Lundy watched Sunny walking towards him with a calm gait. Showing his bloody teeth with that evil smile.
And when Lundy heard that chilling tone, saying "It's your turn now." — he literally pissed himself in fear.
"Tsk tsk tsk, you really did inherit all the habits of a dog, didn't you?"
"First living like one, to now pissing like one, _ and in future, maybe, dying like one."
Lundy clenched his fists hearing the insults, but the cold body near his feet calmed all his anger.
"Let _ let me go." He said swallowing hard and gathering his courage to act tough. "And I won't tell anyone what you did."
Sunny smiled hearing that, "You see, I don't trust dogs. Because they're loyal _ but only until someone throws a bigger bone."
"For the sake of your life, you're willing to ignore Tommy, and whoever this guy was. What makes one think, you won't ignore me?"
"Please, I'm begging you." Lundy growled, crying wildly, while suppressing the pain as Sunny came closer and pushed the thorns stabbing his skin deeper with his fingers.
Jumping across his injuries like playing a piano.
"I don't like this either, you know." He said, "Torture isn't really much of my thing."
"I believe death is the best punishment for my enemies, and the greatest gift for my heart."
"A dragon doesn't play with his food and all. But sometimes _ situations…." Sunny muttered and sighed audibly, "Now I'm stuck in this world, to which I seriously lack severe knowledge about."
"And so to increase my chances of survival, let's try and make this educational, shall we?"
"Wh-What do you want—?"
"Simple, I ask , and you answer." Sunny ignored his question, calmly explaining the rules of the game.
"I don't need to explain what fate awaits you if you lie, right?" He said pointing at the flayed corpse scattered behind.
"Your friend was quite a talker, and if I see that your answers aren't aligning with what he spilled, well, let's just say, no one's gonna hear you scream and shout out here."
Lundy didn't quite understand what Sunny meant, or recall clearly that Derek died instantly instead of being questioned - as his attention was entirely on the intestines being wrapped around his neck.
It felt like jelly worms squirming over his skin, even tingling, but knowing what it was, and where he was - how could the poor fellow laugh.
He only felt disgust and dread wash over him.
Am I going to get strangled to death by Derek's damned intestines?
Only this question echoed in his mind again and again.
He struggled, trying to get free, break his bindings or slip through, but unlucky for him, the Dragon literally built an empire out of tying people up _ so his little tricks were all just in vain.
Sunny pulled the 'rope' around his neck, not enough to kill him, or knock him out, but just enough to make him dizzy.
"You see, the more you struggle, the more you'll suffer. Be smart will you."
"F_fu_ fine." Lundy grumbled, his face getting purple from the lack of oxygen. "Can you …" he begged to be let free, and Sunny complied by letting him breathe.
"Now let's start." Sunny said, while clapping his hands and stepping back a little. His expression, a little pleased after admiring his artwork.
"First, tell me about this sect. The world outside it. Cultivation realms. What the hell is Qi Refinement and how many stages are there? What comes next? Who's in power here? How much? And what names do I need to remember if I want to live?"
Still dizzy and panting heavily, Lundy couldn't help but be confused hearing his series of questions.
"Wh-why… Why do you…?" He asked on instinct, only to have his words cut short as Sunny shook his head and slashed the dagger straight.
Making random cuts across his chest. Enough to bleed, but not enough to hurt any veins or muscles.
Lundy shrieked in pain.
"FUCK—! OKAY! OKAY!" he sobbed loudly. "Qi Refinement—then Foundation Building… I haven't broken through yet. No core. Just early body tempering. We're all just garbage in the outer sect."
"Then talk like garbage who wants to be recycled." Sunny said, stepping back once more.
Lundy wheezed, watching his attitude, but he swallowed his anger. "Ten realms… Maybe more. Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Saint, Immortal, Divine… Fuck, I don't know! I never got that far."
Sunny remembered the terms, not going deeper into their powers and limitations as he truly doubted the intelligence of someone so low.
"Who leads the sect?" He asked.
"Elder's Council. Sect Master is Qing Hu. But no one's seen him. At best, we just get some inner elders barking orders. That's all. To them, we're nothing—dogs fighting for scraps they despise having." Lundy started speaking, before turning it into a rant after remembering his past ideals. Which Sunny completely ignored.
"What about the other sects?" he asked.
"Too many… Righteous ones, demonic ones, wandering clans, ancient bloodlines, hidden families,… our sect's too small compared to them."
Sunny narrowed his eyes hearing this. Till now he thought, like some hero from a movie, if he's pulled here, then it must be a great power. But it seems this sect is just trash.
Was fate looking after him? Or was it looking down on him?
Anyway, it was useful info, so Sunny stored it for now.
"Now tell me about myself? Everything you know. Everything you heard or gossiped in this sect? What's my origin? Who's my friend, partner, parents, enemies - tell me everything."
Sunny asked , his questions confusing Lundy once more. Who couldn't help but think wildly.
"You're not Sunny, are you?" He suddenly muttered, as if just now realizing this.
"I am Sunny, just not the ones you know." Sunny replied honestly.
"Hehehe, liar. I knew that cripple didn't have it in him to fight back." Lundy started laughing, as if numb from all the pain and horror. "So what are you? Some spy from those rival sects? Or some insider scum from those demon heritage?"
"You killed Tommy, and then Derek. If you kill me too, _ everyone's gonna know it was you. You'll get caught, and then killed, just like me."
"But if you let me go, I'll do what you say. We'll frame someone else." Lundy suggested with a shine in his eyes, as if grabbing straws deciding his survival. "And if you don't trust me, then I can even become a deserter."
"Leave this sect and never return. That way, you'll never get caught."
Lundy threatened coldly, but Sunny ignored his threats. "Not really." He said calmly, "You guys have made way too many enemies to pinpoint my part. Even if the sect investigates."
"So just answer my questions, and maybe, I'll let you die with some dignity. Instead of cutting off your dick and shoving it down your drain."
"…."
The words from him couldn't help but remind Lundy of something they had mocked Sunny with years ago.
(Wipe my shoes clean, or I'll carve out your tongue, and use it to wipe my ass.)
Was it a coincidence, or did this bastard really remembered everything - Lundy didn't know.
And didn't really get to care as a hard slap pulled him back to the present.
"I asked, will you answer, or should I start my slaughter?" Sunny said, reminding Lundy of reality.
"Wait, I'll tell you everything." He replied, this time much calmer, as if he had made peace with things.
Though it was only on the surface as his hatred left Sunny, and shifted towards Thomas. The guy who always pulled them around like pawns, to mock and bully others.
If not for him, perhaps…..
"You joined this sect 3 years ago. Since you were an orphan and had no backing, you became a target for our bullying."
"I swear it was all Thomas… I didn't even want to.."
"Continue." Sunny said coldly, asking him to stop begging and stay on track.
Lundy sighed to himself, and started explaining everything.
From the moment he entered the sect, to the competition where he became a cripple. From the first room and table he shared with others, to elders and disciples who watched him pray and piss, while making bets on his life — Lundy told everything.
How much of it was true, Sunny didn't know. Neither did he care about his original self's suffering.
He just asked this question, to familiarise himself. So that if someone speaks something, asks something, or shares something about him, to him - he doesn't have to act ignorant and feel amnesiac.
Once the fool was done explaining, he lost his value. Sunny simply walked forward, and stabbed the guy in his throat.
Setting him free in a swift motion of his hand.
He really did keep his promise to let him die with dignity. Such a nice guy he is.
…
Sunny glanced at the sky, eyeing the ever watching moon, peeking behind the clouds, and counted his time.
It'll be dawn in a short hour. I should get back and clean myself up.
He thought while throwing the corpses in a corner, scattering some trash over their bodies. Burying them underneath. Before clapping his ass and staggering away with hands in his pockets.
When the dawn breaks, and a new day starts, Sunny will be free of all his burdens.
While bathing in the public quarters, washing off the dried blood off his body - Sunny couldn't help but glance at his stomach. Feeling the shriveled skin, feel a lot more smooth and 'lively' than before.
The Dark Lotus healed him a little again after swallowing those two kills, but still _ it's a long way to go before he can practice like others.
When he stepped out of showers, feeling refreshed and renewed - his steps halted, staring at the figure blocking his 'room'.
Upon seeing him coming closer, the petite figure stepped back, turning around and leaving without saying anything.
Sunny glanced at her back, and couldn't help but feel uneasy.
This damned girl…was she guarding that door the whole night?
He thought, wondering if he should just pick a place and bury one more body tonight.
If I act fast enough, I can still kill her.
Possibly.
Maybe.
He thought dangerously, but in the end, decided to not take bold risks.
"You live today, but not for long." Sunny thought, slamming the door and blocking the girl's prying eyes.