Sun Jiao’s words had caused Minister Tong to visibly shake.

It was as though the heavens and earth had flipped with Tong tossed between them. Connected to Sun Jiao’s soul he knew more than anyone in the room that Sun Jiao was telling the truth.

All the evidence prepared, the witnesses gathered, the events documented and ordered, the man hours spent compiling it were all cast away with a few words.

It had to be known that each and every member of the Sun clan, no matter how untalented, cruel or lazy, were considered untouchable. Only other members of the Sun clan could take down another member without raising the Sun clan’s ire.

Sure others might be used as a weapon to strike, but almost always it would be under direct orders from another member of the Sun family.

Minister Tong was operating under the secret authority of the third prince. In this way he was a weapon used to strike down a Sun clan member just like those in the past.

This was a secret however so in the eyes of the public he would be the one who struck down Sun Jiao. His name would spread like fire far and wide throughout the empire as a hero seen only once in a thousand years. His descendants would be able to hold their heads high and given face wherever they go.

Eventually the third prince would reveal his support in order to prevent the Sun Family from holding a grudge and seeking revenge, but by then his name that spread like fire would be too hot to put out.

Instead he would now become a slave to the very man he wanted to put away. He knew that as Sun Jiao’s dog he would be forced to commit vile crimes for his amusement; the very thing he had made his life goal to punish. To Minister Tong he had fallen from a legendary hero to Sun Jiao’s dog in a single breath.

Minister Tong’s soul that surrounded Sun Jiao’s soul tightened it’s grip refusing to let go; a reflection of Tong’s current state.

“I-i-impossible. A trick. Yes it has to be a trick, but how? How did he do it?”

Minister Tong began mumbling to himself, but quickly dissolved into ramblings of a mad man grasping at straws.

“His soul was telling the truth. His soul. HIS SISTER! Yes, his sister must have done something! She can control souls so she must be controlling his. I can prove it! He’s under the control of soul search I can ju-”

“Enough!”

Fu Kun was displeased with Sun Jiao’s answer under soul search, but he was still a reasonable man and could accept the results. He wouldn’t sit by while a Minister disgraced himself in the middle of the Heaven Council meeting.

“Get a hold of yourself. You lost, at least save the remaining bit of face you have. He agreed to answer one question while under the soul search. Release him or you’ll be insulting the Sun clan.”

Fu Kun explained the situation to Minister Tong hoping to persuade him with reason.

“Even if you had to serve as a dog you’ll still have your life and can at least reincarnate. If you offend the Sun clan than even your soul will be tormented and never allowed to reincarnate.”

Minister Tong heard the words, but didn’t have any intention of stopping.

‘I can’t live life as his dog, but I can’t just walk away. I’ll ask how he avoided the question, prove I’m right, and then kill myself and enter reincarnation!”

Sun Jiao had submitted himself to soul search under the condition of a single question since more questions could lead to the discovery of him being a fraud prince. It was truly unfortunate that with the second question Minister Tong would cut right to the heart of the matter.

If Minister Tong asked how Sun Jiao avoided the question Sun Jiao would have no other choice but to explain and reveal that he wasn’t really the second prince. He would then be royally fucked, both literally and figuratively depending on the Sun member that punished him.

Inside Sun Jiao’s consciousness Minister Tong’s soul continued to wrap around Sun Jiao’s. Sun Jiao’s soul was defenseless without Will and it was already too late to make a move.

If Sun Jiao’s soul could fought openly with Minister Tong then it would at least be a draw as both souls would shatter like glass when smashed together.

“How-”

Minister Tong’s voice was cut off before he could finish.

How indeed. That is, how could Minister Tong know that his soul wasn’t alone?

Xiaobo had been observing the entire time from deep in Sun Jiao’s consciousness.

Like an arrow shot from the dark he tore through Minister Tong’s soul causing utter devastation.

Minister Tong’s eyes turned white as his soul was damaged. He was still a dragon among men however and was able to withdraw the shattered remains of his soul.

The damage was too great however and even if he could fully recover what remained of his soul he would become a simpleton unable to form complex thoughts. Perhaps a divine blessing from the Goddess or a treasure from heavens could heal him, but when would he have the opportunity to receive such a gift? More importantly when would Xiaobo leave a door open for his enemy to survive?

A pair of glowing eyes, red with a hint of silver thrown about, locked on to the retreating pieces of Minister Tong’s soul.

If Sun Jiao saw the eyes he would recognize them as the same eyes that had locked him in place when he first met Xiaobo.

The edges of the shattered soul pieces burned and deformed. Now even if the Goddess stepped in she could do nothing to help Tong’s soul.

“AHHH!”

The room shook as Tong shouted with all his power. If the building was common material it would have lasted no longer than Tong’s soul had.

Sun Jiao too would have been crushed under Tong’s power, but was protected by Xiaobo and now that he was no longer under Tong’s soul search he quickly regained his senses.

The silence following Tong’s shout was even more deafening than the scream it followed. If Sun Jiao could see through the darkness of the minister hoods then he’d see their 11 shocked faces.

Sun Shen was shocked as well, but not for the same reason as the ministers who were shocked at the sudden damage to Tong’s soul. He’d actually agreed with Tong’s guess that Sun Qing had done something to circumvent the soul search. If it was merely that then her ability would fall within reason.

With that in mind the limit of one question made sense. It was a surprisingly crafty move and had made Sun Shen raise his opinion of Sun Jiao if only a little.

The current state of Tong’s soul as it left Sun Jiao’s consciousness however was far beyond even his wildest estimations of her power. Even if she was standing next to Sun Jiao it would surpass his expectations, but to do so from so far away was heaven defying ability.

Sun Shen could not be blamed for thinking that Sun Qing had protected Sun Jiao. Even if he was given a million years he would never guess that a Greater Demon Lord lived inside Sun Jiao’s consciousness.

Before the same realization hit the ministers, Sun Jiao interrupted the silence with a snort.

“I said on-”

Tong who had used the air in his lungs to scream had refilled them and without awareness began yelling like a madman until he ran out of breath again.

“No more! Please! Noooooo!”

“Ahem. I said only on-”

Recovering in a single breath Tong continued as tears of blood poured down his white eyes.

“Goddess please. Please help. Please. No...please...no...”

Tong’s voice trailed off as he collapsed onto the floor and began sobbing.

“I sa-”

“NOOOOOOOO GODD-”

“SHUT UP!”

Sun Jiao pulled his arm as far back as he could and swung it as hard as he could.

*SLAP*

The sound of the slap echoed through the chamber as Tong’s head bounced off the now cracked ground.

Sun Jiao pulled his arm back again and waited.

No one else spoke up and time continued to drag forward. After a couple breaths worth of time Sun Jiao lowered his hand and straightened his clothes.

“I said only one question.”

Glancing around at each minister as if looking for trouble he continued.

“I trust we can put this foolishness behind us and continue the vote?”

Left Chancellor Cao Hao was quick to put things behind and tried to take control of the vote.

“Yes let’s continue. Th-”

Right Chancellor Fu Kun couldn’t let him take control of another responsibility and interrupted.

“THAT is six Against and two For. Who's next to vote?”

Sun Jiao frowned upon hearing this and glared at Fu Kun.

“How is it six against? He votes For.”

No victory was too small or petty for Fu Kun so upon seeing a chance he took it.

“He clearly voted no before...whatever this was.”

Fu Kun replied as he waved his hand dismissively towards Tong who had began mumbling again, but this time quietly and to himself.

“The terms of the bet were he’d be my slave if he lost. He votes For.”

“The terms of the bet have nothing to do with this vote. If he wishes to change his vote.”

Fu Kun paused and leaned forward as if straining to hear what Tong was saying.

“No. No no please no more no.”

Spreading his hands and shrugging his shoulders as if the matter was out of his control.

“As you can see he still votes no. You’re more than welcome to order your dog to change his vote.”

Fu Kun didn’t back down.

“What did you just say?”

The careless and arrogant tone that Sun Jiao had used during the meeting had disappeared with this question and was replaced with simmering hostility.

“I said you can ask him to change his vote.”

Confused Fu Kun repeated what he said. Sure Sun Jiao had somehow turned Tong’s soul into basically nothingness, but Tong had over extended and let Sun Jiao attack his soul directly. He didn’t fear Sun Jiao anymore than an elephant fears an ant.

“Not that. The part about the dog.”

“Order your dog?”

“THAT PIECE OF SHIT IS NOT MY DOG. EVEN A FU KUN PIECE OF TRASH LIKE YOU ISN’T WORTHY OF BEING CALLED MY DOG LET ALONE WHAT’S LEFT OF HIM.”

Killing intent Sun Jiao didn’t know was in him poured out through his words and crashed into Fu Kun causing him to stare blankly.

For a brief moment Fu Kun felt fear and regret which quickly passed and left him feeling embarrassed. How could a proud elder like himself fear a junior?

“TAKE BACK THOSE WORDS!”

Fu Kun had already swallowed his pride so many times before this, could hold out no longer; “YOU DARE!?”