A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 117: Taking Punishment
Chapter 117: Taking Punishment

Among everyone present, Krylak was suffering the most. The words stuck in his throat for a long time before he finally forced them out, his voice trembling.

”Velkor, for plotting against the clan’s prodigy, Scion, you are hereby stripped of your elder status, expelled from the tiger clan, and denied entry into the ancestral tomb after your death. You will not receive worship from future generations. Additionally, you will be sent to the Moon Goddess Temple for sacrifice tomorrow.”

After uttering the last two words, Krylak seemed to have exhausted all his strength and collapsed into his seat, saying no more.

Torvak, who had run out of the hall earlier, had been eavesdropping outside. When he heard the truth, tears streamed down his face, and it felt like all his strength had been drained. He clung desperately to his mouth, forcing himself to listen until he heard the word ”sacrifice.”

That was the breaking point. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed in a faint from the overwhelming grief.

”Velkor!” Targon held his friend’s weak shoulders and called out anxiously.

When Torvak didn’t respond, Targon quickly picked him up and ran toward the clan physician’s residence.

Inside the hall, Velkor seemed to sense something and looked toward the entrance. He saw the glaring pool of fresh blood on the ground.

With trembling hands, he clenched his eyes shut and rasped, ”Torvak, I accept my guilt and punishment.”

”Velkor, I will take care of Torvak. The underworld is dark; if you’re afraid, just wait for me there. I don’t think I can get over with this easily, so I may see you there very soon. When the time comes, I’ll come find you,” the Grand Elder, his hair and beard white, spoke with tears in his eyes.

Velkor’s lips quivered, and he managed a feeble smile. ”Thank you, but I wish you a long life. Just live your life to the fullest, for yourself and for me.”

Arix, having observed the whole scene, felt sympathy for Velkor but didn’t speak up for him.

She knew all too well how dire Scion’s situation had been. If she hadn’t been there, the best Scion could have hoped for would have been death from a psychic power overload. Her heart had grown cold.

To her surprise, Scion suddenly spoke, ”I didn’t die, so a sacrifice is unnecessary. The fifth elder has dedicated his life to the clan. Let his merits offset his faults.”

With that, Scion stood up and picked up Arix. Then he left, not sparing another glance at Velkor’s fate.

The tiger clan members, hearing this, shook their heads with mixed emotions and began to leave as well.

Velkor stared in disbelief at Scion’s departing figure. Then, trembling, he stood up to the direction Scion had left.

He bowed three times, deep enough that he could barely stood straight again. Then he lifted his head, speaking to the darkness, ”Scion, I’m sorry for doing all that to you. I know I don’t have any chance to see you again in this life, so let’s meet in our next life, and I’ll make amendments for my wrongdoing.”

The turmoil ended with the Fifth Elder being expelled from the Tiger clan, set to leave alone the following day.

After regaining consciousness and learning of the events, Torvak dragged his ailing body to Scion’s villa and begged at the door. He was filled with both guilt and desperation.

”Scion, Torvak is still kneeling outside. Should we get someone to help him up?” Arix asked. She was leaning on the windowsill, looking at Torvak who had been kneeling for hours.

”Let him be,” Scion replied coolly.

Scion continued to address various issues and requests from the Tiger Legion, leaving Arix feeling neglected. She pouted and turned back to observe Torvak at the villa entrance.

”Vita, do you know what illness Torvak has?” Arix asked absentmindedly.

”I haven’t examined him, so I can’t be sure, but it looks like premature aging,” Vita responded, then gave a tentative guess.

”Premature aging?” Arix blinked in curiosity. ”You mean, like, bad-in-bed kind of aging?”

Vita was silent for a moment before rubbing his forehead and replying, ”It does affect that aspect, but it’s not just that.”

”Oh, so it does affect that. Poor Torvak,” Arix said sympathetically, looking at Torvak.

”Arix, let’s be serious,” Vita said, both exasperated and indulgent.

”Sorry, my bad,” Arix giggled playfully, sticking out her tongue.

After the playful exchange, Vita noticed Arix still gazing at the person below and seemed to understand something. He asked cautiously, ”Arix, do you want to help him?”

”Yes, he is family after all. Plus, as a healer, I can’t just ignore a patient in need,” Arix said, feigning helplessness while glancing at the young man cloaked in darkness below.

Torvak was stubbornly kneeling on the cold ground, despite knowing Scion wouldn’t see him. He was just trying to express his sorry in the most earnest way he knew.

It was foolish, but also endearing.

Arix watched Torvak, a smile tugging at her lips.

”Then go ahead,” Vita said, always supporting Arix’s decisions one hundred percent.

”Alright.” Having made up her mind, Arix jumped down from the windowsill, ready to head outside.

”Where are you going?” Scion had just finished a task and looked over at the little cub who had reached the door.

Arix froze mid-step, then turned and answered obediently, ”I want to check on Torvak.”

Scion was silent for a moment, then resumed his work. He asked casually, ”When will you be back?”

”Not sure, it might take a while,” Arix replied honestly after thinking for a moment.

”Take your time,” Scion said, his tone softer. ”Just make sure he understands his place in all this.”

”Alright!” Arix beamed, showing her little sharp teeth. Just as she was about to step outside, Scion’s indifferent voice stopped her in her tracks.

”Do your best.”

Arix’s eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled slightly and responded, ”Okay.”

She continued out the door, while Scion put down his work and slowly walked to the window. He looked down at Torvak, still kneeling at the villa entrance.

After a moment, Scion lifted his hand and opened his opticomputer. Scrolling through countless contacts, he selected one without a name, bearing a completely black avatar.

”By dawn tomorrow, I want to hear about the death of the Dragon clan’s ninth elder,” Scion sent the message coldly.

The response came instantly: ”As you wish, sir.”

Scion calmly shut down his opticomputer, then silently gazed at the full moon outside the window.