Jin Yu halted mid-step, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

  The black baby scampered toward him on its short, stubby legs and wrapped its tiny arms around his shin. It clung tightly, whining softly, those glossy, oversized eyes staring up at him with a look that could melt stone.

  Seer’s jaw had long since dropped. He stared at Jin Yu with wide eyes brimming with reverence, as if he'd just witnessed a celestial being descend.

  "Isn't that... too easy? Could it be tricking you?" he muttered under his breath, leaning in.

  "Who knows." Jin Yu gave a careless shrug and glanced down at the creature with an unreadable gaze.

  I already have you in my grasp, baby demon.

  Unfazed by the teary eyes trying to work their charm, he reached out mentally, summoning the system within his mind.

  Purchase additional space.

  Ding!

  200,000 influence points deducted.

  Velkharra Additional space successfully purchased.

  A tiny image of the black baby popped up. He pressed it. Instantly, the baby vanished, as if it had never been there.

  Ding!

  Cradle Cry successfully stored.

  Status: Energy Recovering.

  Seer eyes narrowed slightly.

  "It didn't brand with your soul."

  He stated as a fact rather than a question.

  Jin Yu merely gave him a glance and walked out of the forest.

  Seer followed immediately, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

  He leaned close to Jin Yu and whispered.

  "Where did you keep it?"

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Jin Yu shot him a cold glare, but said nothing.

  Seer, undeterred, smiled as if he’d just found a new puzzle to solve, he let out a thoughtful hum.

  "It definitely wasn't in a beast pouch, I've never seen one with you, so let me guess..." He tapped his chin as if deducing the mystery of the world.

  He suddenly stopped in his track and stared at Jin Yu in alarm.

  "Oh no" he muttered.

  Jin Yu stopped and looked at him, frowning in displeasure.

  "What?"

  "You didn't keep it with your compa-"

  Jin Yu shot him another cold glare, shutting him up immediately.

  Seer smiled sheepishly, raising his hands in surrender.

  Jin Yu walked off.

  Seer strutted behind and continued.

  "It's a bad habit to keep secrets between us friend, we are friends after all , you are always hiding-"

  Jin Yu halted, and turned back immediately.

  Seer also stopped in his track, mid-word. almost colliding with Jin Yu.

  "What?." He asked.

  Jin Yu only looked at him for a beat before his hand shot towards Seer's face, trying to grab the mask off but his hand grabbed nothing but empty air.

  Seer was already some miles away, his eyes filled with displeasure.

  His voice came out cold, devoid of it's usual playfulness .

  "Why did you do that?"

  Jin Yu smirked and replied. "Didn't you say not to keep secrets?" Then he pointed at Seer's face. "that's the biggest secret between us"

  Seer's eyes flickered with something unknown, still glaring at Jin Yu.

  "I won't talk to you again." he said in resentment and disappeared into the deep forest.

  Jin Yu raised a brow and smiled mockingly "Keep your words."

  His words met silence but he was sure Seer heard it.

  "Finally some peace" he muttered and disappeared, appearing in front of the mountain cave.

  Everyone's aura has stabilized and they didn't look as in pain as before, but they were still sitting crossed leg, except the girl who was still laid on his partners body.

  The other two dead men were still in their same position.

  Jin Yu looked away and took a seat on his chair silently.

  A silver mist spread from his fingers, concealing him in a private veil that blocked all probing eyes or senses.

  In his palm, a small translucent orb emerged pulsing softly, and faintly glowing.

  The miniature floating mansion within slowly rotated, perfectly preserved.

  He hadn't sent his will inside when a voice, quiet but laced with something dangerous, broke the stillness.

  "Fellow Daoist, don’t you think it’s time you explained yourself?"

  Jin Yu paused, for a moment, then ignored the man and sent his will inside.

  But he wasn't allowed to focus, another voice, laced with venom rang out.

  "This silence of yours is growing heavier, Stranger. Explain."

  Irritation started growing in Jin Yu's heart, but he still kept silent.

  "It seems....you want your silence to speak for you."

  It was another person this time.

  After that, the scholarly dressed man stood up first, his eyes calm, but the system already declared what was beneath it.

  Ding!

  Influence +10,000

  (Emotion provoked: Killing Intent)

  The last of the rugged men followed suit, unbridled killing Intent radiating from him.

  The white garbed of the trio sisters stood up next, her venom laced voice resounded again. "It took us decades to cultivate our souls, but your careless actions ruined it" she marched towards him, a violent aura pulsing from her, her sisters followed.

  "Your dog life isn't enough to pay for your sins" she said and stopped just a few meters from him, her eyes sharp enough to skin him.

  Tension thick enough to taste rippled through the air like a drawn bowstring.

  Then, a voice rang out, calm yet unyielding.

  "Whoever touch him will die, he's mine"

  The young girl stood from her spouse's body, her bloodshot eyes glaring at Jin Yu murderously.

  Jin Yu looked at each one of them, calmly analyzing their intent.

  Then he sighed and kept the Orb in his spatial ring.

  He stood up, almost lazily.

  He began slowly as a Sword appeared in his hand.

  "I was already mad I couldn't kill that bitch, now... you all came knocking "

  He marched forward, calm and unbothered.

  "Tell me, who will save you all from me today?"

  He asked with unnerving calm, as though they were merely discussing lunch.

  His sword pulsed with a brilliant glow, but it wasn't cultivation Qi this time, it was spiritual Qi, dense and pure.

  Sensing the aura of the sword, everyone's expression shifted sharply.