Chapter 293 - 293 - The Traitors Gambit and Liams Unmasking_Rise of The Abandoned Husband

I stood in Adrian Whitlock''s reception room, facing Caleb Thorne. The remnants of the blood ginseng''s bitter taste lingered on my tongue, but the surge of power flowing through my meridians demanded all my attention. My body pulsed with energy that threatened to burst through my skin.

 "That was quite the snack," I said, watching Caleb''s eyes widen with fear. "But I think we have more business to discuss."

 Adrian stepped forward, his expression grave. "Liam, are you alright? Consuming raw ginseng of that quality could be dangerous."

 I rolled my shoulders, feeling my muscles ripple with newfound strength. "Never better. But our friend Caleb here has some exining to do."

 Caleb retreated a step, his earlier confidence evaporating. "This is absurd. I''ve done nothing wrong."

 "Nothing?" Iughed, the sound sharper than I intended. "Let''s talk about the Nine Transformation Pill."

 His face paled instantly. "What about it?"

 "You knew about itsposition, didn''t you? And you''ve been feeding information to my enemies."

 Caleb''s eyes darted toward the door. "That''s a baseless usation."

 "Is it?" I moved toward him deliberately. "Someone leaked information about my pill forms. Someone with connections to multiple factions in the city. Someone like you."

 Adrian watched us carefully, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Caleb, if what Liam says is true..."

 "It''s not!" Caleb protested, but the sweat beading on his forehead betrayed him.

 I smiled coldly. "I wantpensation. Ten herbs, all at least 500 years old."

 "Ten?" Caleb choked. "That''s impossible! Even for me!"

 "Then you admit you have ess to such resources?" I pressed.

 Caleb realized his mistake toote. "I—I didn''t say that."

 "You didn''t have to." I turned to Adrian. "Your friend here has been ying both sides for profit. Selling information about your activities, about my forms."

 Adrian''s expression hardened. "Is this true, Caleb?"

 Before Caleb could answer, the door opened. We all turned to see Adrian''s servant escorting another familiar face into the room—Adrian Whitlock himself.

 "I came as soon as I received your message," he said, then stopped short when he saw his doppelganger.

 For a moment, the room was frozen in shocked silence.

 I recovered first,unching myself at Caleb before he could react. My hand closed around his throat, pinning him against the wall.

 "Clever disguise," I growled. "But not clever enough."

 The fake Adrian''s features began to shift and melt, revealing Caleb''s true face beneath. A transformation technique, and an impressive one at that.

 "How did you know?" he gasped through my grip.

 "I didn''t," I admitted. "But I suspected something was off. The real Adrian would never betray me for some roots."

 The real Adrian Whitlock approached, his face twisted with anger. "Caleb, you dishonor yourself with these tricks."

 I released my grip, letting Caleb slide down the wall. "He came here to steal my forms and gather intelligence. Probably working for Preston Ironwood."

 Caleb red at me, rubbing his throat. "You''re nothing but an upstart! How dare you make demands of me?"

 "Ten herbs," I repeated. "Five hundred years old, minimum. Or I''ll make sure everyone knows how easily I saw through your pathetic scheme."

 "You''re mad!" he sputtered. "No one has such resources!"

 "You do," Adrian said quietly. "We both know it, Caleb."

 Trapped between us, Caleb finally slumped in defeat. "Fine. I''ll have them delivered within three days."

 "Good." I stepped back, still feeling the ginseng''s energy coursing through me. "Now get out."

 After Caleb slunk away, Adrian turned to me with concern. "That ginseng you consumed—it''s dangerous in raw form. We need to stabilize your energy immediately."

 I nodded, suddenly aware of the pressure building inside me. "I think I might be close to a breakthrough, but it feels... wrong somehow."

 Adrian guided me to a meditation room. "Focus on cycling the energy. Don''t let it stagnate."

 For hours, I sat cross-legged, directing the violent surges of power through my meridians. Despite my efforts, though, something was blocking me from achieving the breakthrough I needed. The ginseng''s energy eventually stabilized, but the opportunity slipped away.

 "Why couldn''t I break through?" I asked Adrian afterward, frustration evident in my voice.

 "Such breakthroughs cannot be forced," he exined. "The ginseng provided the power, but your foundation wasn''t ready yet."

 I nodded grimly. "At least I got some benefit from it. And exposed Caleb''s treachery."

 Adrian''s expression was somber. "Be careful, Liam. You''ve made another powerful enemy today."

 "What''s one more?" I replied with a humorless smile.

 ---

 The following morning, I stood in the courtyard of Adrian''s estate, practicing breathing exercises to center myself. Yesterday''s confrontation with Caleb had left me more concerned about the web of conspiracies surrounding me than the uing duel with Preston.

 Adrian approached, his face troubled. "Liam, there''smotion at the central za. Preston is making a scene."

 My eyes narrowed. "What kind of scene?"

 "He''s publicly challenging you, but also..." Adrian hesitated. "He''s spreading lies about me."

 Without another word, I strode toward the gate. "Then let''s not keep him waiting."

 We arrived at the central za to find a considerable crowd gathered. Preston Ironwood stood on an elevated tform, his voice carrying across the square as he addressed the onlookers.

 "Where is this so-called prodigy?" Preston was shouting. "Where is the man who hides behind Adrian Whitlock''s reputation?"

 The crowd parted as Adrian and I approached. Preston''s eyes locked on us, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.

 "Finally!" he dered. "The coward arrives with his master!"

 I maintained my calm, studying the situation. Preston was clearly trying to provoke me, but there was more to this disy than simple taunting.

 "Adrian Whitlock!" Preston continued, pointing usingly. "You im to value justice, yet you shield this outsider while refusing to avenge your own family member—my fellow disciple Isai Whitlock!"

 Adrian stiffened beside me. This was an unexpected angle of attack.

 Preston turned to address the crowd. "Citizens of Havenwood! You should know the truth! I was Adrian Whitlock''s disciple for years before this neer arrived. When I insisted we avenge our fallen brother Isai, Master Adrian expelled me! He chose this stranger over justice for his own family!"

 The crowd murmured, many eyes turning to Adrian with question and suspicion.

 I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the noise. "Are you finished with your fairy tales, Preston?"

 Preston''s gaze snapped to me, hatred burning in his eyes. "You dare call me a liar?"

 "Not just a liar," I replied calmly. "A murderer as well."

 A hush fell over the crowd.

 "What nonsense is this?" Preston demanded, but I could see the flicker of fear in his eyes.

 I climbed onto the tform to stand face-to-face with him. "Let me tell these good people the real story. You weren''t expelled for seeking justice—you were expelled because Adrian discovered you murdered Isai Whitlock yourself."

 Gasps rippled through the audience. Preston''s face contorted with rage.

 "Absurd! Where''s your proof?"

 I smiled coldly. "The same ce as your proof for these usations against Adrian. But unlike you, I actually have evidence. The surveince recordings from the Whitlockpound on the night of Isai''s death."

 This was aplete bluff—I had no idea if such recordings existed. But Preston''s reaction told me everything.

 "You''re lying!" he shouted, panic rising in his voice. "I destroyed the surveince in advance!"

 The crowd fell silent. Preston realized his mistake a moment toote, his face draining of color as his own words condemned him.

 I turned to address the stunned onlookers. "There you have it. A confession from his own mouth."

 Preston lunged at me in desperate fury. "You tricked me!"

 I sidestepped his clumsy attack, using his momentum to send him sprawling across the tform.

 "The only person who tricked you," I said clearly for all to hear, "was your own guilty conscience."

 The crowd''s murmurs had turned decidedly against Preston now. Several city guards were pushing forward, their expressions grim. Thischapterwasfirstseenon*.

 Adrian stepped onto the tform, his face a mask of controlled grief and anger. "Preston Ironwood, you have betrayed everything our family stands for. You killed my nephew for power, then had the audacity to use me of failing to seek justice."

 Preston scrambled to his feet, looking wildly around at the closing circle of guards and hostile faces. "This proves nothing! It''s my word against his!"

 "Not anymore," I replied calmly. "Your own words condemned you."

 As the guards moved to seize him, Preston''s eyes fixed on me with pure hatred. "This isn''t over, Liam Knight. Not by a long shot."

 I watched impassively as they dragged him away. The duel I had been preparing for was averted, but I knew this was just the beginning of a muchrger conflict.

 Adrian approached me, his expression a mixture of gratitude and wonder. "How did you know he would confess like that?"

 "I didn''t," I admitted. "But desperate men make mistakes when cornered. Preston''s ego couldn''t bear being called a liar, so he tried to prove he wasn''t—by admitting to being a murderer instead."

 Adrian shook his head slowly. "You''re more dangerous than anyone gives you credit for, Liam."

 I smiled grimly. "They''ll learn soon enough."

 As we walked away from the za, I knew that Preston''s capture would onlyplicate matters. Powerful forces were arrayed against me, and today''s victory would merely elerate their ns.

 But for now, I had unmasked a traitor and averted a duel. More importantly, I had defended Adrian''s honor and cemented our alliance.

 Tomorrow would bring new challenges. For today, this was enough.

17kNovel

Chapter 293 - 293 - The Traitors Gambit and Liams Unmasking