Subordinate (2)

The Shadow Ghost Squad Leader trembled from head to toe, his breath ragged, his face pale as death.

His mind refused to accept what had just happened.

He knew the man before him was only a Peak Fusion Realm cultivator—but the sheer power he displayed was beyond reason. No ordinary Fusion Realm cultivator could slaughter his entire squad like ants!

A chill ran down his spine.

Then—

A mocking smile curled on Ma Jeong's lips.

"Now… what was that about me not knowing my place?"

His voice was calm, yet laced with terrifying amusement.

The Squad Leader's legs almost gave out beneath him. Beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. His lips trembled as he struggled to find his voice.

"I—I hold an important position in the Demonic Cult!" he stammered. "S-Spare me, or the Demonic Cult won't let you live!"

Even though fear gripped his heart, he clung to one last desperate hope—

The Demonic Cult's name.

After all, the Demonic Cult was one of the Three Major Forces of the Central Domain. No one would dare go against them!

No one!

Surely, this man wouldn't be foolish enough to make an enemy of the entire Demonic Cult.

But—

Hahaha!

Ma Jeong suddenly burst into laughter.

The sound was carefree, amused—yet chillingly cold.

Then, he spoke.

"You think I fear a mere Demonic Cult?" His crimson eyes glowed with an eerie light. "Don't overestimate yourselves."

"You—!"

Boom!

Before the Squad Leader could finish, Ma Jeong raised his hand—

And in the next instant—

BANG!

His head exploded like a shattered watermelon, flesh and bone scattering across the bamboo forest.

Silence.

The once-feared leader of the Shadow Ghost Squad—

Now, nothing more than a headless corpse, collapsing lifelessly onto the blood-soaked ground.

With the Shadow Ghost Squad Leader's corpse lying motionless on the ground, Ma Jeong turned his gaze toward Wi Soyeon.

She stood there, watching him calmly.

But beneath that calm exterior—

A storm raged in her mind.

She had expected a battle, a prolonged fight where Ma Jeong would clash with the Shadow Ghost Squad, struggling before finally emerging victorious. She had even planned to take advantage of the chaos and deal with the survivors herself.

Yet—

What just happened defied all logic.

Ma Jeong hadn't fought. He hadn't even struggled.

He had massacred the entire squad in mere seconds, as if swatting flies—leisurely, effortlessly, with terrifying ease.

Wi Soyeon's hands curled into fists for a brief moment, but she quickly released them.

With a graceful step forward, she approached Ma Jeong and bowed slightly.

"My Lord, what are your orders?"

Her voice was steady, showing no hint of the turmoil within.

Ma Jeong looked at her for a moment before speaking in a relaxed tone.

"Come to think of it, I never asked for your name."

Wi Soyeon lowered her head slightly and spoke with calm composure.

"My name is Wi Soyeon, my lord. And as the lord might have guessed by now, I am from the Demonic Cult."

Ma Jeong observed her carefully, a faint smile playing on his lips.

She deliberately avoided mentioning her former status as the successor of the Demonic Cult.

Still, Ma Jeong leaned back slightly, his gaze amused.

"Why were the people of the Demonic Cult chasing after you?"

Though he had already deduced the general reason, he wanted to hear it from her own lips. How exactly had a Transcendent Realm Cultivator fallen to such a pitiful state?

After all—

A battle between Transcendent Realm Cultivators was akin to a calamity.

Empires could fall. Continents could be reshaped.

Taking down someone of that level shouldn't have been an easy task.

Wi Soyeon's eyes darkened slightly before she responded in a steady voice.

"There was a rebellion. Wi Yang, the second in line for succession, betrayed us. In the end, I was poisoned and had no choice but to flee here."

Ma Jeong gave a slight nod, but he didn't comment.

Instead—

He casually raised his hand.

At that moment, the spatial rings worn by the fallen members of the Shadow Ghost Squad suddenly trembled.

One by one, the rings slipped off their fingers and floated toward him before dropping neatly into his waiting palm.

Ma Jeong's fingers brushed over the collection of spatial rings, a small smirk playing on his lips as he examined his spoils.

Inside, he found a variety of items, but what stood out the most were the pills.

Mostly Fourth-Grade Pills, with a few Fifth-Grade Pills mixed in.

Even in the Central Domain, Fifth-Grade Pills were considered valuable treasures—resources that even powerful sects wouldn't distribute carelessly.

Yet—

Without a second thought, Ma Jeong casually tossed them toward Wi Soyeon.

Wi Soyeon's eyes widened as she instinctively caught them, disbelief flashing across her face.

"This is… all for me?" she mumbled, unable to hide her shock.

She had fully expected him to keep them for himself. Who wouldn't? These pills were rare and precious, even for cultivators in the Central Domain.

Yet, he had given them away as if they were nothing.

Ma Jeong raised an eyebrow, noticing her fluctuating expression.

"Wi Soyeon, are you not happy with what I've given you?"

His tone was light, but there was an amused glint in his crimson eyes.

Wi Soyeon snapped back to reality, quickly suppressing her emotions.

She straightened up, cupped her hands together, and spoke with unwavering respect.

"My lord, not at all! It's my utmost honour to meet you and be accepted as your subordinate."

Her voice was steady, but deep inside, her thoughts were chaotic.

This man… was unlike anyone she had ever met.

Ma Jeong nodded slightly and flicked his wrist, a single pill appearing between his fingers.

"Take this pill and cultivate. I'll personally protect you."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight of authority.

Wi Soyeon didn't hesitate.

"Thank you, my lord!"

With a deep breath, she swallowed both the Fourth-Grade and Fifth-Grade Pills, then sat cross-legged, closing her eyes as she began refining the overwhelming spiritual energy surging through her body.

Then—

Boom!

A wave of dense spiritual energy erupted from her, causing the air around her to tremble.

Her golden hair lifted into the air as if caught in an unseen storm, flickering with a faint, ethereal glow.

Her aura soared—

Mid-Stage Foundation Realm…

Late-Stage Foundation Realm…

Peak Foundation Realm!

Then—

Breakthrough!

She stepped into the Early Spirit Realm, yet her momentum did not slow. Her cultivation continued to surge upward, her aura pulsing with power.

Minutes passed.

Finally, the raging spiritual energy settled, her cultivation stabilizing at the Early Refinement Realm.

Wi Soyeon slowly opened her eyes, her phoenix-like gaze gleaming with renewed strength.

Breaking through from Foundation Realm to Refinement Realm in just half an hour—such an exaggerated speed would be unheard of even in the mighty Central Domain.

But to Ma Jeong?

It was normal.

She was once a Transcendent Realm cultivator—if she couldn't at least achieve this level of progress, he would have been disappointed.

Wi Soyeon rose to her feet, her expression calm yet her heart still in turmoil.

In the distance, Ma Jeong stood guard, his figure unwavering like an indomitable force.

She stepped forward, bowed her head deeply, and said, "My lord, thank you for guarding me."

Ma Jeong glanced at her and sighed, his voice carrying a knowing tone.

"I know you have something to say. Just say it."

Wi Soyeon stiffened for a moment.

Indeed—she did have something to say.

Coming from the Central Domain to the Blue Wind Domain without any assistance was impossible.

If she had been alone, she would have been captured long ago.

The only reason she made it this far was because of the silent support of others.

Many subsidiary kingdoms that paid tribute to the Demonic Cult were dissatisfied with Wi Yang, the usurper who led the rebellion against her.

That dissatisfaction was her lifeline.

One such kingdom was the Baihu Kingdom.

The Baihu Kingdom had risked everything to help Wi Soyeon escape to the Blue Wind Domain—but in doing so, they had brought disaster upon themselves. At the time, she had been powerless to do anything but flee.

Wi Soyeon was not someone who forgot her debts. She valued those who stood by her, and now, the kingdom that had once protected her was in danger.

She was trapped in a dilemma.

Her pride told her not to ask Ma Jeong for help—this was her personal matter, and she didn't want him to interfere.

But her conscience wouldn't let her ignore the suffering of her people.

In the end, she swallowed her pride, stepped forward, and bowed deeply.

"My Lord, while I was being pursued, the Baihu Kingdom sheltered me. Because of that, they now face grave danger. I humbly request your aid in saving them."

Ma Jeong studied her carefully.

Her sincere plea made it clear—saving the Baihu Kingdom was not just a request.

It was a burden on her soul.

If he refused, she might develop inner demons, weakening her cultivation and holding her back in the future.

With a sigh, Ma Jeong crossed his arms and asked, "How long will it take to reach the Baihu Kingdom?"

Wi Soyeon's eyes widened slightly before she quickly lowered her head in gratitude.

"Thank you, my Lord." She then provided the coordinates without hesitation.

Ma Jeong nodded. "Let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we arrive."

Wi Soyeon's heart trembled slightly, but she kept her emotions hidden as she responded firmly.

"Yes, my Lord. Thank you."

************

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