Legacy of Hatred

Liam’s reasoning couldn’t have been simpler. He needed resources, and he couldn’t be picky when so much about his journey was impossible.

The banter between the trio had uncovered a necessity that would cost Liam nothing to fulfill. There was the potential to earn at no expense, so he had voiced the offer.

A foundation expert, a lone cultivator at that, couldn’t possibly own something that could entice Liam, but that was beside the point.

Liam had to take everything he could, even if that meant creating a mountain one spirit stone at a time, and give nothing back.

Silence ensued, continuing long after Liam’s words had finished echoing in the area.

The two cultivators in the back wanted to complain, but it wasn’t their turn to speak. A rooting expert had made an offer to someone else, and it would be disrespectful to argue against it before an answer arrived.

Meanwhile, the old man in the front froze for the second time. He hadn’t expected that counteroffer and didn’t know whether to believe it.

After all, once the rooting expert took what the old man had, he could go back on his word, and there would be nothing the latter could do about it.

Still, the old man hadn’t survived in the cultivation world for so long randomly, so his brain quickly devised a new strategy.

"Senior, forgive me!" The old man cried, getting to his knees to bow to the ground. "This Junior’s wealth would only bring shame to Senior! But, if Senior saves me, I’ll call you Master and dedicate my life to serving you!"

Liam had to admit that he had almost stopped listening halfway through that gibberish, but its last part featured something curious.

’Me? A Master?’ Liam frowned under the hood before realizations arrived.

Despite the chase, the trio had stopped at Liam’s arrival, even preemptively apologizing for no reason.

Everyone was on their best behavior, stiff but respectful. Even the old man’s offer hadn’t featured any outward payment for his services as Elliot’s had.

The reason for that couldn’t be simpler. Liam was a rooting expert, while the trio was at the foundation stage.

’And I’m not even wearing any affiliation to greater forces,’ Liam thought.

In the more lawless world of lone cultivators, that superior stage not only demanded greater respect due to the harsher cultivation conditions. It also caused more fear.

No one was around. Just like Liam’s carriage had been attacked, the trio feared that he might do the same to them.

Still, understanding didn’t imply acceptance.

"Will anyone give me directions?" Liam asked, completely ignoring the kneeling old man. He felt a headache just thinking about addressing him.

"Yes, Senior!" One of the men in the back shouted, not daring to miss that opportunity, only for Liam’s indifference to force the old man’s hand.

"Senior, I have six spirit stones!" The old man interrupted. "They are yours, along with my life!"

"Those are our spirit stones!" The other man in the back snapped before recalling where he was and getting to his knees. "Senior, forgive me, but this shameless thief is offering the wealth my brother and I painstakingly accumulated over the years."

’How hard is it to give directions?’ Liam cursed internally, making sure to clarify his offer. "I’m not becoming your Master, and I’d leave you at the next place I stop at."

Liam didn’t believe he was fit to be anyone’s Master, and he couldn’t burden himself with that foundation expert’s life. His journey had no room for him.

"Senior!" The still-standing cultivator also went to his knees. "You clearly are a hero of noble demeanor. If you would be so kind as to wait for my brother and me to retrieve our spirit stones, we’ll gladly give you half to repay the honor of meeting you."

"Senior, my brother and I are also knowledgeable with the area," The other man in the back continued. "We can escort you toward any city, town, or Guild’s branch that you desire."

"Don’t listen to them, Senior!" The old man cried, panicking. "Since Senior is looking to purchase cultivation resources, the best place would be the open market jointly hosted by the Merchants and Enforcement Guilds. Its location is secret and changes every month, but I know where it is!"

’Why do cultivators talk so much?’ Liam cursed internally again despite finally having something to consider.

Liam’s map marked a town in the area, and a proper city existed further away. Those had to be relevant locations to appear on a scroll that depicted the entire Kingdom, which, for a cultivator, translated into the Guilds’ branches.

But, if possible, Liam wanted to keep the interactions with the Guilds to a minimum, at least until he got further away from the six Sects. Those organizations shared information too quickly, and the Mercenary Guild had even seen him wear cloaks.

Chances were the Pale Moon Sect hadn’t involved the Guilds in its private matters, but Liam wanted to be as safe as possible, leaving the fewest amount of traces about his passage.

Also, there was a more basic component to Liam’s decision.

"Six is more than three," Liam commented, crossing the distance between him and the old man in a single, swift step, offering his hand to him. "Pay me."

The old man’s heart bled while looking at the open hand above his head, but it was too late to go back, and he had ways to use the situation to his advantage despite the loss.

The foundation expert rummaged through his sleeves before respectfully placing six translucent crystals in Liam’s hand, standing up afterward. His demeanor changed. He got himself as upright as possible and locked his hands behind his back to stare confidently at his kneeling pursuers.

Liam counted the spirit stones before lowering his arm, letting the sleeve hide his hand so that he could use the space-ring in secret.

Much of what Liam had said and done, he had decided in his seclusion to compensate for his social shortcomings. Hiding the space-ring was one of those.

Those items were famously rare, and hiding wealth in the wild was a common practice to avoid attracting greed that dated back as far as Liam’s time in Krosstoen’s mountain.

But all of Liam’s preparations couldn’t have predicted what followed.

"Arrogant Juniors," The old man scoffed. "If you beg me for forgiveness and call me your Ancestor, I may feel merciful enough to ask Senior to spare you."

"Senior!" The two still-kneeling men called.

"Why would I kill anyone?" Liam asked, tilting his head in confusion under the hood.

"But," The old man coughed. "Senior, you said you’d protect me."

"I know," Liam responded, grabbing the old man’s collar and lifting him as if he were a feather. "In which direction is this market?"

Liam noticed the shock unfolding among the trio, but found studying his own physical strength more compelling. He recalled carrying the butcher, but the action now felt utterly effortless.

’It did something to my muscles,’ Liam confirmed another aspect of his unique breakthrough.

The old man didn’t initially move, frozen while hanging from Liam’s hand. Yet, when the hood turned toward him, he hesitantly pointed in a direction.

Then, right under the two kneeling men’s eyes, Liam and their prey disappeared.