Chapter 2488 - 2488: Heart of Rebellion

After Wanyan Hongfeng finished speaking, he was about to enter the secret room in the back when Wanyan Second Master's expression changed. He hurriedly said, "Uh, Big Brother, actually… actually I still have something…"

"What is it?" Wanyan Hongfeng turned his head and looked at Wanyan Second Master.

"This…" Wanyan Second Master fell silent for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Well… Third Brother is still locked up in the Dungeon. Big Brother, Third Brother's crime doesn't warrant this. Why don't… why don't we let him out first?"

Wanyan Hongfeng frowned. Seeing that expression, Wanyan Second Master knew things were bad, but he still forced himself to say, "Third Brother may be impatient to earn merit and unreliable in how he does things. But Third Brother is absolutely loyal to the Wanyan Family, that much is beyond doubt. And right now, we're short on manpower. If Third Brother could help, this time dealing with Ye Qing and the Sword Saint Sect would be a lot easier!"

Of course Wanyan Hongfeng knew that Wanyan Hongsheng's crime didn't warrant this. He hadn't intended to punish Wanyan Hongsheng this severely. But if he wanted to scare that Five-Winged God, he first had to make an example—kill the chicken to scare the monkeys—and use Wanyan Hongsheng as that chicken. Wanyan Second Master didn't know his intention, and thought he really meant to punish Wanyan Hongsheng like this. He kept begging for Wanyan Hongsheng, which made Wanyan Hongfeng extremely annoyed. If he let Wanyan Hongsheng go now, how was he supposed to intimidate that Five-Winged God?

He frowned tightly and pondered for a while, then Wanyan Hongfeng said in a deep voice, "You don't need to say anything more about this. Anyone who violates the Wanyan Family's rules—never mind that he's my younger brother—even if he were my son or grandson, I would never show mercy!"

Wanyan Second Master's repeated pleas for Wanyan Hongsheng also made things very awkward for Wanyan Hongfeng. It was absolutely impossible for Wanyan Hongfeng to release Wanyan Hongsheng at this time, so he had to cut off Wanyan Second Master's thoughts first. Saying this kind of thing was precisely to make Wanyan Second Master give up, and at the same time let the Five-Winged God in his body hear it, to scare that Five-Winged God once more.

Wanyan Second Master had no idea what Wanyan Hongfeng was really thinking. Hearing such harsh words from him, he froze on the spot. He had never imagined Wanyan Hongfeng would be so unfeeling, showing this attitude even toward his own blood brother. To be honest, what Wanyan Hongfeng showed made him feel somewhat disheartened. Wanyan Hongsheng had rendered great service to the family, yet ended up like this. He couldn't help but imagine: if he were to make a mistake in the future, what kind of end would he face?

Seeing the disappointed expression on Wanyan Second Master's face, Wanyan Hongfeng didn't bother explaining. To Wanyan Hongfeng, the most critical thing right now was the Five-Winged God. He had to obtain the power of the Five-Winged God—then he could become the most powerful figure in the Wanyan Family's history, and also the strongest person in the world today. Honestly, he already no longer cared about Ye Qing and the Sword Saint Sect. Because once he possessed the Five-Winged God's power and became the strongest man under heaven, the world would be his for the taking. He wouldn't need the Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Gates or the Sword Saint Sect at all. That's why, after leaving the Sword Saint Sect, he hadn't rushed to intercept Ye Qing and the Sword Saint Sect but instead returned to Shenchuan City first.

All he needed to do was settle the Five-Winged God matter; as for Ye Qing and the Sword Saint Sect, he could just leave that to others. There was no need for him to waste time on it.

To deal with the Five-Winged God, he had to put on the appearance of a man with a heart of stone and make the Five-Winged God fear him. So right now, he had no time to worry about what the clan members thought. Wanyan Hongfeng understood perfectly the logic of winner takes all. Once he set foot on this path and succeeded—once he truly possessed the power of the Five-Winged God—then everything he had done would be praised by future generations. Or rather, once he became the Five-Winged God, he wouldn't need to wait for future generations to praise him at all, because like that Five-Winged God, he would be undying for a thousand years and immortal for ten thousand!

With these thoughts, Wanyan Hongfeng's mood also picked up. He didn't bother thinking about Wanyan Second Master and Wanyan Hongsheng anymore, and walked straight into the secret room in the back. He had just obtained the Blood Scripture from the Five-Winged God, and here he would go into seclusion for cultivation. Once he had mastered it and emerged, what in this world would be able to stop him?

Watching Wanyan Hongfeng walk into the secret room behind, Wanyan Second Master couldn't help but let out a wistful sigh. This result was something he had never anticipated. He didn't understand why Wanyan Hongfeng had suddenly become this heartless. But in truth, as a member of the Wanyan Family, he was utterly disappointed in Wanyan Hongfeng. After all this time, for the first time he began to doubt whether his loyalty to the clan was really worth it.

After pondering for a long time, Wanyan Second Master finally shook his head and slowly walked out of the hall. He didn't go back to his own courtyard, but went straight to the Dungeon. Wanyan Hongsheng had already been locked inside. This former No. 3 figure of the Wanyan Family no longer had his past glory. Locked in the Dungeon, he was like a defeated prisoner, with none of his former bearing left.

Standing outside the cell, Wanyan Second Master looked at Wanyan Hongsheng, who was curled up against the wall, and he actually felt extremely upset. After all, Wanyan Hongsheng had grown up with him, and they had fought side by side as blood brothers for so many years.

At this moment Wanyan Hongsheng was also somewhat broken, and hadn't even noticed that Wanyan Second Master was standing outside the cell. It wasn't until Wanyan Second Master lightly coughed that he realized he had come. He froze for a moment, then was overjoyed. He jumped up directly, almost rushing to Wanyan Second Master, and asked urgently, "Second Brother, Second Brother, how… how did it go? Big Brother, what did Big Brother say?"

Faced with Wanyan Hongsheng's expectant expression, Wanyan Second Master didn't even know how to answer. After a long silence, he slowly shook his head. That response made Wanyan Hongsheng's face immediately cloud over with disappointment. He looked at Wanyan Second Master and said shakily, "Second Brother, you… what do you mean by shaking your head? Big Brother… what did he say, exactly?"

"Third Brother, the mistake you made this time is really too big!" Wanyan Second Master sighed. "I think Big Brother probably won't forgive you."

"I… I…" Wanyan Hongsheng's voice began to tremble. "Big Brother… what… what is Big Brother planning to do with me?"

"I don't know either." Wanyan Second Master looked at Wanyan Hongsheng and said, "But I went to beg Big Brother on your behalf, and Big Brother… Big Brother wouldn't even let me bring you up again. I think… I'm afraid I can't help you anymore."

"How… how could it be like this? How could Big Brother treat me like this? I'm his own brother!" Wanyan Hongsheng was collapsing. He grabbed the bars of the cell and shouted, "I've done so much for the clan. All these years, even if I haven't earned merit, I've at least worked myself to the bone. How… how can he treat me like this?"

"Third Brother, calm down, calm down!" Wanyan Second Master said urgently.

"How am I supposed to calm down? Second Brother, tell me, how am I supposed to calm down?" Wanyan Hongsheng roared almost madly, "I've done so much for the clan, rendered so many great services, and just because of this small slip-up he's going to treat me like this? Second Brother, you judge it for me—do you think this is right? If he punished me in some other way, I could accept it. But to directly shut me in the Dungeon and even want to kill me—how… how am I supposed to endure that?"

"Third Brother, you're too agitated!" Wanyan Second Master said. "Big Brother only locked you in the Dungeon, he didn't say he wants to kill you. Maybe after some time, he… he'll let you out…"

"Do you really think that's possible?" Wanyan Hongsheng shouted. "This is the Dungeon. Do you even know what kind of place the Dungeon is? This is a place only those guilty of capital crimes are sent to. In the Wanyan Family's long history, has anyone ever gone into the Dungeon and then been released? Second Brother, I see it clearly now: Wanyan Hongfeng never treated us as brothers at all, he's just…"

"Third Brother!" Wanyan Second Master hurriedly shouted to cut him off. Even though he himself was unhappy with Wanyan Hongfeng, these words really weren't suitable to say out loud. If Wanyan Hongfeng ever heard this, things would go very badly for him too.

"Second Brother, you still want to speak up for him at a time like this?" Wanyan Hongsheng glared at Wanyan Second Master and said angrily, "Tell me, which part of what I said is wrong? Wanyan Hongfeng hid in the mountains all these years, completely ignoring worldly affairs. Everything has been handled by us brothers here. For this family, we two brothers are the ones who've worried the most. And what happened? As soon as he came out, the Wanyan Family immediately became his, and we brothers ended up with nothing, and even had his branch's juniors riding on our heads. That Wanyan Ming, what the hell is he, and he even dares posture in front of us brothers. Just like last time on Mount Wendao, he even dared yell at you. Second Brother, can you really swallow that?"

At the mention of Wanyan Ming, Wanyan Second Master's face clearly darkened. Whatever else, Wanyan Second Master actually held a strong grudge against Wanyan Ming. What happened on Mount Wendao had made him very displeased with Wanyan Ming. To be honest, Wanyan Hongfeng's indulgence of Wanyan Ming had already made Wanyan Second Master very unhappy. Now, coupled with how Wanyan Hongfeng was treating Wanyan Hongsheng, Wanyan Second Master felt unwilling in his heart. Wanyan Hongsheng's words really hit home.

But being unhappy was one thing; Wanyan Second Master still didn't dare to actually join Wanyan Hongsheng in openly condemning Wanyan Hongfeng. He took a deep breath, waved his hand, and said, "Third Brother, you've gone too far. Big Brother oversees the big picture and acts for the overall interests of the Wanyan Family—that's as it should be. Whatever he does, he definitely has his reasons."

"Whether he has his reasons or is only thinking about himself—Second Brother, you need to tell the difference!" Wanyan Hongsheng sneered. "Second Brother, if he can throw me into the Dungeon today, then tomorrow he can throw someone else from the family into the Dungeon. Who knows, maybe one day it'll be your turn."