Liam''s Perspective


    The world slowed to a crawl as Kendrick''s murderous intent dagger hurtled toward me. I had a split-second choice—protect my heart or my dantian. Neither option was good.


    I twisted, making my decision. The dagger missed my heart.


    Pain exploded through my body as the weapon pierced my chest, but I kept moving. My hand shot forward like lightning, fingers extended in a spear-hand strike.


    "Nine Heavens Piercing Palm!"


    My attack plunged into the water where Kendrick''s essence concentrated. Golden energy erupted from my palm, tearing through water and flesh alike.


    Blood bloomed in the river. Kendrick''s physical body resurfaced, my hand buried deep in his chest cavity.


    His eyes bulged in shock. "How...? The dagger should have..."


    I leaned closer. "I chose to take the hit."


    Blood gurgled from his mouth as heughed weakly. "So you did. But check where my dagger struck you, Knight."


    A burning sensation spread through my lower abdomen. I nced down and saw nothing—the murderous intent weapon had left no external wound. The damage was internal.


    "Your dantian," Kendrick wheezed triumphantly. "I damaged your cultivation core."


    Ice spread through my veins as I realized what he''d done. A wave of weakness washed over me, but I kept my expression neutral.


    "You''ll never fully recover," he continued, savoring his final victory. "The wound will fester. Your cultivation will stagnate. All your enemies will—"


    I twisted my hand inside his chest. His words died in a wet gurgle.


    "Even dying, you can''t stop talking," I muttered.


    Kendrick''s lips curved into a bloody smile. "It doesn''t matter if I die. The damage is done."


    He made a strange gesture with his remaining strength. A small formation lit up on his palm.


    "Farewell, Liam Knight." He coughed. "We''ll meet again in hell."


    His body dissolved into water, carried away by the current before I could finish him. The emergency escape formation had activated, saving whatever remained of his shattered form.


    I staggered back from the riverbank, suddenly lightheaded.


    "Liam!" Eamon rushed to my side. "Are you alright?"


    I pressed my hand against my abdomen, feeling the unnatural heat radiating from my dantian. Blood rose in my throat, and I couldn''t stop myself from spitting a mouthful onto the ground.


    "Not particrly," I answered.


    Eamon''s face went pale. "That attack—did it hit your—"


    "Yes." I straightened up with effort. "But we have bigger problems. Someone else was watching."


    In the distant trees, a shadow moved. Reginald Talbot had seen everything. He disappeared into the night, no doubt carrying news of my vulnerability to my enemies.


    "We need to go after Kendrick!" Eamon urged. "And that spy—"


    "No." I shook my head, immediately regretting the motion as pain red. "Kendrick''s as good as dead with that wound. And Talbot is long gone."


    "But he saw your injury! He''ll tell everyone!"


    I took a deep breath, controlling the pain. "Let him."


    Eamon stared at me like I''d lost my mind. "Are you insane? The Ashworths, the ckthornes, the Veridia Martial Guild—they''ll alle for you now!"


    Another wave of pain washed over me. I spat more blood, unable to hide the severity of my condition.


    "Help me back to the hotel," I said finally.


    Walking was harder than I expected. My dantian—the core of my cultivation, my source of power—felt fractured. Energy leaked from it with every step, making it impossible to maintain my usual strength.


    In my hotel room, Eamon paced frantically while I sat on the edge of the bed, examining my injury.


    "This is catastrophic!" He ran his hands through his hair. "Your dantian is damaged! Do you understand what that means?"


    "I understand better than you do," I replied calmly.


    "You''ve made enemies of the most powerful families in Veridia City! The Ashworths want your head! The ckthornes are still seeking revenge for you ruining their young master''s wedding! The Martial Guild has branded you a fugitive!" His voice rose with each deration. "And now you''re injured! How can you be so calm?"


    I looked up at him, a slight smile forming on my lips. "Because panic won''t heal my dantian."


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    "Can it even be healed?" Eamon asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.


    I didn''t answer immediately. Dantian injuries were notoriously difficult to treat. Most cultivators never fully recovered from such wounds.


    "We''re going to Eldoria," I said finally.


    Eamon looked confused. "Eldoria? Why there?"


    "I have friends there." I didn''t borate further.


    "Friends? What friends could possibly help with this?" Eamon threw up his hands. "You''ve just defeated over a dozen Grandmasters inbat! Your face will be known throughout the entire martial world by tomorrow!"


    As if confirming his words,motion erupted in the streets below. People were gathering, talking excitedly. News traveled fast in martial circles.


    I closed my eyes, focusing inward. The damage was significant. Kendrick''s murderous intent had contaminated my energy pathways. Every time I circted power, it felt like broken ss grinding through my meridians.


    "Get some rest," I told Eamon. "We leave for Eldoria tomorrow."


    "You''re impossible," he muttered, but stopped pacing.


    While Eamon eventually fell into a troubled sleep in the adjoining room, I remained awake, battling the waves of pain from my injured dantian. Dawn found me still sitting in the same position, blood asionally trickling from the corner of my mouth.


    Word of my battle spread like wildfire. By noon, the entire city was buzzing with stories of how Liam Knight had defeated over a dozen Grandmasters, including the famous Kendrick Langley. Nobody knew about my injury yet—except Reginald Talbot.


    Three dayster, while I rested in Eldoria, trying to stabilize my damaged dantian, Kendrick Langley arrived at the Ashworth Family estate in Veridia City.


    His body was broken, kept functioning only by powerful medicines and desperate techniques. He requested an audience with Corbin Ashworth, Isabelle''s uncle and the current family patriarch.


    "What business does a half-dead man have with me?" Corbin asked coldly as Kendrick was brought before him.


    Kendrick bowed as deeply as his ruined body allowed. "I bring important news about Liam Knight."


    Corbin''s eyes narrowed. "What news?"


    "Before I tell you," Kendrick said, gauging Corbin''s reaction, "may I ask if you''re aware of Knight''s recent activities?"


    "Get to the point," Corbin snapped.


    "He''s been on quite a bloody path," Kendrick continued. "Defeating Grandmasters, building a fearsome reputation... All to find your niece, I believe."


    Corbin''s aura red, crushing down on Kendrick like a mountain. "If you''vee here merely to tell me what I already know, I''ll end your suffering right now."


    Kendrick smiled through blood-stained teeth, ready to reveal the one piece of information that would change everything.