8 Unreserved Loyalty (2/2)

Elder Feng turned around with an incredulous gaze. ”What did you say?”

”Just leave him be. He's attached to his sect. That's also a good thing. But you're his master nonetheless. He wouldn't do anything to harm you. I trust that he will merely stand aside.” He lifted his chin and looked at Mei Chao Bing, a smile playing around his lips. ”Isn't that right?”

Mei Chao Bing frowned. He had no idea who that man was but he instantly had a bad feeling when he saw him. Well, the man was right though. He wouldn't betray his sect but he also couldn't betray his master. He was … stuck in a dilemma without a way out. He could only do what that man had said and stand aside.

He didn't answer and just looked away. His stance was clear enough.

Elder Feng sighed. This wasn't what he had wished for but it was better than nothing. He stepped forward and patted his disciple's shoulder. ”Alright. Then stay here and do what you think is right. I hope you won't regret the choice you made today. But in the case you do …” He took out a black stone that was engraved with a complicated carving on one side. ”Bring this to the Wu Yun Sect and ask to see me or Elder Shi. There will be a place there for you so don't hesitate too much. It's not betraying the Teng Yong Sect if they're making things difficult for you first.” Elder Feng shoved the stone into Mei Chao Bing's hands, turned around and left the Teng Yong Sect behind forever.

Mei Chao Bing looked at that familiar back with a hint of worry. He had never wanted to see this kind of situation. He had never expected that it could come to this either. He had always believed his master to be an upright and honest person. Now that it turned out that this belief had been a fallacy … How would he go on?

He knelt down beside Elder Wu. His body had already turned cold and his eyes still stared into emptiness with horror. He, too, had obviously been unable to comprehend what was going on.

”I'm sorry for what my Master did and I'm sorry that I was just that one step too late. If maybe I had returned sooner … Maybe you could still be alive.”

Mei Chao Bing sighed. He gently closed the Elder's eyes, bowed and left the hut.

A few moments later, the gong in front of the sect master's palace sounded, alarming the whole sect that disaster had struck while they were unaware. When the Sect Master and the Elders finally hurried over they only found one disciple silently kneeling there, his expression grave. Nobody could understand just what might have happened.

Mei Chao Bing looked up at them. ”Elder Wu was killed.”

”Elder Wu …” Sect Master Zhang blanked for a moment before frowning. ”By whom?”

Mei Chao Bing lowered his head and closed his eyes. He never would have thought that he'd ever have to utter these words. ”My master.” He looked up at the sect master. There were no excuses he could put forth for his master's sake. It was already too late. His master had made his decision, now he'd have to live with the consequences. ”He left with someone from the Wu Yun Sect.”

In other words, he had already long betrayed the Teng Yong Sect.