Chi You's Execution

The Heavenly Court's plaza was set abuzz, the execution of one of their own was a rare occasion, even more so that the person about receive the verdict of death was a Transcendant.

Guanyin, the current ruler of the court, sat high up with full view of what was about to transpire below. Her robes were white and plain but exuded otherworldly elegance, achieved through her immaculate beauty. Her hair, raven colored with accessories slotted with the most expensive of gems. The urna marking in her forehead told of her connection to this universe's supreme being.

From behind Guanyin seated the 13. The pride of the Heavenly Court, dubbed to be this realm's strongest.

The 1st seat, Haojun, with his short and orange hair asked a question...

"Shall we begin, your majesty?" His voice, dignified and tempered, the orange haired man showed no hesitation in executing his friend.

Guanyin's eye darted to the third seat, finding it empty. Guanyin clicked her tongue, that woman is really testing her nerves! Oh yeah, Bao was missing too, it seemed.

Suddenly, 3 had jumped from below, landing flawlessly to kneel in front of the Empress.

"Forgive us for our tardiness, your majesty." Zhen spoke.

"Just take your seats, we have been delayed for half an hour thanks to you both." With a single wave of her hand Guanyin dismissed them.

Qiuyue separated from them, as she wasn't a Transcendant yet, her strength still wasn't mighty enough to challenge even a single seat.

Zhen and Bao, strode past the Empress throne.

But unlike Bao who was able to take his allotted seat quite easily, Zhen was grabbed by the wrist by their ruler, halting her walk.

"You reek of another woman." Guanyin pointed out, her tone calm, hiding the spite underneath it.

"Forgive me, your majesty, but I do not see how that is any of your business."

The insolence of this Zhen! After looking the other way when she dubbed herself 'Ice Empress', after she ignored the reports of the suspicion about Zhen's propensity for Dual Cultivation, calling for her removal as the third seat. Guanyin will not stand for it. The Empress' property should be the Empress' alone, none should be able to lay their hand on it.

"We shall speak of this after the execution, come to my chamber once this is over." Guanyin commanded.

A sly grin appeared on Zhen's face, Guanyin was indeed cute when she is jealous.

"As you wish, your Majesty."

With that, Zhen took the third seat.

Greeting Zhen with a warm smile was the second seat, Long Huang. A handsome man with flowing golden hair, wearing grey robes with the dragon head insignia of the Long clan in his right breast.

"You know, if it was only Bao that had been late, I'm sure Guanyin's fury would have rained upon him."

Zhen tilted her head in amusement, "Oh, are you insinuating something, brother Huang?"

"Haiya, I know what your are, Sister Zhen. Don't think you can hide from us your relationship with her excellency." Huang turned to his other close friend, the one on the first seat. "Isn't that right, brother Haojun?"

"I care not about what Zhen does with her majesty." Haojun answered.

"You should follow Haojun's example and mind your own affairs, brother Huang."

"Wow, you are no fun, brother Haojun. And you sister Zhen, I bet you would be kinder to me if I was a woman."

Barring their supreme sovereign, Guanyin, these three are heralded as the strongest in the entire Heavenly Realm. Due to being peerless in their might, the three had fostered a close sense of camaraderie.

A closeness that extended to even before they were seated at the court. Huang being in love with Haojun's sister, and Zhen having trained under the Long clan for some time in mastering her draconic arts.

"Haojun, it is time." Guanyin's voice commanded.

"Thy will shall be done, your majesty."

+++

Haojun's black robe swayed as he made the jump into the ground below, landing gracefully as if he didn't came for such a height.

Laid in the armory rack were the weapons of execution. A ruler that can flatten one's head in a single strike, a guillotine to sever it, and a Bagua Dao to simply hack it off.

All three had one thing in common. It would ensure that the cultivator's wound to be fatal, preventing regeneration.

Now, what weapon shall Haojun use to snuff out the life of his old friend?

Haojun grabbed the weighty Bagua Dao, swinging it effortlessly.

And then, he was brought in.

His hair red as the color of blood, a man bound in chains, covered in restricting talismans made by Guanyin to ensure he can't use his qi.

Yet even with all the bindings he can't hide his fowl qi. He emitted an aura of pure murder, he emitted the aura of a demonic cultivator.

The 20 cultivators forced him to his knees, removing his gag to reveal a crazed smile.

"Chi You, it's been a while. You don't look so good."

"Nonsense, Haojun! I am brimming with power! Even with Guanyin's talismans you should be able to sense my cultivation! The blood of the wicked courses through me!"

Haojun sighed. It looks like his old friend was too far gone. Once the greatest Enforcer in dealing with demonic cultivators, Chi You had now fallen to the same trappings of those he hunt. The only difference was that Chi You's target were solely demonic cultivators. To eradicate evil, Chi You vowed to became an even greater one that devoured the lesser ones.

A demonic cultivator that hunted demonic cultivators.

But the Heavenly Court would not allowed the sacrilege of a demonic cultivator belonging in their ranks.

"I told you that your overzealousness would be the death of you." Haojun wryly smiled. He could only do so to comfort the final moments of his old friend.

"Enough talk, do your job, executioner! I may perish but my legacy shall live on! One of these days, someone will rise in my stead and rid all the realms of these demonic pests!"

Bagua Dao in hand, Haojun was ready to grant Chi You's wish.

Raising his massive blade up high, flames engulfed it in entirety. Chi You's pyre was ready, it was now time for his funeral rites.

"In honor of your past services as the best enforcer against Demonic Cultivators, the Heavenly Court shall free you from the disgrace you have turned into, granting you a swift death."

With one swing, the execution's blade descended, severing Chi You's head from his body.

+++

After the sordid scene, Xiao was jolted awake.

It would appear that she had peered into some of her master's memory.

<<Is something the matter, Xiao?>>

With Liuming peacefully sleeping right next to her, Xiao hushed her tone since Liuming needed to rest. After all, they still have a wedding to crash later on.

"Your past, master, I caught glimpses of it."

<<So it has manifested. It is a side effect of our union. It would appear that the bond between our souls are deepens. What visions have you seen?>>

"Something about Da Ji and Guanyin, there was an execution of some sort." Qiuyue was indeed telling the truth, her master's harem was a cut above! Nevertheless, Xiao's would never trade her women for anything in this realm.

Recalling it in vivid detail put a smile on Zhen's spectral lips.

"Ah, those two. It was likely the beginning of Da Ji and I's relationship. Maybe you will catch a glimpse when they met, it is total mayhem, I am telling you."

It was pure disaster back then, but now, Zhen looked back at it with fondness for it paved the way for the two to becoming friends.

"Is Guanyin still alive? Shouldn't you request her aid so you don't have to run?"

The fondness in Zhen's tone disappated, replaced instead by scorn.

"Guanyin is dead, Haojun murdered her."