Rise of The Abandoned Husband

I watched Baldwin's finger pointing directly at me, his desperate attempt to salvage his reputation obvious to everyone. The crowd hesitated, confused by his sudden change of direction.

"What a fraud," I muttered under my breath.

The Man with the Mustache pushed his way through the crowd, dragging Clara behind him. When they reached my side, he was breathing heavily.

"You were right," he wheezed, eyes wide with disbelief. "How in the world did you know?"

I kept my eyes on the glowing crack in the earth, where the Celestial Grass continued to emerge. "I just saw it. The patterns were clear."

"Impossible!" Ms. Hayward's voice cut through the murmurs. She marched toward us, her purple-robed guards fanning out behind her. "A nobody like you couldn't possibly have out-deduced Master Baldwin."

Baldwin Daniels approached more slowly, his weathered face carefully composed despite the embarrassment that must have been burning through him.

"Young man," he said, his voice carrying across the now-silent basin. "You positioned yourself here before the herb appeared. How did you know?"

All eyes turned to me. The crowd of cultivators had formed a loose circle around us, every powerful faction represented. I could feel their scrutiny, their suspicion.

"I deduced it," I said simply. "Just like you claim to do."

A ripple of gasps spread through the onlookers. The Man with the Mustache tugged frantically at my sleeve, but I ignored him.

Baldwin's eyes narrowed. "That's quite a claim. Perhaps you had prior information? Or some hidden method?"

I laughed. "Like the hidden methods you use to maintain your reputation? No, Master Baldwin. I simply saw what you failed to see."

The Man with the Mustache groaned beside me. "Liam, please don't—"

"You dare!" Ms. Hayward stepped forward, her face twisted with indignation. "Master Baldwin is the greatest heavenly secrets deducer of our age! Who are you to question him?"

I met her gaze coolly. "I'm someone who was standing in the right spot while your master was looking in the wrong direction."

The crowd's murmuring grew louder. I could see uncertainty in their eyes as they glanced between Baldwin and me. The great master's infallibility was being questioned, perhaps for the first time.

The Man with the Mustache leaned close, whispering urgently. "Liam, you're making powerful enemies. Baldwin is revered as divine by these people."

"Divine?" I scoffed loud enough for everyone to hear. "A true divine wouldn't make such a basic mistake."

Baldwin's composed facade cracked slightly. His right eye twitched. "You speak with great confidence for someone so young. Perhaps you'd care to explain your deduction method to enlighten us all?"

It was a trap, and I knew it. If I couldn't explain, I'd be dismissed as lucky or a liar. If I could explain, he'd find some way to discredit my method.

"I saw the light strings of the Great Dao," I said calmly. "I followed the anomaly to its source. Basic technique, from what I understand. The difference is that I saw correctly, and you didn't."

Baldwin's face darkened. The Man with the Mustache whispered something that sounded like a prayer for mercy.

"You claim to see the Great Dao?" Baldwin's voice was dangerously soft. "After what, a few minutes of practice?"

"Less," I confirmed, enjoying the way his face reddened. "It came naturally."

Ms. Hayward stepped forward, her voice rising. "This is blasphemy! He mocks the divine arts that take decades to master!"

She turned to address the crowd. "This man, Liam Knight, stands here insulting one of our greatest living treasures! Will you all stand by and allow this?"

I watched as her calculated performance began working its magic on the crowd. Faces that had shown uncertainty now hardened with disapproval. The purple-robed cultivators moved closer, forming a tighter circle around us.

"Master Baldwin has dedicated his life to the divine art of deduction," Ms. Hayward continued, her voice rising dramatically. "This... this nobody claims to master in minutes what takes others lifetimes! He insults not just Master Baldwin, but all who revere the heavenly arts!"

The Man with the Mustache tugged at my sleeve again. "We should leave. Now."

I ignored him, my eyes fixed on Baldwin. The old man was watching me with a curious mixture of anger and something else—fear, perhaps?

"Tell me, Master Baldwin," I said, emphasizing the title with just enough sarcasm to make his eye twitch again. "How many times have you been wrong but claimed credit anyway when the treasure was found?"

A collective gasp went up from the crowd. Baldwin's face went pale, then red.

"You dare—" he began.

"I dare to speak the truth," I interrupted. "You pointed east with such confidence. Everyone saw it. Now you're pretending you meant here all along."

Ms. Hayward's eyes gleamed with triumph. She'd been looking for any opportunity to come after me, and I'd just handed her one on a silver platter. But I was tired of the pretense, tired of watching frauds like Baldwin being worshipped while they looked down on others.

"This man," Ms. Hayward declared, pointing at me, "is known to me. He is an enemy of the Veridia City Martial Guild! A fugitive who has attacked Guild members!"

The revelation sent a new wave of whispers through the crowd. I saw several cultivators step back, distancing themselves from potential trouble.

"Is this true?" Baldwin demanded, finding his voice again.

"The Guild and I have our differences," I said coolly.

"He admits it!" Ms. Hayward cried. "Not only does he insult Master Baldwin, but he stands against the greatest cultivation organization in our world!"

The Man with the Mustache grabbed Clara's hand and moved closer to me, his voice barely audible. "There are at least twenty Marquises here. We can't fight them all."

Clara's small hand found mine, squeezing tightly. Her eyes were wide but determined as she looked up at me.

"You've revealed yourself as both a fraud and a criminal," Baldwin said, his voice regaining its authoritative tone. "Your disrespect for the divine arts cannot go unpunished."

The cultivators began to close in, forming a tighter circle around us. I could feel their energies swirling, preparing for conflict. Ms. Hayward's smile was triumphant as she watched, clearly pleased to have maneuvered events to this point without having to dirty her own hands.

"Take care of Clara," I murmured to the Man with the Mustache. "Get her away if things go badly."

He nodded grimly, moving slightly to position himself between Clara and the approaching cultivators.

I took a deep breath and released my Golden Light. It burst from my body in brilliant waves, causing several of the nearest cultivators to shield their eyes.

"I've spoken only truth today," I said, my voice carrying across the basin. "Baldwin Daniels is not what you think he is. He's built a reputation on lies and manipulation."

"Enough!" Baldwin roared, his own aura flaring violently. "You will show proper respect, or you will be taught it!"

I laughed, the sound echoing off the rocky walls of the basin. "Respect is earned, not demanded. You pointed east. The herb appeared southeast. Those are the facts."

"Twenty against one," the Man with the Mustache whispered urgently. "We need to retreat."

But retreat wasn't an option. Not when surrounded by hostile cultivators. Not when Baldwin and Ms. Hayward were working together to make an example of me.

The cultivators tightened their circle further, many with weapons now drawn. I saw familiar faces among them—Lowell Pauley and Preston Elliott near the front, eager for a chance to attack me.

I expanded my Golden Light further, its radiance illuminating the entire basin with a warm glow. Clara's eyes reflected the golden light as she watched me, her small face set with determination.

"This is your last chance to apologize," Baldwin said, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Kneel and beg forgiveness for your disrespect!"

I looked around the circle of faces—some angry, some uncertain, all waiting to see what would happen next. These were people who had built their lives around a system of deference and hierarchy. A system that couldn't allow someone like me to challenge someone like Baldwin.

Ms. Hayward stood slightly behind Baldwin, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She had orchestrated this perfectly, using Baldwin's wounded pride to turn the crowd against me without having to expose herself directly.

I straightened my shoulders and let my Golden Light surge even brighter, pulsing with my heartbeat.

"Come on!" I roared, my voice echoing across the basin. "I, Liam Knight, fear no one!"

The challenge hung in the air for a heartbeat before the first cultivator lunged forward, sword raised high.