About an hour ago, three elders, on the same level as the gate master, arrived at the Sword Gate with frowns on their faces.
They came immediately after news reached them of the duel between Saintess Val and Kent and the outcome they never expected.
The shocking news wasn’t something they could ignore.
After all, they were the ones who told the saintess to come and cause trouble for Kent and his master, so they came to do damage control using arrogance and their superiority.
They think just because they are from the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect, they are supreme. But they are forgetting they are no longer in their domain.
Right now, they are inside a hall in Gate Master Mara’s residence, looking toward the saintess, who was seated beside the gate master.
Obviously, Gate Master Mara wasn’t about to let her leave her side, fearing the elders would kidnap her and run away with her.
Until Kent returns and decides, the saintess can only remain captive while they argue over what to do next.
The back-and-forth had been going on for close to an hour now, yet they couldn’t seem to arrive at a compromise.
“Gate Master Mara, you should know that the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect is not one to take things lying down. You have something that belongs to us, and we want it back. Now, do you want to keep doing this and offend us?”
Elder Cecil, the same lady elder who planned the perfect way to snuff out Kent when he started to rise, said, looking rather angry:
“I don’t know where this anger is coming from, Elder Cecil, but I don’t see where we are at fault here.
Your Saintess challenged my disciple to a duel, and according to the bet, if she lost, she would become a servant to my disciple for 100 years.
Now, I don’t know about your Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect, but my Divine Palace Sect has dignity, and as such, we don’t resort to underhanded means to get what we want,” Gate Master Mara said.
“What is that supposed to mean, Gate Master Mara?” Elder Cecil asked. The tone the Gate Master spoke in didn’t sit right with her.
And the last sentence clearly struck a nerve, so she wanted to know just what he was getting at.
“Oh, you don’t think I wouldn’t recognize a scheme when I see one,” Gate Master Mara sneered.
“I saw your scheme from a mile away. Do you think all this would have escaped me? I knew the moment she appeared, she was after the new rising star in my sect.
So the bet about him becoming her disciple and joining your sect was all bullshit. You schemers were only using her to get Kent, and when she did, you would try to suppress him and see if he could be controlled.
Obviously, he would have been killed if he wasn’t the obedient kind. But your scheme backfired, and the one now getting trapped is your weapon, who couldn’t cut my disciple.
“So don’t worry, until Kent makes a decision, your disciple, who was used by you, will remain in my sect and under my protection.”
Obviously, Saintess Val didn’t know all this. She just knew having Kent as her disciple would piss off Saintess Selene, her rival.
So, hearing she was just a weapon being used made her frown.
This made the Gate Master smile inwardly, looking at the seething elders who could tell the scheming lady in front of them was doing everything for one purpose.
By disclosing this, she was making Val realize her value to the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect.
In a way, she was ensuring the Saintess knew she meant nothing to the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect, and from the look on her face, it was clear she was not happy at the moment.
“Gate Master Mara, you better tread carefully. The Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect is not one you can afford to offend.”
“I know, which is why I am not offending anyone. But unless you want to give your sect a bad name by coming against my sect just because we won a bet against you, then go ahead. Do your worst.”
She wasn’t worried about them. Though if they clashed, her side would sustain the most damage, the warrior in her wasn’t about to bend the knee in front of the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect.
The bickering continued for an hour until suddenly, a purple-haired youngster made his way to the hall, wearing a small smile on his face.
“Let me guess, you old geezers are here to take the Saintess away, right?” Kent asked, looking at the angry faces glaring back at him with killing intent.
“You are smart for your age, so be sure to make the right decision and let this slide before it escalates to a point you wouldn’t want to cross,” Elder Cecil said.
“Oh, so you’re threatening me. I guess that concludes it, then.” Kent took a seat beside the Gate Master. He was like someone who had finally returned to his domain.
Saintess Val, on the other hand, was looking at him with a mix of emotions.
“Hand over the Saintess back to the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect, and all animosity will be forgiven,” Elder Cecil said again, but Kent just scoffed.
“First of all, forget about your threats and the idea that I will accept any proposal from you. The Saintess lost in a fair duel, and as such, she is now my servant.
Now, while I would love to not offend your sect, I also cannot hand the Saintess back to you. So you better go back and let your sect know that for the next 100 years, Saintess Val will be my servant.
Of course, I wouldn’t mistreat her in any way. I am not a monster. However, I doubt after 100 years, she would want to come back to you again.
In fact, I doubt she will want to go back with you now, considering becoming my servant will be much more beneficial to her than spending a thousand years in your sect.
So be a lamb and go back. The Saintess is staying with me now. And let me tell you, the Everlasting Immortal Sword Sect would do well not to offend me.”