Protecting Azron

Xuhua, a large market nestled between the proud mountains standing tall and defensive around it. It was the busiest market around the sect, a source of livelihood for the lowclass mortals who didn't indulge in cultivation or seek immortality. Instead, they chose to live out their lives as mundane as possible and sought only one thing, wealth.

A large river snaked its way beside Xuhua, ensuring that the mortals had fish to catch and water to use. When the sun was cruel, the mortals prayed to the immortals and gods, going as far as sacrificing virgins in exchange for harvests and rain.

This was their way of life, and nobody had dared question it.

"Master!" Azron called out to the young man walking ahead along the busy street of Xuhua. The noises from all around cluttered the air, making it almost impossible to have a quiet conversation.

  'Jade bracelet, buy these beauties for your beauty!'

'Fresh fish from the lake. The gods bless us. Only one gold coin!'

   'Come closer boy, take a look at these hairpins. They will look good on your beautiful white hair,' one vendor motioned for Surrdon, hoping he would spend his money on the fake pins. He had recognized him from his uniform, the disciples from the sects were always proud but stupid when it came to finance. He wanted to milk out Surrdon's to his last penny.

But Surrdon had already sensed the evil energy coming from him. His demonic eyes could see the black aura hovering above him, a clear sign that the vendor had no good intentions, as most of the old men and women selling their things on this street.

      He was about to walk away when a ray of sunlight fell on a red hairpin. It looked extraordinary and feminine. There was something about it that made Surrdon feel pulled to it.

He gave in to the attraction and went closer, his eyes fixated on that particular pin. "How much is this?" He pointed at it.

   "Ah! That is about..." He hesitated, weighing Surrdon with his money-hungry eyes, "-fifty silver coins."

"Fifty?" Even though he did not have much knowledge about the currency in Ozath, he could feel the old man was overcharging him. All the pins looked old and worn out especially the jade pins. But this red one that had captured all his attention was made out of some kind of wood, and had ruby flowers attached to it.

     "Mas-" Azron heaved finally catching up to him. Her forehead was covered by a layer of sweat, which caught Surrdon's attention.

He faced her and then glanced at the hairpin. "Pay him."

  Her heavy breathing slowed down and she nodded before moving her hands quickly to fetch her cream-white purse. "How much is it?" She asked the old man who now had his predatorial eyes on her. "Senior? How much is this-"

     "Oh-ah! I'll sell it to you for only twenty silver coins."

Surrdon frowned facing the aged man behind the stall. "You just sai-"

   "It's a blessed day, I can be accommodating." A crooked grin spread on his lips, his eyes still glued on Azron.

The perversion made Surrdon feel like throwing up on the pins. He thought this world would be a little different in terms of the old preying on the young. Seemed he was utterly wrong. Azron was about to hand over the money when Surrdon snatched the coins from her hand and tossed them among the pins.

   "You..." He pointed an accusing finger at him, "-you're just a young man, how dare you act so spoiled and disrespectful?" The old man yelled, his eyes burning into Surrdon's for an explanation regarding his rude actions.

    Surrdon leaned closer to the stall, "If you respected yourself enough, I would respect you too."

   "Boy, outside the sky there is sky, outside of people there are people. You can be arrogant for a while before you meet-"

  Surrdon slapped him without any warning, making the old man gasp in shock as he brought his hand to massage the assaulted cheek.

Azron smiled to herself. It was so rare to see her Master lower himself to defend her against a mere vendor.

    But this could cause a commotion if the people around them noticed. She turned around and quickly cast an illusion behind them to hide the real action going on. To any curious eye, they would only see Surrdon buying the pin.

    "Reverse illusion," she said letting out her mana.

It crawled in the air like tendrils until it formed a thin wall.

   "You dare slap this old man? Aren't you afraid I will report you to your elders?"

   "Oh?!" Surrdon grinned. "You'll be dead before you ascend the mountain. Respect yourself and refrain from ever eyeing women with those lustful eyes or I will come back and pluck them out, do you understand?" He let out a trace of his demonic scent and let it penetrate the old man.

The wrinkles on his face deepened as dark fear crept inside of him like flaming worms had invaded his chest.

Due to his predecessor, his body was full of vile and terrifying demonic scents. A wisp of it was enough to drive a normal mortal insane. Cultivators could fight his scent, but it would still affect them.

    The old man started wailing, running his nails down his face, leaving trails of bloody scratches. He pushed the pins off the stall and started whacking his forehead on the surface. Surrdon then retracted his hold on the poor man's senses. "If you breathe a word of this to anyone, or dare approach any sect for help, I'll let you run mad till you die."

His threat held as much gravity as if he were threatening the people who used to mock him on earth.

    "I'm sorry. I'm sorry Junior. Please forgive this old and unknowledgeable dying man. Please let me live out the remaining of my days as a mortal."

  Surrdon had long torn his attention from him and was busy picking up the pin from the ground. He straightened, brushing the flowers on his clothes to clean the dust before turning around to face a blushing Azron.

Acting as if he didn't notice the blush, Surrdon slid the pin in her hair. It matched her blue hair to perfection.

      "Tha-thank you, Master," she said coyly, her gaze on the ground while her fingers dug into her palms from the anxiety attacking her.

She wanted to scream out to the world how elated she felt from such a simple action.

   "Let's go." Surrdon placed a hand on her back and directed her away from the perverted old man. Why had he felt the burning urge to protect Azron? Did the previous Demon Lord like her?