Chapter 74: Let Him Think I’m Obedient!
As Cloudia effortlessly dismantled the leader's subordinates, their cries of pain and desperation echoing through the mist, Reon turned his attention to the leader himself.
Blow after precise blow landed with ruthless efficiency, breaking the man's defenses and reducing him to a pitiful state.
Bloodied and battered, the leader could barely remain on his knees, much less stand, as Reon loomed over him like a dark specter.
On the sidelines, the little white tiger watched intently, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and frustration. Her claws flexed against the earth as she let out a soft growl, she previously wanted to join the fray and prove her strength.
But Cloudia, ever the guardian and mentor, wasn't about to let that happen. With a flick of her tail and a sharp glance, she stepped between the white tiger and the chaos. Her stance was firm, almost regal, as if to say, "This is my fight, little one. Watch and learn."
Cloudia moved with a grace and ferocity that left no room for doubt. Her strikes were calculated, each one a showcase of her mastery over the mist and her lethal prowess.
The little tiger sat back, her frustration slowly giving way to admiration as she watched Cloudia dominate the battlefield.
"If she fights now," Reon thought, casting a quick glance toward the tiger, "Cloudia won't be able to flaunt her full strength as a senior."
The fog began to clear, revealing the aftermath of the battle. The subordinates lay scattered and unconscious, their weapons and pride abandoned in the dirt.
The leader, trembling and barely clinging to consciousness, desperately tried to crawl backward, his wide, terror-stricken eyes locked on Reon, who loomed over him like an unyielding shadow.
The young white tiger sat silently, her gaze shifting between Reon and the battered leader kneeling before him. For the first time in this life, a flicker of understanding crossed her eyes. These weren't just protectors; they were something more.
A memory stirred within her—fragmented and distant, remnants of a past she had long left behind.
It was a something that had led her here, in search of clues to something deeply significant she had lost and had also driven her to bond with Xue Taiyang, becoming his contracted beast. For now, however, she would observe and learn.
Reon stood tall amidst the defeated Inner Sect disciples, his Sword Aura now calm, though his presence still radiated authority. His eyes fixed on the leader, who knelt trembling before him.
Despite the group's defeat, the task was not yet marked as complete. That could only mean one thing: the young tiger's life was still in danger.
The leader broke the silence, spitting out his words with a mix of defiance and despair. "What are you staring at? If you're going to kill us, just do it! At least death would be better than enduring this humiliation!"
Reon's gaze didn't waver. His tone was cold and deliberate. "I'm not going to kill you... not if you do exactly what I tell you to do."
The leader hesitated, his eyes darting between Reon and the swirling fog that still clung to the battlefield. His voice faltered. "Y-you won't kill us? Fine, fine... I'll do whatever you say."
But as he bowed his head in submission, his thoughts told a different story.
"Heh, all I have to do is play along with what he says for now. Once I'm back at the sect, it'll be a different story. Does this bastard really think he can humiliate me like this and get away with it? No matter what it takes, I'll make sure he pays for this tenfold," the leader thought, his mind seething with vengeful determination.
His lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk before he spoke again. "What do you want from me? I'll do it."
Reon's eyes narrowed as he studied the man's expression, his instincts warning him to tread carefully. Still, he laid out his demands. "You're going to keep everything that happened here to yourself. When you return, tell Niu Ling you found nothing in the Mystic Evergreen Forest—that I likely died there. And most importantly, you will say nothing about the White Tiger. Not a word. Is that clear?"
The leader's head was bowed, but inside, his thoughts churned with spite and cunning.
"Hah, this fool. Does he honestly think I'll comply? I'll expose everything after returning to the sect—his pet's strength and the White Tiger. Young Master Niu will send even stronger subordinates to deal with him, and with this information, I'll earn his trust... maybe even a place in his family. That'll be my revenge. I'll make sure to watch as you're crushed beneath the weight of Niu Ling's wrath."
"But for now," the leader thought with a smirk hidden by his bowed head, "I'll agree to everything he say. Let him think I'm obedient."
The leader raised his head slightly, nodding with an air of false urgency. "Of course, Brother Xue. I'll do exactly as you say. I won't breathe a word to Young Master Niu or anyone else. If I do, may I bring disgrace upon my ancestors."
His tone carried the weight of an oath, but the faint gleam in his eyes betrayed the insincerity lurking beneath the surface.