Liam''s Perspective


    I cradled Evelyn''s limp body in my arms, my heart pounding against my ribs. Her face was deathly pale, but I detected a faint pulse at her neck.


    "Evelyn," I called, channeling healing qi to my fingertips. "Stay with me."


    Carefully, I examined her injuries. Though severe, they weren''t fatal. Her meridians had been damaged during the battle, preventing her qi from flowing properly. I pressed my palm against her chest, attempting to transfer some of my energy to jumpstart her system.


    Nothing happened.


    I frowned. The draconic energy now coursing through my veins seemed to resist being shared. It clung to me possessively, refusing to flow into Evelyn''s body.


    "Damn it," I muttered, checking her pulse again. At least she was stable.


    Heavy footsteps approached from behind. I turned to see Michael Ashworth, followed by the wealthy passengers who had watched the battle from a safe distance.


    "Is she..." Michael''s voice trailed off.


    "She''ll live," I said, lifting Evelyn carefully. "But she needs rest."


    Relief washed over their faces. Then worry quickly reced it.


    "What about us?" Gerald Norton asked, his voice tight with anxiety. "Those men—they threatened us before the fight started." <strong ss="story-note-vis">Cоntеnt sоurсеd frоm МV4LЕМРYR – Мy Virtuаl Librаry Еmpirе.</strong>


    A n formed in my mind. These people were wealthy and influential. I needed allies for whaty ahead.


    "I''m afraid I have bad news," I said gravely, watching their expressions. "Dudley and Axel imnted a toxic mark in your bodies while you were unconscious."


    Their faces transformed from concern to horror.


    "What?" Henrietta Davenport clutched at her throat. "Are we going to die?"


    "Not if I can help it," I assured them. "The mark takes months to activate fully. I''ll find a cure."


    Michael narrowed his eyes. "How do you know about such marks?"


    I met his gaze steadily. "Because I was once an elder of the Celestial Apothecary Guild. Creating and neutralizing such toxins was part of my expertise."


    This wasn''t entirely a lie. My knowledge of alchemy and medicine had indeed been recognized by the Guild before everything fell apart.


    "You?" Gerald scoffed. "But you''re so young!"


    "Age means nothing in the face of talent," I replied coolly. "I can refine pills that will slow the toxin''s spread until I find a permanent solution."


    Fear and desperation made them eager to believe me. Even the skeptical ones nodded, clinging to hope.


    "We''ll provide whatever resources you need," Henrietta promised, her jewelry glinting in the sunlight.


    "Your generosity will be remembered," I said, bowing slightly. "Now, we should return to the ship. The sooner we get back to Oceana City, the sooner I can begin working on your cure."


    As the group headed back toward the shore, Michael fell into step beside me.


    "A toxic mark?" he whispered. "Is that real?"


    I shot him a sideways nce. "What do you think?"


    Understanding dawned in his eyes. "Clever boy," he murmured. "Very clever indeed."


    "I need allies, Michael," I admitted quietly as we walked. "Powerful ones."


    "For what purpose?"


    "To establish my own sect in Veridia City. To challenge both the Ashworth and ckthorne families."


    Michael''s eyebrows shot up. "Ambitious."


    "Necessary," I corrected. "Your family stole my wife. The ckthornes tried to kill me. And the Martial Guild supports them both."


    He nodded slowly. "So you n to use these wealthy fools to fund your revenge?"


    "Not fools," I said. "Assets. Once they believe I''ve saved them from a nonexistent threat, they''ll be indebted to me forever."


    Michael chuckled. "You''ve changed, Liam. Grown sharper."


    I shifted Evelyn in my arms, feeling the draconic power pulse beneath my skin. "The world taught me to be sharp. Now I''m teaching it why that was a mistake."


    ---


    The return voyage to Oceana City passed quickly. I spent most of my time in my cabin, pretending to study ancient texts while actually nning my next moves. Isabelle remained at the forefront of my thoughts.


    On the final evening at sea, Michael joined me on the deck. We stood at the railing, watching the sunset paint the water gold.


    "Will you return to the Celestial Apothecary Guild?" he asked.


    I shook my head. "My path lies elsewhere now. The Dragon Spirit has given me power beyond what most cultivators dream of."


    "And what will you do with this power?"


    "First, I''ll deal with Dashiell ckthorne," I said, flexing my fingers. The newly acquired strength made even this simple movement feel extraordinary. "He needs to understand that taking what''s minees with consequences."


    Michael studied me carefully. "He''s still a formidable opponent, with powerful backers."


    "Let theme," I said confidently. "I''m through hiding and running."


    "And after Dashiell?"


    I smiled grimly. "One enemy at a time, old man."


    As Oceana City appeared on the horizon the next morning, I felt a surge of anticipation. With each step closer to shore, the draconic energy inside me seemed to grow more potent, more eager to be unleashed.


    The ship docked smoothly. Passengers began disembarking, servants carrying luggage down the gangnk. I stood at the railing, scanning the crowd gathered at the port.


    That''s when I saw them.


    Five men in identical dark robes stood apart from the crowd. Their leader, a tall man with a perpetual sneer, was unmistakable—Kendrick Langley, the man who had once humiliated me in front of the entire Celestial Apothecary Guild.


    "Problems?" Michael asked, noticing my sudden tension.


    "Old acquaintances," I replied, watching as Kendrick spotted me and pointed me out to hispanions.


    "Want me to call my guards?" Michael offered.


    I shook my head. "No. This is a meeting that''s long overdue."


    I descended the gangnk with measured steps. The draconic energy inside me hummed with anticipation, eager for conflict.


    Kendrick stepped forward, his fourpanions spreading out behind him. Each radiated the aura of a Grandmaster—impressive for most, but no longer intimidating to me.


    "Liam Knight," Kendrick called out, his voice carrying across the dock. "I''ve been waiting for you."


    I stopped ten paces from him. "Kendrick. Still doing others'' dirty work, I see."


    His face twisted with anger. "You should have stayed dead in that forest. The Ashworth family paid good money to ensure your elimination."


    "Yet here I stand," I replied calmly. "Perhaps they should ask for a refund."


    Kendrick''s eyes narrowed. "You look weak. I heard you were gravely injured."


    I smiled. "Information can be unreliable."


    "It doesn''t matter," he waved dismissively. "The Ascendant Saints Order doesn''t leave loose ends. Kill him," hemanded hispanions.


    The four Grandmasters moved with practiced coordination, closing in from different angles. Bystanders scrambled to clear the area, sensing the imminent violence.


    I didn''t move. I simply gathered the draconic power that had been building inside me since I absorbed the Dragon Spirit.


    The first attacker reached me, palm strike aimed at my heart. I caught his wrist with minimal effort, feeling the bones crunch under my grip. His eyes widened in shock just before I drove my other palm into his chest.


    The impact sent him flying twenty feet backward. He was dead before he hit the ground.


    The other three hesitated, suddenly uncertain.


    "Still think I look weak?" I asked softly.


    They attacked together this time, desperation making them reckless. I side-stepped the first, caught the second by the throat, and used his body to block the third''s attack. With a single palm strike, I killed all three, the draconic energy ripping through their defenses like paper.


    Four Grandmasters. Four corpses. I hadn''t even broken a sweat.


    Kendrick''s face drained of color. He backed away, reaching for some kind of talisman in his robes. I moved faster than he could track, appearing behind him and gripping his shoulder.


    "Going somewhere?" I asked quietly.


    "Wait!" he gasped, trembling under my grip. "Don''t be reckless! I am now an elder of the Ascendant Saints Order! Kill me, and you''ll bring the wrath of the entire sect down on your head! And our Ascendant Saints Order has half-step Martial Marquis and even Martial Marquis sitting in town!"


    I tightened my grip, feeling his bones creak under the pressure. "Is that supposed to frighten me?"