Chapter 1619 - 17: Han Jian’s Tragedy (Part 2)

Chapter 1619: Chapter 17: Han Jian’s Tragedy (Part 2)

Yan Beihan’s words made every face on Gu Changhan’s side fill with grief and fury, eyes about to split.

Everyone felt as though their heart was about to explode.

Gu Changhan drew a deep breath: "In schemes and stratagems, Eldest Lady Yan, I, Gu Changhan, am ashamed to fall short. Admitting defeat early could have preserved more disciples’ lives. If we keep fighting, it is only to die. This matter is already laid bare; why must Eldest Lady Yan still put on this act?"

Yan Beihan fell silent for a moment, then said coolly: "Elder Gu, I had thought you would awaken by the third day."

"It is a pity... this is the old man’s life’s foundation! My home! I cannot lightly abandon it! Just as Eldest Lady Yan said just now—our ancestors’ legacy, our ancestors’ graves, our ancestors’ memorial tablets, our ancestors’ inheritance... Eldest Lady Yan used these as the stake, we had no way to refuse, and could only gamble our lives in one battle."

Gu Changhan fell silent for a moment before replying: "And thus you trapped us here, needlessly letting the seven hundred prodigy disciples who ought to have lived die with blood spilled on the spot!"

Gu Changhan’s voice carried heartbreak and hatred carved into his very bones.

He suddenly raised his head, looked across, and said word by word: "Ji Changyan, you are the Hanjian Mountain Sect’s sinner for all ages! I, Gu Changhan, swear to Heaven: in this lifetime, I will surely carve you—the traitor who defiled our ancestral legacy—into ten thousand pieces by the sword!"

Across from him, the Hanjian Mountain Sect Leader Ji Changyan said blandly: "Elder Gu overthinks. This Sect Leader already said long ago: you could have withdrawn at any time. The Hanjian Mountain Sect’s ancestors’ memorial tablets, ancestors’ inheritance are likewise our ancestors; naturally we will care for them well."

"The Hanjian Mountain Sect still exists. It has not vanished."

Ji Changyan said: "Elder Gu, you think far too much!"

Gu Changhan roared in fury: "But a Hanjian Mountain Sect that serves as a Dog for the Wei Wo Zheng Sect is no longer the original, aloof-from-the-world Hanjian Mountain Sect! Ji Changyan, you deserve a thousand deaths!"

"Elder Gu, your words are too heavy."

Ji Changyan said coolly: "Is it not also the case that you leading your people to defect to the Guardians, is to work for the Guardians? If I were to curse that Elder Gu leads his people to be Dogs for the Guardians, how would Elder Gu conduct himself?"

"You!"

Gu Changhan was so enraged he could not speak.

On both sides, Hanjian Mountain Sect Disciples burst out in angry curses—this side cursing that side for being Dogs to the Wei Wo Zheng Sect, that side cursing this side for being Dogs to the Guardians.

All of a sudden, the sound surged to the heavens.

Both sides were so furious their eyes were about to split, faces flushed, ears burning; looking at each other as if at enemies with whom they could not share the same sky.

Yan Beihan did not intervene.

She only stood with hands clasped behind her back, watching with great interest as both sides traded curses below.

After a long time.

Yan Beihan lightly coughed once, raised a hand and traced a line to either side with her slender Jade finger, smiling at Gu Changhan: "Elder Gu, is this the Hanjian Mountain Sect you seek to reclaim?!"

She smiled: "Such a Hanjian Mountain Sect—Elder Gu, even if you reclaim it, does it still have meaning?"

With those words spoken, all sounds fell silent.

Gu Changhan felt as though his heart had been stabbed by a sword, sudden pain twisting like a knife, wishing he could sink into the ground.

"I take my leave. Henceforth, we shall meet again upon the battlefield!"

Blood welled at the corner of Gu Changhan’s mouth as he spoke in bitter fury.

"Elder Gu, a wager must be honored."

Yan Beihan said coolly: "Since you have conceded, then there is still one final procedure."

She lifted her pale chin slightly, suddenly letting her face blossom into a smile filled with mockery as she said: "But if Elder Gu and your people cannot bear it, then leave now—it is nothing. I, Yan Beihan, will treat it as though this stake were never set!"

Gu Changhan’s white hair fluttered desolately; his body swayed once in the wind. He ground his teeth and said: "A wager must be honored. Naturally the stake must be paid, and we must endure to the final moment! Do it!"

Yan Beihan laughed loudly: "What follows is your Hanjian Mountain Sect’s domestic affair; it would not be fitting for me to interfere. Sect Leader Ji!"

Ji Changyan let out a great laugh, rising to his feet, proudly satisfied.

He stood with hands behind his back and proclaimed in a loud voice:

"From this day forth! I, in the capacity of Hanjian Mountain Sect Leader, expel Gu Changhan, Leng Lingyun, Meng Changfeng, Zhou Changhe and... a total of four thousand five hundred people from the Hanjian Mountain Sect’s walls! Gu Changhan and the others, from this day on, may no longer conduct themselves as Hanjian Mountain Sect Disciples!"

"From this day forth! Gu Changhan and the others, amounting in total to four thousand five hundred people together with their families, shall withdraw from the Hanjian Mountain Sect, and may not take away a single item from the Mountain Gate!"

"Including our Hanjian Mountain Sect standard garments, Weapons... and all such things!"

This was humiliation taken to its utmost.

Across the way, Gu Changhan and the others wore faces full of grief and fury; their bodies trembled, eyes like flames about to spew forth.

"Fight!"

"Grandmaster! Let us fight!"

One after another, Hanjian Mountain Sect Disciples howled in despairing rage.

But behind Yan Beihan, silhouettes suddenly shifted; one after another, Great Demons of the Wei Wo Zheng Sect appeared Huanhuan.

Their eyes were icy and cruel as they looked this way.

They were merely waiting for this side to be unable to endure the humiliation, to strike and unleash a great slaughter.

They had long been waiting for this moment.

Yet Yan Beihan did not give the order.

Since it was a wager, it had to be upheld. As long as Gu Changhan’s side could still endure this humiliation and hold back from a desperate battle, then Yan Beihan would keep her word and would not strike!

Amid earth-shaking shouts.

Gu Changhan’s white hair fluttered bleakly, his lips trembling.

Blood dripped, drop by drop, from the corner of his mouth.

Every gaze was fixed upon him.

Gu Changhan Huanhuan raised his right hand, waved it toward the Disciples beside him, and said hoarsely: "Do not lightly speak of death. We must... preserve a thread of incense for us."

"A wager must be honored!"

Gu Changhan let out a long, long sigh, his body gliding forward to the center of the plaza. He turned, and knelt facing the Mountain Gate.

Behind him, everyone stepped out in silence, coming to stand behind Gu Changhan, and knelt in unison.

Gu Changhan’s face was full of sorrow as he faced the Mountain Gate and knocked his head heavily to the ground!