The morning air in the Veridia City Martial Guild headquarters felt thick with tension. I watched from the shadows as Darian Bancroft strode down the marble hallway, his steps echoing with barely contained fury. Behind him, Dominic Ashworth struggled to keep pace, his face lined with anxiety.


    "This is the third incident this week," Bancroft snapped without turning around. "I want answers, not excuses."


    They disappeared into Bancroft''s private office, the heavy oak door mming shut behind them. Using a sound enhancement technique I''d recently mastered, I pressed my ear against the wall, focusing my spiritual energy to amplify their voices.


    "The ck-robed figure can''t possibly be Liam Knight," Bancroft insisted. "We confirmed his death months ago. This is clearly an impostor trying to capitalize on his reputation."


    "But what if we were wrong?" Dominic''s voice was hesitant. "What if he somehow survived?"


    Bancroftughed harshly. "A Third-Circle cultivator surviving that kind of assault? Impossible. Besides, the power level of this assant far exceeds Knight''s capabilities. No one advances that quickly."


    I smiled beneath my mask. Their arrogance would be their downfall.


    "Thetest intelligence report, sir," Dominic said. Papers rustled. "We''ve found something interesting about our recruitment candidates."


    "Don''t waste my time with trivial matters," Bancroft growled. "Focus on catching this ck-robed menace."


    "This isn''t trivial. We''ve discovered a new Blood Heir withpatibility levels that rival Isabelle Ashworth''s."


    My body tensed at the mention of Isabelle''s name. My Isabelle, who they''d been bleeding like cattle for months.


    "Compatibility levels above ny percent?" Bancroft''s voice changed, excitement recing anger. "Where did you find them?"


    "The northern district. A young woman, barely twenty years old."


    "Excellent. Bring her in immediately. We''ll begin the extraction process tonight."


    My blood ran cold. Another innocent victim for their twisted experiments.


    "There''s more," Dominic continued. "Our scouts have identified potential Blood Heirs in every major city in the nation. With your permission, I''d like to begin nationwide recruitment."


    A long pause followed. "Do it," Bancroft finally said. "The more Blood Heirs we acquire, the faster we canplete the Imperial Army enhancement program."


    Dominic cleared his throat nervously. "Speaking of which, I''d like to request a blood bath session with Isabelle Ashworth."


    "Again? You had onest week."


    "The benefits are undeniable. My cultivation has advanced more in three months than in the previous three years."


    Bancroft chuckled. "Getting addicted to it, aren''t you? Very well. Schedule it for tomorrow evening. But remember, she''s a valuable resource. We can''t afford to be wasteful."


    I clenched my fists so hard my nails cut into my palms. A "valuable resource." That''s all Isabelle was to them—not a person, not a woman with hopes and dreams, just a resource to be exploited.


    "Onest thing," Bancroft said. "Double the security around the Blood Heir facility. If this ck-robed imposter truly is targeting our operation, we can''t be too careful."


    I''d heard enough. Slipping away from the wall, I vanished into the shadows of the corridor. My mind raced with what I''d learned. Not only were they continuing to torture Isabelle, but they were also expanding their operation, targeting innocent people across the nation.


    I needed to act quickly.


    ---


    Night had fallen by the time I reached Emerson Holmes''s private residence in the affluent eastern district. The intelligence officer lived alone in a modest but well-appointed vi, surrounded by fragrant gardens that offered plenty of concealment.


    I didn''t bother with stealth this time. Marching directly to his front door, I knocked three times.


    The door cracked open, and Emerson''s face appeared in the gap. When he saw the ck robe and half-mask, his face drained of color.


    "Good evening, Emerson," I said quietly. "We need to talk."


    He tried to m the door, but my palm shot out, stopping it effortlessly. "I wouldn''t do that if I were you."


    With trembling hands, he stepped back, allowing me to enter. Once inside, I removed my mask, confirming what he already suspected.


    "Liam Knight," he whispered. "They said you were dead."


    "They were wrong," I replied simply, taking a seat in his living room without invitation. "As they''ve been wrong about many things."


    Emerson remained standing, his eyes darting to the exits. "What do you want? If you''re here to kill me—"


    "If I wanted you dead, Emerson, we wouldn''t be having this conversation."


    He swallowed hard. "Then what?"


    "Information." I leaned forward. "I know about the Blood Heirs program. I know what they''re doing to Isabelle. And I know you''re involved."


    "I''m just an intelligence officer," he protested weakly. "I don''t make the decisions."


    "But you know everything," I countered. "Every detail, every name, every location. That''s what makes you valuable...to me."


    His shoulders slumped in defeat. "What kind of information?"


    "Tell me about the new Blood Heir Bancroft is bringing in tomorrow."


    Surprise flickered across his face. "How did you—"


    "Answer the question."


    He sighed heavily. "Her name is Eliza Warren. Twenty-two years old. No family, no connections. The perfect target."


    "Where are they holding her?"


    "They''ll bring her to the same facility where they''re keeping Isabelle. The undergroundplex beneath the Guild''s eastern training grounds."


    I nodded slowly. "And the nationwide recruitment?"


    "Bancroft wants to create an army of enhanced cultivators. Blood Heirs are the key—their blood contains properties that elerate cultivation and strengthen spiritual energy when properly processed."


    "Properly processed," I repeated, disgust evident in my voice. "You mean drained from living humans."


    Emerson looked away, unable to meet my gaze. "The science is...plicated."


    "No, Emerson. It''s simple. It''s monstrous."


    Rising from my seat, I moved toward him with deliberate slowness. He flinched as I approached.


    "I need one more thing from you," I said. "You''re going to get me into the Guild''s recruitment program."


    His eyes widened. "Impossible! The vetting process is extremely thorough."


    "You''re the intelligence officer. Falsify whatever records you need to. Create a new identity. Make it happen."


    "They''ll kill me if they find out!"


    I smiled coldly. "And what do you think I''ll do if you refuse?"


    Emerson''s shoulders slumped further. "When?"


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    "Three days. Have everything ready."


    "And if I do this...you''ll spare my life?"


    I studied him for a long moment. "Do as I ask, and you''ll never see me again. Betray me, and my face will be thest thing you ever see."


    As I reced my mask and turned to leave, Emerson called out, "Knight! The Guild is stronger than you think. Even with your power, you can''t win against them alone."


    I paused at the doorway. "Who said I''m alone?"


    ---


    The next morning, I stood on a rooftop overlooking the main za of Veridia City. People hurried about their business, blissfully unaware of the atrocities beingmitted by their respected Martial Guild.


    My jade pendant pulsed against my chest, resonating with my anger. Three months had passed since I''d learned Isabelle was still alive, kept prisoner by the Guild for her special blood. Three months of nning, training, and preparing for what I needed to do.


    "I''ming for you, Isabelle," I whispered to the wind. "Hold on just a little longer."


    A flutter of wings announced the arrival of a messenger bird. I retrieved the small scroll tied to its leg and read the brief message from Mariana Valerius:


    "ck Phoenix formation ready. Awaiting your signal. -M"


    Good. At least one part of my n was progressing smoothly. With Mariana''s help, I had a chance of infiltrating the facility holding Isabelle. But first, I needed to send a message that even Bancroft couldn''t ignore.


    ---


    As twilight descended on Veridia City, I made my move. Six elite cultivators from the Guild''s special enforcement division had been dispatched to patrol the city''s perimeter, hunting for the ck-robed figure who had been causing so much trouble.


    They wouldn''t have to look far tonight.


    I found the first two at the western gate, strutting about in their Guild uniforms, intimidating merchants closing their stalls for the evening.


    "There he is!" one shouted as I deliberately stepped into their line of sight. "The ck-robed assassin!"


    They charged at me, spiritual energy ring around their weapons. I didn''t even bother drawing my sword. With a casual gesture, I activated the Death Shadow technique I''d perfected during my months of intensive training.


    My form blurred, and before they could react, I was behind them. Two quick strikes to vital meridian points, and they copsed, blood trickling from their eyes and ears.


    The next pair fell at the southern market, equally unprepared for the level of power I nowmanded. The fifth cultivator actually managed tond a ncing blow before my crimson de separated his head from his shoulders.


    The final enforcer was more cautious, having perhaps heard about the fate of his colleagues. He tried to flee, to raise the rm. I caught him at the edge of the Guild district, my Phantom Step technique allowing me to appear directly in his path.


    "Please," he begged, dropping to his knees. "I have a family."


    "So did I," I replied coldly. "The Guild took them from me."


    His death was quick, at least.


    Under the cover of darkness, I gathered the six bodies and transported them to the main gate of the Veridia City Martial Guild. Using spiritual energy to enhance my strength, I hung them from the ornate arch, positioning them like grotesque decorations for all to see.


    On the chest of the leader, I pinned a message written in his own blood:


    "For every drop of innocent blood you spill, I will take a life. Release the Blood Heirs or watch your Guild burn. -LK"


    By morning, the entire city would know that the ck-robed reaper had escted his campaign against the Guild. Fear would spread through their ranks like wildfire.


    Fear was good. Fear made people desperate. And desperate people made mistakes.


    As I vanished into the night, bells began to sound throughout the city. The bodies had been discovered, and chaos would soon follow.


    "The game has changed, Bancroft," I whispered to the darkness. "And you have no idea how to y it."


    ---


    Dawn broke over Veridia City with a blood-red sky. I stood among the crowd gathered around the Guild''s main gate, my identity concealed beneath simple civilian clothes rather than my distinctive ck robe.


    The six bodies had been cut down, but the message remained—both the one written in blood and the unspoken one demonstrated by the act itself: The Guild was vulnerable.


    Around me, people whispered in fear and awe.


    "Six super cultivators," an old man muttered. "Killed in a single night."


    "They say it was the ck-Robed Reaper," a woman replied. "Some believe he''s a vengeful spirit."


    "I heard it''s Liam Knight returned from the dead," a younger man added. "Come to avenge his woman."


    I suppressed a smile. Let them specte. Let the legends grow. The more the Guild feared me, the better my chances of saving Isabelle.


    As I turned to leave, amotion near the Guild entrance caught my attention. Darian Bancroft himself had emerged, surrounded by a protective detail of Martial Marquises. His face was contorted with rage as he surveyed the crowd.


    "A reward of one million spirit stones," he announced, his voice carrying across the za. "For information leading to the capture of the criminal calling himself Liam Knight!"


    The crowd murmured in shock. One million spirit stones was a fortune beyond imagining for most people.


    "This terrorist has murdered Guild members performing their sacred duty to protect this city," Bancroft continued. "He will be brought to justice!"


    His eyes scanned the crowd, perhaps hoping to spot a ck robe or a masked face. Instead, they passed right over me, seeing nothing but another frightened citizen.


    As Bancroft retreated back into the Guild headquarters, I melted away from the crowd. The next phase of my n was about to begin. Emerson Holmes would be preparing my false identity for the recruitment program, and Mariana Valerius would be finalizing the details of our infiltration.


    Soon, I would be inside the very heart of the enemy''s territory. Soon, I would find Isabelle.


    And then, the real bloodshed would begin.