Chapter 1090: Malice

Proofreader: Papatonks

Hu~

A huge bird of hundreds of meters was perched on a cliff in Allbeast Mountain Range, black as night and eyes like ice.  On its head was a mote of azure flickering about, the Chaos Flame. Such a beast was being deferential.

A tall man stood before it, taking his finger out of the azure flame, none other than Vaulting Kunpeng. 

Cough~…

The huge bird coughed twice, then tested its human speech. Its eyes shone with joy, its face smiling as it bowed before the man, “Thank you, master, for imparting me your wisdom. I shall never forget such kindness.”

“I’m only doing this because I have a certain need for you.”

Kunpeng sighed, “Midnight War Owl, you’re a 9th level imperial beast like Three-heads and I’ve been considering you along with it when I chose my aide. Now you shall represent me when leading the beasts.”

Shivering, Midnight War Owl looked baffled, “M-master, brother Three-heads said he’ll be back soon. When it sees me, it…”

“Ha-ha, what a good friend you are…”

Kunpeng shook his head, “It won’t be joining us, I fear. That’s why I had you take his place…”

“Then brother…”

“The azure flame I give you is my seal. I know its condition better than anyone. That old Sea Ao spared no pretense, even taking down my aide. Then again, old dragon should feel the same thing about me, ha-ha-ha…”

Kunpeng paced around, turning to watch the clear moon hanging high in the sky. The thought of someone from the mortal domain making away with Three-heads never crossed his mind, not since it was a 9th level imperial beast he raised, pinning all the blame on Sea Ao. 

“War Owl, Sea Ao used to be the simplest and closest to humans among us five sacred beasts. But with deeper ties, the cut is deep once broken. He gave his sincerity and was rewarded with betrayal. Now his heart is filled with hatred, a malice he can’t ever let go of. Zhuo Fan stands no chance in talking any sense to a vindictive lunatic. Ha-ha-ha, my own envoy got killed even. Now they only have themselves to rely on.” 

Kunpeng’s eyes had a strange glimmer as he watched the moon.

War Owl sighed at the demise of his brother. it turned to the moon as well, its gaze ladened with the pain of loss and just a glimmer of hope.

[Three-heads died in this mission. I only hope it is completed so its death won’t be in vain.] 

It prayed for Zhuo Fan to pull through.

The bright moon glow basked every corner of Allbeast Mountain, as well as the chaotic war near the North Sea. It sent the prayer deep into the black fog and onto a pensive man. 

[Should I trust him or not?]

Zhuo Fan was thinking hard on his decision, looking from the exit of Sea Ao’s domain to Qiao’er’s hopeful eyes. 

It might very well be his hardest decision yet.

Facing a totally unfamiliar and untrustworthy opponent, he had no leverage to lean on, no control. Any choice had a real chance of ruining everything.

By distrusting Sea Ao, he and Qiao’er would only avoid the problem, with a high chance of breaking it off with Sea Ao here and now, never to meet again and leaving young Sanzi helpless.

But by giving young Sanzi to him, Sea Ao might take its fury and malice on young Sanzi. Zhuo Fan had heard it loud and clear, the true feelings Sea Ao’s earlier speech contained. 

Zhuo Fan was at an impasse, unable to see any viable option.

“Kid, I see you’re hesitating so I won’t force you. You can go.”

“Father!”

Sea Ao urged and Qiao’er was being impatient.

Whoosh~

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shot open just then and young Sanzi’s unconscious form appeared in this world of ice. He wore a gentle smile, free of pain and suffering.

“Senior Sea Ao, he is Qilin’s son. I ask senior to lend aid in saving his life. I will be eternally grateful!”

“Qilin? How did his son become yours?” Sea Ao’s voice echoed from all directions in surprise.

Zhuo Fan cupped his hands, “He is my godson and we depend on each other.”

“Humph, godson?”

Heaven Sealing Sea Ao mocked, “You even took him in. I can overlook taking the girl with the Thunder Phoenix’s legacy, but now you have a true Qilin as godson? Planning on rearing them so you can one day rule the world? He-he, you sure know how to curry favor, taking them under your wing at their worst for you to use great sacred beasts when you need it most. You’re the most deceitful human I’ve ever seen.”

Zhuo Fan did not refute, nodding, “Yes, those were my thoughts as well.”

“Were? Don’t tell me they’re gone now.”

“They are my son and daughter, nothing more.”

“Lies!”

Sea Ao howled, “There’s no wretched being out there as humans. They’ll even turn on their flesh and blood, let alone others. You took them in so you can use them!”

Zhuo Fan chuckled and shook his head, “I won’t deny it. I had that idea. As a family, children ought to obey their parents, no? By not letting them come to danger and being close to one another, our bond as father and son remains close, and also virtuous. I don’t hurt them but give them my love and care, completely worth it.” 

“Bullshit, you’re just using them!”

The air shimmered and rumbling of avalanches were heard. Sea Ao was mad, “Cunning human, you have nothing but excuses. Using such cheap love on sacred beasts like us is utterly vile!”

Qiao’er was about to argue when Zhuo Fan shook his head to stop her.

Zhuo Fan went on, casually, “Senior Sea Ao has been around since antiquity but still can’t see that the world is always in balance? Even when it comes to love, I gave them a family, a father. It’s only natural to give their lives in exchange. Now’s no different. Save the Qilin and I am yours to send on any task senior Sea Ao wishes without so much as a complaint.

“Sir is now stuck in this place, like a prisoner. But worry not, I have the solution. It won’t be long before the mortal domain will be broken and get you free. Seniors Kunpeng and Dragon Ancestor are behind me all the way as well. You may distrust me, but what about them?”

“Rotten human, always looking to bargain. Those old fools must be blind to put their trust in a bastard like you. I won’t make that mistake. I never trusted a human again, not since I have been imprisoned here.

Following the roar, a deep cold shot for Zhuo Fan’s head.

Qiao’er shot to defend him but something slammed into her and was flung a mile away. 

Hu~

Biting and icy winds whistled past Zhuo Fan. Qiao’er flipped four times before she could stop, looking stunned at the sight. 

Zhuo Fan was encased in ice, frozen and dead. There was no sign of life coming from him. He was stuck with his arm out, like all those stiff bodies trapped in the ice below them. 

“Father…”

Qiao’er muttered, then wailed at the top of her lungs, “Father!”

Zhuo Fan was deaf in the block of ice, his eyes blank, his face flat.

“Hi-hi-hi…”

Sea Ao cackled from all around, “It’s no use, little Thunder Phoenix. When I seal a human, even their souls are trapped. He’s no different from a corpse, unable to see or hear. With time, his life will ebb, turning into another one of my samples, hi-hi-hi…”

“Damn it! Heaven Sealing Sea Ao, give my father back now!”

Qiao’er shook from pain, her heart torn. Rage took her then as she roared at the air, “Harm him in any way and I vow to take your life!”

“Hi-hi-hi, how spunky!”

Sea Ao patronized, “Little Thunder Phoenix, I can squash you as easy as a bug the way you are now. But even in your prime, no sacred beast can beat another anyway, ha-ha-ha…” 

“Why you…”

“However…”

Sea Ao switched tunes when she began, “You have a choice. Didn’t you come to save the young Qilin? You now get to decide who lives and dies, the human or the Qilin? Hi-hi-hi…”