At first, Bai Zhen had assumed it was the Order's way of reaffirming them so that they would give their all for the Order once indentured into their service for life, but now, it seemed it was because they could very well be executed as soon as that very instant.
The couple's fight response triggered but they were sealed in place by the ascendant artifact's spirit and couldn't move an inch. It was like a middle-stage domain expert effortlessly held them in place. Their qi and movements were all sealed in an instant.
"It's a debt, Bai Zhen.." Yang Qing softly said as his eyes fell on the duo.
"My friend was among them.." he added as his gaze turned distant.
"And he doesn't have any family. Had he died at your hands, despite me being sympathetic to your plight, especially after hearing the whole story...