Legacy of Hatred

Liam didn’t know why Anastasia hadn’t said anything earlier, nor why she looked so calm about the imminent attack. Even Simon appeared nonchalant.

Moreover, Liam shuddered at the idea that he had been observed all that time without noticing it. It was quite terrifying to know that his alertness and perception had amounted to nothing. It wasn’t something Liam was used to at all.

Yet, to make things worse, Anastasia also stood up, gracefully joining Liam on his branch to size him up again up close.

"Junior Brother, you are truly a unique specimen," Anastasia said, her voice tempting, which she deepened by making sure her warm breath touched Liam. "I must connect with Junior Sister. I just have to know how you use what you are hiding under that robe."

Liam barely heard Anastasia. He completely ignored whatever tempting action she tried to pull, his entire concentration remaining on the forest.

The afternoon was in full force, but the tree the team was standing on was relatively short. A jagged ceiling of leaves, a maze of trunks, and cozy shade expanded everywhere in Liam’s vision, but nothing was amiss.

Liam might have noticed the activation of what he believed was a cloaking technique, but tracking it was beyond him since no sharp changes happened anymore.

Moreover, the technique was probably of a superior rank and without the weakness that Melissa’s martial art had featured. Liam sensed, saw, smelled, heard, and tasted nothing.

"Sister, stop riling up the genius," Simon sighed, standing up. "He’s making me anxious."

Liam truly wasn’t used to his senses failing him. It had started with Cecilia, and he couldn’t accept the experience as normal. That wasn’t him. His sharp, reliable senses were part of his being more than his arsenal, and he felt blind without them.

Nevertheless, before Liam could opt for the nuclear option, for blowing up everything until something popped out, Simon reached the branch to his right, throwing a derisive look at him.

"Is this the first time life doesn’t go your way?" Simon scoffed. "To think the Sect is willing to invest so much in someone who panics at the first uncertainty."

Naturally, nothing akin to panic had afflicted Liam’s mind. Not being able to rely on his senses was annoying, but his anxiety came from restlessness to do something, not fear.

Also, Simon couldn’t possibly understand that Liam dealt with all that while remaining wary of a branching expert’s potential attack.

"Junior Brother, did they even teach you what teamwork is?" Simon continued, sighing again. "Don’t waste energy on something Sister Anastasia can do far better than you. You’ll just get in our way."

The rebuke actually landed, which was a first when it came to Simon. Liam was indeed thinking as a one-man army, wanting to do everything by himself.

That was less than a habit and more like the only way Liam knew. He had basically always hunted alone, and his few instances with teammates had either featured untrustworthy companions or threats beyond his level.

Even when neither of those issues was present, Liam had been too skilled to rely on anyone but himself in any meaningful way.

The only exceptions had been the escape from the ruins with Melissa and maybe the fight against the lone cultivators. Still, two instances couldn’t change a lifetime spent thinking differently, and Liam believed Melissa belonged to her own category anyway.

Of course, the situation was to blame. Liam would have never committed that mistake otherwise. It wasn’t even just about the white-masked man. Liam was in a hunt of his own, seeing himself as an outsider who knew the full picture and had a secret agenda rather than a mere teammate.

’Get it together,’ Liam scolded himself. Confirming that he could somewhat pretend in front of Simon had reassured him, but that newfound skill clearly had a limit.

"Senior Sister," Liam called, acknowledging the easy solution to the issue he couldn’t fix by himself. "Do you know where they are?"

"Of course," Anastasia chuckled, sliding an arm past Liam, leaning closer without touching him, pointing at a specific spot on the ground. "Junior Brother, at my signal."

The Black Bow drew a small amount of Qi as Liam pulled its heavy string, creating a dark arrow, keeping it perfectly steady until a calm "Now" resounded in his ears.

The ethereal bolt flew between leaves, branches, and trunks to hit the flourishing terrain, causing a limited explosion. Soil and grass flew everywhere, digging a small hole, but hurting someone had never been the plan.

Some of the flying soil and grass stopped mid-air, only for that very air to twist, becoming a murky canvas that slowly faded to reveal what it hid.

Simon and Anastasia had jumped off the tree as soon as the ethereal arrow exploded, and Liam felt compelled to follow. By the time they reached the hole in the ground, a trio of dark-grey-robed cultivators had manifested in front of them.

"It was the Iron Will Sect," Simon announced. "When did you get smart enough to rely on cloaking techniques?"

"Oh, we merely wanted to flush out hiding rats," One of the dark-grey-robed rooting experts, a black-haired woman, claimed, smirking. "We never thought the Pale Moon Sect would have resorted to hiding after going to such extremes on the Mutated Battlefield."

"I understand the term might be foreign to the Iron Will Sect’s disciples," Simon exclaimed, "But strategy is more than just charging ahead."

"The Pale Moon Sect calls sending its Head Disciple among a bunch of weaklings a strategy," The dark-grey woman snickered. "Though it’s fortunate that we met so early. Our Junior Brother actually has a request."

The attention moved to the brown-haired young man on the woman’s right. He was physically imposing, even taller than Liam, and with shoulders just as broad, but he remained a foundation expert.

"Seniors," The brawny man greeted, performing a polite bow that conflicted with his size. "Fellow Daoist Liam, it’s an honor to meet Master Horace Rauret’s disciple. I wonder if you would be so kind as to accept my request."

"Which request?" Simon asked, preventing that decision from falling into Liam’s hands.

"Senior, my Junior Brother put up a shameful performance on the Mutated Battlefield," The foundation expert said. "It’s my duty to improve Liam’s impression of the Iron Will Sect’s disciples."

The foundation expert had been nothing but polite, and there was friendliness hidden behind his request. Due to how prominent Liam would likely become, the brawny man wanted to establish some mutual respect early on.

Naturally, those intentions went completely over Liam’s head, who instead dwelt on a different detail. ’Which Junior Brother is he talking about?’

Liam was about to ask when his memory finally provided an answer. He had indeed killed a foundation expert from the Iron Will Sect on the Mutated Battlefield. The event had simply featured far more for him to remember immediately.

"Sure, I’ll allow this fight," Simon accepted. "It might be a worthy opening before the main event."

Anastasia threw a contemptuous look at Simon, hiding the gesture behind the alluring giggle she gracefully covered with a hand. She wanted to see Liam in action as well, but her intentions weren’t as nefarious as Simon’s.

Before Liam could say anything, the dark-grey foundation expert tilted his bow toward him.

"I’m Hugh, inner disciple of the Iron Will Sect," The foundation expert greeted. "Liam, thank you for this opportunity."

Liam instinctively bowed in response, but pleasantries failed to escape his mouth since his brain dealt with more pressing matters. His only real experience with mock battles had been with Randall, and there was something even worse afflicting him.

’How do I not kill him?’ Liam wondered.

Luckily, before Liam could confuse himself questioning the rules of engagement, Hugh shot ahead, charging at Liam at a speed that was nothing short of commendable.

Hugh didn’t slow down at all. Instead, his charge culminated in a sharp half-turn meant to deliver a mighty shoulder bash.

More Qi than ordinary circulation techniques could provide was involved in the attack. A roar accompanied Hugh’s shoulder bash, bending the grass in front of him and lifting chunks of soil. A thin cloud formed. However, he knew that his blow hadn’t connected.

Somehow, Liam had vanished, and Hugh had to rely on his perception to find him. For some reason, Liam was on a nearby trunk, standing horizontally, an ethereal arrow already flying from his bow.

The arrow was too fast for Hugh to dodge completely. Honestly, Liam had been the quick one there, only giving Hugh enough time to take half a step back before the arrow landed at his feet.

A more violent explosion unfolded, pushing Hugh back, who crossed his arms to shield himself from the flying dirt. He used that force to aid his retreat, only for something to press on his head, ruining his balance.

Hugh’s back hit the ground violently, but the impact couldn’t possibly put him out of commission. He was ready to thrust his crossed arms forward, only for him to notice a sharp pressure on his throat.

The brawny foundation expert finally inspected his situation. Liam was on top of him, his bow already stored on his shoulder, while he pressed on his head to keep him down.

Moreover, Liam wielded his wooden knife in his other hand, its deceptively blunt edge resting on Hugh’s neck, applying enough pressure to convey how quickly it could take his life.

Liam didn’t see anything shocking with that development. Instead, he diverted his gaze, pondering something with the full extent of his mental capabilities.

Yet, the effort failed, so Liam refocused on Hugh, blinding innocence accompanying his genuine tone. "So, do you give me your tablet now? Is that how this works?"