《The Sword's Wind and the Golden Blade Book 1 (BL Xianxia-based story)》 Chapter 1 The light of the morning sun fell upon the land, its rays reflecting off every surface. The clucks of chickens accompanied the chirping of birds in a song that would wake up the sleeping town of Waterfall¡¯s End. People rose up from their slumber, gathering supplies for the day. Later the smell of food and sounds of chatter drifted through the air, reaching every corner. Only a few places were shielded from the bustling presence. Even beggars woke up, straightening their tattered clothing and dusting off their empty cups. But under the dark shadow of an eave, facing a quiet side street, one man still had his back laid against a wall of a tall building, sleeping soundly. A kick landed on his leg. ¡°Drake¡­¡± ¡°Mm?¡± Drakkel asked, his eyes still closed. Another harder kick landed on his leg and the voice of the one calling him raised in volume, ¡°Drake Fwiler!¡± ¡°Yes?!¡± He said tiredly, wiping his eyes. With a frown on his face, his eyes slowly slid open. The person who was kicking his leg before now patted his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re up! I need you to run another errand! Don¡¯t go crowding the streets like some sick fellow! A strong man needs to work!¡± Drakkel sighed as his blurry vision became more clear. He lifted his head and finally managed to take in the figure of the middle-aged lady who stared down at him. ¡°Sure Reila. What do you need this time?¡± He asked, scratching his head. He got up and stretched. His body ached and his old wounds stung. But, they always did. ¡°I need you to drop something off. It¡¯s in a further part of town. I don¡¯t have the time to go.¡± Drakkel nodded and yawned. ¡°Sure. I can do that. But, what¡¯s the payment?¡± Reila huffed. ¡°What about all the free food I''ve been giving you these past few months?¡± Drakkel''s eyes felt heavy. He tiredly replied, ¡°You say that, but weren¡¯t they leftovers? You said you were going to throw them out anyway.¡± There was an awkward pause before Reila¡¯s angry glare landed on him. Then she scoffed and turned around. ¡°Fine, if you don''t want my help anymore, just stay so¡­ Some people, so unappreciative! They don''t realize how lucky¡­¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Drakkel called. ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Reila paused and turned around. Her eyebrows were lifted and one corner of her mouth curved upward, almost forming a smirk. ¡°Where do you need it delivered?¡± Drakkel asked. Reila beamed. ¡°Hold on.¡± She quickly ran back in the direction she came from. A few minutes later, she returned from around the corner with a smaller than average donkey. The donkey''s size wasn''t the only thing unordinary about it. In fact, its look needed more than a few words to describe. It had large front teeth, an incognizant expression on its face as if it were unaware of what was going on, and uneven ears, with one tilted in an awkward position. Drakkel''s gaze returned to Reila. ¡°I need you to deliver this donkey to the butcher so I can sell its meat. I tried to sell it to three farmers already! But it always failed at its duties so they returned him and demanded a refund! Someone left it at my inn as a tip for nice service, but it''s only become an eyesore! All it does is eat and sleep. I can¡¯t afford to keep it anymore.¡± Drakkel nodded, but he was barely listening. His gaze slowly drifted back to the donkey. Large amounts of drool began to gather at the ends of its mouth and leak out like a waterfall as it stared back at him blankly. As he twisted his head slightly to get a better look at it, he could have sworn that one of the corners of its lips turned up. ¡°Did you hear me, Drake?!¡± Drakkel¡¯s head shot up, ¡°Yes. I heard you. I haven''t been to that side of the city for some time but I heard a new butcher opened up to replace the old one a few months ago. Is the process to trade in meat still the same?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Re''ila answered. ¡°And where is it located?¡± ¡°It opened up in the same place that the previous one closed down.¡± Reila seemed a bit inpatient now. Her body started to lightly swing back and forth and her arms were crossed. Due to the state of the town and the size of her inn, she had no employees. She couldn''t be away for long. ¡°Ok then. I¡¯ll deliver it right away,¡± Drakkel replied. Reila quickly handed him the reins. ¡°Good. Once the butcher''s done, remember to bring the meat back to me.¡± Drakkel took the reins from her and said with a half smile, ¡°Sure.¡± Reila prepared to leave, but something stopped her. She slightly turned her head back. ¡°By the way,¡± she said. ¡°There are rumors floating around that some Sword Fighters are in the area. They likely don¡¯t mean any harm, but if they¡¯re here, they may be after something that does, so be careful.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°Thanks. I will.¡± Reila gave a nod and hurried back to her inn and Drakkel began to haul the oblivious donkey he received across town. He walked the nearly desolate streets of Waterfall¡¯s End with its cracked pavement and dark atmosphere with blase, thinking about what Reila said. He didn''t mind Sword Fighters in town as long as they weren''t from a particular clan. But because of where he was, the chances of them being from that clan were extremely low. Still a little tired, he was a bit startled when someone called out, ¡°Drake! Are you busy?¡± His head snapped up as he glanced at the person who spoke. It was farmer Laoil. He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m running an errand for Reila right now. Do you need some help, Laoil?¡± ¡°I do! I¡¯m busy harvesting my new crop but my horse stables are dirty. Do you think you can muck them out after you¡¯re done?!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Drake replied. ¡°Thanks, Drake!¡± Farmer Laoil responded. As he continued to walk, more people called to him. ¡°Drake, after you help Laoil, can you pull the weeds from my yard!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± ¡°Drake! Thanks for watching my business while I was away! I have your money here! Come collect it when you''re done!¡± ¡°I will! Thank you!¡± With his stomach growling, Drakkel decided to stop answering people''s calls, only waving at them before hurrying past. He sighed, but couldn''t help but smile afterwards. Unlike in other cities, the people of Waterfall¡¯s End had their own lives to live and had no time to stick their noses in someone else''s. Because of this, Drakkel was quite fond of them. As long as he did the jobs they gave him, they wouldn''t inquire about anything else. As he passed the halfway point between Reila¡¯s inn and the butcher house, he saw a small crowd gathered around an old man. He slowed his pace to listen as the man told tales of the Sword Fighting world. ¡°It was then, seven years ago that at 20 years old, Sword Master Drakkel Fin, the man known as the Sword''s Wind, one of the most powerful sword fighters, lost to 17 year old Rillian Adore who was rumored to be a Sword Hero! We all know the order of sword skill. The first is Sword Valiant, then Sword Hero. Above is Sword Sworn, Sword Spirit, then Sword Master. Above those are Sword Epiphany, then Sword God. It has been a long time since someone has made it above Sword Master; so long it is recorded only in the anals of history. Many began to believe it was only a false tale. However, with Sword Master Drakkel Fin''s sword prowess gathered at only the age of 17, we thought we might see the return of a legend. After all, he was the youngest person to become a sword master in history! But in the battle fought so many years ago which lasted for only ten minutes, Sword Master Drakkel Fin dashed all of our hopes and lost terribly to Rillian Adore!¡± Some in the crowd commented. ¡°Yes! I heard of it before in Prancing Hills! He went missing after the battle despite the fact that his swords clan said they would take him back. His master apparently misses him. Seven years later, they¡¯re still searching for him.¡± ¡°No! I heard that his master was ashamed of him and was looking for him only to punish him. His master is said to be the strongest Sword Fighter in the world after all and he was disgraced with such a disciple! For Drakkel Fin to gain that amount of power, but lose so badly, don''t you think demons could be at work? The reputation and influence of his clan, which was only just recovering, fell because of his loss. Now, instead of being equal to Golden Peak as the top Swords clan, they can only be known as number two to their one!¡± ¡°But who could hold a grudge for that long? 7 years? He was a prodigy within their clan and was half responsible for their rise in fame and renown! Besides, they still won''t tell anyone their intentions behind looking for him. I think what I said is correct.¡± A third person chimed in, ¡°Even if either of those were true, who would want to go back? If I were Drakkel Fin, even if you dragged me there and bowed to me three times, begging me to come back, I wouldn''t have the face.¡± The crowd nodded in agreement. Drakkel felt a headache forming. Tightening his hold on the donkey¡¯s reins, he continued to walk, but his feet moved a little faster than before. As the view of the butcher¡¯s shop began to appear in the distance, he suddenly halted. His attention was drawn to some voices drifting out from an alleyway to the side. ¡°Stop! No!¡± He heard a woman''s voice scream. ¡°She''s a feisty one.¡± A man said. Drakkel felt something was wrong. He slowly approached the source of the noises. As he walked through the dark place, sneaking closer, the voices became clearer. Another man snickered. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sure she''ll fetch a good price. But, do you think we can sample the goods first?¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The man that spoke before sighed. ¡°But you went and ruined the other one last time. Then we had to sell her for cheap!¡± ¡°Fine. But maybe a kiss or something? I¡¯ll make sure not to leave any marks!¡± There was a pause before Drakkel heard, ¡°Go ahead.¡± That was the only signal he needed. Drakkel picked up a small rock from the ground and told the donkey to stay before rushing towards the source of the voices. He could have approached silently, but he purposely tried to make some noise on his way in to draw the attention of the men. It seemed to have worked as one of the men asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Drakkel recognized the speaker to be the one who was going to allow the other man to dishonor the girl. As their figures came into view, he was able to see them properly. The one who spoke was a small man, but well built. He stood in a straight manner and his figure had already assumed a defensive stance. Standing the way he was, no ordinary person would be able to tell, but because Drakkel had a background in sword fighting, he knew the man had to have some sword skills. ¡°I heard some noise so I only came to take a look. Is something going on here?¡± He said innocently. He looked to the side and saw that a girl was being held tightly by the arm by a larger man. ¡°Help me! These men are trying to take me aw¡­!¡± The girl shouted before her mouth was clamped by the larger man¡¯s free hand. The smaller man looked at Drakkel carefully. The shadow of the eaves covered most of his figure, but it couldn''t hide the tattered clothing and dirty feet. A beggar like him wouldn¡¯t cause them any trouble. And even if he did, they almost had enough money to find a better place to stay. He nonchalantly waved his arm in a gesture for Drakkel to go, shifting his gaze away from him and back to the girl. ¡°Nothing is going on here. Ignore what this girl says. She owes us some money and we¡¯re just collecting our dues.¡± The girl vigorously shook her head as the larger man held her, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Drakkel didn''t intend to leave so he stayed in his spot. ¡°What, not leaving?¡± the smaller man asked his gaze now returning to Drakkel. Drakkel, whose figure was partially covered by an eave that sheltered part of the alleyway, stepped forward into the better lighted open area where the men and girl were standing. Now seeing him in a different light, the smaller man¡¯s eyes widened while the larger man¡¯s face extended into a wide smile. Although his appearance was different from before, Drakkel could still be called a beauty. With his long black hair, smooth pale face, and striking features, even some men would find it hard to resist his appeal. The bigger man looked at the smaller man. ¡°You know what I''m thinking brother?¡± The smaller man nodded. ¡°Yes, he isn¡¯t bad either. Hand me the girl. We can take him too.¡± The bigger man hurriedly gave the girl to the smaller man who also blocked her mouth to keep her from speaking. Then he turned to face Drakkel, licking his lips. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with us quietly?¡± He asked. ¡°We promise to be gentle with you if you do.¡± Drakkel shook his head. ¡°No thank you. You see, I''m weak and malnourished. Wherever you plan to take me, I might not survive the trip.¡± He tried to think of an excuse to avoid fighting the two men. Then what he had been told earlier came to mind. ¡°Actually, I heard that some Sword Fighters were in the area. Wouldn''t it be a better deal for you to let me and the girl go? If you do, we¡¯ll be in your debt and we can make sure that no one knows you were here.¡± The girl nodded. But Drakkel said this fully intending to seek out the Sword Fighters Reila mentioned after everything was said and done. The bigger man smiled. ¡°Do you think we would believe that? We¡¯ve been here for months and we haven''t seen a Sword Fighter come through once! If you want to come up with lies you better find more believable ones!¡± Drakkel sighed. So he really wasn''t getting out of this peacefully. ¡°Enough talk now!¡± The bigger man said. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to come quietly, then don¡¯t blame us for being forceful!¡± The bigger man dashed towards Drakkel, the sound of his heavy footsteps echoing off the walls of the empty alleyway. But his movements were predictable and slow. Drakkel easily leapt into the air and dodged the assault, landing behind the man. The man turned around and licked his lips. ¡°I will take pleasure in making you get on your knees when I defeat you!¡± He ran at Drakkel again. Drakkel dodged to the side and when the man stumbled trying to catch him, he kicked him in the back with a sword energy enhanced attack. The man completely fell over, landing on his stomach. He braced his hands on the ground, attempting to get up, but Drakkel had already made his way over, keeping him down with one foot to the back. ¡°You¡¯re such a small and frail man. Who knew you had some sword skills?¡± The smaller man said. His eyes shot to the sky, thinking for a moment, before he brought them back to Drakkel. ¡°I see. If you¡¯re all the way here without a clan, it can only be for two reasons, either you never had a clan and were taught by an independent master or you were kicked out of one. With your appearance so poor, I can only assume the latter.¡± Drakkel laughed. ¡°Don''t compare us. You and I are not the same. Besides, the current situation isn¡¯t favorable for you. I have your man and you have the girl. Instead of making useless statements here, shouldn¡¯t you focus on how to get out of this situation? If you want, we can do a trade. That girl for this man.¡± ¡°Oh! So you finally showed your true colors!¡± The smaller man looked down at his brother held under Drakkel¡¯s heel. Actually even if the man holding his brother was faking his weakness before, he wasn¡¯t threatened at all. So the man could defeat his brother? It didn''t matter. Unlike him, his brother wasn''t a sword fighter so his feat wasn''t that impressive. The man was also clearly trying to leave without fighting. Considering these factors, the man in front of him likely wasn''t that strong. He smiled. ¡°injure him or kill him if you want. But whatever you do to him, I will do to this girl.¡± Now Drakkel knew they had come to an impasse. Truthfully, with his current strength, his chances of beating most sword fighters was very low. The person in front of him was probably more than enough to be his match. If he wanted to defeat him, he would need all his focus which included getting rid of the only vulnerable person amongst them. ¡°Fine, I''ll let the man below me go first. Then you can release the girl, ok?¡± He slowly released his foot from the larger man¡¯s back and the man scurried up and clasped his arms tightly around Drakkel in return. Drakkel continued to speak to the smaller man. ¡°I¡¯ve been captured already. Why not let the girl go?¡± The smaller man laughed. ¡°You really thought we would do that? Don¡¯t you know better than to trust strangers? Now that we have you both, why don¡¯t we just sell you off instead?¡± ¡°Was lying what got you kicked out of your clan, sword outcast?¡± Drakkel shot back. The words came like a strike of lighting, silencing the entire area. The smaller man¡¯s expression slowly changed until he was wide-eyed with anger. With a grimace on his face, he gazed angrily at Drakkel. His expression was as if Drakkel had just spat on his mother¡¯s grave. But for what a sword outcast was, one couldn''t say that his reaction was surprising. A sword outcast was a person who trained under a swords clan but was kicked out usually either because their skills weren''t up to snuff or they committed some acts that went against the clan rules. Once a person was kicked out of a swords clan, it was rare for them to ever get into another again. This is not only because they had a bad record behind them, but because each sword clan utilized a different weapon. It was a well-known fact that once a person trained in one weapon style, it was almost impossible to be just as good in another. Also, like Drakkel, some of them spent much of their lives with their weapons. After learning a weapon, gaining a knack for fighting, and developing a strong sense of pride, performing normal work was difficult, even if one could get it despite their reputation. Worse still, if you went to a swords clan in a larger town, word of you becoming a sword outcast spread like wildfire. Many even had lists with the names of living sword outcasts from Swords Clans in their vicinity. It was also the case that sword outcasts bore the mark of their status somewhere on their person. They were forced to make a slash on their body with their weapon before giving it up. The man Drakkel was staring at had such a scar on his neck. With the way it looked and the location of it, it should have been the mark of the Berserk Cleaver Swords Clan that used large butcher''s knives as weapons. With the man momentarily distracted, Drakkel took out the rock he had picked up earlier and flicked it as his wrist, forcing him to let go of the girl. The man¡¯s recovery was quick and even with a hurt wrist, it wouldn¡¯t have been difficult for him to catch up with the girl who was now running away, but he ignored her, still fuming with anger. After she left he scoffed. ¡°Your looks are superior to that girl¡¯s. It¡¯s only because you have offended me that I will use my full energy to defeat you today! We¡¯re different, you say? So, you think you can look down on me? You may not have a visible scar on your body, but I''m sure we¡¯ll see it when we take off your clothes! By then, you¡¯ll have to apologize and admit you were wrong!¡± The man pulled out a wrapped item attached to his waist. Drakkel had actually noticed that the man had something attached to his waist and expected it to be a weapon. So when the man undid the wrappings, he wasn''t surprised by what lied underneath. The smell of blood drifted into the air as the man revealed a weapon which turned out to just be an ordinary butcher''s knife. The blade was old, but it had a sharp edge and a thick cut. The man stepped toward Drakkel who was still being held by the bigger man, when Drakkel kicked the bigger man in the knee, forcing him to loosen his hold and allowing him a chance to escape. Drakkel jumped out of the man¡¯s hold and propelled himself backward towards the exit of the alleyway, but the smaller man held up his hand and slashed in his direction. Sword energy rushed out of the blade like a raging tsunami, heading straight for Drakkel. So Drakkel¡¯s plans for escape were ruined and he was forced to change his trajectory to dodge the attacks, missing the exit to the alleyway and landing in a corner instead. As he caught his breath, the two men moved to block his exit. With how angry the smaller man still looked, Drakkel knew he wouldn¡¯t be leaving easily. But ordinary weapons couldn''t handle utilizing sword energy for long and would break some time after just one use. If he dragged the battle out, even if the man in front of him was at a higher level, he might have a chance of defeating him. It¡¯s just that he wasn¡¯t sure if he had the stamina for that. He taunted, ¡°What did you do to get kicked out of your clan? Hanging around the back alleys of the street like a rat, it must have been something unsavory!¡± ¡°Does a beggar like you still have the mouth to talk? Where do you get off feeling high and mighty?¡± The smaller man spat. Then his eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Wait, I see now! You must be trying to buy time! You really aren¡¯t too strong, are you?¡± Drakkel didn¡¯t flinch but the smaller man had already guessed his weakness. And the man must have known it too since he continued to talk. ¡°Come to think of it, I believe I recognize you now. A handsome face and a dirty appearance. We¡¯ve only been here for a few months but even we¡¯ve heard! You''re Drake Fwiler the beggar! The one who does nearly any task for a measly amount of pay! Living a pathetic existence!¡± ¡°With how weak and frail you are, you should really be thanking your fate for meeting us! With your looks, maybe you¡¯ll end up with some rich lord or lady! After we¡¯ve had our fun with you of course!¡± Drakkel began to see cracks in the blade the smaller man used. ¡°Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?¡± He asked. The smaller man smiled. ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want to talk, we can continue to get down to business! Let¡¯s see how much longer you¡¯ll last!¡± The two men dashed forward, attacking Drakkel together. Drakkel decided to focus on taking down the smaller man since he was the only one versed in swords arts. He dodged the tackle of the bigger man and kicked him in the back with his sword energy, making him barrel forward and run headfirst into a wall. Then he used this opportunity to propel himself straight to the smaller one. With his sword energy enhanced attacks, he used two fingers to mimic a sword gliding through the air to attack the smaller man. The smaller man blocked this assault and the two continued to trade blows. He dodged all the moves of the smaller man and got in a few hits. But after a while, he sensed something amiss. The man stopped dodging as if he was taking on Drakkel attacks on purpose. That''s when a foreboding feeling came over him. ¡°Now!¡± The smaller man yelled. Drakkel turned around and saw the bigger man standing a small distance behind him with his arms open. ¡°You really shouldn''t get distracted,¡± The smaller man said before aiming a fully powered sword energy attack at Drakkel. Only when Drakkel took it head on, did he realize that this man was at the middle of Sword Hero. He was unable to fully block the attack and was pushed back, right into the arms of the large man that was waiting behind him. Drakkel lamented on the fact that he no longer regularly practiced his sword skills, maybe working on them once every three months or so. In terms of his actual combat training, he trained even less. As complacent as he had been, it seemed he had gotten rusty. The smaller man smiled as the blade broke in his grip, leaving only the hilt. He threw it to the ground and walked towards Drakkel. ¡°You talk big for someone who was defeated so easily. But I wonder, you¡¯re only a sword hero but you held us both off for so long. Which clan were you kicked out of?¡± Drakkel could feel the hot breath of the larger man running down his neck as the smaller one made his way over. Despite this, he was calm. Now that the blade broke, he had an opportunity. The moment the smaller man stood in front of him, he would break out of the larger man¡¯s grip and hit the smaller man in his weak spot. But his plan was suddenly interrupted by a voice sounding from the entrance of the alleyway. ¡°Stop what you¡¯re doing.¡± Drakkel shifted his head towards the direction of the voice. Upon a glance, sweat dripped down his face and his mouth dried up faster than water in a desert. Although it wasn''t cold, he began to shiver as his heartbeat became so loud he could hear it pounding in his ears. He didn''t remember this man, but he knew his description. So he instinctively lowered his head to hide his appearance. ¡°Who says?¡± The smaller man asked, also turning his attention to the new arrival. The man who stood at the entrance to the alleyway was tall, exuding a lofty and imposing energy. He had long blonde hair like the color of golden wheat and large brown eyes which gazed at them as if they were simply ants under his feet. His eyebrows, which were sharper than a dagger, were furrowed as his mouth formed a scowl. Combined with his clearly muscular physique and intimidating aura, one wouldn¡¯t casually approach him. He carried a large item on his back. Although it was wrapped, one could tell that the weight was a heavy one and yet he effortlessly carried it. His voice carried an air of authority as he answered, ¡°I¡¯m a disciple of the Golden Peak Swords Clan. My name is Rillian Adore.¡± Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The man with the butcher''s knife eyes widened as sweat dripped from his brow. ¡°Rillian Adore as in the Merciless Golden Blade, Rillian Adore!?¡± With his breath nearly caught in his throat, unable to say more words, his mouth started to feel dry. If this was truly Rillian Adore, forget their plan to find a better place to live, his brother and him might not even make it out alive. Rillian Adore was known to be cruel and ruthless. It was such that none dared to cross his path for fear of sustaining great injuries or losing their lives. The man at first thought that the man in front of him might have been an impersonator, due to them popping up around the Empire a while ago. But then he remembered the story behind them. One day, Rillian Adore left his clan and came back a month later. Before he left, news of Rillian Adore impersonators was common to hear, but when he came back, it was like those impersonators never existed. No one dared to say anything about them again. It was said that Rillian Adore left at that time to swiftly take care of the impersonators himself, so only those who were crazy or stupid would think to use his name after. So, if someone claimed to be him, whether it was true or not, it was better not to take any chances. The smaller man walked up to Rillian Adore, cupping his hands. ¡°Sword Master Rillian Adore, look, we put him down. See?¡± He gestured to Drakkel who was now standing in front of the larger man. Drakkel wanted to take the opportunity to run, but if Rillian Adore had not confirmed the situation yet, Drakkel would definitely be caught while trying to escape, so he decided to stand still instead, patiently waiting for a chance to leave. The smaller man continued, ¡°It was a misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding! We weren¡¯t doing anything bad, yet this man came and bothered us! We were just defending ourselves! Now that you¡¯re here, you can determine the truth of the matter!¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes darted to Drakkel¡¯s figure and then to the figures of the other two. They were all indeed covered in wounds. But, he already knew who was the victim and who were the perpetrators because a girl from earlier had told him all about it. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you all in for questioning then,¡± he answered. The man with the butcher¡¯s knife was worried. If he was brought in, wouldn¡¯t they find out what actually happened? So, rubbing his hands together, he added, ¡°Sword Master Rillian Adore, why waste your time taking us in when you can determine it for yourself.¡± He suddenly took on an indignant expression as he said, "Truth be told, that man,¡± he gestured to Drakkel, ¡°Provoked us first while we were taking a break from our work at the butcher''s and we were just defending ourselves. Surely someone like you who is strong and magnanimous shouldn¡¯t have any trouble seeing the truth! After all, you¡¯re the one who defeated the Sword¡¯s Wind and unraveled the secret behind him! The man¡¯s words seemed to have an effect on Rillian Adore. With his muscles now appearing a bit tense yet his voice even, he asked, ¡°What secret?¡± The smaller man didn¡¯t understand his response but still carried on. ¡°You know it! Drakkel Fin used demonic magic to gain his reputation! If you hadn¡¯t defeated him, we wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Suddenly the man felt a chill go down his spine. He hadn¡¯t been looking into Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes out of respect before, but now he dared to look up and what he saw made him feel as if his soul was about to leave his body. He laughed, ¡°Actually, it was a joke, I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± His gaze drifted all the way down as he attempted to avoid Rillian Adore¡¯s angry glare. And it was then that he noticed that the man in front of him did not carry the pass that the Golden Blade was known to carry around as an identifier. The man¡¯s friendly expression fell. He had doubted it before, but now he was certain. This man has been acting strangely since he arrived, wantonly throwing the Golden Peak Swords Clan¡¯s name around. Besides that, Rillian Adore had beaten Drakkel Fin and went into seclusion afterwards. They weren¡¯t known to be close, so why would he defend him? He even remembered that Sword Fighters didn''t often travel to the outer towns. If they did, it would usually be those from a clan that was located closer to the area. Names could be faked, but not martial ability! A wide smile spread upon his face as he pointed to Rillian Adore. ¡°Wait! You must be an impersonator! Everyone knows that the real Rillian Adore always carries his clan pass! But you don''t have one! What makes you think you can pretend to be someone you''re not?¡± ¡°Whether you believe me or not doesn¡¯t affect the fact that you¡¯ll be brought in.¡± Rillian Adore answered. ¡°Brought in?¡± He laughed. ¡°An impersonator may be able to copy looks, but not sword skills! Where will you be bringing us, Hmmm? Your bluffing trick didn¡¯t work. In fact, I take back what I said! Drakkel Fin isn¡¯t just a demonic energy user! If I want to, I¡¯ll even say that Drakkel Fin, for all his skill was only a beautiful face and nothing more! When one only trains in seduction and dabbles in demonic arts, is it surprising that they would lose to someone of a lower lev¡­!¡± ¡°Shut up¡­¡± Rillian Adore growled. With a movement so quick that one could barely see it, the wrapping from the item on his back came loose and he pulled his great sword, Sun-Tinged Rays which had a golden hilt and a glimmering meteoric iron blade out from its sheath and swung it. Out of the blade, shot a wave of sword energy with its blue glare rushing like a gale of wind. The man tried to dodge it, but the speed was too fast. It struck one of his legs, severing it from the knee down. One moment, the man was standing upright and the next he was laying on the floor with a puddle of his own blood pooling around him. When he realized what was going on, he speedily hit his acupoints to stop the bleeding. But his face had already grown pale. And it wasn¡¯t because of losing blood but because of facing the reality of what had just happened. From the energy he felt, the man in front of him was indeed a Sword Master. His identity now was undeniable. He coughed and blood spurted from his mouth. The bigger man, seeing this, quickly ran towards him. ¡°Brother!¡± He screamed. He checked over the smaller man''s wounds and hurriedly said, ¡°We have to go, brother!¡± The one with the chopped off leg nodded, his jaw tightly clenched. The bigger man picked him up and attempted to dash straight past Rillian Adore, but Rillian Adore stuck a leg out and the larger man tripped. With an angry tone, he stated, ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere! Butcher Jin Linel and assistant Locin Lu, you two are suspects in the cases of missing persons in this area. I¡¯ll be taking you in for investigation!¡± The wrapping that bound the sword before which was hanging from the tip of the hilt glowed and floated off. It increased to several times its original size and wrapped around the two men. Rillian Adore then knocked them out by hitting their acupoints. Afterwards, he turned to Drakkel who was already quietly making his way to the exit. ¡°You there! Stop!¡± Drakkel froze in place. ¡°I¡¯ll need to bring you in as well.¡± Drakkel slowly turned around. He could handle many things, but facing this man was simply not one of them. He wanted to leave, but feared that running away would only make him look guilty. So, he opted to stay. In order to not be recognized, he lowered his head further and walked back. Changing up his voice, he answered, ¡°No thank you. I¡­ get nervous around authority.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s demeanor slightly softened. ¡°Don''t worry. I¡¯m a part of a reputable swords clan. Under my watch, no one would dare to abuse you.¡± Drakkel shook his head. Although the men deserved it, this man had just cut off someone''s leg without a second thought. Even if he said these words, what normal person would go with him after seeing that? Besides that, he had his own reasons for avoiding him. But Rillian Adore wouldn''t let it go. He continued to push, taking a step closer. ¡°Your testimony would really help us out.¡± ¡°You found me here even though it''s such a secluded place. Did that woman I help call for you? Why don''t you request her assistance instead?¡± Drakkel noted. ¡°She¡¯s long gone now, while you¡¯re still here. Even if I look now, it would be difficult to find her.¡± Rillian Adore shot back. ¡°So you would bring me in against my will instead? Is that how you righteous Swords Clans work?¡± Drakkel asked. Rillian Adore''s expression didn''t change much, but his voice did soften a bit. ¡°We only want to help. But fine. If you don¡¯t want to come with me, then answer me this: the woman said you saved her. How? Butcher Jin is a Sword Outcast. If he was serious, you shouldn¡¯t have held him back for so long.¡± Beads of sweat began to gather at Drakkel¡¯s temples as he looked for an answer. This man really didn¡¯t want to let him go. He laughed. ¡°A sword outcast? I don¡¯t know what that is. I was just running an errand and I heard some noise come from here. I went to check it out and I saw these two,¡± He gestured to the tied up unconscious figures, ¡°harassing the woman. I may be useless, but even I have a conscience. I distracted them so the woman was able to make her escape. But these two were angry. After they lost her, they targeted me. In fact, If it weren''t for you, I would have ended up a victim too!¡± Rillian Adore nodded, but he didn¡¯t look convinced. ¡°So that¡¯s how it was? But, you see? You spent more time with these two than that woman. Of course your testimony would hold more weight.¡± Drakkel frowned. He expected to be let go, but the more he talked, the harder it was to leave. It was like trying to walk out of quicksand. This man was too good at talking in circles. ¡°Look, I''ve told you all that I know and I¡¯m not willing to give a testimony. You said I could leave after I answer your question. Isn¡¯t it against the rules of a Swords Clan to force an innocent back without consent?¡± One of Rillian Adore¡¯s eyebrows shot up and Drakkel realized his mistake. But now he saw a chance. Rillian Adore, who was confident and stern a moment ago now seemed slightly confused. His eyebrows drew close together and he went silent for a moment. Seeing his state, before he could get another word out, Drakkel quickly said, ¡°I need to go.¡± He attempted to walk away, but found that someone grabbed his wrist before he could exit. ¡°What you just said is not something any ordinary person knows.¡± Rillian Adore said. ¡°You¡¯ve been keeping your head lowered for so long. Are you hiding something?¡± Drakkel shook his head. ¡°Then, let me see your face,¡± Rillian Adore continued. Drakkel tried to break out of his grasp, but his hold tightened just a bit. ¡°Why should I listen to your words?¡± Drakkel asked. ¡°Will you force me to stay after promising I could go?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°You can go. But raise your head first. I feel like we may know each other and I just want to confirm.¡± After wriggling around for a few moments, Drakkel knew he wouldn''t get out. In the end, he could only face the person he had been avoiding. Sighing, he turned his head to meet Rillian Adore''s gaze. The moment their eyes met, Rillian Adore''s widened in response. Feeling that something was wrong, Drakkel¡¯s heart began to pound in his chest. He quickly said, ¡°How could a humble beggar like me know one as esteemed as yourself?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head, a stunned expression on his face. With his eyes wide and breath nearly caught, he whispered so quietly that it could barely be heard, ¡°Drakkel¡­?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. At that moment, Drakkel didn''t deny it. He was shocked that after all these years, someone actually recognized him. With that, a flash of doubt flitted upon Rillian Adore¡¯s face and his grip loosened ever so slightly. It wasn''t a lot, but it was just enough for Drakkel to jerk out of his grip and make his escape. An ordinary person would have been worried about Rillian Adore giving chase, but Drakkel knew that he was bound by duty. He had to take care of those criminals first. That was why he felt safe slowing his pace a bit to catch his breath as he made his way to the spot where he left the donkey However, upon reaching the place, he realized that it hadn''t stayed as he had commanded. Normally he would be worried, having to think about how to pay for the thing he lost, but now he really didn''t have the time to care. After all, Rillian Adore had now found him here so he couldn''t afford to stay. As he departed from the vicinity, he spotted a group of Golden Peak swords clan disciples briskly walking towards the alleyway. He could tell from the quickness with which their golden robes flowed through the wind and by how tightly they gripped the handles of their swords that they were in a hurry. Drakkel figured it would only be a matter of time before Rillian Adore caught him if he chose to stick around for even another minute. He headed straight for Reila''s place to gather his items. Upon reaching the front of the small, slightly run-down inn, he knocked on the door. There was no answer at first, which was customary. But he didn''t have patience for it today. He knocked harder the second time and Reila swung the door open. With her eyes maddened with rage, she yelled, ¡°Are you trying to break down my door or someth¡­?!¡± She stopped what she was saying when she saw that the one knocking was Drakkel. ¡°Drake!¡± She said. ¡°You don''t look so good. What happened to you?¡± Drakkel just noticed the exhaustion that threatened to overtake his body. He slid past Reila and walked into her inn. As small a town as Waterfall¡¯s End was, only two customers sat at the first floor where food was served. They stopped to stare at him for a moment, then continued what they were doing as if he wasn''t there. Drakkel spoke to Reila quietly, ¡°Reila, can we speak somewhere more private?¡± Reila skeptically raised an eyebrow, but after a moment of deliberation, she slowly nodded. She gestured to a door behind the lobby desk and he followed her there. Once they were inside the small room, Reila asked, ¡°What happened to you? And where''s my donkey meat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but your donkey ran away,¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°What did you do?¡± Reila questioned. ¡°No time to explain.¡± Drakkel said, glancing around. ¡°I need to go. Could I have my things?¡± Reila looked like she wanted to press him more, but seeing how serious he was acting, it seemed like she had already decided to drop the issue. She walked over to the desk in the corner and opened it. ¡°Of course. They¡¯re always where I¡¯ve left them.¡± She took out a small sack made of a coarse brown rag and handed it to him. Drakkel opened the bag, fished out a handful of copper coins and handed them to her. ¡°I know it''s not a lot. But it should at least cover half the cost of the donkey.¡± Reila counted the money, then nodded. ¡°It will have to do.¡± She looked up at him, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Drakkel didn¡¯t want to reveal much. ¡°I can''t tell you, but I don''t think I''ll see you for a while.¡± Reila¡¯s next expression surprised Drakkel. Her eyes gazed at him with concern as the corners of her lips turned down. ¡°You really have to go, huh? After two years, this is it¡­¡± She counted the copper coins again and gave him a few back. ¡°The donkey was free anyway. You can keep some of this.¡± Drakkel bowed his head. ¡°Thanks, Reila.¡± Reila nodded. ¡°Be careful out there,¡± She said, a hint of sadness in her voice. Drakkel nodded. He attached his sack to his belt and left the room, heading towards the door. However, before he was able to exit, Reila yelled, ¡°Wait!¡± She ran to the kitchen and came back with something wrapped in paper. ¡°I want to thank you for your help over the past couple of years. Although you weren''t the best worker, at least you were honest and consistent. When you made mistakes, you would even do the work for free¡­¡± She handed him the paper wrapping, ¡°Here''s one last helping of leftovers.¡± Drakkel smiled. He gratefully took the paper from her and left the Inn, making his way towards the side entrance of Waterfall''s End. He had a feeling that if he went to the main entrance, someone would be waiting for him. When Drakkel took the uneven main road, passing through the makeshift stalls and nearly broken down buildings that lined its corners, he made a detour through one of the lesser roads to get to the side entrance. Waterfall¡¯''s End was small, not inhabited by too many people and not having too much space. The town was surrounded by a barrier made of tall logs held together by twine and sharpened at the tips. There were only two ways to leave and enter and that was through the main gate and through the side gate. The main gate could be accessed by taking the main road. One would eventually reach it if they followed it because the town was formed in a circular fashion with the main road winding around and breaking off into the main entrance, several alleyways and several side roads. Drakkel had to travel through the main road to reach the side road that would get him outside the town. The side entrance was small and difficult to notice, so those who hadn''t lived in the town for long wouldn''t know of it. However, upon reaching that very place, one who shouldn''t have known about it was actually waiting there. In front of the entrance stood a man with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail, golden robes and a muscular figure who bore a greatsword on his back and with him were two other golden-robed figures who carried similar weapons. Standing near them were the two people that Drakkel had fought before. After waiting for a moment and realizing they weren''t leaving, he could only breath a heavy sigh and sneak past them, making his way to the main entrance. But of course that area wasn''t free either. Around five other golden-robed individuals waited patiently at the gate. Their countenances were vigilant as their eyes darted around. Considering these factors, he thought for a moment on whether he should take the chance to leave through the front gate or through the side gate or even try to use his sword step skill to jump the barrier. When the thought of leaving through the side gate flashed through his mind, he could only shake his head. If Rillian Adore recognized him before with his appearance different and after not seeing him for 7 years, couldn''t he recognize him again? As for using his sword step technique to traverse the barrier around the town, it would actually be too risky. Maybe in the past, he could have hopped the barrier with ease, but in his current state in which he really only practiced cultivation once every three months or so, he could only wait to be caught. Truly after thinking about it carefully, the front gate was his best chance at escape. After making his decision, Drakkel pondered on whether Rillian Adore had told his people that he was there. However, he noticed that there were no portraits in their hands and that they were carefully observing everyone who passed the gate, as if they weren''t exactly sure what they were looking for. Because of this, he figured that Rillian Adore may not have told them after all. Then he had a sudden realization. Rillian Adore had probably not told his fellow disciples about him or there would have been more fanfare. Instead, he likely told them to look out for identifying factors about the person they seek. For a few moments, he thought about what would constitute an identifying factor. His eyes widened as he remembered the white streak in his hair. It started from the root, running from the top of his head, to the bottom of his back. The rest of his appearance was common, being only a bit worse than everyone else¡¯s in the town. His skin was dirty, yet pale. He wore old clothing that had been mended many times and straw sandals roughly made by his own hands. So, it was indeed likely that they didn''t know him well. But, If his suspicions were true, how would he sneak past the disciples? As he thought about it, an idea struck. Because Rillian Adore had come to only apprehend a few low level Sword Outcasts, he was likely mostly followed by lower level Golden Peak Swords Clan members who had come out to gain experience. So, he figured that they could be tricked. He wrapped his long hair into a top bun and found a dirty hat from a nearby trash pile which stunk like dog¡¯s dung mixed with the dirty blood from a butcher. Along with it, he grabbed some mud from the ground and wiped it on his face. With his new appearance, he made his way to the main gate, his back hunched and sporting a limp. Once he got there, as expected, he was stopped by one of the disciples. Naturally, the disciples were weary. A sketchy-looking individual approached them, with an unclean appearance and an odd gait. But they were from the most famous and renowned Swords clan, they still had to show that they had discipline. The disciple at the front seemed more disciplined than the rest. His robes were straight and two golden passes hung from his belt. One pass was an ordinary gold pass while the other was inlaid with gems. Thinking about what the man that got apprehended earlier said and the fact that none of the other disciples held extra passes, Drakkel figured that the extra pass belonged to Rillian Adore. The disciple stepped forward and bravely asked, ¡°Who are you? State your business.¡± However, after finishing his sentence, his eyes widened. Yes, he was more disciplined than the rest, but even he had his limit. It wasn''t until a moment after asking, that his eyes widened and nose wrinkle as an unpleasant smell drifted into his nostrils. His hand quickly swung to his nose in disgust as he took one step back. The other disciples finally seemed to catch a whiff as well as they followed in his stead, making a similar gesture. Many waved their hands in the air as well to try to cast away the nasty scent. Masking his voice to appear more raspy, Drakkel said, ¡°Good Sir. I¡¯m *cough* very sick. I have a terrible condition, you see. I need to get medicine from a nearby town¡­ *cough* *cough*¡± The disciple, now not holding his nose, but appearing to breath through his mouth, looked upon him skeptically as he responded, ¡°We don''t plan to stop you for long. Just lift up your hat, so we can see what lies underneath.¡± Drakkel held his hat down, ¡°No, please sir! I¡¯m afraid my disease is contagious. Don''t you smell what wafts my body? If you touch me, you may catch it." The man looked at his fellow disciples questioningly. A horrified expression shadowed their faces as they all vigorously nodded their heads. appearing to fear the man that stood before them. ¡°It''s alright,¡± The disciple replied. ¡°We¡¯re part of a strong Swordsclan. A bit of sickness won¡¯t scare us away.¡± He again stepped forward and attempted to reach for Drakkel''s hat. Then, Drakkel made a swift movement. He pretended to stumble a bit and hit an acupoint on his wrist to force himself to cough up blood. The disciple who was going to check him leapt a few feet backwards to avoid getting sprayed. Immediately after, Drakkel fell to the floor, holding his chest and pretending to breathe hard. ¡°Sir¡­¡± He labored. ¡°I told you. It¡¯s a deadly disease. I don''t want you to catch it.¡± One of the disciples whined, ¡°Trin! it¡¯s not worth it! I¡¯m sure this poor sick man isn''t the one we''re looking for.¡± The man referred to as Trin nodded. After all, now that everyone was too scared to approach him, what could he really do? Besides, if the man was telling the truth and he brought him over to his swords clan, causing his sickness to spread, could he deal with the consequences? ¡°Alright,¡± he said, waving his hand in a motion for Drakkel to leave, ¡°You can go.¡± Drakkel repeatedly bowed as he went, ¡°Thank you. Thank you kind people.¡± The disciples cleared plenty of room for him to leave and he walked past them, limping slowly and unhurriedly. Once he confirmed that he was out of their eyesight, he fixed his stance and hurried away, using his sword step technique to aid his travel. When he was sure that there was no possibility of anyone following him, he switched to walking to conserve his energy. He decided to head East as South led to the border and North led to Densai Forest, a dense forest said to be filled with powerful sacred beasts. His destination was Shadowy Ridges. As he walked, he soon discovered a calm and clean lake, just off the main path. His smell was such that every time he breathed, it traveled deep into his nostrils and down his throat making him almost taste the pungent scent. Even those he came across while walking purposely avoided him once they smelled it. Getting tired of being accompanied by the nasty odor, he decided to take a short wash. He removed all of his clothes and cleaned them, moving onto his body afterwards. The lake was at a perfect height. When he stood, half his body from feet to mid abdomen was covered. When he sat, his whole body was covered. As he washed himself, he suddenly heard some voices speaking in the distance and getting closer. He looked around and found a large rock jutting out from the water. Then he rushed behind it with his clothes in his hands. ¡°Did you see it? This isn''t called Fairy Lake for no reason! There must be fairies here!¡± ¡°Good fellow, I think you should get your eyes checked. No one else is here.¡± There was a pause for a minute and then a sigh, ¡°Maybe you''re right. That''s sad. I heard that if you capture the cloak of a fairy, you can have her as a wife.¡± Someone laughed, ¡°As a traveling salesman, I¡¯m surprised you aren''t already married.¡± ¡°Don''t you see that it''s because I am one that I''m not already married? Who would tolerate someone that¡¯s never home and only bringing in just enough money to live?¡± ¡°Plenty of women I''m sure, you just haven''t found the right one.¡± There was another pause, ¡°Maybe I should broaden my horizons? The only places I travel to are Lunala Isle, Nevermore, and Shadowy Ridges.¡± ¡°...Wait, did you just say Shadowy Ridges? How are you still doing business there?¡± ¡°Actually I just started. I¡¯m heading there now for my second trip. Lots of poor folk, but the ones who pay, pay well.¡± ¡°If you want to keep your life, you should end your business there now,¡± The other man said fearfully. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You haven''t heard the stories? The town has been plagued by corruption. The place used to have reasonable laws for those wishing to make a living, but around three years ago, the Town Lord began to make some drastic changes. Among other things, No more outside sales people were permitted and merchants must go through specific channels to sell products there. The channels levy expensive taxes on the merchants and sellers, making it so that doing business there is unprofitable. You might not have noticed, because they haven''t caught you yet. They make rounds every three days to check for authorization papers. You might as well drop it now. I actually only bumped into you on my way to permanently leaving!¡± ¡°Thanks for the warning! I''ll probably just stick to selling for the other two towns then.¡± ¡°You better! Anyway, I need to go now. My daughter and wife are waiting for me!¡± ¡°No need to brag!¡± Several footsteps then disappeared into the distance. After a few minutes of silence, Drakkel ventured out from behind the rock. Seeing that no one was there, he placed his clothes on top of the rock to dry and bathed for a bit longer. While bathing, he thought about the conversation the two men had. What they said about Shadowy Ridges was concerning. While there, he would have to proceed with caution. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Drakkel took the lone dirt path surrounded by slightly arched trees, surveying the scenery along the way. The main path to most of the towns on the outskirts weren''t as busy as for the inner cities, but they at least had a few people using them. However, the main route to Shadowy Ridges was devoid of anyone. It was so quiet that only the sounds of animals rustling in the bushes and trees could be heard along with the sound of Drakkel¡¯s footsteps. As the sky turned an array of orange and purple hues and the buzzing of cicadas began to fill the air, Drakkel finally arrived at his destination.. The town was surrounded by a tall barrier made of stones and formed in a rectangular shape. Its entrance was unguarded but a sense of dread leaked through it, creating a depressing atmosphere. When Drakkel entered through the ominous front gate, he could see why. An eerie quiet enveloped the atmosphere as the occasional person walked past. The sunken eyes of those present reflected a deep misery. On the cracked stone path leading through the small town, minimal stalls were set up. The number of open businesses present in the town could even be counted on one hand. There was hardly anyone who looked comfortable enough to afford a living walking around. Instead, many sick and poor elderly and children were strewn about the streets, laying their backs under the eaves on building walls or taking shelter under abandoned stalls. Their heads were bowed in despair and their hands were cradling their bellies. When some of the kids saw him, their eyes brightened up. Those who still had the energy, rushed over, begging for food and money. However, Drakkel was poor himself. Remembering Reila''s leftovers, he took them out. He didn¡¯t want to draw attention to himself, but he also couldn¡¯t leave the kids to starve. When he unwrapped the papers, the tantalizing smell of cheese, jerky, and bread wafted out. He was originally given two loaves of bread, two blocks of cheese and a handful of jerky, but he had eaten some on the road, leaving only half of each amount. At first, he only planned to give it to a couple of the kids, knowing it wouldn¡¯t be enough. But when the rest saw this, they went crazy, finding the energy to show up and almost tearing each other apart trying to get it. However, their actions were fruitless. There were a large number of children and Drakkel could only do so much. ¡°Stop fighting!¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯ll split it so there is enough for each of you.¡± He looked down at the food sadly, carefully splitting the pieces into smaller bits. But he knew it wouldn¡¯t be enough. After dividing the food, the amount left for each child only amounted to a bite. After some of the children ate their pieces and others stored them away, they looked at him expectantly. Their dirty faces gazed at him expectantly as they held their bellies. Drakkel looked down at the empty paper and then up at the kids. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°That''s all I have.¡± As he addressed the group of kids that gathered around him, he felt someone softly tug at his robe from behind. It was a young girl. She seemed to be the youngest amongst the kids, likely no older than 6 or 7. As her stomach growled, she gazed up at him with her watery round eyes. ¡°Please sir. My grandmother needs food. Please¡­¡± Drakkel saw the girl''s thin physique. Her bones showed in her collar and her figure was too small for the clothes she wore. He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But, I really don''t have any more.¡± Seeing their situation, Drakkel actually planned to buy them some more later, but he didn''t want to reveal this fact. After all, if something were to happen and he couldn¡¯t fulfill this promise, he might only give them false hope and incite hostility. One of the older kids yelled, ¡°You must have some more! Give it!¡± Many more of the kids joined him in yelling. ¡°There really is nothing left!¡± Drakkel repeated. He gently brushed off the hand of the youngest child and pushed through the crowd of children blocking his way as they dragged at his robe and shouted in his ears. As he went he was reminded of his early days of poverty when he was losing his sword skills and didn''t dare return to his Swords Clan. He sold everything of value that was on him and used the money up in a couple of months. Afterwards, there wasn''t enough to keep him fed. Eventually, he had to beg on the streets and ended up much the same as these children. But he was lucky. His sword energy kept him sustained, making it so he could survive off far less than a normal person. The same couldn¡¯t be said for these kids whose malnourished and thin frames barely supported their weight. He frowned. There were poor people in every place, but none he had ever seen were as bad as this. He had finally made up his mind. He owed it to the kids and other people of the town to try and help. After the kids stopped following him, he asked someone where the inn was located. Most people weren¡¯t receptive to him, but he eventually found someone who answered his question. He decided to stay at the only open inn left in the town which was situated near its center. The inn was in poor condition. Its foundations were worn and held together by temporary repairs. In addition to this, not many people were present. This would have made sense for a place like Waterfall''s End where the number of denizens could be easily counted, but for a place like Shadowy Ridges which was really only one step away from an inner town and a few away from an inner city, the same should not have held true. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. A place such as this actually should have had more inhabitants, but the conversation at Fairy Lake had revealed a few things. If it was true, the reasoning for the businesses being few and far between was because of the taxes that were mentioned. But, the reason for all the poor elderly on the streets still was not revealed. So, Drakkel intended to find out. He was at an inn now with a good amount of people and he was determined to find out the truth. So, he looked for opportunities to do just that. As Drakkel surveyed the place, he saw that several tables were laid around. Some people sat alone, their faces bored as they ate or drank while others sat in pairs, huddled together in deep conversation. Within the room, besides the pairs and people sitting alone, there was only one table in which three people sat; and this was most likely where the most amount of conversation would take place. The check-in desk was manned by a scrawny man whose clothes were a few sizes too large for his body. Drakkel calmly walked over to him and greeted him with a smile. ¡°Table for one, sir,¡± he said. The man looked him up and down, his mouth forming a scowl. ¡°We don''t serve your kind here! Can''t you see we don''t give handouts?! There are already too many of you!¡± Drakkel knew why the man had said so. Although he had cleaned himself, it didn''t fix the tattered clothing he wore nor the badly woven sandals on his feet. Because he understood, he was able to ignore the man¡¯s obvious disdain while maintaining his smile. ¡°I know, Sir, but I actually have some money here.¡± He shook the bag and the crisp sound of coins bumping into each other rang through the air. The man¡¯s eyes glimmered as he stared at the bag. ¡°How much for a room for three nights?¡± Drakkel asked. The man¡¯s whole demeanor towards Drakkel instantly improved as he politely said, ¡°It¡¯ll be ten copper coins for your esteemed self.¡± Drakkel''s mouth twitched. ¡°Ten copper coins? Shouldn''t it be two?¡± The man¡¯s demeanor switched back to one of disgust just as quickly. ¡°You can''t pay?¡± Drakkel shook his head. ¡°The amount is a little high¡­ How about the stables? Is there any space there?¡± The man, still scowling, crossed his arms. ¡°Two coppers a night. You can afford that, right?¡± Drakkel gratefully smiled. ¡°Yes sir. Thank you.¡± He added, ¡°Also, can I get one table served with just greens and rice?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be four coppers,¡± the man said. Drakkel nodded. After confirming his order, he gave the man the coins and the man left the desk. As the man headed to the kitchen, he was still in a foul mood. His lips were fully turned down and there was an annoyed expression on his face as he walked. Drakkel found an empty table situated next to the table seated with three people and took a seat. As he sat, he listened to the hushed whispers of the three men that sat behind him. ¡°We can''t stay here anymore. The Town¡¯s Lord has gotten greedy.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m starting to lose more money than I''m gaining. I¡¯m thinking of going to Lunala Isle to do business instead.¡± ¡°I might do the same. The taxes are too high and no one can afford to pay them anymore. Maybe if you go to Lunala Isle, you can report it to the Swords clan there.¡± ¡°Ssssh! Are you crazy? The Thousand Petals Swords clan has minimal care for this area and the Lord himself hasn''t requested their help. Besides, they have other problems to deal with. How can we report ours without any proof?¡± ¡°True! Also, if they were going to do something, wouldn¡¯t they have done it already?¡± One of the men sighed. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. Best to abandon this town and search for other places to make money¡± He paused. ¡°I just feel sorry for the people here. The lands aren''t good for farming and almost all the businesses have been taxed out .¡± ¡°Yes and people still need to be fed. You heard it too, right? The only work that has been available for the past few years if you aren''t an independent merchant is to work for the town lord. But all the young and middle aged men and women who went there haven''t come back! If anyone dares to speak of it, they are executed by the Town Lord. The men and women left the elderly to look after the children, but look what has become of them. We don''t even know where the people were taken!¡± ¡°Forget about it. It isn''t in our interest to find out. We should just work on protecting our own and get out of this dangerous place.¡± After voicing their agreement, the men began speaking about business ventures they were undertaking in other locations. By then, Drakkel had tuned them out, still ruminating on what they had said before. At the very least, his questions were answered. He now had an idea of what caused the current situation, but he still needed to know more. Still waiting on his food, he was suddenly broken out of his thoughts by the sound of the door to the inn creaking open. When he glanced over to find out who did it, a man with golden robes and a greatsword at his back came into his view, followed by a small entourage of people who were dressed similarly. Just as quickly as he looked at them, he looked away. The golden robed disciples were adorned with simple yet expensive accessories and walked in confidently, capturing the innkeepers attention. Wanting to avoid them, Drakkel shot up from his seat and hurriedly said to the innkeeper who was eyeing the people hungrily, ¡°I¡¯ll just head to my room now, innkeeper. Please bring my food over later.¡± The innkeeper nodded, only waving his hand in a gesture for Drakkel to go. He was still staring at the golden-robed sword fighters, nearly drooling at the mouth. Drakkel made a swift getaway, not wanting Rillian Adore to notice him. When no one called for him as he followed the path to the stables, a wave of relief washed over him. At the stables, he found an empty spot in the middle of the horse''s pens and laid down on a stack of hay. Since he was in a comfortable spot and had some time, he decided to check on his cultivation. When he found out his level, he wasn¡¯t surprised. He was still at the beginning of Sword Hero. He sighed and placed his hands behind his head before leaning his back onto the wall behind him. The troubles in the town were worse than he had imagined and the people were powerless to do anything about it. Although he wasn¡¯t that strong, he had to investigate it. While he was still deciding on his next day''s activities, the innkeeper rushed to the stables. He left a bowl of rice, greens, and meat in front of him. Drakkel looked at the food questioningly. ¡°I think this is the wrong meal, innkeeper.¡± He said. ¡°I only ordered the rice and greens.¡± Wiping sweat from his forehead, the innkeeper answered, ¡°I just realized that I should be kind to others if I''m able to. After all, good deeds will accumulate merits. Please sir, if you need anything else, just let me know.¡± Drakkel thought something seemed off about him, but his stomach growled and he pushed these doubts aside. He knew he would need all the strength he could get for his future undertakings, so he thanked the innkeeper and picked up the wooden utensil that was provided for him. The innkeeper bowed his head in response and immediately hurried out of the stables as if he didn''t want to stay a minute longer. Looking at him leave, Drakkel was surprised that he even bothered to walk in instead of knocking on the door and having him come out. He again wondered what caused the innkeeper''s sudden change of heart. He gazed down at the food. He was hungry but also wary. Yes, he accepted it, but it didn''t mean he wouldn''t take any precautions. Just in case something was amiss, he monitored his body for a few minutes after taking the first bite. Only after seeing that nothing was wrong, did he proceed with eating the whole thing without worry. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The next day, Drakkel walked through the town, taking note of the location and condition of each building. After looking around and speaking to some locals, he found out a few things. Guards patrolled every street, there weren''t many businesses around, but there were several abandoned buildings in good condition, most of the inhabitants of the town were children and elderly, and the area around the Town Lord''s manor as well as the manor itself was the most well-kept part of the town. The Town Lord¡¯s greed was extremely apparent. But some things were still unclear. It was forbidden to speak about the state of the town. Considering everything, If Drakkel wanted to find out what the Town Lord was up to, he couldn''t ask him directly. Instead, it would be better to approach them as others had. The men in the inn had mentioned that the young women and men of the town were taken by the Town Lord for work. So he would go about approaching him in the same way. Drakkel went back to the inn to inform the innkeeper that he would be leaving for a while. After purchasing some loaves of bread with the remainder of his money, he distributed them to the children and elderly from the day before. Then he made his trek to the Town Lord''s Manor. The manor was large; probably triple the size of the inn Drakkel was staying at. In front of it was a door with knobs made of gold and seated in front were White marble lion statues. The manor itself was built with sturdy and expensive wood. Standing in front, Drakkel gently knocked on the door. After a few minutes it creaked open to reveal a man. The man had a short stature, but a professional composure. Drakkel smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here to see the Town Lord about the job he¡¯s offering.¡± The man looked him up and down. ¡°Your frame is thin, but...¡± His gaze shot to Drakkel''s arms, ¡°You have a bit of muscle. You should be good enough for this position. Please follow me to see the Town Lord.¡± Drakkel gratefully bowed his head and followed the man. Even on the inside, the manor was lavish. They walked past displays of expensive artifacts every few minutes. Hung on the walls were rare paintings surrounded by golden frames. Several rooms lined the long halls. Their doors were shut, but one could see no expense was spared for them. The wood on the doors were engraved with unique designs and the knobs alternated between gems and gold. After a while, Drakkel said to the man leading him, ¡°I am very grateful for this opportunity. My family is poor and I''m hoping to make a good living working for the Town Lord.¡± The man frowned as he answered in a listless tone, ¡°That¡¯s very honorable. The Town Lord is a charitable man. If he sees someone struggling, of course he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to help out.¡± Drakkel smiled and nodded. The Town Lord''s own workers knew something was wrong. Likely, they weren''t getting treated well either. After a few minutes, they arrived at a room covered with two wooden doors which were embellished with jade knobs. The giggling of young maidens drifted out with the chuckling of an older man accompanying them. Drakkel was brought to the front of the door and the man he followed, knocked on it. The man said loudly, ¡°Lord Tincaid, there is a guest here that wishes to see you.¡± The man from the other room yelled, ¡°Rou?! Didn''t I tell you not to disturb me while I''m having fun? You should have given me a heads-up so I could get ready.¡± The man named Rou¡¯s voice shook a bit, ¡°My Lord, Y...Y¡­You said that if we have another worker for the mine, that you would like me to tell you immediately and that it doesn''t matter what you are doing or where you are.¡± The Lord called Tincaid paused for a moment. ¡°The mine¡­?¡± In a quieter voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry ladies. The party is over for today. Please head back to your rooms.¡± Drakkel first heard the melodious tone of many soft voices answer, ¡°Yes, Lord Tincaid,¡± then the shuffling of several footsteps followed after. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. In a few moments, the door opened to reveal eighteen scantily clad maidens in robes of several vibrant colors, smelling of perfume and adorned with expensive jewelry. Their faces were covered with veils that extended down to their chests. They bowed at Ro and Lord Tincaid, before heading out. All that could be seen of them were their eyes and the intricate symbols that decorated each of their foreheads. As they passed, they each took a short glance at Drakkel. In the process, the one in front of the group, tripped on the hem of her dress and fell. For an instant, her veil shifted to the side and Drakkel caught a glimpse of a sort of flower-like symbol that laid upon her chest. Her skin was slightly distorted where the mark was made and its color was off. Unlike the forehead symbols which were drawn on with makeup, this one seemed more permanent. The group of girls waited as the girl who fell righted herself and fixed her veil. Once she was done, she quietly uttered, ¡°Excuse me,¡± before speedily making her way out of the area with the group closely following in her steps. When they were gone, Drakkel could see the room clearly. The place was a bedroom filled with beautiful paintings like the rest of the manor. A wooden bed with red and gold bedding stood opposite the doorway. A man sat atop the bed in only a red robe, staring down curiously at Drakkel and Rou. ¡°Bow to the Lord,¡± Rou said. Drakkel bowed. ¡°Lord Tincaid. It''s an honor to meet you.¡± Lord Tincaid smiled. ¡°Nice to see you as well. I hear you want to work in the mines?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Drakkel replied. ¡°Lift your head first,¡± Lord Tincaid said. Drakkel lifted his head and looked into the Lord''s eyes. After a few moments, the Lord''s gaze traveled down. ¡°A slender body and a beautiful face.¡± He said. Looking at the white streak on his head, he frowned. ¡°Though that hair could use a little work. The corners of his lips curled down further as a tsk sound escaped his lips. In a disappointed tone, he continued, ¡°It''s too bad you¡¯re not a woman.¡± Then, Lord Tincaid¡¯s eyes widened and his lips curled up into a smile. ¡°It¡¯s no problem though! I can strike you a deal. I have friends in high places that are looking for someone like you. You can make more money working for one of them than for me. You might even eventually gain a comfortable standing and be able to live in luxury.¡± Drakkel¡¯s mouth nearly curved into a scowl as he thought of what Lord Tincaid said. He shook his head, ¡°No thank you. I prefer to do honest work.¡± The Lord snorted, ¡°Honest work, he says¡­ Fine.¡± He looked at Rou. ¡°Cover his eyes and have someone take him to the location.¡± Rou nodded. Before Drakkel could leave, Lord Tincaid smirked. ¡°When you change your mind, you can find me later.¡± Rou patiently waited behind Drakkel. When Drakkel turned around and seemed ready to leave, he gestured to the door. ¡°Please, follow me,¡± he said. Once they walked out of the room and the doors closed behind them, Ro took a blindfold out from his pocket. Holding it out, he asked if he could place it on Drakkel. Remembering that he was pretending to be an unaware civilian, Drakkel purposely showed some resistance. ¡°Is there a reason I must be blindfolded?¡± Rou answered, ¡°The job we¡¯re taking you to is in a competitive field. If our competitors catch wind of where our job site is, they may try to sabotage us. I hope you understand.¡± The reason didn''t make sense, but Drakkel still nodded. ¡°Oh. I understand now. You can proceed then. He said. He leaned down a bit so that Rou could circle behind him and place the blindfold on. Once he was blindfolded, Rou called, ¡°Somebody!¡± Drakkel heard the steps of a couple of people on the ground and felt the presence of two men appear from each of his sides. ¡°Make sure this man isn''t carrying anything, then take him to the mines.¡± With the order, Drakkel felt some hands pat down his body, from his arms, to his legs, to his torso. He wasn''t worried since he had anticipated this and left all of his items in the inn before coming to the manor. Afterwards followed the clink of some chains hitting each other. As the chains were wrapped around his wrists, he felt them, slightly weighing them down. A pair of hands then grabbed onto each of his arms. ¡°The chains are a preventative measure to keep any spies from running off and informing our competitors about the job site.¡± Rou said. ¡°Please tolerate them. They are only temporary. Once you reach the job site¡­¡± He paused. ¡°They will naturally be removed.¡± The man was really terrible at lying. Actually the fact that he continued with it made Drakkel feel a bit sorry for him. What could possibly have compelled him to do so? Right after Rou¡¯s explanation, Drakkel was led somewhere. He heard the sound of a door opening and felt the wind of the outdoors blow on his face. The smell of various flowers invaded his nostrils at first. But after he was led onto a carriage and felt it move beneath his feet, the scent of the blossoming flowers faded into the distance. Soon all that accompanied him was the aroma of fallen leaves and dead branches. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The carriage finally stopped after what felt like a few hours. It dipped a bit as someone stepped on. The person grabbed onto Drakkel''s arm and led him out of the carriage, carefully helping him down the steps and onto the ground. The area Drakkel was in was colder than the one he had left and he could feel a chilling breeze blow in from his front. Upon contact, his skin prickled and an involuntary shiver traveled through him. The person aiding him in walking, led him in the direction that the draft was coming from. Then they let go of his arm and circled behind him. When the blindfold was taken off, he found himself at the entrance to a mine. The opening was large and held up by fortified wood. When he looked to the side, he was finally able to see who it was that accompanied him. The one who was with him was an ordinary-looking man with common features. Upon meeting his gaze, the man said, ¡°The job is here. I will lead you to the manager.¡± Drakkel looked at the large entrance skeptically. ¡°But where are we and shouldn''t the chains be removed?¡± A corner of the man¡¯s lips turned down a little. ¡°All questions will be answered when you reach the mining manager. If you have any additional questions, you can ask after you talk to him.¡± The shift from walking outside to inside was like night and day. The temperature dropped a few degrees and the light of the setting sun was replaced by a stifling darkness. The path was lit only by small candlelights that shone from the cave walls through hanging lamps. As Drakkel traveled deeper and deeper in, the path began to angle downwards and the temperature grew even colder, causing him to shiver involuntarily. He found it strange as normal mines radiated heat. Normally the deeper one went, the warmer it got. However, When he spotted the small opening that led to a bright area and stepped through it, the reason for this became clear. The area he was in was tall and open. Unlike the brown rocky entrance, the rocks here shone a silver blue hue. With them exuding a chilling cold, this mine could only exist to harvest one thing. Young women and men bustled about, carrying crates and baskets full of the silvery bluish rocks. Their heads hung in despair and the area of their skin under their eyes took up blue and purple colors, making them all appear much older than their actual ages. Their clothes were shabby and torn and for many, they hung loosely on their frames as if they were made for someone several times their size. Cloaked figures stood at certain points around the mine, either ordering the men and women around or standing silently, watching their figures move through the mine. The man behind Drakkel took him to a small group of people who were overlooking the operation. Once they arrived, the man bowed. ¡°Good evening, Mine manager, The lord has a new recruit for you.¡± A tall and large man who towered over everyone, gazed down at him. After a few seconds, he smirked. ¡°Ahh! A new recruit? We haven¡¯t had one in quite a while! It¡¯s been difficult to keep up with the orders since we keep losing people. Hopefully this is a sign that the Lord will be getting us some more soon.¡± The man behind Drakkel nodded. ¡°Then I''ll be leaving him here with you.¡± The large man waved him away with a motion of his hand. Once he left, the mine manager looked at Drakkel with a hint of slight annoyance, ¡°I don''t care who you are. All I care about is whether you know the rules. They are as follows: don''t speak to higher ups unless they request you to speak, don''t look for trouble unless you want it to come find you, and I make the rules. If you don¡¯t obey me, you¡¯ll receive any punishment that I dictate.¡± The man paused to make sure Drakkel was listening. When he saw that someone was actually patiently listening to him talk, he couldn''t help but feel a little happy. Most people by now would have been distracted But he still had to show this handsome man that he couldn''t relax. He continued. ¡°Here, good looks mean nothing. Only those who work, eat. As for pay, we¡¯ll discuss it later. Understand?¡± Without saying a word, Drakkel nodded. One corner of the mine manager''s lips turned up a bit. ¡°Good, you already know how to address your higher ups.¡± The mine manager glanced at one of the three people that stood near him. ¡°Kin, take this man to Cavern C.¡± The man named Kim bowed his head to the mine manager and then gestured for Drakkel to follow him. Drakkel did as commanded, following him through the dark cold caves. Once Drakkel thought they were out of earshot of the mine manager, he moved his wrists forward ¡°Sir. It will be hard to mine here with these chains on. Could I have them removed?¡± The man shook his head. ¡°Look around you. Everyone else has them on. Besides, the chains are on you for your convenience and safety. What if someone were to harm others because they have free use of their hands?¡± Drakkel put on a fake smile. This wasn''t what Rou said. ¡°You¡¯re right sir. I¡¯m sorry, I didn''t think of that.¡± The man nodded. He probably thought Drakkel knew nothing, but naturally, he figured out the truth of the matter. The chains were there so no one could escape. They made this place seem like people were coming for a job, but they were more like servants or slaves than workers. After a few minutes, Drakkel and Kin made it to cavern C. As Drakkel looked around, he saw more cloaked figures. And the more he saw, the more something felt off. When they arrived in front of a wall which had mining tools stuffed in a cart near it, Kin said, ¡°This is Cavern C. The place we just walked from is the mining pit. Connected to is the waste dump, sleeping quarters, and a small body of water where miners wash themselves. When you¡¯re done for the day, you can follow everyone else to find out exactly where these places are. Be careful with every step you take and don¡¯t lag behind. We have people watching you at all times.¡± Drakkel gave a nod. Kin smiled, ¡°You really are obedient. That¡¯s a refreshing sight! Now, go ahead and begin. I¡¯ll return to the mining manager.¡± Drakkel went over to the cart to grab some mining tools as Kin left the scene. As he leaned down, he glanced around. Suddenly, a cloaked figure shouted, ¡°Keep your eyes on your work everyone!¡± Drakkel heeded the warning and focused on mining. But his body wasn¡¯t strong nor used to this kind of work. After a couple of hours, his hands were nearly frozen. He stopped mining to take a break, breathing into his hands to warm them. However, after a few seconds he heard the sound of something striking the air behind him. The sound was like a firecracker going off, sharp and high pitched. A man¡¯s voice shouted from behind him, ¡°Who said you could stop?¡± He turned his head towards the direction the voice was coming from and spotted a tall gray-skinned man with a black marking on his forehead covered in a black hooded cloak. His look was akin to something Drakkel hadn¡¯t seen in a long time- a demon. His body stiffened and his muscles twitched, but he had to suppress his killing intent. He meekly answered, ¡°Sorry, sir. I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± The demon shook his head. ¡°Not without a punishment you won¡¯t. How about we remind others of what happens when you take a break on the job?¡± Drakkel dusted off his hands and stood up, turning his whole body around so he was directly facing the demon. Because the demon wore a cloak similar to all the other figures, he suspected that the mine may have been full of demons. At his current level, he couldn''t defeat them all, so if the demon decided to punish him he could only endure. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Drakkel prepared for the punishment, clenching his fists and lowering his face, but it never came. Someone suddenly approached him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding him close as if they were good friends. The man had a handsome face with shoulder length dark brown hair and a relaxed countenance. He smiled at the demon before saying, ¡°Look sir. Sorry. My friend here is new and doesn¡¯t know the rules yet. Do you think you can overlook his mistake?¡± The demon raised an eyebrow. The man let go of Drakkel, stepped forward and forced something into the demon¡¯s free hand. The demon¡¯s hostile energy was subdued in a moment, his angry frown melting into a smile. As he eyed what was in his hands, he said, ¡°I see. Yes, no problem. I¡¯ll be nice today since he¡¯s new. Finish your break and carry on.¡± The man bowed his head and the demon walked away, returning to his post. With how happy he was, the man must have handed him some meteoric stones. Meteoric stones weren''t only used to create powerful swords, demons also fancied eating them to gain more power. Once the demon seemed far enough away, Drakkel let out a sigh and slightly bowed his head to the uninvited yet welcome guest. ¡°Thank you kind sir.¡± ¡°Sir is too formal for the likes of me.¡± The man said with a smile. ¡®You can call me Ri¡¯en.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°Alright Ri¡¯en. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you as well.¡± Ri¡¯en replied. ¡°You''re new here, right?¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°I am. And I¡¯ve been looking for some guidance. Do you think you can answer some questions to help me better manage my time here?¡± ¡°I can.¡± Ri¡¯en said, putting his hand to his chin. ¡°But I don''t know how much it will help.¡± ¡°It''s fine. Anything is appreciated.¡± Drakkel answered. Ri¡¯en nodded and Drakkel continued, ¡°So, may I ask how long you¡¯ve been working here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been here for three years now.¡± Ri¡¯en said. Drakkel continued, ¡°Then would you say you know a lot about this mine?¡± Ri¡¯en frowned. ¡°Quite a bit, sadly. As I said, I''ve been working here for three years. Unfortunately, most people don¡¯t survive that long. The only reason I have survived was because I learned so much about this place. Speaking of questions, Why are you asking so many?¡± Drakkel hesitated for a moment, then answered, ¡°I want to know as much as I can so I can make a living here and earn money for my family.¡± Ri¡¯en snorted. ¡°A living? Here?¡± The corners of his mouth fell as he continued, ¡°I can¡¯t blame you for thinking that. We were all told the same. But the truth is, you won''t be able to do that. In fact, you haven¡¯t signed yourself up for a job, you¡¯ve signed yourself up for slavery. We mine for meteoric stones here 12 hours a day. We get 8 hours of rest. Then the remainder of our time is reserved for bathing and eating. For each day of work, we get only one copper coin.¡± Drakkel''s eyes widened. ¡°One copper coin? But that isn¡¯t even enough to buy a loaf of bread!¡± Ri¡¯en nodded. ¡°You understand then. We¡¯ve all been tricked into working here. We left our children, parents and grandparents for the hope that we would find honest work. But by the time we realized that this wasn''t what we were promised, it was already too late to leave.¡± ¡°Have any of you tried to escape?¡± Drakkel asked Ri¡¯en looked down at the ground and kicked a stone. ¡°Some of us have. But those of us who tried were taken away, never to be seen again.¡± Drakkel frowned. The situation in this town was worse than he realized. Why hadn''t any of the Swords Clans tried to intervene? ¡°Thanks for answering my questions and thanks again for defending me, Ri¡¯en.¡± He said. ¡°It isn''t a problem. I¡¯m just looking out for newcomers.¡± Ri¡¯en answered. ¡°And remember, If you need any more help, I''m here.¡± Drakkel smiled and nodded. Ri¡¯en began to walk away, then he suddenly stopped and asked, ¡°Also, what should I call you?¡± ¡°Drake is fine,¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°Nice to meet you, Drake,¡± Ri¡¯en stated. I Hope this frozen hell doesn''t kill you too soon.¡± After saying this, he continued to walk away until he was out of Drakkel''s sight. Drakkel leaned down and began to pick at the rocks again, silently processing all that he had learned. Time passed quickly and before he knew it, it was already time to eat. After turning in what they found for the day, the miners tiredly walked to a long table with large pots that sat atop it and bowls that were dirty and chipped. As Drakkel waited in line, he further observed the state of those who stood around him. Many wore woven sandals that seemed ready to fall off. Their hands were also red and bruised from picking at stone without proper protection. Their fingerprints were colored white and red- a sign that they were touching the cold stones for too long. Drakkel counted himself lucky that he was able to circulate his sword energy though his body to keep himself warm during their breaks. He only wished the others could do the same. When he got to the front of the line, he grabbed a bowl and a spoonful of gruel was plopped into it. When looking at others, he noticed that his was half the amount. He decided not to pursue the matter since he could survive off it, but someone from behind him wouldn''t let it be. ¡°Hey! You should treat my friend more nicely! Look how frail he is! He needs more food than this!¡± Drakkel sighed. He appreciated Ri¡¯en for caring, but with him around he really couldn''t lay low! Ri''en¡¯s voice grew louder as it approached him. Then he felt the familiar touch of an arm wrapping around his shoulders. Soon, Ri¡¯en''s body appeared beside him. With his free hand he took the bowl out of Drakkel¡¯s hands and held it out. ¡°My friend is frail and weak and he''s done some work today. He should at least get as much food as everyone else. It isn''t fair.¡± Like other demons, the man had gray skin and a black marking on his forehead. He answered irritatingly, ¡°He just got here. He hasn''t worked as much as everyone else. He¡¯s lucky he even received half the amount.¡± Drakkel could feel Ri¡¯en''s body shake and when he looked to the side, he saw that his mouth was forming a scowl. He felt like a fight was about to start and knew who would be harmed by the end of it. He swiftly moved Ri¡¯en''s arm off his shoulders, grabbed the bowl from him and bowed his head to the demon distributing the food. ¡°Thank you for your consideration sir. I¡¯m grateful. Others really do need the food more than me. Also please forgive my friend for his outburst, he¡¯s cranky because he couldn''t find much meteoric stone today.¡± The man¡¯s angry countenance dropped as he gazed at Drakkel. ¡°Fine. Just make sure it doesn''t happen again.¡± Drakkel nodded. After grabbing a bowl for Ri¡¯en, he dragged him to the side. When no one was around them, he whispered, ¡°There¡¯s no need to defend me like that. I¡¯ll be fine with this amount of food.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re so thin and weak, how will you handle the work while eating such tiny portions?¡± Drakkel lied, ¡°I was born poor, so these portions are what I usually eat. Don''t worry about it anymore.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Ri¡¯en huffed. They walked over to an open part of the cave and ate their food in silence. While eating Drakkel noticed that Ri¡¯en kept glancing his way. When he finished his food, he asked, ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± Ri¡¯en shook his head. ¡°No, I''m just wondering. You¡¯re so handsome. Why are you working here instead of somewhere else? You could probably get a better job than this.¡± Drakkel eyebrows knit together for a moment as the corners of his lips fell. He sighed. ¡°Sadly, I don''t have many skills. I would also not like to lower myself to using my face and body to gain riches. You aren''t a bad looking man yourself. Surely, you understand?¡± Ri¡¯en nodded. When they finished, he took their bowls to the water barrel. Afterwards, it was time to bathe. The men and women went in separately. To wash himself, Drakkel didn''t undress. He only washed his face and hands. Looking around, he saw that everyone else did the same. At most, they would remove their tops, but this wasn''t surprising. Like the stones in the mine and the mine itself, the water was ice cold. Not many would be able to withstand the cold temperatures if they decided to wash their whole body. With no warm place to wash themselves and inadequate food, it was no wonder it was hard to survive. Drakkel exited the washing station with a heavy heart when Ri¡¯en suddenly grabbed his wrist. ¡°I have the best sleeping spot in this place.¡± He said excitedly. ¡°Let''s go!¡± Drakkel went along as he was dragged to a small opening located to the side of the pit. In it, several people were already settling into the nooks and crannies of the large space. As Ri¡¯en and Drakkel passed, they stared at them curiously. But, having their own things to worry about, their attention didn''t hold. They averted their gazes and continued getting ready to sleep. Ri''en took Drakkel to a spot located a bit higher than the others. They had to walk up a steep and thin incline to get to it. When Drakkel reached the spot, he realized it was worth it. The ground was smooth and lacked the jagged edges of those below. Drakkel gratefully sat down and leaned his back against a wall. Ri''en sat on the ground a small distance away from him. Before laying down, he said in a low voice, ¡°What do you think? Not too bad, right?¡± Drakkel nodded. Ri¡¯en returned his gesture with a smile before patting the ground and laying down to sleep. Ri¡¯en might have been able to sleep peacefully, but Drakkel could not. He was in unfamiliar territory full of hostile individuals and so had to keep himself alert. Because of this, he decided not to sleep and instead opted to cultivate. He surged up his sword energy and rotated it around his body. A vast field of grass and flowers extended around him. He unsheathed his sword and the wind blew. He struck at the air and the grass fluttered. His sword energy encompassed everything, his life force spreading like the blooming of flowers in the early morning. Sweeping through the air, the wind touched all. It influenced the waves and carried the pollen. A soft touch combined with an unstoppable force. Flexible and quick, it chipped away at all that stood in its path. The more Drakkel extended his sword energy, the more tired he got, the aches and pains in his body becoming more severe with every swing of his sword. Then, his old injuries flared and the aching pains in his body suddenly became more sharp, forcing him out of his cultivation. With sweat dripping from his brow, he couldn¡¯t continue. This occurrence was common and happened every time he tried to progress. After catching his breath, he settled down and worked on maintaining his cultivation instead. Like when advancing in his cultivation, maintaining it kept him in a half-awake state. Although it wasn''t recommended to utilize this state to avoid sleep often as it could cause one to enter a sword energy deviation, it was still common practice to use it to keep one¡¯s guard up in an unfamiliar place. That way, if something were to happen, one wouldn''t be caught unawares. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Drakkel opened his eyes to the sound of a demon shouting from outside the sleeping quarters. ¡°Get up, now! Time to get to work!¡± He immediately got up and stretched, dusting the dirt off his pants. At the same time, Ri''en sat up and yawned. Gazing at Drakkel, he smiled. ¡°Another day, another copper.¡± Drakkel tiredly gave him a nod. They went to the pit to get some food when they spotted a new person walking into the mine. The man was well-built and muscular. Although his hair was now black, his features were still familiar. At first, Drakkel didn''t know why he recognized him. But after a minute, he remembered. He clenched his fists tightly as his forehead became dappled with sweat. As he watched the man walk, he could only hope he wouldn''t see him. But the man turned his head to the side and locked eyes with him causing his face to pale. After looking at him for a moment with an inscrutable expression, the man then moved his gaze to Ri''en. Gazing at him, his expression soured before he shifted his head back to its original position. Drakkel frowned. He just met Rillian Adore before and now he appeared in front of him again. He continued to watch and listen, hoping that Rillian Adore would be placed in a different Cavern than him. But when he heard the mine manager happily command Kin to take Rillian Adore to Cavern C, his heartbeat slightly quickened and his throat became dry. ¡°You look a little nervous, Drake. Do you know that man?¡± Ri¡¯en asked. Drakkel sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know him that well...¡± Ri¡¯en crossed his arms. ¡°You don''t seem very happy to see him though. Does he bother you? If he does, I can¡­¡± Drakkel shook his head, ¡°It''s fine. Call him an old acquaintance of mine. He won''t cause me any trouble, but his presence will trouble me.¡± Ri¡¯en raised an eyebrow, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Drakkel ignored his question and made his way to the Cavern. He heard Ri¡¯en shout from behind him, ¡°Wait for me!¡± Rillian Adore was crouched in the spot near where Drakkel worked the day before, slowly picking at the rock wall. Drakkel gathered some tools from the cart and made his way to a different spot. But as he passed Rillian Adore, he heard a whisper imbued with sword energy, ¡°Are you Ignoring me, Drake?¡± Rillian Adore purposefully put an emphasis on Drakkel''s name. The Golden Blade was known to be ruthless and intimidating, having no mercy for others. Because of this, when he uttered these words, Drakkel didn''t know if they were a warning or a threat. So he crouched next to him to hear what he had to say. Meanwhile Ri¡¯en crouched on his other side. When they both sat next to him, Rillian Adore continued in a whisper, ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± ¡°I just met Ri''en at this mine yesterday.¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°He helped me out and we¡¯ve been well-acquainted ever since.¡± Ri''en nodded. A corner of Rillian Adore¡¯s mouth dropped slightly. ¡°I see¡­ Well, I''m sure you already know the situation of these mines. So¡­ how do you plan to escape from here?¡± Ri¡¯en answered first, ¡°Actually, I¡­¡± The mine manager¡¯s loud speaking suddenly sounded through the halls. ¡°So someone caused trouble twice yesterday and even mined no stones?¡± ¡°Yes sir. He should be right over there.¡± Drakkel turned around to see a thin and pale man pointing to Ri¡¯en. Ri¡¯en stood up and calmly dusted off his pants as the mine manager, the unknown man, and two demons approached. The unknown man said, ¡°Yes, it was him. He bribed a demon guard with meteoric stones and spoke against the demon handling the food.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re the one who''s been watching me, Fenri? Ri¡¯en asked. ¡°You couldn''t keep your mouth shut and your eyes to yourself?¡± Fenri silently smiled at Ri''en as he spoke. Afterwards, he calmly answered, ¡°Ri¡¯en, if you didn''t want to be caught, you shouldn¡¯t have done anything wrong.¡± ¡°Fenri!¡± Ri¡¯en spat. You aren''t any better than all of us here! You''re a miner too! It''s only because you wag your tail at your owners that they''re willing to give you a few more treats! So your food is a little better and you get more leeway in mining, so what? You still have to share a cave with the rest of us!¡± Ri¡¯en huffed a laugh, ¡°Just sit there and watch! Once they get tired of you, they¡¯ll put you down like a dog!¡± Fenri sneered at Ri¡¯en, opening his mouth as if he was about to say something in return, when the mine manager yelled, ¡°Enough!¡± Turning his head to the demons at his side, he said coldly, ¡°Take him away.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. They moved to grab him, but he shifted his arms away. ¡°I¡¯ll walk by myself.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± The mine manager said. The group walked towards a dark corner of the cavern. When they arrived, the mine manager shouted, ¡°Twenty whips!¡± One of the demons took out a whip from under his clothes and Drakkel''s body stiffened. After a moment of silence, the first cracking of a whip could be heard and the sound of grunting followed after. Drakkel wanted to help, but he also knew it was futile. If they caught him now, Ri''en might suffer a worse punishment and he could be dragged into it as well. If that happened, his plans to help the people of Shadowy Ridges could be delayed or ruined. But, he was restless. He clenched his fists and attempted to get up, only because he couldn''t stand to sit. However, Rillian Adore grabbed his wrist, struck at an acupoint on his chest and held it there, blocking his use of sword energy as well as his movement. Drakkel didn''t appreciate the gesture, but he understood Rillian Adore''s intentions. He probably thought he was going to jump in to save Ri-en. Because he understood and couldn''t do anything about it anyway, he decided not to say anything and let him believe what he wanted. There was no need to waste energy. When the punishment was completed, the mine manager and his entourage left with Fenri. Rillian Adore released Drakkel¡¯s acupoint and let him go. Drakkel immediately headed over to Ri¡¯en whose back was covered in deep gashes and dripping with blood. He picked him up from the ground and helped him back towards their side of the cavern. ¡°We need to do something about your wounds.¡± Drakkel said. He tried to touch Ri¡¯en¡¯s back, but Ri''en clamped a hand on his wrist. ¡°Not yet.¡± He breathed. ¡°If they see you, you might suffer the same fate.¡± Ri¡¯en''s face inexplicably broke into a smile. Then he forced himself up, let go of Drakkel, and walked to a different mining spot. As Drakkel looked after him, the bleeding lash marks on his back could be seen through his tattered robes. Drakkel frowned. He had a point. In the end he decided that it would be best to discuss their matters during the night so they wouldn''t be caught. Rillian Adore seemed to understand this as well, for when he and Drakkel sat back down to mine, he didn¡¯t speak anymore. The day went by slowly, but it finally ended. After they ate their food and washed themselves, they headed to the sleeping area. As he had been doing all day, Drakkel helped Ri¡¯en walk to the place. Rillian Adore followed behind them silently, his arms crossed and his face displaying a disturbed expression. When they settled down and took their seats on the smooth stone, Ri¡¯en finally said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Drakkel wondered what he meant. ¡°For what?¡± Ri''en coughed and Drakkel decided not to pry more until they healed his wounds. ¡°How about we take care of your wounds first?¡± He glanced at Rillian Adore and said casually, ¡°Rillia¡­¡± Rillian Adore''s eyes widened. Drakkel realized he did something wrong. Rillian Adore was obviously trying to hide his identity, so saying his name would betray his intention. But besides that, he had addressed him too familiarly just now. If he was a Sword Fighter at a higher level then him, it would have been fine. But he was at best supposed to be a commoner and at worst a sword outcast at the moment. If he said his full name as he almost did, his true identity might have been discovered. He cleared his throat and bowed his head respectfully. ¡°Good Sir. Do you happen to have any medicine with you?¡± Under normal circumstances, the answer would have been obvious, but because Drakkel was checked for any items on his person before coming to the mines, he wasn''t sure. Living dangerous lives, sword clan disciples were required to have medicine on their person at all times. This medicine might include salve, plaster and, for the more well-off clans, some healing pills, the cheapest of which was the rejuvenating pills. Drakkel still remembered that during his adventures, he would save the few rejuvenating pills he was provided for civilians rather than using it himself. He didn''t need them most of the time anyway. He gazed at Rillian Adore expectantly, unsure if he would have any of the items in question. Surprisingly, Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°I have a rejuvenating pill here. Have him eat it first for any internal injuries.¡± Rillian Adore pulled a rejuvenating pill out of his robe and handed it to Drakkel. Drakkel stared at it curiously, before taking it. How did Rillian Adore still have items when he was checked for his own? As he thought about it, an image quickly flashed through his mind of two people trying to touch Rillian Adore, suddenly feeling the atmosphere tense with murderous intent as their lives flashed before their eyes. Perhaps with this realization, they decided they wouldn''t dare touch the source of their fears. Drakkel shook his head. Deciding it didn''t matter, he took the pill and fed it to Ri''en, rubbing his back as he swallowed. As Drakkel rubbed Ri¡¯en''s back, Rillian Adore quickly stated, ¡°I also have some salve and plaster here. I¡¯ll apply them on him.¡± Drakkel nodded and moved aside to let Rillian Adore sit next to Ri''en, watching them carefully. ¡°Lay on your stomach.¡± Rillian Adore commanded. Ri¡¯en obeyed, getting on the ground so his back faced upwards with his stomach down. Rillian Adore took off his top robes carefully as the blood from the wounds had already dried, sticking the clothes to Ri¡¯en¡¯s back. When Ri''en¡¯s bare upper body was exposed, two things caught Drakkel''s attention. Among the bloody gashes was a flower-like symbol that seemed burned to his skin in the middle of his upper back near his neck and below that, was a scar on his right lower back. ¡°Are you a sword outcast from the Sweeping Trees Swords clan that specializes in the bow and arrow?¡± he inquired. Ri¡¯en¡¯s eyes widened at Drakkel''s question. Then after a moment, they narrowed a bit and he calmly answered, ¡°Yes.¡± He seemed neither sad nor angry about what Drakkel asked. No one wanted to be a sword outcast, but Ri¡¯en appeared unbothered by the thought. As Rillian Adore applied the salve and plaster, Drakkel asked the second question that sat in his mind. ¡°And do you know a woman who bears the same flower symbol as yours on her chest?¡± Ri¡¯en paused for a moment, then looked at Drakkel. ¡°So you''ve seen my wife?¡± Rillian Adore''s countenance suddenly grew more relaxed. His shoulders, which were pent up and stiff before, softened with his expression. ¡°She was your wife?¡± Drakkel asked. Drakkel¡¯s eyes shifted to the side as he hesitated for a moment. Letting out a sigh, he finally asked, ¡°Then do you know¡­?¡± Ri¡¯en nodded. ¡°I know. We¡¯ve been in contact with each other all this while. The matching brands are a symbol of marriage in her home village.¡± With the salve and plaster now applied on his back, Ri¡¯en sat up. Facing Rillian Adore and Drakkel, he continued, ¡°Anyway, now that you two have figured so much out, I might as well tell you. Because you¡¯re both Sword Fighters like me, I think you can be trusted.¡± He turned to look Rillian Adore in the eye, ¡°Especially you, Rillian Adore.¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 ¡°Hmph. So, you recognized me?¡± Rillian Adore asked. Ri¡¯en nodded, ¡°Not only did Drake here nearly call your name just now, but the tales of the Golden Blade also travel far. While I was a part of the Sweeping Trees Swords Clan, I heard much of your exploits. Long blonde hair, a muscular build, and an aura that towers like a mountain. You may have dyed your hair and tried to suppress your presence, but I still figured out it was you. Though you shouldn''t feel bad about it. In my clan, I was the best at recognizing Sword Fighters even if they were experts at hiding their skills like those from the Hidden Desires Swords clan. I wasn''t sure if only Drake and I would be able to take down the demons that guard us. But with you here, we might stand a chance.¡± ¡°So you knew I was a Sword Fighter too?¡± Drakkel asked. ¡°I wasn''t sure at first.¡± Ri¡¯en answered. ¡°Your build was fine but your aura was weak, similar to an ordinary person¡¯s. I had to test it out, so I got close to you to see if I could sense your sword energy. It was there, but barely. I couldn''t measure your proficiency and was going to ask after securing your trust.¡± Drakkel lowered his head as he thought of Ri¡¯en¡¯s odd behavior. It all made sense now. Ri''en continued, ¡°I became a sword outcast because I had met a common woman and wanted to settle down. Like many other sword clans, my clan wouldn''t allow me to marry someone who was not also a Sword Fighter, so I was cast out. It was fine for me though, because I was able to marry my love. But the small amount of jobs I could get in the inner town where my clan was didn''t pay well and no one would hire me as a guard because I was a sword outcast. I couldn''t find decent work and her salary alone couldn¡¯t support us for long, so we moved to a place that we thought would have better opportunities. When we arrived, we were happy. We both got jobs for a short while. But, after staying for a bit, the businesses and merchants began to leave left and right. We lost our jobs and soon found ourselves in a lion¡¯s den. With the high prices in the area, we quickly grew poor. Then the Town Lord said he was looking for workers and he would pay a hefty sum. It was the Town Lord, so we thought he wouldn''t lie. I was useless after all so I signed up for the work. Then, I found myself here. I waited and watched for opportunities to escape and saw too many others fail. Although my skills weren''t bad, I couldn''t take on so many demons by myself. I was beginning to lose hope when I received a letter from one of the servants. It was from my wife¡­¡± His hands trembled a bit as he continued, ¡°She told me that she infiltrated the Lord''s mansion and won some servants over to her side. I later found out that only the demons and a few of the Lord''s workers liked him. Most everyone else wished to see him gone. He robbed the town of all resources and left everyone to die for his own gain. Since then, my wife and I have been waiting for a chance to escape and report this matter to someone who can do something about it.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. He paused a bit before continuing. ¡°I said sorry earlier because I made Drake worry for me and because I lied. I did it because I noticed that someone had been watching my moves recently. It wasn''t a problem before, but because I was going to ask for your help¡­¡± Drakkel finished, ¡°The man named Fenri became an issue, correct?¡± Ri¡¯en nodded. Drakkel was impressed. Ri¡¯en used the excuse of getting close to him not only to gain his trust and test him, but to draw out his enemy. No wonder the Sweeping Trees Swords clan was known as one of the three geniuses of the Sword Fighting world, along with the Hidden Desires Swords Clan and the the Enchanting Fans Swords Clan. Rillian Adore raised an eyebrow. ¡°So your wife communicates with you through the servants?¡± Ri¡¯en nodded. ¡°Which servants are on your side?¡± Drakkel inquired. ¡°Everyone but Ro and Enzo.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°Drake. Since you¡¯re asking all these questions, have you figured out a way to resolve this?¡± Rillian Adore asked. ¡°I believe I have.¡± Drakkel replied. Ri¡¯en and Rillian Adore looked at him curiously. ¡°How?¡± Ri¡¯en asked. Drakkel explained his thoughts to them in detail. By the end of it, Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes were drawn close together as he stared at the ground. His expression showed that he was unenthusiastic about this new development. ¡°It''s too dangerous.¡± He stated. Drakkel didn¡¯t know Rillian Adore that well and wondered where this concern came from. Then he realized that although Rillian Adore could be intimidating and ruthless, it didn¡¯t mean he couldn''t be kind as well. He wouldn¡¯t have been a respected character in the Swordfighting world if he wasn¡¯t an honorable person. ¡°Don''t worry,¡± He answered. ¡°Once I''ve come in contact with Ri''en''s wife and have gained the trust of the Town Lord, I should be able to find the evidence.¡± He turned to Ri¡¯en. ¡°Ri¡¯en. I need to know what Enzo looks like, since I¡¯ve already seen Rou. Can you also inform me how you recognize if a servant works for your wife or not?¡± Ri''en nodded and described Enzo¡¯s appearance. He also delved into Ro and Enzo''s temperaments. Rou was fearful of the Town Lord while Enzo was an opportunist who would switch master''s in the blink of an eye if he thought it was worth it. He finished by informing them of the method with which he identified whether or not a person worked for his wife. When he was done, Drakkel stated, ¡°Then we''ll begin tomorrow. Let''s get some rest.¡± Later, Ri¡¯en drifted off to sleep and Drakkel closed his eyes soon after. However, Rillian Adore stayed up. Rillian Adore suddenly said, ¡°Drake¡­Are you¡­¡± As he tried to sleep, Drakkel could still feel his gaze fixated on him. Because of this, it took him a bit until he finally drifted off. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 The next morning, Rillian Adore and Ri¡¯en went to Fenri¡¯s sleeping spot and knocked him out. Afterwards, Drakkel went to the mine manager and told him that the Town Lord made him an offer that he wanted to accept and that Fenri was feeling unwell and couldn''t mine for the day. The mine manager sent someone to check and excused Fenri when his condition was confirmed. Then, he called for another of his people to verify the second piece of information. After around four hours, Drakkel was called back from the cavern. Waiting in the pit for him was Enzo who seemed excited to be picking him up. His look was as Ri¡¯en described. He was of average height and had a weak build. Although he appeared around 40 years old, he didn''t hold the confident gait of an elder, nor the stiff demeanor of a servant. Instead he rocked his legs back and forth in a somewhat relaxed manner. When he met Drakkel¡¯s gaze, a smile spread on his face. It was as if he had seen the love of his life. Drakkel thought that if the mine manager wasn''t there, the man might even have run up and attempted to embrace him. Talking to Enzo, the mine manager asked, ¡°So this is the man you''re looking for?¡± Enzo¡¯s smile widened, ¡°He is.¡± The mine manager continued, ¡°Then go ahead and take him.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Enzo gave him a nod, then bowed his head to Drakkel. He gestured to the entrance of the cave. ¡°Right this way, Sir.¡± Drakkel nodded and Enzo made his way towards the exit with Drakkel following closely behind him. When they arrived at the carriage, Enzo offered his hand to help Drakkel up. Drakkel felt uneasy about it, but he still had to play his part. He used Enzo''s hand to lift himself onto the carriage and Enzo followed him in. During the first few minutes of the carriage ride, Enzo only gazed happily at Drakkel. Drakkel had been looking out the window trying to ignore him when he finally spoke, ¡°Congratulations on moving up, Sir.¡± He shook his head, ¡° I mean Young Lord. You might not be one yet, but with your looks and obvious intelligence, it won''t be too long.¡± Enzo leaned forward and placed a hand on top of Drakkel''s. Drakkel had to exercise every restraint not to recoil in disgust. Enzo continued, ¡°If you ever need a servant to assist in your matters, I just wanted to let you know that I''m here.¡± Drakkel forced himself to smile, but his lip still slightly twitched as he said, ¡°Thank you. I will consider it.¡± Looking pleased with himself, Enzo pulled away and returned to laying back in his seat. He stared out the window for a while before eventually going to sleep At that time, Drakkel released the breath that he had been holding in. The man¡¯s presence was stifling. He began to enter his cultivation state, thinking it would be best to be prepared to fight if necessary. He didn''t want a repeat of what happened with Jin and Locin in Waterfall''s end. Throughout the rest of the carriage ride, he held this maintenance state up. Eventually, they arrived at the Town Lord''s manor. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Enzo awoke from his slumber when the carriage stopped. He wiped his eyes and tiredly took a peek out the window. Realizing where they were, he jolted up from his seat and walked outside the carriage. When Drakkel followed him, he was greeted with an irritating sight. He had hoped it wouldn''t happen, but of course it did. The man was waiting outside the carriage, offering him a hand off it. Annoyed, but having to maintain his cover, he turned his attention to the manor while he took Enzo''s hand and walked off the carriage. As Drakkel followed Enzo to the back entrance, the fragrance of peach blossoms assailed his nostrils yet again. Now that he could see it, he had to admit that the back of the Town Lord''s manor looked captivating. Decorated with peach blossom trees, exotic flower arrangements, and jade and marble statues, it held an ethereal air. He had been blindfolded before so he didn''t get to see this sight. If it weren''t for the fact that he knew how the Town Lord was able to afford such luxuries, he might have stopped to appreciate the scene. They reached the door and Enzo knocked on it. Drakkel expected the servant on the other side to be Rou, but it was actually someone else. After Enzo introduced him, they were quickly let through. Enzo led Drakkel to a different location than before. As they stood in front of the large double-doored entrance, he said, ¡°This is our Lord''s office. He will see you here.¡± After confirming he was ready, Enzo knocked on the door and announced, ¡°Lord Tincaid, the man that you¡¯ve been waiting for has arrived.¡± A familiar voice from the other side replied, ¡°Let him in.¡± Enzo opened up the double doors and the two walked in. Behind the doors was a large room filled with bookcases. The bookcases were fitted with parchment, books, and scrolls and in each corner of the room, stood a guard. The walls of the room were made of dark wood and the floor was lined with a soft red fabric. Dark red designs were carefully embroidered into it, giving the place a simple yet satisfying feel. On a desk near the window, sat Lord Tincaid. When he saw Drakkel''s face, one corner of his lips curved upward. ¡°I knew the offer I made would be too good to refuse. It''s great that you¡¯ve returned. You have to think about your future after all!¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Drakkel bowed. ¡°Yes. After ruminating on it, the life of a mine worker is too hard on my delicate body. I would prefer to do softer work.¡± As he stated this, Drakkel''s spine prickled. Saying each word was like slowly picking a needle out from his skin. The Lord''s smile grew wider. ¡°Then we''ll have you prepared for the meeting with my associates in two weeks. Until then, you¡¯ll be staying in a room near my ladies so the guards can protect you and the servants can attend to your needs.¡± With his head slightly lowered, Drakkel nodded. He bowed to Lord Tincaid and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Lord Tincaid nodded at Enzo and Enzo gestured for Drakkel to follow him out the door. Drakkel left, but not before giving one final head bow to Lord Tincaid. The man was an evil one who took advantage of others to line his own pockets. He would make sure he answered for his crimes. As Drakkel walked with Enzo to their destination, Enzo stated, ¡°I¡¯ll have some servants clean and wash you. We will also take some of your measurements to tailor new clothes. For now, though, we will have you dress in some of the Lord''s old clothes. It''s inappropriate to continue displaying your unkempt appearance before him.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Drakkel answered respectfully. Enzo walked him towards a different wing of the manor where he was taken by some male servants. They offered to wash him, but he demanded to be left alone to wash himself. Without any of their superiors present, none of them pressed him and they left him to bathe by himself. Once he got out and put on a robe, they took his measurements. Clothes were then left for him to put on. Drakkel had thought that they wouldn¡¯t bother him again, but to his dismay, the servants even wanted to help him dress up. Of course, for that, he also refused, but the servants¡¯ insistence on helping him rubbed him the wrong way. When he thought of the poor miners and the elderly and the people on the street and compared it to the way he was being treated now, he couldn¡¯t help but be angry. He could be treated like this now because they saw him as a useful tool, but the people of Shadowy Ridges were either working to death in a mine or starving on the streets. Later on, after he was cleaned and dressed, an older-looking servant who introduced himself as Ton, came to pick him up. Ton led him to the room where he was meant to stay. This room was about one third the size of Lord Tincaid¡¯s. As Ton was about to leave after dropping Drakkel off, Drakkel said, ¡°Swaying trees hide many mysteries. Do not ignore the call of the wind, for it may save your life.¡± Ton¡¯s figure stiffened. After a moment, he turned around. ¡°I will follow the wind to heed my calling and listen for the sound of the world falling. For only then will I be prepared.¡± Drakkel lowered the volume of his voice as he continued, ¡°You work for a woman here, don''t you, Ton?¡± Ton nodded. ¡°So you have been acquainted with Ri¡¯en, I assume?¡± ¡°I have.¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°I¡¯m a Sword Fighter like Ri¡¯en. The Golden Blade and I want to bring Lord Tincaid to justice.¡± Ton¡¯s voice trembled a bit, ¡°Th¡­the Golden Blade? He¡¯s here?¡± Drakkel nodded. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Ton tilted his head down, beginning to bow deeply to Drakkel. Drakkel stopped him before his knees hit the ground, gently grabbing his arm. ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Ton lifted his head and shook it as he stood up. ¡°There is. We¡¯ve been suffering for years under the Town Lord''s thumb. No other Sword Fighters have come to our aid. How can I not be grateful?¡± Drakkel shook his head. ¡°If you need to be grateful for something, do it for yourself. You were courageous in resisting the Town Lord for so long. Soon, you all will be free.¡± Ton smiled as he wiped a tear that fell from the corner of his eye. ¡°Did you want to visit Lady Secily then?¡± Drakkel nodded. Ton continued. ¡°I am the only servant allowed in this area. All other servants as well as guards are a little ways away. It¡¯s my job to contact them if there are any problems. The Town Lord only permitted me to do this because he castrated me. He said I was only an old and ugly man and that I wouldn¡¯t be needing it anyway. Since I no longer had it, it was impossible for me to dishonor any of his girls. So, I can stand watch while you visit them.¡± Drakkel felt sorry for the man. Servitude was bad enough, but forced castration? The fact that he hadn¡¯t ended his own life was something to be admired. Even a Sword Fighter wouldn''t be so brave. Ton took Drakkel across the hall to a room with fluttering curtains covering it. When they got there, Ton announced their arrival. ¡°I¡¯m here with a friend to assist you beautiful maidens with anything you may desire.¡± Drakkel thought the way he spoke was odd. He could have announced himself in a simpler manner. Maybe though, this ¡®Lady Secily¡¯ had come up with some code words for this servant as well. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. A woman''s voice answered from the other side, ¡°You may enter.¡± Ton nodded and glanced at Drakkel before walking in. When Drakkel entered, he expected to be battered by the scent of strong perfumes that had drifted from the ladies before. But the scents in the room were more subdued, smelling faintly of lavender and citrus. In addition, Instead of the beautiful array of colors he had witnessed earlier, every woman in the room was dressed plainly, their faces decorated in a more modest fashion than before. This time, there were no fans to cover them and Drakkel could view their true appearances. Even with hardly any makeup, each of the women were beautiful. They were petite, yet curvy and their facial features were unique and attractive. Drakkel had not seen a single woman working in the mines that looked like them and now he knew why. He stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m¡­¡± The women were seated on a soft fur carpet and gathered around a table. The one with the flower symbol on her chest, who sat in the middle, put her hand up as a signal for Drakkel to stop speaking. ¡°Ton has been watching you from afar so I already know who you are. He has also told me that you¡¯ve come to help us. Skip the introductions and tell me now, how is my husband doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°He and an ally of mine are currently in the mines awaiting a signal. There is something I have to do here to save them.¡± The woman raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ton. Ton nodded in response. Once her gaze returned to Drakkel, she said, ¡°We will assist you in any way we can. All the ladies here were separated from their loved ones by the Town Lord. They were either made to stay here to guarantee the safety of their families, friends and lovers at the mines or forced to stay here surrounded by guards and with no chance of leaving.¡± The ladies around her nodded, their heads hung low. The woman named Lady Secily continued, ¡°Tell us, how will you solve our plight?¡± Drakkel explained his idea to them. Once he finished, all of the ladies were excited. Their bodies sat upright and their eyes were glistening. Some even whispered amongst themselves in happy, hushed tones. To quiet them, Lady Secily raised a hand. She smiled. ¡°Alright, Sir Sword Fighter. We¡¯ll go along with this. When shall it begin?¡± ¡°We will execute it before Lord Tincaid''s associates arrive,¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°His guard should be lowered during this time.¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 The Town Lord was voracious, but careful. After sending Drakkel over, even though he usually called for the ladies everyday, he actually waited five days until calling them again. During this time, he regularly had his guards check in on Ton and Drakkel. But Drakkel gave him no reason to doubt, he behaved himself and even started to accept being washed and clothed by the male servants. So five days later when the ladies and Ton got together to help Drakkel carry out his plan, the Town Lord didn''t suspect a thing. They meticulously applied makeup on him and covered his face in a lace veil. With makeup on, Drakkel was actually the picture of a beautiful maiden, even surprising all the women in the room. It was only his figure being too tall, his bodily features being slightly chiseled, and a white streak being in his hair that kept him from fully embracing the look. Because of this, the tallest of the ladies chose to stay behind. In addition, they all decided to wear elevated shoes while having Drakkel wear flats. Doing this helped close the gap, but Drakkel was still a bit taller than the rest. Afterwards, they placed pads in Drakkel¡¯s chest and dressed him in thick, not too revealing robes. They even covered his head to conceal his white-streaked hair and had him wear a veil to hide his face. To finish up, they all wore the same to match his look. The heels were usually worn during festivals and holidays and the clothing, during the winter. But because they had no other options they could only hope that the Town Lord would be too distracted to notice all the differences. Once they were done, they marched in their usual order to the Town Lord''s bedroom. As Drakkel walked he couldn''t help but think of the sad state of these women. During his time with them, he learned that when they served Lord Tincaid, they would usually try to get him so drunk that they could pretend to sleep with him. But, sometimes, he was just sober enough to actually complete the task with one or two of them. It was only because Lady Secily was so resourceful that they were able to have some servants help them retrieve abortifacients. Or else no one knew how many offspring the Town Lord would have had by now. Once they got to the Town Lord''s bedroom, they walked inside. As always, the guards stood a bit away so as not to eavesdrop on the Town Lord''s pleasures. The Town Lord sat patiently on his bed, awaiting their arrival in a single red robe. The moment his eyes spotted the women, they took on a lustful look. He smiled and licked his lips ¡°Welcome ladies. You seem to be dressed rather differently today. It isn''t winter time nor a holiday, what''s wrong?¡± ¡°My Lord. We were worried you have grown tired of our usual garb, since you hadn''t called on us in a while. Because of this we thought it would be best to spice it up.¡± Lady Secily seamlessly answered. The Town Lord grew angry. ¡°Don¡¯t you know to inform me before taking such measures?! Is it that you wish to be punished?!¡± Lady Secily quickly bowed to him, ¡°Of course not, My Lord! We only wish to enhance your experience!¡± Drakkel gathered his sword energy, ready to strike. Seeming to remember something, Lord Tincaid calmed down. ¡°Fine. Luckily for you, I received a golden egg and I''m in a good mood. Just never let this happen again.¡± Drakkel relaxed as Lady Secily bowed. ¡°Of course, My Lord.¡± Lord Tincaid continued. ¡°Then let''s get down to business.¡± The ladies bowed and separated into lines and Drakkel fell into step with them. One line grabbed a tray of food and the other grabbed some drinks and cups. These items sat on tables at the side of the Lord''s room. Drakkel, who was standing at the back of the line, grabbed a cup. The women then aligned themselves on each side of the Lord. He would ask some to fill his drink while asking others to come up and serve him. Suddenly, he turned his attention to Drakkel. ¡°You over there, you look a bit different than usual. Come closer so I can see you.¡± Drakkel nodded and slowly walked over to the Lord, being careful not to make any suspicious movements. Once he was close enough, the Lord suddenly grabbed his hand, and dragged him closer. A moment later, he recoiled. ¡°Ahh! Why are your hands so rough? Who are you?¡± Drakkel knew this was his only chance. The Town Lord yelled, ¡°Gua¡­!¡± But before he could finish, Drakkel had already hit a few of his acupoints to keep him from continuing. Frozen and unable to move or speak, sweat began to cover his face and a foul odor leaked from his visage. Drakkel took off the veil and the Town Lord''s eyes widened. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°It¡¯s time you pay for what you¡¯ve done,¡± Drakkel said. ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Lady Secily coldly stated. The woman all took out some daggers from their sleeves and surrounded Drakkel and the subdued Lord Tincaid. Drakkel turned to face them. ¡°What are you doing? Didn''t we agree only to restrain him?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lady Secily said with a dagger in her hand. ¡°That¡¯s what you wanted. But it¡¯s easy for you to say as someone who can protect himself.¡± She pointed at the Town Lord. ¡°This man used his power to abuse us and our loved ones. All this time, no one, not even a single Swords Clan came to our aid. If we leave him alive and allow you to take the evidence, what guarantee do we have that he won''t be running free a few weeks later?¡± Drakkel stood straight and answered seriously, ¡°This is my guarantee.¡± He got on his knees and kowtowed deeply. He then sat up and crossed a line over his heart. Lady Secily¡¯s hand shot to her mouth, ¡°The Swordfigther¡¯s promise! Every Sword Fighter is bound by honor to follow it, lest their sword energy attack them and destroy their martial arts¡­¡± Drakkel nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± His eyes swept over all the ladies in the room. ¡°I promise that if this man continues to roam free after I report him to a Swords Clan, I will slay him myself.¡± Lady Secily''s head dropped and tears dotted the corners of her eyes, ¡°Stop, ladies. If we kill him now, we will only be considered as bad as him. Let''s assist this Sword Fighter who has helped us get this far in seeking justice for us.¡± The women looked doubtful, but after a moment, they all agreed. They returned their knives to their places and one of them stepped forward, ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll help. But if it looks like anything is amiss, we will act on our own accord.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± He heard from Lady Secily that besides his bedroom, Lord Tincaid spent the most amount of his time somewhere else. He looked at the Town Lord who had tears streaming down his face. ¡°I¡¯m sure there''s evidence in your office. You will take me to it. While there, write a letter to the mines telling them to release the workers as well. If you don''t do what I say, I won''t be able to stop these ladies from taking out their anger on you.¡± The Town Lord vigorously nodded. Drakkel continued, addressing the women, ¡°You all should return to your quarters. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± As they left, Drakkel remembered something. ¡°Wait,¡± he said. The women stopped and turned around. ¡°Lady Secily, may I borrow your dagger?¡± Lady Secily pulled out her dagger and handed it to Drakkel. Drakkel took it and carefully stored it in his sleeve. ¡°Good luck,¡± She uttered. Afterwards, she took a step back and bowed deeply to him. The rest of the women followed in her stead, bowing deeply as well. When they were done, they shuffled out of the room, acting as if nothing happened. Drakkel picked up his veil and covered his face, subsequently undoing the acupoints keeping the Town Lord still but maintaining the ones keeping him silent. He forced him to stand and held his arm like a lady would a gentleman, but his grip was firm, preventing him from escaping, He whispered in his ear. ¡°Oh and don''t try to lie about the location of your office. Remember, I¡¯ve seen it before.¡± The two walked out of the room and the guards standing a ways away from it glanced at the Town Lord curiously. Drakkel changed the tone of his voice, heightening his pitch by a few octaves. He said, ¡°Lord Tincaid wanted to take me to his office for a little more privacy. He would answer you himself, but I''m afraid he has had too much alcohol and laughed for too long. His throat needs time to heal. Don¡¯t worry though, I¡¯ll watch over him.¡± The two guards gazed at The Town Lord who nodded in response. Seeing this, they relaxed and bowed to him, returning to their posts afterwards. Drakkel walked with Lord Tincaid through the long halls until they reached his office. As they entered, Drakkel made him dismiss all the guards in the area. With the guards gone, he closed the office doors and began to look around. Remembering that he needed to free Rillian Adore, Ri¡¯en and the rest of the workers at the mine, he sat Lord Tincaid down and demanded he begin writing the letter he requested while he continued to look around the area. He found many books, scrolls and papers, but none that looked like what he was searching for. He glanced over at the distressed Town Lord and walked over to him. ¡°Where are the accounts pertaining to the mines?¡± He asked. Lord Tincaid gestured to his mouth and Drakkel undid his restraints. Knowing the man wasn¡¯t a Sword Fighter, Drakkel quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m a Sword Master. If you try to contact your guards, well, you¡¯ll have to see between the two, if my hand is quicker than your mouth.¡± Forehead beaded with sweat, Lord Tincaid nodded. ¡°It''s over there,¡± he said, pointing to one of the bookcases. He quickly walked over to the bookcase and pulled a book from the shelf. A second later, the whole case slid to the side, unveiling a chamber that laid behind it. In that chamber were various papers and scrolls. As Lord Tincaid returned to his seat, Drakkel went over and picked one up. It was titled, ¡°Meteoric Stone Mine Clients.¡± Upon reading it, he saw the names of three clans that may have been involved in this case. They were The Hidden Desires Clan, the Swordsmith villa Clan, and the High Mountain Glaive Clan. Another paper under it said, ¡°Accounts of sale for Meteoric stones.¡± He picked both of them up and stuffed them into his robes. As he was about to grab another of the documents, he first heard the sound of glass breaking, then the terrified scream of the Town Lord. When he ran outside, he spotted a cloaked figure with a demon mask covering its face. This figure was standing across from the Lord who had fallen to the floor. Surrounding the figure were broken pieces of wood and glass and behind it was a broken window. It stood, appearing ready to attack. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¡°Please!¡± Lord Tincaid yelled. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me! I won¡¯t tell! I won¡¯t!¡± The hooded figure ignored his pleas and dashed over to him. Drakkel knew he needed to stop him. After all, Lord Tincaid was still needed as a witness. He pulled out the dagger that he got from Lady Secily and intercepted the figure¡¯s attack. Since the figure held no weapon and only used its gloved hands, he thought that the dagger would slice right through. But to his surprise, it didn''t. In fact the impact felt like he was colliding against another weapon. Drakkel exchanged a few more blows with the figure before it backed away. And around that time, the dagger he received also shattered. As the pieces of the dagger fell from his hands, Drakkel observed the figure. From the way it fought, he could tell it was an experienced Sword Fighter, but because it didn¡¯t use sword energy, he couldn¡¯t ascertain what level it was at. Also because of the way it fought, its sword style wasn¡¯t something he recognized. It was fought with no weapon and used random and disordered moves. Its attacks appeared to have no particular sequence which made them difficult to predict. Suddenly, the hooded figure took out a bottle from under its cloak with a rope attached to it and lit the end of the rope up. Drakkel¡¯s eyes widened as he realized what it was. ¡°Get everyone out of here!¡± He shouted. The Town Lord nodded and called, ¡°Guards! Guards!¡± However, before the guards showed up, the hooded figure dropped the object on the floor, jumping out the window soon after. Flames immediately rushed out of the object, quickly engulfing the items around it. Drakkel pointed his palm towards the direction of the explosion and manipulated his sword energy to curve around it, suppressing the blast. Although he was able to block it, he knew he couldn¡¯t hold it off for long. Moments later, the guards arrived. As Drakkel was focused on subduing the explosion, the Town Lord shouted in a panic, ¡°Get me out of here!¡± The guards guided the Lord out, leaving Drakkel to deal with the mess alone. He wasn¡¯t sure how he would get everyone out of the mansion while also keeping the explosion at bay. However, a solution soon revealed itself. A guard came to him and said, ¡°By order of Lady Secily, everyone has left the mansion. Some other guards have already told us the situation. You should try to escape now as well.¡± Drakkel was relieved. He answered, ¡°You go first. I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± As he said this, his energy was waning. His body ached and he was growing tired. He felt as if he was about to lose control of his sword energy. If he continued any longer, he would suffer a sword energy deviation and unable to maintain his control of the blast, he would most certainly die. With no other options, he sent a wave of sword energy towards the blast to delay it and swiftly left the room. Utilizing his sword step, he dashed through the manor and straight to the front entrance. But, when he thought he was about to escape, his old injuries flared and his pace slowed down to an ordinary run as the blast caught up. As the flaming hot temperature nearly seared his back, a man with long blonde hair and a giant sword slung upon his back, delayed the blast with a powerful sword energy attack, before picking him up by the arm, and helping him get out of the manor. Once they reached the outside, the manor exploded into flames. Several people gathered to watch the event. Before Drakkel had time to process what was going on, the area erupted into cheer. Only when he glanced over to see who it was did a small smile spread on his face. The people of the mines were joined by the kids and elderly on the streets, hugging each other as the mansion burned. Some of the women who were trapped with the Town Lord were joined by elderly individuals and men while some embraced only children, their heads hanging low and tears falling from their cheeks. Even amongst the miners and people from the streets, it was clear from the sad faces of some of those around, that they had lost someone important to them. The Town Lord was standing next to some guards bound by rope. When the cheering died down, everyone leered at him, some looking ready to murder him. A man from the crowd yelled, ¡°Finally, the corrupt Lord who suppressed us for years stands in front of us! We should kill him for what he¡¯s done!¡± The crowd shouted in unison, ¡°Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!¡± Drakkel shook his head. They couldn¡¯t kill him. Although it was well-deserved, If they killed him now, not only would they not find out the reason for his actions, they would not be granted any help from the Swords Clans and would probably even end up as criminals themselves. Officials were not allowed to be killed by common people without a trial. Drakkel tried to instruct them not to, but what came out was only a quiet rasp. After a moment, he suddenly felt as if something was rising in his throat. He coughed and blood spurted out, dripping down his mouth and onto his robes. ¡°Stop!¡± Rillian Adore shouted. Interrupted by an intimidating and heavy voice, the crowd instantly ceased their chanting. But the man who spoke earlier wouldn¡¯t have it. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He yelled out, ¡°And who are you to stop us?! This man killed my son!¡± Ri¡¯en stepped out from the middle of the crowd along with Lady Secily. ¡°He¡¯s Rillian Adore! One of the ones who saved us!¡± The crowd broke out into harsh whispers. ¡°The Golden Blade? Really? Here?¡± ¡°How could this be? I thought the Golden Peak Swords Clan was not assigned to this area?¡± ¡°Why would he help us?¡± Rillian Adore, still supporting Drakkel with an arm, stated, ¡°My friend and I will bring the Town Lord with us to the Thousand Petals Swords Clan to seek justice for you all! I will also investigate the reason that this has been going on for so long! If you trust me, I¡¯ll make sure that you all are given a satisfactory answer!¡± The people in the crowd continued to speak amongst themselves. Lady Seclily joined in, ¡°If not for these two men standing before you all, our escape and the capture of the Town Lord would not have been possible! Since they extended a helping hand to us, can¡¯t we return the favor?!¡± The crowd continued to speak in hushed voices. But the sentiment seemed to improve. ¡°Well if it''s The Golden Blade¡­ Maybe we will get the justice we deserve?¡± ¡°Yes, why don¡¯t we give it a try? We have nothing more to lose.¡± Ri¡¯en and Lady Secily took their places next to Drakkel and Rillian Adore and addressed the crowd. The two bowed. ¡°We¡¯ve been working tirelessly to free all of you. We hope that you can let us settle this matter as well! We promise that we only wish good things upon all of you!¡± Some of the servants and guards standing at the corner jumped in. ¡°Yes, Lady Secily and Ri¡¯en have been helping us fight all this time!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, they¡¯ve done a lot for us!¡± Lady Secily and Ri¡¯en smiled at them. Suddenly, Drakkel remembered something. Where were Enzo and Rou? He squinted his eyes, looking towards the servants and saw a servant ready to sneak off. He patted Rillian Adore¡¯s shoulder and pointed in the direction. Rillian Adore yelled, ¡°Guards! Stop him!¡± With his command, the guards rushed to capture the servant. When Drakkel looked upon his face, he saw that it was Rou. The guards forced Rou to stand next to Lord Tincaid. As he stood there, his eyes darted all around, surveying the crowd. Finally, he looked down in defeat, not daring to speak. After a while, there were talks amongst the people of who would be their new Town Lord now that Lord Tincaid was captured. Ton stepped forward from his place in front of the servants. ¡°I think we should make Ri¡¯en and Lady Secily our new Town Lords! They¡¯ve done a lot for us, so I believe they would be best to keep until we¡¯re back up and running to our usual selves. By then, we can officially vote in a new Town Lord!¡± The crowd seemed hesitant at first, but they didn¡¯t object. It only took a few moments for them to process what was said. Ton was right after all, they had to appreciate the deeds of those who saved them. And the women Lord Tincaid kept around were a testament to all the work the two put in. Like the changing of the tides, the sentiments of the crowd slowly swayed, until sounds of agreement resounded all around. ¡°Yes, I think that would be good!¡± ¡°Lord Ri¡¯en and Lady Secily have a nice ring to it!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s just until the town is rebuilt, I don¡¯t see why not!¡± The royal court had struck a deal with the Sword Fighters. It would not interfere in any business having to do with Demons and Sword Fighters unless it involved high level court officials, members of the royal family, or the capital. The Sword Fighters were responsible for bringing criminals to justice and reporting them to the court as well as subduing demons. Sometimes, the court might ask Swords Clans to assist in catching a specific criminal, but most of the time, the Swords Clans did it passively. The Swords clans were each paid a monthly wage by the court based on how many criminals they caught and how many demons they defeated during the month. The clans also made money by completing odd jobs for individual citizens and businesses. If the Town Lord was brought to Thousand Petals Sword''s Clan and proven to be guilty, then by law, the Royal Court would allow the people to assign their own Town Lord because the one they had chosen for them was guilty of several crimes. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± Ri¡¯en said. ¡°Now, everyone, return home! The Golden Blade had his fellow disciples brought us food to eat from the neighboring villages! They¡¯ve dropped it off to every home here. Anyone that doesn¡¯t have a home can pick it up at the inn in the middle of the town!¡± The crowd cheered and dispersed, chattering happily with each other. When they cleared, the rest of the disciples from the Golden Peak Swords¡¯ Clan could be seen standing in the distance, watching Rillian Adore. Ri¡¯en turned to the servants and guards. ¡°You all go too. I¡¯m sure you would like to catch up with your family members or get some good food and drink in your stomachs.¡± A guard standing near Lord Tincaid and holding down Rou, asked, ¡°Will you be ok if we leave them alone?¡± Rillian Adore nodded. At that, the guards and servants exited the area, leaving only Lady Secily, Lord Ri¡¯en, Drakkel and Rillian Adore with Lord Tincaid and Rou. Rillian Adore glanced down at Rou and said, ¡°You were scared of him, weren¡¯t you?¡± He used his head to gesture to Lord Tincaid. Rou nodded, pulling out a worn satchel, he said as he stared at it, ¡°The way I treated him, it was all an act. I was afraid. Afraid he would kill my daughter¡­ You see, he already killed my wife. Years ago, my wife secretly left to work for the Town Lord. I had an injury and couldn¡¯t lift heavy items anymore. There wasn¡¯t much work I could do and we were running out of money. So, she decided to go. She left behind a note so I wasn¡¯t worried at first. But too much time had passed. I wanted to investigate, but couldn¡¯t leave my daughter alone. She was only twelve at the time. So, I sent her along with a traveling merchant who I had befriended to live with my brother in Lunala Isle and came in to work for the Town Lord while searching for my wife.¡± Tears fell from his face. ¡°But when I asked around, I found out that she died. This despicable man!¡± He pointed to Lord Tincaid, ¡°Is a lecherous beast! He demanded that my wife serve him. He forced her¡­ So¡­ ¡° His voice trembled as he forced out, ¡°So¡­she killed herself.¡± He sniffled, ¡°I planned to leave and report the matter to the nearby Swords Clan, but the Town Lord''s caught wind of this. He kidnapped me and forced me to work for him. He said that if I refused, he would send some people to find my daughter¡­ He said she might look a lot like her mother and would serve as a good replacement.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s eyebrows narrowed as he shot a rageful glare at Lord Tincaid. Lord Tincaid shrunk back in response.. ¡°I¡­ I had no other choice.¡± Rou continued. ¡°This satchel¡­¡± he held the satchel out, ¡°Was made for both of us by my wife, her mother. That''s all I have to remember her by¡­¡± Rillian Adore shook his head, ¡°I think it¡¯s time to return to your daughter, Rou.¡± He gestured for one of the faraway disciples to step closer and put out his hand. ¡°Ling,¡± He said. ¡°Bring me some coins.¡± The man named Ling handed him a bag of coins and Rillian Adore took a few out. He placed them in Rou¡¯s hand. ¡°This should cover your travel, food and lodgings. You¡¯re free to go.¡± Rou gratefully took the coins and bowed to Rillian Adore several times. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± He cried, ¡°I don¡¯t know how I''ll ever repay this debt.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Rou bowed one more time before leaving the area. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡°Looks like you two have your hands full for the time being. When I get back to my clan, I¡¯ll ask them to support you,¡± Rillian Adore said. Ri¡¯en and Lady Secily bowed and replied. ¡°Thank you.¡± Rillian Adore continued, ¡°Actually, you two haven¡¯t had a good meal in a while either. Especially you, Ri¡¯en. Why don¡¯t you go join your citizens at the Inn?¡± Lady Secily nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Come, Ri.¡± She dragged Ri¡¯en towards the Inn. As they walked, their conversation drifted into the air. ¡°He¡¯s right. You¡¯ve grown too thin since I last saw you.¡± Ri¡¯en laughed. ¡°Even when you met me, didn''t you say I was thin? I was quite muscular though.¡± ¡°That was different!¡± Lady Secily answered indignantly. ¡°Men from my village traditionally had a larger build because of all the meat we farmed. You can''t blame me!¡± The sound of their chatter placed a smile on Drakkel''s face. But his body was too weak. He couldn¡¯t do much else. Rillian Adore said to Ling, ¡°Ling, Do you have any more rejuvenating pills?¡± Ling nodded. ¡°Yes, Senior Rillian.¡± Without any additional questions, he pulled out a bag from his belt and handed it to him If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Rillian Adore took out a pill and placed it in front of Drakkel¡¯s mouth. Drakkel stared at it for a moment in hesitation. Seeing this, Ling said, ¡°It¡¯s fine, don¡¯t worry! It will make you feel better.¡± Drakkel raised an eyebrow. Oh yes, that was right! Ling likely didn¡¯t know he was a Sword Fighter and Rillian Adore might not have explained it to him. Because he didn¡¯t want to hold up anyone anymore, Drakkel opened his mouth and Rillian Adore fed him the pill. As he chewed on it, he could feel his energy return and the pain from his injuries fade. Afterwards, Ling gave him a lingering glance. His clothes were tattered revealing his muscular chest, but he still wore makeup on his face along with womanly clothes. So, Ling was probably just curious as to his identity. However, if he was curious he didn''t voice his concerns. So a moment of silence fell between them all before Rillian Adore said, ¡°Ling, monitor the Town Lord¡¯s building to make sure the fire doesn¡¯t spread and work on quelling it. I¡¯ll take this¡­ woman back to the inn to treat her.¡± Ling tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. His thoughts were clearly voiced in his expression. But isn''t this a man? It was obvious that he was curious, but he was likely disciplined as well. Instead of asking questions, he respectfully answered, ¡°Yes, Senior Rillian.¡± He called the rest of the disciples over as Drakkel and Rillian Adore made their way to the Inn. With one muscular, handsome, and confident and the other dressed in women''s clothing complete with makeup and accessories, if anyone was watching, it probably made for an odd sight. But Drakkel didn''t care as he could hardly stay awake anymore. Although he felt better, his body still needed rest from the overexertion of his sword energy. So, as they were walking, he closed his eyes and fell into a welcoming darkness. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Drakkel awoke to find himself in a bed at the inn. He circulated his sword energy and felt it go through his body smoothly. Because of this, he figured that someone must have helped him clear it while he was unconscious. He looked out the window and saw that the orange and purple hues of the sky from earlier had transformed into a dark blue. To his side, sitting in a chair, was the slumbering figure of Rillian Adore. Drakkel wondered how strong he must have been to not only be able to drag him to the inn, but to also carry his greatsword on his back at the same time. Of course, he was grateful to be saved, but he couldn¡¯t stop the sweat from leaking from his body and his heart from pumping more quickly as even deeper memories attempted to surface his mind. Suddenly, he felt a strong headache forming. He shook his head in an effort to get rid of it and the sleeping Rillian Adore opened his eyes. His head which was tilted a bit to the side as he cradled his sword at his front lifted up. ¡°Are you awake, Drakkel?¡± He asked. Drakkel panicked. He really didn¡¯t want to deal with this trouble. Now that they had solved the issues with Shadowy Ridges, he could move on to Withering Crescent and leave the dropping off of Lord Tincaid at The Thousand Petals Swords Clan of Lunala isle to Rillian Adore. But if Rillian Adore knew who he was, the peace he craved might slip from his grasp. He laughed. ¡°Sir Golden Blade, My humble self can¡¯t be compared to the Sword¡¯s Wind! I only know a few tricks! Please, don¡¯t even mention us in the same breath! My name is actually¡­¡± As if he realized something, Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes widened. Then he shook his head. ¡°Nevermind, I had you confused with someone else.¡± Drakkel breathed out a sigh of relief. To divert attention from the conversation, he asked, ¡°How did you get out of the mines? The Town Lord didn¡¯t send an order yet.¡± A line formed in the middle of Rillian Adore¡¯s forehead. When he answered, his softened expression again hardened, ¡°A few hours before I got here, The demons all of a sudden ran off, leaving only the mine manager and a few humans protecting the place. But they weren¡¯t fighters so it was easy to defeat them.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Drakkel thought about this strange occurrence. Not only did the demons leave, a powerful figure came to likely kill the Town Lord and bury the evidence. It only proved that something larger was going on. Someone else must have been behind it. Rillian Adore continued. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. Did you retrieve any evidence from the Town Lord¡¯s manor before it burned down?¡± Drakkel nodded and took out the paper about the accounts while avoiding taking out the one about the involved clans. Only when he reached into his robes to gather the paper did he realize that he was still dressed in woman¡¯s clothes. Ignoring this fact, he handed it to Rillian Adore. After skimming through the paper, Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°Good. Since we have the evidence, we can take it to Lunala Isle.¡± ¡°We?¡± Drakkel laughed nervously. Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°Yes. You will come as an additional witness.¡± Drakkel shook his head. He heard him say it earlier, but he didn''t believe he would actually be forced to go. Besides, the Golden Blade alone would be witness enough along with the testimony of the townsfolk. He had been hoping to ditch Rillian Adore and head to Withering Crescent on his own after this, but now he knew that it wouldn''t be easy. He wouldn''t win in a fight against the Golden Blade, so he answered, ¡°Alright but after that, I need to leave.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I can even send people to escort you where you need to be.¡± Drakkel waved his hand in the air. ¡°That won''t be necessary.¡± Since it was like this already, Drakkel decided to take the free ride, shortening his originally long trip to Withering Crescent. But now the incident in Lord Tincaid¡¯s manor came to his mind. He brought his hand to his chin. ¡°Actually, since we''ll be traveling together, I want to let you know about something that happened at Lord Tincaid¡¯s manor. A masked figure made a move to kill the Town Lord in his office.¡± He knew the answer but he had to act oblivious, ¡°What do you think it means?¡± ¡°It means it''s none of your concern. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± Rillian Adore shot back. ¡°But what if he attacks again?¡± Drakkel asked. ¡°If you''re worried about your safety, I will handle it and if you''re worried about his, I will also handle it. Once we get to Lunala Isle and hand him off to the Thousand Petals Swords Clan and you provide them a statement, it will be in their jurisdiction. If he is attacked there, he will be well protected.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°Then we should head out tomorrow. The sooner the better right?¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Thinking that they were done, Drakkel expectantly waited for him to leave, but he still sat in his chair, not moving. He raised an eyebrow and Rillian Adore said, ¡°Your injuries weren''t severe, but they weren''t mild either. I''ll stay to monitor your condition so nothing happens on the carriage ride over. You can pretend I''m not here.¡± Drakkel gave a half smile and laid onto the bed, turning around so he wouldn¡¯t be facing Rillian Adore. He frowned. Pretending the man who defeated him was not here was impossible and sadly, that man was annoyingly persistent. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 The next morning, a carriage was waiting for them at the front of the inn. Drakkel had already dressed in new clothes provided by the innkeeper. Standing next to the carriage were Lady Secily, Lord Ri¡¯en, and Rillian Adore¡¯s fellow disciples who guarded Lord Tincaid. Rillian Adore had been trying to assist Drakkel with walking since they left the room, but Drakkel refused his help. Yes, his body still ached, but he didn¡¯t want nor need Rillian Adore¡¯s help. He was getting annoyed with Rillian Adore¡¯s persistence and after turning him down several times, he decided to stay quiet and ignore his offers instead. The two headed towards the waiting individuals. When they arrived, Ri¡¯en spoke first, ¡°The Town Lord¡¯s carriage was safe from the fire, so we¡¯re letting you two borrow it to take to Lunala Isle. The place is four days away on foot, so we would like to hasten your travels. ¡°Thank you, Ri¡¯en.¡± Drakkel gratefully said. He added, ¡°Also, Lord Tincaid¡¯s associates. How will you handle them?¡± Ri¡¯en smiled. ¡°We¡¯ve already had him write a letter and deliver it through the regular channels. We provided the ink and paper and watched as he wrote it so he couldn¡¯t get away with trying anything. Those friends of his shouldn¡¯t be showing up anymore.¡± Drakkel nodded. Rillian Adore turned his head to address his fellow disciples, ¡°Head back to the Clan and report this matter to the Clan Leader.¡± Ling, who stood in the middle of the disciples, asked, ¡°And what about you Senior Rillian. Where are you going?¡± Rillian Adore looked at Drakkel, then Lord Tincaid. ¡°Of course I have to deliver this criminal to the Thousand Petals Swords Clan.¡± Ling took a step forward. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous to go alone! This man had been embezzling funds for so long and working with demons! What if he has some friend break him out? Maybe you should take some of us with you.¡± Rillian Adore narrowed his eyes and Ling seemed to realize his mistake. His eyes widened and shifted to the side as he took a step back. But his fists were clenched, as if he still wanted to argue. . However, one of the disciples stepped forward and lightly touched his arm. When he turned to face her, she shook her head. Ling sighed and returned his attention to Rillian Adore. Cupping his hands and bowing, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll listen to your orders. Senior Rillian.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The rest of the disciples followed along with him. Rillian Adore gave a simple nod at their gesture. Then, Ling¡¯s gaze drifted to Drakkel. He cleared his throat and said in a quiet voice, ¡°About him¡­ Senior Rillian¡­¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s glare intensified. ¡°What about him?¡± Ling put up his hands in defense, ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that! I was just worried about his injuries.¡± Rillian Adore let out a huff and relaxed. ¡°He¡¯s doing better but still suffers from minor aches and pains. You gave me some of your medicine earlier though so he should be fine during our travels.¡± Ling nodded. Rillian Adore grabbed onto Lord Tincaid, who was still tied up. ¡°It¡¯s time for us to go.¡± Drakkel nodded and turned to the group. ¡°Thanks for your assistance everyone.¡± Lady Secily shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t an issue. In fact, It¡¯s really us who should be thanking you. We wish you safe travels. If you ever require our assistance in the future, feel free to ask.¡± Rillian Adore and Drakkel nodded. However, before they could head into the carriage, Ri¡¯en said, ¡°Please wait a moment. There is something the Townspeople wanted to do before you leave.¡± He clapped and out of the buildings surrounding them, flooded dozens of townspeople- many of which they had seen the day before. They formed a group in front of them and bowed deeply. ¡°Thank you for helping us!¡± Drakkel smiled. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that the once dreary ambience of the town had transformed into one of hope. The people who lined the streets had all now gathered here, seeming in better health. He cupped his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t thank us everyone, for if there were not valiant individuals among you, we would not have been able to do anything. We must thank you as well for holding out and helping us catch the criminal! Now please, get up!¡± The group complied and got up. Ri¡¯en yelled, ¡°Now that you have shown your appreciation, I believe we can see off our saviors. How does that sound, everyone?!¡± Several people in the group began to speak out. ¡°Yes, safe travels!¡± ¡°May our saviors bring justice to the wicked and corrupt!¡± ¡°May you overcome any obstacle that lies in your path!¡± Drakkel slightly bowed his head at them. Not seeing an end to the ruckus, Ri¡¯en shouted, ¡°Enough everyone! We can¡¯t delay them anymore!¡± The people quieted down. Drakkel thanked Ri¡¯en and Lady Secily once more before he headed into the carriage where Rillian Adore was already waiting with Lord Tincaid. Once he was seated, the carriage began to move. As it did, the people''s voices again rang out with vigour full of good wishes and words of goodbye. However, once their voices could no longer be heard, Drakkel had no choice but to address the person who sat across from him. Rillian Adore stared into his eyes as Lord Tincaid leaned to the side near the window next to him. Rillian Adore¡¯s great sword separated him and the now ex-Town Lord. Based on his attitude, Drakkel expected him to say something, but he actually stayed silent and even eventually turned his attention to outside the window. Grateful for this, Drakkel closed his eyes and minded his senses. He stayed on alert during their travels, waiting for someone to come for the now ex-Town Lord, but no one showed up. This both gave him relief and concern. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Lunala Isle was a port town and island located only a few feet away from the shore. It was adjacent to a body of water that led to Waning Crescent. If one wished to travel to Waning Crescent, there were actually two ways to get there. One was by a boat that traveled between Lunala Isle and Waning Crescent and the other was through a path that wound around a mountain called Flowering Mountain. The mountain path was uneven and treacherous, filled with dangerous wild animals. It also took a day longer to get to Waning Crescent using this path when compared to taking a boat from Lunala Isle. With these factors considered, it was pretty obvious what the most utilized method of travel was. Locations with more land than villages and containing a larger congregation of people were separated into cities and towns. They could be separated into three groups: outer towns, inner towns, and inner cities. Those located within a certain proximity to the capital and deeper within the Empire were known as Inner cities or towns and those further away were known as outer towns. Shadowy Ridges, Waterfall¡¯s end, Dark¡¯s Divide and Nevermore were examples of outer towns while Lunala Isle, Waning Crescent and Prancing Hills were examples of inner towns. Some examples of Inner cities included Heaven¡¯s Path, Immortal Peak, Auspicious Sign, Joyful Encounters, and the Royal Capital, Dragon¡¯s Dwelling. Besides their proximity to the capital, Inner cities and towns also had their own special traits. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The appeal of Waning Crescent lay in the fact that it was perfectly situated near lustrous and healthy fields, was a hub for trading, and was located near the Thousand Petals Swords Clan of Lunala Isle. With its favorable location and boundless potential, people eventually built many businesses there and it became filled with brothels, stalls, temples, shops and other businesses. Others went there seeking opportunities, but Drakkel only wished to make some money before departing for Nevermore and settling down for a while. He sighed and looked out the window His clan was in Immortal Peak. There was Densai forest and a few towns and villages separating Immortal Peak from Waterfall¡¯s end which would make it so that anyone in his clan who attempted to go there would have to take on the arduous task of traveling two weeks at least on foot to even arrive. But the same could not be said for Waning Crescent. It was only a three days¡¯ travel on foot from Immortal Peak if one were to first cross Lunala Isle. So Lunala Isle was even less so, being a two days¡¯ travel away from Immortal Peak. With this thought, Drakkel frowned. He really couldn''t stay here for long. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 As they got off the bridge connecting the main land to Lunala Isle, the differences between the place and Shadowy Ridges were clear. A constant stream of people walked in and out of the town, carrying various items. Several groups of children played near the street side participating in various games and enacting roles from theaters or from stories of the Swordfighting World. The buildings and stalls were well-organized and clean. In front of them, small groups of people stood, surveying their contents. Colorful and well-built buildings brandishing names of establishments were peppered around and street sellers smiled as they spoke happily with their customers. A welcoming cool breeze blew into the carriage, contrasting with the heat of the sun overhead. As the carriage drew closer to the water, the fragrances in the air which initially started with warm tea and perfumes, slowly began to carry the scent of the sea and many people could be seen selling fresh fish while various restaurants displaying fish-based dishes began to appear. The carriage slowed down a bit as people around them moved to make space. Although Lunala isle was an island, it was a rather large one. That was why it wasn¡¯t until two hours passed that the carriage reached the Thousand Petals Swords Clan. The swords clan sat just a few feet from the water¡¯s edge. Two stone signs placed adjacent to each other at the front, read, ¡°Thousand Petals¡±. If one walked in, they would be greeted with an intricately built wooden structure made of darkened wood and decorated with many expensive fixtures. Rillian Adore stepped out of the carriage with Drakkel and Lord Tincaid in tow. After surveying the surroundings, he told the coachman that he could head back and tossed him a golden coin. Receiving the coin, the coachman bowed and left soon afterwards. The three stepped towards the manor with Rillian Adore leading, but before they could enter, they were stopped by two disciples dressed in white and red robes. ¡°State your business!¡± One of them yelled. ¡°I¡¯m here to report an incident,¡± Rillian Adore answered. ¡°And who should we say is reporting this?¡± The other disciple asked. ¡°Rillian Adore.¡± Rillian Adore answered, pulling out a gold pass inlaid with gems from his robes. Drakkel recognized it as the pass that the disciple named Trin was carrying. The two disciples looked at the pass. Then their eyes cautiously darted up and down Rillian Adore¡¯s figure. They gazed at his greatsword and then his blonde hair. When they realized their mistake, their eyes widened and their bodies began to shake with nervousness. Seeing this, Drakkel understood their reactions well. Although the Golden Peak Swords Clan was known as the strongest and most influential of the seven most powerful Swords Clans, they were also known for being overall righteous and fair. However, Rillian Adore alone had built a reputation for himself. He was cold and intimidating and sometimes even ruthless. Drakkel had seen this personality first hand. The disciple that asked them what their business was bowed and said in a nervous tone, ¡°Sorry if we offended you Sword Master Rillian. Please follow me, I¡¯ll take you to the clan leader.¡± Rillian Adore nodded and Drakkel followed behind him, keeping his head down and stature tightened. The disciple still guarding the entrance asked, ¡°And who is this man following you?¡± Rillian Adore effortlessly and without hesitation answered, ¡°Just a servant that I''ve taken a liking to. Why? Is there a problem?¡± Rillian Adore was tall and muscular Although he spoke calmly, he emphasized the last few words with a downcast gaze. The two disciples could feel a chill run down their spine and the one who asked the question felt his mouth dry up. This man¡¯s abrupt words explained absolutely nothing but he could only shake his head in response. After all, the man had a reputation that was truly too scary. He feared what would happen if he continued to speak. If the Golden Blade said he had taken a liking to someone, who would dare to say anything against him? Hoping his clan leader wouldn''t reprimand him, he exchanged a worried look with the other disciple. The other disciple nodded and answered Rillian Adore, ¡°There is no problem. Please follow me.¡± He continued to walk towards the building with Rillian Adore and the others following behind him. The building was massive, probably quadruple the size of Lord Tincaid¡¯s manor. But it wasn''t unexpected. They weren¡¯t one of the seven leading sword clans for no reason. As the young disciple led them around the massive courtyard in which a cherry blossom tree sat at the center, many disciples took the chance to cast a curious glance at them. However, within a few moments, they returned to whatever they were doing as if having guests was an everyday thing. Drakkel appreciated how disciplined they were. If it were his Swords Clan, no matter if they were used to guests or not, they wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to approach the newcomers and inquire about what was going on. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As they walked, they passed several beautiful corridors and fields filled with pristine settings like stone waterfalls and small ponds. Drakkel gazed at the scenery in awe. There was only place he had seen anything better and it was from the clan that the person he was traveling with hailed from. The Thousand Petals Swords Clan was large and prominent and although its look was different, just being in the place reminded him of his own Clan. As he thought about them, his face fell. Although the clan was large, it was built for efficiency. Most paths were straight and easy to traverse. Even the disciples walking were respectful and made way for the group. So, it wasn''t long until they arrived at the front of a set of double doors. Standing in front of the doors, the disciple that led them respectfully stated, ¡°Clan Leader Lione, Some people here wish to see you regarding an incident. Among them is Sword Master Rillian Adore of the Golden Peak Swords Clan.¡± A calm voice replied from the other side, ¡°Let them in.¡± The disciple opened the doors. Behind them was a man sitting in the middle of a mid-sized room. The man couldn¡¯t have been older than 50 and yet the aura he exuded was one of an elder. He had long graying hair and a short beard sat upon his face. Taking in his aura and features one could call him handsome. It was hard to tell from the way he sat whether he was friendly or reserved, but from the way the disciple spoke to him, Drakkel could only assume the latter. The room the man sat in was basic. To one side hung a poleaxe, beautiful in make with a black handle and glistening blades. To the other, sat a banner with a proverb sewed in. It read, ¡°With strength to lift mountains and spirit to take on the world.¡± The man sitting in the middle of the room had his eyes closed and his legs crossed. The moment they stepped in, his eyes shot open and his gaze swept over them. With narrowed eyes, he first looked at Lord Tincaid, then at Rillian Adore. His eyes lingered a bit on Drakkel after, but his gaze was full of mystery. Giving away nothing, Drakkel couldn¡¯t decipher what it meant. But he at least knew his identity wasn''t revealed when the Swords Clan Leader asked, ¡°For what reason have you come here?¡± Rillian Adore pulled Lord Tincaid forward. ¡°This Lord has spent the last three years abusing his power to torture the denizens of Shadowy Ridges. He even did it with the assistance of demons. I have righted the problem, but this man still needs to be brought to justice. There are also other matters. The demons disappeared while I was apprehending this man so I don''t think he is the true master. The man is cowardly and submitted easily. I think he wouldn¡¯t have dared do this alone. He callously committed malfeasance against his people as if he was sure he wouldn''t be caught. Whoever is behind him must wield a lot of power. I have come to request your assistance in investigating this.¡± The Swords¡¯ Clan leader nodded. ¡°Of course, I''ll help.¡± He glanced at his disciple and uttered ¡°Leave¡± The disciple bowed his head and hurried out of the room. After he left, the Clan Leader breathed out a sigh. He slowly stood up and walked over to them. Then, suddenly and without warning, he took his palm and struck at Lord Tincaid¡¯s heart vital point. It was so quick that neither Rillian Adore nor Drakkel could stop him in time. Lord Tincaid¡¯s face contorted in pain before his eyes rolled behind his head and a line of blood escaped his mouth. Within a few moments, he was dead. Rillian Adore checked his breath and his eyes widened. He gently laid Lord Tincaid¡¯s body up against a wall and lowered his eyelids. His head tilted downward before he stood up. Glaring at the clan leader, he spoke with a voice. leaking with rage. ¡°You killed him! Why?!¡± Clan Leader Lione opened his mouth as if he was about to answer when a disciple furiously knocked on the door. ¡°Clan Leader Lione! Clan Leader Lione! We¡¯re under attack by demons!¡± The Thousand Petals Swords¡¯ Clan Leader¡¯s eyebrows drew close as he urgently asked, ¡°Where is your senior, Shien?¡± ¡°Senior has taken a few of the stronger disciples to intercept the threat!¡± Clan Leader Lione¡¯s eyes widened. He grabbed the poleaxe from the wall and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± He turned to Rillian Adore. ¡°You two should leave. What¡¯s happening here has nothing to do with you.¡± After saying this, he dashed out of the room. Surprisingly, Rillian Adore calmed down. He took out the evidence he had been holding and stuffed it into Drakkel''s robes. ¡°Hold onto this,¡± he said. He grabbed his greatsword from his back and with his empty hand, took Drakkel and ran. As they followed the path out the building, they spotted several disciples fighting off a horde of demons. They ran past them, with Rillian Adore defeating any demons that stood in his way. As they left the building, Drakkel saw a familiar masked hooded figure rush towards the direction of the room they met the Sword Clan Leader in earlier. Ignoring him, Rillian Adore said, ¡°Sometimes, to advance is to retreat. Help should be arriving soon.¡± Drakkel was confused. When did Rillian Adore send for help and who did he call? They exited the building but there was still a small distance between the front gate and the manor. Only a few moments after stepping out, did Drakkel hear the loud and familiar sound of an explosion going off. Flames erupted into the air, quickly consuming the building they had just left. The once grand and pristine manor had become a sea of flames. Out of the fire stepped a line of six demons and a hooded masked figure leading them. Rillian Adore turned around to confront them. He said to Drakkel who was standing behind him, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of them. You leave.¡± Drakkel had fought the masked figure before so he knew. With it and the demons working together, even Rillian Adore would have a hard time fighting back. He shook his head. ¡°No. You can¡¯t handle them alone. Let me help.¡± ¡°Can you?¡± Rillian Adore asked. ¡°Your injuries aren¡¯t healed yet.¡± Rillian Adore was right. Even now, Drakkel could feel the faint aches of his body with every move he made. But Rillian Adore couldn''t handle the masked figure and the demons alone either. If the Thousand Petals Swords Clan couldn''t stop them, then he would surely be killed. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°The demons have been weakened. My only worry is that we still don¡¯t know how powerful the masked figure is. Give me one of those rejuvenating pills you have. I can at least help you hold them off until the help you spoke about arrives.¡± Rillian Adore could probably tell that Drakkel wasn¡¯t going to back down. Without further argument, he took out the pouch of rejuvenating pills and held it near him. Drakkel quickly took a pill and shoved it in his mouth. Then he took his place next to Rillian Adore to face the threatening array of demons. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 The demons didn¡¯t wait a second longer. They dashed towards Rillian Adore and Drakkel. Drakkel and Rillian Adore separated, with Drakkel heading towards the left side of the field and Rillian Adore taking the right. The five demons followed Drakkel while the masked figure went after Rillian Adore. As Rillian Adore and the masked figure fought, Rillian Adore actually had to step back a few paces. His Sword Skills were all dodged and his attacks were easily parried. Meanwhile, Drakkel dodged most of the attacks of the demons as he was unable to parry them. When he got close, he would hit them with sword energy-infused attacks, but these attacks weren''t strong and couldn''t kill them. In the end, he was only able to knock them unconscious. With three still rotating around him, he was beginning to feel tired. His breathing quickened as the flow of his sword energy around his body weakened. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Suddenly, Rillian Adore yelled, ¡°I¡¯ll take away the evidence! You hold them off!¡± He used his sword step to jump over the barrier of trees surrounding the sword¡¯s clan, heading in the direction of the mountain range that separated Lunala Isle and Waning Crescent. The masked figure and one of the three demons attacking Drakkel followed him. But Drakkel¡¯s sight began to blur and the two demons left advanced towards him. His body wobbling, he prepared to fight them off when waves of sword energy sped past him and hit them, killing them instantly. Figures dressed in black and blue robes took their places next to him. He managed to force out, ¡°...Help¡­ Rillian¡­ He¡¯s¡­ He¡¯s being pursued¡­ by more d¡­¡± He pointed a shaky hand in the direction that he saw Rillian Adore head in and four blue and black-robed figures followed. Unable to hold his body up anymore he fell to the ground, propping himself up with one knee. His vision was now blurry. ¡°Senior, Drakkel?¡± A voice asked from the side. The familiarity of the voice caused Drakkel¡¯s heart to skip a beat. Then he fell sideways, his vision drifting in and out. He felt someone slightly shift his clothing at his shoulder. Another person cried, ¡°It really is him! Senior Drakkel! Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll¡­¡± Drakkel¡¯s surroundings faded into the distance and everything went black. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Two sword fighters stood in the middle of a small flat area surrounded by spikes jutting out from a deep abyss. The area was called Hell¡¯s Mayhem for it was Hell for anyone unprepared to face it. Only those well-versed in the Sword Step technique could hope to survive the terrain. A few Sword Fighters had come to watch the incoming fight from the safety of the flat land surrounding the place, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Sword¡¯s Wind¡¯s ability- the man whose graceful movements and powerful attacks were akin to the wind that accompanied sword energy. They weren¡¯t expecting much. It was a Sword Master against someone who was rumored to have been a Sword Hero, so surely it would be nothing more than a spar. The fight wouldn''t be interesting, but they might learn a thing or two and even make a breakthrough. Rillian Adore cupped his hands and bowed to Drakkel to show appreciation for accepting the duel. Drakkel gave him a nod as was customary for a response. Then, he stuck a hand out and gestured for Rillian Adore to attack first. Rillian Adore bowed his head before using his sword step to quickly close the distance between them. Drakkel dodged all of Rillian Adore¡¯s attacks with ease. A strike from the left, one from the right and even a kick. Only when Rillian Adore began to infuse his attacks with sword energy, did Drakkel draw his sword, Swift Wind¡¯s Breeze and begin to use the spikes surrounding the small flat area as fighting terrain. Calm and collected, he handled each and every one of Rillian Adore''s blows as they hopped from spike to spike. He even used some of his movements to instruct him on how to better execute an attack. Rillian Adore''s learning ability was excellent and he took the advice in stride, changing up each attack according to Drakkel''s instruction. But after a while, with every collision of their swords, Drakkel could feel a disturbance within himself. His sword energy was being thrown into disorder. He returned to the small middle area and continued to fight. However, at some point, his body was weakened and his energy was in turmoil. Like a turbulent sea during a raging storm, his energy began to flow unevenly. He knew that if this went on, he was going to suffer a sword energy deviation. He tried to end the battle quickly to identify the cause of the disturbance and address it, but his attacks inevitably weakened. Far too soon and without knowing it, he had lost most of his power. By the time he realized he could no longer beat Rillian Adore, it was too late to do anything about it. It wasn''t long until he found himself in a precarious position. His back was on the floor and he was looking up at Rillian Adore, still processing what had just occurred. Rillian Adore helped him up and gazed at him expectantly, probably waiting for him to explain why he let him beat him so badly. Drakkel wanted to offer up an explanation. He really did. But¡­he couldn''t. He coughed and blood leaked from his mouth. And it was from then that everything changed. The eyes of those around him; the ones which were at first gazing at him in awe, began to stare at him disapprovingly. What would happen afterwards came to the forefront of his mind all at once. It was only when the tightening of his chest got so bad that he could barely breathe; when he realized that his clan would suffer for his error, did he wake up. The incoming feelings of dread and despair still pervaded his emotions for a few moments after he woke up. Why was he remembering what had happened after a long time of forgetting? And, where exactly was he? When he sat up and looked around, it only took a few moments for his second question to be answered. As he thought of it, his heart fell. He wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the room he laid in was all too familiar. Scrolls and posters from his younger days were strewn about in the same manner as which he had left them. He thought about escaping, about going back to his old life of seclusion, but not only did he not have the energy to do so, someone even opened the door a few seconds after the thought came to his mind. The man who exuded a gentle aura and held a soft expression on his face, which was only softened further by his white long beard, said, ¡°Are you awake now, Drakkel?¡± Tears gathered at the corners of Drakkel''s eyes as he made an attempt to get out of bed. The man who spoke to him raised up a hand to signal for him to stay.. Drakkel moved back to his original position on the bed and cupped his hands. ¡°I am, Master.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Yes, the man that stood before Drakkel was none other than his Master, the Hundred Healing Prodigy and Sword Dragon known to be the strongest Sword Fighter in the world, clan leader of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan, Rodius Fowl. Rodius Fowl smiled. A tight feeling rose from Drakkel''s stomach to his chest. His mouth felt dry, but he still tried to explain, ¡°Master¡­ I¡­!¡± Rodius Fowl shook his head. ¡°No need to speak, Drakkel. I understand. You can tell me where you¡¯ve been and how you¡¯ve been doing later. For now, I want to know, has your birthmark ever bothered you in your time away from us?¡± ¡°Not at all, Master.¡± Drakkel answered. While stroking his beard, Rodius Fowl said, ¡°Good.¡± The birthmark he spoke of was a red mark that sat near Drakkel¡¯s right shoulder on his upper back near his neck. His master frequently asked him about it while he practiced under him. One day, when Drakkel asked him why he was so interested, he said it was because when Drakkel was a baby, it would bother him a lot; to the point where his skin would turn red and hot from all the scratching. His master patted his shoulder and continued. ¡°I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re ok. But I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to leave you now. It would be selfish of me to take up all your time awake. After all, There is someone else who wants to see you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Drakkel asked. The door creaked open and another familiar face stepped inside. Upon gazing at it, Drakkel whispered, ¡°Senior Brother?¡± His Senior Brother. The first of His Master Rodius¡¯s two disciples, Aurien Wavel smiled at him. His master left the room as his Senior Brother quickly walked towards the bed. Drakkel bowed his head. He again tried to explain himself, ¡°Senior Brother¡­ I¡­¡± But his senior brother placed an arm on his shoulder. ¡°Drakkel, there''s no need to explain. I just want to know how you''ve been all these years.¡± Drakkel''s heart felt like it dropped to the floor as he was suddenly filled with an overwhelming guilt. ¡°I¡¯ve been fine, I just¡­¡± Aurien Wavel nodded. ¡°You just left because your cultivation failed and you couldn''t bring yourself to face us, correct?¡± Drakkel¡¯s eyes widened as he looked up at his Senior Brother. ¡°How did you know?¡± But his time unconscious must have muddled his thoughts for after thinking about it further, he came to a conclusion. Of course his Senior Brother knew. His master was a Sword Master of the Sword Moon technique, but he was also a prodigy in medicinal studies and techniques. So he took up two direct disciples. His first was Aurien Wavel who he taught all that he knew about medicine and the second was Drakkel whom he taught the Sword Moon technique. Aurien Wavel was originally a Sword Fighter, but he had an internal issue that prevented him from cultivating past Sword Hero. However, he was knowledgeable and picked up and remembered information easily. So his master decided to teach him medicine while trying to help him overcome this blockage. Now he was known as the disciple of the Hundred Healings Prodigy, Medicine Master Aurien Wavel. Drakkel nodded. ¡°It isn''t your fault,¡± Aurien Wavel said. Drakkel was confused for a moment, but then he thought about it slowly. He didn¡¯t know the reason for his cultivation regressing and didn¡¯t have the time or resources to figure it out. But since he didn¡¯t remember his duel with Rillian Adore and saw that Rillian Adore was skilled, over time, he started to accept that he might have done something wrong. Yet, after years of not remembering, he suddenly regained some of his memory not long ago. And that was when he knew that something was not right with the duel. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He asked. Aurien Wavel breathed out a sigh. ¡°You were poisoned.¡± Drakkel shook his head, jerking his shoulder out of his grip. Looking at him in disbelief, he uttered, ¡°Poisoned? But¡­During the fight¡­ I¡­¡± His fingers shot to his head as it began to ache, like a needle was being poked into his skull. ¡°It hurts to recall?¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°That¡¯s to be expected. After sifting through books for a day and a night, Master and I found out that you were poisoned by the Night Raising Flower, a flower that carries a deadly poison. The sufferer would first feel their Sword energy become uneven, then it would flow in an explosive manner, ripping through their channels until their body is unable to take it. The results of this are fatal. The symptoms of poisoning for this flower are whitening of hair, shortness of breath, body aches, fever, cough, and more. The flower also has an odd side effect; those who become poisoned by it, don''t remember how it happened and any attempts to recall it would lead to severe headaches. Records were only able to be kept because there were witnesses. The flower is rare and difficult to extract poison from, so it''s not common to hear about it and its existence is usually only known to those who dwell in medicinal circles or are well versed in medicines and/or poisons¡­¡± Drakkel¡¯s eyes widened. All this time, he thought he deserved to lose to Rillian Adore. Since he didn¡¯t remember the duel and Rillian Adore¡¯s sword level at the time wasn¡¯t made clear, also because he had seen his ability first hand afterwards, any doubt in his mind that something was wrong with the loss had disappeared. Now that he remembered what happened and his Senior Brother had told him the cause, a sort of bitterness nestled into his heart like a dark cloud hanging over his head. ¡°Have you been trying to treat it?¡± He asked. Aurien Wavel nodded. ¡°We have and we were able to alleviate it a little, but¡­¡± He looked down in sadness. ¡°I''m afraid curing it is beyond our capabilities¡­¡± Drakkel understood. That must have been why he was able to remember some of what occurred during the duel. He coughed and a bit of blood spurted from his mouth. Aurien Wavel hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood. Then he grabbed his shoulders and helped him lay down. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk anymore. Get some more rest. The others wanted to see you, but our Master forbade it. He said you needed time to heal. Close your eyes. When you wake, we¡¯ll still be here.¡± Drakkel nodded. With his energy drained, he could only listen to his Senior Brother. A strong tiredness enveloped him and he drifted to sleep. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 In his dreams, Drakkel replayed the battle in his mind. But this time, it went by much faster. He was reminded of what went on afterwards. After losing to Rillian Adore, he was weak and full of despair. He was forced to leave his sword, Swift Wind¡¯s Breeze, at the site. As he left, the few spectators laughed and jeered. ¡°The oh so famous Drakkel Fin, the Sword¡¯s Wind of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan! One of the most powerful swordsmen! Yeah right!¡± ¡°I can''t believe he lost to Rillian Adore, a Sword Fighter who only made a debut in the sword fighting world a week ago!¡± ¡°Ha! Liars will always get what¡¯s coming to them! He probably had some sort of help to gain his reputation!¡± Drakkel silently walked past all of them. Yes, their comments were hurtful, but his mind was really only focused on one thing. His clan, who held their heads high as one of the two most powerful Swords Clans, would inevitably suffer a blow from this. He couldn''t go back to face them and make it worse. The years that followed the terrible defeat were lonely and isolating. His looks had changed from stress and weight loss. He spent many a day under an abandoned bridge, in rundown buildings and in dark alleyways, avoiding his searching clan members along the way. Hearing the tales of his defeat from storytellers for the first few months, he could only be reminded of what occurred. But the details of the actual battle escaped him with time and when he attempted to think about it, he would get a bad headache. Drakkel''s eyes slowly slid open. He sat up and groggily turned his head to the side. A blue and black clothed disciple was sitting with a sheathed sword in his arms. On the sword hung a familiar piece of white jade. His head was tilted sideways, his eyes were closed, and his chest gently rose and fell. His messy hair contrasted with his neatly placed robes. Although seven years had passed, and his looks were more mature, Drakkel would never forget Kio. Drakkel smiled. It wasn''t long after that Kio¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Looking at Drakkel, his eyes widened and he shot up from his seat. ¡°Senior Drakkel! You''re awake!¡± Drakkel¡¯s smile faltered slightly as he calmly nodded. ¡°I am.¡± Kio continued, ¡°Everyone¡¯s been dying to see you! I¡¯ll go let them know!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Drakkel called after him. But he was too fast. He had already rushed out the door. Drakkel sighed and looked to his other side. On the bedside table were some veggie-stuffed bread buns. He ate them slowly, savoring each bite. From the flavor, he knew his Senior Brother had made them. As he ate, he thought about meeting the disciples. He wasn''t ready to face them, but he also couldn''t let them know this. If the image they had of him wasn''t clouded already, he could only maintain it. He didn''t want his failures to affect them. He quickly straightened his demeanor and waited for them to come in. A few minutes later, nineteen disciples came into his room with Kio leading them. Apart from Kio, he recognized most of them. Especially Mi-Mian, Kirora and Leyon. The four he mentioned seemed the most excited to see him. But it made sense that they were. After all, the four were the inner disciples that learned the most from him. The rest were outer disciples who had mainly learned from these four. The four crowded around his bed while the others watched from behind them. Mi-Mian excitedly said, ¡°Senior Drakkel! You''re back! You don''t know how much we¡¯ve all missed you!¡± Kio nodded vigorously. Being his quiet self, Kirora glanced at him and gave a nod. Leyon added, ¡°Senior Drakkel! How have you been all these years? Have you been eating well? You look so thin!¡± ¡°I''ve been well.¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°I just need some rest now.¡± Leyon nodded. Drakkel continued, ¡°And how have you all been? Has your cultivation improved? They all nodded, except for Kio who averted his gaze and nervously shifted his head to the side. Mi-Mian answered, ¡°I¡¯m at the level of Sword Spirit, Senior Drakkel!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± Leyon added. Drakkel looked around. ¡°Have you all made it to Sword Spirit?¡± Mi-Mian shook her head, ¡°Actually, Kirora is at the beginning middle stages of Sword Master!¡± Drakkel nodded proudly. They really had gotten strong. ¡°Congratulations to all of you!¡± He glanced at Kio whose head was still turned to the side. Kio quietly said, ¡°I¡¯m at the beginning stages of Sword Sworn.¡± Drakkel gestured for him to come over, then patted him on the shoulder. ¡°It''s alright! You''re the youngest among these four! You¡¯ll get there eventually. All you have to do is never stop practicing and believe in yourself. Last time I saw you, you were close to perfecting all the clan¡¯s sword movements. I¡¯m sure you''re perfected them already! You just need more time for your sword energy to catch up.¡± Kio smiled. ¡°Thank you, Senior Drakkel!¡± Drakkel nodded. Returning his attention to the rest, he asked, ¡°And everyone behind you. Have there been any improvements?¡± One of the disciples in the crowd said, ¡°We¡¯re all between the levels of Sword Hero and Sword Valiant, Senior. We aren''t quite as talented as our seniors so it may take us a while to catch up.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°Don¡¯t limit yourself! You won¡¯t know your own capabilities until you test them. Keep pushing your limits and you might find yourself surprised by what you can achieve.¡± The crowd of disciples bowed. ¡°Yes, Senior Drakkel.¡± Another one of the background disciples, and also a familiar face, Grise, said, ¡°It''s been a while and we missed your stories, Senior Drakkel. A few of us are new and haven''t heard them either. Do you think you can tell us more about your past adventures to give us some inspiration?¡± The rest of the disciples nodded excitedly in agreement. Drakkel smiled. ¡°Of course.¡± Drakkel spent the next couple of hours reminiscing about the past. But after a while, he saw that it was getting dark. He reminded the disciples not to fall behind in their cultivation and sent them out. He saw that they were angry about it, but he knew he couldn''t accommodate them all day. The last of the disciples to leave were Mi-Mian, Leyon, Kio and Kirora who reminded him to rest more before making their exit. Left alone, he began to think about the things he noticed. There were hardly any new disciples and the disciples present avoided talking about his circumstances. He was happy they hadn''t mentioned it, but a bit saddened at the fact that they had to tip-toe around him. Around an hour later, while Drakkel was trying to cultivate, his master walked in. ¡°Did you get to see everyone?¡± He said with a relaxed smile. Drakkel nodded. ¡°I did, master.¡± Rodius Fowl''s smile fell as his eyebrows drew close together. A look of concern spread on his face as he made his way to Drakkel''s bed. He took a seat on the chair next to the bed and lifted up Drakkel''s sleeves, placing two fingers to his wrist. A little after, he slowly released his hand. ¡°Did your Senior Brother tell you about your poison?¡± ¡°He did,¡± Drakkel answered. His master began to stroke his beard, staring into the distance as he spoke, ¡°Only my medical studies teacher, Taliyah Raven can help you now.¡± Drakkel was surprised. ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve told me anything about your second master.¡± Rodius Fowl sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, the circumstances have forced me into a corner, otherwise you still wouldn¡¯t know. Once I tell you who she is and where she''s from, I think you¡¯ll understand why I¡¯ve kept her identity a secret¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°You see, Taliyah is a special woman. The official head of medicine in the Swordfighting world is the Medicine clan, Powdered Vessel, and the number one medical master is publicly considered to be the Powdered Vessel Swords Clan¡¯s leader Hik Yo. But none of us compare to Taliyah Raven of the Hidden Desires Clan.¡± When he mentioned the Hidden Desires Clan, Drakkel understood why his master withheld the information up until now. The Hidden Desires Swords Clan was notorious, as it was one of the seven most powerful Swords Clans. But it was also an open secret that it facilitated questionable business tactics and abused some of its members. It was a cut throat clan that utilized daggers, hidden weapons, and seduction fighting techniques. They required that every member utilize pair cultivation to improve their skills as they believed it to be the best cultivation method. The sad fact was that not only were they connected to powerful individuals, but very secretive and careful in conducting their business. So even if one wanted to bring them to justice, they wouldn''t really know where to start. His master continued, ¡°Her medical prowess is known only to members of the medicine community. She is legendary in the fact that not only had she reached the pinnacle of sword master, she had also created an anti-aging technique; the specifications of which she is unwilling to share. She is wise and beautiful, being known as one of the three immortal beauties. With one being from the Enchanting Fans swords clan that was said to have disappeared and another being the head disciple of the Sweeping Trees clan. Thus the title granted to her amongst those in the know is Medicine Princess.¡± Drakkel nodded. He had heard of the three immortal beauties who were only named every 50 years. Their peerless beauty was said to only be matched by that of an immortal and their strength was among the best of Sword Fighters, but he never cared enough to look further into them. ¡°How will I find her?¡± He asked. Rodius Fowl stood up from his chair and turned around. ¡°Swordsmith Villa should be able to help you.¡± Drakkel had forgotten. Swordsmith Villa was the swords clan that all other swords clans went to when commissioning the creation of a weapon. Even his old sword, Swift Wind''s breeze, was created there. Because of this, they had a way to keep contact with every single Swords Clan that utilized their services. Drakkel bowed his head. ¡°Thank you for the advice master. Then I¡¯ll set out tomorrow.¡± Rodius Fowl shook his head. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Calm down and don''t leave until your injuries are healed.¡± ¡°Alright, Master.¡± Drakkel replied. Rodius Fowl nodded. Now that his master was here, Drakkel suddenly remembered something that his Senior Brother said. ¡°By the way master, about the poison¡­¡± Rodius Fowl, turned on his heels, not answering to Drakkel at all. Knowing his master¡¯s sword sense prowess, he definitely heard what Drakkel said. Yet, he ignored him and headed for the door. Drakkel could only give up. His master was strong and willful. If it wasn¡¯t his intention to answer, he couldn''t push him. As the sky darkened, Aurien Wavel walked in with a plate of food and some medicine. Drakkel wanted to ask about what he didn¡¯t finish discussing with his master. But, figuring his master didn¡¯t want him speaking about it, he decided not to bring it up any further and instead asked, ¡°Senior Brother. Do you know how I ended up here?¡± Aurien Wavel smiled. ¡°A few days before we found you, someone tipped us off as to where you were going to be located. They sent an anonymous letter so we don''t know who it was, but we were grateful to have found you.¡± Drakkel already guessed who sent the letter, ¡°Did the letter say anything else?¡± He asked. Aurien Wavel nodded. ¡°The letter also mentioned that you were transporting the corrupt Town Lord of Shadowy Ridges to Lunala Isle. While you were resting, we found the evidence in your robes. We got someone to gather witness testimonies and already sent them along with the account information to the royal court to handle. As for the other document¡­¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°You kept it away from us, gripping it tightly when we tried to take it. We decided to let you have it. We already had all the evidence we needed.¡± He looked at Drakkel expectantly, but Drakkel could only nod. He appreciated that his clan members had handled everything. But despite his Senior Brother''s curiosity, he couldn''t reveal the contents of the second document. If his clan saw it and got involved, they might risk making enemies of those they shouldn''t. He decided to change the subject, curious about what befell the person he was traveling with. ¡°Do you know if¡­¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Were you able to locate Rillian Adore?¡± ¡°No.¡± Aurien Wavel answered. ¡°I heard the disciples gave chase in the direction you pointed out but they saw no traces of anyone in the vicinity.¡± Drakkel dropped his head in despair for a moment. But then he realized it was Rillian Adore. Even if he couldn¡¯t defeat the demons, he still had ways to escape. Rillian Adore was known as the Undefeated Golden Blade. If he took the demons on, it was because he knew he could handle them. After eating the food and taking the medicine in front of his Senior Brother, Drakkel thanked him. His Senior Brother then left the room, telling him to get some rest. As Drakkel laid in the bed, he thought about the past. Now that he remembered his duel with Rillian Adore he had more questions than answers. But at the very least he now knew that the loss wasn¡¯t his fault. And so, once his Grand Master Taliyah healed him, he would work on investigating what truly happened that day. A little concerned, he checked for the papers he received from Shadowy Ridges. His Senior Brother wasn''t lying. The only paper he still had was the one that noted which clans were involved in the mining transactions. His clan members could be nosy, but in this matter they had respect. Drakkel frowned. It had been 7 years already. Many things could have changed. He had spent far too much time away. Now he felt like a stranger in his own home. The moon would always wax and wane and the sun would always come out in the morning. Some things would always change while others remained the same and like a person faced with the moon and the sun, he could only stand and accept whatever may come. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 After a week of rest, Drakkel was able to move around more easily. His old aches still remained, but he was back to his original self. During the week he had been regularly conversing with his clanmates to find out what he had missed. He learned that his clan had trouble gathering disciples and that was the reason that their numbers had stayed nearly the same from when he was last there. If it weren''t for the fact that his master was still there and they had another Sword Master among them, their rank might have fallen even further than number 2. He also learned that Mi-Mian became engaged to a disciple in the Powdered Vessel Swords Clan named Caz Lianga and Leyon managed to catch the eyes of the head disciple of the Sweeping Trees Clan, Immortal Beauty Jade Blossom Sonalita Pir. The relationship with Mi-Mian and Caz Lianga had been developing for four years, but the one with Leyon and Sonalita only started during the last Sword Fighting summit two years ago, where she became impressed with his skills and charm. Many men were apparently jealous of Leyon and asked to duel with him. But the Sacred Sword Swords Clan was not so easily beaten. The men who challenged him were mainly Sword Sworn and below. Anyone at Sword Spirit was usually defeated by Kirora as that was his level at the time. But, on one occasion, a Sword Master confidently announced that he would defeat the disciple of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan and win The Jade Blossom''s hand. Being labeled as one of the top Sword fighters and reaching sword master at the age of 19, Sonalita heard this and challenged the man to a duel instead. She won before he even got the chance to fight Leyon. She called him out for being shameful and challenging one weaker than himself and he became a laughing stock for a while afterwards. Drakkel also learned of the individuals currently ranked as the strongest in the Sword Fighting world. Of course all the leaders of the strongest 7 swords clans were on the list. As well as some of their disciples who had made it to Sword Master. Still, there were some individuals missing from the list including Taliyah Raven and Rillian Adore. For Taliyah, this may have made sense, but Drakkel was surprised to find that Rillian Adore was also not included. The list was made up of strong individuals who attended the Swordfighting summit. There were two ways for a Sword Fighter to display his or her strength in the Sword Fighting world. One was by attending the Swordfighting Summit and the other was by beating one stronger than yourself in a duel. Being a part of the list didn¡¯t mean you were the strongest. That was why some people might be at the rank of Sword Master and known as a strong individual, but not have a place on the list. The Summit took place every three years and it not only determined the strongest sword fighters, but also the top 7 clans. The clans with the most wins would move up in rank. On top of this, each individual disciple would be analyzed and given a spot on the sword fighter ranking list. When Drakkel asked why Rillian Adore wasn''t on the list, his clanmates had informed him that Rillian Adore had refused to attend any Swordfighting Summit since after the duel with him. He had gone into a one year seclusion and locked himself away. However, because of the duel, this one year seclusion was regularly interrupted by dueling requests from others. This had gone on for a while until he had finally beaten a sword master called Wils Jirno from the White Clouds Swords Clan. Standing undefeated and beating one of the strongest Sword Fighters, no one dared to challenge him again. Later his clanmates told him of rumors they heard on the street that said a mysterious man had assisted Rillian Adore in fixing the situation at Shadowy Ridges. The two were even said to have defeated a horde of demons at Thousand Petals Swords Clan''s Manor. Knowing that he was the one found there, his clanmates asked him for the truth behind it, but Drakkel did not want to tell them every embarrassing thing he did to help the townspeople of Shadowy Ridges, nor did he want to expound on such a complicated subject to avoid his problems from haunting them as well. So, he only told them that there was some truth in it and left it at that. They didn''t need to know more. Later on when the disciples left, Drakkel¡¯s master walked in. As he stood at the entrance to the room, he ¡°Are you feeling better, Drakkel?¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°I am, Master.¡± Rodius Fowl walked over to the chair next to the bed and sat down. He reached out his hand and took Drakkel¡¯s pulse. After nodding his head, he pulled his hand away and smiled. ¡°Your sword energy has stabilized quite a bit. You can go and seek out my master tomorrow.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Because he was about to leave, Drakkel thought it wouldn''t hurt to inquire about the earlier matter again. ¡°By the way master, Senior Brother told me that the Night Raising Flower is fatal. Why haven''t I¡­¡± Rodius Fowl shook his head. ¡°I can''t tell you. My master will have the answer you seek.¡± Drakkel nodded. His master really didn''t want to speak about the issue so he knew he had to drop it. Rodius Fowl continued, ¡°When you head out tomorrow, you should travel alone. Don''t draw any attention to yourself. As my disciple, I''m sure you know what you must and mustn¡¯t do.¡± Drakkel bowed his head. ¡°Of course, master.¡± His master was right. Stay hidden and tread carefully. For now, his identity was concealed. But if he were to be found out, some weak Sword Fighters might try to make a name for themselves by challenging him. Not only would this impede his journey, he may not even be able to defeat them in his current state which could cause the standing of his clan to worsen. Rodius Fowl got out of his seat and made his way to the door when Drakkel suddenly said, ¡°Master¡­¡± Rodius Fowl stopped. ¡°Did you ever recover Swift Wind''s Breeze?¡± Rodius Fowl shook his head. Drakkel sighed. He thought this might be the case, but he still had to try. Weapons of Sword Outcasts and Fallen Sword Fighters were either dissolved into meteoric stone to be reused or kept in the sword hall of their individual Swords Clans. Some weapons were so famous, they were even donated to SwordSmith Villa¡¯s Grand Sword Hall or given to other Swords Clans to make connections or show appreciation. Rodius Fowl said, ¡°It disappeared shortly after your fight. I heard it would strike out at anyone who dared to touch it and that attempting to do so would cause one to feel immense pain on contact. so it was left on the site for weeks. Many tried to take it, but they couldn''t stand the pain and gave up. We were busy at the time, so I couldn¡¯t immediately send someone out to retrieve it. But when everything calmed, your Senior Brother offered to go. As he was set to leave, however, we received news that the sword had already disappeared.¡± He sighed. ¡°That¡¯s all I know. Wait here for a bit. I have some porridge with peaches for you.¡± Drakkel nodded. He was disappointed to hear that the fate of his sword was unknown, but he knew he shouldn¡¯t complain. He wasn¡¯t yet ready to wield it. Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if it would be too late to locate it once his poison was healed. Drakkel¡¯s master had returned quickly. In his hand was a tray and atop it sat a piping hot bowl of porridge and two peaches. Rodius Fowl sat on the chair next to Drakkel¡¯s bed and handed him the tray. Drakkel stared at it for a few moments. Seeing his hesitation, Rodius Fowl asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Hurry up and eat it.¡± Drakkel smiled. ¡°I was just wondering if you cooked it, master.¡± Rodius Fowl stroked his beard. ¡°Why? Does it matter?¡± Drakkel politely answered, ¡°It doesn''t, I was just curious...¡± He grabbed the tray and hesitatingly lifted the spoon from the bowl. Rodius Fowl said, ¡°Your Senior Brother cooked it.¡± Drakkel breathed a sigh of relief and placed the spoon in his mouth. Only when he was hit by the weirdly textured, salty mass of half cooked-through porridge did he realize he was lied to. ¡°Master!¡± He screamed with a mouthful of food. Rodius Fowl laughed. ¡°I was just kidding! That¡¯s why I brought you some peaches to wash it down with.¡± Drakkel shoved down the porridge and eagerly grabbed one of the peaches. When he bit down into it and the flavor of the juices leaked into his mouth, he was finally able to relax. His Master was great at many things, but cooking was not one of them. He remembered growing up that his master loved to cook, but was very terrible at it. He would make all types of concoctions and force Drakkel to try them. If his Senior Brother had any time, he might give Drakkel something delicious to cover the taste of the bad food. This was because, unlike his master, His Senior Brother was a great cook. He smiled. When he was sick, his master was said to have spent hours in the kitchen making him porridge. On those days, his master''s porridge seemed to be the only thing he could stomach. Rodius Fowl snapped him out of his thoughts. ¡°Get some rest now, Drakkel. You have to head out tomorrow.¡± He handed him the second peach, got up, took the tray, and headed out the door. Before he reached the door, Drakkel said, ¡°Thank you, master.¡± Rodius Fowl paused, nodded, and then exited the room. Drakkel ate the second peach and then laid his back on his pillow. Returning to his Swordsclan wasn¡¯t as bad as he thought it would be. For a moment, he thought that he shouldn''t have put it off for so long. However, he quickly shook his head. If he had officially returned in front of the prying eyes of others, his clan would have had to face the wrath of the world as he had. He had already made them suffer and they still didn''t blame him. But if he made them suffer any more, he would still blame himself. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The next morning arrived quickly. Drakkel got out of bed, stretched his body, and paced around the room for a few minutes to get used to walking. When he was satisfied with his condition, he grabbed his bag and headed out the door. As walked through the halls, he appreciated the sights that surrounded him. His swords clan¡¯s manor wasn¡¯t as large as all the others, but it was cozy. The whole thing was made of finished wood and it sat in the middle of Immortal Peak. Within it were various gardens kept by his senior brother and master and maintained by disciples which grew medicinal herbs and vegetables. When the herbs were ripe, his Senior brother and his master would pick them and use them for medical research or for healing. Meanwhile, the vegetables were eaten by the disciples or given to poor townspeople who couldn''t afford food. Though Immortal Peak was a large city, it was modest. Its fields were healthy and nourishing so along with its numerous sturdy structures and local attractions, It had a great number of farms and small-time businesses. Due to this environment, unlike Waning Crescent, Heaven¡¯s Path and the other inner cities, there were no riches nor fame to be found, just calm and secure living. Because of this though, Immortal Peak lacked a good number of certain professions including doctors. So, Drakkel''s master and senior brother would take care of any citizens who were unable to find a doctor and they would charge no fee for their services. Drakkel circled the whole manor and went to the kitchen to grab some snacks before leaving. He was surprised to not see a single disciple on the way. When he was ready to leave and made his way to the exit, he went to the hall which led to the outside gates of the manor. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. However after he arrived, he spotted a crowd of people lying in wait for him. When they saw him, they yelled, ¡°Senior!¡± The crowd of disciples ran up to him. They gave him hugs, wished him good will and offered some items they had brought for him. When they finally cleared, Mi-Mian gave him an extra hug along with Leyon. Kirora gave him a nod and Kio bumped his fist. His Senior Brother gave him a satchel of herbs to heal cuts and wounds, another bag filled with bandages and a bottle of rejuvenating pills. He also gave him a hug and cleared the way for his master. ¡°What did I say?¡± His Master asked. Drakkel raised an eyebrow. His master moved his hand forward and Drakkel''s gaze drifted down. He realized that his master was holding a veiled bamboo hat. His master handed him the hat as well as a wooden pendant attached to a pass. ¡°The hat will give you cover and the pendant should get the SwordSmith Villa Swords Clan to give you information. But use the pendant as a last resort. The moment you use it, they might figure out who you are.¡± He said. Drakkel put on the bamboo hat and bowed his head. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± He turned to face the crowd of disciples standing behind his senior brother and cupped his hands. ¡°Goodbye everyone! Once I''m done with what I need to do, I will come back to repay you all!¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The moment Drakkel stepped out of the gates, he surveyed the area. Stalls surrounded by customers sat across from the manor. People bustled about the clean and organized road, either deep in conversation, in a hurry to get somewhere, or walking leisurely. Many stopped to greet him, their smiles extending from ear to ear. However, some whispered about him. Based on his appearance, he could guess what they were saying. He stepped outside of the manor, but he wasn''t dressed in the same wear as the disciples. He pretended not to hear as he got on the road, heading in the direction that would allow him to leave the city and head towards Joyful Encounters. But Immortal Peak was a small Inner City. Even when moving a bit up the road, the rumors persisted. Eventually, he couldn''t help but pick up the hushed whispers of those who spoke about him. A female storekeeper and her male customer were chatting. ¡°Is that the fellow that¡¯s been staying in Sacred Sword Manor these days?¡± ¡°He must be! I¡¯ve been all around the city and this is the first time I''m seeing him!¡± ¡°I wonder if he might be a patient of the master or disciple. I heard they recently took in someone who was seriously injured.¡± ¡°Bless their hearts! They do good work. If it weren''t for them, my mother would have died when she fell sick a few years ago. To think they are still doing charitable services even to this day! It''s certainly something to be admired.¡± A small smile spread upon Drakkel''s face as he picked up his pace, quickly leaving the crowded area. Even when he got far enough that the whispers disappeared, they still reverberated in his mind, lightening his mood. Immortal Peak was filled with many people. The roads were paved in smooth stone and stalls that sold various items lined the streets. Large buildings towered behind them, hanging signs that advertised their services. There was ¡°Licen¡¯s pottery¡±, ¡°Ri¡¯s Clothing¡± and even ¡°Ty¡¯s bakery.¡± As the words entered Drakkel''s mind, a sense of familiarity accompanied them. He had often visited these stores when he still stayed with his clan. He specifically remembered that Ty¡¯s bakery¡¯s Lotus cake was his favorite pastry growing up. His master was stingy and would often say, ¡°We have sweets at home. Why would you want to go out and buy some from outside? We need this money to help the sick and poor!¡± His master, being in control of the funds for their manor, made it difficult for him to acquire spending money. His Senior Brother would often use his personal allowance to buy him pastries from Ty¡¯s, thinking he was wronged. But his master would sometimes ¡°misplace¡± money when he was around. He might drop it while looking for something or while heading to the garden to harvest some herbs. Drakkel would collect the money and try to return it to his master. But whenever he asked him about it, his master would pretend like he didn''t hear anything. Drakkel was then forced to keep the money and spend it. Later he found out that although they offered their services to the poor folk for free, many felt indebted and would either pay in food or a small fee in coin at a later date when they had it. His master would drop some of the money on purpose, expecting Drakkel to collect it. Then Drakkel would use it to buy pastries and share them with the other disciples. When he was old enough to make his own money by assisting villages, towns and cities in whatever affairs they requested, he would buy his own pastries as well as some items for his master and senior brother to show his gratitude. After some time, he made enough to buy items for all of the clan members whenever he returned. He was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn''t notice a golden-haired man slip out of the shop with a bag of pastries in his hand. The man walked up to him and grabbed him by the wrist. When Drakkel looked up to see who it was, although the man had covered his face in a veil, he could still tell it was Rillian Adore. Thinking about what he had just learned about the duel, both anger and curiosity gripped him at the same time. With a mix of the two, his body was unable to react and he defaulted to a startled reaction. ¡°Rill¡­?¡± However, Rillian Adore, placed an index finger near his lips which were covered behind a thin white veil. Drakkel then noticed that the large sword sitting on the man''s back was concealed with its sheath under the wrapping that hung off its hilt. He pointed towards the direction of the exit to the town and grabbed onto Drakkel''s wrist as he led him there. But before they could get far, Rillian Adore was bumped into by a small boy. The boy who appeared no older than 6, had his dark brown hair tied into a small ponytail. His innocent brown eyes stared up at Rillian Adore before they welled up with tears. Then, he started to cry. His crying was so loud that the people walking the streets stared at them as they walked past. Drakkel quickly said, ¡°What''s wrong? Don''t cry!¡± The boy continued to cry. As he did, he whined, ¡°I miss my mom and dad!¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± Drakkel asked. ¡°We¡¯ll bring you to them!¡± ¡°I don''t know!¡± The boy answered, heavy tears still falling down his face. Rillian Adore stopped for a moment, then pulled a pastry out of his bag. Without hesitation, he gave it to the boy. ¡°Stop crying and speaking slowly. Have this first and talk after.¡± The boy¡¯s crying slowed to a sniffle as he nodded and took the pastry from Rillian Adore¡¯s hands. As he silently ate, his crying settled and people stopped staring at them, continuing to go about their business. When the boy finished half the pastry, Rillian Adore asked, ¡°So you got separated from your mom and dad?¡± The boy sniffled and nodded. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Rillian Adore continued, ¡°What do they look like? Or do you remember what they were wearing?¡± The boy initially shook his head, but after thinking for a moment, his eyes widened. ¡°Mom was wearing a pink robe with pretty pink flowers on it!¡± Rillian Adore looked at Drakkel and then back at the boy. ¡°We¡¯ll help you find them. Ok?¡± The boy nodded. Drakkel was still angry, but he still couldn¡¯t help but be amazed at Rillian Adore. For someone so hard and cold, he was surprisingly good with children. The boy was small and already got lost in the crowd so someone had to carry him. Because Rillian Adore was already holding the pastries, Drakkel tried to pick the boy up. But the boy grabbed onto Rillian Adore¡¯s robe with his empty hand and retreated behind his figure. Drakkel¡¯s emotions hadn¡¯t settled, but he knew he had to cooperate and reign them in. Holding out his hand, he said, ¡°I can hold the pastries. Why don''t you hold the boy?¡± Rillian Adore who had watched the whole thing nodded. He handed the bag of pastries to Drakkel and easily hefted the boy into his arms. The three spent some time looking around the town. As they walked through a quieter place with less people around, Drakkel could tell that the child in Rillian Adore¡¯s arms who had fallen asleep to the loud noise from earlier, was beginning to wake with the quietness that settled as they passed through a particularly desolate area. His eyebrows and mouth shook and an unpleasant expression began to form on his features. Not wanting to wake him, he threw out some words to liven the atmosphere and soothe him. ¡°Sword Master Rillian, I didn''t know you were so good with kids.¡± Rillian Adore shrugged. Drakkel continued, ¡°Sadly, I can''t say the same.¡± Rillian Adore stopped for a moment, before unexpectedly replying, ¡°You can.¡± Drakkel was confused. The boy wouldn''t let him hold him, but Rillian Adore was able to. He had even fallen asleep in his arms. How would Rillian Adore know he was good with kids if he had never seen him handle any? Drakkel responded, ¡°You don''t know me. How do you¡­¡± However he didn''t get to finish as Rillian Adore continued to walk. Drakkel knew when one didn''t want to talk and decided to drop the matter. Besides, Rillian Adore might have just thought he was good with kids because he heard how he helped the kids in Shadowy Ridges. Not long after their conversation ended, they had entered another noisy area and after twenty more minutes, the two finally found the boy¡¯s mother and father who had been frantically looking for him. His mother was indeed wearing a pink robe which was embroidered with pink camellias. When he was reunited with his parents, they thanked them profusely and the boy¡¯s mother hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. As he watched, the corners of Rillian Adore¡¯s lips turned up into a small smile. He then turned to Drakkel and said that they should go. As they left, the young boy happily waved them goodbye, his eyes bright and a wide smile on his face. After what they had just experienced and even with everything that happened before, the cloud of bitterness that settled over Drakkel¡¯s heart began to disappear and he realized that his anger was probably misplaced. He had learned that many things need not be fussed over and now he knew he might have been making a perpetrator out of a victim. Rillian Adore was intimidating but he was also honest. If he had anything to do with Drakkel¡¯s situation, he didn¡¯t need to defend him when people talked badly about him and he didn¡¯t need to bother communicating with his clan for a complete stranger. So Drakkel decided to drop the matter until he learned more. But still, he wanted to speak to Rillian Adore about something else. Luckily for him, Rillian Adore again grabbed his wrist and led him to the exit of Immortal Peak. Because he had something to say, he let himself be dragged without resistance. When they reached around half a mile away from the city and found no one else on the path, Rillian Adore removed his veil and Drakkel removed his hat. Drakkel stated, ¡°Sword Master Rilian, we can finally talk in private. I¡¯ve been meaning to ask. How did you escape the demons?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for long enough. Just call me Rillian.¡± Drakkel raised an eyebrow. Who would casually call Rillian Adore by his name? Knowing someone for long enough didn''t mean one could easily overstep their bounds especially to one as respected as himself. He was stuck on what to say next when Rilian Adore added, ¡°If we can''t speak casually, it''s best not to speak at all.¡± Drakkel''s mouth twitched. On top of being cold and intimidating, this man was an oddball. But if he requested something from him, he couldn''t easily refuse. He only hoped no one else would hear him address him so casually. ¡°Alright, Rillian. Please continue.¡± Rillian Adore smiled. ¡°Once I saw the Sacred Swords clan retrieve you, I prepared to fight the demons. However, after unsheathing my sword, they suddenly retreated.¡± Drakkel breathed out a sigh of relief. He then noticed that Rillian Adore hadn''t yet let go of his wrist. He looked down at it silently, but Rillian Adore didn¡¯t seem to get the hint. He cleared his throat and only then was he released. Afterwards, he asked, ¡°So how did you end up here?¡± Rillian Adore shifted his gaze to the side. Taking out the bag of pastries, he casually replied, ¡°Pastries.¡± Drakkel''s mouth twitched. If he wanted to lie, he could have tried harder! There was nothing particularly special about Ty¡¯s bakery when compared to the likes of Lily¡¯s in Waning Crescent and even Xil¡¯s in Dragon''s Dwelling. It didn''t hold any renown outside of Immortal Peak at all! Also, traveling from Lunala Isle to Immortal Peak might take only two days, but it wasn''t like it was a short distance. Who would travel that far for some small unknown bakery? Drakkel knew Rillian Adore wasn''t being forward with his true reasoning, but he didn''t really have the time nor energy to figure it out. He promptly answered, ¡°Alright. Now that you''ve had them, there''s no reason for you to stick with me. We should go our separate ways.¡± He put his hat back on and continued to follow his original path when a hand held onto his arm. ¡°What?¡± He turned around to ask. ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Rillian Adore replied. Drakkel sighed. Pulling his arm out of Rillian Adore''s grasp, he said, ¡°I have some business to attend to in Joyful Encounters.¡± ¡°The home of SwordSmith Villa?¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°And I have no time to waste. So I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s voice raised a bit as he hurriedly said, ¡°I have to go there as well.¡± Drakkel smiled, but he couldn''t stop his right cheek from twitching slightly. Did he want an invitation? Rillian Adore continued to look at him expectantly and Drakkel couldn''t take it anymore. He obviously wasn''t going to give up, so he had no other choice. He sighed. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Rillian Adore smiled and Drakkel sighed. The normally stoic and cold Rillian Adore who was known to always hold a listless expression or a frown, had been smiling a lot in front of him. For a moment, he wondered if the rumors about him were true, but then he shook his head. Whether they were true or not didn''t matter. He had more important things to worry about. Without a word, he swiftly turned around, continuing to walk along the path with Rillian Adore at his heels. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 After a couple of hours, Rillian Adore and Drakkel came across a run-down pavilion. The wood was sturdy but old, the colors fading from time and environmental stresses. But the floor was made of concrete so although it was dirty, it still held its shape with only a bit of damage. The place lacked chairs, but was shaded from the sun making it an ideal place to take a break. Next to it sat a well for passersby to drink from. Noticing that they were running out of water, Drakkel said, "Let''s take a break.¡± The two walked over to the pavilion and found a place to rest. Before taking a seat, Drakkel took out his water flask and went to refill it, but Rillian Adore blocked his path. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can do that,¡± he said, holding a hand out. Drakkel thought it would be a waste of energy for both of them to go since the well was so small. If they went together, they would have to take turns. He figured that this must have been Rillian Adore¡¯s thought process as well so he nodded and gave him his water flask. Rillian Adore returned shortly with Drakkel¡¯s water flask in hand. Drakkel thanked him as he received it. Afterwards, Rillian Adore took a seat next to Drakkel on the cool floor of the pavilion. Drakkel took some sips of water and Rillian Adore did the same. Then he turned to Rillian Adore. He figured that since he had shown up anyway, he could now take the opportunity to ask some questions he had been holding in. Although he knew the answers, he still wanted to confirm that he and Rillian Adore¡¯s thoughts aligned. ¡°Rillian, why did you decide not to assist the Thousand Petals clan?¡± Rillian Adore put down his water flask. ¡°I decided not to help for a few reasons. First, the clan leader told me not to. Second and the most important, the clan leader killed Lord Tincaid and soon after, his clan was swarmed by demons. It couldn''t have been a coincidence. He might have had something to do with the incident in Shadowy Ridges and was silenced. At that point, defending his clan would be useless and might only get me wrongfully killed.¡± Drakkel nodded. It was exactly as he had thought. Someone had gone after Lord Tincaid to silence him. The same could have happened to the clan leader of The Thousand Petals Swords clan. The power behind it was large enough to allow what occurred in Shadowy Ridges to keep happening for years and was allied with not only a Town Lord, but the leader of one of the most powerful Swords Clans. If Rillian Adore had assisted them at that point, he might truly only have gotten himself killed for no reason. Drakkel continued, ¡°And were you the one who told the Sacred Swords Clan to come help us?¡± ¡°I was,¡± Rillian Adore answered. ¡°Why?¡± Drakkel asked, curious about the answer. Rillian Adore took another sip of water. ¡°I told them because I had a feeling that something was wrong with the Thousand Petals Swords Clan. They are the closest powerful clan to Lunala Isle so I thought it would be prudent to request their assistance. I figured you were taken by them to help heal your injuries. Was it an issue?¡± Drakkel thought this would be the case, but he wanted to ask to make sure Rillian Adore had not caught on to his identity. He shook his head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t. Thank you for looking out for me.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Suddenly, a familiar voice yelled, ¡°Sword Master Rillian, Is that you?!¡± Drakkel looked over to see where the voice was coming from. It came from Rou who was standing next to a modest-looking carriage. It was nothing like what the noble lords and ladies rode, but it wasn¡¯t bad to look at. It was large and sturdy, seeming like something a commoner might use for a long ride to a far away city. Drakkel remembered what his master said about hiding himself, but Rou had already seen him and would most likely recognize him under the hat anyway, so he took it off. Rillian Adore went up to meet Rou and he followed him. Rou bowed to them. ¡°It''s good to see you two.¡± ¡°What brings you here, Rou?¡± Drakkel asked. Rou smiled. ¡°My daughter and I are looking for somewhere to stay.¡± ¡°You found your daughter?¡± Rillian Adore asked. Rou nodded. Then he turned and yelled, ¡°Auril, come and greet my saviors!¡± The carriage creaked as a young woman stepped out. She couldn¡¯t have been more than 17. She was a pretty girl, with long black hair and slightly tanned skin which glistened a bit in the sun. Hung upon her waist was a similar satchel to the one Rou was holding in Shadowy Ridges. With a closer look at Rou, it could be seen that the one he was holding was hung on his waist as well. In the girl¡¯s hand was a wrapped item with a long pole and a mass above it. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. With the item, the girl walked sturdily and comfortably. From her movements, one could see she was a Sword Fighter. Once she got out of the carriage, she cupped her hands to Drakkel and Rillian Adore. ¡°Thank you for saving my father.¡± ¡°No need to thank us.¡± Drakkel replied. ¡°We were just performing our duty.¡± She frowned. ¡°I¡¯m angry my father had to suffer for so long. I should have gone back¡­¡± Rou touched her shoulder, ¡°Auril. Now that you¡¯ve told me, I know how your Swords Clan worked. If you had come back before your once a year visit time and hadn¡¯t returned after a week, they would have made you a sword outcast. You know what life is like after that! I would never have wished that upon you!¡± Auril grabbed her father¡¯s hand and patted it. Drakkel said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Miss Auril. The problems are solved and your father is safe.¡± Auril smiled. Now focused on the item, Drakkel gestured to it. ¡°Is that?¡± Auril brought the item forward. ¡°Yes, It¡¯s a poleaxe.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re from the Thousand Petals Swords Clan?¡± She nodded. Drakkel thought about the mess the Swords clan was in. Curious about it, he asked, ¡°How are they? After the incident¡­¡± Auril¡¯s frown, which had been forming since Drakkel originally asked her about her clan, grew deeper, her eyes lowering to stare at her feet. Rillian Adore answered for her. ¡°They were wiped out completely. She may be the only survivor.¡± Drakkel¡¯s eyes widened as he gazed at Rillian Adore. ¡°Wiped out?¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Drakkel¡¯s gaze shifted to Auril and she also nodded. He took a few moments to gather his thoughts, then after taking a breath, he asked, ¡°Are you ok?¡± Auril shook her head. ¡°I was never that friendly towards my clanmates. You know it, I''m sure. Swords clans are like families. Once a person joins one, their clan would be considered their first family. Those who were orphaned or estranged from their families could even gain new names when joining a clan. The family a person used to be a part of should have minimum or no contact with them. Even like a family, if one dies in a Swords Clan, a memorial tablet is made for them and placed in an ancestral hall, but their body can be taken and buried by their family if desired. As a well-known clan located close to a popular inner town, the members of my clan were mainly those from rich and well-to-do families. Although they were supposed to keep contact with their families to a minimum, they still benefited from their family¡¯s fortune. They looked down on an assumed orphan like me who was abandoned by her uncle for a small bit of money. When the clan was looking for new recruits, my uncle offered me over. The clan head disciples noticed that I had decent foundations and took me in. I had no friends and only acquaintances, spending most of my time either answering to guard requests from neighboring towns and villages, cultivating, or reading. Under normal circumstances, I wasn''t allowed to leave the manor for anything other than outside requests. but when my father came to the door, requesting to see me a day before the demons attacked, the clan leader actually said I could stay out for a week to keep him company.¡± Drakkel wondered if the clan leader might have known what was going to happen and made an attempt to save his disciple. He replied, ¡°Well, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re ok. I¡¯m sorry about what happened to your clan.¡± Auril looked up at him and half-smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t be. After all, it isn¡¯t your fault.¡± Drakkel nodded. Rou said, ¡°My daughter is strong. She has made it to Sword Sworn already!¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s eyebrows shot up as he nodded, impressed. Drakkel nodded as well. ¡°Nice job! I¡¯m sure your cultivation level will increase again soon!¡± Auril excitedly replied, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to hear that from you!¡± Drakkel smiled. ¡°Enough chatting,¡° Rou said. ¡°I actually wanted to ask if you two needed a ride. I never did repay the debt that I owe you and I can¡¯t have it sitting on my head!¡± Drakkel didn¡¯t want to be a bother. After all, he was in the middle of something. ¡°No, we¡¯re actually¡­¡± However Rillian Adore cut him off. ¡°Thank you. We would appreciate it.¡± Drakkel frowned but he also understood why Rillian Adore did what he did. Joyous Encounters was many days away. If they took a carriage as large and well stocked as the one Rou had, it would mean they wouldn¡¯t have to stay in several villages before arriving at their destination. ¡°Of course, Sword Master Rillian!¡± Rou answered. ¡°We are but wandering travelers now, so we have some time.¡± Rillian Adore bowed his head. Rou continued. ¡°You two can ride in the carriage with my daughter. There¡¯s plenty of space.¡± Rillian Adore nodded but Drakkel was unsure. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for two men to be riding in a carriage with a young woman?¡± Rou waved his hand in the air, ¡°Nonsense! I trust your characters and I''m sure my daughter does as well. Right, Auril?¡± Auril nodded. ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Besides,¡± Rou added. ¡°This isn¡¯t some high end carriage. We aren¡¯t going to a public event. There¡¯s no need to worry about it.¡± ¡°Alright. If you insist,¡± Drakkel replied. Auril walked back to the carriage and Rillian Adore followed with Drakkel trailing behind them. Once they stepped inside, Auril took a seat at one end of the carriage and Rillian Adore took a seat at the other. Rillian Adore gazed intently at Drakkel as he got onto the carriage. His expression only relaxed when Drakkel took a seat next to him. In a few moments, the carriage shook and then began to move. Because of everything that happened, Drakkel had forgotten about the pastries Rillian Adore brought. Only when he took them out to share did he remember. Among the pastries were a few random assortments, meat-stuffed pastries, and Drakkel¡¯s favorite lotus cakes. Drakkel grabbed a Lotus pastry from the array and took a bite. As he chewed, the deliciously familiar flavor hit his tongue, causing his taste buds to tingle with delight. Auril also grabbed a pastry and happily ate it. While Drakkel and Auril ate, they witnessed a surprising sight. Rillian Adore, who was known to be cold, intimidating, and ruthless actually took out a meat-stuffed pastry and ate it. With that bite, his cold demeanor all but dropped and a small smile spread on his face. Unlike the Sacred Sword Sword¡¯s Clan which had no dietary restrictions, the Golden Peak Swords Clan focused on eating whole and healthy foods. On top of his reputation, Rillian Adore was also known for being very obedient to his clan rules. It was said he preferred lighter foods over greasy or sweet ones. So seeing him eat this greasy pastry especially in such a relaxed manner was like watching a tiger eating grass. Drakkel wondered if under his obedient and strict demeanor, he was actually a troublemaker. As they went on their journey, they learned a bit more about each other. Rillian Adore told Auril that Drakkel was an old friend of his whom he was traveling with and Auril told them more about the state of her cultivation and asked them tips on how to increase it. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 They reached the town of Towering Heights as the sky darkened a few days later. Towering Heights was the major town one had to pass before arriving at Joyful Encounters. The Town was known for being loud and lively. Even during the night, the streets were filled with people. As the carriage rode through the town, decorated lanterns could be seen lighting up stalls that were setup at the roadside. Although it was nearly dark, people were still full of energy- especially the stall keepers who shouted for customers to try some of their items. ¡°It¡¯s pretty lively out there.¡± Rillian Adore said looking out the window. His gaze shifted to Drakkel. ¡°Do you want something? I can buy it.¡± Drakkel found his question to be rather unexpected. Why would the Golden Blade offer something to a stranger for no reason? They weren''t friends or family. As the reasons for this flashed through his mind, he felt his cheeks grow hot. Actually this kind of behavior was common, but only amongst good friends or¡­ men who were courting women. Knowing that they didn¡¯t fit into either of those categories, he thought that maybe Rillian Adore was teasing him. The thought that he might actually be a troublemaker shot to the front of his mind. He shook his head, ¡°If I want something, I''ll buy it myself. Why not ask Auril?¡± Auril waved her hand in the air, ¡°Nothing for me. Thank you. Besides, I still have some money saved up from my clan and it would be selfish of me to intrude further upon the kindness of my benefactors.¡± Rillian Adore gave a nod in her direction. After a few more moments, the carriage suddenly stopped. Soon, Rou knocked at the front of the carriage. ¡°It¡¯s getting late.¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯ve found out that there is a good inn in the middle of town. We¡¯ll stay there for the night.¡± Auril yelled back, ¡°Alright, father!¡± The carriage continued to move until they reached their destination. The inn they arrived at was at least half the size of Lord Tincaid¡¯s old manor.. It was decorated with red and gold adornments which beautifully complimented the dark wood it was made from. The smell of perfume wafted from a building a little ways down the road, the sounds of chatter and laughter, ringing out through the night. Rillian Adore stepped out of the carriage first, then offered his hand to Auril who came out afterwards. She gratefully took it and stepped off. He did the same for Drakkel, but Drakkel ignored it and stepped off on his own. Rillian Adore pretended to brush off the gesture and continue on his way. Though if one looked closely, a hint of dissatisfaction could be gleaned from his face. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Rou said, ¡°I¡¯ll pull the carriage to the side. Could you three get us some rooms?¡± Auril Lune nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Drakkel put his bamboo hat back on and the three walked into the inn which was filled to the brim with people. Like the other inns, there was a tavern downstairs that served alcohol and food and upstairs were where the rooms were kept. The three walked up to the inn-keeper. When they arrived, Drakkel said, ¡°Four rooms please with individual beds. We¡¯ll only be staying for a night.¡± The innkeeper looked him up and down, probably curious about how he looked under the bamboo hat. But instead of asking, he laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t you see our current state? I¡¯m sorry to inform you, but we only have two rooms available now. One with two small beds and another with one large bed. Take it or leave it.¡± ¡°Hold on a moment, please.¡± Drakkel said. He walked to the side and Auril and Rillian Adore followed him. Auril said, ¡°My father and I can share the room with one bed. You two have already helped us enough.¡± Drakkel shook his head. ¡°It was already bad enough that a young woman like yourself had to camp out with three men. There''s no need to suffer more. You and your father should take the room with the two beds. Sword Master Rillian and I can share the other.¡± Rillian Adore nodded along with him. Auril smiled gratefully. After confirming their arrangements, Drakkel went back to the innkeeper and returned with two keys. He handed one to Auril and kept the other. ¡°We¡¯ll wait for Rou to come back and then head to our room.¡± Auril shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s ok. You two should get settled in and figure out your arrangement. I¡¯ll be fine here by myself.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Drakkel asked. Auril smiled. ¡°I''m sure.¡± ¡°Ok. Let¡¯s go then.¡± Rillian Adore said Drakkel nodded. When they got to their room, they found that it was decently-sized. At the center sat a bed with many pillows and a soft silk blanket. Across from the entrance was a window. Adjacent to the bed edge was a long table with one chair at each end. Rillian Adore set his greatsword and items against the wall at one side of the bed and Drakkel took off his bamboo hat and laid his items down on the opposite side. Only when looking around did he realize the gravity of the situation. He hoped the room would be large enough that he could find some corner to cultivate in, instead of sleeping on the bed with Rillian Adore. But the furniture in the room left no space to sit. Noticing his hesitation, Rillian Adore asked, ¡°Are you ok?¡¯ Drakkel nodded, but still stood in place, wondering what to do. Rillian Adore gestured to the bed. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about this, there are plenty of pillows on the bed. You can use them to separate us if you feel uncomfortable.¡± Drakkel had actually noticed the pillows for a while now. He just didn''t want to seem rude by setting them up without an explanation. But since Rillian Adore said so first, he did as he said and used some of the pillows to create a barrier between them. After doing so, he felt better and laid down on his chosen side and Rillian Adore did the same. Unable to sleep, Drakkel asked, ¡°Rillian?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Rillian Adore answered. ¡°Is your clan not looking for you?¡± Rillian Adore answered, ¡°My clan leader originally sent me out to catch some low level trouble-makers in various towns to help out the clans that didn¡¯t have any time. After I completed the list, I told him I wanted to sightsee and would find out if any other clans needed help. Since he¡¯s a lenient person, he allowed me to go. He only told me to hurry back.¡± Drakkel thought his explanation was understandable. After all, his clan leader was said to have favored him the most amongst all other disciples. He continued, ¡°By the way, why are you traveling with me? You don¡¯t even know who I am.¡± Drakkel waited, but he didn¡¯t hear an answer. When he sat up and took a peek next to him, Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes were closed and his chest slowly rose and fell. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 The next morning, Drakkel woke to find himself in an unexpected position. Rillian Adore had his arms wrapped around him in an embrace. As he looked around, he realized that his barrier of pillows he had built was scattered around the bed and floor. Drakkel quickly broke out of Rillian Adore''s arms and hopped off the bed and Rillian Adore''s eyes slowly opened soon afterwards. Once he took a moment to survey the situation, he cleared his throat. ¡°Did something happen?¡± He asked, shifting his face to the side. Drakkel¡¯s face was growing hot. He couldn''t believe that Rillian Adore was so casual about this. But if he didn''t make a fuss, Drakkel couldn''t be the one to do it. ¡°Nothing at all. I didn''t know an experienced sword master like yourself would move around while sleeping¡­¡± An awkward pause ensued between them. Then Rillian Adore spoke, ignoring what he just said. ¡°I¡¯ll get us some food. You should wash up.¡± Before Drakkel could answer him, he had already exited the room in a hurry, leaving all his items, including his money pouch. Drakkel sighed. The innkeeper did say that all services would be paid for when the customer leaves so Rillian Adore could pay on his way out. To relieve himself of his tensions, he got into a lotus position on the bed and began to meditate. Knowing now that he was poisoned, it made sense that his cultivation had regressed and could currently only stay at a stand still when practiced due to him advancing at the same pace he regressed. But based on what his Senior Brother said, the poison should have been fatal. So why hadn''t it killed him after all these years? He circulated his sword energy around his body until he felt that it was sufficiently running. Suddenly, he heard the door to the room open and close. The smell of food immediately drifted into his nostrils and he opened his eyes and looked in the direction it was coming from. Rillian Adore stood near the entrance to the room, holding a tray with two bowls on it. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± He said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Drakkel replied. He got up from the bed, grabbed one of the bowls from the tray, took a seat at the long table across from the bed, and started to eat. Rillian Adore took a seat opposite him and did the same. They sat in silence with neither willing to speak to the other. Only after taking his last bite did Drakkel decide to break the silence. ¡°It''s still early. Why don''t we see if we need to buy anything before continuing our journey?¡± Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± After they finished, they gathered their money pouches. When he picked up his, Drakkel thought that it felt a bit heavier. He wondered about it for a moment, but then shook his head. He might have been imagining it, so he didn''t worry about it further. He quickly put on his bamboo hat and Rillian Adore grabbed his sword. When they were ready, they left the inn and began walking the loud and busy streets of Towering Heights. Curious about where the smell from the night before was coming from, Drakkel walked towards it with Rillian Adore in tow. When they got there, he finally found out that the source of the scent and chatter was a brothel. The name sign read, ¡°Blossoming Flowers.¡± Even in the daylight, a few men would unabashedly step into the place, being led by beautiful young women dressed in revealing clothing. Although it seemed normal enough, something about the scene felt off to Drakkel, however, he couldn''t quite tell what. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Maybe it was because he was staring for so long, that Rillian Adore grabbed his wrist and dragged him along. After they made it a small distance away, Rillian Adore asked, ¡°Did you see something interesting there?¡± Drakkel stopped walking and shook his head, ¡°More like felt something¡­¡± Rillian Adore paused to hear his answer but upon hearing it, his mood seemed to drop. He didn¡¯t say it, but Drakkel still felt it. Feeling bad about it, he asked, ¡°Rillian, is something wrong?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°Nothing is wrong.¡± From his voice, Drakkel had confirmed that something was actually wrong. But Rillian Adore didn''t give him an answer the first time he asked. There would be no use in asking again. From then on, the two didn''t speak, only walking through the crowds of people in silence. As they walked, besides noting the repeated appearance of a peculiar yet unique bamboo-like symbol on many of the establishments and stalls, there was nothing of importance that stood out to Drakkel. When they reached a certain point, they noticed a crowd of people gathered around a man speaking on a podium. The man on the podium said, ¡°...The summit takes place in a little over a year. Every clan is now taking new recruits. Because of this, they are not taking as many jobs, so if you wish to hire a Sword Fighter, know that it will be harder to get one around this time. Now for the questions we¡¯ve all been asking. You all know the story of Rillian Adore of the Golden Peak Swords Clan who defeated Drakkel Fin of the Sacred Sword Swords clan, right? After that fateful battle, he went into seclusion for a year and then began to rapidly defeat anyone who challenged him. From then on, he only traveled with his fellow disciples occasionally. Until now, at least! He has been said to keep company with a mysterious man who assisted him in helping the citizens of Shadowy Ridges and driving back the demon horde that attacked the Thousand Petals Swords Clan. Who could this man be and why have the demons come back after years of being inactive? These are the two most asked questions in the Sword Fighting World right now. Many Swordsmen have stepped forward, volunteering to find out the identity of the man whose presence coincides with the reappearance of the demons. Could it be a coincidence? Is he friend or foe?...¡± Drakkel had enough and left the area while Rillian Adore was still standing behind the crowd, listening to the story. Being the center of gossip was something he was never really fond of, but when it came for him, he took it in stride only because he knew it helped his clan. But after experiencing the opposite end of it, it was now more like a knife in the heart. To be subjected to the negative opinions of those around him was bad, but having it affect those he cared about was even worse. As the day went on, the streets of Towering Heights became even more filled. Drakkel took a wide street as a shortcut to the inn to avoid the incoming crowd. While making his way through the dark place, he heard something land behind him. Then he felt a change in air pressure as an object came rushing towards his direction. He jumped into the air to avoid the attack and propelled himself backward to position himself behind his attacker. In front of him was a man dressed in dark and light blue robes. The man with long dark brown hair held a blue whip in his hand. He looked back at Drakkel and whipped in his direction. Drakkel dodged the attack, hopping back and creating more distance between them. The man stated, ¡°I am Tifon of the Forging Rivers Swords Clan! I will discover your identity and reveal it to the world. Whether you are friend or foe, everyone will see!¡± Drakkel sighed and shook his head. He didn''t want to fight the man so as not to draw more attention to himself. Looking back at the crowded streets, he decided it was best to escape and lose him in the crowd. He turned around and used his sword step to leave the alleyway. However the crack of a whip sounded through the air behind him. He twisted his body around to block it with his sword energy, but sword energy used by the body wasn¡¯t as potent as with a meteoric stone-based weapon. Tifon had enhanced his attack with sword energy and when it hit Drakkel, he found out that the man was at the lower levels of Sword Sworn. Drakkel was smacked backwards a few feet until he felt something sturdy yet soft collide with his back. A hand wrapped around his back and grabbed his left shoulder, dragging his body to the side. When he looked up, he saw that it was Rillian Adore who cushioned his fall. Rillian Adore stood with his hand on his sword hilt. ¡°It¡¯s dishonorable to attack someone who doesn''t have a weapon, especially one who holds no ill will towards you,¡± he said. Tifon shook his head. ¡°I was just testing his strength! Besides, who knows if he holds no ill will?! Which clan is he from?! Hidden Desires Swords Clan members don''t always carry visible weapons on their person! And neither do demons! I¡¯m sure you know that as well, Rillian Adore!¡± Drakkel could feel Rillian Adore¡¯s muscles tense up. Rillian Adore unsheathed his blade and let go of Drakkel, stepping forward. ¡°I know who I hang around with. Who are you to tell me otherwise?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to disrespect you! I¡¯m only trying to help. As for who stands beside you, we can find out when we interrogate him!¡± Tifon replied. ¡°It doesn''t even have to be my clan! We can take him back to your clan and uncover his identity. Since you haven''t said who he is yet, you must not know yourself, right?¡± Rillian Adore didn''t flinch at Tifon''s attempts to unnerve him, he only replied. ¡°He won''t be going anywhere.¡± He dashed towards Tifon prepped to attack. In response, Tifon didn''t defend or attack. Instead, he turned his body around and dashed away. As he left, he said, ¡°Fine. If you won''t help me, I¡¯ll find others who will!¡± Rillian Adore chased him to the end of the street but he had already disappeared into the crowd. Rillian Adore sighed and walked back to Drakkel, his bad mood from earlier seeming to have improved. He asked Drakkel if he was alright. But, Drakkel wasn¡¯t in the best mood. He simply answered, ¡°I''m fine. Let''s just head back to the inn.¡± Drakkel¡¯s hand stung from blocking the attack, but he was sure no bones were broken. He walked to the inn as if nothing happened, but he refrained from talking any more. They went to their room to ready their belongings and Rillian Adore paid for their services. They were ready to go by the time Rou had pulled the carriage to the front. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Drakkel, Auril and Rillian Adore sat silently in the carriage. Auril¡¯s eyes darted from Rillian Adore to Drakkel. Drakkel still didn''t want to talk. He was nearly beaten by someone who was only at the early stages of Sword Sworn and even had to be saved by someone four years his junior- the very same someone who had beaten him long ago. Now, he knew he was poisoned and knew the reason he was weak. But, it didn¡¯t serve to get rid of the helplessness he felt. Unlike with Jin and Locin, he truly didn¡¯t stand a chance this time. Because of this, he could only wallow in this feeling, too embarrassed to speak to the two younger, yet higher cultivated people that traveled with him. He looked out the window blankly. Auril was curious as she hadn''t seen such a pair before. Yes, two men could be close, but she had watched these two in particular, very carefully. They always stayed together and seemed to care for one another. And between them was a certain¡­ energy. It was hard to explain. When she was younger, she had felt it before. Her mother and father gave off the same feeling. Because she was solitary in her Sword''s Clan, either reading or cultivating, she hadn''t learned to properly socialize. Although she longed to, she was never taught how, so some things that came out of her mouth sounded either odd or awkward. This only isolated her more from her peers who already thought less of her due to her upbringing. However, after meeting her father, she no longer had to stifle her personality. The words on her mind came forth like water from a broken dam and her father ate up every sentence. Now she would say she abhorred silence. She would even go as far as to say she couldn''t stand it. She could keep it in for a few moments, but eventually she would have to let it out, either flooding her own thoughts with words, or, if the subject was so interesting, talking about it with whoever she was around. So, after a few moments, she naturally couldn''t hold it in anymore. ¡°So¡­¡± she said. ¡°Why are you two traveling to Joyous Encounters?¡± Rillian Adore glanced at Drakkel, then answered, ¡°I¡¯m tagging along with him.¡± He gestured his head to Drakkel¡¯s gloomy figure. Drakkel shifted his gaze from the window to Auril. ¡°I¡¯m looking for some information. Sorry, but that''s all I can tell you.¡± Auril waved her hands in the air. ¡°Oh no! I didn''t mean to force you. I was just curious.¡± ¡°It''s alright,¡± Drakkel answered. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Auril nodded. ¡°So¡­ have you two had a fight?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Drakkel asked. ¡°I mean spats between lovers¡­¡± Drakkel¡¯s mouth twitched. Maybe it was because Auril had not been exposed to Rillian Adore in person before finding out he saved her father, that she was unaffected by his cold and intimidating air. And of course that was understandable. However, what was not, was that she actually asked such an inappropriate question to two people she didn¡¯t even know well! Drakkel was so shocked, he had to think for a moment before uttering his next words. ¡°Who said we were lovers?¡± Auril paused for a moment, her head tilting with a confused expression on her face. She didn¡¯t seem to get the hint. Not only did she not retreat, she even pushed forward. ¡°But¡­ you two¡­¡± She gestured with her index finger, moving it back and forth between their two figures. She waved her hands in the air. ¡°I mean, it''s ok! Many people take same gender lovers! It''s not a crazy idea anymore¡­ After all, it''s been 7 years and¡­!¡± Rillian Adore''s face began to turn red. Auril asked, ¡°Sword Master Rillian, are you ok?¡± Rillian Adore refused to say a word, only shifting his head so he was looking out the window. However, Auril wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°Sword Master Rillian!¡± She called. ¡°If you have a problem, we can take you to a doctor!¡± Drakkel stopped her, clearing his throat. This had gone on for long enough. Rillian Adore was probably put on the spot and unable to give an answer. After all, for ordinary people, Auril was right. But most sword fighters still had an issue with it. For some clans, doing what she mentioned would at best ruin one¡¯s reputation and at worst, cause one to be a sword outcast. Who wouldn''t be flustered at the mere mention of her words? ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± He said. ¡°There''s nothing wrong with it. But it¡¯s not like that. We¡¯re just¡­ friends.¡± Auril nodded. ¡°Sorry, I just thought¡­ because of the way¡­ Oh! Nevermind. Let''s just change the conversation before I die of embarrassment.¡± Drakkel nodded. Actually, after what just happened, his self-doubt melted away. Auril had made him realize Rillian Adore could be considered a friend. He had done him a favor so he should be grateful. As for his cultivation, he would naturally regain it in time. There was no need to be upset about it. He wanted to apologize to Rillian Adore for his behavior, but he was still staring out the window. Since it appeared that he didn¡¯t want to be bothered, he let the matter go. In the end, he could only continue the conversation without him. ¡°Fine.¡± He said. ¡°How was your strength when compared with your clan mates¡¯?¡± Auril gratefully answered Drakkel''s question as they continued on their ride. Meanwhile Rillian Adore''s face has returned to his normal complexion, but as he looked out the window, his lips extended into a small smile. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Drakkel and Auril were deep in conversation. But, at some point they had both fallen asleep. So, Drakkel woke up to the carriage stopping. When he woke, he found that his head was laid on Rillian Adore''s shoulder. In utter surprise and humiliation at the fact, he quickly sat up and apologized to him. But Rillian Adore wasn''t bothered by it at all, even letting Drakkel know that it was fine. At that point, Auril had woken up as well. ¡°It seems that we¡¯ve arrived at SwordSmith Villa,¡± She said. As Drakkel stretched his upper body, he replied, ¡°Great. Then we¡¯ll leave now.¡± ¡°Do you want us to wait for you?¡± Auril asked. Drakkel thought they had intruded too much on the two. He shook his head. ¡°You and your father have already done enough. You should continue to look for the place you want to stay.¡± Auril smiled. ¡°Actually, we¡¯ve already discussed it. Towering Heights seems like a nice town. Once we¡¯re done helping you, we¡¯ll see if we can buy a place there. I¡¯m not a sword outcast so I should be able to find work as a guard.¡± ¡°That''s good.¡± Drakkel said. ¡°I¡¯m glad you two have found a home.¡± He put on his bamboo hat and he and Rillian Adore stepped off the carriage. They walked up to Rou who sat in the driver''s seat and Rillian Adore said, ¡°Thanks for providing us with a ride, Rou.¡± Rou nodded. ¡°Not a problem. If only my Auril could marry a dependable and kind young man like one of yourselves! Then I would have nothing to worry about!¡± ¡°Father!¡± Auril shouted from the carriage Rou laughed. ¡°Let me go then, so we can get settled. If you two ever require my services again, just let me know.¡± Rillian Adore and Drakkel bowed their heads. Rou then struck the reins and yelled for the horse to move. He rode off as Rillian Adore and Drakkel watched. When Rou left, Drakkel put on his bamboo hat and observed his surroundings. This was not the first time he had been to Joyous Encounters so he wasn''t surprised by the way it looked. It seemed that it hadn''t changed much from when he was last there. The sky had taken up several hues of orange red and purple as the streets bustled with people. Those who passed had clean clothes and healthy skin. They talked and walked at leisurely paces, paying the two no mind. Among the regular people were those who held various weapons and donned robes of many different colors. One could see them separated into groups with those with weapons and those without. So of course among this scenery, Drakkel and Rillian Adore didn''t stand out too much. The buildings within the city were more luxurious than those in most other inner cities, with some being made of concrete, some dark wood and a small few, with granite. As he turned his attention away from the streets and to a large structure that sat in the middle of the city, Drakkel realized that maybe some things had changed after all. The manor of SwordSmith Villa had always been a sight to behold. Surrounded by a long barrier, it was the largest of the top seven Swords Clans. But it looked as if during these times, that it had become even more extravagant. Fancy statues were littered around the place and the one simple gate that represented the entrance to the manor was decorated with jade and gold fixtures. The manor itself was intricately designed down to its last detail. In its extravagance it could almost be compared to the emperor''s palace in Dragon¡¯s Dwelling. Two white and gold robed disciples stood at the front gate, looking bored and uninterested. In their hands were specially designed weapons made of the finest material. When it came to weapons training, Sword Smith Villa was unique. It was originally started by three masters and a blacksmith. The three masters each had their own weapon style and specialized in combat for these weapons, so Swordsmith Villa contained three weapon styles and was also home to the best swordsmiths in the world. The three weapon styles were the piercing spear created by Simella Rose, the defensive bo staff created by Sen Fo and the scissoring scythe created by Ton Lee. Because of this, the villa had many options for any wishing to join its ranks. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that it was selective in who it took in, it could easily have been the Swords clan with the largest number of members. But because of its growing power and looser restrictions, the Golden Peak swords clan currently held the title. Since they had been dropped a little bit away from the manor because the manor prohibited people from parking their carriages for too long, Drakkel and Rillian Adore had to walk a small distance to get to the front gates. As they almost reached the point where the disciples could easily see them, a carriage approached from the distance. Rillian Adore suddenly grabbed onto Drakkel¡¯s arm, covered his mouth, and pulled him in the complete opposite direction of the manor. The manor had a solid gate and surrounding walls with two disciples guarding it. Now, they were hiding behind a wall of one of the buildings across from it. Because of the angle, the carriage that just arrived, blocked their view of the place. Thinking that Rillian Adore had seen or felt something threatening, Drakkel kept his mouth shut. But he didn''t want to be stuck in this position with Rillian Adore¡¯s hand placed so firmly on his mouth. He gently tapped Rillian Adore¡¯s arm and he nodded, slowly lowering it. At the same time, he let go of Drakkel''s arm, fully releasing his body. Wondering why he was so urgently pulled away, Drakkel looked out for where Rillian Adore¡¯s gaze was fixated. Carriages weren''t allowed to park in front of SwordSmith Villa manor for long, but even after waiting 5 minutes, this one didn''t leave. Whoever owned it must have been either somewhat influential or close with the owner. Because his view was blocked, Drakkel couldn''t see who the carriage belonged to. He could only stand still as he and Rillian Adore continued to wait in the corner. After twenty minutes, the horses neighed and the carriage sped off from whence it came. And it was then that Rillian Adore stepped out from the corner and casually walked over to the disciples, pretending as if nothing occurred and even making no mention of it to Drakkel. As they approached, the two disciples, one male and one female stopped them. The female disciple said, ¡°Who are you? What business do you have with SwordSmith Villa?¡± Drakkel then remembered what his master told him- he shouldn''t show the pendant unless it was a last resort. As he thought up an explanation, Rillian Adore stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m Rillian Adore. I was involved in the Shadowy Ridges incident and have some questions for the Clan Leader.¡± The two disciples seemed unsure at first. After all, Rillian Adore''s weapon was still in its sheath and wrapped with a cloth and many Rillian Adore impersonators had popped up a while ago. On top of this, it was normally the newer disciples that guarded the gates of the Sword''s Clan manors. What was probably made worse for this Swords¡¯ Clan was that many different people stepped through the gates. Yes, Rillian Adore had an intimidating aura but he wasn¡¯t the only one. How could the disciples, especially those who were most likely new, recognize him after seeing so many different faces everyday? However, when Rillian Adore pulled out his golden pass, they quickly bowed. ¡°We apologize,Sword Master Rillian. You can step through. By the way, we just saw..¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s gaze suddenly intensified and the disciple speaking quickly shut her mouth. With trembling lips, she said, ¡°Nevermind¡­¡± Rillian Adore nodded in response. As he and Drakkel were about to step in, the male disciple asked, ¡°And¡­ who is this with you?¡± Without turning to face the disciple, Rillian Adore only answered. ¡°A servant that I¡¯ve taken a liking to.¡± Drakkel''s mouth twitched. This explanation again? However, the female disciple excitedly said, ¡°Wait! There were talks of a man that assisted you in Shadowy Ridges and Lunala Isle. That wouldn''t be him, would it?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°No. That man and I have already parted ways. This one is just a servant.¡± The female disciple¡¯s expression fell for a moment. Then she recovered, clearing her throat and nodding. ¡°Ok. Sorry about that. You may enter.¡± The two disciples stepped aside to allow Rillian Adore and Drakkel Flto walk through. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Outside the manor gates, were stone paved streets. But inside, was a marble walkway surrounded by a bountiful garden filled with trees and exotic flowers. As they walked down the long marble path towards the palace-like manor, butterflies flew in the air around them. The manor itself had one official opening in the front. The opening consisted of double doors made of dark engraved wood. There was a line of people waiting to get in and after waiting for some time behind them, they finally reached the front. Rillian Adore knocked on the door and a few minutes later, a disciple opened it. ¡°Hello good sirs.¡± He stated. ¡°What services will you be requesting today? I do have to warn you that we are currently backed up on sword smithing requests until next month.¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°We won''t be requiring any of those. Is the Clan Leader in right now?¡± ¡°He is.¡± The disciple answered. ¡°Then let him know that Rillian Adore of the Golden Peak Swords Clan needs to speak with him,¡± Rillian Adore said. The disciple looked them up and down. He seemed more knowledgeable than the two at the gate, for after looking at Rillian Adore carefully, he quickly went back. Within a few more moments, he returned and gestured to the inside. ¡°Please follow me.¡± After the disciple found someone to replace him on door duty, he led Rillian Adore and Drakkel down long halls of the manor and past many disciples carrying an array of weapons. The manor was large so it took them some time to travel through it but they eventually reached a room sealed by double doors. Standing at the front, the disciple turned to them. ¡°This is the meeting room for the heads of SwordSmith Villa. Clan Leader Fieren is here. I will announce your presence.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. The disciple then announced their presence. ¡°Rillian Adore of the Golden Peak Swords Clan and his servant are here, Clan Leader Fieren!¡± A voice from the other side replied, ¡°Let them in!¡± What lay behind the double doors was a room with pillars at its side and a sizable chair at its end. A man with straight dark brown hair containing a few gray strands sat atop the chair, speaking with three people who stood before him. He had handsome features for one so old and his figure was so sturdy and well built that even his decorated gold and white robes couldn''t hide the strength hidden underneath. He said to the two women and one man, ¡°You are all dismissed!¡± Drakkel remembered now. SwordSmith Villa began with three masters and a sword smith. But as time went on, the villa gained more renown and money through its sword smithing abilities than through its sword fighting techniques. Later on, the swordsmith faction of it became the leader and the fighting factions became more like second-in-commands. The three people bowed and left the room. The man who sat on the chair at the end said, ¡°Leave us, Ginte.¡± The disciple replied, ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡± After bowing to him, he hurried out, closing the doors behind him. Although the man sitting before them was mainly a swordsmith, he seemed unbothered by Rillian Adore''s presence. In fact, it looked as if he was certain he could take him in a fight. But who knew if this was true? Like medicine, swordsmithing was a secondary skill. Both could be learned along with sword fighting. No one had ever seen Ren Fieren fight and whether he practiced or not was a tightly kept secret of his clan. One didn''t have to be a Sword Fighter to be the Leader of Swordsmith Villa. So who could say if he was a Sword Hero or a Sword Master? No one outside his clan truly knew. Perhaps even in his clan, no one could say exactly what level his sword skills were at. Ren Fieren said, ¡°So, Rillian Adore, you actually came to visit me without your master. I thought because he was just here, you would arrive with him. But he just left and you just arrived. I guess the world is unpredictable. What is it that brings you here?¡± Drakkel thought for a moment. So that was it? The carriage Rillian Adore was avoiding was that of the clan leader of the Golden Peak Swords Clan? ¡°How has your meteoric stone collection been?¡± Rillian Adore answered, crossing his arms. Ren Fieren¡¯s eyes narrowed as he sat up, straightening his stance. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± He questioned. ¡°Because, while at Shadowy Ridges, I was made to mine it,¡± Rillian Adore answered. Ren Fieren¡¯s eyebrows went up. He actually seemed to be surprised. Rillian Adore continued, ¡°You know as well as I do that there is no authorized meteoric stone mining area in that town. Have you seen a sudden uptick in the amount of meteoric stone you''ve been receiving?¡± Ren Fieren pressed his hands together and leaned his face forward. It was clear that he understood Rillian Adore''s implications, so he answered carefully, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve been receiving more meteoric stones. But, I¡¯ve checked myself. We only received them from approved mining areas.¡± Drakkel stepped in. ¡°Are you sure? Maybe you didn''t see anything amiss because you aren''t directly in charge of supervising the transactions. Who in your clan is in charge of it?¡± Ren Fieren¡¯s gaze darted to Drakkel, leaking a murderous intent. The look sent shivers down Drakkel''s spine, causing his whole body to tense up. Ren Fieren was clearly irritated now. He stated with a hint of annoyance, ¡°And who is this mysterious person that dares to interrupt?¡± Rillian Adore returned a cold glare to the clan leader. ¡°He is my assistant. I gave him permission to speak if I missed something.¡± Ren Fieren¡¯s gaze returned to Rillian Adore, his eyes looking at him questioningly. It appeared as if he didn''t believe him. But after a moment, he seemed to reconsider and let it go. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± He calmly asked. ¡°Wind,¡± Rillian Adore replied. Drakkel¡¯s mouth twitched. He couldn''t have said that on purpose, right? The clan leader let out a hearty laugh. With his eyes narrowing at Drakkel, he answered, ¡°Wind. A simple name, for a simple servant.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s fists began to clench. Drakkel could tell he had crossed an invisible line. To avoid outing himself, he decided to change the subject. ¡°If you don''t know where the meteoric stone was going, could you provide us with a way to contact the Hidden Desires Swords Clan. I hear they have a wealth of information about all the goings on in the Empire.¡± Rillian Adore relaxed his fists and nodded. Ren Fieren rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. Then he answered, ¡°Very well. There is a brothel in Towering Heights called Blossoming Flowers. There is a woman there who goes by Pisa Lorvent. She is a disciple of the Hidden Disciples Swords Clan and a person that assists us in communicating with them. If you want to see her, just tell the front desk these words, ¡®When a flower blooms, hidden desires take root.¡¯¡± Rillian Adore cupped his hands and bowed, not even saying a thank you. Drakkel bowed along with him, adding the ¡°Thank you¡± that he seemed to have forgotten. Rillian Adore and Drakkel turned to leave, but right before they opened the door, Clan Leader Fieren said, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you so attached to someone, Rillian. Your master and I are old friends and he used to tell me how you would have trouble befriending others and that this problem only got worse after you defeated the Sword¡¯s Wind. In this man''s presence you even seem more relaxed.¡± Drakkel¡¯s heartbeat quickened a bit as Ren Fieren continued. ¡°I¡¯m happy that you¡¯ve found a friend.¡± Rillian Adore faced Ren Fieren, giving him a curt head bow, before turning back around to leave the room. As they left, they passed the hallway which led to the hall of swords in SwordSmith Villa. Drakkel gazed at it, wondering if his sword was there. Likely because he was staring as they passed it, Rillian Adore asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Drakkel shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let''s keep going.¡± Once they reached the outside, Drakkel thought of the earlier incident. So Rillian Adore had avoided his own Clan Leader and Master, but why? After a moment, his eyes opened wide as he thought of the reason. It couldn''t have been because of him could it? After all, although Rillian Adore didn''t know him, he should have known that he was trying to hide his identity. There were also rumors about his collision with demons. If he had shown up in front of Clan Leader Adore now, with the thorough checkup of one¡¯s background and character needed before joining the Golden Peak Swords Clan, couldn''t he have been put in danger? He discreetly shot a glance at Rillian Adore before quickly moving his eyes away. After a few more moments of deliberation, he sighed and shook his head. He might have been overthinking. Rillian Adore was initially trying to take him to his clan, so why avoid it now? Besides, why would the Golden Blade bother with the plights of a complete stranger? Maybe he had his own personal reasons for avoiding his clan that he didn''t want Drakkel to know about. When he reasoned this out, he calmed down and was able to focus on other things. These other thoughts allowed him to realize that as the sunlight faded and the bright image of the sun began to sink into the horizon, he slightly regretted the fact that they had Rou and Auril leave. But with this regret came guilt. After all, the two needed to look for a home during the day since that was when everything was open. He didn''t want to hold them up when they already had a plan for themselves. He also didn¡¯t know that he and Rillian Adore were heading back to Towering Heights until now. It would have been unfortunate if they needed to go somewhere else and dragged Rou and Auril away from the place they already considered their new home. Drakkel again looked to the side. Since Rillian Adore didn¡¯t say anything, he could only think he thought the same. As they walked through the heavily populated city, watching people hurry home for the day, Rillian Adore asked, ¡°Where should we stay for the night?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you know better than me?¡± Drakkel replied. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ never been here.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°Legend¡¯s Springs Inn is nearby. It¡¯s not a bad place to stay.¡± Drakkel agreed and they made their way there. On their way to the inn, the two passed many stalls selling some variation of pastries, teas and snacks. It wasn''t long until Drakkel¡¯s stomach grumbled as a whiff of a certain nostalgic scent drifted into his nostrils. His eyes darted to the cause and his attention quickly became held by one particular stall in the corner. However, the items at Joyous encounters were more expensive than the ones found at Immortal Peak. The money he received from his master would be completely drained by one bag. ¡°Do you want some?¡± Rillian Adore asked. Drakkel actually felt bad about the way he treated Rillian Adore earlier after fighting with Tifon and while riding with Auril. He didn¡¯t think he deserved this kindness. Not wanting to be a further burden, he was about to shake his head in response, but Rillian Adore had already stopped and walked over to the stall, handed the stall keeper a golden coin, gathered two bags and left. As he returned with the two bags of steaming hot sweet roasted peanuts, the stall keeper was still bowing to him several times. He offered a bag to Drakkel and said, ¡°The stall keeper didn¡¯t have any change, so I bought too many. It¡¯s a lot for me to finish on my own.¡± He held the extra bag near Drakkel. ¡°Why don''t you take one?¡± With the way he asked, Drakkel really couldn¡¯t say no. He nodded, grabbed the bag from Rillian Adore¡¯s hand, and said, ¡°Thank you,¡± before gratefully devouring the peanuts as they made their way to the inn. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 The inn closest to Sword Smith Villa was nearly as glamorous as the Villa itself. It was built like a small mansion with glazed ceramic tiles for a roof and walls made out of dark engraved wood. The sign hung at the entrance read, ¡°Legend¡¯s springs¡±. Drakkel didn''t remember this inn being here the last time he visited Joyous Encounters and he guessed that it wouldn''t be cheap to stay at. Frowning, he said, ¡°Maybe we should find a different place to rest for the night.¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°I have the funds and it will only be for one night. Besides, it''s already getting dark. Let''s just stay.¡± Drakkel didn''t want to take money from Rillian Adore, but he was right. The place was the closest one to the Villa and there didn''t seem to be any other inns around it. ¡°Fine,¡± He said. ¡°But I can''t pay you back yet.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Rillian Adore replied. ¡°Consider it repayment.¡± Drakkel was confused. ¡°Repayment for what?¡± Drakkel wanted to know what he was talking about, but Rillian Adore ignored him. Since he didn''t want to talk, he could only follow him as he walked into the inn. The inside of the inn was more luxurious than the outside. The floors were lined with decorated red carpet and the fixtures were all expensive and clean. The place was what he had imagined the inside of the imperial palace to look like. The scent of vanilla and sandalwood pervaded the air. People were talking and eating all around. The space was packed to the brim. The setup was similar to the other inns except for the fact that the rooms seemed to be located to the sides instead of up a flight of stairs. They went over to the innkeeper who stood behind the counter. She was a beautiful young woman, wearing expensive silk garments, embroidered with beautiful designs. As he and Rillian Adore approached, she patted her hair and straightened her clothes. Her bored expression extended into a welcoming smile. ¡°What brings you handsome young men here?¡± ¡°We need a room with two beds,¡± Rillian Adore answered. The lady covered her face with her hand, a seductive undertone appearing in her voice as she gazed at Rillian Adore especially, ¡°I apologize. But this is the most popular inn in Joyous Encounters. With so many people here, I hope you understand. We only have one room left. It''s the most expensive couples suite.¡± She paused, ¡°Umm, if you two don''t want to use it, I won¡¯t blame you.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Rillian Adore answered without even batting an eye. ¡°No, it''s fine. We¡¯ll make do.¡± The woman''s face turned a bright red. Then her eyes narrowed as her gaze shifted from Rillian Adore to Drakkel. Drakkel wasn''t sure if he did it on purpose, but at that moment, Rillian Adore chose to pick a fallen leaf off his hat, leaning in a bit close. Upon seeing this, the woman dropped her hand from her mouth. Her eyebrows knitted together as the corners of her lips curled down. ¡°I understand,¡± she said with a bitter tone. ¡°It will be three gold coins.¡± Rillian Adore took out the bag hanging from his waist and fished out four golden coins. He handed them all to the innkeeper and her sad expression lifted, her mood seeming to improve instantly. ¡°Thank you kind sir,¡± she said with a bright smile. She handed him the keys and informed them. ¡°The room will be at the back of the inn. It¡¯s the only one with double doors. If you would like me to explain the rules, I can do it now.¡± Rillian Adore shook its head. ¡°I¡¯m aware of them.¡± The woman laughed nervously before saying, ¡°Alright then. I hope you two enjoy your stay.¡± After thanking the woman, Rillian Adore and Drakkel used the right door to exit the main room. It led to an open corridor adjacent to a rectangular courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard was a fountain. The rest of the yard contained trees and grass that appeared well taken care of. The place had a certain energy to it that would make anyone feel calm. The open corridor that surrounded the garden was lined with doors. People flowed in and out, walking around them and chattering with each other or going about their individual businesses. No matter who they were, they all seemed untroubled, which really displayed the good state of the inn. Drakkel and Rillian Adore walked past these people to make it to the room the innkeeper mentioned. When they finally arrived and opened the doors, Drakkel understood why it was called the couples suite. The place was gaudily decorated. Heart shaped gold thread embroidered red pillows sat atop a large bed with red sheets on top. Red and gold curtains hung from the canopy, packed together neatly. If one were to draw them out, they would surround the bed in a thinly veiled cover. There was a door that sat to the side of the room that said, ¡°Outdoor hot springs¡± and another door on the opposite side labeled, ¡°Lavatory.¡± On the walls of the room were candles that lit up the place. The room itself was massive. Even the large bed that sat at the center took up only one fourth of the space. Rillian Adore seemed indifferent as he placed his items at one end. Afterwards, he looked at Drakkel. ¡°You should probably set your things down.¡± Drakkel slowly nodded and placed his items down as well. Rillian Adore sat down on the bed and got into a lotus position. Meanwhile, Drakkel could only stand there, feeling awkward staying in the room with Rillian Adore. It was hard to ignore what the room was decorated for and with what happened the last time they slept in the same bed. He was feeling wary. However, as his thoughts nearly drifted, he felt a slight itch on his skin. He suddenly realized that it had been a while since he had a proper bath. He looked at the ¡°Hot Springs¡± sign and weighed whether he should go or not. With his eyes closed, Rillian Adore said, ¡°I¡¯ll rest here. You should go bathe. It will probably do good for your injuries too. I noticed you suffer from body aches.¡± Drakkel couldn''t disagree. His muscles really did ache. But how did Rillian Adore notice? ¡°Alright.¡± He replied. ¡°I¡¯ll go first then. You can bathe after if you want.¡± Rillian Adore went quiet, not nodding or responding, but Drakkel knew that probably just meant that he had already begun his cultivation. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Drakkel opened the door to the outside hot springs. The hot springs area was sheltered by the roof. The only opening to the outside was opposite the main entrance and there was a small garden located there. The garden was shielded by a tall fence which was probably placed to prevent anyone from peeking through. The spring itself was covered by a large piece of cloth and surrounded by wooden planks. To get to it, one had to walk down a short flight of wooden stairs that wound around it. At the top of the stairs was a short walkway. From the entrance, to the right of the walkway was a door labeled, ¡°Hot springs accessories.¡± Drakkel walked the short walkway to get to the door. Behind it were clean towels, a hamper to put clothes in and other bathing accessories. There were three sets of each item- probably two for the couple and one as an extra. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Drakkel took off his robes, undid his hair tie and wrapped the towel around his waist. He placed his clothes in the designated hamper and walked towards the spring. Then, he uncovered the hot body of water and stepped inside. The water was steaming, but was a good temperature. After sitting in it for a while, he began to feel his muscle aches fade away and he let out a satisfied sigh. As he sat, his eyes took in his surroundings. He first observed the garden, then the fence. He looked above the fence to see if there was any way someone could spy on him. When he saw there wasn''t, his gaze drifted to the hot spring. His eyes glazed over a sign, missing it the first time. However, in a moment they returned and latched on to the words. In ink black lettering, it read, ¡°The Spring water is changed once a day- Will get cold once opened!¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Drakkel''s eyes widened as his heart began to beat faster. He didn''t want to tell Rillian Adore, but he knew it wouldn''t be fair. If he waited, then the water would no longer be hot by the time Rillian Adore came in. The very thought of telling him caused a shiver to go down his spine, even when his body was perspiring from the heat. But Rillian Adore had paid for the room after all and hadn''t had a proper bath in a while as well. Wouldn''t it be shameless to take advantage of his kindness? After sitting for a moment, he finally decided. He took a deep breath and called, ¡°Rillian.¡± He didn''t say it too loudly so as not to alert the other guests. It was only loud enough for Rillian Adore to hear it. The planks on the floor creaked as the sound of footsteps drew closer and closer. A squeaking sound signified the door opening. In response, Drakkel instinctively turned around so his back was facing the door and his front faced the fence. ¡°What is it?¡± Rillian Adore asked. ¡°The spring water won''t stay hot for long. I think you should come bathe as well.¡± Drakkel replied. Rillian Adore didn''t answer nor make a movement, so Drakkel pointed to the sign. ¡°Oh.¡± He said The floorboards creaked again as he walked over to the Hot Springs accessories closet. Drakkel heard the sound of his robes dropping to the floor and his items getting thrown into the hamper. From behind him, he heard the splash of the water as someone got in. He moved his body closer to the edge and further away from the person behind him. An awkward silence fell between them. Because they were already together, Drakkel thought it would be best to discuss what happened before. ¡°Rillian. Why did you hide from the Golden Peak Swords Clan?¡± A short silence followed his question until Rillian Adore finally answered, ¡°You.¡± I what? Drakkel thought. What exactly was he trying to say? ¡°What do you me...¡± Then Drakkel¡¯s eyes widened. Could it have been that his reasoning from earlier was correct? Drakkel''s eyebrows knitted together as his mouth closed shut. Had Rillian Adore really thought that far and all because of him? He crossed his arms and cleared his throat, deciding to change the subject. Discussing their moves going forward would be more ideal, especially due to what happened the day before. ¡°Rillian, It seems like word of us traveling together has spread. The man named Tifon purposefully waited for me to separate from you before attacking and he said he would bring others with him. What if this isn''t the only occurrence? What if we are attacked again? Can you handle it if multiple people come after you?¡± Another splash of water sounded from behind him, but gentler this time. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m not new to being challenged.¡± There was a twinge of something in his voice as he said, but Drakkel couldn''t quite decipher it. However, his words weren''t unfounded. As he had earned another name along with ¡®The Merciless Golden Blade¡¯ when he was said to have beaten 51 Sword Fighters in a row without losing once. He was also known as ¡®The Undefeated Golden Blade.¡± Rillian Adore continued, ¡°Besides, the Forging Rivers Swords Clan is located near Joyous Encounters. Tifon was probably walking around the area when he saw us. He heard the stories and thought he could gain quick fame by apprehending you since you''re close to me. He doesn''t actually know who you are and so, can''t prove anything. The occurrences you speak of aren''t likely to happen.¡± After thinking for a moment, Drakkel knew Rillian Adore was right. Because he wore a veiled bamboo hat to cover his face, no one could attest to his identity. So, they could only follow rumors hoping to gain fame. No high level sword fighter would bother to act on this as they had most likely achieved their own fame and would think twice before challenging the Golden Blade in order not to ruin their hard-earned reputation, though some low level ones might try it, lacking both fame and reputation. But Rillian Adore could be ruthless as well and some of those who challenged him had their arms or legs broken during the fight. He even gained a reputation as the ¡°Merciless Golden Blade during this time. So even most low level ones wouldn''t dare go against him for fear of what might happen. Tifon was most likely one of a few outliers. If he didn''t fear any of this, he was either stupid or well-connected. Or perhaps, maybe both. Drakkel nodded. There was another long bout of silence. He continued to observe the flowers in the small garden near the hot spring when Rillian Adore suddenly said, ¡°Your skin. It''s been getting redder since I got here. Are you ok?¡± The comment startled Drakkel. He had felt his body temperature increasing for every moment Rillian Adore was there, but he didn''t think anything of it. Now that Rillian Adore mentioned it, it only made him feel hotter. Stolen story; please report. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯m just not used to the heat.¡± Then Rillian Adore said something else, ¡°After we get out, I can apply some medicine¡­¡± With the thought of Rillian Adore applying a salve to Drakkel''s naked physique, the heat rising to his face had heightened, making him dizzy. Drakkel didn''t let him finish. He shot up from the water and turned to look back at Rillian Adore. Though he was out of the water, his body wouldn''t cool down. The water of Joyous Encounters was said to have been one of the cleanest around, being sourced from a natural reservoir near the town. This was facilitated by Swordsmith Villa which wasn¡¯t only powerful, but rich in funds as well. The funds trickled down to the townspeople who didn''t have to worry about dirty water due to the clan. So, even though the water was hot, it was also extremely clear. He hadn''t looked before, so he didn''t know. But now, instinctively looking at Rillian Adore in an attempt to speak, his gaze drifted down and before he could even get a word out, he noticed that the other person with him was not wearing a towel. His entire face blushing bright red, he turned back around and quickly said, ¡°I don''t think I can handle the heat anymore. I¡¯ll get ready for bed.¡± Rillian Adore nodded, not even questioning his reason for leaving. Drakkel gathered his robes from the hamper and calmly walked back into the room, his outer appearance not fitting the turmoil he felt inside. After changing in the lavatory and placing the wet towel in a hamper for dirty clothing, he realized that his hair was still wet, so he quickly walked back to the springs, avoiding looking at Rillian Adore. He then grabbed a towel from the hot spring accessories closet and used it to dry his hair as he hurried back to the room. Once his hair was dry enough, he placed the used towel in the hamper in the Lavatory and laid down on the far corner of the bed near his items. He sighed. He didn''t understand what had just happened. Why had such a comment made him so nervous? After thinking for a moment, he figured that perhaps it was because he wasn''t used to hearing such kind words without ulterior motives that the one comment Rillian Adore made, caused him to be so flustered. He wanted to cultivate, but with the heat and stresses of the day catching up to him, he involuntarily closed his eyes and went to sleep. When Drakkel again opened eyes, he was so close to Rillian Adore''s face that their noses were nearly touching. How dare he? He thought. Again? Once was a coincidence! Twice was a Pattern! Maybe Rillian Adore wasn¡¯t moving around in his sleep, but doing so purposefully? He was a troublemaker after all! Maybe he liked to tease people! It was only when Drakkel tried to feel the edge of his bed and his hand landed on the soft mattress did his mind begin to change. He carefully shimmied sideways until he reached the end of the bed where his items laid and the bed quietly creaked as he got off. His face reddening, a single thought came to mind, He was the one who had rolled over to Rillian Adore''s side! He mentally kicked himself. It had been a long time since he had moved around so much in bed. He remembered the time when he was around five years old and slept with his master. He would sleep on the pillow next to him only to wake up in odd positions in the morning. Sometimes he would have a foot near his master''s stomach or an arm on his face. His master couldn''t tolerate it after a year and asked him to move to his own space. But the rooms were too large for his small body, so he ended up sleeping with his senior brother until he grew enough to handle having his own room. His senior brother seemed to have a way to make him stop moving, for after staying with him, he never moved around again- until today at least. He looked over at Rillian Adore whose sleeping figure was still unmoving and sighed. At this time, it was best to cultivate. He located an empty spot on the ground and got into a lotus position. His mind calmed and he found himself on top of a clear body of water that reflected the endless blue sky above it. There was only water and sky around him, nothing else. Not even a sound. When he unsheathed his sword, small ripples traveled out from under his feet. He struck forward, gliding over the water¡¯s surface. Waves of water accompanied his movement flying up in arches around him. He practiced the 12 forms of the Sword Moon technique, splashes of water soaring into the air wherever he slashed. He was not yet willing to unleash his sword energy. Only after he had completed the 12th and last form, did he try to extend it. He stood in place, making his body straight and held his sword to his side. He closed his eyes and allowed his sword energy to travel outside him. Like the wind, it influenced everything. The gentle ripples of waves from underneath his feet grew larger. Like the soft breeze from the sea, spreading throughout the land, Drakkel¡¯s sword energy permeated the air. The quiet and still waters began to gently move, swaying back and forth. Just as Drakkel thought he was about to make a breakthrough, his sword energy began to run rampant. The calm space became disordered. The waves flowed about without direction. Drakkel coughed and was taken out of the space. When he felt another cough come, he covered his mouth. As he pulled his hand away, he noticed a stain of blood. He quickly got up and went to wash it away in the lavatory. As he left, he heard Rillian Adore ask from outside, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Drakkel dried off his hands and made his way back to the room. When he saw Rillian Adore¡¯s figure sitting up on the bed, he responded, ¡°Nothing is wrong, I was just cleaning my hands.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. As he stretched his upper body, he said, ¡°I was thinking, we could try to pay for a carriage to take us back to Towering Heights.¡± Drakkel agreed. It wasn¡¯t a bad idea. ¡°Alright.¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯ll let you handle it.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. After the two gathered up their items and ate at the main lobby, they left the inn. As Rillian Adore suggested, they searched for someone to take them to Towering Heights. But Joyous Encounters was a busy place. All the carriages had already been rented out or were already in use to transport other things. After a few hours, they decided to give up. Drakkel said, ¡°It¡¯s a little over a day¡¯s travel on foot to Towering Heights. We might as well try to make it. I think we can camp out for a night.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Rillian Adore and Drakkel made their way through the busy streets until they reached the entrance to Joyous Encounters. Afterward, they traveled leisurely, walking until the sun began to sink into the horizon. Because Joyous Encounters and Towering Heights were both busy places where many people traveled in between, two roads were created to optimize travel. One was mainly for carriages and the other was for walking. When they went to Joyous Encounters, they took the road meant for carriages. Because Drakkel had always traveled between Towering Heights and Joyous Encounters by carriage in the past, this was the first time he had taken the road meant for walking. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! The road for walking was far less busy than the one for carriages. He and Rillian Adore caught a glimpse of some people maybe every other hour or so. It made sense that most people utilized carriages for travel between the city and town as not only was the walking road long and empty, but most people within these towns had the funds to afford to travel by carriage. After a few more hours had passed and the moon loomed overhead, Rillian Adore and Drakkel found a place to camp out. It was in a small, nearly run down pavilion in the middle of the walking road. Pavilions were usually placed halfway through a major road, so they knew they must have made it halfway to Towering Heights already. They set their items down near them when they got to the pavilion and they each located a spot to lay down for the night. In an unfamiliar and unpopulated place, they got into lotus position, deciding to keep themselves vigilant. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 When the sun rose, Rillian Adore and Drakkel got up, filled their water flasks at the well in the pavilion and continued on their way. However, after a couple of hours, no one had appeared on the road. Drakkel thought that it might have been too early but then Rillian Adore suddenly came to a halt. Following his lead, he did the same. The path they currently walked on was surrounded by bushes and trees. Something wasn''t right. ¡°We¡¯re about to be ambushed,¡± Rillian Adore said. Drakkel nodded, getting into a defensive stance. A few moments later, four figures jumped out of the bushes. One was the man that assaulted Drakkel in the side street, Tifon of the Forging Rivers Clan. The others held the same weapons as him but with different designs. Their robes were also of a light and dark blue color. Looking around, Drakkel knew Tifon¡¯s sword level, but not that of the rest. This put him on edge. ¡°Is that him, young clan leader?¡± one of the disciples asked, pointing at Drakkel. ¡°Yes, that''s him. Leave him to me!¡± Tifon answered. ¡°We always knew you were more capable than Litoren Bovis! I mean you actually found out that a demon travels beside the Golden Blade!¡± Drakkel shook his head. Is that what Tifon had told them? Tifon grimaced, ¡°Litoren Bovis! Litoren Bovis! He¡¯s all my father ever talks about! But when I bring him the demon that managed to trick The Golden Blade, then he would have to look at me!¡± ¡°I don''t know, Senior Tifon.¡± Another one said. Maybe we should call for backup. I mean this is the ¡®Undefeated Golden Blade¡¯. If a demon managed to trick him, forget fighting the Golden Blade, can we even handle the demon by his side?¡± ¡°Don''t worry!¡± Tifon said. ¡°You all just focus on distracting the Golden Blade. He won''t even have the time to defeat you all before I apprehend the demon and break its spell!¡± Actually, now that Drakkel heard what they said, everything made sense. Sword¡¯s Clan Leadership was usually passed down in one of two ways, either through one of the head disciples or through children of the Clan Leader. However, The Forging Rivers Clan seemed to have a problem, as the former was preferred over the latter. If the Clan Leader had children, Leadership of the Swords Clan was usually passed to them. But they still had to prove themselves and be one of the best disciples in the clan. This wasn''t the case for Tifon though, for it seemed someone else was far more capable. Perhaps his father was already thinking of passing down the clan to this ¡®Litoren Bovis¡¯ instead of him. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t spread lies, Tifon.¡± Rillian Adore said. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know what it means to stand against me.¡± Tifon cupped his hands together. ¡°It really wasn''t my intention to go against your wishes! But you''re clearly not in your right mind! We need to find out who it is that currently follows you. Your honor may be ruined if something unsavory comes out about him later, right everyone?!¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The disciples around him voiced their agreement. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your help,¡± Rillian Adore said coldly. Tifon nodded. ¡°I know, but I''m worried. Demons are liars and tricksters. That man with you could be in league with them and you wouldn¡¯t even know it! Just let us take him back. My clan or yours, it doesn¡¯t matter!¡± ¡°I told you before, he isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡± Rillian Adore said, pulling out his weapon. The corners of Tifon¡¯s lips curled down, ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll have to do this the hard way then. I''ll have to apologize ahead of time for inconveniencing you.¡± The three unnamed disciples went after Rillian Adore while Tifon attacked Drakkel. Between Tifon¡¯s attacks, Drakkel didn¡¯t have the time to pay attention to what was happening to Rillian Adore. Tifon shot sword energy-enhanced attacks at Drakkel, combining them with physical attacks. Being fully aware of the differences in their sword level, Drakkel didn¡¯t dare take them on. He carried no weapons, so he had to resort to hand techniques. If he was still a sword master, even without his sword, beating someone of this level would have been child¡¯s play. But because his cultivation had severely weakened, he found himself struggling. He had trouble with him before, but with some time away, he had already memorized some of his moves allowing him to survive a little longer. It''s just that his sword energy and reflexes could barely keep up with what he learned so he had a difficult time beating him head on. Also because he had tried it so many times, he knew he couldn¡¯t maintain his sword energy if he used it too much. If he wanted to defeat the man in front of him, he had to time its use, utilizing it only when he knew it would hit its mark. He continued to dodge Tifon¡¯s attacks, looking for an opening when he heard a loud scream come from the direction in which Rillian Adore was fighting. Tifon¡¯s eyes shifted towards it for a moment and Drakkel saw an opportunity. He dashed over to him and timed a sword-energy enhanced strike at the arm holding the whip. Upon contact, a loud crack reverberated through the air. The whip dropped from Tifon''s hand as he screamed loudly, cradling his broken arm. With proper and prompt medical attention, Drakkel knew it would heal perfectly in three months. He made sure to not completely take away Tifon''s ability to fight, not wanting to deal with the possible consequences. The members attacking Rillian Adore seemed to be distracted after that as Drakkel heard another scream come from Rillian Adore¡¯s side. He knew Rillian Adore had defeated his opponents when one last scream followed soon after. Drakkel hit Tifon¡¯s acupoints, making sure he couldn¡¯t move. Then he shifted his gaze to Rillian Adore. Rillian Adore had knocked out the three disciples attacking him. Together they had easily subdued the group. ¡°Nice work.¡± Drakkel said. Rillian Adore bowed his head. As Drakkel looked at Tifon who could only make a frustrated expression, but couldn¡¯t voice his thoughts, he asked, ¡°So, what should we do with them?¡± Rillian Adore thought for a moment, then answered, ¡°It appears Tifon was the strongest amongst them. Since he¡¯s injured, we should leave him here. The three I fought will wake up in around thirty minutes. They shouldn¡¯t be met with any danger during that time since this road is relatively safe.¡± ¡°Seems fair.¡± Drakkel said. ¡°Then they can undo Tifon''s acupoints when they wake up.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Drakkel continued, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and leave. If anyone catches us here, it might incriminate us. I know your clan is strong, but we don''t need them fighting with the Forging Rivers clan for no reason.¡± Afterwards, Drakkel and Rillian Adore set the four people at the side of the road and left them there. Tifon angrily stared at them as they left them there but Drakkel ignored him. When he challenged them, he should have already prepared for the worst. He was happy that throughout the fighting, his bamboo hat had remained on. Even if Tifon held a grudge he wouldn''t know where to direct it. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 After they left the four Forging Rivers disciples, it took them almost another half a day to arrive at Towering Heights. The place was as they remembered it, beautiful both in the day and during the night. Drakkel told Rillian Adore that he wanted to visit the brothel at night so their entry would be less noticeable to any prying eyes. Once they arrived at the lavish building, some of the courtesans happily took their arms and dragged them inside. As they walked in, many of them fawned over Rillian Adore. Seeing how handsome Rillian Adore was, many were curious about the companion he brought along. Trying to peek under Drakkel''s bamboo hat, some of the courtesans began to surround them. When their curiosity became almost insufferable, Drakkel broke out of their grips. Rillian Adore then did the same. ¡°Leave,¡± Rillian Adore said, exuding his normal cold aura. This may have worked for others, but instead of being scared, most of the women actually scoffed and hurried away after hearing his words. Once the crowd cleared, only one remained. Her light brown hair and peach-colored skin were perfect compliments to her look and her face had a youthful appearance about it. Drakkel guessed that she was around 15 years old. Unlike the other women who crowded around them, this girl was dressed more conservatively, though her clothing items were still luxurious. Based on this, she probably didn''t serve customers and instead performed another activity. Perhaps signing, dancing or poetry. ¡°You two seem new.¡± She said. ¡°Since you refused the ladies, are you looking for someone in particular? Maybe I can help?¡± Rillian Adore looked her up and down. ¡°Do you happen to know where the madam is?¡± The girl shook her head. ¡°The madam is usually at the front desk, but she isn''t here right now. Maybe I can assist you instead?¡± Drakkel tried to find the front desk. It was located at the wall to the right of the entrance. When he looked over, he realized that the girl was right. No one currently stood there. He looked at Rillian Adore and nodded. ¡°Then we''ll wait in the main showroom for her,¡± he said. The girl shrugged, ¡°If that''s what you want.¡± She followed with a head bow. ¡°Then I want to welcome you to our humble business. I hope you two fine sirs have fun tonight. If you would like, there should be a good show beginning in the main showroom shortly. You can go and enjoy it.¡± Rillian Adore nodded and she left. Although he still kept his cold and reserved demeanor, Drakkel thought he seemed rather comfortable here. Then he wondered if Rillian Adore had ever visited a brothel or if he even regularly frequented one. It wasn''t common for sword fighters to be so frivolous. In fact, it was even frowned upon. But it¡¯s not like some didn''t still manage to go when their clans weren''t watching. He shook his head. Rillian Adore was known to be obedient. There was no way he would do such a thing. As they walked towards the main lobby in the chatter of the people around them, they heard some people whispering. Before they could make it to the main showroom, a loud scream rang through the air. They rushed towards it just in time to witness an argument occurring. A crowd was gathered around a man who was holding a woman by her wrist. On the floor in front of her was a flute. Their argument could be heard all over the room, ¡°Why don''t you marry me, Sena? I¡¯ll buy out your contract!¡± The woman screamed in between sobs, ¡°No! You know how our brothel works. The girls only go with who they want. I don''t want to marry you!¡± From behind the crowd, Rillian Adore and Drakkel heard whispers and tsks from all around. ¡°The shameless man. Who keeps coming after they¡¯ve been rejected, not once or twice, but thrice?!¡± ¡°He should have learned his lesson by now. He¡¯s lucky he hasn''t been banned yet.¡± ¡°I heard he collects women like expensive accessories. He already has twelve concubines all from different brothels! He really thinks he can step into one of the finest brothels in the land and claim another? His greed is insatiable!¡± ¡°Just because he¡¯s the richest merchant in Joyous Encounters, he thinks he can get away with it!¡± Rillian Adore pushed through the crowd and arrived in front of the man. Drakkel followed him, stopping near the front of the crowd. The man stopped speaking to the woman and stared at the newcomer. ¡°Who are you? What brings you here?¡± Rillian Adore didn''t answer his question. Instead he pointed to the woman on the floor. ¡°Why don''t you let the woman go?¡± The man dropped her wrist and the woman rubbed it. A fine red line could be seen where he had gripped. He straightened his stance and placed his hands behind his back, allowing the large golden bamboo-like symbol printed at the front of his robes to be fully displayed. ¡°I am Wold, the owner of the largest merchant group in Towering Heights, Tacit Company. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen my symbols all over the town. Even the Town Lord has to give me face! Now that you¡¯ve interrupted my activities, I''m sure you know what that means?¡± Rillian Adore was not affected by the man¡¯s scare tactics. He reached into his robe and pulled out his pass.¡°You¡¯ve made a public disturbance and are forcing a girl against her will ¡° Veins popped from Wold¡¯s head as his expression grew angrier. ¡°And who are you to tell me what to do?¡± He yelled. ¡°I¡¯m Rillian Adore of the Golden Peak Swords Clan.¡± Rillian Adore lowered his voice, saying in a sly manner, ¡°Surely you know what that means?¡± After lowering his eyes and calmly glancing at the pass, Wold suddenly quivered in fear. Sweat dropped from his forehead and he prostrated himself before Rillian Adore. ¡°I¡­I¡­ I didn''t mean to Ril¡­ I mean Sword Master Rillian Adore! It was a momentary weakness. I promise I won''t do it again!¡± Rillian Adore looked down at him in disgust. ¡°I heard you already have twelve concubines. Why don¡¯t you focus on them instead of forcing one to be your thirteenth?¡± Wold vigorously shook his head. ¡°No! I¡­ I only wanted to buy out her contract¡­ whether she becomes my wife or not is up to her!¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°You Liar!¡± The girl screamed in tears. ¡°You¡¯ve been harassing me for the past few weeks! Giving me attention that I didn''t want. Then the other day, you asked to marry me and tried to pressure the madam to sell out my contract!!¡± Rillian Adore continued to gaze down at the Wold, his eyes narrowing. Wold raised his head to look into Rillian Adore''s eyes, but after seeing he was still angry, he quickly bowed it again. ¡°I''m sorry.¡± He began to sob, ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Raise your head,¡± Rillian Adore coldly said. Wold slowly looked up. When he did, Rillian Adore leaned in close to him and whispered in his ear. After he was done, the man bowed three times before rushing out of the building. A few men who had followed him left as well. Drakkel heard people whisper. ¡°Rillian Adore is here?!¡± ¡°I can''t believe it, the Golden Blade!¡± ¡°Serves that pathetic man right! He¡¯s been throwing his weight around and putting on airs since he showed up two years ago! Maybe the Golden Peak Swords Clan will take care of him now!¡± ¡°We can only hope.¡± The young girl that Drakkel and Rillian Adore had spoken to earlier stepped out from the crowd and stood next to Rillian Adore. ¡°Break it up now!¡± She yelled. All eyes in the room shot to her. She bowed. ¡°We apologize for the embarrassing display that you all had to witness today! As the madam of this establishment, I will give you all repayment. The drinks for the night will be on the house!¡± The people erupted in cheer all around them. It wasn''t long until the splendorous merriment of the brothel returned. If one was to step in now, it would seem as if nothing had occurred. Under the shroud of the crowd, The young girl whispered into Rillian Adore''s ear, then grabbed his hand and pulled him up the stairs, heading to a private room. Drakkel went after them, slightly worried about her intent. The girl was pouring Rillian Adore some wine just as Drakkel entered. When she saw his figure, she gestured to the spot next to him. ¡°Come, sit.¡± She said. ¡°Let me hear what brings the Golden Blade all the way to my brothel.¡± Once Drakkel was seated and the girl poured him a cup of wine as well, she looked at each of them expectantly. Drakkel cleared his throat. ¡°When a flower blooms, hidden desires take root.¡± The girl''s eyes narrowed, her expression taking on a serious undertone. ¡°Drink those cups of wine and follow me. They¡¯re expensive and I don''t want to see them go to waste.¡± ¡°My friend is not in good health.¡± Rillian Adore said. ¡°I¡¯ll drink the wine for him.¡± The girl shrugged as Rillian Adore drank both cups. When he got up, after finishing the two cups, he swayed a bit. Drakkel took his arm and helped him stand steady. The young girl walked out of the room and took them down a long hall. On the right side, at the end of the hall was a door. It sat ominously, the music and cheer of the rest of the brothel not reaching its poorly lit corners. The girl said, ¡°The person you seek is behind this door. I have things to deal with so I¡¯m afraid that I can''t accompany you.¡± After bowing to them once, she quickly left the area. Then, a seductive feminine voice rang out from behind the door, ¡°Visitors? I wasn''t expecting any¡­ Please come in.¡± Rillian Adore was usually quiet, but right now, he didn''t even give a nod. Besides this, he was very uncoordinated. Drakkel had to practically drag him to the door. Upon walking in, Drakkel¡¯s nostrils were instantly invaded by a mixture of strong perfumes and other scents. He felt dizzy just standing in the place. As he stepped forward, he noticed that the room itself was decorated nicely. The floor was covered with a high quality carpeting and it contained a decently-sized lounge chair on one end and table on the other. A woman sat at the table, gazing at them with narrowed eyes and a hint of a smile on her face. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her black slightly curly hair fell down to her lower back and her deep black eyes made her seem mysterious yet majestic. Her cream-colored skin seemed smooth and supple. One wouldn''t even need to touch it to be able to tell. With her red makeup coloring her cheeks and lips and her enchanting eyes more pronounced, her looks were akin to what Drakkel thought an immortal beauty would look like. The woman straightened her stance, sticking out her index finger and using it to beckon him and Rillian Adore closer. When Drakkel finally reached the table, he helped Rillian Adore take a seat, then took one as well. He found it difficult to keep his mind clear among the scenery. Even his body began to feel a little hot. ¡°What brings you two here?¡± The woman calmly asked. For some reason, Drakkel¡¯s mind felt foggy. It took all he had for him to answer, ¡°We¡¯re¡­ here to¡­ Pisa¡­ Lorv¡­¡± It was like he ran out of breath with every word he spoke. Surprisingly, the woman wasn''t bothered by this and instead raised an eyebrow as she asked, ¡°So, you know my name?¡± Drakkel slowly nodded. Pisa Lorvent continued, ¡°I think it''s a little stuffy in here, why don''t you take off your hat.¡± She reached over to grab Drakkel¡¯s hat, but he grabbed onto it first, holding it down. ¡°I only speak to people face to face.¡± She said. Drakkel truly didn''t want her to take it off, but not only was what she said understandable, even if he wanted to, he didn''t have the energy to resist. His hat slid off his head as Pisa Lorvent grabbed it. When she saw his face, her eyes widened. ¡°A handsome young fellow sits before me¡­ Interesting. You would make a great addition to our Swords Clan.¡± As Drakkel¡¯s condition got worse, he realized something was wrong. ¡°What¡­ what did you do¡­to us¡­?¡± He asked. Pisa Lorvent smiled an innocent yet venomous smile. ¡°Since you know my name, I''m sure you know who I work for. To prevent myself from being overpowered by stronger Sword Fighters, I have to be prepared.¡± ¡°Poison¡­ wine?¡± Drakkel asked in surprise. Pisa Lorvent didn''t answer. Instead she continued, ¡°And, if that doesn''t work, this room is full of a tranquilizing agent that I have built an immunity to. It weakens the body and the mind.¡± Drakkel slowly looked over at Rillian Adore, then turned his attention back to Pisa Lorvent. Pisa Lorvent said, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re looking for the antidote! Well, I¡¯ll provide it once you tell me what you¡¯re after.¡± Drakkel couldn''t believe it. He and Rillian Adore had kept their guard up, but they both still fell for a trap. But then he remembered, this was one of the strongest Swords clans and one of the three geniuses of the Sword Fighting World. Besides the members of the clan in question, who else could resist their tactics? He warily answered, ¡°Just¡­ information¡­¡± ¡°Pertaining to?¡± Pisa Lorvent asked. ¡°Taliyah¡­ Raven¡­ ¡° Drakkel answered. ¡°Where is she?¡± Upon the mention of the name, Pisa Lorvent¡¯s eyes widened. Then they narrowed as she gazed at Drakkel. ¡°Why are you looking for her?¡± ¡°Why¡­ do¡­ need to¡­¡± Drakkel tried to ask. Pisa Lorvent interjected, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I won¡¯t give you the information.¡± ¡°Poison¡­¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°I¡¯ve been¡­ poisoned¡­¡± Pisa Lorvent¡¯s hands immediately shot to Drakkel¡¯s wrist. After a few moments, she let go. ¡°Hm. It seems you have.¡± She picked up the bamboo hat that dropped on the floor and put it back on his head. Leaning back into her seat, she said, ¡°Fine. The one you seek is currently in a temple on Earthly Mountain.¡± Drakkel nodded. He had heard of Earthly Mountain. It was a mountain covered in greenery and surrounded by natural habitats. It would have made for a popular place to build many temples, but the only caveat was that the climate was dangerous. Only Sword Fighters who were well versed in the sword step technique could traverse it. The forest around the mountain was also filled with hostile sacred beasts and ordinary animals alike. Most Sword Fighters, being not affiliated with a specific religion, didn¡¯t often visit temples. So for those temples that wished to see any type of traffic to their location, the Earthly Mountain was not a good choice. Pisa Lorvent stated, ¡°I¡¯ve told you her location, but it will be up to her whether she helps you or not.¡± Drakkel nodded. Before he could relax, he had to ask, ¡°The¡­ antidote¡­¡± Pisa Lorvent smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There was no poison. The wine the Golden Blade drank just contained some potent alcohol. Nothing more. He¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡± Drakkel was relieved. He bowed his head at her and lifted Rillian Adore up. Pisa Lorvent signaled to Rillian Adore, ¡°Also, I''m sure he''ll be paying for this consultation as always, so there¡¯s no need to worry about it.¡± Drakkel was confused. As always? He wanted to ask her to elaborate, but before he could question her, she lifted her hand and a strong wind blew out from her direction. Drakkel and Rillian Adore were shoved backwards out the door before it slammed closed behind them. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Because they were pushed away, Drakkel found it difficult to keep his balance and both he and Rillian Adore fell forward. With how heavy Rillian Adore was, especially with the added weight of his sword, it took some effort for Drakkel to lift them both up. After he did though, he realized that his mind was now clear/ A few minutes later, the young girl who claimed to be the owner of the brothel returned. ¡°It''s getting late.¡± She said. ¡°You two should rest here for the night.¡± If Drakkel was still his previous self, he wouldn''t dare stay at such a place. But he was a different person now. His reputation didn''t matter anymore. He was more worried about Rillian Adore''s. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it wouldn''t be appropriate.¡± He replied. The girl shook her head. ¡°Nonsense. We couldn''t possibly let you leave without repaying you for ridding us of that annoying merchant, Wold. Besides, if you''re worried about the Golden Blade¡¯s reputation, many people saw what he did. He would only be praised. We can even give a public statement if asked- The Golden Blade happened to be in the area when he heard about a disturbance in our brothel. He ended up saving one of our girls and teaching a corrupt merchant a lesson.¡± Drakkel realized she was right. He slightly bowed his head. ¡°Then, how can I refuse your hospitality? Please put us up for the night.¡± The young girl nodded and gestured for Drakkel to follow her. As they walked, Rillian Adore was still silent, leaning on Drakkel for support. The young girl took a turn and led them down another hallway. This hallway, unlike the other, was full of rooms with doors sitting both left and right. The girl led them to the third door on the right and gestured to it. ¡°These are our guest quarters. No one is currently staying in them because our customers usually sleep with our girls. This one here is the best. You can stay here for the night.¡± Drakkel bowed his head again. ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl smiled. ¡°Oh and if you need my assistance, just go up to any of the workers and say you are looking for Madam Shila.¡± Drakkel nodded. The girl named Shila smiled and wished them well before leaving. Once she left, Drakkel entered the room with Rillian Adore. As he looked around, he saw that it was even more extravagant than the one they stayed in at Joyous Encounters. The chamber was nearly spotless. The wood on the floor shined under the light of the lamps that hung on the walls. The bed in the middle was large and designed much like the one in the couples suite at the other inn. However, the pillows and set up seemed more suited for one person than two. At the wall to the right was a long desk and to the left was a window with a beautiful view. There were curtains hanging at its side, but they weren''t drawn; so the sight of the moon hanging in the sky was available to see; as were the various buildings that extended into the distance. Drakkel dragged Rillian Adore to the bed and set him down. He removed his items and set them on the floor at the side of the bed. When he got to Rillian Adore''s sword, he realized exactly how heavy it was. The disciples of Golden Peak must have been very strong to be able to swing such a thing around. With a little trouble, he took the sword off him and set it against the wall near his items on the floor. Once he finished removing his own items, he sat down next to Rillian Adore. Now that they were away from the strong scents of the brothel, he could smell the potent scent of alcohol drifting from Rillian Adore''s figure. Drakkel noticed that beside the bed was a table and that on top sat a ceramic pot. He wanted to get Rillian Adore some water and got up from the bed. But before he could get away, a hand gripped him strongly and pulled him backwards. Next thing he knew, he was sitting on Rillian Adore¡¯s lap. Rillian Adore giggled. ¡°You smell so nice¡­¡± Drakkel¡¯s heart froze. What did he just say? Eyes wide, he tried to shove Rillian Adore away, but he held him tightly. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. After a few moments of this, Drakkel finally angrily said, ¡°Rillian Adore, let go!¡± Rillian Adore immediately let him go and he got up from his lap. Rillian Adore looked up at him, his sharp eyebrows drawn together and eyes clouded. Then his lips quivered as tears started to fall down his slightly reddened face. He cried ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Rillian Adore''s blushing face combined with his depressed features and innocent brown eyes made him look like a little boy. In fact, if their ages weren''t different, one wouldn''t be able to tell the difference between him and the child they helped in Immortal Peak! Drakkel didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. The Golden Blade known for his strength and intimidation sat before him no more threatening than a young child! ¡°It¡¯s ok! It really is! See? I¡¯m fine.¡± Rillian Adore looked over at Drakkel, but continued to cry. ¡°Ok! How about this? You can make it up to me! Why don''t you answer a few questions? I¡¯ll forgive you then!¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Drakkel calmed his whirling thoughts. He figured it was a good opportunity to see if he could find out some things he had been wondering. ¡°Why did you challenge Drakkel Fin seven years ago?¡± Rillian Adore thought for a moment. He gazed into Drakkel¡¯s eyes and squinted. After a few seconds, his mouth formed a pout. He suddenly shook his head and in a toddler-like voice he answered, ¡°Can''t tell.¡± Drakkel¡¯s eyebrow twitched. He thought that with how drunk he was, that he would definitely spill some secrets. But maybe he was wrong. He tried again. ¡°Why have you been following me for so long?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°Have you ever been to a brothel before? If so, why?¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. Drakkel was getting frustrated now. Did he think this was a game? He hadn¡¯t intended it, but the volume of his voice had gone up a bit. ¡°I thought you wanted to make it up to me! So why won''t you answer?!¡± Rillian Adore started to loudly cry again. ¡°Please don''t get mad. I didn''t mean to!¡± Drakkel felt guilty. He could usually figure out what to do when met with trouble. But at this moment, he didn¡¯t know how to respond as Rillian Adore cried in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I didn''t mean to yell! Look, I''ve already forgiven you¡± He frantically said. ¡°So please don''t cry!¡± Rillian Adore shook his head, continuing to cry, ¡°You haven''t forgiven me and you never will!¡± Drakkel tried to calm him. ¡°I have! I really have!¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s cries were beginning to grate Drakkel''s ears. He quickly said, ¡°What can I do to prove it?!¡± The volume of Rillian Adore''s cries died down to some sniffles. Then he looked at Drakkel and shouted, ¡°I want a kiss!¡± He excitedly pointed to his forehead, gazing expectantly at him. Drakkel¡¯s face turned red hot. This man was shameless when he was drunk! He wanted to hit him in the face and tell him no, but he also didn''t want to deal with his tantrum again. He had no choice but to set aside his pride. It was just on the forehead so what harm could there be? He went over to Rillian Adore and leaned down to quickly kiss his forehead when Rillian Adore changed their positions and he ended up locking lips with him instead! Drakkel quickly pulled away, wiping his mouth and looking down at the drunk Rillian Adore. The man was actually smiling and giggling! Drakkel was furious! But what else could he do? Before he even had the time to fully process what happened, Rillian Adore grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. ¡°Time to go to bed!¡± He said. He flipped Drakkel onto the bed, continuing to embrace him. Soon after, Drakkel felt Rillian Adore''s chest slowly rise and fall, the quiet sounds of his breath escaping his lips. He had really fallen asleep, just like that! Drakkel softly sighed. He wouldn''t try to get out this time. He was angry, but he was even more worried. It wasn¡¯t Rillian Adore¡¯s fault that he was drunk and blaming him would do nothing but bring unwanted attention to them. After all, If he saddened him again, he might have to explain to the guests of the brothel who it was that was crying so loudly in the room! He slowed down. Thinking about it now, if Rillian Adore hadn''t drunk the wine for him, they might both be in a worse situation. He frowned. Who knew that the Golden Blade, head disciple of the Golden Peak Swords Clan had such an embarrassing side? It was lucky that the founder of his Sword''s Clan prohibited the members from drinking. Drakkel closed his eyes. There were a few mysteries surrounding Rillian Adore now. First, he incessantly followed him wherever he went, second he wouldn¡¯t reveal why he challenged him seven years ago, and now he just learned from what Pisa Lorvent said that the righteous and powerful Golden Blade might have been regularly frequenting brothels! But, though this was the case, Drakkel didn¡¯t think Rillian Adore had malicious intent. After all, he had been sincere towards him since the moment they met each other. He didn''t want to suspect him, which was why he wanted to hear things from his side. But based on who Rillian Adore was, he wouldn¡¯t speak whether of sane mind or not. His doubts were there but he could do nothing about them now. So, he decided to drop them. Besides, If Rillian Adore had any hostile ulterior motives, he had plenty of opportunities to act on them. After remembering how he was poisoned, Drakkel had thought that Rillian Adore might have had a hand in it. But spending time with him made him think that he wasn''t the cause of his poisoning and his reasons for challenging might have been genuine. He shook his head, deciding not to focus on it further. After all, there was still time to find out. The most important thing now was curing his poison. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Drakkel woke to the shifting of a body in front of him. Rillian Adore was stirring in his sleep. ¡°Drakkel¡­¡± he mumbled. After a few moments, his eyes slowly drifted open. ¡°Drake?!¡± He asked, sounding slightly unnerved. He loosened his arms, letting go of Drakkel. Then, he quickly slid off the bed. By the time he stood up, Drakkel was already awoken by his movements. Noticing that both of their clothes were a bit disheveled, Rillian Adore rushed to fix his. Drakkel also picked up on this and made a move to fix his as well. ¡°Did something happen last night?¡± Rillian Adore asked. Drakkel thought of what had happened last night and shook his head. ¡°It seems you were drunk,¡± he said. ¡°Oh,¡± Rillian Adore said, not even sounding surprised. His reaction was very mild, but Drakkel couldn¡¯t decide if it was because most of his emotions were mild or because he had been through this before. Moving to the edge of the bed, he said, ¡°I believe it was Madam Shila. She may be a member of the Hidden Desires clan too.¡± Drakkel dropped some important information, but even with this, Rillian Adore seemed unconcerned. Now Drakkel was almost convinced he had been here before. As he thought about it, Rillian Adore asked, ¡°Did I do some¡­?¡± He shook his head and continued, ¡°Are you ok?¡± Drakkel sat at the edge of the bed, continuing to straighten his appearance. ¡°I¡¯m fine and you just moved around in bed again. Don¡¯t think too hard about it. Just be more careful around alcohol in the future.¡± Drakkel purposely held the truth from him. Who knew if he could live with himself after hearing what he had done? Even Drakkel wouldn¡¯t want to know if the roles were switched. Rillian Adore nodded. Not wanting to dwell any more on the subject, Drakkel said, ¡°By the way, What did you say to Wold yesterday?¡± Rillian Adore answered, ¡°I just told him that if he continued on his insatiable undertaking, I would have the Golden Peak Swords Clan thoroughly investigate him and report their findings to the emperor. He might appear innocent on the surface, but who knows who he has dealings with and what sort of unsavory things he has been up to? Even if nothing is wrong with his business, just having him investigated would severely drop his support.¡± Drakkel nodded. Rillian Adore then asked him, ¡°What did you find out while I was¡­ preoccupied?¡± Drakkel, with his clothes now fixed, got up and faced him. ¡°The one who I seek is on Earthly Mountain.¡± ¡°Perilous Earthly Mountain?¡± Rillian Adore asked. Drakkel nodded. ¡°I believe it isn¡¯t too far from here. About a four day trip northwest on foot. Of course we¡¯ll have to go through Auspicious Sign to get to it, so we can take a break there. If we leave now, we should at least be able to make it before nightfall. By then, we can stay for the night and be on our way.¡± Drakkel spoke calmly, but he actually wasn''t fond of the idea of going to Auspicious Sign. Auspicious Sign was home to the High Mountain Glaive Swords Clan, one of the seven strongest clans and one of the clans that appeared on the list of clans that utilized the illegal meteoric mine in Shadowy Ridges. The High Mountain Glaive Clan didn''t get along with The Sacred Sword Clan. Of course not many Swords clans got along, but at least those that didn''t could be cordial to each other. However, for these two clans, even this was impossible. His master told him it was because they were jealous. Both clans were righteous but the way they went about it was different. The Sacred Sword Swords Clan chose to mingle with the common people and were a generally open and welcoming Sword''s Clan while the High Mountain Glaive clan sealed themselves away behind a large manor; extending a hand, but keeping the people at arm''s length. It didn''t help that the founders of the clans were brothers who also didn''t like each other. The High Mountain Glaive clan, founded by the older brother came first, yet it was the Sacred Sword Swords Clan created by the younger one that gained the most fame and renown. In conversation, one could only mention the High Mountain Glaive clan after first talking about the Sacred Swords clan. In the past, there were many feuds between them. Even he had been involved in some. He hadn''t heard anything from his clanmates so he had hoped the bad relationship between them had gotten better, but after further speculation, it might have been that they just agreed to have nothing more to do with each other. Considering the fact that the High Mountain Glaive Sword''s Clan appeared on the list of those collecting meteoric stone from Shadowy Ridges and that he wasn''t currently very strong, he decided he would return to investigate once he regained his previous sword skills. After ending their conversation, Rillian Adore and Drakkel packed up their items and left the room. The brothel was mostly vacant during the early morning, so Shila took the time to offer them a meal before they set off. As she sat across from them while they ate in the empty dining hall, Drakkel suddenly stopped eating. ¡°Are you a member of the Hidden Desires Swords Clan?¡± He asked abruptly. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Shila smiled and tilted her head. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m only the madam of a brothel.¡± ¡°No need to pretend,¡± Rillian Adore said. ¡°He has already figured it out.¡± Shila¡¯s face all of a sudden grew serious. If looks could kill, Drakkel and Rillian Adore would be dead on the floor. The cheerful expression worn by the young girl turned into one leaking murderous intent in an instant. Drakkel sensed immediate danger. He prepared himself for an impending attack, putting his guard up. But Rillian Adore did not do the same. Instead, he did something that Drakkel hadn''t seen him do often; he smiled. ¡°Calm down, madam. I¡¯m sure that by now, you¡¯ve learned that Pisa Lorvent and I are previously acquainted. If I was going to tell people about the Hidden Desires clan, I would have already.¡± Drakkel was surprised. So Rillian Adore really had been here before? Like the blowing out of a candle, the murderous intent building in the air vanished in a second. Shila''s cheerful personality again shined through. ¡°I wasn¡¯t here when you started to come to this brothel, but I know you will keep this promise because I heard of your reputation.¡± She gestured to Drakkel, ¡°But can your friend over here do it?¡± Rillian Adore suddenly stood up. Then he did something unexpected. He dropped to his knees next to the table and bowed deeply. Drakkel wanted to stop him, but it happened too quickly. Rillian Adore sat up and crossed a line over his heart. ¡°I promise that this man will tell no one of what he knows about this place.¡± Shila''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Drakkel couldn¡¯t believe what Rillian Adore was doing either. ¡°A Sword Fighter''s promise from the Golden Blade? You would really risk your own cultivation? Who is he to deserve such a service?¡± As Rillian Adore stood up, he answered, ¡°Just a good friend.¡± ¡°Only a friend, hmm?¡± A smile played on Shila¡¯s lips before she broke out into full laughter. ¡°Yes, it seems you have guessed it. This whole brothel is controlled by the Hidden Desires clan. Those who know only a little would assume Pisa Lorvent is the only member of the Hidden Desires clan that works within these walls.¡± ¡°Since this is the case, why continue to be bullied by that merchant?¡± Drakkel asked. Shila laid her arms on the table and used them to support her chin. With a smile, she said, ¡°What, did you think we had no means to stop him? I was going to give him one last chance. He has been targeted by so many already, but we refused because he was so rich and by extension, powerful. We were waiting for his reputation to fall a bit more before it would be justified to kill him. But now that you''ve intervened, Rillian Adore, he shouldn''t come after us anymore. There¡¯s no need for us to take any chances. But you¡­ Well, you should be more careful in the future¡± Rillian Adore who had returned to his seat nodded. Another question was gnawing on Drakkel¡¯''s mind. He wasn''t sure if he should ask, but he needed to get to the bottom of it. He would take whatever consequences came. ¡°Madam Shila¡­ Do you know if your swords clan has recently acquired meteoric stone through unsav¡­¡± a gust of wind accompanied by a whizzing sound breezed past Drakkel''s ear. He heard a soft thud from the wall behind him. If he had been leaning just a tiny bit more to the left, he was afraid he wouldn''t be alive right now. Shila¡¯s murderous energy had returned, however her expression was unchanged. ¡°Just because I act friendly towards you now, it doesn¡¯t give you the right to pry into my sword clan¡¯s matters. You should learn to keep your mouth shut and be thankful for whatever information is given to you.¡± Drakkel had tried, but of course she didn''t answer. The Hidden Desires clan was embroiled in illegal and sketchy activities. Why would such a secretive clan tell an outsider anything that could majorly incriminate them? Yes, they didn''t have a reputation to uphold like other clans, but benefitting from an illegal mine and harming the ordinary citizens of the capital could warrant the emperor''s attention. Drakkel bowed his head, ¡°I apologize. Thank you for taking care of us.¡± Shila again returned to her normal self. ¡°No problem. Your patronage is appreciated.¡± She got up from the table and said, ¡°I won''t be seeing you off. I have work to do.¡± She walked away and Rillian Adore and Drakkel were left sitting at the table. Now that they were left by themselves, Drakkel decided to confirm what he had learned. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been here before, Rillian?¡± But Rillian Adore ignored his question and got up from his seat, heading towards the exit of the brothel. Drakkel sighed. He was starting to get used to his avoidance in answering his questions, but the fact that he refused to answer still bothered him. Suppressing the thought, he stood up and followed Rillian Adore out. As they headed towards the North exit of Towering Heights, a carriage suddenly stopped in front of them. The carriage was lavish, like one a member of the royal family might use. A man¡¯s hand stuck out of the window and he gestured for them to come near. The two initially ignored it, but then they heard someone direct a message at them with Sword energy. ¡°Rillian Adore. Surely you don''t want to announce your presence. I would like to see you. Please come over.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he clenched his fists. He pivoted over to the carriage and Drakkel followed behind him. When he got to it he crossed his arms. At this point he seemed rather irritable. He didn¡¯t even show respect to the person in the carriage who could have been a noble or high ranking merchant. Instead he asked, ¡°Who are you? What do you want from me?¡± The man opened the curtains and revealed himself. He seemed similar in appearance to a certain someone. ¡°I apologize.¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to start a fight. It¡¯s me, Clan Leader Fieren¡¯s second son, Firo Fieren. I heard you met with my father and I saw you walking here so I thought it would be good to greet you.¡± Oh. Drakkel thought. So that¡¯s who he was. The man paused to glance at Drakkel then looked back at Rillian Adore who seemed to be avoiding his gaze. ¡°Are you two heading to Auspicious Sign?¡± Rillian Adore relaxed his body a bit, but he still seemed slightly on guard. In response to Firo Fieren¡¯s question, he shook his head while Drakkel nodded at the same time. Firo Fieren excitedly said, ¡°Then why not travel with me!? The trip will be long without a carriage. Besides, I heard some people are after you. No one would guess that you''re traveling with my accompaniment. Even if they did, they wouldn''t dare to stop me.¡± ¡°No,¡± Rillian Adore answered quickly. ¡°We¡¯re fine¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Drakkel added. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want to intrude.¡± Firo Fieren didn¡¯t get the hint. ¡°You wouldn''t be! On account of the good relationship between our sword clan leaders and the fact that you made my father happy, I would like it if you rode with me.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s mouth was forming a grimace, but he still glanced at Drakkel. It was as if he was waiting for him to decide. Drakkel was stuck for a moment. He couldn¡¯t help but think that Firo Fieren was right. If they took this path on foot, who was to say if other Swords Clan disciples would attack them later? Yes, Rillian Adore said he could handle it, but Drakkel didn¡¯t want to inconvenience him. There was an easier path before them so why wouldn''t they take it? Drakkel nodded. Rillian Adore tsked and returned his attention to Firo Fieren. ¡°Then, I¡¯m afraid we''ll have to bother you,¡± he said coldly. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Rillian Adore went into the carriage, followed closely behind by Drakkel. When the two took their seats across from Firo Fieren, he knocked on the carriage wall. With his signal, the carriage wheels rustled and the carriage began to move. On the first day, they didn¡¯t speak at all and the carriage ride was quiet. But on the second day, after a few hours, Firo Fieren cleared his throat. Seeing that he was getting weary of the silence and that Rillian Adore didn''t intend to speak, Drakkel asked, ¡°So what brings you out of Joyous Encounters, Firo Fieren?¡± Firo Fieren¡¯s eyes lit up as he smiled. He didn¡¯t even seem to care about the fact that Drakkel donned a bamboo hat, hiding his identity. He happily answered, ¡°I¡¯m making deliveries. My next stop is the High Mountain Glaive Sword''s clan. They requested some weapons. I¡¯ve kept them under the seats, but I¡¯m afraid I can''t show them to you.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°I understand, I heard that Swordsmith Villa has a policy on not showing off any newly made weapons before they¡¯ve reached their owner. Besides that, I think it''s amazing that you''re going to deliver them yourself. Don''t you have disciples that can do the work for you?¡± Firo Fieren shook his head. ¡°I prefer it like this. My older brother assists my father in running the Swords Clan so it''s only right that I make myself useful in other ways.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°How noble of you! It looks like your father doesn''t need to worry. Having two sons with such great abilities is a blessing. With both of you around, he won''t need to worry about the future of your Swords Clan!¡± Firo Fieren bowed his head, ¡°It''s an honor to hear such a compliment from the Golden Blade¡¯s chosen companion. I¡¯m glad that we¡¯re riding to Auspicious Sign together. One might say our meeting is an Auspicious one as well.¡± Drakkel smiled. Firo Fieren added, ¡°By the way, are you the very companion that assisted Rillian Adore in Shadowy Ridges and Lunala Isle?¡± Drakkel was prepared for this as he had heard this question before. He was about to answer when Rillian Adore spoke first. ¡°No. That man and I have already gone our separate ways. This one is a servant I want to bring with me to my Swords Clan. His foundations are good, so I thought I might try to teach him some moves. Though he may be too old to make much progress.¡± Firo Fieren¡¯s eyes darted to Rillian Adore. After a moment, he smiled. ¡°Interesting! I haven''t seen you this close to a person since¡­¡± Rillian Adore''s eyes narrowed. ¡°Forget it.¡± Firo Fieren said. ¡°I think it''s good that you''ve taken a liking to someone. These past 7 years, I heard you¡¯ve been in low spirits. Always keeping those around you at arm¡¯s length. It¡¯s like you didn''t want to be approached... We used to hang out too, but you stopped coming to see me.¡± His expression fell. ¡°You weren¡¯t that friendly to people before, but at least you were affable. However, after that day, you were quite cold to those who weren¡¯t your fellow disciples¡­¡± He sighed, then gave a small smile. ¡°At the very least, you seem better now.¡± Drakkel was surprised. He hadn¡¯t heard of this before. The Golden Blade was always known for being cold and intimidating. Was there really a time when he didn''t fit this personality? Besides that, the way Firo Fieren spoke, he must have missed spending time with Rillian Adore. But Rillian Adore didn''t seem to want to be associated with him. Rillian Adore shifted his head to the side, not saying another word. Meanwhile Firo Fieren¡¯s gaze shifted back to Drakkel. ¡°And I suppose we have you to thank for it.¡± Firo Fieren leaned forward and attempted to pat Drakkel''s shoulder, but Drakkel instinctively jerked out of his range, feeling odd about the sudden contact. Firo Fieren, however, wasn''t upset by this and instead smiled. Drakkel felt a bit bad about what he did, but he didn¡¯t want to address it with Firo Fieren. To distract from this, he changed the subject. ¡°By the way, you seem to know Rillian Adore fairly well. What is your relationship?¡± Firo Fieren''s smile faded a bit. ¡°My father and his Clan Leader were friends so we used to hang out a lot. It''s just that we don''t see each other anymore, though it would be nice if¡­¡± Suddenly, the carriage halted to a stop. The three in the carriage, being skilled in sword fighting, avoided being thrown around by the jolt. Once everything calmed down and the carriage was still, Firo Fieren said, ¡°You two stay here, I¡¯ll see what''s going on. It''s probably just a damaged wheel.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you bring your weapon with you?¡± Rillian Adore asked. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Firo Fieren shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sure it''s just a minor thing. Don''t worry.¡± Once Firo Fieren left, Rillian Adore said, ¡°Be prepared. Something isn¡¯t right.¡± Drakkel felt it too, the air felt heavy. When Firo Fieren didn''t come back after a few minutes, Rillian Adore stood up. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll check what¡¯s going on.¡± However Drakkel wasn''t going to listen to him. Whatever was happening, Rillian Adore would most likely need some backup. When the two stepped out of the carriage, Drakkel knew he was right. A group of seven demons were gathered together and in one of their hands, was Firo Fieren. His eyes were closed and he was slung over its shoulder, unmoving. When Drakkel glanced to the side, he noticed that the horses were gone and the coachman was dead, his body laying limply at the front of the carriage. ¡°Drop him.¡± Rillian Adore said, gazing at Firo Fieren. When the demon that looked to be the largest of them spoke, Drakkel feared they weren''t dealing with an ordinary threat. He huffed a laugh. ¡°You small and weak thing. Who are you to make demands of me?¡± His voice was menacing, deep and dark. Unlike the other demons they had faced before, he seemed stronger and more calculating. His appearance was a bit more human-like. Instead of the ashy gray of a normal demon¡¯s skin tone, his was more pale. He even had long dark brown curly hair that was packed in a ponytail on his head. But what gave away his appearance was the redness of his eyes, his black claw-like fingernails, and the unique symbol on his forehead. Rillian Adore unsheathed his sword. ¡°If you don''t drop him, I¡¯ll have to force you.¡± The demon smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can.¡± Rillian Adore dashed towards the demon, utilizing his sword step. At the same time, the demon carrying Firo Fieren left the area. Drakkel tried to give chase but was blocked off by the other demons. The demons attempted to attack him, slicing at his body. Meanwhile, the demon fighting Rillian Adore shot waves of demonic energy at him, which he either blocked with his own energy or his sword. Over the hundreds of years that humans fought with the demons, they had learned a few things about them. Demons were ranked according to strength. The weakest demons had hardly any sword energy but possessed very durable bodies. No ordinary person could realistically do any damage to them so Sword Fighters were called in whenever they showed up. Their appearance was like what Drakkel had seen in Shadowy Ridges. Gray skin, dark eyes, black claw-like fingernails, and a black symbol on their foreheads. The demons ranked above them were more human-like, but their features could still not be quite as hidden. Their look was like the man they were facing now, human in appearance but with defining features such as visible symbols, claw-like nails, and unique eye and hair colors. The strongest of demons appeared fully human. One would only be able to point them out by their demonic energy and their symbols; which were not always black and did not lie on their foreheads; these highest ranking demons were nearly mythical. In the long ago past, sightings were recorded, but since no one alive today had ever seen them, even though demon attacks still occurred occasionally, many began to believe that the existence of those stronger demons was a legend. Drakkel continued to dodge every attack that came at him. Eventually, he had taken down three of the five demons attacking him. Despite his best efforts however, without a weapon, he couldn''t slay the demons. So, in time he grew tired and when he fought the last two demons, he was already reaching his limit. In a decisive strike, he decided to expend more of his sword energy, using his sword step technique to swiftly knock the last two demons out. When he was done, he turned around and saw that Rillian Adore was still struggling with the demon that attacked him. He jumped into the fight and the demon and Rillian Adore halted their battle. ¡°Don¡¯t come over!¡± Rillian Adore shouted. The demon smiled at them. ¡°Actually, do come over. We''re about to be done here anyway.¡± Like a puff of smoke, his figure disappeared from in front of them. He appeared at the location where the other five demons were. Gazing down at them repugnantly, he said with a sneer, ¡°Useless things.¡± He took two fingers and sliced towards the unconscious demons, killing them. This warranted the surprise of Rillian Adore and Drakkel. The demon scoffed and looked at them. ¡°A nice match. But next time, leave the interrupter behind and fight me one on one.¡± He laughed and hopped into the distance, heading in the same direction as the demon that kidnapped Firo Fieren. Rillian Adore began to give chase, while Drakkel surveyed the area. After a few minutes, Rillian Adore returned and shook his head. ¡°You couldn''t catch up?¡± Drakkel asked. ¡°No,¡± Rillian Adore answered. ¡°I lost him at the river nearby.¡± Drakkel sighed. ¡°Then I guess we have no choice. We have to report this to the High Mountain Glaive Swords Clan.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°If we¡¯re going to do that, we should bring whatever Firo Fieren was holding to them as well. I¡¯m sure SwordSmith Villa already told them that he was coming. If we¡¯re the ones who show up instead, then they should believe us.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± Drakkel replied. ¡°Let¡¯s move the carriage and bury the carriage handler first.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Once Rillian Adore and Drakkel moved the carriage to the side and buried the carriage handler¡¯s body, they went back into the carriage to locate the items that were to be delivered. It didn''t take long for them to pull out a wooden box from under the seat. Also next to the box was a beautifully designed spear with a dark brown wooden base covered in aqua blue embellishments and unique crafts. The tip of the spear was clear and cold, seeming to be made carefully and with full consideration to detail. The quality was definitely top tier, but not unexpected. After all, it was owned by the second son of the leader of the Sword Smith Villa Swords Clan. Nothing less could have been wielded. Rillian Adore carried the wooden box while Drakkel carried the spear and they quickly made their way to Auspicious Sign. Because they were in a hurry, it took them just under two hours to reach their destination. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Auspicious Sign was built like a fortress. Unlike the carefree energy that pervaded the air of other inner cities, there was a secure type of strength that almost every person seemed to exude. But this strength also seemed to come with emotional isolation as the denizens of the city weren''t friendly at all. The city was surrounded by thick and tall stone walls and almost everything was made of rough gray stone sporting a very small array of earthy colors. These stones weren''t as polished nor as beautiful as that of other cities, but they were much more durable. With neither Drakkel nor Rillian Adore having ever been to Auspicious Sign, the two had to ask directions to find the Swords Clan. But the people really were unfriendly. Even a slight glance would have been fine, but those who walked past them didn''t acknowledge their presence at all. Because of this, it took a while before they got someone to answer their questions. Once the two got to the clan manor, the disciples guarding the entrance, dressed in gray robes stopped them. Their expressions were serious, both standing straight and unwavering. Without even a greeting, one of them, a male disciple, asked, ¡°What brings you two here?¡± ¡°We need to see the Clan Leader.¡± Rillian Adore answered. The disciple responded, ¡°Our clan leader won''t meet just anyone.¡± ¡°Even Rillian Adore?¡± Rillian Adore asked. The two looked at each other, their eyes widening slightly. Despite their initial reaction, their expressions quickly calmed. The female disciple who didn¡¯t originally speak, answered, ¡°Only if he has important business with us.¡± Rillian Adore took out his pass. ¡°I do.¡± The two disciples cupped their hands. ¡°The Clan Leader is busy, Sword Master Rillian. We can take you to him, but he might not see you.¡± ¡°It''s fine,¡± Rillian Adore answered. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± One of the disciples glanced over to Drakkel and slightly bowed his head to him as well. Drakkel figured that people must have already heard that Rillian Adore was traveling with someone which explained their attitude. As for not caring about the spear in his hands, it was likely because Sword Smith Villa¡¯s heirs were required to take up training in one weapon from the Swords Clan. While doing that, they had to become expert Sword Smiths as well. Because of this, it was rare for their Sword Skills to advance past Sword Sworn and even rarer still to reach Sword Spirit or Sword Master. The top disciples in their clan hardly ever included the names of any of the heirs for that reason. But during his time as a beggar in larger towns, Drakkel had heard that Firo Fieren¡¯s older brother, Oros Fieren had already reached Sword Spirit. On top of that, he was one of the best swordsmiths in the clan. So, Firo Fieren¡¯s weapon may have been hard to recognize for them, but if his older brother Oros Fieren¡¯s weapon was in his hand, the same may not have held true. The two disciples opened the gates. One stepped aside while the other walked through. The one that entered said, ¡°Please follow me.¡± The manor of High Mountain Glaive Swords Clan was built much like the town that surrounded it, lacking a bit in luxury but solid in structure. Even if the attack were enhanced with sword energy, it wouldn''t be enough to create even a single crack in the stone. The manor was created simply. It was rectangular in shape and contained a few halls within. The inside was much better looking than the outside, its drab and dreary gray color being contrasted with the velvet blue carpeting and decorated walls of the inside. But it still could not be compared to the likes of SwordSmith Villa or even the Thousand Petals Swords clan in terms of beauty and elegance. Rillian Adore and Drakkel were led down several halls past many disciples until they reached an open area. The door was round in shape and covered only by a thin curtain so the voices of those inside drifted out. ¡°It is good that Firo Fieren will be coming today. Our new disciples require their weaponry. We need to get as many ready as possible before the next summit.¡± A man said. Another man answered, ¡°Yes, Clan Leader. Hopefully he arrives soon. Our disciples have been looking forward to it.¡± As they approached, the original man¡¯s voice asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The disciple that led them answered, ¡°It¡¯s me, Aekil, Clan Leader Kazilik. I am followed here by Rillian Adore and his guest. They said they have something urgent to inform you about.¡± The man known as Clan Leader Kazilik said, ¡°Can''t you hear that I''m busy?¡± Rillian Adore stepped forward. ¡°Clan Leader Kazilik, I¡¯m Rillian Adore. An issue has come up with Firo Fieren.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°What is it?¡± Clan Leader Kazilik asked in patiently. Rillian Adore paused for a moment before answering, ¡°He¡¯s been kidnapped by demons.¡± A deafening silence followed after Rillian Adore''s announcement. Even the closest disciples in the halls didn''t make a noise. After a few moments, an older looking man walked out of the room followed by a younger man. The older man seemed maybe in his upper 50s, but his physique was muscular. It was as if he modeled himself after the fortress itself, his bearing hardened and firm. Meanwhile, the younger man seemed maybe in his upper 30s and bore a striking resemblance to the older man. It''s only that he was a bit smaller in build than him. Drakkel had heard tales of the less talented younger brother of the clan leader of the High Mountain Glaive clan. Oftentimes when they fought demons or other criminals in the past, he would never come along. If it weren''t for the fact that he had a reputation for being a scholar and poet on the side, many would believe him to not exist. Rillian Adore, Drakkel and the disciples cupped their hands and bowed. ¡°What did you sa¡­¡± Clan Leader Kazilik asked. However, he didn''t finish his sentence as his attention was swiftly brought to the staff in Drakkel''s hands. He walked over and took it, beginning to inspect it. With a hand on his chin he said, ¡°Hmm¡­ this is definitely Flame''s Trial.¡± Flame''s Trial was the name of Firo Fieren¡¯s spear. It was said that as a part of a trial to determine if one would make a worthy heir for Swordsmith Villa, they had to successfully create their own weapon. Piece by piece, they had to melt the metal, fortify the meteoric stone, create the blade, and even add embellishments. Thus far, the number of those who had failed the trial could be counted on one hand. So of course, Firo Fieren and his older brother Oros Fieren had no trouble completing the task. For Firo Fieren, ¡°Flame''s Trial¡± was the result. Clan Leader Kazilik¡¯s eyes narrowed as an expression of worry began to wash over his features. He turned to the man next to him. ¡°Younger brother, mobilize the disciples to search around the area and send a letter to SwordSmith Villa in the swiftest manner possible. We must locate Firo Fieren.¡± The younger man bowed. ¡°Yes, Clan Leader Kazilik.¡± He quickly left, rushing down the halls and gathering every disciple he met along the way. ¡°Do you require our assistance, Clan Leader Kazilik?¡± Rillian Adore asked The Clan Leader shook his head. ¡°You making me aware of this matter is more than enough. Besides, it has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s our problem so we¡¯ll fix it. Now, as you know, I have matters to attend to. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to leave your presence.¡± Clan Leader Fieren rushed down the hall after his brother. He walked with his hands behind his back, appearing calm in demeanor. But a trained Sword Fighter could see how he entwined his sword step with every move, making his seemingly short strides lengthen in distance. ¡°We¡¯ve done all we can,¡± Drakkel said. ¡°If you want to stay, I won¡¯t stop you, but I still have my own business to deal with. I won¡¯t mind coming out to help if it¡¯s still needed once I¡¯m done.¡± Rillian Adore shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± With that answer, Drakkel was now left to wonder. For how long was Rillian Adore planning to follow him? Thinking about it, at first Rillian Adore said that he was following him to Sword Smith Villa Manor to complete his own things. Now they had already visited so many places and he still stayed. He looked at Rillian Adore curiously. ¡°Rillian, why have you been following me?¡± He asked. Rillian Adore shifted his gaze away. ¡°I still need to bring you to my clan as a witness of everything that has occurred thus far. You tried to run away before so of course I have to stick close to you¡­¡± Drakkel was speechless. There was no way it was that simple. If he wanted to bring him into his clan, it would be too easy. With his power, all he had to do was knock him out or hit his acupoints and he wouldn''t be able to run away. Then if he wanted to get him to speak, most beggars would take money. So why go through all the trouble? He knew this and yet he didn''t dare to bring it up. He didn''t want to give him any ideas. Instead he said, ¡°I understand. Then we can go back to your clan after I''m done and we can give them an account of everything we¡¯ve seen.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Since the matter with Firo Fieren was taken care of, Drakkel thought back to their current situation. Among all that had happened, the journey to Earthly Mountain would take two days from Auspicious Sign on foot. It was already getting dark, so they decided to stay in the city for a night. Unlike the other inner cities, the prices in Auspicious Sign were only a little higher than Immortal Peak. So this time, Drakkel offered to pay for the inn so as not to have Rillian Adore be the one paying for everything. Rillian Adore objected, but Drakkel insisted so he eventually had to back down. When Drakkel opened his money pouch, which he thought felt a little heavy before, he realized that someone had slipped some golden coins into it. Believing he knew the culprit, he was going to ask Rillian Adore about it. However, when he attempted to, Rillian Adore would ignore any of his attempts to gain his attention. Finally, he had to accept the money and used some of it to pay for the inn. The inn that they chose was clean and plain. It held no extra or unnecessary things. It made sense for inner cities that vacant rooms were hard to find. So Drakkel was happy that the string of bad luck surrounding them when it came to inns had subsided in Auspicious Sign. He thought Rillian Adore would feel the same, but he didn''t seem to agree. His demeanor which was usually reserved and cold only got worse. This time, they were able to acquire a room with two beds. As they rested, all the things that had gone on thus far went through Drakkel¡¯s mind. The High Mountain Glaive Swords Clan was also among the list of Swords Clans benefitting from the illegal mining of meteoric stone in Shadowy Ridges. He would definitely return to investigate them when he regained his power. However, something didn''t add up. He found himself to be at the center of several major events after years of peace. It was almost as if it was by design. But, Rillian Adore was also there and he was the foremost Sword Fighter in the present day, being believed to hold the potential to break through past Sword Master. It wasn¡¯t so strange for these things to follow someone with such strong sword prowess. After all, he had been involved in some major events in the past as well. He recalled when he solved a dispute between two major villages located near the inner cities causing a possible halt in trade to be saved, beat back demons hanging around Flowering Mountain, and even took down a few hostile sacred beasts located near Densai Forest. With these thoughts, his doubts dissipated as he prepared himself for the coming days. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 The road to Earthly Mountain was completely empty with not a person in sight. This was unsurprising though, as the Mountain was said to be perilous. There was nothing to be seen for a common person and only danger and inconvenience to be found for a Sword Fighter. It might have proven a good place to cultivate, but its distance from many of the Sword Clans was too great. The Swords Clans were involved in common matters and were cultivating just fine without inhabiting a dangerous area, so unless someone wished to leave behind their worldly affairs and focus on cultivation only, the destination wasn¡¯t ideal for most. Drakkel guessed that this was most likely why Taliyah Raven had retreated to the place. After a day of travel, Rillian Adore and Drakkel found another pavilion to settle down in. Drakkel noticed that Rillian Adore was oddly quiet during their travels. As they sat under the shaded cover of the pavilion, he asked, ¡°Does something bother you, Rillian? Is it about what happened with Firo Fieren?¡± Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°It¡¯s odd. Why would the demons kidnap a disciple of SwordSmith Villa? Especially the second son of the Clan Leader.¡± Drakkel thought for a moment. ¡°The demons¡¯ actions have always been rash and unpredictable. Besides knowing that they consume meteoric stones for power and have no qualms with hurting people, what more can we say about them? All we know is that we had a war with them long ago and we fought until their numbers severely dwindled and they went into hiding. Any attempts to find out their hiding spot have been fruitless.¡± Rillian Adore placed a hand on his chin. ¡°But, don¡¯t you think that their actions have been more organized lately? While the war was being fought, some would be organized and some would fight randomly. But it''s as if now¡­ they all fight with a purpose. Like¡­¡± Drakkel finished for him. ¡°Like someone is controlling them from the dark?¡± Rillian Adore nodded. It wasn¡¯t as if Drakkel hadn¡¯t thought of this, he just had more pressing matters to attend to. Even if he knew, there wasn¡¯t anything he could do about it. He still held the list which connected the illegal meteoric stone mine and the demons within them to three Swords Clans. Once he gained back his original power, he would naturally investigate it. ¡°It''s odd,¡± Drakkel answered. ¡°But as it stands, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it. That¡¯s why I''m going to Earthly Mountain.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Drakkel was surprised that he didn''t ask for more information on what exactly he was doing in Earthly Mountain, but he was also grateful. As things stood, he couldn''t currently explain. After resting for the night, they made their way to Earthly Mountain. As they got closer, they quickened their steps with the sword step technique and arrived a few hours before they were originally slated to. Earthly Mountain definitely deserved the moniker ¡°Perilous.¡± It was as described. Surrounded by thick forestry which somehow managed to be both vibrant and ominous. the Mountain ascended so high that the peak could not be seen from the ground, being covered by an ever-present dense veil of clouds Drakkel and Rillian Adore utilized their sword step to hop through the trees of the forest, skillfully avoiding the many dangerous beasts that laid in wait below. Once they arrived at the mountain itself, they circled around it first. Since they were unable to locate any signs of human life, they found a walking path and followed it up the mountain. The walking path was clear at some points and uneven at others. Rillian Adore and Drakkel often had to switch from normal walking to using their sword step while trekking it. After nearly three hours, they finally found a small temple-like structure seated upon a flatter area of the mountain. It was shaded by a singular large tree that grew near its crevices. The place was well-hidden. If one were to desire to locate it, they would first need to know of its existence. It was perfect to live in if one wished to be unbothered by others. Rillian Adore and Drakkel approached the small building made mainly of wood and stone and knocked on the door. There was no answer at first, so Drakkel knocked again. He was getting a strong sense of deja-vu from the whole interaction. After a third knock, a soft voice as smooth as silk and as sweet as honey answered, ¡°Coming!¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The door soon opened to reveal a beauty beyond words. Her glistening golden brown skin complimented her long black hair which rolled over her curvy and voluptuous figure. She was dressed conservatively and in plain white and red clothes, yet this didn¡¯t hide the appeal that leaked off her body. However, unlike the ladies that hung around the brothels, her beauty seemed dignified and untouchable. Her face was like that of an immortal¡¯s, without sign of imperfections. For her age, she seemed to be in her lower or mid 30¡¯s. Even though Drakkel was not attracted to her, he still had to battle the urge not to stare for too long. Even the normally insouciant and aloof Rillian Adore seemed a little captivated by her presence. The woman stole a glance at Drakkel, then smiled at them. Her hand stretched out so quickly that neither of them could make a move. Her slender fingers lightly brushed Drakkel¡¯s arm before he shifted it away. Unfazed, she said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two come in?¡± Drakkel was wary. He could only manage a nod as the woman stepped aside to let him and Rillian Adore through. She led them to a singular table in the middle of the main room of the building and sat them down. ¡°How about some tea?¡± She asked. Drakkel bowed his head slightly, ¡°We would appreciate it.¡± The woman nodded and quickly left the room. As Rillian Adore and Drakkel were still in the middle of surveying their surroundings, the woman returned with a teapot and three tea cups laid on a tray. She set the tray down and poured them each a cup of tea before pouring her own. After taking a sip, Drakkel said, ¡°We¡¯ve come because¡­¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°No need to continue any further my grand disciple. I know not only who you are but why you¡¯ve come. It''s about the poison of the Night Raising Flower isn¡¯t it?¡± Drakkel looked the woman up and down. To ascertain so much in just a few minutes, she must have been skilled. It truly was fitting for his Master''s Master. The woman smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure by now, you¡¯ve already realized who I am. Since you¡¯ve come here, your master must have told you about my medicinal prowess. There are few poisons in this world that I am not well acquainted with. I used my sword energy to sense your own. It could only be suppressed by a few things, considering your constitution.¡± Drakkel raised an eyebrow. ¡°Constitution? Could you elaborate?¡± Taliyah Raven smiled. ¡°First, let¡¯s clear the air. The man next to you is Rillian Adore, correct?¡± Rillian Adore nodded, seeming confused by the whole conversation. ¡°How much would you like him to know?¡± She asked. Drakkel looked at Rillian Adore, who eyed him back curiously. Considering all that had happened thus far, how much could he really trust him? After all, he hadn¡¯t been completely honest throughout their journey. He thought this, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to cast him out because not only had he saved him many times, but he hadn¡¯t been completely honest either. Besides, the matter was only about the poison. In fact, he might stand to benefit if Rillian Adore heard of it for if he brought it out now, he could determine if Rillian Adore was knowingly involved or not. Drakkel finally answered, ¡°It¡¯s fine if he knows.¡± Taliyah Raven¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you two that close?¡± Like Rillian Adore, Drakkel was starting to get confused too. Taliyah Raven looked between the two of them and seemed to finally figure out the cause of their confusion. She shook her head. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re not yet aware¡­ I¡¯m afraid there are some things that even he shouldn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Drakkel asked. Taliyah Raven sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s handle the matter about the poison first. I¡¯ll send him out and see if you would still like him to hear after I tell you about something else.¡± Drakkel nodded. Taliyah stated, ¡°During your battle with Rillian Adore, you were poisoned by the Night Raising Flower.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s eyebrows shot up as he gazed at Drakkel in shock. But what came out wasn¡¯t a question about Drakkel¡¯s identity or origins as Drakkel had expected, but a question of concern. ¡°You were poisoned?¡± Drakkel was surprised. So he knew his identity already? At this point, he could only nod in Rillian Adore¡¯s direction. Rillian Adore seemed utterly surprised. Not even a trace of doubt showed on his face. This assured Drakkel that he was truly not involved, Taliyah Raven continued. ¡°I can cure this poison, but there¡¯s another matter that I need to inform you about.¡± She looked at Rillian Adore. ¡°Rillian Adore, could you step out for a moment? I need to speak with my grand disciple alone.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. After exchanging a look with Drakkel, he left. Taliyah Raven¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be able to hear us from the distance he has traveled, but just in case, I¡¯ll use my sword energy to channel my voice to you.¡± Drakkel nodded. He immediately felt a foreign energy surrounding his earways. Taliyah continued, ¡°As you know, the Night Raising Flower is poisonous. It¡¯s also fatal, killing anyone who comes in contact with it within a week. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wondering why after seven years you¡¯re still alive.¡± Drakkel nodded. ¡°My disciple, Soft hearted as he is, likely couldn¡¯t bear to tell you this. So he left it up to me. It¡¯s your decision whether you believe me or not, but know that on this matter, I would never lie to you.¡± Drakkel nodded again. Taliyah Raven closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them, her expression grew serious. Taking a deep breath, her eyes locked with Drakkel¡¯s, ¡°You, my grand disciple, are half demon.¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Drakkel felt a pit form in his stomach as his heart began to race. That couldn''t be right. He shook his head. ¡°Grand master... You must be mistaken. For as long as I can remember, I''ve been raised my master. If I were part demon, wouldn''t there have been signs?¡± Taliyah Raven sighed and lowered her head. ¡°I know, it¡¯s surprising. I didn¡¯t believe it at first. But, when I assisted your mother in giving birth and she, with tearful eyes told me that your father was a demon¡­ Well¡­¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°You have a birthmark on your upper right back don¡¯t you?¡± Drakkel slowly nodded. ¡°That is the proof of your demonic heritage.¡± Drakkel laughed a little. ¡°It¡¯s just a birthmark- an ordinary one. How could it be proof?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t it used to irritate you when you were little?¡± Taliyah Raven asked. Drakkel was speechless for a moment, thinking on how to answer. When he thought for a bit, he replied, "My master said so, but I don¡¯t remember it myself¡­It might have been because¡ª¡± Taliyah Raven interjected, ¡°Tell me, What sort of birthmark could bother a person to the point of tears?¡± Drakkel could say nothing to refute her. After all, he didn''t know much about it himself. His memories from back then were so fuzzy, they might as well have been non-existent. Seeing as he did not have an answer, Taliyah Raven continued, ¡°There¡¯s a reason that you have no demonic energy¡­¡± Drakkel found everything she was saying to be unbelievable. He wanted to leave and pretend he had heard nothing, but his body was still, firmly planted in its seat as he listened to what she had to say. ¡°There¡¯s a poison that can suppress demonic energy that¡¯s available only to the demon royal family. Your master received it from the person who dropped you off as a baby and regularly fed it to you through the foods he made while you were little.¡± So all those concoctions his master made... that was the reason? In fact, they were the only things Drakkel could stomach when he was sick¡­ could it be that his sickness was not natural in origin and had something to do with his demonic energy? Drakkel shook his head, struggling to absorb what was being said as she continued, ¡°Your mother disappeared after giving birth to you. I didn¡¯t know what happened to her and her baby until a mysterious person left you with my disciple...¡± Drakkel felt like the world was swirling around him, yet his outer appearance was steadfast. He truly wanted to deny it, but his master had sent him here and had refused to tell him anything. At this point, why would his Grand Master lie? He wanted to know more. ¡°Who exactly were my parents and what happened to them?¡± Taliyah Raven sighed. ¡°Your mother was Immortal beauty, shooting star, Arcadia Luma and your father was Demon Prince Fal-On.¡± Drakkel¡¯s vision began to spin. Demon Prince? Immortal beauty? It couldn¡¯t be possible. He needed time to think. With head hung low and his fists clenched, he quickly said. ¡°Let¡¯s not speak of this anymore. Can we continue with the treatment of my poison?¡± Taliyah Raven nodded. ¡°As you wish.¡± She continued, ¡°I will be using a combination of acupuncture and herb mixture to facilitate your treatment. The herb mixture will cure the ailment and the acupuncture will aid it in circulating through your body. It¡¯s lucky for you that I came up with this treatment not long ago. I still haven¡¯t had the time to write it down in an organized manner and have it published so I¡¯m currently the only one who knows of it.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Drakkel nodded. She added, ¡°And I must let you know, I can cure the poison of the Night Raising Flower, but I can¡¯t cure the demonic poison. Since all it does is suppress your demonic energy, I wouldn¡¯t rush to get rid of it anyway.¡± Drakkel nodded. Now that he thought about it further, it must have been true. His master asked if his birth mark had bothered him in the time he was gone and later he gave him food to eat. He really must have used the demon poison to suppress his demonic energy. Once the treatment was set up and the needles were put in place around Drakkel¡¯s body, Taliyah Raven said, ¡°I will call in Rillian Adore now. It isn¡¯t kind to make him wait outside for any longer.¡± As she had told Drakkel to stay still during the treatment, he couldn¡¯t even manage a nod. So he gave a slight blink of his eyes to let her know that he was alright with her decision. Once she confirmed it, she walked over to the door and called Rillian Adore in. Rillian Adore walked into the building a few minutes later. From his expression, Drakkel could tell that he had heard nothing of their conversation. This filled him with both a strong sense of relief and guilt. When Rillian Adore saw Drakkel he asked, ¡°So this will cure the poison?¡± Taliyah Raven nodded. ¡°It will.¡± Rillian Adore suddenly cupped his hands and deeply bowed to Taliyah Raven, his knees hitting the floor. ¡°I¡¯m very grateful for what you¡¯ve done, Miss Taliyah Raven.¡± He said. Taliyah Raven put her hands up and waved them, ¡°It is too much praise to receive from you. I was only doing my disciple a favor, there''s no need to put in so much effort.¡± Rillian Adore, still bowing, said, ¡°The reason he¡¯s in his current condition might be because of me. I have to thank you properly.¡± ¡°Lift your head.¡± Taliyah Raven said. ¡°From your actions and expression, I can tell this wasn''t your doing. You don¡¯t need to take responsibility for something you haven''t committed. Now stand straight and sit down. I don¡¯t want your grand display of appreciation to disturb my grand disciple.¡± Rillian Adore nodded and quickly got up and took a seat. After an hour, Drakkel was finally permitted to move again. ¡°This was only your first session.¡± Taliyah Raven said. ¡°Because the poison was in your system for so long, we will need six more to completely eliminate it.¡± Drakkel nodded and Taliyah Raven continued. ¡°I have a spare room, so you two can stay here.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Rillian Adore replied. Drakkel was surprised. He had never seen Rillian Adore show such respect to anyone before. Taliyah Raven smiled and added. ¡°And I do hope one of you can cook, because you won¡¯t be staying here for free.¡± ¡°I can¡­¡± Rillian Adore said. Drakkel couldn¡¯t believe it. Rillian Adore can cook? Taliyah beamed. ¡°The devotion! If I didn¡¯t know any better I would assume you two to be brothers or lovers!¡± She laughed. ¡°It¡¯s good that my dear grand disciple has a loyal friend in you, Rillian Adore. I hope nothing ever changes that.¡± Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes narrowed as he took up a serious expression. ¡°I will never abandon him. You have my word.¡± Taliyah Raven smiled. ¡°No need to take it seriously. It was only a passing comment. Now, I have some leftover soup and bread from the evening. You two can eat some. I need to leave to gather herbs.¡± Taliyah Raven exited the building, leaving Rillian Adore and Drakkel alone. Looking around more, they saw that the place had a couple of rooms. One was a space overflowing with bookcases, scrolls and books, and two were rooms with bedding set on the floor. Outside, in the back of the building, was a kitchen and a place where Taliyah Raven kept her herbs. After Rillian Adore and Drakkel ate some food and helped Taliyah clean and dry her herbs, they settled in for the night. Because there was only one set of bedding and it was quite small, also taking up most of the room in the place, Rillian Adore and Drakkel had to squeeze in together for the night. Drakkel removed his bamboo hat and set it against the wall with his items. He decided that while with Taliyah, there would be no reason to keep it on. As he laid back to back on the small bedding with Rillian Adore, he fully expected him to bring up what he had found out earlier. But even with only the two of them present, he didn''t comment. With the unexpected silence, thoughts of what Drakkel had learned flipped through his mind instead. He had always felt something was odd about his life and upon learning this, everything seemed to click. But the consequences of such a revelation were too great for one person to bear. Even if he knew it, he wouldn¡¯t dare reveal the fact. Demons were the greatest enemy to the Sword Fighting world. To find out one of their previous top Sword Fighters was not only involved with them but was even one of them¡­ Drakkel was afraid the world would hold him in contempt and worse yet, those close to him. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 The second day¡¯s treatment went as smoothly as the first. During the treatment, Drakkel talked with Taliyah Raven about his days being raised by his master. By the seventh day, Drakkel¡¯s curiosity had set in. Since they were going to leave soon anyway, he thought it would be fine to inquire about Taliyah Raven¡¯s past. As he waited for the treatment to take its course, he asked, ¡°If you¡¯re part of the Hidden Desires Swords Clan, what are you doing here?¡± Taliyah Raven began to take off her clothes, first starting with her outer garment. Rillian Adore was unaffected, but Drakkel couldn¡¯t stop a blush from forming on his face. ¡°Stop!¡± he shouted. ¡°What are you doing, Grand Master?¡± Taliyah Raven laughed. ¡°I just want to show you something.¡± Because of where she was from, Drakkel was wary about her motives. But when she only loosened her robes just enough to show her upper chest, he breathed a sigh of relief. His attention was immediately brought to a scar drawn in a half circle on her chest. It seemed to extend below their field of vision, but for obvious reasons, she didn¡¯t show so much. ¡°You¡¯re a sword outcast?¡± He asked, astonished. Taliyah Raven tightened her robes and nodded. ¡°Yes. I never truly supported the Hidden Desires Swords Clan, but I also had nowhere to go. I was taken in when I was younger because of my beautiful face and exotic looks. Before that, I was an orphan who had no knowledge of who her mother and father were. I had quickly proven my proficiency in learning the swords skills of the Clan. The clan leader thought it would be best to make me the head of a department and have me utilize my charms and skill to lead the swords clan into a new future. However, I had gathered whatever medical books I could and utilized my strength in stealth to seek knowledge from medical practitioners. I also attended medical talks to attain knowledge in the field. It wasn¡¯t long until I had proven that within the clan, I was good for not only intimate matters and fighting, but for medicine as well. Because I had shown myself to be useful in other things, I asked the clan leader at the time to not force me to pair cultivate with others and I said that if she did, I would kill myself.¡± She laughed. ¡°She didn¡¯t want to lose her most promising disciple, so she agreed. I took on only the missions I wanted to and healed clan members in my free time. I even taught a few some of my skills. Once I advanced to a level in which I thought no one in my clan could defeat me, I quickly left the place, cutting off all ties. My clan leader later found me and tried to order me not to become a sword outcast, but right in front of her, I made the marking myself. Even if the clan wanted to continue chasing me, first no one could beat me and second, they would have almost no ground to stand on in forcing me back.¡± Drakkel was in awe of her story. Not only was the woman an immortal beauty, she was skilled in both medicine and weaponry. How many others could flaunt so many talents? Taliyah sighed. ¡°Since then, I had heard of this place. Because it was outside of the view of others, I decided it was the best place to settle down. So I''ve stayed here for years, cultivating in seclusion and improving my medical skills.¡± Drakkel remembered that he himself was in his twenties. His master was in his upper fifties already. How could his master¡¯s master be such a young lady? It seemed his master wasn¡¯t lying about Taliyah Raven figuring out the secret to anti-aging. He actually wanted to ask her about it as well, but he decided not to. After all, if she hadn¡¯t told it to anyone else including his master, why would she tell him? He instead inquired about something else. ¡°How did you come to be my master¡¯s master, Grand Master Taliyah?¡± He asked. ¡°You two are from different Swords Clans with conflicting ideologies.¡± Taliyah Raven¡¯s eyes widened and then her face spread into a thoughtful smile. ¡°Many years ago, your master was given a difficult task. He was sent out by his master to go on a grand journey within the Sword Fighting world. He told him not to return until he had gained insight into the goings on of the Sword Fighting world and had learned at least one new skill. In his time out, I had bumped into your master while he was heavily injured fighting off demons. At the time, my Swords Clan stayed away from demonic matters unless paid by someone to get rid of them. Your master was an adorable boy. He had good looks and a strong sense of justice. I healed him up and secretly kept him within a place the clan leader had given me for proving myself an asset to the clan. Upon waking up and finding out he had been saved by a Hidden Desires Swords Clan member, he was naturally appalled. But after a few months of healing him, I noticed that not only had I slowly gained his trust, he had even taken an interest in my medicinal methods. He began to carefully observe what herbs I would use and ask questions about their general look, uses and efficacies. I would later test him on what he had learned and he would mostly answer correctly. When he was fully healed, he was loath to leave me. He still wanted to learn more. So for half a year, I would use my free time to visit my abode and teach him new things. When I wasn¡¯t around, he would travel the world, quelling demon attacks and assisting with requests from locals. At some point, he had learned much of what I could teach him. However, it wasn''t long after that it was discovered by my clan what I was doing. They had no issue with me keeping a boy around for pair cultivation, but when they found out my true motive was to teach the boy medicine, they threatened to go after him. At the Hidden Desires Clan, skills believed to be belonging to the clan were not to be passed down to those outside of it. In addition to that, only intimate relations lacking in emotion were allowed with others. Anything more would be seen as a betrayal of the clan, for such relations had led to people betraying the clan in the past. Because I had broken two of the rules of the clan by teaching your master, they ordered me to send him away. They said that if I didn¡¯t, they would hunt him down and kill him and I would be severely punished as well. So, I had no choice¡­¡± She paused. ¡°I had transcribed a few notes into a book and gave it to him. Then I sent him on his way. I told him that he couldn¡¯t reveal to anyone what our relationship was.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Drakkel nodded. It was understandable. Although Taliyah Raven had not officially taken his master in as her disciple, she had treated him as one. Her feelings for her disciple were pure and true. To protect his reputation, he couldn¡¯t reveal their relationship. She clenched her fists. ¡°The hidden desires clan may have been lenient with me due to my skills, but It is still my regret that I was made a member of it. Nevertheless, matters such as these are too late to change, I can only accept it¡­¡± She lowered her head. ¡°Speaking of regrets makes be think of another incident¡­¡± Drakkel gazed at her curiously. ¡°Your master was not the only young boy I met; there was another. He was taken in by the Hidden Desires Swords Clan like I was. But unlike me, he was terrible at learning the skills. If it weren''t for his ability to utilize sword energy efficiently, the clan most likely wouldn''t have taken him in. I had heard his mother had an affair with a person who held immense power and was cast out by his household. Living poorly and barely making ends meet, she sold her son to my clan. When he was there, I had seen him briefly. But I soon left and didn''t get to find out how he developed- not at least, until later. Years had passed and in this very place I had met him once again. He told me he had become an outcast of the clan after several failed jobs. He asked me to remove the mark of him being a sword outcast. But this mark is formed by one harming themselves with their own weapon infused with sword energy. I could only hide it for a few months at most, not make it disappear completely. When I informed him of this, he was angry. He spewed harsh words and didn''t treat me kindly. However, he said he would take what he could get so I granted his wish. I saw him come into the clan when he was younger. It reminded me of when I was brought in. He was angry and dejected, indignant about his fate. I was able to escape, so why couldn''t I give this young man the same chance? Once I covered his mark, the young man left. Afterwards, I never heard from him again. To this day, I still don''t know what has happened to him.¡± She sighed. ¡°Remembering his determination and the desperation that pervaded his demeanor, I¡¯m not sure if I made the right choice. He had a strong sense of ambition, but was also quick to anger and hate. I would hope he quietly settled down somewhere and managed to take up an ordinary profession, but I''m afraid that may not have been the case.¡± Drakkel nodded. He could understand why Taliyah Raven had such regrets, but it seemed that she had done more good than harm because now his master helped out the denizens of Immortal Peak and had taken up his own medicine disciple that did the same. ¡°Grand Master Taliyah.¡± He stated. ¡°My master had never told me about you, but I can tell he appreciated your efforts. When he explained who you were before sending me here, his tone was one of admiration and respect. He and my senior brother have both done a lot of good with what you have taught. I believe your merits outweigh your faults.¡± Taliyah Raven smiled. ¡°Coming from my grand disciple, the sentiment is¡ª¡± She stopped mid-talk. Her eyes narrowed and her pupils darted towards the door. ¡°Someone¡¯s here,¡± She said. Rillian Adore did the same, his face growing serious. It was only after the other two sensed it that Drakkel did as well. An ominous presence. Taliyah removed the needles from Drakkel. ¡°Your treatment is over. The poison should be cleared.¡± Drakkel''s sword energy felt calm and unbothered. The aches within his body had disappeared. However, he knew he was still at Sword Hero. To return to his previous level, he would have to cultivate once again. ¡°Since they only just arrived, I''m afraid these intruders are after you two.¡± Taliyah Raven said. ¡°Rillian Adore, protect my grand disciple. His skills will not be usable during this juncture.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. Drakkel didn''t like what she was saying. ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± Taliyah Raven smiled at him. ¡°Defeat the trespassers of course.¡± ¡°You may not be able to do it alone. Let us help you.¡± Drakkel hurriedly responded. Taliyah shook her head, ¡°What sort of master would I be if I allowed my grand disciple and another unrelated youngster to fight in my stead?¡± Drakkel wanted to protest, but he kept his mouth shut. As he respected his master, he had to respect his Grand Master. Taliyah Raven continued, ¡°When we exit, you two focus on leaving. Once you escape, I''ll hold them off for as long as I can. After a while, they should stop attacking me and by then, you two should be a good distance away.¡± Rillian Adore and Drakkel nodded. ¡°Now, let''s go and meet the guests,¡± Taliyah Raven said. Rillian Adore and Drakkel went to grab their items from their room. Seeing his bamboo hat laying on the wall, Drakkel decided to leave it as it would only get in the way. The three then exited the temple-like structure and were met with the faces of familiar yet terrifying figures. Not only was the masked figure standing there, but so was the demon they had met when Firo Fieren was kidnapped. Along with them were ten other demons. Rillian Adore turned to Taliyah Raven, saying what Drakkel was thinking, ¡°You can''t handle this many alone, Miss Taliyah.¡± ¡°You doubt my skills, Rillian Adore?¡± Taliyah Raven responded. ¡°How could I live in such a dangerous place alone for so many years? How could I escape from my clan without anyone daring to go after me? Trust me, I will be fine. Just focus on defending my grand disciple.¡± Taliyah stepped forward and addressed the demons. ¡°While I''m here, you evil ones won''t be getting what you want.¡± The demon who was in charge of kidnapping Firo Fieren smiled. ¡°My brothers and I will do as we please. A lone lady like yourself won''t be able to stop us.¡± Taliyah smiled. One second she was next to Drakkel and Rillian Adore and the next, she was dashing forward, sending forth a rain of silver needles infused with sword energy towards the group of demons. Most managed to dodge but three got caught in the assault. They fell down and didn''t get back up. The demon that had spoken before said, ¡°Perhaps we underestimated you¡­ But, we won''t make that mistake again.¡± ¡°Me and Fashadsr will handle the woman.¡± He yelled to the remaining demons. ¡°The rest of you go after the others.¡± After he spoke, he and the masked figure went after Taliyah Raven. She pulled out two ordinary daggers from under her robes and began to parry their moves. Despite her inconvenient figure, she was extremely agile and skilled, trading blow after blow with the two men that attacked her. However, Drakkel could tell that it took all of her energy to do so. Worse yet, she was using ordinary daggers and not meteoric stone weapons. She couldn''t afford to glance their way. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 The seven remaining demons had already surrounded them. Rillian Adore tried to hold them all off, but found it difficult. Drakkel was at Sword Hero. However when he tried to attack the demons, his sword energy would not come forth. It was like a calm sea, stagnant and still. His Grand Master was correct. He really couldn¡¯t do much now. He could only dodge their attacks and retaliate with ordinary moves. Despite this, he did all he could to make sure Rillian Adore could take them out. And it seemed to be working. The demons fell one by one to Rillian Adore''s blade. The ones he couldn''t keep track of, Drakkel would make sure to keep distracted. Soon, Drakkel and Rillian Adore had slayed all the demons. As they went to offer Taliyah Raven some assistance, the demon and masked figure who were trading blows with her on the roof of the small building suddenly jumped back, creating a large distance between them all. The demon smiled and around twenty more demons came running in from afar. Rillian Adore and Taliyah Raven were already exhausted, they couldn''t handle fighting for much longer. Even Drakkel felt drained of energy and was still unable to bring up his sword energy. ¡°Why are you chasing us? What do you want?¡± He asked. The demon who seemed in charge smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Taliyah Raven spit out a mouthful of blood. With what seemed like the last of her energy, she breathed out, "They... won''t..." Stolen story; please report. Drakkel gazed upon her figure which stood atop the roof covered in scrapes and cuts. With sweat falling from her forehead, a resolute demeanor came over her. She smiled thoughtfully at Drakkel before placing her hand up. ¡°Wait!¡± Drakkel yelled, trying to reach her. But, it was too late. A sudden gust of sword energy pushed Drakkel and Rillian Adore off the mountain side. Drakkel could feel it. The energy¡­ It surpassed the height of the sky and the weight of a mountain, flowing seamlessly through the air like the first cold wind on a winter morning. As sure as the stars in the sky and as sturdy as the ground, it was immovable, inconceivable, yet still there. Drakkel¡¯s heart could not help but be moved by its presence even as he plummeted down to an unknown fate. For only one explanation could arise from this. When he was still a Sword Master he had felt it before. Like something at the tip of his tongue that he couldn''t quite recall. It was elusive because he wasn''t sure what he was reaching for. He just knew it was there¡­ Sword Epiphany. Drakkel''s eyes widened in realization as he fell. Someone had actually reached it. Then, there it was. Like what happened with Lord''s Tincaid''s manor and the Thousand Petals Sword''s Clan, an explosion occurred. Taliyah Raven''s home had burst into flames. From Drakkel''s vantage point, it was all he could see. He had only known her for a short while, but his heart still trembled as he watched the scene. He couldn¡¯t afford to stay distracted though as Rillian Adore and him were plummeting to the ground. He was suddenly brought back to his current situation when Rillian Adore turned him around and wrapped his arms around his waist. Under normal circumstances, Rillian Adore and Drakkel could use their sword step to minimize any damages they might have had during the fall. But one was nearly exhausted of sword energy and the other couldn''t use it at all. Because the Sword Step was a move that required it, they couldn''t do much, so Drakkel wondered what Rillian Adore had in mind. Then, something suddenly dawned on him. Rillian Adore couldn''t be planning to¡­! But he did. They went through a tree and Drakkel closed his eyes. After a few moments, he felt a jolt coming from Rillian Adore''s body and a soft thud as they hit the ground. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 After landing, Rillian Adore set Drakkel down and stood up. Drakkel gazed at him in shock. He appeared perfectly fine. How was that possible? ¡°We can''t stay here,¡± Rillian Adore said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He turned around and began to walk. However, the second he took his first step, he winced in pain. Because his foot was covered by shoes and a robe, Drakkel couldn''t see it, but he knew something was wrong. Many assumed he had no medical training because he had rarely used it in public. But in truth, his senior brother has taught him some things. His master was much stricter in medical training compared to sword training. He would say, ¡°One mistake can cost someone their life.¡± So mistakes were at best frowned upon and at worse, cause for castigation. Luckily for his Senior Brother, he was a medical genius. It never got to the point of severe punishment. But Drakkel would not be the same and his senior brother knew it, so if his master took any interest in teaching Drakkel anything, he would purposely block it. Still, medical knowledge was important to know. So on some days, his Senior Brother would bring some sweets and medical books and go over the material with him when he was a child. When Drakkel grew older, he only reviewed some of the more important aspects that they had gone over before. Drakkel was now grateful for those teachings. ¡°We won''t make it if we try to run away.¡± Drakkel said. ¡°It''s better if we find some place to hide until the demons leave.¡± Rillian Adore nodded and stood in place, seeming distracted. Drakkel tilted his head to get a better look at the wound. ¡°Something is wrong with your leg. When we find a place to rest, I will examine it. I think I remember that we passed a small cave at the base of the mountain while looking for Grand Master Taliyah¡¯s dwelling. It should be an okay place to stay for now.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. He was being unusually quiet. The pain was probably worse than he was letting on. Drakkel walked over to him and took his sheathed greatsword, carrying the heavy thing on his back. Drakkel could feel it hum in disagreement, but it must have understood that its owner was hurt as it settled down soon after. Under normal circumstances, weapons were quiet. However, once one made it to Sword Master, their weapon could gain a soul. When not being used for battle, the weapon would act like any other. But if placed in a dangerous situation, the weapon might start to act up, especially if it sensed that its master was in danger. Drakkel swung Rillian Adore''s arm over his shoulder and had him lean into him so he could support his weight. The two then quietly made their way to the nearby cave. Because they were moving slowly and trying to avoid hidden dangers, it took a couple of hours to reach it. When they finally did, Drakkel set Rillian Adore down, placed his sword next to him, and started a fire. However, too much time had passed. Rillian Adore was sweating and panting now. Drakkel went over to check his forehead and found that he had a fever. Worried, he began to undress Rillian Adore, but Rillian Adore stopped him by weakly holding one of his wrists. ¡±I¡¯m only trying to examine your wounds,¡± he said soothingly. ¡°Don''t worry.¡± Rillian Adore slowly nodded and let his hand fall. As Rillian Adore¡¯s eyes gazed blankly into the distance, Drakkel had stripped him to his undergarments, which included only a pair of long silk trousers. He checked all over his body and found that his worst wound was on his right leg which he most likely used to cushion their fall. It was covered in purple bruises which meant muscle tears and perhaps bone fractures. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. He wanted to check his sword energy, but he still could not manipulate his own. He sat down in a lotus position next to Rillian Adore and quickly focused on his energy. Like a blood clot, it had stalled due a buildup of the flow once his channels were cleared from the poison. He worked on unclogging the flow until a small amount trickled through. It wasn''t everything but he had no time. It was at least enough to check on Rillian Adore. He sent his sword energy into Rillian Adore and found that Rillian Adore''s energy was erratic which was probably causing his weakened and delirious state. Because it could lead to an energy deviation, it was the first thing he decided to deal with. He turned Rillian Adore around, sat him up, and placed a hand on his back. Then, he steadily sent a stream of sword energy in to calm Rillian Adore¡¯s. After a while, Rillian Adore''s sword energy began to stabilize. Drakkel let out a breath and went to rekindle the dying fire with some branches that were laying at the front of the cave. Upon looking outside, he found that the sky was an array of red and purple hues. The sun no longer sat high above the horizon, but was instead hiding behind a wall of trees. It was getting dark. Drakkel hurried back in and looked over Rillian Adore''s wounds. He knew that Rillian Adore would need a splint so he had to go out and collect some suitable branches to make one. He traveled outside while the sky was still tinted an orange red with purple undertones into the eerie darkness of the surrounding Forest. The Forest was large but full of resources. After walking around for a bit, he easily discovered what he was looking for. He kneeled down to grab the branches, but soon felt a threatening presence. Branches in hand, he looked to the side to see where it was coming from. From the darkness of the trees, came a low growling sound. With it, Drakkel''s muscles twitched. Like Densai Forest, the Forest surrounding Earthly Mountain was home to sacred beasts. But unlike Densai Forest, normal animals also lived here. If what was after him was a wolf or tiger, he might stand a chance, but if it was something else¡­ Slowly standing up, he prepared to face whatever creature was going to come out. The bushes rustled and the heavy steps of a large figure accompanied the low growling. Upon catching sight of the figure, Drakkel¡¯s heart dropped. What stepped out was exactly as he had feared. The thing had two large white ears, a round stomach and large paws. It appeared like a bunny, but its eyes were red and threatening and its figure was massive, being a little taller than him. The beast stopped for a moment. But after sniffing the air, it dashed at Drakkel, its teeth bared. Unlike a normal bunny, this one had a full row of pointy teeth in its mouth, with the two front ones being as large as a hand. Drakkel held the branches in his arms tightly and made a run for it. He used all the sword energy he could to utilize his sword step in an attempt to get away, but Sacred Beasts weren''t ordinary. They were given their name because they could use sword energy. It was because of this that it wouldn''t be easy to escape. Looking back, he saw that the creature was following right on his tail. As Drakkel ran, he searched for a way out. He had already run for a mile when he was struck with an idea. It came in the form of a loud roar which originated from a short distance away. Under the darkness of the dark blue sky and now nearly drained of sword energy, he made one last attempt. He led the Sacred Beast towards the sound of the roar and was met with another Sacred Beast. This one was enjoying a pile of smaller animals from squirrels to birds. When Drakkel and the bunny arrived in front of it, all it took was one look. The fox-like Sacred Beast immediately rushed over to them, drooling from the mouth. Drakkel got out of the way and the thing barreled right into the bunny-like Sacred Beast. As they rolled around, it was clear who the winner was going to be. Once the fox took a bite out of the bunny¡¯s neck, the bunny¡¯s body went limp. Not wanting to be the Fox¡¯s next meal, Drakkel immediately left. When he finally reached the caves, he was tired and out of breath. But, he was still concerned about Rillian Adore''s condition. Although he was exhausted, he cleaned up the branches he collected and fashioned a splint for him. The splint would keep his bones straightened and the salve and medical herbs would heal the internal wounds. Luckily, they had enough salve to last a few days and enough herbs to last a few days longer. But after that, Drakkel would need to look around the mountains for herbs. Because of this and what just happened, he would need to cultivate. He could only hope that by then, the demons would have given up on them and that they wouldn''t be met with any dangers they couldn''t handle. Drakkel applied the salve on Rillian Adore''s leg, placed the splint, and wrapped it up with a bandage. After putting on his clothes and checking that he was fine, he drank some water from the water flask and used some of it to make a herbal concoction that he then fed Rillian Adore. After a while, Rillian Adore had fallen asleep. With the amount of pain he was in, Drakkel only saw it as a good thing. They were surrounded by dangers on all sides and they were vulnerable. Their chances of survival would be better as long as Rillian Adore made a speedy recovery. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 After finishing, Drakkel walked to an empty spot of the cave and resumed his cultivation. He closed his eyes and continued to unblock the pathway of his sword energy. Before he knew it, night turned to morning and birds began to chirp outside. With the sun¡¯s rays, he felt the return of his sword energy which flowed strongly within his body, unsuppressed by anything else. Feeling it, his desire to cultivate grew. But he knew he had more important things to deal with. He got up to check on Rillian Adore again. Rillian Adore was sweating and wore a pained expression. Drakkel frowned. His fever had gone down a bit, but his forehead was still warm. Drakkel realized he needed to do something about the pain. The herbs weren''t enough. Then he remembered something. He pulled out his Senior Brother¡¯s bag of herbs and hidden within was a very small bag which held a Jade pain pill. The pill was called such due to its incredible healing properties. His Senior Brother could likely only afford one due to it being even more expensive than the rejuvenating pill. Because of this he was surprised that he received any at all. He tried to feed it to Rillian Adore, but Rillian Adore kept his mouth closed, moving it around so Drakkel couldn''t get it in. ¡°No.. mother¡­¡± He said. ¡°I don''t want¡­¡± Rillian Adore''s words concerned Drakkel, but they were the last thing he could think about. He had to get him to eat the medicine first. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. His senior brother had taught him a trick to get a person to eat medicine if they were resisting. He said he used it to get him to eat medicine when he was very sick in bed and couldn''t eat on his own at a younger age. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. He flipped Rillian Adore''s body back so he was laying in his arms. Then he apologized before using one hand to keep his head still. He subsequently jammed the pill in his own mouth, then collided it with Rillian Adore''s. The motion already seemed to calm Rillian Adore down. He used his tongue to shove the pill near Rillian Adore''s throat, then immediately pulled away. With his mouth still open, Drakkel then had him drink from the water flask. He tilted Rillian Adore''s body up a bit to make it easier for him to swallow, then let out a long sigh when he heard him gulp the pill down. Drakkel set Rillian Adore''s body back up against the wall and went back to his cultivation spot. He told himself it was fine. He had to get Rillian Adore to eat the medicine after all. But his cheeks had grown hot and his heart was racing. He looked for his bag and took out some small pieces of crispy bread and dried meat. After placing the food in his mouth and allowing their flavors to meld together, he felt better. Afterwards, he began to cultivate yet again, closing his eyes and slowing his breath. He surged up his sword energy and rotated it around his body. Before him appeared an enormous forest. He stood up on a tree gazing over a large area. He unsheathed his sword and the trees around him rustled. A gentle quiet and sense of calmness pervaded the air, and a cold wind surrounded his figure. After feeling it, and allowing it to rotate around his body, he took a deep breath- then, he jumped. Light as a feather, his body moved. From branch to branch he practiced his sword skills: Glistening waves, Gusting winds, Fierce Tiger, Divine Moon, Eternal Torrent, Illustrious Sun, Blazing Moon, Immortal Ring, Jade Dragon, Soaring Phoenix, Sword heart, Sword Soul. Drakkel practiced the twelve moves of his clan repeatedly, allowing his sword energy to flow freely. It swirled around him before moving on. Expanding into the trees he stepped on, the grass below, and even the soil beneath. A smile spread on Drakkel''s face as his body weightlessly flew around. He hadn''t felt so good in a long time. He glided to the ground and ran through the bushes and trees, flowers blooming wherever he stepped. It was as if he was overflowing with life. His sword felt like it was a part of him. With his sword energy completely encompassing the area, he sensed himself ascend to another level. The amount of sword energy circulating within his body increased exponentially. It was like it was about to burst at the seams. Then he opened his eyes. When he did, he felt his energy flow anew. He had ascended to Sword Sworn. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Drakkel got up and stretched his body. While in cultivation, time passed by much faster. It was already dark again. He walked over to Rillian Adore and checked on him. He had calmed down. His temperature had decreased and he was sleeping soundly. It seemed that the worst was behind him. Drakkel fed the fire again, leaned against the wall next to Rillian Adore and closed his eyes. When he opened them next, he found himself leaning on Rillian Adore''s shoulder. He jolted up and looked at him. When a pair of brown eyes stared back, his heart skipped a beat. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± He said. Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°Do you feel better?¡± ¡°I do.¡± One corner of Drakkel¡¯s lips turned up. He got up and grabbed crispy bread and dried meat from the bag of food he brought. ¡°You should eat something,¡± he said, handing the food to Rillian Adore. However Rillian Adore paused and looked down at his hands. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± he said. Drakkel''s mouth twitched. It wasn¡¯t Rillian Adore¡¯s hands that were injured and yet he couldn¡¯t even grab some food? But then, he stopped and thought again. It had been two days since the fall and Rillian Adore hadn¡¯t eaten anything since then. Considering his cultivation had suffered, he couldn¡¯t utilize it to stall his body for the food it needed. So maybe he truly didn¡¯t have the energy to eat. But even if he did, he owed Rillian Adore a lot. After all, if he hadn¡¯t shouldered the fall alone, Drakkel might not have been here to think about it now. ¡°Fine,¡± He said. ¡°I''ll feed you.¡± In response to his answer, Drakkel was rewarded with a rare sight. Although it was small, Rillian Adore gave a smile that was as bright as the sun. Drakkel¡¯s heart fluttered at the sight. However, what was more surprising was that this smile didn''t disappear as Drakkel fed him the food piece by piece. When the last piece entered Rillian Adore¡¯s mouth, he lifted his face up. As if smiling at Drakkel, he said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Drakkel blushed and quickly replied, ¡°Not a problem.¡± He took a seat next to Rillian Adore again but left a bit more space between them than before. ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, we need to discuss a few things,¡± he said. Rillian Adore tilted his head to the side. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to move at the moment. If we try to leave the area now, not only might we get caught by the demons, but even if we didn¡¯t, one of the many sacred beasts that reside here could kill us. I think we should stay here until your leg is mostly healed. By then, I should have regained enough of my cultivation to protect myself better.¡± Rillian Adore seemed bothered by this. ¡°And how long do you think that will take?¡± Drakkel glanced down at his leg, then looked up. ¡°Nearly a month.¡± Rillian Adore nodded and calmly replied, ¡°Alright.¡± With Rillian Adore¡¯s reply, Drakkel had already set their next moves in his mind. Once Rillian Adore was healed and they escaped the Mountain, he would inform his master of what happened to Taliyah Raven and see what they could do about it. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 A little over three weeks went by in a flash. The medicine that Rillian Adore and Drakkel had brought only lasted for a week and a half combined. Drakkel had to locate more herbs around the mountain side. He knew there would be enough since Taliyah Raven was able to study herbs and find enough material to do so. The mountain was dangerous, but a great place to cultivate indeed. Between fighting sacred beasts and navigating the dangerous terrain, he had already made it back to the middle of Sword Master. He was at the pinnacle before, but making it to his current state in such a short amount of time wasn¡¯t bad at all. Rillian Adore¡¯s leg had mostly healed up and as long as he avoided rigorous activitiy for another half month, his injuries would heal completely. During Drakkel and Rillian Adore''s time on the mountain, they had spoken about their pasts in their respective Swords Clans. Since Drakkel¡¯s identity was revealed, Rillian Adore didn¡¯t hesitate to begin questioning him and he entertained him due to his condition. Curious as well, Drakkel asked a few questions of his own, but Rillian Adore would side-step a lot of things, only really revealing things that were obvious or public knowledge. In the early days of their stay, Drakkel was the one hunting animals and collecting herbs and branches. However, Rillian Adore did give him some pointers on herbs to use to cook whatever game he found so they didn¡¯t suffer from eating terrible food. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. When Rillian Adore was able to walk a bit, he went out to collect branches, but didn¡¯t venture far so as to avoid encountering any dangerous animals or Sacred Beasts along the way. Now they both stood at the mouth of the cave, ready to leave the mountain. Drakkel believed that the Sword Step technique would be fine for Rillian Adore to use as long as he didn¡¯t overdo it. Their items were gathered in hand, but Drakkel decided to carry Rillian Adore¡¯s blade to lighten his load while they escaped the area. They both hopped onto the nearest tree. Then, as they did before, they leapt around, using the branches as leverage until they arrived at the exit to the forest. Once they reached the flat and clear walking path that they entered from, Drakkel handed Suntouched Rays back to Rillian Adore. Before they left the cave, Drakkel said he would go to Rillian Adore¡¯s clan to give an account of what they saw. When staying in the Forest, they also reasoned that Rillian Adore should first return to the Golden Peak Swords¡¯ clan in Heaven¡¯s Path to let them know he was safe. While there, Drakkel would send a message to his master about what happened. As Rillian Adore now knew his identity, he had ways to keep his clan from finding out. With this and the fact that It was only a day and a half away compared to Auspicious Sign¡¯s two days and Immortal Peak¡¯s five to seven days, it only made sense that they went there next. So, after leaving the area, they headed Southwest to get to the place and because they were in a rush, they reached it only a day later. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Heaven¡¯s Path was even more prosperous than Waning Crescent and Joyous Encounters. Its look could only be compared to the capital, Dragon¡¯s Dwelling. It was protected by a tall circular stone barrier that extended five times past the average person¡¯s height. The streets were clean and there was not a crack nor any damage on the smooth roads in sight. Almost all the buildings were made of expensive wood or stone and many of the roofs were lined with sturdy material. Even some of the stalls were well made, the calligraphy and art hanging on them appearing to be drawn by some sort of master scholar. The people walking around were happy, mostly dressed in clothing of the newest styles and the streets lacked any of the poor and indigent that could be seen in other cities and towns. It was a stark difference to all the other places they had traveled through thus far. Even the air smelled of a fresh floral fragrance. Standing at the entrance to the city, facing the loud chatter and large crowds, Rillian Adore said, ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead.¡± Drakkel silently nodded. He had been to Heaven¡¯s Path before for some small sword fighting contests that took place when he was younger, but he had never stayed long enough to explore the whole city. It had also been many years and the layout had changed a lot. So, he allowed Rillian Adore to lead him down the busy streets, taking in the sights and sounds that surrounded them. People would glance Rillian Adore''s way as he walked, staring from afar, but too fearful to approach. Suddenly, Drakkel heard the whispered talks of two women from the side. ¡°So they''re still keeping him?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°How could you not know? It''s all anyone''s been talking about!¡± ¡°Oh! You mean the Sacred Sword Swords Clan Leader?¡± Drakkel turned his head in the direction the voices were from. He stopped walking and quietly listened to what the two women were saying. ¡°Yes!¡± The woman¡¯s volume raised a bit as her eyes widened in realization, ¡°Oh! Him! Yes, I heard they were still keeping him in custody. It''s odd that they haven''t revealed the reason why, but I heard it was something bad!¡± ¡°I hope it isn''t too bad though. My daughter lives in Immortal Peak and she told me that when her husband fell sick and she lacked the money to afford a doctor, the Sacred Sword Swords Clan Leader nursed him back to health free of charge. He even gave her some vegetables from his garden to eat while her husband was unable to work. Apparently the man is known as a saint among the citizens there. I heard that all his disciples have a similar temperament.¡± The other woman scoffed. ¡°But isn''t that also the clan where Drakkel Fin¡­¡± ¡°Ssh! Rillian Adore may not be here now. But he said that any degenerate talk about that man will not be condoned. Since he left, the rule hasn''t really been enforced. But who knows when he will return and who might be punished when that happens? Let''s just stop talking here.¡± Suddenly, the women seemed to notice their presence. First they gazed at Drakkel, then Rillian Adore. Upon looking further at him, a fearful expression clouded both their features and sweat dripped from their brows. Rillian Adore clenched his fist and glowered at them and they both squealed a bit before scurrying away. As they left, their words could still be heard. ¡°Wasn''t that Rillian Adore just now?¡± ¡°Yes! I think so too!¡± ¡°But he''s been gone for so long¡­ I thought¡­!¡± ¡°Stop talking! Let''s just consider ourselves lucky that we escaped unharmed!¡± The women¡¯s reactions were seen by all in the area. So if anyone was talking about Drakkel''s Master before, their topic of discussion immediately changed. Now, all Drakkel and Rillian Adore heard was gossip about the concubines and consorts of the palace and stories about the Sword Fighting World. Drakkel''s heart was pounding in his chest. ¡°We have to go!¡± He said. ¡°Please!¡± Rillian Adore nodded. As they were surrounded by a crowd, Rillian Adore loudly said, ¡°Move!¡± Knowing who it was, everyone in the vicinity cleared room for him. Then, he took Drakkel''s hand and ran to the Golden Peak Sword''s Clan¡¯s Manor. The two arrived in a little over an hour. When the disciples at the front gate saw him, they greeted him happily. ¡°Welcome back, Senior Rillian! How was your journey?¡± ¡°Where have you been? Are you doing ok?¡± However Rillian Adore ignored them, not answering. Instead, be pushed past them with Drakkel in tow. As he left the other disciple asked, ¡°What''s going on with him?¡± The one who originally spoke could only shrug. At this point, none seemed to question Drakkel''s presence. Rumors about him must have already spread to even Heaven''s Path. The Golden Peak Swords Clan was like a mix of an expensive manor and palace. The roofs were designed beautifully and with expensive material. But the walls were a mixture of stone and dark wood. Inside, the floors were made of marble, on top of which sat embroidered silk carpeting. On the walls were elaborate paintings and intricate calligraphy. As Rillian Adore walked through, he ignored the nods of the disciples who greeted him as well as any attempts to speak further. This left a path of confusion amongst the disciples in question, but Rillian Adore didn''t care. He said to Drakkel using his sword energy, ¡°If your master has truly been captured, he would either be in the main hall for interrogation or the dungeons. I think it would be wise to start with the hall first. That way, we can discuss what happened with my master¡± Drakkel nodded. It wasn''t long until they reached the double-doored entrance of the main hall. Coming from it were the sounds of people talking. ¡°Will you not admit it? Your disciple has been fraternizing with demons.¡± Drakkel heard the familiar voice of his master reply, ¡°I haven''t seen my disciple for seven years. Before that, he was a good boy. I had never seen him associate with demons¡­¡± His master''s voice sounded labored- as if he was straining to speak. Drakkel¡¯s heart dropped. Before Rillian Adore could stop him, he went ahead of him and pushed the door open. At that moment, all the eyes in the room immediately landed on him. Drakkel nearly smiled when he saw his master. But after observing his current state, his eyes widened and his heart shook. His master sat on his knees in the middle of the room. His hair was messy and his hands were tied behind his back. Standing around him was a group of older looking men and in front of him were some short steps leading to a golden seat atop a dais. The base of the chair was made with gold, but thick silk fabric still covered the spots where another older looking man sat comfortably, gazing down at Drakkel''s master. Standing next to that man was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a sturdy countenance. Although his exact age was hard to guess, it could be seen that he was quite handsome in appearance bearing long black and white hair and fine features as well as a slim, yet muscular build. Drakkel recognized the man on the chair to be Lorian Adore, someone he had admired when he was younger. But the man standing next to him, he had never seen before. Drakkel¡¯s master looked Drakkel straight in the eyes, warranting his attention. With his disheveled and tired state he shook his head as if he was cautioning him not to reveal himself. Drakkel heeded his warning, making no further movements. He bowed his head and stood still next to Rillian Adore who had followed him in. But it was difficult for every fiber of his being was telling him to do the opposite. Rillian Adore cupped his hands and bowed to the man who sat atop the throne-like chair. The man smiled. ¡°Rillian, you¡¯re back.¡± Rillian Adore nodded. ¡°Yes, Master..¡± The man¡¯s smile widened. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve had quite the journey. You should tell me more about it when I''m done with my business here.¡± Rillian Adore turned his attention to Drakkel¡¯s master. ¡°Isn''t this the Clan Leader of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan, Rodius Fowl?¡± He walked towards him and cupped his hands. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Clan Leader.¡± Rodius Fowl gave him a slight nod. Rillian Adore stepped in between his Master and Rodius Fowl and asked, ¡°What seems to be the problem here, Master? Has Clan Leader Fowl done something to offend you?¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Not me, but the whole Sword Fighting World.¡± Clan Leader Adore answered. ¡°What has he done? Maybe we can ta¡­¡± Rillian Adore was about to say, but his Master put his hand up, interrupting him. ¡°As my disciple, you should know better than to get in the middle of disputes without prompt. You¡¯ve always been obedient, why speak against me now?¡± ¡°But Master¡­!¡± Rillian Adore tried to say. Clan Leader Adore¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t speak! I have always indulged you and in return you have always listened to me. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve spent too much time outside, but you¡¯re different than before! You¡¯ve only just arrived here and you''re already making trouble!¡± His fists clenched slightly. ¡°Perhaps you need a little rest¡­¡± ¡°Someone!¡± He called. Two disciples ran past Drakkel from the open door and bowed to him. ¡°Drag my disciple down and keep him to the side.¡± The two disciples gazed at Rillian Adore in surprise, their eyes widening. Drakkel recognized one of them as Ling and the other as Trin who assisted them in Shadowy Ridges. Despite this, both disciples still answered, ¡°Yes, Clan Leader Adore!¡± They headed over to Rillian Adore and each grabbed one of his arms. Rillian Adore pushed them away and stepped forward. ¡°Master, Clan Leader Fowl is innocent! I¡¯ve traveled to his Swords Clan. He¡¯s known in his city for performing only good deeds! You must reconsider!¡± Clan Leader Adore¡¯s face contorted in anger, ¡°So you think you can defy me now?!¡± He put up his palm and shot a wave of sword energy at Rillian Adore. Drakkel''s master moved just in time to not be struck by Rillian Adore''s body as he flew backwards a couple of feet across the room. Rillian Adore¡¯s leg wasn''t completely healed, so when he attempted to stand up, he couldn''t make it. The two disciples ran back and held him by his shoulders, keeping him on the floor. Clan Leader Adore said, ¡°If you want to find out what''s going on, just stay there quietly and watch.¡± Then it was as if he suddenly realized something. He turned his head and gazed at Drakkel who was still standing near the entrance. ¡°And who might this be?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my new assistant!¡± Rillian Adore quickly answered. ¡°He has nothing to do with this!¡± Clan Leader Adore shot a hard glare at Rillian Adore and he quieted down. He smiled. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s let him witness our interrogation of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan Leader.¡± He got up from his seat and stepped towards the staircase, stopping right before the first step. ¡°Is it true or is it not true that your disciple is working with the demons?¡± Rodius Fowl shook his head. ¡°I already told you. My disciple was a good boy. Besides, I haven¡¯t seen him in a while. How would I know what he¡¯s been up t¡­¡± Clan Leader Adore shot a blast of sword energy at Rodius Fowl and he doubled over in pain, coughing up blood. ¡°No!¡± Drakkel screamed. He ran over to his master and stood between him and Clan Leader Adore. ¡°My master is right¡­¡± He said. ¡°I would never do that.¡± Clan Leader Adore¡¯s eyebrows went up, ¡°You would never? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Rillian Adore yelled. ¡°Don¡¯t say anth¡­!¡± Clan Leader Adore quickly turned to the disciples and said, ¡°Hit his silencing acupoint.¡± Rillian Adore suddenly stopped speaking and all was quiet. ¡°Continue,¡± Clan Leader Adore said. ¡°What do you have to do with this?¡± Rodius Fowl coughed as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ Drake¡­Please¡ª¡± It all happened in a moment. Drakkel suddenly heard the sound of choking coming from behind him. His eyes widened and he turned his head back. His master¡¯s eyes were bloodshot and he appeared to be in extreme distress. He struggled to breathe as his body jerked around still bound. Then, he locked eyes with Drakkel and a single tear drop fell from his cheek before he fell limply to the ground, not getting back up. Drakkel couldn''t believe it. His heart pounding like a drum in his chest, he turned his back to the Clan Leader of Golden Peak to check on his master. First, he put two fingers under his nose, then he checked his pulse. Only after doing both of these things did he realize¡­ His master was dead¡­ Suddenly, every breath felt like he was breathing in dust. Though he greedily took it in, it wasn''t enough. It was as if he was plummeting down into an endless abyss. At the same time, gasps of surprise, chatter, and questions sounded from all around him. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Is he dead?¡± ¡°Who did it?¡± As they talked, memories of his master flowed through Drakkel¡¯s mind. The times they spent together flashed through his vision like raindrops falling into a puddle. Each memory was like a sword slash cut against the skin. And with each slash, he slowly felt himself losing his mind. Just then, among the cacophony of voices, something cracked. It was like a delicate teapot broken from the inside out from the pressure of water burning too hot. His vision tunneled and his surroundings blackened. The air grew heavy. In the darkness of night, a stormy sky met surging waves. As crackles of lightning spread through the sky, a mountain shattered. Drakkel''s sword energy flowed through him like a torrent, aspiring to engulf all that stood in its path. He screamed. With his anguish and suffering, his sword energy went out of control. His birthmark throbbed. The throb turned into an ache and the ache turned into a burn. A foreign type of energy, one that seemed to be trapped from within, mixed with his own. He allowed it to invade his body, pushing through his channels and finally exiting his skin. Tears fell down his face as the corners of his lips slowly curled upwards. He laughed. It was a maniacal and twisted laugh, tinted with sadness and pain. He slowly stood up as gasps erupted from all around. ¡°Demonic energy!¡± ¡°A demon!¡± The elders went on guard as several younger disciples rushed into the room. ¡°Who are you?!¡± Clan Leader Adore asked. Drakkel laughed again as the tears continued to fall from his eyes. Clan Leader Adore asked again, ¡°Who are you?!¡± With a wide smile on his face, Drakkel answered simply, ¡°Why, Drakkel Fin of course.¡± The people around him whispered. ¡°So he hadn¡¯t disappeared after all? I mean, I saw him from afar once. I suppose he does look a little like Drakkel Fin.¡± ¡°Were the rumors true? Was he working with demons all this time?¡± Drakkel threw his head back, letting out a laugh that garnered the attention of all present in the room, causing them to stop talking. ¡°Gossip! Whispers! You people never get bored, do you? It''s the same! It¡¯s always the same! The truth doesn¡¯t matter! Only what you want to believe does!¡± ¡°Shut up you vile thing!¡± Clan Leader Adore responded. ¡°What sort of magic have you been using to hide your appearance and what seductive tactics did you use to beguile my disciple?¡± Drakkel turned to face him. ¡°Beguile?¡± He laughed. "He chose to go on his own volition!¡± ¡°But who cares, right? I mean, you certainly don¡¯t. After someone died wrongfully on your watch, instead of looking for the culprit, you focus on me!¡± His eyes narrowed as he continued, ¡°Unless the culprit was you!¡± Clan Leader Adore appeared shocked. ¡°Everyone knows I was standing right here when Clan Leader Fowl unfortunately died! You were the closest to him! How do we know you''re not the one who killed him?! Demons are devious creatures by nature after all!¡± Drakkel¡¯s anger flared. With his fists clenched, he growled and every word he said after was accompanied by a chilling cold. ¡°I would never kill my Master!¡± A wave of demonic energy spread through the crowd. Everyone placed up a barrier of sword energy to block it. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll find out when we bring you in,¡± Clan Leader Adore responded. ¡°Everyone! Take down this demon!¡± The crowd of disciples and elders took out their Greatswords and attacked Drakkel. But with his newfound energy, Drakkel found it far too easy to defeat them. One by one, he knocked them out until half of them were down. But the energy boost wasn¡¯t lasting. He was already starting to grow tired. After knocking out a group of disciples, he sagged his shoulders forward and panted, trying to catch his breath. Clan Leader Adore, who had not joined in on the fight and had instead stayed watching in his original spot with the assistant that stood beside him, said, ¡°It looks like we¡¯re wearing you down, demon! Don¡¯t stop everyone! Keep going!¡± The remaining disciples moved forward to attack when another disciple ran in from the outside. ¡°Clan Leader! Demons! A horde of them are running through the streets and heading straight for Golden Peak manor!¡± Clan Leader Adore¡¯s eyes widened as he gazed at Drakkel. ¡°Did you not hear him?! Obviously this demon is calling for backup!¡± Whispers of fear and uncertainty reverberated through the crowd. ¡°It couldn''t be, right? Only one demon had the ability to call on others.¡± ¡°Could it be the return of Demon King Fael?¡± At the mention of the old Demon King, the room erupted into an uproar. ¡°But, wasn''t he killed by the founders of the Sacred Sword, Golden Peak, and Enchanting Fans Swords Clan?¡± ¡°Well this obviously wouldn¡¯t be him, but his descendant!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what power he held? If it''s true, can we even beat the demon that stands in front of us now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate. He¡¯s alone and surrounded! We should do what our Founder did and defeat the Demon!¡± ¡°That''s right!¡± Clan Leader Adore shouted. ¡°We must beat back this threat before it becomes too strong! Hurry and capture him! We can deal with other problems later!¡± The whole room of people screamed, ¡°Yes, Clan Leader!¡± Drakkel grimaced. He no longer had the energy to fight. He had to get away. At that moment, he instinctively turned his head in Rillian Adore¡¯s direction. Rillian Adore¡¯s face was enshrouded with sorrow as his gaze met Drakkel''s. Looking at him, the corners of Drakkel''s lips turned down before he closed his eyes and resolutely shifted his attention to the entrance. Using his sword energy to knock back any who stood in his path, he headed towards the exit of the room. With his Sword Master status, he was able to just barely slip through most attacks and if not, knock out or knock back the people attacking him. After fighting dozens of Sword Fighters through the halls and corridors, he finally made it to the outside of the Swords¡¯ Clan where it was now raining heavily. Upon doing so, he indeed sensed many presences heading towards the clan. It seemed that they weren''t lying. He hopped onto the tall walls surrounding the Golden Peak Sword¡¯s clan with ease, looking back at the disciples that tried to follow him. None of them were cultivated enough, so they couldn''t catch up. Instead, they yelled curses, insults, and challenges at him. As he thought of what occurred, he turned around and without a moment more of hesitation, quickly left the city. He traveled in no particular direction. All he knew was that he wanted to get away. Away from the anguish, the pain, and the sorrow. Away from everything. Later, he found himself dashing through a thick forest. That was when he felt a sharp drop in his sword energy. As he leapt over a thin stream of water, his sword energy suddenly stopped flowing and so his sword step followed. He fell onto the ground near the stream, covered with water and dirt and unable to get back up. As he laid on the cold wet ground, tears began to fall from his eyes. He stayed in the dirt, crying for a long time before his eyes closed and he entered a deep slumber. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Drakkel jolted awake, gasping for air with sweat beating his brow. He looked around and found himself in a bed situated in the middle of a room. The room was spacious and opulent, lit up by one candle that sat by a corner. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light, he saw what made up its contents. Gold etched paper lined the walls while fur carpeting sat on the floors. Looking down at his appearance, he realized that he was dressed in black robes that seemed made of cotton and leather. To the right side of the room was a door. Pushing down his caution and wariness, he walked towards it and opened it. On the other side was a woman whose figure he had yet to forget. Although her appearance was thinner, her face remained the same. ¡°Reila?¡± He asked. The woman bowed. ¡°I¡¯m glad you''re awake, Your Highness. I must inform you that Reila is not my real name. It¡¯s only the name I have kept while staying in Waterfall''s End. My real name is Re¡¯ila Lune and I am a demon.¡± Drakkel''s heart dropped. He swayed a bit, but was caught by Re¡¯ila. Had he heard her right? ¡°Your Highness? A demon? What do you mean?¡± As she held onto his arm, Re¡¯ila answered, ¡°the Demon Lords will explain it to you. They have been waiting for you to wake up.¡± Drakkel was still confused. He allowed Re''ila to walk him through several long corridors until they reached a place with tall double doors. Behind the doors, seven people stood in lines opposite each other. In the middle of the lines was a long carpet that led up a short staircase, atop which sat a throne-like structure. At first, the people seemed engrossed in talks, but when they noticed his presence, they bowed. ¡°We''re glad that you have returned, Your Highness,¡± they said in unison. Drakkel didn''t understand. Who were they all referring to? It couldn''t be him¡­ could it? Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He glanced at Re¡¯ila and she quietly said, ¡°Why not take a seat first?¡± He nodded and she led him to the seat atop the dais. The people¡¯s attention turned to him, their eyes gazing at him expectantly like soldiers awaiting orders. Once seated on the chair, Re¡¯ila said, ¡°If you have any questions, Your Highness, you can speak them out now as we understand that you may have your doubts. After all, before you are the council of Eight Demon Lords who serve the demon royal family.¡± Drakkel looked around but only noticed seven demon lords. Reila, seeming to pick up on his confusion said, ¡°Unfortunately, one of the demon lords had gone missing many years ago. The story will be further explained to you in time. Just know that all of us here will diligently serve you.¡± Drakkel was in disbelief. ¡°Why would you serve me?¡± Re¡¯ila bowed her head. ¡°You are our previous Demon Prince¡¯s, Demon Prince Fal-On''s, son. Since you are our current monarch, of course we will serve you.¡± Drakkel could only nod. He wasn¡¯t used to this, but he had other concerns. A few questions had already been swirling through his mind. ¡°Fine.¡± He said. ¡°How long have I been out?¡± One of the Demon Lords who had purple hair braided into a ponytail behind her back, stepped forward. ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping for ten days, Your Highness.¡± Drakkel''s heart began to thump in his chest as he asked the second question, ¡°What happened to the Golden Peak Swords Clan?¡± The woman answered again, ¡°The attacking demons retreated when you left.¡± Drakkel leaned forward in his seat. ¡°Did you all send them?!¡± The woman shook her head. ¡°Those demons separated from us long ago. You could consider them a different faction. Even now, we don''t know what their intentions are.¡± Drakkel calmed down again, staring at the ground to gather his thoughts. ¡°My clan,¡± He said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll be implicated. I should go back and tell them to escape.¡± The demons in the room all lowered their heads nervously, none daring to meet his eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± He asked. He gazed at Re''ila, pleading for an answer. ¡°Re''ila?¡± Re''ila averted her gaze from his eyes as well. A deep panic came over him. ¡°Why do you all look like that?!¡± The woman who answered before said, ¡°After a long battle, your clan was¡­¡± She lowered her head and tightly closed her eyes. ¡°Completely annihilated by the Golden Peak and High Mountain Glaive Swords Clans.¡± Drakkel¡¯s heart dropped. So, it wasn¡¯t a dream! None of it was a dream! His master! His Swords Clan! Drakkel all of a sudden found it a struggle to breathe. He gripped his chest as his vision blurred for a moment, his body breaking into a cold sweat. This couldn''t be real. It couldn''t be possible! Looking at Re¡¯ila, he desperately said, ¡°Take me there! Please¡­¡± A thoughtful look spread on Re¡¯ila¡¯s face as she nodded. She turned to the demons. ¡°You heard his Highness! Prepare to depart!¡± Everyone in the room bowed. ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 The woman with purple hair tied in a ponytail guided Drakkel down the long corridors of the building. No matter where they stepped, there were only candles lighting the way. Drakkel began to wonder where they could have been that only candles were available to light their path. Or if it might have been night time and his sense of time had been thrown off. Re¡¯ila followed closely behind him as the woman whistled. A demon much like the one that was hanging around the masked figure, exited one of the doors. He gave Drakkel a quick nod before taking his place directly behind him and Re¡¯ila. The woman who guided them made several turns and went down a flight of steps until they reached a large set of double doors. She waved her palm and the doors opened. With the opening of the doors, Drakkel''s eyes widened. He finally understood where they were. It was an underground city. Demons walked about freely, talking and laughing. A group of demon children ran after a small glowing floating object. Businesses were set up, selling clothing, food and other essentials. One demon handed another several meteoric stones in return for an item at a stall. Houses were scattered all around, being made of stone and decorated with glowing flowers that shined brightly enough to light up the whole place. Looking back, Drakkel realized the building they were in was as large as a Palace and designed just like the rest of the structures. The woman whistled again and a path cleared. Several demons rushed out of some of the houses and stood behind them. Once the demons were lined up, the woman stated, ¡°His Highness has commanded we take him to the Sacred Sword Swords Clan! I have summoned you, our best guards, for his protection! Stay close and act natural, I will cover us all with my illusion magic!¡± She shot a hand to the side and Drakkel saw a reflective sort of light cover the crowd before disappearing. ¡°This will keep us from being noticed by humans! Now, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Illa!¡± The crowd of demons shouted. The group walked through the small underground city until they reached an open area with several cave openings. Without hesitation, Illa led them down her chosen path. As she walked, she explained to Drakkel, ¡°Your Highness, our city is an underground site surrounded by caves that lead all around the Empire. The caves are like a labyrinth. It is too easy to get lost and because of this, too difficult to find our location. Only the inhabitants of the city know their way around the underground labyrinth, so you needn¡¯t worry about your safety while here.¡± Drakkel nodded. Once they had walked what Drakkel assumed to be a fair distance away from the city, Illa stated, ¡°Mi¡¯kel, can you use your smokescreen to aid in our speed? At this rate, we¡¯ll be walking for a few days before we reach our destination.¡± The man who was standing directly behind Drakkel and Re¡¯ila and looked like the demon who kidnapped Firo Fieren bowed, ¡°Of course, Lord Illa.¡± The man placed his hand up and the group suddenly became surrounded by a black gas. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. They continued walking as normal, but in only two hours, Illa said, ¡°We¡¯re here. Ready yourselves everyone!¡± They walked up a steep path until they saw an exit with light filtering through. When they walked outside, they had to step out from a place hidden behind a waterfall. Drakkel had passed this place several times before. It was between Prancing Hills and Immortal Peak, surrounded by a small forest. The smoke cleared and the group walked out from behind the waterfall. Without a word, they followed Illa¡¯s lead until they reached Immortal Peak. As they traversed through the streets, Drakkel couldn¡¯t block his ears from the gossip. Many spoke unabashedly as they walked past. ¡°What a large group. I wonder if they''re here to clean up the Sacred Sword Manor?¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it, a demon! From our very own Swords Clan!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, they¡¯ve helped so many people. I don¡¯t think they deserved what happened. I heard the place burned for two days and one night! Even if they were evil, at least execute them in a more respectful manner! ¡°Respectful? Look, My cousin is a disciple of the Golden Peak Swords Clan. That clan was front and center in the battle against Demon King Fael. Now, a disciple of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan was found guilty of causing the demon incidents in Shadowy Ridges, Lunala Isle, and Heaven¡¯s Path. They say he was also responsible for the kidnapping of the second son of the Sword Smith Villa Clan Leader. To this day, they still haven¡¯t found him! With all this considered, who knows what else he¡¯s done? He even dared to bewitch the head disciple of Golden Peak to join along in his evil affairs! Even though this happened, his clan wouldn''t admit what he had done! I even heard there was evidence of them working with him found in the manor. A Swords Clan Leader was there to witness it! But the specifics were blocked by the Golden Peak Swords Clan! Can you believe they are still trying to be kind to such an evil Swords Clan? Some may say that what happened to them wasn¡¯t justified, but if you ask me, I say they got exactly what they deserved! An evil-doer will eventually end up being punished!!¡± Drakkel wanted to confront them and tell them they were wrong, but he could only bite his tongue. He didn''t want to blow their cover. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Illa quietly said, ¡°Do you want me to take care of them for you?¡± Drakkel shook his head, ¡°Let them be.¡± Illa nodded. There was a mix of negative and positive comments, with the majority being negative, as they made their way through the streets of Immortal Peak. When they finally arrived at the Sacred Sword Manor, It was like a ghost town. The booths and stalls that sat across from the place were cleared out. The once prosperous location was completely abandoned. The building which stood behind the short wooden gates was no more. Drakkel pushed past the demons and rushed to the gates. Somehow, they had survived the fire. Clenching his fists, he put up his leg and kicked them down. The sound of splintering wood reverberated through the air as the doors fell over. Upon catching sight what lied behind them, Drakkel''s eyes widened. The state of the manor was far worse than he had imagined. Pieces of blackened wood laid in piles all around, along with ash and dust. The smell of burnt flesh and wood still lingered in the air even though there were no bodies. Drakkel''s throat burned and his eyes watered, but he still hurried forward and started desperately digging through the piles. But as he dug and dug, he realized something- there was nothing left. The place only contained broken woods and debris- even the swords were gone. The gardens were destroyed and the area was devastated, the calm and happy atmosphere replaced with despair. Despite this, Drakkel didn''t stop looking. He had to see if there were any signs of survivors. He continued to frantically dig through the piles of rubble. Seeing him struggle, Illa yelled, ¡°Help him! Don''t just stand around!¡± The demons who were standing by the side rushed to help him, taking up their own positions in digging through the piles for any sign of life. Because his Swords Clan wasn¡¯t always prosperous, the only disciples with specialized blades were Mi-Mian, Leyon, Kirora, Kio, Aurien, Drakkel and their Master Fowl. All other disciples joined when they didn¡¯t have many funds and so received ordinary meteoric iron swords with the sword¡¯s name etched in next to their own on the blade. There was a day that Drakkel brought back a rare type of white jade after helping a noble family that was temporarily staying in Waning Crescent. Drakkel was not interested in gems, jewels or precious stones. However, Kio, Mi-Mian and Leyon liked it. The three fought to curry favor with him so he might offer it to them. In the end, he took it to a local jeweler and had it split into four pieces. He made the pieces into charms one could hang on their sword and gave one each to his direct disciples. When he finished sorting through most of the rubble and pulled out the small jade pieces. His lips quivered. The tears that he had been holding back finally fell from his eyes, his hands almost bleeding as he gripped the jade pieces tightly in his hands. They were gone. They were really gone. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 When they returned to the demon palace, Drakkel asked Re¡¯ila to gather some fine wood and a knife as well as to set up an altar in a room for him. She told him to wait in his room and informed him that it would take her a couple of hours to get it set up. She asked if in the meantime, he wanted some food. But he wasn¡¯t hungry or tired. He went to his room and sat on the floor. All he felt was emptiness. He had avoided his clan for seven years and this was what happened. What was the point of it all? He sat in silent isolation for a while until Re¡¯ila told him that the preparations were complete. Then, he sullenly followed her to the destined location. Probably knowing for what purpose it was, everything was already set up including incense burners and sticks. ¡°Do you need any more assistance, Your Highness?¡± Re¡¯ila asked hesitantly. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Drakkel shook his head. Once Re''ila left, he opened the door and shut it behind himself. With shaky hands, he began to shape the memorial tablets, noting down the names of everyone who died. He cut his hands several times as his vision clouded from the tears and his hands trembled, but he didn¡¯t care. For Mi-Mian, Leyon, Kirora and Kio¡¯s tablets, he placed the jade accessories on them. When all the tablets were completed, he thought of those who lost their lives. Touching each of their tablets, he reminisced. About his Senior Brother Aurien Wavel, who wished to become both a medical expert and a sword master like the clan leader, Kirora, who put up a cool front, but was actually very shy, Mi-Mian who on top of sword training, also wished to cook like his senior brother but ended up cooking like his master, Leyon, who was as bright and cheery as Mi-Mian and had no grand desires other than to live life well, and Kio¡­ the youngest of the four; who looked up to Drakkel like an older brother and wished to follow in his footsteps even though he was lagging behind. He practiced the hardest, but experienced delays in his progression. However this didn''t get him down. He was only 16. Far too young¡­ Drakkel took some incense sticks, lit them up and set them into the jar. After bowing three times, he sat up. Sitting in silence, he made a promise in his heart. He pulled out the pass his master had given him and clenched it tightly in his hands. For those he loved, he would move heaven and earth and for those he hated, only darkness would follow.