Legacy of Hatred

By the time night was in full force, the trio had established a new resting spot, opting again for one of the shorter trees near the Evergreen Canyon’s edge.

There wasn’t much to be said. While unexpected, the Pale Moon Sect’s team had still gained one tablet from the sudden attack, so Simon didn’t find it necessary to alter the battle strategy.

The victory had also come in the best possible shape, providing rewards without incurring losses. The team’s main fighting force hadn’t even needed to exhaust itself, which Simon took as a sign that his strategy was working.

That might change in the mission’s last stretches. Yet, for now, the trio merely meditated on branches, biding their time until striking became more fruitful.

As much as Liam wanted to learn more about spells and the way Anastasia had ignited her Qi, he remained silent, occasionally puffing from his pipe while the entirety of his perception was on the environment.

Anastasia might vastly outclass Liam’s senses, but that was no excuse for unawareness, especially when only he knew the full extent of the Evergreen Canyon’s potential threats.

Also, by not talking, Liam would prevent his poor social skills from exposing his real intentions.

And, just like that, the night went by, and the same went for the following day, this time featuring no attacks or disturbances.

Of course, the Evergreen Canyon didn’t stay silent. Sounds of battles resounded from time to time, disclosing the other teams’ locations. Still, Liam and Anastasia merely recorded them to gain a mental map that might help them later.

Nevertheless, on the third day, something shifted. It was still midday, and Simon had shown no signs of wanting to act yet, but Anastasia opened her eyes among the silence, showing an uncharacteristic serious expression.

The gesture alerted Simon and Liam, snapping them out of their meditation to focus on their Sister, only for Anastasia to remain silent, sorting through whatever she was sensing.

"This is ...," Anastasia muttered, allowing a frown to form on her face, "Wrong."

Liam immediately snapped to his feet and drew his bow, and Simon groaned at that jumpy reaction.

"Sister Anastasia, explain what it is," Simon complained. "We’ll have the first genius in history to die of anxiety otherwise."

Anastasia ignored Simon, instead standing up, her head moving left and right. It was unclear what she was seeing, but her silence and behavior finally alerted Simon, getting him on his feet, too.

"It’s too many," Anastasia said, her attention still on something only she could see. "It doesn’t make any sense."

By then, Liam wasn’t only certain that something had gone wrong. He also believed he knew the cause, but his mouth remained shut, instead trying to find whatever Anastasia was sensing.

At first, Liam found nothing odd. He only heard the usual rustlings and faint, distant echoes of what he assumed were footsteps, but couldn’t be certain. His ears were good, but they weren’t as accurate as whatever Anastasia wielded.

Nevertheless, if Liam considered his assumption to be correct, his subconscious spotted an issue that quickly moved to the conscious side of his mind.

Liam’s hearing couldn’t encompass all of Evergreen Canyon. Unless something were extremely loud, causing echoes that entered his ears’ range, he just wouldn’t be able to notice it.

That was even truer for those alleged footsteps. The fact that Liam could hear them meant that they were relatively nearby, and there lay the issue.

The mission featured six teams of three. The most Liam could hear were fifteen different footsteps since his group was standing still, and his ears captured something lower but close to that number.

The odds that so many people were moving at the same time were low, but not zero. It was the third day after all, so the various disciples might have switched to more proactive battle strategies.

However, battles had unfolded in the previous days, and chances were some disciples were out of commission, either too tired or injured to move or engage in proactive tactics.

Then, there was the involved area. Those alleged footsteps didn’t account for all the teams, but it was extremely unlikely that they had all ended up within the range of Liam’s ears.

When Liam put all that together, the already unlikely odds reached zero, the end of his reasoning matching Anastasia’s grim revelation.

"I think," Anastasia exclaimed, showing her serious face to Simon. "I think a third force entered the Evergreen Canyon."

"Are you sure it’s not just forces from the Swallowing Forest Sect?" Simon pondered, despite taking the warning seriously.

As sharp as Anastasia was, she couldn’t confirm or deny. She wasn’t all-seeing in the end. Also, as unlikely as it was, complications that had made the Swallowing Forest Sect act might have indeed arisen.

Luckily, there was a way to be sure, which Anastasia and Simon decided on through a silent conversation.

"Junior Brother, just follow us," Simon ordered, nodding at the Black Bow.

Liam could only store the bow on his shoulder while following his Seniors. The three jumped off the tree, led by Anastasia, toward the nearest source of whatever she was sensing.

Nevertheless, the source ended up finding the trio first.

Anastasia suddenly halted her steps, and everyone followed suit. A strange but meaningful silence also invaded the area, alerting Liam, until something brought his and his Seniors’ gazes to the sky.

Something was falling from above the multilayered green crowns, ready to pierce them and crash onto the ground. Liam, Simon, and Anastasia prepared themselves, only for the threat to precede them once more.

The something above never crossed the layers of leaves, instead splitting into multiple items that fell sparsely, surrounding the area.

Nothing landed in the Pale Moon Sect’s team’s exact spot, but the consequences reached them nonetheless. A white mist appeared in every direction among the trunks in the distance, quickly expanding to wash over anything it could reach.

A spark flashed in Anastasia’s lowered palm, only for her to squeeze her hand into a fist to contain herself. Her first instinct had been to set everything on fire, but the incoming mist’s unclear properties forced her to hold back.

Anastasia didn’t know if her flames would cause a widespread explosion. She believed she could survive anything fire-related, but the same didn’t apply to her companions, especially her adorable Junior Brother.

The amount of Qi in the mist didn’t even feel too threatening, so the team let it close on them. They had no escape path anyway, and anything too violent might worsen whatever was happening.

And, as soon as the mist arrived, Liam felt it. Actually, his body recognized it even before that white gas washed over him. A familiar warmth invaded him, attempting to cloud his awareness.

Yet, the attempt failed. Liam’s mind didn’t even waver, instead experiencing revitalizing sensations stemming from his foundation. The mist was nourishing him, as well as confirming who that third party was.

To add on that confirmation, movement unfolded behind Liam. It was silent and swift, aided by the mist’s cover, rushing toward his back.

The charge was fast, but Liam was faster, side-stepping and turning at the last second, the world in his eyes slowing down when he saw what came out of the mist.

The Qi in the air messed up with Liam’s perception, but not at that distance. He saw a hooded foundation expert clad in a tight black robe, his face covered so that only his eyes would be visible, lunging at him with his palm thrust forward.

The side-step had already dodged the palm strike, and that familiar appearance removed the last traces of Liam’s hesitation. He had worn those same clothes once, meaning that he could rely on deadly force.

Liam kept turning, his own palm rising to cross his opponent’s stretched arm, hitting him at the center of his chest and releasing a devastating wave of trembling Qi that sent him flying away.