The sharp flash of light delivered with it an immense pressure that sent servants stumbling backwards. Van grunted as he was forced back several metres. His head pulsed with pain and his ears rung.

A plain-looking metal staff clattered to the ground.

The Disciplinary Elder coughed; vermillion trailed down his beard and robes. But the enraged look in his eyes seemed to lessen.

Squinting, the elder looked up at the s.h.i.+ning figure before him.

High above, a heroic man with long black hair and purple robes was stepping lightly down a cloud path. In his hands was a glowing purple sword with a fierce aura that penetrated the skies. If not for the fine lines around his temples and mouth, one would mistake him for a man younger than 30 years of age.

The purple-robed man's gaze was stern. He pointed his sword at the elder kneeling down on the ground; his robes billowed out.

"Elder Lang ! How dare you raise a hand against a student?!" The purple-robed man thundered. The sky rumbled.

"S-sect Master…" Elder Lang, the Disciplinary Elder, gasped through b.l.o.o.d.y teeth.

The Sect Master looked coldly down at him, expression unreadable.

"I-I…" Elder Lang's twisting expression betrayed his fierce internal struggle. One moment his expression was piteous and tragic, then furious and bloodthirsty. These two warring expressions caused a hideous grimace that made the Sect Master frown.

At that moment, the elder's expression stopped changing. The furious and bloodthirsty grin won. Snarling, he lunged towards the p.r.o.ne body of the young servant on the floor.

The Sect Master did not let Elder Lang act recklessly. Raising a hand, he sent strands of purple energy wriggling through the air. They coiled around the elder's body and constricted him.

Bzzzt! Bzzzt!

Elder Lang struggled in his bonds. The purple ropes bound his arms tightly to his sides. His bloodshot eyes focused on the servant's body.

"STOLE!" he yelled hoa.r.s.ely.

"STOLE!"

Elder Lang threw his body from side to side. Bzzzt! The purple ropes responded by zapping him. The elder grimaced from the pain.

The Sect Master thinned his lips.

Even if that servant had stolen something, as a lofty elder of the Cedar Sect, chasing that servant down and beating him to within an inch of his life in front of all these people was disgraceful! It threw the face of the Cedar Sect!

The Sect Master was very dissatisfied. He had no idea why Elder Lang, known for his even temper and impartial judgement had become this hissing and spitting wraith standing before him! They had released him thinking he had regained his mind, but who knew that his saneness was all an act. The

very day they decided to release him - he turned back into this!

The Sect Master's temples throbbed.

He shook his head, perplexed. His long black hair billowed out behind him.

"Disciple greets Master."

Tiredly, the Sect Master nodded his head. Without turning around, he spoke.

"Master will leave the clean-up process to you. Do as you will, Master trusts your judgement."

Behind him, his disciple performed a shallow bow.

The Sect Master waved his hands and the white light that hid them from sight began to thin. With a graceful stride, he stood atop the cloud path and disappeared quickly from sight.

His disciple watched in silence as the purple figure became a small dot and then vanished into thin air.

If this was a normal day, the Sect Master would definitely not have left so hastily. However, there was an extremely important meeting being held at Dragon City's famous Summer Pavilion.

Several Sect Heads were waiting there to discuss the important inter-country event happening in the next year.

The Sect Master thought about the state of his sect and gritted his teeth. However, the moment they showed weakness was the moment they would lose! Those vultures from the other sects of Dragon City wouldn't wait to bite off some flesh off the wealthy Cedar Sect.

He increased his speed.

There was no time to waste!

__________

When the light finally dimmed enough for the crowd to see, they spied a single youth standing in the middle of the crowd. Apart from him, there was no one else in the clearing.

The servants surveyed the scene with puzzlement. Where had that crazy, b.a.s.t.a.r.d elder gone? More importantly, what was the fate of the servant who had been clobbered on the head?

Their curiosity unsatisfied, they could only turn their gaze to the youth standing in their midst.

Long golden hair and a flirtatious smile dazzled their eyes. When they finally recovered themselves, they noticed the little monkey perched on his shoulder. With its little round, black eyes and red cheeks stole the hearts of several girls in the crowd instantly.

This could only be...!

"It's the Sect Master's direct disciple!" Someone shouted.

Immediately, the other servants grew excited and spread the news. They gazed at that golden figure with admiring eyes. Everyone envied and wanted to be him! How glorious was the position of the Sect Master's direct disciple?

Even Van was moved. He looked quietly at the golden-haired youth. He appeared just slightly older than Van and had a lopsided smile that said he found the situation entirely all too amusing.

...The golden monkey on the youth's shoulder was staring at him.

Van thought it looked rather intelligent and cute. His little sister would love it. But why was it staring at him so intently?

If the golden monkey had heard Van's internal monologue it would have spewed blood. 'Cute'? It was a n.o.ble descendant of the Monkey King, it was not 'cute'! It was fearsome, a killer, a bloodthirsty warrior…definitely!

As Van watched, the little monkey narrowed its eyes and tilted its small chin in a gesture of challenge. It seemed to recognise Van, but Van had definitely never seen it or its owner before.

At that moment, the young man spoke.

At this point, even remembering the b.l.o.o.d.y event that had just happened before couldn't dampen their spirits. Everyone was thinking of what they could do with their newfound time and money!

Van was also excited. Finally, he had a chance to visit Dragon City!