## Liam''s Perspective


    Golden light exploded across the courtyard as Josiah Hale barely managed to deflect his own attack. The st threw him backward, his robes smoldering at the edges. The ground beneath his feet had cracked into a spider web pattern.


    "How?" he gasped, staring at Mariana with genuine fear. "You''re a mere alchemist!"


    Mariana smiled coldly. "A mere alchemist? Is that what you''ve been telling yourself all these years?"


    She took a single step forward. Purple light began to shimmer around her body—not the golden energy of a traditional cultivator, but something darker, more ancient.


    "You forgot who I was before I became Pavilion Master." Her voice dropped to a whisper that somehow carried across the entire courtyard. "Or perhaps you deliberately buried the memory?"


    Josiah''s face turned ashen. "The Purple Witch of the Eastern Vale..."


    "So you do remember." Mariana''s smile widened.


    The purple light intensified, casting eerie shadows across her features. Watching her, I felt a chill run down my spine. This was a side of Mariana I''d never witnessed—primal and terrifying.


    "Those scars I left on your back," she continued, "do they still burn on moonless nights?"


    Josiah unconsciously reached behind himself, touching his shoulder. "That was forty years ago."


    "And yet here we stand," Mariana replied. "You, still fearing me. Me, still holding your leash."


    The courtyard had gonepletely silent. Every disciple, every elder present was frozen, witnessing something they never thought possible—Josiah Hale, the mighty Sect Master, trembling before another.


    "I could have killed you then," Mariana said conversationally. "I chose not to."


    "Your mercy was—"


    "Not mercy," she interrupted. "Calction. You were more useful alive than dead."


    I stepped forward, unable to contain myself. "So you two have history?"


    Mariana didn''t take her eyes off Josiah. "He was once my student. A promising one, until he betrayed me and stole several ancient texts."


    "You murdered my brother!" Josiah hissed.


    "Your brother tried to rape my apprentice," Mariana replied coldly. "His death was kinder than he deserved."


    The tension between them was palpable—decades of hatredpressed into a single moment.


    Josiah finally looked away first. "What do you want?"


    "You came to our gates," I interjected. "You tell us what you want."


    His eyes fixed on me with naked hatred. "I came for you, Knight. To end your interference."


    "And yet," Mariana said, "here you stand, powerless to do so."


    Josiah''s jaw clenched. "You can''t protect him forever, Mariana."


    "I don''t need to." She gestured toward me. "He''s quite capable of protecting himself."


    I stepped forward. "Since you came all this way, Sect Master Hale, let''s negotiate."


    "Negotiate?" He spat the word. "What could you possibly offer me?"


    "Your life," I replied simply. "You leave here alive, in exchange for two things."


    The courtyard fell silent again. Every eye was fixed on us.


    "What two things?" Josiah asked warily.


    I pointed at Elder Foster, who shrank back. "Him." Then I shifted my finger to Dudley Lowell. "And him."


    "You want my subordinates?" Josiah barked augh. "For what purpose?"


    "Justice," I said coldly. "They tried to kill me. Several times."


    Josiah nced at Foster and Lowell. A calcting look crossed his face.


    "These men are members of my sect. Their actions reflect on me."


    "Which is why you should have taught them better," I replied. "Your choices are simple—leave them here and walk away, or stay and face Pavilion Master Valerius."


    The threat hung in the air. Josiah''s gaze shifted between Mariana''s purple aura and me.


    "Fine," he said finally. "Take them."


    Elder Foster''s jaw dropped. "Sect Master! You can''t—"


    "Silence!" Josiah snapped. "You failed me. Consider this your punishment."


    Foster fell to his knees. "Please! I''ve served you faithfully for twenty years!"


    "And now you''ll serve as an example of what happens to those who fail me." Josiah turned away from him without a second nce.


    Dudley Lowell stood frozen, his face a mask of disbelief. "Sect Master Hale, you promised me protection!"


    "I promise nothing to the ipetent," Josiah replied coldly.


    He turned back to Mariana and me. "Remember this moment, Knight. You''ve made powerful enemies—the ckthorne Family, the Ashworth Family, the Veridia City Martial Guild. Sooner orter, they wille for you."


    "Let theme," I said. "They''ll find exactly what you found today—failure."


    Josiah''s lips curled into a sneer. "Such arrogance. You have no idea what forces you''re challenging."


    "Neither do you," I countered. "Now leave, before I change my mind about letting you walk away."


    With a final hateful nce, Josiah Hale turned and strode toward the gate. His back was rigid, his steps measured—a man desperately trying to maintain his dignity.


    The moment he was gone, Elder Foster threw himself at my feet.


    "Master Knight, please!" he sobbed, clutching at my robes. "I was only following orders!"


    I looked down at him with icy contempt. "Like when you tried to poison me? Or when you sent assassins to my quarters?"


    "That was a misunderstanding!"


    "No," I said quietly. "The only misunderstanding was yours—thinking you could harm me and live."


    Foster scrambled backward, finally realizing his danger. "I''ll serve you! I know secrets—valuable information about the Ascendant Saints Order!"


    "I don''t need your secrets."


    In desperation, Foster lunged at me, a hidden dagger suddenly appearing in his hand. It was a foolish, hopeless attack.


    I caught his wrist easily, squeezing until the bones crunched beneath my fingers. The dagger fell to the ground with a metallic tter.


    "Is this really how you want to die?" I asked. "Whimpering and begging like a dog?" Th^is! tex-t was ac&q%ui%r#ed fro$m^ *$.</abbr>


    "Please," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "I have a family—"


    "So did many of the people you''ve killed."


    I ced my palm on his chest. The Heaven Swallowing Skill activated, dark energy spiraling from my hand into his body. Foster''s eyes widened in horror as he felt his life force being drained away.


    "What—what are you—" he gasped.


    "Taking what''s mine," I replied.


    His skin began to shrivel, aging decades in seconds. The Heaven Swallowing Skill devoured his energy, transferring his power into my meridians. It was a terrible way to die—feeling yourself being consumed from within.


    Foster''s scream died in his throat as thest of his life force fled his body. He copsed, a withered husk barely recognizable as human.


    A collective gasp rose from the watching disciples. Even Fifth Elder Teng looked unsettled by the disy.


    Mariana watched impassively. "Efficient," was all she said.


    I turned slowly to face Dudley Lowell. He was trembling now, backing away until he hit the courtyard wall.


    "Remember what I promised you, Dudley?" I asked, advancing toward him.


    "Knight, please—" he stammered.


    "I promised that when I reached half-step Martial Marquis, I would kill you within three breaths." I smiled coldly. "How long do you think you canst?"