Why did Surendranath say something like that?

  At first, no one understood. Not even Shivansh. He looked at Surendranath with utter confusion. Had he heard correctly? If what he had heard was true, then why would Surendranath think that he had killed Devika? Had he also been influenced by the rumors?

  These questions began swirling in Shivansh’s mind, and in the minds of everyone present. However, before Shivansh could say anything, Surendranath attacked.

  He swung his sword toward Shivansh, aiming to separate his head from his body.

  Clang!

  But before the blade could reach him, Death Hall Master Jeet intercepted it with his dagger. The clash between them released a violent burst of internal energy, which exploded outward. Shivansh, Saksham, and the others were blown back, crashing into the walls.

  Jeet had to use nearly all his strength just to block Surendranath. But Surendranath was consumed by rage. He could not control himself. In that state, he didn't cared about anything at all. What he really wanted was revenge.

  Revenge for Devika's murder.

  After some time, Jeet managed to calm Surendranath down enough to speak and demanded to know why he had come to kill Shivansh, and why he believed that Shivansh had murdered his daughter.

  In response, Surendranath bluntly declared that Shivansh had used Devika to accelerate his cultivation and then killed her for his own benefit. He said, that Shivansh made her fall in love with him, used her to gain resources from him to?advance his own cultivation. And when it was time he decided to kill her off to advance further.

  Jeet sighed deeply after listening to him. He had already expected something like this because of those rumours. Perhaps Surendranath had taken those rumors too seriously and begun believing them.

  Jeet tried to reason with him, telling him not to trust baseless rumors. But Surendranath completely refused to listen. He wanted only one thing, Shivansh’s death. Which started to annoy Jeet.

  “Damn! You Surendranath! why are you so determined to take my disciple’s life? At least tell me the reason!!!”

  Jeet finally demanded angrily. Until now, he had spoken formally, but that restraint was gone. His voice was now filled with raw emotion and anger towards Surendranath.

  However, Surendranath also roared back with the same intensity,

  “You are asking for a reason?! Didn't I tell you. He used my daughter and then killed her for his own gain! What greater reason do I need? Move out of my way, or I will not spare you either!”

  He repeated the same thing again. Hearing that, Jeet clenched his teeth and asked,

  “What proof do you have that Shivansh killed her? Do not accuse him without evidence!!!”

  “Proof! Proof! Proof! AHHH! You want proof too? Then listen! A few days ago, your Shivansh and his companions were seen carrying pieces of meat and hides. Am I wrong?”

  Before Jeet could respond, Saksham spoke from behind him.

  “Those hides were from a bear and a boar. And we brought them for ...”

  “You—Shut up!”

  Surendranath shouted sharply, making Saksham silent. Jeet took a deep breath and replied,

  “Yes, you are right. They were carrying meat and hides. But what my disciples are saying is also true. Those hides were from a bear and a boar. Not of some human beings. And, As far as I know, they were helping a disciple of the Fourth Elder complete a mission. We all know that.”

  “Oh really? Then tell me, who exactly is that Fourth Elder’s disciple?”

  Jeet raised his eyebrow, confused about what Surendranath was implying. How would he know every disciple under the Fourth Elder, especially a newly accepted one?

  Still, he had already asked Saksham and the others about the guy's appearance earlier. He described that appearance clearly to Surendranath.

  But what Surendranath said next left him, and everyone behind him, stunned.

  “That person does not exist.”

  Jeet froze. For a moment, the only thought in his mind was that Surendranath had gone mad because of the loss of his daughter.

  He tried to speak, but Surendranath cut him off.

  “The person whose appearance you just described died thirty years ago. If you do not believe me, go check the Society’s records. Or better yet, I will show you myself. Look at this!”

  Thud!

  Surendranath threw a bundle of papers toward Jeet. Jeet picked them up and examined them.

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  ‘!!!’

  His eyes widened.

  On the paper was a drawn portrait of the very man they had described. According to the record, he had been a member of the Blazing Orb Sect thirty years ago. The Crimson Heaven Society maintained a simple and minimal record books of its inner members, which was managed by the Four Direction Hall.

  Death Hall, also has a record book, but that is only criminal based. Death Hall's work inside the society was to manage crime. That's why their record book only contains the record of the person who was involved in a crime.

  But the Four Direction Hall's work is information gathering and distributing. Because of which they keep a simple record of almost every inner member of the society.

  Jeet examined The paper. It was clearly old and worn. The possibility of it being fake was almost nonexistent. And apart from that, it even bore the official seal and signatures of the Four Direction Hall. They would not forge records without reason.

  Which meant it was genuine.

  “Saksham, take a look. Is this the same person you saw that day?”

  Saksham took the paper. He gulped, as he looked at it, his eyes widened in disbelief as well. It was the same face. And beneath the portrait, it was clearly written that the man had died thirty years ago.

  “H-h... How is this possible…?”

  Saksham spoke in a very low voice, but because of the heavy silence, everyone heard him clearly. He handed the paper over to Aditya, Vand and Manish too and when Aditya and Vansh looked at it as well. Their faces went pale the moment they saw it.

  Their expressions were no different from Saksham’s.

  But when Shivansh looked at it, only a brief flicker of confusion, and anger appeared in his eyes which suddenly vanished after some seconds with a deep sigh.

  Inside, he was sad, deeply depressed. Whether this person existed or not did not matter much to him anymore. For a moment, anger and disgust rose in his heart, but even those emotions soon faded away.

  “Humph. You’re probably wondering how I came to know all this, so I’ll explain.”

  Surendranath spoke coldly.

  “The Fourth Elder discovered it. When I went to him, he clearly said that he had not taken any new disciple under his wing recently. So then who was this person Shivansh, Saksham, and the others were talking about? He found that strange and decided to investigate. Using his Mystical Arts, he discovered that the person your disciples were talking about had already died thirty years ago.”

  Jeet, Shivansh, Saksham, and everyone else listened in silence.

  “At first, I didn’t believe him either. But then he showed me these documents. Even I was shocked. But that wasn’t the most disturbing part. After that, he said to me, ‘You should question Death Hall Master's diaciples especially—Shivansh. I hear he recently opened his Anahata (Heart) chakra despite having only average talent. That makes sense, since you openly supported him because of Devika. But after Anahata (Heart) comes the Vishuddha (Throat) chakra. You know how difficult it is to open Vishuddha (Throat) after Anahata (Heart). Don't you?... Many people never manage it. So perhaps the rumors spreading, that Shivansh killed your daughter might actually be true?’”

  “…”

  “It was hard to digest what he was saying. I knew very well how much Devika loved Shivansh. I could not think that Shivansh can do anything like this. But then, the Fourth Elder said, ‘Surendranath, you know there are methods by which a person can increase their cultivation very quickly, don’t you? They are banned here, and almost everywhere throughout the subcontinent? But leave that, what I really want to ask, do you know what is the most common thing used in all of them? In those methods which can increase cultivation quickly?...’ I asked him ‘what’, to which he replied, ‘Human flesh and skin.’ At that moment, I understood what he was trying to say. And I'll not lie, his words make sense...”

  Clench!

  Saksham ground his teeth. A fierce anger rose within him directed toward Surendernath and Fourth Elder as he listened. But he could not speak. Because he was not strong enough. He did not have the power to speak between giants Surendranath and Jeet. Even if he did, his words would not be taken seriously.

  Shivansh’s words, however, would matter. He was strong, atleast the third strongest person after Surendernath and Jeet. The most important thing is everything revolved around him. If he spoke, the entire situation could change. But he was broken unable to think clearly, unable to speak. Saksham knew this all too well.

  “So tell me yourself, Jeet. Who exactly did your disciples see that day? The person they claim was the Fourth Elder’s disciple? If that person doesn’t even exist, then who did they see? A ghost? Do you know what the Fourth Elder told me next? He said, ‘The ones I suspect the most are Shivansh and his companions. Shivansh has only average talent. He probably thought he could win Devika over, use her to obtain resources from you, and benefit his cultivation, which he actually accomplish as we can see now. But now I think that's not wasn't his main objective, instead he might have thought that, when the time came, he would secretly kill Devika and use her body and flesh to used the meathod advance his cultivation faster. To avoid suspicion, they fabricated the story of my false new disciple so all attention would turn toward me. While on the other end acting all sad and depressed, just to show the people around him; like he really cared for her. Tell me, Surendranath—don’t you think Shivansh merely used Devika as a tool for his own benefit? Think carefully brother. Whenever he wanted, he asked her for pills, herbs, and elixirs, like it was nothing. He kept draining her like a leech until he felt tha...’”

  “ENOUGH! ENOUGH! Shut the fuck up!!!”

  Saksham shouted, cutting Surendranath off.

  “Dare you say one more word against my brother, and I swear...!”

  His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, blood seeping out. His eyes burned with rage, flames directed straight at Surendranath.

  Shivansh had saved him. Brought him here. Taught him cultivation. Given him a name. Treated him like a human being and like a younger brother. To Saksham, Shivansh was no less than a God.

  He had stayed silent until now. But after hearing the Fourth Elder’s words come out of Surendranath’s mouth, he could no longer control himself. He would never tolerate such filthy accusations against Shivansh!

  Surendranath did not like it at all when Saksham interrupted him.

  “Fool! Wretched brat! How dare you speak in the middle of my words!!!”

  Surendranath roared.

  But Saksham did not flinch even slightly. He stood firmly in his place, glaring at Surendranath with blazing eyes.

  “Ever since you arrived, you’ve been spouting nothing but nonsense and filth about my brother! Twisting stories, pointing fingers without reason! I’m asking you directly—what proof do you have that my brother killed Devika? What proof?! You’re just going in circles! Just because you heard that old asshole's (Fourth Elder) words, you decided everything is my brother’s fault?! Humph! Surendranath, if you truly have solid evidence, then present it clearly in front of everyone!!!”

  Saksham’s voice was ice-cold and bitter, so much so that everyone present was stunned.

  For a brief moment, even Shivansh turned to look at him—his eyes seeming to ask, What are you doing?

  An uneasy silence fell over the hall. Surendranath stared at Saksham for a few seconds before finally speaking.

  “Fine. I will now explain clearly. First of all, Death Hall Master… Check the energy traces present on Shivansh’s and all of their bodies. The proof will reveal itself before everyone’s eyes.”