The Dawn of the New World

Back in the smaller dimension Dai Zhi was smiling victoriously ear to ear.

"Good news?" Stasa inquired seeing his change of expression.

Dai Zhi nodded lazily, leaning back to relax.

"It's all going according to plan. The peasant knows his place well."

Stasa's eyes glittered with a cold light, "You have to let people like that know their worth as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they try to reach for things that are not meant for the likes of them."

"Hahaha, spoken like a learned man, dear brother. You resemble your master in more ways than one," Dai Zhi laughed uproaringly but Stasa's cold expression did not falter.

"You must keep your word, senior brother. I want to kill the churl with my own hands in front of everyone. I have already waited too long. You cannot let him escape again."

Dai Zhi emptied his wine glass before jokingly slapping Stasa on the shoulder.

"Didn't I say you could? That's why I called him here and made him wait. He will be all yours tomorrow. Even if you didn't ask I was never going to let him go, it would be stupid to leave loose threads walking about. One way or another, he is going to die tomorrow and...I heard master 'Abysswalker' also has something special in-store."

Stasa finally relaxed when he heard that even the great Abysswalker was on their side.

"Hoh, I'm looking forward to it even more then. I'm sure he will live up to his reputation. Lord Abysswalker is famous for his cruelty even among the high Inquisitors," he finished with a fiendish grin.

Just then, another slurry voice interjected.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is why *Hic* both of you are STILL stuck in the Origin Realm," Xue Meng commented.

Dai Zhi and Stasa both turned towards him. Dai Zhi shook his head, "Brother Xue Meng, why must you act this way? Are we not on the same side?"

Xue Meng spat at his feet in disgust, "Same side my bare ass. Just because your masters want to join my precious Temple of War doesn't mean we are on the same side. I am only here to make sure you do not die by sheer stupidity. I am not here to play games with the likes of you."

Dai Zhi and Stasa exchanged glances. There was truth to his words, even if it was hard to digest. Both Stasa and Dai Zhi's masters were the second in command in Hall and Academy respectively, and now they wanted to move onto bigger, greener pastures.

And for people like them that loved to shed blood, the Temple of War was the best place. They had both chosen one of their precious students to take with them after taking advantage of their current organizations.

It was Stasa and Dai Zhi that had been working together all this time, despite what other people thought. And one of the reasons Xue Meng was here was because of this very reason. Their masters would join the same camp Xue Meng belonged to so he chose to come down here.

It was also because of the prophecy but that came second to his main mission which was to protect these two.

"Tsk, I can't believe I let him slip through my fingers," Xue Meng muttered under his breath while cradling three large empty bottles.

"I should be back home, fighting on the same hallowed grounds where each of the great Gods of War shed blood in their youth. But I'm stuck here, babysitting the likes of you!" he threw a baleful glare towards the duo before closing his eyes and dozing off again.

Dai Zhi snapped his fingers and a barrier erected around Xue Meng so he could sleep peacefully without being disturbed. But Stasa still spoke in a whisper.

"Do you really think it's the best decision for us to go to the Temple instead of the Church?"

Dai Zhi shrugged, "Who knows. I already got into the Order of the Holy Light so I can't join the inner sanctum of the Temple. But I know they won't let you go easily once they see what you really have. You have been hiding your abilities for far too long. Not many can compete with your piercing sword dao, perhaps not even me."

Stasa waved his hand dismissively, "Please don't joke with me, senior brother. I have seen you fight before. But I am pretty tired of playing the clown for so long."

"You don't have to wait long. After tomorrow we will be free and most of the responsibility will fall on Tian Zheng's shoulders. That fool still thinks he is the one in control."

"Hear hear! To friends, new and old!" Stasa raised his glass with a cheerful smile but inwardly he was on his toes.

He had seen too many of Dai Zhi's false faces. Even if he wasn't as charming as him, Stasa didn't lack too far behind when it came to their mentality. He knew when to hold back, when to be the clown and when to draw his sword.

Most people didn't take him seriously and when they actually saw his skills firsthand, there wasn't much they could do to protect themselves at that point.