Divine Emperor of Death

Chapter 5116 A Knight With Wings

Venerable Knight Lussandra traveled through the skies in silence.

As a Peak Primarch and a Heavenʼs Warrior, she wasnʼt restricted by the Eighth Bastion Cityʼs flight rules, nor could the formation encompassing the city hold her back even if it wanted to.

The winds howled past her green-white robes while the unconscious Jillian Hayden rested gently in her arms. Her verdant seraph wings emitted a faint emerald glow that cut through the dark clouds above the city districts. She had long since suppressed her anger, but the coldness in her eyes remained.

Below her, the Eighth Bastion City stretched endlessly beneath the haze of war preparations and restless cultivators.

She had seen corruption before, had seen noble clans hide crime, and had seen powerful men treat women like possessions. But somehow, witnessing it personally inside the City Lord Manor still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

It was especially the case after City Lord Kain smiled at her so calmly as though nothing he had done was wrong, as though he held absolute confidence that nobody could touch him.

Venerable Knight Lussandra clenched her fingers slightly.

Soon, she descended toward the Hayden Family Estate after a bit of investigation through her other bodies scouring the cities, especially this city where rumors of the missing Young Mistress of the Hayden Family were already a well-known topic.

When she asked about the appearance of the Hayden Family people, it perfectly fit with the woman she was holding in her arms. Light purple hair, black-purple robe, and their slanted brows.

Before she broke through their barrier, she announced herself.

”Sorry to disturb you, but I may have rescued a person belonging to your Hayden Family.”

The sprawling estate occupied nearly an entire street, its towering walls reinforced by layered formations while ancient spirit trees swayed within the courtyards. Guards immediately sensed the pressure of a Peak Primarch descending and hurriedly rushed out in alarm.

They were scared shitless by the descent of a powerful cultivator, but they then froze.

”Jillian!?”

A middle-aged man with sharp diagonal brows and weary eyes stumbled forward from the front courtyard. His luxurious dark robes were disheveled as though he had not rested properly for days.

Behind him came elders and family members.

At the forefront was an old man with white hair tied neatly behind his back. His cultivation base was imposing, though still vastly inferior compared to Venerable Knight Lussandra.

He was none other than the Hayden Family Patriarch.

The moment they saw Jillian in Lussandraʼs arms, their expressions turned emotional.

”Jillian!”

Her father hurried forward with trembling hands.

Venerable Knight Lussandra carefully lowered Jillian into his embrace. She had already wrapped Jillian Hayden in a robe using a defensive artifact, so she wasnʼt half-naked anymore.

Hearing a familiar voice, Jillian slowly regained some awareness, her exhausted eyes opening faintly as she saw familiar faces around her.

”Father…”

Her father nearly lost control of his emotions.

”You foolish child…!”

He held her tightly while relief flooded his face.

The Hayden Family Patriarch also released a long breath.

”Thank the heavens…”

Many elders behind them revealed joyous expressions.

For the past few weeks, the atmosphere within the Hayden Family had been suffocating. They had their people killed and their reputation utterly ruined right after they entered the city, but the most excruciating thing was that their Young Mistress was kidnapped right under their nose.

She was their gem since she was the only genuine talent of the younger generation. As a supreme genius who had the highest bloodline purity of their Hayden Familyʼs Grade Eight Bloodline among the younger generation, her cultivation results and her comprehension in poison apothecary studies put many of their own to shame.

Still, they adored her and gave her everything, treating her as the person who could lead them in this era in the near future. They had been armed with countless treasures when they had left their ancient mini-realm, yet she was still taken away.

They could only blame their luck.

They couldnʼt find her despite their investigations and could only wallow in despair until this moment.

She had returned alive. That felt like that alone was enough.

The Hayden Family Patriarch turned toward Lussandra and cupped his hands deeply.

”This Heavenʼs Warrior, I may not know your name, but we are deeply indebted to you. Out Hayden Family shall forever remember this kindness.”

Venerable Knight Lussandra merely shook her head, ”I only did what was right.”

”May I know your name?”

”Itʼs not appropriate. You donʼt need to owe me a favor either.”

”Yes, yes.”

The Hayden Familyʼs Patriarch hurriedly agreed, ”The Heavenʼs Warriors should not get involved with the affairs of the galaxyʼs populace without a good reason. Please forgive this old man for being impetuous.”

Venerable Knight Lussandra nodded softly before her gaze turned cold.

”Jillian Hayden was being kept within City Lord Kainʼs manor. After sensing something amiss regarding the way he handled this matter, I forcefully retrieved her.”

”…”

The atmosphere instantly changed, and the joy on many faces stiffened.

She continued calmly, ”I intend to bring City Lord Kain- Deepstream Ocean Exalt to justice through martial court impeachment once I gather the necessary evidence. Please wait for my word before going to the martial court to testify against the vile City Lord.”

Silence descended in the courtyard.

The Hayden Family Patriarchʼs smile became rigid; Jillianʼs father slowly lowered his gaze, and even the surrounding elders no longer looked relieved. A faint unease began spreading.

Venerable Knight Lussandra noticed it immediately. She asked, ”Youʼre unwilling?

The Hayden Family Patriarch forced out a strained smile.

”Respected Heavenʼs Warrior. Considering your cultivation base, you could be a Venerable Elder. Even then, this matter should be handled more carefully…”

”City Lord Kain possesses immense authority within the Bastion Cities. There may be misunderstandings involved…” Another elder hurriedly nodded.

”Indeed. Jillian has already safely returned. That alone is enough for us.”

”We do not wish to create unnecessary conflict during wartime.”

Others also echoed. Their words were polite, respectful, and indirect, but the meaning was obvious.

Venerable Knight Lussandraʼs brows furrowed.

”Are you asking me to ignore this injustice?”

”No, no…” The Patriarch quickly replied. ”We merely believe that someone of your stature should not waste time on such matters. You carry the burden of protecting humanity itself from evil and Divergents alike. Compared to that, our Hayden Familyʼs affairs are insignificant. How can we be arrogant enough to take even the slightest bit of time you possess to make the world better?”

Venerable Knight Lussandra stared at them.

Her voice turned colder, ”It is your familyʼs daughter who suffered this injustice along with a few others whom I have no idea about. For their sake as well, are you still not going to take action?”

The elders exchanged troubled glances.

Jillian Hayden looked increasingly uncomfortable, not knowing who to support in this conversation. If she hadnʼt also arrived at this conclusion that it was hopeless to go against the City Lord, she wouldnʼt have taken the dire action to commit suicide.

Her father suddenly spoke, ”Venerable Elder… we appreciate your intentions, but some matters are not so simple.”

Venerable Knight Lussandra met his gaze.

Her gaze was incredibly judging behind her veil.

It made Jillian Haydenʼs father clench his fists in humiliation before all the suffering he went through snapped in his face.

”Of course, a Venerable Elder like you can afford to offend the City Lord!”

The entire courtyard froze.

Even the Patriarch widened his eyes slightly.

Jillian Hayden looked horrified. She immediately went to calm him.

”Father…!”

But her father could no longer hold back. His eyes were bloodshot from accumulated stress and fear.

”You can leave whenever you want after making enemies! You are protected by the Heavenʼs Warrior Organizations! But what about us!?”

His voice echoed through the courtyard.

”What happens after you leave!? What happens when City Lord Kain remembers our Hayden Family after todayʼs events!? Do you think people like us can survive the wrath of the City Lord and his allies!? Even if you take him down, the other City Lords will not let us grow. Even if we leave for another city where weʼre accepted, weʼre still doomed as they have millions of ways to make sure weʼre suppressed to death!”

His breathing grew ragged before he finally waved his hand, ”You speak of justice, but justice does not feed our family members! It does not protect our children! It does not stop powerful people from crushing families like ours in secret!”

The Hayden Family Patriarch shut his eyes heavily.

None of the elders refuted him, all because they all felt the same fear when they saw what this female Heavenʼs Warrior was going to do.

This was the Six-Headed Hydra Upper Realm.

What good were Heavenʼs warriors here? They would be played to make a fool out of themselves by the hydras who were cunning than any race in the realms.

Venerable Knight Lussandra stood there silently.

For a moment, she did not know what to say.

The fury she carried toward City Lord Kain slowly cooled, and the disgust she developed for the Hayden Family vanished, replaced instead by something heavier.

She didnʼt even want to reveal that she was a Venerable Knight who had much more authority and could even make the Hexadra Clan pay arbitrarily if she so wished.

Would they still change their minds after knowing this?

She did not think so.

They were overwhelmed by fear already. They feared retaliation more than injustice itself, not because they were cowards but because this city had already taught them what happened to those who stood against the powerful.

Thinking like this, Venerable Knight Lussandraʼs gaze became distant.

After a long silence, she turned around to leave without saying a word.

Jillian Haydenʼs father slowly came to his senses.

He uttered hesitantly when he saw her turn to leave, ”Benefactor, I…”

”I understand.”

Her voice echoed softly before her emerald wings unfurled once more as she rose into the skies and disappeared into the distance.

”How foolish and impudent am I to berate our greatest benefactor, returning gratitude with-”

*Pah!~*

Jillian Haydenʼs father began slapping himself on the spot.

The others and Jillian Hayden came to stop him, but he had slapped himself red before his two hands were held by his family members.

The Hayden Familyʼs Patriarch sighed, shaking his head.

He still remembered how they entered the city gates and held their heads high as they went through the city, only to find themselves attacked and robbed of their possessions and utterly humiliated. From that day on, the proud Hayden Family was never the same.

They werenʼt even the local serpent anymore. They were just a bigger ant.

After stopping her father, who had nearly fainted from the force he used to slap himself, Jillian Hayden looked at the skies as she bit her lips.

For some reason, her heart hurt far more now than when she had been trapped inside the City Lord Manor.

Because for the first time in a month, she felt that someone truly tried to help her, but her own family had pushed that person away.

She hadnʼt even had the time to thank that person.

Thanks for the Magic Castle, Szentin. Appreciate it a lot.

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