Legacy of Hatred

Liam froze, his reaction so evident that Grace shot a questioning look at him. It seemed only he had heard the Demoness’ whisper, but that didn’t make the matter any less concerning.

After Dominic, Liam had achieved full control over the Primal Urge, but he had still hissed plenty of times against Jessica. It felt natural to do so. He had even started to do it without the demonic art’s influence, but that remained a clue for those in the know.

Liam ignored Grace’s look and inspected his surroundings. The Demoness was nowhere to be seen. Even her boundless presence had vanished completely, but the audience had remained. It had kept even more distance after the leafing expert’s arrival, but it had witnessed Liam’s fight nonetheless.

’How many heard me?’ Liam wondered. ’How many can connect that to my lineage? Should I kill everyone just to be safe?’

In a different situation, Liam might have considered following through with that idea. However, he was in no condition to do so. His limbs had barely started working again, and the predicament remained terrible.

Still, the Demoness’ whisper also carried something Liam hadn’t considered, something that brought his gaze back to Grace.

Cultivators lived long lives, hundreds of years, or even longer. Liam knew that, but he was only nineteen. Weeks and months might have lost meaning for him, but his mindset had yet to adjust to the prospect of centuries.

Such a long life could enable plenty of lengthy projects, correcting one of Liam’s convictions. He had always seen his most difficult goal as a clash between a single Snake and an army of Dragons, but that wasn’t necessarily true.

The Ancestral Snake had kept its bloodline hidden, but no more. It had now appeared in the world, so it could propagate. Just like the King had created more Dragons, Liam could make more Snakes.

The Dragon King probably had a special method to spread his bloodline consistently, but Liam had a standard alternative at his disposal. He just had to make a bunch of children. In a few centuries, he would also have an army of his descendants.

The biggest hurdle in that plan was solved already, too. Grace didn’t really talk about it in normal circumstances, but the way she tightened her legs whenever Liam finished was quite telling.

Grace even said shameless things during intimate moments. Since both she and Liam were using techniques to avoid conception, those words only served to rile him up, but her stance on the matter was pretty clear.

Liam would only need to ask, and Grace would be elated to comply.

Of course, Liam didn’t want to use Grace as a breeding machine for his army of Snakes. He had even expressed how he didn’t like the idea of his children carrying his Hatred.

There was also the issue of using said children to fight a war. As much as Liam hated himself for hiding during the Bloodline Screening, he now understood why his mother had made him promise not to come out. He had gained that perspective after imagining a daughter with Grace.

So, as solid as that plan was, Liam would never resort to it. It went against his very idea of protector. He would shoulder the entirety of that Hatred, claiming all of the Dragons’ enmity for himself to keep everyone else safe.

But Grace was still staring at Liam, and that definitely wasn’t the place or time to share the Demoness’ whisper, so he addressed something else instead.

"Never say you’d be worthless without me again," Liam ordered. He was still annoyed about that point.

"I won’t," Grace promised, "But it’s my truth. I do serve you. My value, my happiness, my journey, and all of my being are in your hands."

That was actually the description of Liam’s purchase. In exchange for owning Grace, he would take care of her forever, even when it came to her life’s goals.

Of course, as serious as Grace was, she had hidden a trap in her words. She was basically telling Liam never to leave her unless he wanted her to lose her reason to live.

"You are terrible," Liam cursed under his breath, grunting as he forced his body to move.

Grace had been in the process of placing Liam on her back again, only for her feet to leave the ground. She found herself in his arms in a princess-carry, his legs slowly climbing on the fan to resume flying.

Liam wasn’t fine, but Grace was barely fifty kilos. She was so light for him he could carry her even while half dead, and being the one driving the fan would give him the chance to escape if more hindrances arrived.

Also, there were some male instincts at work. Liam felt the need to do something after his woman had picked him up, stalled against Lee, and made such heartfelt declarations. The very wiring of his brain urged him to act.

"Liam," Grace called, worried, but Liam responded with an annoyed snort. It was petty, but Grace struggled to keep her cheerful smile for herself.

While the Demoness’ intervention had been sudden, brief, and limited, even the dullest foundation expert in the area had sensed her. No one dared to get in Liam and Grace’s way as they circled the crowd around the huge building, eventually telling him how she had managed to come back in the first place.

Liam heard a familiar laugh before noticing the old man floating on a blood-red sword. Ray had his arms behind his back while Lucas and Troy hovered at his sides, slightly below him, a few corpses lying on the ground.

"Never before have I seen such an entertaining pair of young rascals," Smiling Blade laughed even harder when the couple approached him. "If only more youngsters had your stones."

"Senior," Liam and Grace greeted Ray simultaneously. They couldn’t bow since he was carrying her, but Ray didn’t seem to mind.

"But you truly showed it to that Mercenary wench," Ray laughed again. "Black Qi, I’ve been alive for one hundred and twenty-one years, but I never thought I’d see the day a rooting expert killed a branching expert."

"Senior Smiling Blade, you honor me," Liam said, lowering his head. "Allow me to express my gratitude for your continuous support. My Dao partner and I won’t forget this debt."

"What are you being so polite for?" Ray dismissed Liam’s words with a snicker. "You made me laugh more than I had in decades. Consider whatever debt you thought of to be repaid."

Liam lifted his head, only to see that Ray had already moved away.

"Now, now," Ray chucked. "Get away before I feel like recruiting you again, and don’t you dare to do something as dull as dying."

"Unreasonable Brother," Lucas smirked. "Scary Sister, until we meet again."

Troy limited himself to a simple nod, and Liam responded in kind, browsing his tired gaze over the trio. Grace smiled at them, but the two eventually flew forward, crossing their unlikely companions and disappearing on the darkening horizon.

Ray, Troy, and Lucas watched the departure until the couple wasn’t visible anymore, at which the former spoke. "Disciple Lucas, Disciple Troy, you want to become stronger to join the fun waiting ahead."

"Yes, Elder," Lucas and Troy responded in unison.

"But really, what a sight," Ray muttered. "Are we sure he was with that Lancelot kid at the Archbishop’s inheritance? The rumors about that Elder dying might be true then."

"The cape he used when he assaulted the Guild matches the description," Lucas announced. "Though it doesn’t explain why he hasn’t gone with him. Sister Grace’s involvement in all this is also unclear since the Shrouded Desert Sect is hindering investigations."

"Cultivators and their reputation," Ray snickered. "Rooting experts killing branching experts. What a time to be alive. Once the news spreads, youngsters from all corners of the Kingdom will go crazy. Maybe the Heavenly Sword Cult should leave this place to recruit some gutsy upstaters."

Of course, Ray knew the Church was the biggest problem. Since the Heavenly Sword Cult had learned so much about those Dao partners, chances were the Church had, too.

"Maybe it’s time this old man also gets a bit stronger," Ray considered out loud before raising his voice. "Well? What are you waiting for? Go loot me something worth my time!"

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