## Liam''s Perspective


    Morning sunlight streamed through the windows as I buttoned my formal robe. Today was negotiation day. But there would be no actual negotiating.


    "Are you sure about this?" The Man with the Mustache hovered nervously behind me. "These reporters have no cultivation. They''ll be defenseless if things go wrong."


    "That''s precisely the point." I adjusted my jade pendant. "The Ascendant Saints Order wouldn''t dare harm civilians connected to the Holt family. It''s my insurance policy."


    He shook his head. "You don''t know Josiah Hale like I do. His pride exceeds his reason."


    "Then he''ll make mistakes." I turned to face the five reporters waiting in the anteroom. "Is everyone ready?"


    The lead reporter, a sharp-eyed woman named Lin Wei, nodded firmly. "Mr. Holt was very clear about our assignment. Document everything, protect nothing."


    "Good." I led them toward the waiting carriages. "Remember, stay behind me at all times."


    The journey to the Crimson Moon Club at the heart of Honua Chuing City took less than an hour. The club''s exterior was deceptively modest – a three-story building with carved wooden doors. Only the faint shimmer of protective arrays betrayed its importance.


    "This ce belongs to the Ascendant Saints Order?" Lin Wei asked, scribbling notes.


    "A neutral location," I exined. "Owned by a merchant who values profit over politics."


    Inside, the club was deserted except for two figures seated at the central table. Sect Master Josiah Hale and Elder Foster. Just as I''d expected.


    Josiah''s face tightened when he saw the reporters. "What is the meaning of this?"


    I smiled coldly. "Witnesses. The Oceanic Observer will be publishing an ount of our meeting. I believe in transparency."


    Elder Foster''s face paled. "You brought Holt family reporters? This was meant to be a private negotiation!"


    I noted the subtle shifting of his feet, the nervous nce toward his master. They had indeed prepared something – likely a trapping formation that required specific positioning.


    "Please, sit." Josiah gestured toward the empty chairs, hisposure returning. "The Holt family''s presence changes nothing."


    I remained standing. "I prefer to state my terms directly. Release Pavilion Master Valerius immediately. Turn over Dudley Lowell to my custody." I paused, letting my gaze settle on Elder Foster. "And surrender this treacherous dog as well."


    Foster jumped to his feet. "How dare you!"


    "Silence." Josiah''smand was soft but carried absolute authority. Foster reluctantly sat down.


    "You''re in no position to make demands," Josiah continued smoothly. "You''ve caused significant damage to our auxiliary branches, true. But you stand alone against an organization thousands strong."


    "Do I?" I gestured around the room. "Seems I''ve reduced your delegation to just two. Where are your other elders? Your army of disciples? Don''t tell me they''re afraid."


    Foster''s face reddened. Josiah remained impassive.


    "Your arrogance is remarkable for someone so young," Josiah observed. "Perhaps if you''d approached us with humility, we might have reached an understanding."


    Iughed. "The same understanding you offered Pavilion Master Valerius? Torture and imprisonment?"


    The reporters scribbled furiously, cameras shing as they captured every expression.


    Josiah''s gaze flicked toward them. "The Holt family should know better than to meddle in cultivation affairs."


    "They''re not meddling. They''re reporting." I took a step closer. "Unless you''re suggesting the great Ascendant Saints Order fears public scrutiny?"


    For a moment, Josiah seemed to consider his options. The reporters represented powerful civilian interests – attacking them would have political consequences beyond the cultivation world.


    I pressed my advantage. "You''ve built your reputation on falsehoods. You im to uphold justice while preying on the weak. You demand loyalty while betraying your allies. The world deserves to know the truth."


    Lin Wei raised her hand. "Sect Master Hale, would you care to respond to these allegations?"


    Josiah''s eyes narrowed. For a heartbeat, I thought my strategy had worked.


    Then his lips curved into a smile so cold it sent chills down my spine.


    "The Holt family''s influence?" he said softly. "Let me show you how much that concerns me."


    He raised his hand in a casual gesture. The air thickened with killing intent.


    "No—" I lunged forward, but it was toote.


    Josiah clenched his fist.


    The sound was indescribable. Five bodies simultaneously crushed by invisible force. Bones splintered. Blood sprayed across the polished floor. Where five people had stood moments before, only pulverized flesh remained.


    Lin Wei''s notepad, still intact, fluttered to the floor beside the carnage.


    "You didn''t need to do that," I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. The sheer casualness of his ughter shocked even me.


    "On the contrary." Josiah stood, power radiating from his frame. "I needed to correct your misunderstanding. You thought bringing witnesses would protect you. You thought rules applied here." He stepped forward. "There are no rules that bind me. No authorities I answer to."


    Elder Foster''s smirk returned, confidence restored by his master''s disy of power.


    "I see now why the Celestial Apothecary Guild fell so easily," I said, shifting my stance subtly. "You don''t fight with honor. You ughter the defenseless to intimidate your opponents."


    "Honor?" Josiahughed. "A concept invented by the weak to restrain the strong."


    I felt the energy patterns shift around us. The formation they''d prepared was activating – aplex binding array designed to drain my strength while enhancing theirs.


    "Tell me," I asked, buying time as I assessed the formation''s structure, "was it worth betraying the other major guilds? Did the price the Ashworths paid satisfy your greed?"


    Josiah''s eyes flickered with mild surprise. "You know more than you should. Another reason you cannot leave here alive."


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    I nced at the bloody remains of the reporters. "The Holt family won''t let this go unanswered."


    "The Holt family?" Josiah sneered. "Merchants ying at power. By the time they learn what happened here, there will be nothing left of you to find."


    The formationpleted its activation. Glowing lines of energy surrounded us, forming a perfect cage.


    "Even if the King of Heaven himself came," Josiah dered coldly, "you would still die here!"


    Power exploded from his body, a tsunami of killing intent that would have crushed any ordinary cultivator. His hand stretched toward me, fingers curved like talons.


    But I wasn''t an ordinary cultivator. And unlike Josiah, I had anticipated every move he would make.


    As his power rushed toward me, I smiled.


    It was time to spring my own trap.