Chapter 116 _ On his own
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"Why did Elder Hestruin call for me?" Socrates asked himself as he scratched his head. He was wearing a brown tunic and black leather pants. He had recovered fully from his fight with Black after just a day of rest. Due to the soul link with Sun Wukong which granted him a heaven-defying healing ability, his body had fully recovered on its own and he had returned to his peak state. Symbiosis had been deactivated and the golden armor around his fists and legs had vanished.
'You defeated a Qi Condensation Elder... You were sent into the underworld.. Why do I have the feeling that now that you've defeated a Master Realm cultivator, you'll be killed instead.' Sun Wukong warned from inside Socrates.
"Well. It's not like I can reject the call of an Elder — and if push comes to shove.. I have you and Lady Achillia as backup." Socrates said confidently.
'Yes. Master.. only I am reliable..' Sun Wukong smiled.
"And what are you doing inside my sea of consciousness? Why don't you come outside? I feel uncomfortable with you in there.." Socrates lamented.
'Master. It's very important that many people don't know about me..'
"Oh really?" Socrates arched a brow.
'I was very famous in the central plains.. if someone recognizes me, it'll bring not just disaster to you but to the entire Trueblood clan..' Sun Wukong announced — and Socrates' eyes widened.
'And even if someone doesn't recognize me.. having a Master Realm beast like me as a companion is something most cultivators would kill for.. Master. It's only because of your tough nature and your crazy luck that you haven't been dead since.' Sun Wukong added — and Socrates' whole body shook.
"Does that mean Elder Hestruin knows you killed Black? Did they see you?" He asked desperately.
'No... My attack was so swift.. I'm aware no one saw me..'
Socrates finally caught his breath as he pushed open the door of the structure — and was met with a large crowd.
Hundreds of them. Disciples of the Northern Gladiator guilds. Most wearing sky blue robes and yellow robes — and among them, about two dozen wearing white robes. Socrates recognized them as members of the Heavenly Pavilion.
And among these people stood Judas with his golden fan, beaming a smile at Socrates.
'What's going on exactly?' Socrates' mind raced — a mixture of fear and surprise washing over him — when suddenly Judas stepped forward and waved his hand. A box appeared.
"Socrates the Son of Trueblood is the highest human ranker in this underworld. He sits at ranking 45 after killing Black, a core member of the Asura clan, which has given us the privilege to infiltrate the Frost Asura Castle.... He has earned his merit and therefore he has earned the right to be a member of the Heavenly Pavilion..." Judas declared.
The item box opened and a white robe flew out of it. With his spiritual energy Judas willed the robe toward Socrates — and it draped across him. A foreign energy shot out of it, sending righteous sparks across even his existing clothes.
Then the chant began.
"SOCRATES.. SOCRATES... SOCRATES.."
"SON OF TRUEBLOOD.."
"SOCRATES..."
Everyone was talking about Socrates. The Son of Trueblood who had managed to become a member of the Heavenly Pavilion without being a cultivator.
Then suddenly everyone went silent.
Socrates felt it too. A presence. A familiar presence that was somehow unfamiliar — the specific weight of it settling over the crowd the way heavy snow settles, pressing everything beneath it into stillness.
"Boy... You've earned my recognition..." The voice almost made Socrates lose his breath.
"So therefore.. I'll make you my direct disciple." Elder Hestruin completed — appearing beside Socrates with his hands behind his back, the cold air around him undisturbed as if he had always been standing there.
The whole crowd gasped.
An Elder making Socrates his direct disciple. What heaven-defying luck did Socrates possess?
Everyone suddenly wanted to become Socrates. They wanted this same luck. This heaven-defying luck. They wanted to be a direct disciple of an Elder.
Do you know what being a direct disciple means?
It means Socrates would be lectured directly by the Elder.
He would have access to resources.
Maybe even get his meridians fixed.
Judas and the others had already been weaving possibilities in Socrates' ear — urging him, along with the crowd pressing in around him, to accept the goodwill of Elder Hestruin.
Under the pestering of the crowd there was no way Socrates could reject even if he wanted to. He reluctantly turned to Hestruin.
"This disciple greets Master.."
"Good." It was then that Elder Hestruin extended his hand — revealing a purple pill, its fragrance blooming outward and enveloping everything around it, sweet and almost intoxicating against the cold air.
"Take and eat it... It's a welcome gift from your master." Elder Hestruin announced — and the whole crowd went mad.
A fourth tier pill. The fragrance alone was sweet enough to make them feel intoxicated. Some argued it was an energy pill. Some said it was for vitality. Many wished to be in Socrates' position.
Socrates hesitated — unsure of Elder Hestruin's motives.
'Old monkey.. what kind of pill is this?'
'I'm not sure what it is but it has something to do with the soul.... Maybe Lady Achillia would know but she's still sleeping..'
'So should I take it?'
'You have no choice... You want to reject your master's gift in front of the crowd? That's the same as humiliating your master... and the end result will be far worse. Since you've already accepted to be his disciple, you have no choice.'
"This disciple shall accept master's goodwill.." Socrates collected the purple pill and put it in his mouth — and the moment it was swallowed it wasn't bitter but rather sweet, and at the same time he felt a warmth spread through his internal organs and a surge of strength through his body.
"Good..." Elder Hestruin patted his hair and then handed him the golden token.
This surprised Socrates. He sincerely thanked the Elder. This golden token had been his first prize. His treasure. To think he could get it back — he thanked the Elder genuinely, this man who was now his master.
"Tonight we strike... The Asura race has infiltrated our land for the past decade and they are growing... we need to curb them. My disciple here has given us this opportunity and we can't waste it.... Every unaffiliated person has been sent out of the dungeon because we are not only striking the Frost Castle but closing this underworld... Prepare.... We strike tonight.." Elder Hestruin announced — and vanished almost immediately, the space where he had been standing emptying without a sound.
The disciples of the Northern Gladiator guilds cheered. They were finally going to face real war. Many were thrilled, some were scared, but most anticipated what was coming.
Socrates smiled as he fastened the knot of the robe and secured the golden token into his belt.
'I was just worried for nothing... It's all good..' He said — referring to Sun Wukong.
No reply came.
Unbeknownst to him, inside his sea of consciousness a purple fragrance had spread everywhere — forcing both Sun Wukong's soul and that of Lady Achillia into a deep sleep.
In this fight...
Socrates the Son of Trueblood was entirely on his own.