Chapter 124: Sect Master Hidden Cockroach

Viel has been staring at this floating woman for a while now.

Viel did not really know what he was feeling, he wanted to hide, but at the same time, he wanted to be noticed by the woman who was currently scolding the Elders that were beside him.

And even though the woman was shouting, in Viel's ears, it was like a serenade, or perhaps it was more proper to say that it was a lullaby. Even with the unpredictable beat of his heart, Viel felt comfort.

It really was an unexplainable feeling for him. Yes, he felt comfort, but at the same time, it was somewhat unpleasant. As if there was something that wanted to escape from him, but yet hesitates as it did not want to let go of its cage.

And finally, the woman looked at her.

And as soon as she did so, Viel's whole world felt like it trembled as his vision shook. The only thing he could do was gulp and look away. Unknowingly, he was fixing his hair and patting his shirt to make sure it was neat, fixing the creases that formed on it during his… battle.

"G...guh", he then heard a stuttered groan below him. He totally forgot that he was currently stepping on an Elder. The Elder struggled to stand up, making Viel lose his balance in the process.

Before the Elder could shake him any further, he casually kicked him to the side without even looking at him, as if a toy that he could not clean up and just decided to throw to the side.

After a while, the Matriarch finally stopped shouting as she slowly descended and landed on the floor. She then walked towards Viel, approaching him somewhat cautiously. And with every step, Viel's heart started to beat faster, almost harmonizing with the rapid breaths that came from his mouth.

Finally, the Matriarch was only a meter away from her, Viel really did not know where to look as his eyes wandered all over the room.

"Are you… Viel?", the Matriarch spoke softly, the vexation that was previously there, can no longer be heard.

Hearing this question, Viel instantly stood straight, almost like a small tree with golden leaves. "Y-yes! That is my name!", Viel stuttered. "What about you, what is your name!?", he then said without even pausing between the words.

"You dare ask for the Matriarch's name!?", one of the Elders harrumphed. But he quickly cleared his throat when the Matriarch looked at him with squinted eyes.

"My name is Yinji, child", the Matriarch smiled.

"O...okay", Viel did not know what to do as he fidgeted in place.

"May I ask how you got here?", Matriarch Yinji spoke softly, but her expectant eyes could not be hidden from her Elders, "Is your sister… Xing Cai with you?"

"I-I climbed the stairs, ma'am!", once again, Viel stood like a tree. A single sweat was forming on his face, "Sister Xing Cai is not here!"

The Matriarch could not help but sigh as she stared at this baffling babbling child. But she could not help but furrow her eyebrows, if Xing Cai was not here, then that would mean this child entered the portal alone? If so… how?

"What I meant is how are you in this realm, child?", Matriarch Yinji continued her question, "When did you enter? And is the mysterious portal still open when you arrive here? Do you know a way for us to go back?"

Smoke almost started to come out of Viel's ears as he was bombarded by the non-ending questions of the Matriarch. He also could not focus as he was unconsciously trying to avoid the Matriarch's intense gaze.

"Matriarch!", it was then that another Elder stepped forward, "If there was a way for us to return, I am sure we would have already known", he reasoned.

"We have tried our best to find the portal, but even our combined efforts were in vain", the Elder sighed, "It is time for us to stop thinking about our old realm, there is nothing left for us there"

"What he says is true, Matriarch!", another one joined in as he kneeled towards the Matriarch, "All our brothers and sisters are dead. The only thing that will welcome us there are their bones"

The Matriarch listened to their pleas, but alas, she could only shake her head in disagreement. "We can always rebuild, like what we did here"

"With respects, Matriarch. That is not a wise decision", this time, one of the senior Elders spoke, "We have already built something great here. Thousands of people follow us, we are on our way to conquer this realm"

Hearing this, the Matriarch released a heavy sigh, "This is not our realm. Not our home", she said softly, "No matter what we do, we do not belong in this world, child"

"It is time to end our little play here and go home", the Matriarch stated.

"But Matriarch-"

"Enough!", a heavy force suddenly crept through the spines of all the Elders.

"You will obey"

Viel released a heavy breath after the Matriarch's domineering display of might. He felt like he was back home with his grandmother again as he watched as the Matriarch scolded the Elders without a pause in her breath.

Could it be… he was feeling like this because Matriarch Yinji reminded him of his grandmother?

"I let all of you handle the political matters. And it would seem it got into your young minds", the Matriarch had a stern expression on her face.

Young minds? The Elders all looked at each other, none of them here were below a hundred years old. It would make sense if Xing Cai was here, but even then, Xing Cai was also… advanced in age to be called young.

But considering the Matriarch's age, it would make sense. She was already there when the Evil Monarch first waged war against the west. They were not really clear about it, but she should be at least 600 years old.

"Prestige is nothing when it is not in our home", the Matriarch continued, "I have built the Golden Pavilion there, and I will not just let it die if there is a way I can rebuild it there", the Matriarch emphasized her last word.

"But-"

"Are we late for the after party?"

A banging sound waved in the room as the door of the throne room opened all of a sudden.

Princess Sofia came barging in, with Emi and the elf behind her.

The other Elders were about to ready their attacks, when they saw another one following them from behind.

It was a disheveled man, his hair oily and almost all the ends of his hair split, tangling with each other. But still, a somewhat dignified aura emitted from him as he entered with his chest out to the room.

The Matriarch's eyes widened as soon as she realized who it was. It was the Sect Master of her sect.

"Li Xue… boy?", Matriarch Yinji breathed in. The last time she saw him was about 4 years ago, promising that he will find a way for them to return to their original realm. But not even a single word was heard from him since he left.

So why… Why did he appear now? He looked like he had not seen sunlight for a long time. Did he go into secluded cultivation? But the timing of his arrival was definitely not a coincidence. Only Li Xue himself can explain it.

"Step forward, boy", the Matriarch beckoned for Li Xue to approach her. The expressions on the other Elders faces could not be painted. They then all looked at the two senior Elders, squinting their eyes at them. Li Xue, however, did not even glance at the other Elders.

"Sect Master Li Xue is here to report to the Matriarch!", Li Xue saluted as he kneeled on the floor. "Exactly one year and 96 days ago, I found Elder Xing Cai's sworn brother in the Adventurer's Guild of Burgerstatter!"

"More than a year ago?", the Matriarch furrowed her eyebrows, "Then why is it you are only reporting this now… and why are you with Princess Sofia and her companions?"

"Forgive me for not reporting in time, Matriarch!"

The ground erupted into a crater as Sect Master Li Xue slammed his own head on the floor, "But when I went to report here, I had a disagreement with the other Elders!"

Hearing this, Matriarch Yinji could not help but sigh. She already knew the reason why.

"They did not want to return to our old realm", Li Xue continued, "So the two senior Elders decided to lock me up!"

"Matriarch...", a senior Elder stepped in as soon as Li Xue was done with his words, "The Sect Master seems to be… hallucinating from all the mead that he has been drinking that past few ye-"

"No one is talking to you, Wei Yuan", before the senior Elder could finish his words, he was reprimanded by the Matriarch. She then looked at Viel, who had a complicated expression on his face since Matriarch Yinji asked him if there was a way to return home.

"Tell me, child", Matriarch Yinji slowly approached Viel,

"...Is there any truth in what Sect Master Li Xue's words?"

*****

IMPORTANT AUTHOR's NOTES

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