Gu Zhen's lips trembled, then his entire jaw. His limbs buckled as reality shattered around him.
"N-No, please—Senior! Forgive me! This junior didn't know it was you!"
He dropped to his knees, bowing so low his forehead struck the ground with a loud thunk. Again. And again.
The smell hit before anything else.
Gu Zhen had pissed himself.
Right there, golden core or not, his pride, dignity, and pants were all soaked.
"I-I was wrong… so wrong… please have mercy, Senior Khai Sang!"
Fang Yuan kept up the act.
His eyes swept over the trembling Gu cultivators one last time, the corner of his mouth curling just slightly in disdain.
"Scram now," he said coldly.
They didn't need to be told twice.
Gu Zhen was already halfway into the forest, still dragging wet footprints behind him.
His men followed like frightened rabbits, weapons forgotten, pride shattered, their retreat nearly tripping over itself in the haste to flee the so-called Sword Demon.
