“Then why are you still loyal to Ghaylen? Why don't you submit to another master?” Jared asked.
“How could I do that? I should remain loyal to my master until the end of time. I couldn't turn my back on him just for some supplies! Besides, I joined Emerald Cauldron Sect and became an alchemist to help the poor, suffering village folk. With the world becoming increasingly more selfish, everything comes down to money and resources, of which the village folk possess neither. We can't just watch them suffer and die from their ailments, could we?” Zebediah said indignantly.
Jared gave Zebediah a look of admiration. In the mundane world, where people were even more wicked than those of the Ethereal Realm, a kind soul like Zebediah was a rare gem.
Soon, it became Jared's party's turn to collect their rations. Zebediah hurriedly produced a list and approached a young disciple who looked to be in his early twenties.
“Here, brother. Take a look at our list.”
Zebediah handed the checklist over, but when the youngster saw him, he asked coldly, “Are you Mr. Samoll's disciples?”
Zebediah nodded eagerly. “That's right.”
The youngster took the list without even glancing at it. Instead, he tossed it aside. “You have no rations to collect. Come again next time.”
Zebediah froze. “That's not right. We have rations every week.”
“I'm telling you, you don't. Are you the one distributing them, or am I?” the youngster said disrespectfully to Zebediah.
Sensing the hostility, Zebediah became filled with rage. However, he did his best to remain composed.
“Look closer, brother. Surely we have some rations to collect.”
Zebediah was trying so hard to suppress his anger that he was turning red in the face.
“Stop calling me that. I'm telling you, you don't have anything to collect! Move along, now. Don't hold up the line.”
The youngster flapped his hand dismissively to get Zebediah and his group to leave.
Unable to bear it any longer, Zebediah stepped forward and grabbed the youngster by the collar. “You were still p*ssing your pants when I was inducted into Emerald Cauldron Sect, you little sh*t. Give me our rations!”
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