"Liam, please," Evelyn Norton stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "Let''s not turn on each other now. He''s helped us find the Divine Medicine when no one else could."


    I kept my expression neutral, watching the scene unfold with calcted patience. The underground chamber felt different now—the air heavy with tension and greed.


    ine Paxton scoffed, his eyes never leaving the glowing Ginseng floating above the jade pedestal. "Help? The man''s barely standing. Look at him—he''s depleted his strength fighting those Grandmasters."


    His assessment wasn''t entirely wrong. The fight had drained me significantly, but not as much as I was letting them believe. Sometimes appearing weak was the greatest strength.


    "Since Knight is so... generous," ine continued with a smirk, "perhaps he''ll have no issue sharing this treasure?"


    I met his gaze directly. "I believe we coulde to an arrangement that benefits us all."


    "An arrangement?" ineughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "I have a better idea."


    He moved with startling speed, but I''d been anticipating the betrayal since we entered the chamber. Still, I allowed his fist to connect with my shoulder, sending me stumbling backward. ying the part.


    Conrad Thornton quickly positioned himself between us. "This is dishonorable! Knight fought to get us this far!"


    ine easily flung Conrad aside. "Honor doesn''t grow power. The Divine Medicine does."


    I backed away toward the cave entrance, feigning panic. "This isn''t necessary. We can—"


    "Still trying to negotiate from a position of weakness?" ine advanced menacingly. "Pathetic."


    I turned and sprinted toward the Valley Cave Entrance, hearing the footsteps of my pursuers close behind.


    "He''s running!" someone shouted. "The great Liam Knight is fleeing!"


    "What about Conrad?" Evelyn cried out.


    "He''s abandoning him," ine said triumphantly. "So much for loyalty."


    I felt a small smile creep onto my face as I ran deeper into the valley. Everything was going exactly as nned.


    The chase continued for several minutes until we reached the heart of the valley—a small clearing where the Thousand-Year Ginseng hovered, its ethereal light illuminating the ancient stone walls.


    I stopped abruptly, turning to face my pursuers.


    ine arrived first, his chest heaving with exertion but his eyes gleaming with victory. "Nowhere left to run, Knight."


    "Who said I was running?" I straightened my posture, dropping all pretense of weakness.


    Confusion flickered across ine''s face. "What game are you ying?"


    The others arrived, forming a semicircle around me. Reginald Talbot, Evelyn Norton, and several others whose greed had overwhelmed their reason.


    "Do you know where we are?" I asked calmly, gesturing to our surroundings.


    ine sneered. "The location of the Divine Medicine. My Divine Medicine now."


    "This valley has a special property," I exined, as if lecturing children. "It suppresses Inner Strength."


    The confused expressions quickly turned to rm as realization dawned.


    "That''s right," I continued. "All your fancy cultivation techniques, your umted power—useless here. We''re reduced to our physical abilities alone."


    ine''s face contorted with rage. "You''re bluffing!"


    He charged at me, channeling his energy for a devastating blow—only to find himself moving at normal human speed, his fist carrying only the strength of his muscles.


    I sidestepped easily andnded a punishing blow to his kidney. ine doubled over in pain.


    "I trained as a warrior before I ever cultivated Inner Strength," I said, circling him. "While you relied on shortcuts to power, I built my foundation the hard way."


    ine tried again, throwing a series of wild punches that I deflected with contemptuous ease. <small ss="in-imprint-b">To support our work, please read on *.</small>


    "This was your n all along," he gasped, blood trickling from his split lip. "Luring us here."


    I nodded. "Sometimes the best way to deal with snakes is to draw them into the open."


    The others backed away, suddenly aware of their vulnerability. Without their cultivation advantages, they were nothing but ordinary men and women facing someone who''d wed his way up from nothing.


    ine, desperate now, pulled a dagger from his boot and lunged at me. I caught his wrist mid-strike and twisted until bones snapped. The dagger ttered to the ground as he howled in agony.


    "Your family name won''t save you here," I said coolly. "Your wealth is meaningless. Your connections, powerless."


    What happened next surprised even me.


    Reginald Talbot stepped forward, drawing his own de. But instead of attacking me, he plunged it deep into ine''s back. ine''s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening in a silent scream as Reginald twisted the knife.


    "Consider this my apology, Liam Knight," Reginald said smoothly as ine copsed to the ground. "I see now I chose the wrong ally."


    I regarded him coldly. "And you think killing him earns you forgiveness?"


    Reginald''s smile faltered. "We''re businessmen, are we not? Pragmatists. ine was a liability to us both."


    I turned away from him, moving toward the floating Ginseng. Its light pulsed stronger as I approached, responding to my presence. I needed to recover my strength before dealing with these vultures.


    "I can be a valuable ally," Reginald continued desperately. "The Talbot family has extensive connections throughout Veridia City."


    I ignored him, cing my hand near the Divine Medicine. Its energy flowed into me immediately, restoring what I''d spent in the earlier battles. The sensation was incredible—like cool water flowing through a parched riverbed, bringing life back to withered banks.


    When I turned back to face the group, several gasped at the renewed power radiating from me. My aura had returned, stronger than before.


    "Now," I said, plucking the thousand-year Ginseng from the air and securing it in a jade box I''d brought for this purpose, "we can discuss your futures."


    Reginald dropped to one knee, attempting to salvage the situation. "I am at your service, Master Knight."


    "Are you?" I walked toward him slowly. "The same way you were at ine''s service moments before you put a knife in his back?"


    Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. "That was different—"


    "Get up," Imanded sharply.


    He rose unsteadily to his feet.


    "Kneel."


    Confusion crossed his face. "But I was already—"


    "Not in deference," I rified. "On both knees. Like a beggar."


    The color drained from his face. "Master Knight, I—"


    "Kneel, or die standing. Your choice."


    With visible reluctance and burning humiliation, Reginald Talbot—heir to one of Veridia City''s wealthiest families—sank to both knees before me.


    "Remember this moment," I told him and the others watching. "Remember what it feels like to be powerless. Because if you ever move against me again, this humiliation will be the fondest memory of our rtionship."


    I walked past him, pausing only briefly to say, "If you ever stab an ally in the back again, make sure they''re actually dead. Otherwise, you''ve made an enemy for no gain."


    Conrad was waiting at the entrance to the valley, leaning against the wall with a knowing smile. "I take it your n worked?"


    "Perfectly." I patted the jade box containing the Ginseng. "They fell for itpletely."


    As we walked away, leaving the chastened group behind, Caleb Thorne stepped out from the shadows, blocking our path.


    "Knight," he said, his voice oddly respectful. "I''d like a word."


    I paused, studying him carefully. "Speak."


    "Have you taken the Nine Transformation Pill?" he asked bluntly.


    I couldn''t help but smile at the irony. "Didn''t you say that it''s fake?"