Chongming frowned slightly, like a sudden ripple on a cold pool. But in just a moment, his expression returned to calm.
"Yes, it's me."
His slender fingers brushed across Yaohua's hand. The mysterious chain that had tightly bound her wrist snapped open with a click.
Yaohua stared blankly at his frost - like face. She wanted to ask if his injuries were healed after leaving seclusion, if the silver hammer strike had hurt him just now, and if she had brought him more trouble again. But this was not the time to talk. She could only lower her head to hide the moisture in her eyes.
"Congratulations on your return from seclusion, God Lord." Tu Yang paced up to him and bowed slightly. But then her eyes turned sharp. "This is a serious criminal in the Heavenly Prison. It's inappropriate for you to act like this, God Lord."
"Yaohua is my beloved disciple. All her actions shall be counted on me."
"Do you know that the crime she committed this time deserves death ten thousand times over?"
"I know."
Yaohua suddenly raised her head. "Master!"
Did Master really know what she had done?
She saw Master turn his head and glance at her. His expression was always calm, but there was a hint of soothing in his eyes when he looked at her.
Then Yaohua found she couldn't speak.
A clear spring seemed to flow through her already - injured throat, instantly moistening her dry voice.
"God Lord!" Tu Yang's tone turned cold. "Think twice before you act!"
"Failure to teach is the father's fault; lax teaching is the teacher's negligence." A spiritual current lifted the silver hammer that had fallen on the ground and sent it back into the little divine envoy's hand. Chongming's voice was as clear as a spring. "I should take the blame for her."
The silver hammer in the little divine envoy's hand was like a hot potato. A cold sweat ran down his face. He looked at the God Lord and then at Tu Yang. His feet seemed to be nailed to the ground.
For a moment, it was so quiet on and off the Execution Platform that you could hear a pin drop.
"This is a crucial matter. There has never been such a precedent in the Heavenly Realm. Please forgive us, God Lord. We must report this to the Divine Lord before making a decision." Tu Yang took back the silver hammer. Her eyes swept across Chongming's shoulders and then she motioned for the envoys on both sides to take Yaohua back to the Heavenly Prison.
However, just at this moment, Chongming suddenly reached out his hand and blocked the envoys' actions.
"Divine Lord, aren't you going to show yourself?"
His words were like a drop of water splashing into a pan of oil, immediately causing an uproar.
"The Divine Lord is here too?"
"Oh no, I secretly clapped and cheered when that little divine envoy died. I hope the Divine Lord didn't see it."
"Not only you. I even spat just now. I wonder if it will affect my image in the Divine Lord's mind."
For a moment, there were whispers under the Execution Platform, but everyone's eyes were constantly searching for the Divine Lord's trace.
Golden mist was swirling on the Execution Platform. A faint figure appeared in the air.
"Greetings to the Divine Lord!"
The noisy voices just now disappeared instantly. The greetings were in unison.
The Divine Lord's kind and gentle eyes swept across everyone and slowly landed on Chongming.
"The law is not beyond human feelings. Since you have such love for your disciple, I should fulfill your wish. But while you love your disciple, don't forget the common people in the world."
A faint pressure accompanied his voice and spread across the entire Execution Platform.
"After all, Yaohua's crime includes a capital offense."
"You're quite right, Divine Lord." Chongming bowed slightly. "Do it."
Although his words affirmed what the Divine Lord said, his expression and actions were not in line with his words. Yaohua looked at his figure, her heart filled with suspicion.
The Divine Lord's eyes changed several times. He looked at Chongming and slowly said several words of approval.
His tone was neither too fast nor too slow, but there was a hint of gritted teeth.
Yaohua couldn't help but feel worried for her master.
After receiving the Divine Lord's order, the little divine envoy didn't feel relieved at all.
"Forgive my rudeness, God Lord Chongming."
This was the most respected God Lord the Execution Platform had ever welcomed.
Each strike of the silver hammer contained the supreme laws of the Heavenly Dao, but Chongming, who bore these blows, didn't even frown from beginning to end.
Yaohua stared at this scene in shock, filled with endless regret in her heart.
She suddenly hated herself for alerting the Heavenly Soldiers.
There were countless ways to get the key to the God Lord's Tomb. Why did she choose theft?
Now she had even involved her master in taking the blame for her.
Unconsciously, the sound of the silver hammer hitting the bone gradually decreased.
There was no more annoyance in the Divine Lord's tone. "God Lord Chongming, you can step aside now."
Chongming raised his head. "The previous Divine Lord promised me three things. Only one has been used so far. I hope the Divine Lord will show mercy and spare Yaohua's life."
"Master!"
Tears welled up in Yaohua's eyes and fell all at once. She reached out her hand, trying to grab her master's sleeve as she did in the past. But Chongming had already set up a barrier in front of her, making it difficult for her to break through.
Her fingers were blocked by the transparent barrier. She leaned on it with both hands, her eyes so red that they seemed to bleed.
She still remembered seven years ago in Cangling Hall, Master had used the same reason to plead for mercy from the Divine Lord.
Now, she had already wasted two promises the previous Divine Lord had made to Master...
"Fine!" The Divine Lord's previously gentle tone turned angry again. He looked at Chongming with a gloomy expression, and then slowly shifted his gaze to Yaohua.
"I'd like to see how many times you'll save this wretch, and how many times you can save her."
Chongming folded his arms across his shoulders and ignored the latter part of the Divine Lord's words. "Thank you, Divine Lord, for your kindness."
In the cluster of purple aura, the Divine Lord's figure gradually disappeared into the clouds. The moment he disappeared, those who had come to watch the fun scattered like birds and beasts, fearing to offend the God Lord.
After all, the person being punished today was the God Lord's beloved disciple.
The barrier in front of her had been removed. Yaohua finally grabbed her master's sleeve.
"Master, how are you?"
Master's eyes were gentle. He raised his hand and was about to touch her hair, but his arm suddenly dropped.
He retracted his hand. "Let's go back to Cangling Hall first."
Two spiritual lights landed in front of Cangling Hall. As soon as Yaohua stood still, a shadow fell beside her.
She was startled and quickly reached out to support her master.
"Master, you..."
Her hand touched something soft, boneless, slippery, and wet. Yaohua endured the shock and suspicion in her heart and looked down.
A bright red color came into view.
Before she could react, the red color gradually spread under Master's white robe, just like a drop of red ink spreading in water.
Yaohua's face turned as white as a sheet.
"Master, Master, don't scare me!"
She put Master down at a loss, afraid that wherever she touched, blood would flow.
"Quickly take out the Immortal Orchid Grass!"
The system's voice suddenly rang in her mind. Yaohua finally sorted out a thought in her buzzing brain.
She didn't have time to think about why the system had returned. Her hands trembling, she rummaged through the space for the Immortal Orchid Grass.
Finally, that familiar tender green came into view.
"Master, the, the Immortal Orchid Grass!"
She was so excited that she could hardly speak clearly.
The Immortal Orchid Grass was brought to Master's lips. Yaohua stared intently at his lips, but the Immortal Orchid Grass didn't move at all.
"Master, open your mouth!"