Chapter 1623: Betrayal
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Before Situ Ming came here, he had thought of many possibilities. He even thought King Qian’s estate had annihilated the Dark Nether Sect and captured, Ye Feng, the Sect Leader of Dark Nether Sect.
However, judging by the current situation, this was clearly not the case.
It did not cross his mind that Ye Feng would betray him and persuade him to defect to King Qian’s faction.
Situ Ming took a deep breath. He glared at Ye Feng before he looked at King Qian and bluntly said, “Imperial Highness King Qian, if this is the reason why you requested my presence, you’ll have to excuse me for not being able to stay for long.”
What a joke!
He had devoted his entire life to become the ruler of Situ Clan. Although he had lost to Situ Hao, he had not given up yet. He wanted to help his son to replace Situ Hao’s son in becoming the next Clan Leader of Situ Clan. Then, he would be able to rule the Situ Clan in the dark. His entire life had been devoted to working hard in order to become the ruler of Situ Clan.
If he betrayed the Situ Clan, he would become a traitor in the clan, and he would never be able to rule Situ Clan. Moreover, all his effort would have been in vain if he betrayed the clan. Naturally, he was unwilling to make this choice.
Situ Ming turned to leave as soon as he finished speaking. However, when he was about to leave, he was instantly stopped by the two old men standing behind King Qian.
“Imperial Highness King Qian, what do you mean by this?” Situ Ming’s expression turned grave. When he looked at King Qian, anger could be seen in his eyes.
“Second Master Ming, you should at least let Ye Feng finish speaking first even if you want to leave. I won’t stop you if you’re still determined to leave and stay in the Situ Clan after Ye Feng is done speaking,” King Qian said.
Upon hearing that, Situ Ming looked at Ye Feng indifferently. “Please just say what you have to say. You want me to betray the Situ Clan? Do you really think you alone is enough for me to do that?”
“Second Master Ming, sometimes it’s better not to come to a conclusion so quickly.” Ye Feng was not angered by Situ Ming’s contemptuous behavior. Instead, he said indifferently, “The reason I asked you to defect to King Qian’s faction is also to save your life. If you continue being stubborn and refuse to see reason, there’s nothing I can do about it as well.”
“Save my life? What do you mean?” Situ Ming’s expression turned grim.
“Second Master Ming, do you know why I came to King Qian’s estate?” Ye Feng asked.
When Ye Feng saw Situ Ming glaring at him without any intention of answering his question, he continued to say, “I came to King Qian’s estate because I don’t want to die! Do you know how hard it is for me to escape from the Dark Nether Sect? The force behind Duan Ling Tian is terrifyingly strong! Even our Dark Nether Sect’s Supreme Elder died because of him! I was so afraid of him I had to escape from the sect!”
Ye Feng saw the disbelief on Situ Ming’s face, and he immediately swore on the lightning penalty oath, “If the Supreme Elder of Dark Nether Sect did not die because of Duan Ling Tian or if I didn’t flee because I’m afraid of Duan Ling Tian, I’m willing to be killed by the bolts of lightning sent by the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation!” A drop of Ye Feng’s blood rose up into the sky as nine claps of thunder reverberated in the sky in accordance with his oath.
Ye Feng remained unharmed after he swore by the lightning penalty oath. This was enough to prove he did not lie.
At the moment when Ye Feng swore on the lightning penalty oath, Situ Ming could no longer maintain his composure. His expression was grim as he asked, “Is there really such a powerful force behind Duan Ling Tian? Is it the Drift Blaze Sect?”
“It has nothing to do with the Drift Blaze Sect,” Ye Feng answered, “I’m also completely clueless about the force behind him. However, its strength is definitely not inferior to the Situ Clan.”
“So it’s not the Drift Blaze Sect.” Situ Ming was not surprised at all when he heard the force behind Duan Ling Tian was not the Drift Blaze Sect. However, the fear in his heart increased.
The unknown was always the most terrifying!
The force behind Duan Ling Tian was so mysterious. Who knew if it would go against him in the future?
‘The force behind Duan Ling Tian is definitely not one Elder Zhong and I can fight against since they could kill the Supreme Elder of Dark Nether Sect and force Ye Feng to abandon the sect and run away.’ All kinds of emotion flitted across Situ Ming’s face. Discontentment could be seen in his eyes as well.
‘Why?! How did Situ Hang manage to find such an outstanding person like Duan Ling Tian? Don’t tell me I’m destined to lose to him, and my son is destined to lose to his son? I’m not willing! I’m not willing!’ Situ Ming roared inwardly. His heart was in a frenzy.
However, he knew no matter how discontented he felt, the choice he had to make was obvious.
Just as Ye Feng had said, if he continued to stay in the Situ Clan, he might be killed. If the force behind Duan Ling Tian joined forces with Situ Hao’s faction, he would be powerless to fight back.
“Imperial Highness King Qian, I, Situ Ming, am willing to serve you.” Soon after, Situ Ming made his decision and bowed at King Qian. He no longer had any other choice.
“Second Master Ming, you need to show more sincerity if you want to serve King Qian.” Ye Feng smiled.
“What sincerity?” Situ Ming’s expression darkened.
In the past, Ye Feng did not dare to act so recklessly in front of him.
“Naturally, you’ll have to swear on the lightning penalty oath,” Ye Feng continued to say.
“You…” Situ Ming’s expression turned grave. When he saw King Qian looking at him, waiting for him to make up his mind, he could only swear on the lightning penalty oath that he would serve King Qian and would be killed by the lightning penalty if he betrayed him.
“Imperial Highness King Qian, I think it’s better for me and my men to stay in the Situ Clan as spies. Perhaps, I’ll be able to obtain the authority to rule Situ Clan,” Situ Ming suggested.
Up until now, he still could not let go of Situ Clan. He took the initiative to ask King Qian to let him stay in the Situ Clan. Naturally, he had an ulterior motive for suggesting this.
He did not wish to be labeled as a traitor to the Situ Clan. Once he betrayed the clan, he would no longer have anything to do with the clan. Moreover, not all of the men would be willing to follow him and leave the clan.
Perhaps, these people supported him in the Situ Clan. However, once he betrayed the clan, they might not follow him anymore.
“There’s no need for that!” However, King Qian rejected Situ Ming immediately. “With Duan Ling Tian there, you won’t be able to compete with Situ Hao at all!”
Situ Ming was rendered speechless by this sentence.
He wanted to refute by saying, “Don’t I have you now?” However, he did not say it in the end.
He could tell King Qian wanted him to leave the Situ Clan immediately.
He could guess King Qian’s thoughts as well. It was obvious King Qian wanted to use his betrayal to provoke his most powerful rival, the Second Prince, King Rong.
“I’ll give you a day! Leave the Situ Clan and bring your men to my estate,” King Qian said as he looked at the two old men obstructing Situ Ming’s path. “Two of you, follow Second Master Ming back. If he goes alone, I’m worried he might not come out again once he enters the Situ Clan!”
After Situ Ming left with the two old men, only King Qian and Ye Feng were left in the main palace.
“You’re smart! You did not tell him about the Devilseal Tablet.” King Qian glanced at Ye Feng with an appreciative expression. He was very satisfied with how quick-witted Ye Feng was earlier.
“It’s better if fewer people know about the Devilseal Tablet.” Ye Feng smiled with his eyes half-closed.
The next day, an earth-shattering incident took place in the Situ Clan. The Second Master of Situ Clan, Situ Ming, had left the clan. To be more precise, he had betrayed the clan.
Situ Ming, the Second Master of Situ Clan, left the clan ostentatiously as he brought his son, Situ Zhong, and a few other elders to King Qian’s estate along with the two powerhouses from King Qian’s estate.
When this news spread out, a turbulent storm descended on the Situ Clan.
Inside the main hall of Situ Clan’s residence, a few Situ Clan’s elders who used to be in Situ Ming’s faction kneeled on the ground in front of Situ Hao, the Clan Leader of Situ Clan.
One of the Situ Clan’s elders took the lead and said, “Clan Leader, I was blind before. I can’t believe Situ Ming actually betrayed the Situ Clan… I’m willing to swear on the lightning penalty oath that I’ll devote the rest of my life to you and your faction.”
The moment his words left his mouth, he instantly swore on the lightning penalty oath. Nine claps of thunder resonated in the sky. The other elders followed suit.
If it was before, Situ Hao would have been happy to see so many elders from Situ Ming’s faction defecting to him. However, his expression was extremely grave at this moment. His expression had remained this way since he found out Situ Ming and Situ Zhong had betrayed the Situ Clan.
“Elders, the fact that all of you did not follow Situ Ming and leave is more than enough to prove your loyalty to the clan. I won’t hold your past against you, and I only hope you’ll serve the clan better from now on,” Situ Hao said to the few elders before him.
“Thank you, Sect Leader.” They quickly expressed their grat.i.tude.
“Situ Ming has betrayed the Situ Clan?” Duan Ling Tian learned about this from Situ Hang, the Great Young Master of Situ Clan. He was shocked as well. “Where did he go after betraying the Situ Clan?”
“King Qian’s estate!” Situ Hang’s expression was gloomy. “Previously, I thought Situ Ming merely wants to fight with me and my father for authority in the Situ Clan. I did not expect him to betray the clan. Now that he has left, our clan has lost two Saint Stage powerhouses!”
“Does your Situ Clan’s ancestor know about this?” Duan Ling Tian asked.
“By now, my father should’ve already told the ancestor about this. Once he finds out about this, I’m sure he’ll be enraged. However, there’s nothing the ancestor can do even if he’s furious since Situ Ming has already brought his men to King Qian’s estate.” When Situ Hang reached the end of his sentence, a feeling of helplessness swept over him.
This was not the first day Duan Ling Tian had arrived in the capital of Windfall Nation. Naturally, he knew what King Qian’s estate meant.
At this moment, a polite voice spoke from outside the huge courtyard, “Master Duan, someone has left a message at the entrance and asked me to pa.s.s it to you.”