Chapter 42 - Payment Time!

Dorian spun his giant hammer wickedly while slowly advancing towards his target.

And thus began a very disturbing sight for those who watched.

~Bam!

"Damn, you exorcist! You think this will deter me? Not a..." 

~Bam! 

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!... How dare you?"

~Boom! Bam. Boom!

"Stop! Stop! At least let me finish talk..."

~Bam.

"You!...."

~Bam. Bam.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!... I said..."

~ Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam!

...

Blink. Blink.

Everyone watched this scene with unfathomable expressions on their faces.

No... They were just speechless.

Something that had made many faint from sight alone was now being beaten to a pulp by this young Master Tian.

So how could they not be shocked?

At first, listening to the creature's words, they thought things might get complicated, and Dorian might not even win.

But who would've known that his victory would be so... eye-catching?

~Bam. Bam. Bam.

Dorian hammered the several seals on its body as if hammering nails.

And whenever it spoke, he would hammer its mouth as well.

Noisy. 

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

The hybrid felt its entire insides burning nonstop as the heavenly flames quickly engulfed it from within.

The flames seemed to grow larger within the hybrid as its body started swelling like a balloon.

"No! No! Stop! Stop! you bastard!" It exclaimed in fear and pain as golden rays of light shot out of its chests, hands, mouth and entire body.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"

It screamed and cursed before finally exploding into thousands of water droplets that sprinkled down like black rain.

But what shocked many was that before the bark rain hit the ground, it turned golden and faded into thin air.

Everyone cautiously looked around, not sure whether this was the end or not.

Who knew it the bastard thing would sneak somewhere else in this room?

.

"Butler Sheng! Raulin! Zhulyn!"

"Yes, Master!" All 3 answered with respect and awe as they watched Dorian float down lightly.

After watching the battle, Raulin and Zhulyn realized just how powerful their master was.

But more importantly, they also realized that they, combined with several others, might not even be able to leave a scratch on their Master if battling against him.

Very quickly, they guessed that this must've been what Butler Sheng, Bewoh and Haru had been doing that allowed them to grow overnight.

Yes. They were still very much afraid.

But they also knew that this might be because they were unskilled.

Even after everything, they still wanted to join the Tian family.

Someone could say they were crazy.

But to them, there was always another side of the coin.

What if after they left, they met other demons, spirits or any evil things and couldn't get Dorian's help because he was busy or out.

Then what do they do then?

They would just have to die and be devoured, right?

Additionally, what if the moment the creature wanted to reveal itself to them was the moment when it decided to kill them?

Now, they didn't even know if most strange out of nowhere diseases were the cause of monsters or just health.

In fact, the issue was that they knew nothing.

And when one knows nothing, they can't protect themselves or avoid troubles.

Thus, apart from their loyalty to the Tian household, those were just a few more of their reasons for staying.

They also wanted to be strong enough to protect themselves, their team and the Tain household.

Like so, the duo looked at Dorian in determination while waiting for his orders.

.

Dorian looked at them and chuckled.

Smart...

"Butler Sheng! Raulin! Zhulyn! 

Our work here isn't done. We still have five more people to cleanse. And you three will handle them."

~Thap. Thap. Thap~

Dorian quickly three several papers at them before voicing words that only they could hear.

Everyone watched them silently in confusion.

At first, they could hear them. But suddenly, it all went quiet.

Of course, everyone found it strange that it went quiet.

But they seemed to have forgotten that in the first place, for everyone to hear what everyone else was saying in this large room was already an abnormal feat.

With such a grand hall, people shouldn't be able to hear each other from that far away or even right at the back without yelling.

So now that Dorian was talking directly with his men, everyone else far away couldn't hear a single thing.

But when Dorian's group was done, they seemed to be able to hear again.

So, they must be using magic, right?

.

Very quickly, Dorian and the rest stepped closer to Sota's gang before settling their sights at Windock, Leiji, Ghu Dwo, Elvida and another close guard.

And when they saw him, their expression turned anxious.

"Grandmaster Tian... What's wrong?"

Dorian placed his hands on his chin and looked at them deeply.

"You 5... roll up your sleeves and place your hands forward."

Instantly, they did it without even wasting time.

Even Windock was fast as well.

Dorian then tapped their hands, revealing an unspeakable sight that caused them all to be petrified.

W-w-was that a face?

Those who saw this once again felt like puking.

Such a thing can really make one want to cut their arms off.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Ghu Dwo's forehead as he looked at his arms in horror.

He was so terrified that his legs couldn't stop shaking.

Those watching would never understand how it felt to see such a thing on your own hand.

His eyes darted maniacally as he really freaked out.

It wasn't just him, but the rest too... Elvida was just the worst.

"Get it off! Get it off!... Ugh... My eyes are bleeding from seeing it. Please, can you get it off?"

She felt like from this day forth, she would never look at her hand the same again.

Ugly.

.

Dorian looked at their hands silently.

As expected, they had been marked... meaning after the hybrid devoured Sota, it planned to jump to its next marked targets within the same household.

And like so, it planned to finish them all.

Of course, with the hybrid dead, the marking's use was no more.

But, it still wouldn't fade just yet... at least until a few months.

But that was the thing.

During this time, such markings without an owner were just like dangling prey to fish on a hook.

More Water ghosts would want to step in and replace the dead one.

So he had to destroy it all now.

Dorian looked at his men and gestured for them to begin.

For marks like these, a few flame talismans would take care of them.

So he allowed them to deal with such minor things.

Raulin and Zhulyn placed their papers on their victims' hands and watched it glow bright golden.

Steam poured out as well, and their hands began red, as if sunburned.

And soon, the mark started fading and fading until the talisman papers no longer glowed again.

Everyone swallowed hard.

So... it was done?

(°_°)

Dorian nodded, and all five felt alive again.

"Thank you, Grandmaster!"

"Thank you, Grandmaster!"

With warm smiles of gratitude, everyone was genuinely thankful.

Hell. That thing would've definitely come for them too, after some time.

So they had just escaped death!

.

Dorian waved his hands calmly before looking at the bags of salt already opened.

He opened them for these 5, as well as Sota.

That's right.

They had to fill bathtubs with water and 3 cups of the salt he just enchanted words on.

It should be done in the daytime and never at night.

"Sota will have to steep in salted water 5 hours a day for a month and a half.

As for the rest of you previously marked, you'll only stay an hour in the tubs. And you'll do this for 3 days.

As for the rest of the salt, pour the contents around all fountains and open water spaces in the estate.

And in the morning, the salt will disappear, meaning you need to replenish it every morning for the next month."

"Yes, Grandmaster Tian." Ghu Dwo, Windock and the rest answered while taking note of every little instruction.

Who knew that their home was so infested with evil?

.

Like so, Dorian gave his instructions like a doctor talking to a patient.

And Butler Sheng was writing his words as subscriptions for the clients too.

Dorian looked at them and suddenly smiled.

Well, it was payment time.

And this time, the money he fairly racked up was close to what he wanted.

That's right.

He needed land. 

But not just any land.

No... Dorian wanted an island!

The Academy had to be on an island!