Chapter 1082: Chapter 676: Betrayal_2

The moment the words fell, Wei Dong fell silent.

His lips moved slightly, but he couldn’t utter any words of defense.

He knew very well that anyone could betray Dongfang Haoyue, but Han Xu was the one exception.

This man who had once been pulled out of a purgatory-like mire by Dongfang Haoyue himself, his originally miserable fate was completely rewritten by Dongfang Haoyue.

If at this moment Dongfang Haoyue asked Han Xu to die for him, Han Xu would do so without hesitation, not even frowning.

That loyalty was beyond question.

"Young Master, I’m sorry."

Wei Dong sighed, the grievance and urgency in his tone had completely vanished, replaced by an extraordinary calmness.

He raised his head and looked directly into Dongfang Haoyue’s eyes, which no longer held the reverence and gratitude of the past, but instead, a burning ambition.

"You saved me and changed the destiny of my entire family, you are my benefactor, there’s no doubt about that." Wei Dong’s voice became steady and firm, "However..."

He slightly turned his head, glancing in a distant direction, as if seeing something that gave him confidence, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips: "I have also helped you resolve several crises. What you owe me, I’ve already repaid. Next, I want to climb higher, and you—can’t give me that."

The switch from "you" in a formal sense to "you" in an informal sense was simple, yet like an invisible boundary, it completely severed all past loyalty and gratitude.

At that moment—

A surge of aura suddenly erupted from afar.

Among those auras, the weakest were Tier Six, and several Tier Seven fluctuations were also present. They closed in rapidly from all directions, like a net closing in.

Wei Dong’s smile grew, calm with a hint of almost insulting complacency, as if to say: Look, the path I’ve chosen is the right one.

But Dongfang Haoyue remained unfazed.

He still hovered in place, his robe gently swaying in the wind, his demeanor calm as water. He watched Wei Dong and began to speak slowly, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet carrying a compelling power that drew attention:

"Having been with me for so long, have you never wondered—why do I, a side branch of the Dongfang Clan, keep encountering assassinations? Why do they go to such lengths to get rid of me?"

"I guess it has to do with your abilities," Wei Dong seemed prepared, speaking confidently, "Your Spiritual Energy talent indeed isn’t as good as other Dongfang Clan members, not even particularly outstanding among side branches. But you have an ability that frightens all forces—"

He paused, searching for the right words, then continued: "Your ability to discern people is terrifying. Even in a person who appears utterly ordinary, you can see the hidden potential. Whether it’s me, Han Xu, or others, it’s all your handiwork to discover and nurture us. I’ve also heard that many years ago, you and Zhuge Yu were dining in a noodle shop and encountered Qin Tian when he was still weak, yet you immediately recognized he was exceptional. You’ve never been wrong."

"This ability is too daunting for any force. The Dongfang Clan would benefit immensely from it, but as an enemy, you must be eliminated early."

"As for your sister, she’s long proven herself a super talent in Alchemy, now taken as a closed-door disciple by the Master of the Dan Tower, further proving this point. You two, a pair of extraordinary twins, each have your unique brilliance. So, it’s only natural that someone would want to eliminate you both."

Hearing Wei Dong’s deduction, there was no ripple on Dongfang Haoyue’s face, just a gaze watching him as if watching a clown perform.

Under this gaze, Wei Dong felt enormously humiliated, his complexion darkening, his eyes growing colder: "Dongfang Haoyue, facing imminent death, you can’t even see the situation clearly?"

As he spoke, figures flew from afar.

These people emanated strong Spiritual Energy, with different auras. Some wore black clothes to conceal their faces, others twisted the light around them with Spiritual Energy, blurring their features. They spread around, surrounding Dongfang Haoyue and Han Xu like a pack of wolves encircling their prey.

"Is it me facing imminent death?"

Dongfang Haoyue glanced at the surrounding figures with no trace of fear. Instead, he smiled, a certainty that chilled Wei Dong to the core.

"Wei Dong, you’ve been with me for so many years, you should know my style well. Since I’ve identified you as a traitor, do you think I wouldn’t be prepared for you?"

Wei Dong’s body suddenly tensed.

Yes. He had followed Dongfang Haoyue for many years, well aware of this young man’s style. Despite Dongfang Haoyue’s usual gentlemanly demeanor, treating his subordinates with kindness and a willingness to lift others, the harsh survival environment over the years had honed a cold and meticulous heart in this seemingly gentle young man.

Those who tried to assassinate him or targeted him in the shadows always met an extremely miserable end. So... what about the betrayer?

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Figures flew in from afar, stopping fifty meters away from Dongfang Haoyue, surrounding him centrally. They tacitly spread out, sealing all escape routes.

Dongfang Haoyue paid no attention to the black-clothed men, not even casting them a glance. His gaze remained on Wei Dong, calm and indifferent, as if looking at someone whose fate was already decided.

"Your life was given by me." Dongfang Haoyue’s voice wasn’t loud, but it reached everyone’s ears clearly, "Today, it’s time to take it back."

The moment his words fell—

Wei Dong suddenly felt a piercing pain within his body.

The pain came without warning, as if something was madly stirring, devouring, and growing inside him. His face turned pale instantly, cold sweat poured from his forehead like rain, his whole body trembled violently in the air.

"Poof—"

A blister suddenly formed on his arm, and next, a tiny sprout emerged, growing at a visible speed, turning into a slender willow branch in the blink of an eye, swaying gently in the air.

"Poof, poof, poof—"

More blisters surfaced on his body, and one after another, willow twigs pierced through his skin, greedily absorbing his Essence Blood, bones, and even internal organs. Not just from his arm and torso, but willow twigs also sprouted continuously from his mouth and nostrils, and suddenly his eyes burst open with a "plop," and two thick black branches shot out from his eye sockets, waving wildly in the air.

"Help... help me!"

Wei Dong turned his head in horror, looking at the black-clothed men encircling them. Yet, the group didn’t react, just quietly watched him being devoured and consumed by the eerie willow twigs, like they were watching an unrelated play.

"Young Master... Young Master, I... was wrong... uh..."

Wei Dong frantically admitted fault, but his mouth was quickly stuffed by willow twigs, only able to let out a muffled whimper. His body was visibly shrinking—his flesh drained, bones crushed, organs entangled and decomposed by roots. The once robust figure now resembled a withering tree, all of its nutrients being sucked away by the willow tree parasitizing inside him.

"Just yesterday, I planted the Wet Bone Willow seed in your tea," Dongfang Haoyue said indifferently, his tone devoid of any emotion, "Being killed by this Tier Eight Spirit Plant can be considered a dignified end."

"I... I’m... unwilling..."

Wei Dong used his last strength to utter these words, his voice weak like a mosquito. Next, his body was completely consumed by the willow twigs; all flesh, bones, and organs turned into nourishment for the willow tree, leaving only a withered shell that hovered in the air for a moment before shattering and scattering.

A willow tree swayed its branches in the air, each tinged with a faint blood-red glow, the last traces left by Wei Dong.

Dongfang Haoyue waved his hand, retrieving the Wet Bone Willow into the Space Equipment. He dusted off nonexistent dust from his hands and turned his gaze to the black-clothed men surrounding him in the center.

Spiritual Energy surged, murderous intent filled the air.

Dongfang Haoyue sensed the powerful aura emanating from these people around him—five Tier Six, three Tier Seven, such a lineup would be a formidable force anywhere.

His lips curled into a cold smile.

This time, you’ve really made a big move.

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