Gathering the apostles of the Blood Cult was no easy feat. For decades, they had worked tirelessly to rebuild their fallen organization. Each was a peerless master of unparalleled martial prowess, and each played a critical role in the organization.
Even when the Blood Cult was at its lowest point, they could not easily leave their posts, not even to manage chaotic internal affairs.
"My old friend, I don't want to kill you." A complex emotion flickered in the First Apostle's eyes for a moment, before vanishing completely.
Nevertheless, they had set everything aside to assemble here. The man before them mattered more than the faltering Blood Cult itself.
"We will now begin the interrogation of the Blood Cult's Fourth Apostle," the First Apostle declared dryly.
The Second and Third Apostles, flanking him, nodded expressionlessly.
The First Apostle proceeded to list Sagon's crimes one by one. Harming the faithful and committing apostasy. Obstructing the Cult's grand plan. Disrespecting the Blood Demon. Each was a grave enough sin for immediate execution.
After finishing, the First Apostle asked, "Fourth Apostle, do you plead guilty to all of these crimes?"
Sagon nodded without hesitation.
The corners of the Second and Third Apostles' eyes twitched.
The Third Apostle stepped forward and glared at Sagon. His voice dripping with killing intent, he growled, "You're not even going to make excuses? Say something. Anything."
"......"
The man who was once unrivaled among the apostles for his physical strength now looked painfully frail. Yet, Sagon's eyes were clearer than ever. As he met his friends' gazes, a faint smile touched his lips.
The Third Apostle instantly drew his dao and pressed it against his friend's neck. "Speak," he hissed, his voice trembling with rage. "Even if I have to kill you, I want to know why you betrayed us."
A terrifying killing intent flooded the underground prison. Even the insects on the ceiling and walls quivered violently before dropping to the floor.
"If you think we won't hurt you, you're mistaken. Our Cult has more ways to make someone talk than you know. No matter how strong your mind is, you won't endure forever."
"We can't kill him yet. We have to find out why he betrayed us first." The Second Apostle shoved the Third Apostle's blade aside and glared at Sagon. "Number Four, I told you that you would regret this."
"......"
Despite this chilling threat, Sagon simply smiled faintly at his friends and remained silent.
As time passed, the Second and Third Apostles' expressions became more agitated, and their voices grew louder.
"Are you really going to stay silent until the very end?"
"...This is your last warning. Don't test our patience any further."
The First Apostle stood a step behind them, watching impassively.
Number Four isn't the only one who has changed.
From his perspective, the Second and Third Apostles had also changed. He tried to pinpoint when it happened.
"...My heart was grazed."
The Third Apostle underwent a change after his life-or-death battle with the Black Snake Alliance Chairman. Upon returning, he secluded himself for a while. When he finally resurfaced, his killing intent was harder to control, and he became irritable more often.
The Second Apostle's transformation began after she returned from the Ak Clan. No, it actually started on her way back.
"The New Moon White Ice Dance... Who in the world is she?"
When asked what had happened, the dazed Second Apostle said that she had encountered an opponent on the battlefield who had mastered the New Moon White Ice Dance. While this was surprising, the First Apostle could not understand why she wore such a complicated expression, one he had never seen on her face before.
He took a step back and observed his friends. Finally, he found the right words to describe the change.
They are acting emotionally.
He could hardly believe his own conclusion. After joining the cult, they trained for over a decade to eliminate their emotions. As their martial arts skills reached an unrivaled realm, most of the techniques and restrictions they had received from the Blood Cult weakened.
Nevertheless, their lack of emotion was the result of conditioning that began in childhood. It was not something that could change overnight.
"Enough."
The Second and Third Apostles whipped their heads around and glared at him.
The First Apostle saw the complex emotions in their eyes and felt confused again. Human emotions were highly contagious, and this effect was stronger in long-standing, close relationships. The change in Number Four was now affecting the others.
He could no longer stand by and watch.
"Let's stop this meaningless interrogation."
The First Apostle walked over and knelt before Sagon. Meeting his old friend's gaze, he said quietly, "The Azure Dragon Hero. Is it because of him?"
For the first time, Sagon showed a significant reaction. His faint smile wavered, and the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly.
The First Apostle recognized this emotion from his studies.
"The more I think about it, the weirder it is. How could our Cult be swayed so much by a single person? Luck and martial prowess alone cannot explain it. The Azure Dragon Hero knows our Cult as intimately as we do." He leaned closer to Sagon and asked in a low, subdued voice. "What is the Azure Dragon Hero's true identity?"
Sadness. Simple enough to identify by looking at a human's expression. But why is he looking at me with such sadness?
Instead of asking directly, he took something from his robes and held it out. "Number Four. I found this in your clothes."
"......" Sagon said nothing, only stared at the Azure Dragon Emblem he had gotten from his old instructor.
It was a jade plaque shaped like a coiled azure dragon. The name Baek Suryong (白壽龍) was engraved on the back.
This was the Azure Dragon Emblem, an item carried only by students and instructors of the Azure Dragon Academy.
"I also found out where you were while you were missing. You were staying in Nanchang, home to the Azure Dragon Academy. There, you made contact with the Azure Dragon Hero and his students several times."
The First Apostle continued calmly, "I also found the inn where you stayed. A shabby place, from what I hear. Run by a couple who don't practice martial arts..."
CLANK!