Ellis Mitchell''s smile was a portrait of humility as I opened the door to my hotel room. Gone was the arrogant sneer I''de to associate with him. In its ce was an expression of contrition so perfect it would have fooled anyone who hadn''t spent years reading people''s intentions.


    Anyone but me.


    "Liam," he said, his voice soft and respectful. "I know this is unexpected. May Ie in? I''d like to apologize properly."


    I studied him carefully. Ellis was Caesar Nn''s right-hand man—or had been until recently, ording to my sources. His sudden appearance at my door, especially after yesterday''s incident at Midnight KTV, couldn''t be coincidental.


    "An apology?" I repeated, letting skepticism color my tone. "That''s certainly a surprise."


    Ellis held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I know, I know. I''ve been an ass. But recent events have made me reevaluate some things."


    In his palm was a small box, and he opened it to reveal a glowing green pill that pulsed with an inner light.


    "I brought a peace offering," he continued. "It''s called the Verdant Heart Pill—incredibly rare. It can boost your spiritual energy by at least thirty percent in one go."


    I raised an eyebrow. The pill did look extraordinary, its surface shifting with patterns like living jade. If genuine, it would be worth millions, and the timing—right before the Traditional Medicine Conference—was suspiciously perfect.


    My instincts screamed danger, but curiosity won out. I stepped aside. "Come in, then. Let''s hear this apology."


    Ellis''s smile widened slightly as he crossed the threshold into my room. I closed the door behind him, keeping my senses alert.


    "I appreciate you seeing me," he said, setting the pill box on the coffee table. "I know our interactions haven''t been... friendly."


    "That''s putting it mildly," I replied, remaining standing while Ellis took a seat. "Last I recall, you were threatening to crush me on Caesar''s behalf."


    He had the good grace to look embarrassed. "Yes, well... things change. Caesar and I had a falling out, actually. Over you, if you can believe it."


    "Oh?"


    "He thinks you''re the seconding. I disagreed with his assessment." Ellis shrugged. "But after seeing what you did to the Sterling family, how you''ve risen so quickly... I realized I was on the wrong side."


    The lie was smooth, almost wless. If I hadn''t already received information about his meeting with ze Lane, I might have been inclined to entertain the possibility that he was being genuine.


    "And now you''re here with an expensive gift," I said, gesturing toward the pill. "Very generous for someone who just lost his job."


    Ellis''s expression didn''t falter. "I saved it from a job we didst year. Figured it would be more useful as a peace offering than sitting in my drawer."


    I picked up the pill box, examining the glowing medicine inside. Despite the obvious trap, I had to admit it was a genuine Verdant Heart Pill—I''d read about them in the ancient texts unlocked by my jade pendant. They were indeed rare and valuable, capable of significant spiritual energy enhancement. The catch? They were also perfect vessels for hiding poison, as the pill''s energy would mask any harmful additions.


    "It''s quite a token," I said, closing the box and cing it back on the table. "Almost too generous."


    Ellis leaned forward. "Consider it an investment in our future rtionship. I have connections that could be useful to you, Liam."


    "I''m sure you do." I walked to the window, looking out at the city skyline. "Tell me, Ellis, does ze Lane know you''re here?"


    The microsecond of tension that shed across his face confirmed everything I needed to know.


    "ze Lane? Why would he—"


    "You met with himst night," I interrupted calmly. "Offered to deliver my head in exchange for ten percent of Lane Family shares. Quite ambitious."


    Ellis''s facade cracked momentarily before he recovered with augh. "That''s absurd. Who told you such nonsense?"


    "Does it matter? What matters is the pill." I turned to face him fully. "It''s poisoned, isn''t it?"


    "Poisoned?" Ellis widened his eyes in mock outrage. "Why would I poison a peace offering? Test it if you don''t believe me."


    "Oh, I will. But not in the way you expect."


    Before Ellis could respond, I moved with the speed my cultivation provided, crossing the room in a blur. My hand closed around his throat, lifting him from his seat.


    "What—" he choked, wing at my grip.


    "Let''s be clear," I said quietly. "You came here to kill me. The pill contains the essence of ck Lotus, a toxin that attacks spiritual channels when activated by cultivation energy. It would make my death look like a cultivation ident."


    Fear bloomed in Ellis''s eyes. "How did you—"


    "I know because I can smell it," I replied, my enhanced senses detecting the faint, bitter undercurrent beneath the pill''s medicinal aroma. "Did you really think I''d be that easy to kill?"


    Ellis struggled in my grip. "Liam, listen—" <kbd ss="phantom-imprint">My V@i^r@t!ua^l Li&b%rary- E@m^p$i*r.e (-*)* t+h%a+nks^ you for re#a-di^n!g at the s&o@ur$ce.-</kbd>


    "No, you listen." I tightened my hold slightly. "You have two choices: take the pill yourself, or tell me everything about your arrangement with the Lanes."


    "You''re bluffing," he gasped. "You won''t kill me. You''re not that kind of man."


    I smiled coldly. "I wasn''t, once. But people change, Ellis. Just like you said."


    To emphasize my point, I channeled a hint of spiritual fire into my fingertips, just enough for Ellis to feel the heat against his throat. His eyes widened in genuine terror.


    "Wait!" he pleaded. "I''ll talk!"


    I loosened my grip slightly, allowing him to breathe. "Start with why the Lanes want me dead."


    "It''s because of what happened at Golden Crane Tower," Ellis said quickly. "ze Lane lost face when you rejected his son. The Lanes never forgive insults."


    "And they hired you as their assassin? Caesar''s cast-off?"


    Ellis winced. "I approached them. Offered my services. They''re paying me well—ten percent of their family shares if I seed."


    "How did you n to escape after I died? The pill would leave evidence."


    "I have an alibi prepared. And pills like that leave no trace after forty-eight hours." He swallowed hard. "Please, Liam. I was desperate after Caesar kicked me out. I didn''t have a choice."


    I released him abruptly, and he copsed back into the chair, gasping.


    "Everyone has choices," I said coldly. "You made yours."


    Ellis rubbed his throat, eyeing me warily. "What happens now? Are you going to kill me?"


    Instead of answering, I picked up the pill box and examined the Verdant Heart Pill again. An idea formed in my mind—one that would solve several problems at once.


    "No, Ellis. I''m going to do something much worse." I smiled at his confused expression. "I''m going to let you live—to return to ze Lane and tell him you seeded."


    "What? But he''ll expect proof. Your body—"


    "You''ll tell him I took the pill and that my body was discovered this morning. A tragic cultivation ident." I stepped closer. "Then, when I appear very much alive at the Traditional Medicine Conference tomorrow, you can exin to ze why you lied."


    The color drained from Ellis''s face. "He''ll kill me."


    "Probably," I agreed. "Unless you run. Far and fast."


    "You''re sentencing me to death," Ellis whispered.


    "I''m giving you what you gave me—a chance to survive, if you''re clever enough." I gestured toward the door. "Now get out. And Ellis? If I see you again, I won''t be so merciful."


    After he fled, I examined the poisoned pill once more. Despite its dangerous nature, it was still a genuine Verdant Heart Pill at its core—something I could potentially use.


    I needed every advantage for tomorrow''s conference. Elder Harding had promised me ess to the rare Crystalline Frost Herb if I demonstrated sufficient skill, and that herb was crucial for healing Isabelle''s condition.


    With determination, I sat cross-legged on the floor and ced the pill before me. Using the meticulous alchemical knowledge from my jade pendant''s memories, I began to separate the pill''sponents through spiritual energy maniption.


    Hours passed as I painstakingly extracted the ck Lotus poison, isting it from the beneficial properties of the Verdant Heart Pill. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and my muscles trembled from the precision required. One mistake could release the toxin and kill me instantly.


    Finally, as dawn broke outside my window, I seeded. The poison had been fully extracted, leaving behind the pure essence of the pill. I held the purified green core in my palm, feeling its power pulse in harmony with my heartbeat.


    "Let''s see if this works," I murmured, cing the pill on my tongue.


    The moment I swallowed, energy exploded through my meridians. It felt like liquid fire rushing through every channel in my body, expanding my spiritual capacity and strengthening my core. The room seemed to blur around me as my perception heightened.


    When the sensation finally settled, I stood and extended my hand. A me appeared above my palm—not the small, flickering fire I''d managed to cultivate yesterday, but a brilliant, steady orb of spiritual fire that illuminated the room with golden light.


    I smiled, feeling the new power coursing through me. "Thank you for the gift, Ellis."


    Tomorrow at the Traditional Medicine Conference, I would show everyone exactly what Liam Knight was capable of. And afterward, I would pay a visit to ze Lane—to thank him personally for his generosity.