwelu with a curious smile.

The Chosen looked practically like twins with his younger brother. The only difference was in their expressions. They both had the same deathly pale skin, the same handsome features, the same hovering horns.

However, while Lenwu had tried his best to emulate his elder brother’s arrogant air and self-confident righteousness, it had instead made him look like a pompous asshole.

By comparison, Inshwelu radiated an air that only those truly confident in themselves could have. His confidence was written in spades, his eyes hiding a murderous intent within them that could cut diamond.

"I can hold him off for a short time, but in that time, you will need to run. You have to make me a promise, though," Uyon said through gritted teeth.

Theron looked back toward Uyon. "Yeah? And what’s that?" He truly seemed curious.

"You have to return when you are strong enough and help Ayame break free. Please."

"Oh?" Theron smiled. "Honestly, I think you’re underestimating her a bit."

Uyon blinked, and then he was suddenly enraged. He hadn’t been enraged when he was captured, when he was publicly tortured, not even when Theron had ignored his warnings earlier.

But right now he was.

He had raised Ayame from the moment she was a child. Who was Theron to tell him that he was underestimating her?!

Theron wasn’t put off by Uyon’s rage, though. In fact, his smile remained just as gentle as always.

"I wasn’t with her for long, but she’s resourceful. I also don’t think you realize just how difficult Demon Duke tests are. Their difficulty is already set so that Chosen will have a hard time completing them. And how many has she completed by now?"

"This isn’t a Demon Duke mission! This is the—" Uyon stopped himself before he blurted out the quiet part. If he said that this was the will of the Demon Duke, there would be no going back. At that point, the Demon Duke might already have enough reason to step in personally by right of slander.

"This is the guy you’re worried about, right?" Theron pointed at Inshwelu. "In my opinion, he’s kind of weak."

Uyon’s pupils constricted into pinholes, but Theron had already leapt from Alpha’s back. He stood across from Inshwelu, the height difference so stark the top of his head only barely came up to the Chosen’s chin.

Yet, Theron didn’t seem perturbed by this in the slightest, while Inshwelu’s self-confidence bloomed like a trembling sun. He wouldn’t take a step back—certainly not for this.

They both vanished at the same time, and Inshwelu didn’t bother to say a single word. As far as he was concerned, his fists would speak for themselves.

BOOM.

A reverberating clash echoed through the air and waves nearly flattened every building beneath.

BOOM.

A second clash echoed, but then it was quickly followed by a third as a body crashed into the ground below. Waves of stone and dirt shot up into the air, rolling like the ocean as they flattened more buildings.

Screams filled the air as the population scattered, their fear painted on their expressions as they rushed to avoid being part of the collateral damage.

A figure tried to crawl out of the hole, but a second one fell from above, pressing a foot almost lightly to their back. And yet, the latter couldn’t even begin to move at all.

When Uyon saw who was who—the dust clearing almost too slowly for his liking—his already constricted pupils nearly tightened so much his eye sockets almost popped.

"You see, I’ve been trying to be a better person, and this last year and more has been quite therapeutic in a lot of ways. The problem is... I’m still human, and I still have my flaws. Whenever I see a Spirit Mancer, I just can’t help but want to separate their head from their shoulders.

"I guess you might call this a vice."

Theron’s voice echoed as a blade of water formed in the air and fell like a guillotine.

The echo of another voice from the distance didn’t have time to make it—or be registered by another—before Inshwelu’s head rolled off to the side.

The man didn’t stand a single chance. He had hardly lasted one casual exchange.