Rise of The Abandoned Husband

I leaned against the cold stone wall, watching Darian Bancroft closely. His eyes held a desperate gleam—the look of a man who thought he'd found leverage.

"Your freedom isn't negotiable right now," I said flatly. "But your suffering is entirely up to you."

Bancroft's smug expression faltered. "I've already told you valuable information."

"Fragments. Hints. Nothing concrete that helps me find Isabelle." I pushed off from the wall and approached him slowly. "Tell me about the Guild's operations. Where would they most likely keep her?"

"I don't know exactly—"

"But you know the Guild's facilities," I interrupted. "Their security protocols, their most fortified locations. Start there."

He hesitated, then sighed in defeat. "The Guild maintains several black sites throughout the region. The most secure would be beneath the main headquarters in Veridia City."

"Too obvious," I said. "They wouldn't keep her somewhere I'd immediately look."

"Then likely the Ashen Mountains facility," Bancroft admitted, confirming what Clarissa had told me. "It's our most isolated compound, built inside the mountain itself."

I nodded. "What about the Guild's archives? Where would I find information about these facilities, security details, personnel?"

"You can't possibly think you could break into the Guild's private archives," he scoffed.

"Answer the question."

Bancroft's lips thinned. "The main archives are in the headquarters' east wing, level three. But they're guarded by Martial Masters around the clock, with formation arrays that would detect even a ghost."

"Is there a public branch? Somewhere Guild members access information regularly?"

A flicker of understanding crossed his face as he realized what I was planning.

"The Taoism Theory Library," he said after a moment. "It's technically a public resource, but it's primarily used by Guild members and affiliated martial artists. Many of our non-classified texts are housed there."

"Including maps? Personnel records?"

He nodded reluctantly. "Basic ones, yes. Nothing sensitive, but..."

"But enough to start with," I finished for him.

I studied him for a moment, then made a decision. Walking to a nearby shelf, I retrieved a small cage—just large enough to hold a crouching man.

Bancroft's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"You're coming with me," I said, opening the cage door. "You're going to help me send a message."

"You can't be serious," he protested, shrinking back.

"Get in, or I'll break both your legs and fold you in myself."

His face paled, but he complied, crawling awkwardly into the cage with his restraints still in place. I locked it behind him.

"Where are you taking me?" Fear edged his voice.

I smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "To the library, of course."

The Taoism Theory Library was impressive—a three-story building of gray stone with intricate carvings of ancient martial heroes adorning its facade. It stood in the center of Veridia City's academic district, surrounded by martial schools and research institutes.

I didn't bother with subtlety. I walked straight up the marble steps, dragging the cage containing Darian Bancroft behind me. His protests had stopped after I'd threatened to gag him with his own severed tongue.

The double doors swung open at my approach, revealing a vast central hall with soaring ceilings and rows upon rows of bookshelves. Dozens of scholars and martial artists moved between the stacks, speaking in hushed tones.

All conversation ceased the moment I entered.

I stopped in the center of the hall and lifted the cage, displaying Bancroft like a trophy. His disheveled appearance—once-fine clothes now filthy, face unshaven, eyes wild with fear and humiliation—created exactly the impact I wanted.

"Ladies and gentlemen," I announced, my voice carrying throughout the hall. "May I present Darian Bancroft, President of Veridia Bank and Elder of the Veridia City Martial Guild."

Shocked gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd. Some recognized me as well—the notorious Liam Knight, the man who had crashed the Ashworth wedding and humiliated the Guild.

A portly man in formal robes hurried forward, sweat beading on his forehead. "Sir, this is a place of learning. You cannot—"

"I'm here to conduct a public lesson," I cut him off. "About consequences."

The man—likely the library administrator—sputtered ineffectually. His eyes darted to the security guards positioned near the entrance, but they remained frozen, clearly recognizing they were outmatched.

I set the cage down and addressed the growing crowd. "Three days ago, I delivered an ultimatum to the Veridia City Martial Guild. Release Isabelle Ashworth, or face the consequences."

More whispers. Isabelle's name clearly struck a chord with many present.

"The Guild has chosen to ignore my demand," I continued. "They believe themselves untouchable, above accountability."

From within the cage, Bancroft finally found his voice. "Help me! This man is a criminal! He's—"

I kicked the cage, sending it skidding across the floor. Bancroft yelped as he slammed against the bars.

"Today," I continued as if there had been no interruption, "I will execute Darian Bancroft as the first payment for the Guild's arrogance."

A woman in the crowd covered her mouth in horror. A young martial artist took a half-step forward before his companion pulled him back.

"You can't do this!" someone finally shouted. "This is madness!"

I turned toward the voice—a middle-aged man in the robes of a martial instructor. Without hesitation, I extended my hand, gathering a sliver of my power into my palm. Golden light coalesced into a needle-thin beam that shot across the room.

The man's forehead erupted in a small, precise hole. He stood perfectly still for a moment, a look of surprise frozen on his face, before collapsing.

The library erupted in panic. People scrambled away from me, pressing themselves against walls and hiding behind shelves. Some ran for the exits.

"Anyone else want to object?" I asked calmly.

Silence fell, broken only by terrified breathing and muffled sobs.

I turned back to Bancroft, who had pressed himself against the back of his cage, his eyes wide with terror.

"The Guild abandoned you," I told him. "They left you to die. Where are your fellow Elders now? Where are the Martial Saints you serve?"

Bancroft shook his head mutely.

"They don't care about you," I continued, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Just as they don't care about the laws they claim to uphold, or the people they claim to protect."

I addressed the crowd again. "Let me be clear. I have no quarrel with the citizens of Veridia City. My fight is with the Guild alone. But anyone who stands with them stands against me."

I pointed to a young woman holding a communication crystal. "You. Are you recording this?"

She nodded, trembling.

"Good. Make sure it reaches every corner of this city. I want the Guild to see exactly what happens to their Elder."

I approached Bancroft's cage again, reaching through the bars to grab him by the throat. He struggled weakly, the Celestial Restraint Cuffs preventing him from accessing his cultivation.

"I'll ask one more time, loud enough for everyone to hear," I said. "Where is Isabelle Ashworth?"

"I told you, I don't know exactly!" he croaked. "Please! I've told you everything I know!"

I tightened my grip. "Then you've outlived your usefulness."

"Wait!" he gasped. "The—the Ashen Mountains facility! That's where they'd take someone like her. It's our most secure location outside the main headquarters. Please!"

I released him, and he collapsed, coughing and wheezing. "Pathetic," I spat. "A Guild Elder, begging for his life in front of witnesses."

The crowd watched in horrified fascination. I knew that by nightfall, every person in Veridia City would know what had happened here. The Guild's reputation would suffer a devastating blow—an Elder publicly humiliated, unable to defend himself.

"The clock is ticking," I announced. "Isabelle Ashworth must be released by sunset tomorrow, or Darian Bancroft dies. And he will be just the first."

Turning to the library administrator, I added, "I'll be borrowing some of your books. I trust that won't be a problem?"

The man shook his head rapidly, backing away.

"Excellent." I moved toward the archives section, dragging Bancroft's cage behind me. "And don't bother calling for help. Anyone who enters this library with hostile intent won't leave alive."

---

In a luxurious chamber deep beneath the Veridia City Martial Guild headquarters, an ancient woman sat before a massive crystal screen, her wrinkled face contorted with fury. The screen displayed the scene unfolding at the Taoism Theory Library in real-time—Liam Knight, the cage, the terrified crowd.

"He dares," she hissed, her voice carrying a weight that made the air itself seem to tremble. "He dares parade an Elder of our Guild in a cage, like some common criminal!"

The three kneeling figures before her remained silent, heads bowed. None dared to meet her gaze when her anger burned this hot.

"This insult cannot stand," she continued, watching as Liam Knight questioned Bancroft about Guild facilities. "He threatens us in our own city, kills one of our instructors, and broadcasts his defiance for all to see."

She rose from her seat, her frail appearance belying the overwhelming power that radiated from her small frame. Despite appearing to be in her nineties, she moved with fluid grace.

"Go to the Taoism Theory Library right away and kill Liam Knight!" she commanded, her eyes never leaving the screen. "Bring me his head. I want to see the light fade from his eyes myself."