Legacy of Hatred

From the outside, the city wasn’t any different from what Liam had seen in the eastern region. There were fewer streets, and the buildings looked bigger on average, but that was it.

However, a stark difference stood out as soon as the couple arrived at the main gate. Instead of mortals, the city guards were foundation experts donning Qi-enhanced silver chest armor with the emblem of a sword and a shield.

’The Enforcement Guild,’ Liam immediately recalled, which didn’t make the sight any less strange.

The Enforcement Guild policed cultivators, preventing them from abusing their power against mortals. It also punished criminals and guarded the borders between Circles. It was for all intents and purposes the Kingdom’s army.

Still, the city was nowhere close to either of the Circle’s borders. Liam also spotted mortals going on their business beyond the gate, and it was strange to see cultivators in their midst so publicly.

That could easily be one of the northern region’s peculiarities. Yet, Liam couldn’t rule out the alternative. The strange occurrence might be a matter of proximity to the Inner Circles, something he had been unable to witness since he had gone directly for the border after the inheritance.

If anything, the issue that claimed Liam’s attention was of a far different nature.

’They recognize us,’ Liam understood with a single glance at the foundation experts’ anxious faces. He and Grace were wearing their devilish attire with blood-red floral patterns on sleeves and skirt. She had darkened lips, too, but mere guards knew them.

Fame was something Liam had wielded ever since his time in the village. Actually, infamy probably was a more accurate description, and it seemed the news had never been limited to the Church.

"Fellow Daoists, we wish to purchase the Messengers Guild’s services," Grace declared.

There was no enmity in Grace’s tone, but the foundation experts paled at her words. A few even looked on the verge of fainting. Even the traffic of carriages had frozen at her arrival, the mortals riding them knowing that a being greater than the world was among them.

Grace might have just reached the branching stage, but her power was undoubtedly real.

The foundation experts never got the chance to respond since a rooting expert in Qi-enhanced golden armor rushed to the gate from inside the city, stopping among his underlings and cupping his fist in a hurry.

"Fellow Daoists, the Enforcement Guild was alerted about your possible arrival," The golden guard, a middle-aged man, declared, his head lowered. "We have been instructed to lead you to an appropriate meeting area if that time ever came."

’The Guilds knew we would have chosen this,’ Liam instantly realized. He and Grace had been spotted in the area for over six months after all, and the Guilds knew exactly what their options were.

It was concerning how the cultivation world could react so quickly and jointly when stable political environments existed, but such was the price of relevance. Since the couple wasn’t inconsequential anymore, the Enforcement Guild had laid out a plan for them.

Actually, there probably were many strategies. Liam believed the area might have been ready even if he had started pillaging. The entire Circle could be aware of his presence and actions at that point.

It suddenly made more sense why the Divine Cult had chosen such hidden locations. It just had no other option against that network.

"Then, we shall be in the Enforcement Guild’s care," Grace calmly responded, her elegance threatening to make the foundation experts faint again.

Liam and Grace never got to step inside the city. The golden guard hurriedly arranged a carriage and led them around the walls, riding a beaten path that followed the river upstream.

It took half a day for the trio to reach what looked to be a huge mansion with several minor buildings scattered inside the two rows of defensive walls that encircled it. Liam sensed Qi all around the place, and its tall wooden gate carried the Enforcement Guild’s emblem. Clearly, that was a place for cultivators.

"This is the Enforcement Guild’s closest Barrack," The golden guard explained. "The Guild is sworn to neutrality for the duration of the meeting."

There was much to understand from those short statements, but the main point involved respect for the couple. At the very least, the Enforcement Guild would wait for the meeting’s conclusion before declaring its enmity.

Of course, that could easily be a lie. The Barrack was enemy territory and could act as a trap. Even the travel by carriage could have been a ruse to give other forces time to reach that location, but Liam and Grace went inside nonetheless.

The golden guard escorted Liam and Grace through two gates, each leading to training grounds similar to what he had seen in the branch he had destroyed or the Pale Moon Sect’s plateaus.

There were also plenty of cultivators along the way, the vast majority in the foundation stage, but they all stopped what they were doing to watch the black pair head toward the main building.

The actual mansion was huge, only three stories tall, but large. Its first floor was open and supported by wooden pillars similar to the Pale Moon Sect’s Outer Hall.

Instead, the second floor had sliding doors and intricate corridors, many blocking Liam’s perception, but the group went directly for the third. There, the place opened up into a large hall surrounded by balconies, the furniture splitting it into different areas.

There was no need to question which area Liam and Grace had to go to. The golden guard hadn’t stepped into the third floor. Instead, another cultivator was waiting for them, black-haired and with a rough face, sitting at a long, low table surrounded by pillows, his armor dark and dented, his oppressive aura conveying his stern character.

Naturally, the man was a branching expert.

"Master Black Qi, Lady Grace," The man called without looking at the couple, his voice deep and unwavering. "Take a seat."

The man was on one end of the table, so Liam and Grace went to the opposite one. There were no drinks or refreshments, but Liam hardly noticed since his eyes never moved away from that armored cultivator.

’Low-stage,’ Liam guessed, his attention moving to the dented armor. ’That’s a rank 3 item. Its tier is unclear.’

As if noticing the nature of Liam’s inspection, the man lifted his dark eyes from the green jade in his hands, inspecting the couple, his face unreadable.

"Betrayal of the Merchants Guild," The man announced, "Destruction of an eastern branch of the Mercenary Guild, crimes against the Church of the Man, incitement of rebellion, and crimes against the Kingdom. Am I forgetting anything?"

That was an accurate list of Liam and Grace’s crimes, but she obviously had something to say.

"My beloved also killed the Shrouded Desert Sect’s Disciplinary Elder and offered me his arm as a token of love," Grace pointed out.

"Dominic was known to us," The man snorted. "I’m inclined to consider that a favor to the Enforcement Guild."

Sects and Guilds weren’t exactly at odds, but they had different playing fields, with the former being superior. Considering Dominic’s character, Liam could guess he had created plenty of problems.

"Inclined by what?" Grace questioned.

"Lady Grace, I have learned about your prowess from the Merchants Guild," The man revealed. "I have no interest in losing to your words. My role as an Enforcer is of a far simpler nature."

Grace didn’t reply, but the man ended up focusing on Liam, feeling the threat, the wooden floor creaking under the pressure the tension in the air caused.

"I’m charged with maintaining the peace in the area," The man continued. "If you came here to disturb it, I will remove you, even if the other Guilds oppose it."

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