Capítulo 16: Sealing his fate!

'I can't let that happen.'

Havelock's malevolent intentions were like a storm cloud that loomed over the room, threatening to unleash its fury. He made a sudden lunge towards Evan. His hand outstretched to snatch the evidence of his crimes from the prince's grasp.

But Sir Edmund was not a piece of decoration.

In his presence, how could just anyone hurt Evan?

With the reflexes of a seasoned warrior, he leaped into action, intercepting Havelock before he could make contact with Evan.

In a flash, he grabbed Havelock by the wrist, halting his forward momentum, and tossed him out of the room as if he was throwing out trash.

Whoosh!

Havelock's body hurtled through the air and came crashing towards the thick wall of the corridor.

Bam!

His back slammed against the hard surface with bone-crushing force, and he crumpled to the ground in a pitiful heap.

An excruciating pain wracked his body, and blood surged up his throat.

Havelock raised his head, looking at Evan and Edmund hatefully with red eyes.

His venomous gaze remained fixed on them. He so wanted to tear them apart.

However, he was powerless to act on his vengeful impulses. His weakened state had left him utterly harmless, and he struggled to pick himself up from the ground.

The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth and pricked his senses, and he knew that he had been bested by the very prince he considered unqualified to be his master.

Evan noticed Havelock's murderous gaze and laughed out of anger.

"Sir Edmund, please deliver a well-deserved slap to Havelock and knock some sense into him," Evan said with a smirk on his face, issuing an order to Sir Edmund that sent shivers down Havelock's spine.

Evan was well aware that his own slap would not pack as much of a punch as Sir Edmund's.

He knew that the man standing before him was a formidable soul cultivator, one of the seven Phantom Lords whose mere presence commanded respect and awe.

Despite his initial shock at the suggestion, Edmund quickly realized that Evan was not joking.

"Me?" He pointed his own finger at himself in disbelief. "Can I really slap him?"

"Of course, you can." Evan nodded in confirmation.

"No!" Havelock let out a piercing shriek.

The mere thought of being slapped by Sir Edmund was enough to send his mind spiraling into panic.

Havelock didn't know how powerful Edmund was before, but after getting taught a lesson by him, he was well aware of his strength.

Edmund had too easily suppressed him, meaning he was a powerful soul cultivator, an entire realm above him. If he was slapped by such a person, wouldn't his head explode?!

He still had so much left to accomplish in life. He had not yet avenged his clansmen or fulfilled his revenge. He didn't want to die, not before he had fulfilled his purpose.

Edmund, with a resolute gait and unwavering determination, advanced towards Havelock. As he drew nearer, Havelock's heart began to shudder and palpitate erratically as if desperately seeking to escape the confines of his chest.

His entire being quivered and shook as though gripped by an overwhelming fear or an uncontainable excitement.

Despite the intensity of his emotions, Havelock remained rooted to his spot, unable to move or even take a single step back. He was being suppressed by something intangible and ethereal.

Meanwhile, after suppressing Havelock with the pressure of his soul, Edmund continued his steady approach, undaunted by the spectacle of Havelock's quivering frame and seemingly impervious to the raw, unbridled emotions that he had unwittingly unleashed in his companion.

Evan was awed by Edmund's display of power. Without moving an inch, he had suppressed Havelock. The power of a phantom lord was indescribable!

But Evan wasn't envious of him. He knew that he would be able to reach his level in the future.

"It's nothing personal. Who asked you to offend His Highness?" Edmund stated sternly as he glared at Havelock.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, poised to strike. Havelock flinched.

"P-Please wait!"

Despite Havelock's desperate plea for mercy, Edmund's hand continued its descent. The force of his rage propelled his hand forward as he aimed to deliver a fierce slap to the hapless Havelock.

Edmund's palm went "SMACK!" across Havelock's face, making him hit the floor like a sack of potatoes. The crisp sound of the slap reverberated in the ears of all those present.

"Whoa, Sir! I told you to bring him down a peg, not send him on a one-way trip to the afterlife!" Evan exclaimed.

"Your Highness, I did hold back. But who knew this dude had a mouth of a sailor but the strength of a limp noodle? I didn't think my weak-ass slap would hurt him that hard," Edmund placed a hand behind his head, feeling sheepish. "But you can relax. He is not dead. I can feel it."

Their taunts poured salt on the fresh wounds of the young eunuch.

Havelock coughed out mouthfuls of blood.

He looked like a beauty who had broken down due to hardship.

"Sorry, but you won't be earning my pity with that act," Evan said to Havelock before turning to the man beside him. "Sir Edmund, how should a slave who has betrayed his master and let down the Patriarch of the Frost Clan be punished?"

"According to the family law," Edmund began, "the punishment for such a grave offense is severe. The slave in question will be stripped of his rank, title, and any privileges he had previously held. He will then be subjected to a public flogging that will cripple his cultivation before being killed or sold off to the highest bidder. It will depend on the victim's choice."

The punishment sounded inhumane, but it was necessary as it served as a warning to others who might consider betraying their masters or the Clan.