Gus Gou sighed, "Barton May not only discarded all his senses for the Moonmirror Peach, but even sealed his six perceptions, leaving only a trace of external divine sense to act by memory."
So powerful, Joe Di secretly marveled as he cultivated. In truth, merely discarding one's senses for the Moonmirror Peach would suffice, but Barton May took extra precautions by sealing his six perceptions. Clearly, this man had planned ahead and was extremely cautious.
"As for me..." Gus Gou's eyes once again revealed self-mockery and sarcasm. "My name is Julian Jue. My father was Gerard Jue, the Domain Lord of Kun One Domain."
"To have avoided Barton May’s notice until now is a feat in itself," Joe Di thought, feeling some pity for Julian Jue.
Julian Jue chuckled, the sarcasm in his eyes deepening. "The moment I became Barton May’s dog, he already knew I was Gerard Jue’s son."
Joe Di looked at Julian Jue in surprise. Knowing he was Gerard Jue’s son, yet Barton May didn’t kill him? That didn’t make sense. If Barton May needed a lackey, he could find one anywhere—why choose Gerard Jue’s son? Joe Di was certain Barton May wasn’t just indulging in some twisted amusement.
Still, Julian Jue had managed to survive this long, but it was clear he lacked backbone. If revenge was impossible, what was the point of living such a life?
"You must be wondering why Barton May didn’t kill me, and why I still have the courage to go on living, right?" Julian Jue seemed to have read Joe Di’s thoughts.
Joe Di chuckled, "That’s true. Since revenge is out of reach, your way of living is just... far too difficult."
At least Joe Di managed to find a way to phrase it without hurting him.
Julian Jue’s hollow eyes gazed off into the distance, his voice calm. "Kun One Domain is right there. When Barton May slaughtered my father and the elders of Kun One Domain, I was gathering water lilies with her by a lake. Later, Barton May arrived. Before he could kill me, he saw her. Barton May took her away, and at her request, he spared my life. Instead, he placed a restriction inside me and made me his dog."
My only motivation for living is the chance to see her from time to time. As long as she can live better, what does it matter if I’m just a dog?"
Joe Di was at a loss for words. There really was nothing to say about Julian Jue. The hatred for his father’s death and the destruction of his clan didn’t matter—he clung to life just to catch a glimpse of the woman now possessed by his enemy. How much resistance did he truly have left?
To be honest, Joe Di thought this way of living was beneath even a dog. At least Goujian endured hardship with a goal in mind. Julian Jue was barely surviving, with no real aim. No, he did have a goal—just to occasionally catch sight of the woman who now belonged to his enemy.
After a long while, Julian Jue finally regained his composure. He lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Her name is Sherry Wells. Jason May is her son."
"Jason May is yours and Sherry Wells’s?" Joe Di asked in surprise.
Julian Jue shook his head. "I respected Sherry. When I was with her, I never violated her. Jason May was born after she followed Barton May."
"When was the last time you saw her?" Joe Di wondered if Julian Jue was simply infatuated with Sherry Wells, while she never truly cared for him. Would a woman who truly cherished someone bear a child for her enemy? Joe Di found it hard to believe.
Julian Jue lifted his head and looked at Joe Di in confusion. "The last time I saw Sherry... was one hundred ninety-eight years and eighty-four days ago. One year after that, Barton May held a grand banquet to celebrate Jason May’s birth, and all the powerful figures of the True Domain attended to offer their congratulations..."
Joe Di looked at Julian Jue and sighed, "Julian, if Sherry Wells really wanted to see you, would she have gone nearly two hundred years without a chance? She simply doesn’t want to see you."
"Maybe she’s already forgotten me..." Julian Jue’s voice grew lost, and he suddenly seemed to lose all sense of purpose.
Joe Di stared at Julian Jue. "If you’re still living for a woman, forgetting the hatred for your father’s death and your clan’s destruction, then I’ll leave right now. Your fate has nothing to do with me. I won’t cooperate with a coward like you—whether we succeed or fail, it would only be an embarrassment to me."
"I’m not a coward," Julian Jue retorted fiercely. He believed he wasn’t a coward—if he were, he couldn’t have endured for so long, just to see Sherry once more.
Joe Di sneered, "For the sake of a woman who’s changed her heart, you’ve forgotten your father’s murder and the destruction of your domain. Your parents and siblings, everyone in Kun One Domain, were slaughtered by Barton May—their blood flowed like rivers, and their restless spirits wouldn’t even acknowledge you. Because you’re ungrateful and heartless. You forgot who raised you, and even after your enemy killed your parents, you’re still willing to be his dog. You’re a man without family, without loyalty, without filial piety, without righteousness. Frankly, you shouldn’t even be called a dog—that would insult dogs. I shouldn’t call you a coward either; that insults the word itself. You don’t deserve to be called human."
Julian Jue’s forehead bulged with veins as he heard Joe Di’s words, killing intent swirling around him.
Joe Di shook his head and turned to leave. If Julian Jue dared to attack, Joe wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. He had originally planned to ask for Julian’s help—if Julian could assist in ambushing Barton May, Joe would be confident in taking Barton down. But Julian was nothing like his name suggested, having no resolve at all. To lose all boundaries for the sake of a woman—working with such trash would only ruin Joe’s plans.
Thud! Just as Joe Di had taken a few steps, Julian Jue suddenly fell to his knees. "Red Tassel Joe, please help me remove the restriction. Whether I succeed or not, I’m willing to help you deal with Barton May."
Joe Di stopped and looked at Julian Jue. "So, you’ve finally come to your senses?"
Julian Jue’s eyes grew calm again, as if he’d returned to his original self. "I do still want to see Sherry, but you were right. I have no family, no father—if you hadn’t reminded me, I wouldn’t have thought of avenging Kun One Domain or my family after all these years. I really am beneath even a dog."
Deep down, he knew it wasn’t that he’d never thought of revenge—it was just that Barton May was like an insurmountable mountain before him. As Barton’s cultivation grew, Julian didn’t even dare to think about vengeance. Every time the thought crossed his mind, he was tormented by the urge to die. Yet he truly couldn’t bear to part with Sherry, which made him even less willing to pursue revenge.
Joe Di nodded. "At last, you’re showing some spirit worthy of a domain lord’s son. I’ll help you remove the restriction."
"If I die, Red Tassel Joe, if you ever see Sherry Wells, please ask her for me—has she truly forgotten me?" Julian Jue knew Joe Di’s divine sense was formidable, but he still doubted Joe could break Barton May’s restriction. If he failed, Julian would be instantly annihilated.
Joe Di said nothing. Julian Jue was truly lovesick. Joe was honestly curious to see what kind of femme fatale Sherry Wells was, to make Julian forget such deep hatred and still pine for her.
Smack! Joe Di slapped Julian Jue on the top of his head and commanded, "Open your mind and heart, don’t resist."
Julian Jue had come to terms with life and death, so he followed Joe Di’s instructions without hesitation and opened his mind.
Barton May’s restriction was ingenious, but to Joe Di, it was nothing special. His blade formations were far more complex, and he possessed eleventh-level divine sense.
In less than half a stick of incense, Joe Di easily broke Julian Jue’s restriction and released his hand. "It’s done."
"It’s already gone?" Julian Jue circulated his true essence and looked at Joe Di in confusion. "But the restriction is still there."
Then he realized his whole body felt lighter—the restriction seemed unable to affect his life anymore.
Joe Di grinned, "The restriction inside you has been broken by me. What you see now is just an empty shell. Once your true essence sweeps through, it’ll disappear. Don’t move yet—if you do, Barton May will find out. Wait until I’ve dealt with Barton May, then remove it yourself."
"It’s really gone..." Julian Jue’s heart surged with emotion. In the instant he realized the restriction was lifted, a powerful urge arose—vengeance. He had to seek revenge!
Joe Di could sense Julian Jue’s change in mindset through his divine sense. He said, "It seems your lack of desire for revenge was also related to the restriction inside you."
"Red Tassel Joe, no matter what you command—even if I’m only to distract Barton May for a single strike—I’ll do it, as long as it means killing Barton May." With the restriction gone, Julian Jue’s fighting spirit soared.
Joe Di waved his hand. "You’re still as timid as ever. I only need you to do one thing."
With that, Joe Di took out a dagger and handed it to Julian Jue. "When I fight Barton May, just stand behind him. I’ll kick Barton May flying, and he’ll land right where you are. Then, use this dagger to stab him in the back—that’s all you need to do."
Julian Jue took the dagger, still uncertain. After a long moment, he said, "Red Tassel Joe, it’s not that I doubt you. Your cultivation must surpass mine, but to kick Barton May flying with one strike seems unlikely. That’s one issue. The other is that Barton May wears top-tier armor. With my current strength, piercing him with this dagger seems just as impossible."
Joe Di laughed heartily. "Don’t worry. First, before anyone goes to the Immortal Realm, no one can withstand my kick. I probably won’t kill Barton May with it, but I’ll definitely send him flying and leave him gravely injured. Second, even in the Immortal Realm, no one can block this dagger. Just stab Barton May in the back with it—don’t even bother refining it. After you strike, leave the rest to me."
This dagger was forged by Joe Di from the Terraflame Banner. Not even Barton May, let alone a true immortal, could withstand its power.
The reason Joe Di entrusted the Terraflame Banner to Julian Jue was simple: Barton May was extremely cautious. From his actions—discarding all senses for the Moonmirror Peach and sealing his six perceptions—it was clear he feared death. Only the Terraflame Banner could guarantee a fatal strike.