Duncan never imagined that someone could be so wordy while begging for their life. It opened Duncan's eyes to the level people were ready to stoop to when it comes to saving their lives.
Seeing Duncan smiling and shaking his head, the man let out a relieved sigh. Since the demon wasn't angry anymore, they would probably be spared. He decided to reward his quick-wittedness with some nice wine once he went back to the city. Sighs of relief echoed in his ears as everyone gradually calmed down.
It was true that they didn't have any quarrel with the demon. They just came to watch the excitement. They didn't have any desire to participate in this struggle. Would they have been happier if Duncan died? Absolutely.
But, it didn't mean they would step out and try to finish the deed. That was the job of heroes of the world. They were just ordinary cultivators that were beneath the eyes of these sect disciples. Neither side cared about them very much.
Once they all understood this fact, the crowd relaxed slightly and began to thank the heavens for their good luck. Just as they all felt a little bit relieved, Duncan's figure vanished from the distance.
Before they could be alarmed, Duncan was in the midst of them as well. He began swinging his sword and lopping off heads with the same efficiency he did it with the young talents who came to kill him.
Screams of fear and pain echoed all around causing mayhem to engulf the area. Several people tried to escape after realizing that Duncan wasn't going to let them off. But, how could they do that when even the young talents from various sects couldn't escape Duncan's sword?
Duncan left the quick-witted man for the last. He placed the sword on the man's neck and looked at him up and down. The man was already a quivering mess. Duncan could only hear him blubber nonsense and plead for his life.
"You are a disgrace to all cultivators," Duncan sneered. "You think you can just stand by and watch us fight? Even mortals suffer when cultivators clash!" Duncan said and stopped for a moment.
Strangely enough, Duncan kept remembering the things he had experienced so far after getting close to death. His mind started to constantly draw patterns and unearth memories related to the present situation. Just like how he was reminded of the state of his hometown when he went back to see it now.
Compared to what happened in that place, what he did today was nothing. The world might think he was a true demon after this incident. But, Duncan felt he was far off from the true demons that walk this land.
Cultivators are people who have already forsaken mortality and pursuing immortality. Every cultivator who stepped into this world knew that achieving immortality was a road filled with thorns. If they did not, they would understand it soon.
Death and despair waited at every turn. A cultivator needs to fight against the heavens and other cultivators to stand on top and taste the fruit of immortality. Unlike mortals, they all were aware of the taboos in the practice.
If an innocent village that had nothing to do with a fight can be easily decimated by two fighting cultivators as an aftermath, then what right did this guy have to beg him for mercy? He was a cultivator unlike that village filled with mortals.
Did this man think he didn't know what ran through their minds when the battle ensued? Did this man think that he would turn a blind eye to the supporters of these righteous factions? When a tree falls, the birds that rested on it will not be spared. How can he let these people go and not exact some price from them?
Actions have consequences.
He didn't see anyone among them stand out and call out the righteous cultivators regarding their hypocrisy. He didn't see anyone commenting on how it was unfair to gang up on him. All he saw in their eyes were fear and hatred. Fear and hatred towards him.
Judgement and wariness were visible in their eyes. They didn't know the history. But since the righteous faction was hunting him, they judged him to be guilty. They wanted him to die. They wanted their heroes to exterminate the demons. Never mind the fact that demons existed on both sides. They all had preconceived notions about right and wrong. And he was the one who was wrong in their minds.
This world wouldn't tolerate him after what he did today. They would brand him to be a demon. Even though he had known the consequences, Duncan felt the full weight of them at this moment looking into the fearful eyes of the man in front of him.
Duncan took a deep breath to calm his racing thoughts. Killing these people had been a decision made out of impulse. He just didn't like them watching him fight others and stand back to comment as if they were detached from this world. So, he had killed them.
Since they had already determined him to be a demon, then he will be a demon. Let's see how they liked it. With a snarl, Duncan moved his sword, and the glib-tongued man's head was chopped off in one go.
Duncan looked at the blood-covered sword in his hand.
This was the only thing that had survived that village. This was the only link he now had to that relatively peaceful and ignorant past. This was the only item that had been with him during all his experiences.
From the moment he stepped out of his hometown to pursue cultivation, this sword had accompanied him. It had seen his struggle. It had seen his triumphs. It had seen his effort. It had seen his less-savory moments. It had accompanied him through everything.
This sword had been a constant in his life.
The only thing that had stood by him and had not judged him for his actions.
By all accounts, this sword must have broken down a long time ago. The amount of power he channeled through this was simply insane for this sword to bear. He had once wondered why this sword, which was supposedly a mortal weapon, could withstand so much pressure and still function under his hand.
Until now, he had never found an answer for it. It was not that he sought the knowledge purposefully. But rare things like this must be noted down somewhere. He just hadn't found the right place yet.
Nevertheless, this sword shouldn't have survived what it had survived. This sword should have broken into pieces by all accounts. It shouldn't be able to tangle with those high-grade weapons.
And yet, this sword had done all that.
It had remained faithful to him. It hadn't betrayed him like the other sword in his moment of need. It had been his constant companion through all his ups and downs. It had seen him bleed. It had helped him kill. It had even saved him on occasions.
Duncan felt slightly moved as he looked at his sword.
"Let me call you Constant from now! You are the only constant in my life ever since I stepped on this road. Everything else is like moving clouds."
Duncan muttered in a dazed manner. At that moment, the sword in his hand flashed with a slight glow and settled back to being the normal sword. There was no evidence of the glow at all after that brief moment.
He looked at his sword in surprise. He didn't know what it meant for his sword to emanate such a glow. But, he knew that for the sword to glow at this moment, it must be something significant. Duncan looked over his sword thoroughly for a few moments hoping to catch some change. But, there was nothing to it. It was just a regular iron sword like it had been before.
Lamenting his lack of knowledge, Duncan looked around to see the entire field shrouded in a bloody aura. He could feel the resentment of the cultivators he had slain in the land. It felt as if he could hear their anguish and anger if he concentrated. However, Duncan didn't have any intention to do such a thing.
Taking a deep breath, Duncan felt refreshed. His wounds have already stopped bleeding by now. While the injuries he suffered had not healed by now, Duncan realized that his bloodline awakening had taken the next step today. As a result, the blood flowing in his body was being slowly replaced with higher-tier blood.
Duncan didn't know what the benefits of this new blood coursing through his body were. But, he felt as if he had become somewhat stronger with this round of awakening of his bloodline. Compared to his body, it was his mindset that had become more firm in this round of awakening.
He was no longer worried about being a decent cultivator. His mindset shifted from being someone who could become stronger and live to someone who didn't care much about the power of others. A defiant streak had been born in his body today.
Looking at the surroundings, Duncan's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Duncan immediately started searching the battlefield for a particular sight. But, no matter how he searched, he wasn't able to find what he wanted. He frowned slightly and thought deeply for a few seconds before looking around into the distance as well.
Still, the sight he wanted to see was not presented to him. Duncan's frown became more pronounced. He couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. Despite his best efforts, two fish have slipped his net.
"So, he really escaped huh? I wonder how he did it," Duncan muttered and looked into the distance.
