Legacy of Hatred

Liam was perfectly aware of the exceptional nature of his achievement. The voices that occasionally slipped through the chaos in his ears more than drove that point home, too.

A rooting expert had actually killed a branching expert. That would be Liam’s second time already, but there were praiseworthy aspects that even he was forced to acknowledge.

Unlike with Dominic, Liam had fought that battle alone, without numerical advantages or ambushes. He had won fair and square in a direct face-off.

Sure, Liam had prepared accordingly, coating his weapons with poisons that Jessica hadn’t been ready for. The fan’s speed had also taken her by surprise. If Jessica had fought him with that knowledge, the result would have been very different.

However, tricks and alchemy basically were at the core of Liam’s journey. He was, or would be, a poison master. That was his path and main calling. It wasn’t the most virtuous way of fighting, but that hardly mattered as long as his enemies kept dying.

Besides, the hurdle involved the allegedly insurmountable gap between cultivation stages. It would be stupid to fight fairly in the first place.

The victory had also given Liam a clearer idea of his current standing in the cultivation world. He definitely wielded power worthy of the superior stage. His inferior energy was his only limit, but his abundant collection of alchemical products had compensated for that.

Of course, Liam acknowledged the most important point, too. Without the fan, he wouldn’t have lasted long in that battle. His lineage had granted him unparalleled advantages that he had done his best to maximize, but it was his accumulation that had saved his life and enabled that victory.

Once again, Horace Rauret’s teachings had rung true. Liam had pursued strength at great risk, but the gamble had paid off. Instead of being complacent, he had accepted the Church’s enmity in exchange for the tools behind his current impossible victory.

Which meant that Liam had to accept even greater risks from now on. After all, the quality of his opponents was bound to increase sharply. He had also lost his rank 2 knife, greatsword, and rank 3 poison, and those wouldn’t be easy to replace.

Jessica’s naked, mangled corpse didn’t have much. Actually, only one item stood out. It was a pendant similar to what Archbishop Ignatius had given Lancelot, this one in the shape of two crossed swords, the Mercenary Guild’s emblem.

Liam seized the pendant and tried to store it, only for his rings to reject it. That was enough to flag it as a storage item, which he secured in his torn pants while lifting his arm.

The fan landed in Liam’s palm and folded itself, becoming a knife when it felt his intentions. He only knew one way of deterring future threats, and the distant audience all around the area suited his needs. He just needed to carve the right tool for the announcement.

However, footsteps Liam recognized suddenly slipped past the chaos in his ears. A familiar scent also invaded his nostrils before a voice he couldn’t possibly mistake resounded behind him.

"That’s quite the thorough job," Words Liam had already heard reached him. "Master Liam, are you perhaps preparing another token of love for me?"

Liam turned, finding someone who shouldn’t be there. Grace was standing behind him, wearing a small smile that tried and failed to hide her worry.

"I remember telling you that I prefer money," Grace exclaimed.

"I told you-" Liam began to say, only for Grace to take his face in her hands.

"You die," Grace declared seriously, "I die."

There was no room for arguing, not that Grace gave Liam the opportunity.

"Come on," Grace said, turning, lowering herself to pull Liam onto her back, glancing at the fan still in his hand in the meantime. "Can you help me?"

Naturally, the fan instantly escaped Liam’s grasp and unfolded itself at Grace’s feet. She climbed on it and steadied herself while carrying Liam’s on her shoulders. He was far bigger than her, making the whole thing a bit awkward, but any rooting expert could easily handle his weight.

Liam wasn’t in any condition to oppose that. He couldn’t faint since his mind kept torturing him, so he just held onto Grace, his legs hanging past the fan, waiting for the healing pill to restore a modicum of autonomy.

Grace’s back became drenched in Liam’s blood in no time, but she only sealed her grip on his arms, cutting through the area at the best pace she could manage. The fan was helping her, but the item remained connected to Liam, preventing proper coordination, leading to lower speed.

Luckily, no one followed after the couple. There were incessant murmurs, gasps, and cries, but Liam killing a branching expert seemed to have shocked everyone enough to keep them on their best behavior.

Yet, that only applied to rooting experts and foundation experts too stunned by the event and who didn’t know any better. Branching experts were an exception, especially those with a specific interest in the couple.

"Grace," Liam called, sensing the event, trying to struggle up, only for Grace to reach for his face, forcing it to remain on her shoulder.

The suffocating aura came next. The warning had been enough to alert Grace, but she now saw the threat with her own eyes. Actually, everyone on the scene witnessed it due to its flashy arrival.

A wall of flames rose from ahead of the couple, reaching high in the sky to block their path. A figure stepped out of it, walking on the ground. He was a thin, middle-aged man with black hair tied into a bun, wearing a black battle robe and a cold expression.

"Master Black Qi, Lady Grace," Lee called, looking up at the couple. "Where do you think you are going? I’m afraid I haven’t authorized your departure."

Right after finishing off Jessica, a second branching expert had appeared to stand in the couple’s way.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!