“Then why are you still loyal to Ghaylen? Why don’t you submit to another master?” Jared asked.
“How could I do that? I should remain loyal to my master until the end of time. I couldn’t turn my back on him just for some supplies! Besides, I joined Emerald Cauldron Sect and became an alchemist to help the poor, suffering village folk. With the world becoming increasingly more selfish, everything comes down to money and resources, of which the village folk possess neither. We can’t just watch them suffer and die from their ailments, could we?” Zebediah said indignantly.
Jared gave Zebediah a look of admiration. In the mundane world, where people were even more wicked than those of the Ethereal Realm, a kind soul like Zebediah was a rare gem.
Soon, it became Jared’s party’s turn to collect their rations. Zebediah hurriedly produced a list and approached a young disciple who looked to. be in his early twenties. “Here, brother. Take a look at our list.”
Zebediah handed the checklist over, but when the youngster saw him, he asked coldly, “Are you Mr. Samoll’s disciples?” Zebediah nodded eagerly. “That’s right.”
The youngster took the list without even glancing at it. Instead, he tossed it aside. “You have no rations to collect. Come again next time.” Zebediah froze. “That’s not right. We have rations every week.”
“I’m telling you, you don’t. Are you the one distributing them, or am I?” the youngster said disrespectfully to Zebediah. Sensing the hostility, Zebediah became filled with rage. However, he did his best to remain composed.
“Look closer, brother. Surely we have some rations to collect.” Zebediah was trying so hard to suppress his anger that he was turning red in the face.
“Stop calling me that. I’m telling you, you don’t have anything to collect! Move along, now. Don’t hold up the line.” The youngster flapped his hand dismissively to get Zebediah and his group to leave.
Unable to bear it any longer, Zebediah stepped forward and grabbed the youngster by the collar. “You were still p*ssing your pants when I was inducted into Emerald Cauldron Sect, you little sh*t. Give me our rations!”
“Look! A fight’s starting! Mr. Samoll’s disciples are here to pick a fight and plunder for rations!” Following the youngster’s shout, a crowd of Emerald Cauldron Sect’s disciples swarmed forward and promptly surrounded Zebediah and Jared.
The youngster smirked at the arrival of reinforcements. “Let go of me at once. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you’ll never get another scrap again.”
At the youngster’s threat, Zebediah was forced to relinquish his grip slowly while gritting his teeth. The crowd watched Zebediah with amusement, their eyes twinkling with cruel mockery.
Having witnessed the incident, Jared finally understood why Ghaylen’s disciples were so unwilling to come. “Let’s go, Mr. Chance.”
Helplessly, Zebediah turned to leave. Jared did not move. Instead, he turned to regard the youngster in charge of distributing the rations. “You mentioned that Mr. Samoll’s disciples do not have any rations to collect?” he asked coldly. He nodded. “That’s right, they don’t.”
Smack! As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Jared sent a tight slap across his face without warning. Given Jared’s strength, the slap promptly sent the youngster flying and knocked all his teeth out.
Zebediah froze when Jared resorted to violence. The others, too, gaped at him in disbelief, suddenly realizing how little they knew him.
The youngster who was beaten clutched his cheek. “How dare you lay a finger on me?” he howled. “Who the hell are you? Don’t even think about leaving this place in one piece today!”
Following the youngster’s shout, a large group began encircling Jared, preparing to strike.
