Chapter 29: Shadows of Submission

Sun Meng hesitated, his pride warring with his survival instinct. The imposing presence of Ye Tian, Zhou Lie, and Jiang Hao had reduced him to nothing more than a desperate man clutching at the last strands of control he thought he had.

The disciples who once stood behind Sun Meng now shifted uneasily, their loyalty wavering as they watched the scene unfold. Their eyes darted between Ye Tian's cold, commanding demeanor and the broken pride of their leader.

"Fine. You win," Sun Meng finally spat, his voice bitter but subdued.

Ye Tian straightened, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Wise choice. Now, you and your men will prove your loyalty."

Sun Meng's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

A Test of Allegiance

Ye Tian stepped back, gesturing towards Sun Meng's followers. "One of your men betrayed you earlier. Surely you noticed? Someone who's been eyeing your position, hoping you'd fall. Am I wrong?"

The murmurs among the group grew louder, and Sun Meng's face twisted with suspicion. He knew Ye Tian's words were a ploy, but there was truth buried in them. The undercurrent of dissent in his group had been growing ever since the trial began.

"Identify the traitor," Ye Tian commanded. "Prove your worth, Sun Meng, or I'll choose for you."

The tension among the group reached a boiling point. One of Sun Meng's followers, a wiry man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward. "Leader, it's not us you need to worry about. It's you. You've been dragging us down!"

Sun Meng's face darkened with rage. "You dare accuse me?"

The wiry man sneered. "Everyone here knows you're weak. If not for us, you'd have been dead a long time ago."

The Spark of Chaos

Before Sun Meng could respond, the wiry man lunged at him, his dagger gleaming in the dim light. The other followers hesitated, torn between intervening and letting the fight play out.

Sun Meng barely managed to dodge the attack, stumbling backward. "Traitor!" he roared, drawing his sword. The two clashed, their weapons ringing out in the tense silence.

Ye Tian watched the unfolding chaos with calculated detachment, his arms crossed as if the fight was a mere entertainment. Zhou Lie leaned in slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Should we step in?"

"Not yet," Ye Tian replied, his tone calm. "Let them weaken each other first. The strongest survivor will prove the most useful."

The Fall of Sun Meng

The fight between Sun Meng and his disloyal follower quickly turned brutal. Sun Meng's blows were heavy and desperate, while the wiry man's strikes were precise and relentless. The remaining followers began to murmur amongst themselves, some even drawing their weapons in case they needed to choose sides.

Eventually, Sun Meng landed a devastating blow to the wiry man's leg, sending him crashing to the ground. The traitor gritted his teeth, glaring up at Sun Meng. "Even if you kill me, they'll all turn on you eventually."

Sun Meng raised his sword for the final strike, but before he could deliver the blow, a dagger flew through the air, embedding itself in his shoulder. He cried out in pain, stumbling backward.

The remaining followers turned on him, their loyalty shattered by fear and greed. In moments, Sun Meng was overwhelmed, his once-loyal men delivering the final blows that ended his life.

The Aftermath

As the dust settled, the remaining disciples turned to Ye Tian, their expressions a mixture of fear and uncertainty. The wiry man struggled to his feet, clutching his wounded leg, and faced Ye Tian.

"You're the stronger one here," he said through gritted teeth. "What do you want from us?"

Ye Tian's icy gaze bore into the man. "Swear your loyalty to me, and you'll live. Refuse, and you'll follow your leader into the grave."

One by one, the remaining disciples knelt, their weapons discarded. The wiry man hesitated, but the cold steel of Zhou Lie's blade against his throat made the choice for him. He fell to his knees, bowing his head.

Ye Tian stepped forward, his presence suffocating. "Good. From now on, you answer to me. Betray me, and I'll ensure your death is far more painful than Sun Meng's."

Moving Forward

As Ye Tian's group departed, now bolstered by a handful of new followers, Zhou Lie glanced back at the bloody remains of Sun Meng's faction. "That was... efficient," he remarked.

Jiang Hao smirked. "Ye Tian always knows how to turn a situation to his advantage."

Ye Tian said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead. The trial was far from over, and he had no intention of letting his guard down. His group's reputation had grown, and so had the fear they inspired. But with greater power came greater risks—and Ye Tian relished every moment of it.

The Crimson Veil Ravine had become his domain, and every step he took brought him closer to the legacy he sought.