Beastmaster of the Ages

”Once his mundus gets found, he’ll have even more weaknesses. If he really can’t be found, I believe Eminent Ranxing will just go to the valley lord and ask which stareye Li Tianming traveled to.”

”I suppose it’s reasonable for a top fugitive. It’s a legitimate reason to hunt someone down.”

”True. He isn’t just mad because of his stubborn daughter.”

”If it were me, I’d be flipping mad! Imagine raising someone for hundreds of years who ends up doing something like this. I’d lose so much face....”

The label of a top fugitive seemed pretty significant to the onlookers from House Suishen. The judgment had been made, and the one being judged had escaped. Eminent Ranxing himself was the one who had judged Tianming, and he was confident enough that he would die as a result, so he didn’t seem torn at all. He had to do it for the entire valley—including Suishen Yue’s family—to see.

No matter how angry he was, however, he couldn’t actually kill his daughter. He wouldn’t want that kind of reputation, either. Coldly looking at her, he said, ”As punishment for bringing such shame to House Suishen, I sentence you to five hundred years in the Midsky Well. Do you have anything to say?”

Suishen Yao was furious about Tianming’s new label as well as her punishment. Fortunately, Eminent Jiguang learned from past experience and held her mouth shut. ”The Midsky Well? You know better than anyone what kind of place that is! All Yaoyao did was disobey you, what right do you have to cripple her? Not to mention, she’s a minor pathkeeper of House Suishen. I don’t agree, nor would Father!”

”This can’t be... this can’t be,” Suishen Cang said. ”Eminent Ranxing, Yaoyao did commit a mistake, but she’s still young and deserves a second chance. Spending five hundred years in the Midsky Well is the same as crippling her. That’s too harsh a punishment.”

”That’s right! I believe she’ll realize the error of her ways if we give her time!” Suishen Ling said.

Suishen Zhao couldn’t hold it in any longer and kowtowed to Eminent Ranxing. ”Father, give Big Sister a second chance!”

”You’re all begging for mercy for her sake, eh?” Eminent Ranxing gave his daughter a cold smile. ”Do you deserve the concern of all these people? Even after all these years, you still don’t recognize the people who truly cherish you and let an outsider trick you into losing your soul! You pointed your sword at your family. How could you?!”

Suishen Yao’s voice was completely stifled by Eminent Jiguang. She was angry about the Midsky Well, but she knew that arguing with her father wouldn’t do much. Eminent Jiguang also knew that Eminent Ranxing hated Tianming and wanted a reason to avoid punishing his daughter. Only with everyone begging for mercy for her could he rightfully avoid giving the worst punishment.

”Five hundred years! You’re prevented from leaving Suishen Cave even once during that time! You’ve shamed House Suishen, so I won’t let you show your face outside!” Eminent Ranxing ignored her after that.

Most people considered that a reasonable punishment. Suishen Cave wasn’t that big, so it was the same as being imprisoned. And at the same time, her cultivation wouldn’t be held back because of it. Besides, Tianming was the main focus of the punishment.

However, Suishen Yue was unsatisfied at not being able to see Tianming squashed or Suishen Yao thrown into the Midsky Well and his burning rage and hatred hadn’t dampened in the slightest. Instead, the pitiful gazes he felt on him made it even more irresistible. His mother was more or less the same, completely ruffled and freaking out.

”Madam,” Eminent Ranxing said as he turned around and gave a deep, apologetic bow, ”I’ve raised my daughter badly. I’m truly sorry that something like this has happened!”

”This... something like this... sigh! It’s got nothing to do with you. It’s Yaoyao... it’s just....” Eminent Jinying wanted to curse at Suishen Yao so much, but she couldn’t. Eminent Ranxing was her father, after all. Scolding her was the same as calling Eminent Ranxing a bad parent!

Eminent Ranxing patted Suishen Yue’s shoulder. ”Suishen Yue, I’ve been a bad father to my daughter. Her stubbornness cannot be changed. She’s a bad match for someone like you. As your uncle, I apologize. I’ll punish those who deserve it and arrange a much better girl to marry you.”

”Yes...” Suishen Yue said as his mouth shuddered.

”The wedding tomorrow is canceled! Send off the guests.” Eminent Ranxing immediately left, no longer wanting to stay there while his rage still seethed.

”Alright, go back home!”

”Let’s send off the guests first and return their wedding gifts.”

”How awkward and shameful. I don’t even know what to say to them....”

”There’s no need. Everyone knows about it thanks to the bounty.”

The guests had come to Suishen Cave for a rare occasion, only to be escorted out soon after. The entire wedding had become a mess. The decorations that’d taken an entire year to set up had become an insulting reminder.

The biggest change was how a proud minor pathkeeper had been reduced to a top fugitive of Myriadpath Valley. It was a huge shame for everyone. Most people in House Suishen frowned upon what happened. The youths were proud and they were already dissatisfied with being outshone by Tianming, unlike cultivators outside the three houses. Their impression of Tianming had only worsened after the incident.

What Tianming didn’t expect, however, was that the two million other cultivators of Myriadpath Valley had a completely different reaction.

”Are you sure? Really sure?”

”Is the news true?”

”Oh heavens!”

The phrases ’top fugitive’ and ’three kegs’ rang out nonstop across Myriadpath Valley. Everyone couldn’t believe their ears after hearing about it, but the truth soon became clear as more and more people spread it.

”I heard that Suishen Yao cried on the spot and said she willingly did it. They were truly in love and nothing could’ve forced them to surrender to their fates.”

”I didn’t think a love story of this caliber would happen in the three houses! It’s so exciting!”

”Seriously! Pathkeeper Li is truly peak. I admire his courage. He had a bright future about him, but he dared to risk it all for love! What an admirable talent!”

”Truly divine! Even if he’s a top fugitive, he’s still my idol!”

”That’s what true passion looks like!”

”I’ll beat up anyone who dares to kill my idol.”

”Forget it. You’re just a fifth-level cosmic cartographer. You’re at the bottom of the ladder in Myriadpath Valley.”

Most of the men argued about it, while the women were shedding tears over the brave tale of love. If Tianming came out and said that he didn’t do anything to cross the line now, nobody would believe him.