The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Bloodshadow Pavilion's Safe House, The Central Plains Branch.

"What's the situation?"

"There's been some movement. Additionally, Sev appears to have betrayed us."

"It doesn't matter. He carries the Parasite of Death within him, after all."

The parasite wasn't exclusive to Sev.

Every member of the Bloodshadow Pavilion bore its curse, save for one exception: Ezekiel, the Pavilion Master himself.

"The moment he attempts to reveal anything, he'll die. He knows this well."

"…Yes, Pavilion Master."

"What about the transport of that girl?"

"She's en route. She hasn't arrived yet, but it seems she'll be here within three days."

"Three days? That's quite the grueling journey."

The Pavilion Master wasn't concerned. If anything, he was entertained by the thought.

Three days in a rattling carriage…

Meals and water would have to be consumed within that confined space. For the trained assassins of the Bloodshadow Pavilion, this would pose no problem.

But for a frail girl with forcibly severed energy pathways?

By the time she arrived, she'd likely be too weak to put up any resistance.

'I'd love to see the look on that traitor's face.'

A betrayal. He had always suspected it might happen, but that didn't make it any less irritating.

No, not irritating—disappointing.

Still, this was an opportunity.

It had been far too long since the last example was made of a traitor.

Killing both women in front of him would remind everyone what kind of place the Bloodshadow Pavilion truly was.

And what kind of man Ezekiel was.

But he didn't know.

He didn't know who was coming for him.

A Bloodshadow Pavilion assassin stationed outside entered the inner chamber.

Dropping to one knee, the assassin's voice trembled.

"Pavilion Master, have you received word of other members scheduled to visit today?"

"What? No, there shouldn't be anyone."

The location of the safe house was a closely guarded secret, even within the Bloodshadow Pavilion. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

Not even most of Akrest Clan's core family knew of its existence.

That was the level of secrecy upheld by the Akrest Clan's Shadow Division.

"…Someone is walking straight toward us."

"What?"

Ezekiel frowned. That was impossible.

The location of the safe house wasn't just unknown—it was unknowable.

"Could it be those Iron Fist Sect monks?"

"No, sir. It's a swordsman in a tattered white silk outer robe…"

"Are they coming directly this way?"

"They haven't entered the formation yet, but yes."

Ezekiel clicked his tongue in annoyance. Surely, it must be a coincidence.

The moment they stepped into the formation, they'd lose their way and exit somewhere else.

At least, that's what he thought.

Then came the scream.

A familiar voice—one of his subordinates stationed outside.

"Everyone, draw your swords!"

Ezekiel unsheathed his Black Iron Curved Blade from his back.

They had been breached.

To think someone would assault the Bloodshadow Pavilion, famed for its expertise in ambushes and assassinations, head-on…

He had believed the location was invulnerable to discovery.

This blind confidence had led to the current situation.

'If it were Iron Fist Sect, at least we'd have had time to prepare!'

He had assumed it was just a lost traveler.

But the scream suggested the formation had been broken instantly.

'How…?'

Unanswered questions swirled in his mind.

Shaking his head, Ezekiel dismissed the thoughts.

This was not the time for hesitation.

"All units, take your positions. The moment they step inside, ambush them."

"Yes, Pavilion Master!"

"Yes, sir!"

"As you command!"

The three elites closest to him nodded and melted into the shadows.

Ezekiel joined them.

The intruder would annihilate the outer guards, but that was expected.

The Akrest Clan may not rival the Everstone Clan in expertise with formations, but it wouldn't label a structure a safe house if the defensive measures were that easily overcome.

Whoever was approaching had to fall into one of two categories:

Someone with internal energy strong enough to crush the formation outright.Someone with insider knowledge of its design.

What Ezekiel couldn't imagine…

Was that the intruder fit both descriptions.

Iron Fist Sect Grandmaster's Chamber.

The air felt oppressively silent, the sound dampened by the internal energy radiated by Grandmaster Gregory.

Seated within were Master Nathaniel, Grandmaster Gregory, Vera, and Sev.

But Sev hesitated to speak.

"There's something I must tell you first," he said finally.

"Go ahead, Benefactor," the Grandmaster replied gently, pouring tea to ease the tension.

The rich, nutty aroma of the tea filled the chamber.

Taking a sip of the warm tea, Sev gathered himself before continuing.

"First, I must warn you: for certain reasons, I cannot speak with complete clarity or honesty."

The Grandmaster raised an eyebrow, his internal energy shifting subtly.

He began to circulate the full might of his Transcendent Wisdom Sutra, activating Heavenly Eye Insight.

The Heavenly Eye, an advanced ability achieved through extreme mastery of the art, allowed one to perceive truths hidden to the naked eye.

Master Nathaniel, while not as advanced as the Grandmaster, shared a similar ability.

It was how he had driven out the killing intent deeply embedded in Marcus's bones.

What the Grandmaster saw, however, was horrific.

"Homage to Infinite Light… Benefactor, are you carrying the Parasite of Death within you?"

"It's a measure to prevent the disclosure of internal secrets. It's engraved with sorcery to react to specific words."

The pain inflicted by the Parasite of Death was beyond imagination.

Even Master Nathaniel, a man of steadfast discipline, frowned deeply at the revelation.

Once awakened, the parasite ensured that a clean death would be a mercy denied.

"Homage to Infinite Light… Benefactor, how do you intend to provide us with clues under such constraints?"

"I'll have to be as indirect as possible, using gestures when necessary. That should suffice, given how well-known the location is."

"…A well-known place?" Vera asked.

Sev nodded bitterly. What he was about to reveal was no less than the shadow of the Akrest Clan, the Bloodshadow Pavilion.

The Hidden Truths of Bloodshadow Pavilion

"The sun isn't the only thing that shines in the sky," Sev began cryptically.

The parasite within him stirred but did not awaken. He had not uttered the forbidden words directly.

The restrictions placed upon him were intricate and absolute.

It wasn't just the term Akrest Clan that triggered the curse.

Even phrases like "the ruling family of Bright Peace" or "the foremost family of the martial world" would activate it.

Nearly every conceivable phrasing had been forbidden.

"Even at night, the moon rises in the sky, and there are unseen guests who watch over the earth."

The sun and moon symbolized the duality of the Akrest Clan's identity.

The unseen guests? They referred to the assassins of the Bloodshadow Pavilion.

"During the day, the Ten Thousand Martial Army takes charge. But at night, the unseen guests take their turn."

Hearing this, the expressions of Master Nathaniel and Grandmaster Gregory changed.

A connection had begun to emerge.

The Ten Thousand Martial Army was the enforcement branch of the Martial Unity, which was effectively under the control of the Akrest Clan.

Furthermore, the reference to the "sky" could only mean one thing: the Akrest Clan's Boundless Sky Sword Technique.

"We were those unseen guests."

"…You mean to say that the Bloodshadow Pavilion is an assassination group run by the Akrest Clan, correct?"

At the mention of the Akrest Clan, the parasite within Sev trembled violently.

Even though the words hadn't come from him, his instincts screamed that affirming this statement would awaken the parasite.

"…I cannot answer."

It was a clever evasion.

If it weren't true, he could have simply denied it.

When someone is unable to deny something, it usually means the truth is undeniable.

For Sev, the truth he couldn't reveal was the one that would awaken the parasite.

This meant his silence was an implicit confirmation.

The Grandmaster's Decision

"…I see. Benefactor Sev, you may leave now," said Grandmaster Gregory after a long pause.

Pushing further would only endanger him. The Grandmaster allowed him to leave, his face filled with quiet contemplation.

As soon as Sev left, the Grandmaster sighed deeply.

"Haaaa… Homage to Infinite Light…"

"Grandmaster, could it be possible that this man is being deceived?" Master Nathaniel asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.

He found the situation hard to believe. After all, the Martial Unity had never acted unjustly toward the Iron Fist Sect Temple.

"If what he says is true, then the Akrest Clan has knowingly permitted and ignored these atrocities. Grandmaster!"

"Calm yourself, Master Nathaniel," the Grandmaster said, shaking his head.

"I've long suspected the existence of such a group," he admitted with a heavy sigh, turning his gaze to Vera.

How pitiful it was for someone so young to become the target of assassination by the Akrest Clan, the most powerful family in the martial world.

Iron Fist Sect's Secrets

"Benefactor Vera," the Grandmaster called.

"Yes, Grandmaster?"

"The Iron Fist Sect Temple also has a group called the Infernal Guard."

Vera blinked in surprise. The Infernal Guard?

The term Infernal originally referred to malevolent spirits, but in later Buddhist teachings, it came to represent divine protectors.

"They are not particularly secretive. Their purpose is to track and eliminate public threats to the temple. I won't deny their existence."

"…I understand, Grandmaster."

Master Nathaniel listened silently to the explanation.

The Infernal Guard were the temple's warriors who carried open kill orders, roaming with iron staves in hand.

Similar groups likely existed in other sects and clans as well.

"I've always believed such groups must exist. Quiet, shadowy organizations that handle the dirty work of powerful sects and families… Why wouldn't they exist? It would be more surprising if they didn't."

"…Grandmaster, do you condone their actions?" Master Nathaniel asked, unable to hold back his frustration.

The Grandmaster didn't rebuke him. Instead, he shook his head solemnly.

"The Infernal Guard of the Iron Fist Sect Temple has never harmed innocent young girls simply because they posed a threat to the temple."

His eyes glimmered with restrained anger as he spoke, his voice trembling.

Even as he described the actions of others, his rage was palpable—directed at those who dared commit such inhumane acts.

"Even if that girl were the family of someone who vowed revenge against the Iron Fist Sect Temple…"

The Grandmaster slowly rose from his seat.

His internal energy continued to block all sound from escaping the chamber.

"This is clearly wrong."