## Liam''s Perspective


    I strode through the corridors of the Celestial Apothecary Guild, each step measured and deliberate. The golden energy within me pulsed with barely controlled fury. The Fifth Elder struggled to keep pace beside me.


    "Master Knight, the First Elder has twenty guards stationed in the Pavilion Master Building," he whispered urgently. "All elite disciples."


    I didn''t slow down. "And the Second Elder? How severe are his injuries?"


    "Multiple broken ribs. Internal bleeding. The First Elder nearly killed him for defending your name."


    My jaw tightened. Mariana Valerius had given me everything—opportunity, knowledge, protection. And now the First Elder had betrayed her, handed her to enemies who would torture her without mercy.


    We rounded a corner and found the Second Elder propped against a wall. Blood stained his bandages. His face was a mess of purple bruises.


    "You shouldn''t be up," I said, helping him stand straighter.


    He gripped my arm with surprising strength. "I had to warn you myself. The First Elder wasn''t acting alone. The Saints Order promised him protection, resources. He sold our Pavilion Master for power."


    "How long has Mariana been captive?" I asked.


    "Three days," the Fifth Elder answered. "They took her while you were in seclusion. The Second Elder tried to intervene and..." He gestured at the wounded man.


    Cold rage settled in my chest. Three days of torture. Three days while I cultivated, unaware.


    "He''s in the Pavilion Master Building now?" I asked.


    Both elders nodded.


    "Good." I started walking again, faster now.


    The Second Elder called after me, "Master Knight! He''s still a half-step Martial Marquis! And he has—"


    "It doesn''t matter what he has," I said without turning. "He''s going to pay."


    ---


    The Pavilion Master Building loomed before me, a majestic structure of jade and gold. Two guards tensed as I approached. They recognized me immediately.


    "Master Knight, the First Elder has forbidden—"


    I didn''t break stride. One touch—that was all it took. Not even a proper strike. Just a brush of my fingers as I passed. Both men crumpled, unconscious before they hit the ground.


    Inside, more guards rushed forward. Ten disciples, all Inner Strength Masters. In the past, they might have posed a challenge.


    Now they were barely an inconvenience.


    "Sorry about this," I muttered as I moved through them. Each touch delivered a precise strike to pressure points. Bodies dropped like autumn leaves. None would be permanently harmed—they were just following orders.


    I ascended the grand staircase. More guards appeared. More fell. None even saw my movements properly.


    The double doors to Mariana''s office stood before me. Through them, I could hear the First Elder''s voice.


    "—transport the main treasury items tonight. I want nothing valuable left when the Martial Guild envoys arrive tomorrow."


    I kicked the doors open. They exploded off their hinges, crashing into the room.


    The First Elder sat behind Mariana''s desk, surrounded by five senior disciples. His eyes widened at my entrance.


    "Knight!" he sputtered, rising quickly. "Guards! GUARDS!"


    The disciples moved to intercept me. They were good—each at the peak of Inner Strength Master. In perfect synchronization, they attacked from five angles.


    I didn''t move until thest possible moment. Then I simply... existed elsewhere. Five confused disciples struck empty air. Before they could recover, I touched each one''s neck in session. They copsed like puppets with cut strings.


    The First Elder backed away, his face contorted with rage and fear. "You! How did you—"


    "Where is she?" I asked quietly.


    Heposed himself, straightening his robes. "Pavilion Master Valerius has been removed from her position. I am in charge now."


    "Where is she?" I repeated, taking a step forward.


    His expression hardened. "The Ascendant Saints Order has her. She betrayed our guild with her favoritism toward you. The Saints Order promised me their protection in exchange for her."


    "Protection from what?"


    He smirked. "From you, obviously. The dangerous variable. The wild card that threatens our guild''s standing."


    I studied him carefully. The First Elder had always been ambitious, always jealous of my rtionship with Mariana. But this was beyond ambition. This was treachery of the highest order.


    "You sold out your Pavilion Master," I said softly. "For what? A title? Some resources?"


    "For survival!" he snapped. "The Martial Guild is eliminating all who shelter you! I saved this guild from destruction!"


    "By sacrificing the woman who built it."


    He shrugged. "Necessary sacrifice."


    Something inside me went very, very cold. I moved forward—not quickly, just steady, inexorable steps.


    The First Elder raised his hands, dark energy swirling around them. "Don''te any closer, Knight. I''m still a half-step Martial Marquis. You''re just an Inner Strength cultivator."


    I continued walking.


    His first attack came fast—a bolt of condensed energy aimed at my heart. I deflected it with one finger, not breaking stride.


    His eyes widened. "Impossible!"


    The next attack was stronger—a wave of force that shattered the marble floor. I walked through it as if it were a gentle breeze.


    Fear reced arrogance on his face. "Wait! I can help you! I know where they''re keeping her! I can—"


    My hand shot out, gripping his throat. I lifted him off the ground with one arm.


    "Where?" I asked again.


    "Veridia City!" he gasped. "The Martial Guild''s underground chambers! Please—"


    I dropped him. He copsed, gasping for air.


    "Stand up," Imanded.


    Trembling, he obeyed.


    "Kneel."


    He hesitated, pride warring with terror. "I am the First Elder of the Celestial Apothecary Guild. I will not—"


    My foot connected with his right knee. The joint shattered with a sickening crack. He screamed, falling to one side.


    "Kneel," I repeated.


    When he tried to rise on his good leg, I broke that one too.


    He crashed to his knees, howling in pain. "You monster! You can''t do this!"


    "I just did." I circled him slowly. "You betrayed the woman who gave you everything. You handed her to torturers. You nearly killed the Second Elder."


    "I had no choice!" he wailed.


    "There''s always a choice," I replied. "Now you''re going to tell me everything. The Saints Order''s ns. The Martial Guild''s security. Every detail about Mariana''s captivity."


    His face suddenly changed—fear reced by calction. He was stalling.


    "The Saints Order promised reinforcements," I realized aloud. "That''s why you''re notpletely terrified. You''re expecting rescue." <em ss="phantom-imprint">R$ea%d& ahea$d& and get u*p.d%ates- by visit#in^g^ M^*V+L*E!MPY&R&.</em>


    A flicker in his eyes confirmed it.


    "How many?" I demanded.


    He smiled through his pain. "Enough to end you. They''ll be here any moment."


    I nodded slowly. "Then we don''t have much time."


    I reached into my robe and withdrew a small jade bottle. The First Elder''s eyes fixated on it, recognition dawning.


    "Truth serum?" he whispered.


    "No." I uncorked the bottle. "Something much worse."


    His eyes widened with genuine terror. "Wait! I''ll tell you everything! Just not that—anything but that!"


    I paused, the bottle hovering near his face. "Start talking."


    Words poured from him—security details, guard rotations, cell locations. The Saints Order''s involvement. The Martial Guild''s ns.


    "...and they''re keeping her in the lowest level, cell block nine. But you''ll never reach her. The security is—"


    "Is that everything?" I interrupted.


    He nodded frantically. "Everything I know. Please, Knight—we can work together. I can help you!"


    I recorked the bottle and put it away. Relief flooded his face.


    "Thank you," he gasped. "Now, help me up. My legs—"


    "I''m not helping you," I said coldly. "I''m going to leave you here, broken and humiliated, for everyone to see what happens to traitors."


    His expression darkened. "You think you''ve won? You''re nothing! A temporary phenomenon! The Saints Order will hunt you down. The Martial Guild will destroy you!"


    "Let them try."


    As I turned to leave, I felt a surge of energy behind me. The First Elder had gathered his remaining strength for one desperate attack.


    "DIE!" he screamed,unching a bolt of concentrated darkness at my back.


    I didn''t turn. Didn''t dodge. Didn''t even tense my muscles. I simply stood there, waiting for the impact.


    The dark energy crashed against my back like a wave hitting a cliff—violent, noisy, and ultimately futile.


    Slowly, I turned to face him. Golden light emanated from my body, burning away thest wisps of his attack.


    The First Elder''s face went ck with disbelief. "What... what are you?"


    I stepped toward him, my power surging visibly now. The air around me crackled with golden energy—not the half-step Martial Marquis power he expected, but something different. Something ancient.


    "I am what you created," I answered quietly. "When you took Mariana. When you betrayed this guild."


    He raised his hands in a futile defensive gesture, face contorted with terror.


    "I am retribution."