"Ms. Redfern, you'd do well to stay out of today's business," Baxter replied icily, pointing at Howard and his group. "Just hand them over to us, and we'll be on our way.""You must be joking, Mr. Baxter Wadsworth!" Sapphira retorted. "Every guest who dines here is a friend of mine. How could their well-being not concern me?"If my guests can't even count on basic safety in my establishment, who would ever come back?""Sapphira, don't bite the hand that feeds you!" Maxwell jabbed a finger in Sapphira's direction and yelled, "Keep sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, and see if I don't get your shop trashed in a heartbeat!""Oh, Mr. Maxwell Wadsworth, talking tough, are we?" Sapphira let out a frosty, mocking laugh. "Go ahead, give it a shot!""What a lowlife!" Maxwell bellowed, his rage boiling over. He gestured dismissively behind him, "Go on, wreck the place!""Hold it right there!" Baxter commanded in a stern tone."Uncle, she..." Maxwell tried to interject."I've got
"He's been on a case lately, and because it's top secret, he wouldn't spill the beans on the details," she explained.Howard gave a slight nod in understanding.The Shadow Sect's rule was ironclad. No one said a word about an ongoing investigation, not even to family."Is your Wadsworth family mixed up in this mess?" Howard asked, eyeing Baxter."Who do you think you are, talking to Mr. Baxter Wadsworth like that?" A tough-looking guy with a scar across his face stepped forward, jabbing a finger at Howard. "Beat it, now!"Before he could finish his threat, a sudden gust knocked the scar-faced man off his feet, sending him flying into a table. His head cracked open, gushing blood."Aahh!" he wailed in agony.Baxter's brow furrowed in annoyance. "You looking for trouble, kid?"Howard did not back down. "Tell me, does the Wadsworth family have anything to do with Cilix's predicament?"Baxter's anger boiled over. "You're asking for it, kid! Let's do this—break their arms and legs,
Baxter might stand his ground against Sullivan's Shadow Sect cronies, but squaring off with the Shadow Sect's district governors? That was another story. Those governors were power players, the kind he did not cross without thinking twice.With just a word, the Shadow Sect's army of thousands in the central district could swoop in on Sullivan in no time. Dealing with him and the Wadsworths? That would be over in minutes.However, he had not seen Lukas showing up in Sullivan. Was he there because of the Cilix situation?The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and a ripple of unease spread through him."Sir!"Lukas was then before Howard, bowing deeply.Howard had made it clear to his close associates that all formalities were to be dropped in Talia's presence.The scene left everyone's mouth agape, their faces a picture of utter astonishment, as they stood frozen in shock.The high and mighty district governors of the Shadow Sect, who commanded respect from the elite of Sulliv
"The Dark Essence Sect?" A chill flickered in Howard's gaze. "They're back from the dead?"The Dark Essence Sect was notorious, a cult that practiced dual cultivation and wreaked havoc, sparing no one in their path of destruction.Over a decade ago, they were taken down by the leader of the Shadow Sect. The records showed that a thousand of their followers met their end. Since then, they vanished without a trace, silent for nearly ten years.Then, out of the blue, they have resurfaced."It's got to be the leftovers from ten years back stirring up trouble!" Lukas agreed."Cilix could be in danger. Track his phone right now, see where he's at," Howard commanded."In danger?" Lukas was taken aback.He had tried to reach Cilix after getting a message from Howard, but could not get through.He had brushed it off, thinking Cilix might just be in a dead zone in the mountains.However, Howard's words sent a shiver down his spine.Pulling out his phone, Lukas worked it for a moment. H
"Ms. Redfern, as Talia's friend, you're my friend too—no need for formalities," Howard said, his smile returning as he smoothly changed the subject."Don't fret over Cilix. I'm sure everything's fine."He did not have the full picture of Cilix's situation, but from what Baxter had let slip, it did not sound like a crisis. Otherwise, Baxter's tone would have been different."Thank you." Sapphira gave Howard a respectful bow, though her face remained clouded with concern."Sapphira, don't fret. If my husband says everything's okay, then it's all good." Talia's nerves finally settled.Ever since she had bumped into Howard again a few months back, her heart had been on a roller coaster, and she was genuinely scared it might just give out from all the shocks one of those days.Just how many secrets was her husband keeping from her?She could not keep up. She made a mental note to coax the truth out of him with some tender tactics."Thanks, Talia!" Sapphira gave her a grateful look.
"They're absolute scoundrels!" Sapphira exclaimed with fury. "Can you believe it? This whole year, the core members of Sullivan's other families have been picked off one by one, and it was all their handiwork!""The Wadsworths are really playing with fire!" Mystical Chubby said, his brow creased in concern."Cilix got a distress call from Sullivan's authorities a month back, asking for the Shadow Sect to step in and handle the investigation," Lukas added."Back then, we had no clue it was the Dark Essence Sect's leftovers stirring up trouble, so I didn't really sweat it."He must've dug up some solid leads lately, which is why they targeted him.""Mhm," Howard murmured, nodding slightly. "Where's he now?""Baxter's not too sure, but he thinks they've probably snatched him back to their hideout," Lukas replied."Alright, let's go pay these leftovers a visit!" Howard said, nodding decisively before continuing. "Also, pass the word to our guys to put the Wadsworth place on lockdown
"Hm!?" The middle-aged man paused, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "What do you mean by that?"Howard's voice was steady, betraying no emotion. "The second you saw us, your eyes gave you away."Everyone else looks a bit startled when they meet us, but not you. Your eyes lit up with a hunter's glee, especially when you caught sight of Ms. Redfern. It was like you saw easy prey."And this tea—there's a knockout drug in it, isn't there? One sip, and you're unconscious in less than three minutes."Am I right?"Sapphira gasped, the air chilling her lungs. If Howard knew the tea was laced with poison, why on earth did he drink it?"Hm!?" The middle-aged man's aura turned deadly at Howard's accusation. "Who are you?""Give up the location of your lair, and I'll let you walk away from this," Howard said, his tone as detached as ever.A thug like that stood no chance against the King of the West.Howard had sized up the men outside the moment he stepped into the village. All
He could never have fathomed that the storied Master Howard would show up in the flesh.Then he knew why Howard was unaffected by the poisoned tea. A man of his stature would not be taken down by some ordinary herbal poison.He felt a pang of sorrow for the doomed sect members up the mountain. By the end of the night, the Dark Essence Sect would likely be history.Three silver needles shot from Howard's hand, striking the man and sealing away his cultivation base."Lead the way!" Howard ordered."Yes...right away..."Shaking with fear, the man scrambled to his feet and headed for the door.The Dark Essence Sect's survivors had hidden themselves well, and it took the group an hour of nocturnal trekking to arrive at their hidden destination.Nestled in a secret dip on the mountainside was a modest estate, its wooden structures all painted to merge seamlessly with the surroundings.The estate was encircled by mountains, with towering trees on all sides. Without the man's guidance
"And look at that bracelet, it's stunning! Oh, and the compact has such a unique charm! Should we get one of each to decorate our homes?""Yuffie, you're still in school. How can you afford all this?" Talia chided gently. "You have a hundred fifty-dollar budget. Spend more, and it's coming out of your allowance.""What? Only a hundred fifty dollars? You're being too tight-fisted, sis!" Yuffie's complaint was lighthearted as she playfully turned to Howard. "Howard...""Don't even think about it. His wallet is in my hands!" Talia cut her off, fully aware of her little sister's ploy."Fine..." Yuffie's pout was all in good fun."Haha! It's not every day we get to do this, honey. If Yuffie finds something she loves, let's get it for her. Who knows if it'll be here next time?" Howard chuckled."Yay! You're the best, bro-in-law!" Yuffie cheered, her face lighting up with joy."You're just making her more spoiled!" Talia gave Howard a playful eye roll and turned her attention away from
Howard's willingness to visit the antique market was not solely to assist the sisters in their quest for a legendary blade. Such weapons were treasures often stumbled upon by chance, rarely found by those who sought them.His real intent was to immerse the sisters in the rich culture of the martial arts clans they were then a part of. More exposure to the ways of the warrior guilds could only benefit them on their chosen path.The following morning, Howard's group of five set off in the direction of Nathanael. Talia and Yuffie buzzed with excitement throughout the journey, their minds alive with wonder.Nathanael, nestled in the mountains to the northeast of Mendorra and a couple hundred kilometers away, awaited them.By 10 a.m., they arrived, parking at the gates of a sprawling estate on the city's outskirts—the site of the famed market.Stepping out, they were greeted by a lively throng at the estate's entrance, many adorned in traditional robes, weapons hanging from their belts
"And that's not all. They might even be a bona fide king-level warrior." Howard's brow furrowed with uncertainty."It looks like The Dark World is a whole lot more tangled than we thought," Yoel mused aloud.Then, turning back to Howard, he inquired, "Sir, did the old man ever share anything with you about The Dark World?""Not a word," Howard replied, shaking his head."Sir, do you think our mystery person could be from one of the elite families or sects, maybe just there on some errand?" Mystical Chubby chimed in.His speculation was not unfounded. Most of the king-level warriors from Rackaham were known to hail from the secretive clans and sects."It's unlikely." Howard dismissed the idea with another shake of his head. "From what Sabertooth described, our guy seems to know The Dark World like the back of his hand.""Who's that supposed to be?" Mystical Chubby scrunched his brow in confusion."Let it go for now. We'll head back to The Dark World in a little while," said Howa
"Um..." Blood Rakshasa nodded, the woman's earlier words still ringing in her head."Sir... Sir, was what you said earlier true?" Blood Rakshasa asked Sabertooth, her voice barely above a whisper."What did I say?" Sabertooth looked puzzled for a moment."You said... You said next time, we'd go back home together to get married..." Blood Rakshasa's cheeks turned a soft pink."Hehe, absolutely," Sabertooth chuckled, his smile warm and genuine. "The boss gave me the order, and I've given my word."Blood Rakshasa's smile was shy but filled with joy.Soon after, Qemal strode in."Sabertooth, I've tracked down the hideout of the Slaying Heaven Palace," Qemal announced upon arrival."Is that so?" Sabertooth's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Tell the crew to take a two-hour breather, then we move out!"The Slaying Heaven Palace's goons had nearly wiped out them today. Payback was due.With the Palace's top fighters gone, the rest were hardly a threat. It was time to cross the Slay
"Shadow Demon Shrine?" The woman's brow creased for a moment, but she quickly dropped the subject.She then turned to Sabertooth and observed, "You and your group have the vibe of soldiers. You're not originally from The Dark World, are you?""Speaking to our savior," Sabertooth gave a respectful nod, "we were part of the Rackaham Western Region's military before we came here."He was open with the woman who had saved over a hundred of his comrades."The Western Region's military?" The woman paused, a hint of recognition in her voice, "You're with the Blood Shadow Force?""That's us," Sabertooth confirmed with another bow."Is your leader the King of the West, Master Howard?" she inquired further."You know my boss?" Sabertooth looked surprised."Not personally, but I've heard the name," the woman replied with a shake of her head. "What's he got you doing in The Dark World?""Over the past couple of years, the world's heavy hitters have been funneling their muscle and resource
"You'll live to regret this, Dark Demon Lord!" Blood Rakshasa declared, locking eyes with her adversary. "Kill us, and Master Howard will avenge us by wiping out every last one of you in your cursed palace...""Ha! That Master Howard of yours better think twice before stepping into The Dark World again, or it'll be his grave!" The Dark Demon Lord mocked with an icy laugh."You're the fool!" Sabertooth growled. "No one in The Dark World has been born who can take down our boss. Your time's coming!""Is that so?" The Dark Demon Lord sneered with disdain. "You're clueless, all of you. You have no idea how powerful the Shadow Demon Shrine truly is!""Enough babbling. Time to end this. I'll send you both to join your boss," he declared, his presence intensifying as he prepared to strike them down."I love you," Blood Rakshasa whispered, her eyes closing."No, don't!" Qemal and others shouted in despair.Then there was a thunderous boom.However, the expected tragedy did not unfold.
Sabertooth sneered, watching the man's futile efforts. "You're such a fool!"He then declared solemnly, "Blood Shadow Technique, second form, Sky Slash!"With those words, he summoned all his strength, his saber carving a fierce arc of light through the air, striking like thunder at his foe.The Blood Shadow Technique was known for turning the tides against stronger adversaries.The white-haired elder's eyes narrowed in alarm. Caught mid-leap, he desperately wanted to dodge but could not. The saber's light bore down on him, a chilling aura of death shrouding him completely.In that instant, a wave of energy crashed through the air like a tidal wave, bringing a howling gale with it.Crash!Suddenly, Sabertooth was hurled away like a shell fired from a gun, blood spraying from his mouth as he flew, before he slammed into the earth, leaving a huge crater and falling silent."Sabertooth!" Blood Rakshasa's shout pierced the chaos as she spun and dashed to his side.She barely made
The man in black was sent hurtling through the air, slamming into the ground with such force that he lay there motionlessly, struggling to rise. A gaping wound, carved by the relentless sword, oozed blood profusely from his abdomen."What in the world is that sword technique?" he gasped after a torturous effort to stand, his face ashen.He had underestimated Blood Rakshasa's swordplay. Since her breakthrough to a higher echelon of mastery, her blade's might had surged, utterly dominating her seasoned adversary."The Sword Without a Name," Blood Rakshasa declared icily.Without wasting another second, she launched another assault. Sabertooth was in dire straits, and she was determined to aid him.Her blade danced again, weaving a web of sword energy that shot toward the white-haired elder, ensnaring him in an instant.The old man's eyes narrowed in a flash of panic, realizing he was trapped with no way out."This is it!" he snarled, brandishing his blade and lunging forward.How
With a thunderous explosion of energy, Blood Rakshasa's power surged, forcing the old man before her to stagger back in disbelief."Impossible! Have you broken through?" he gasped, steadying himself, his face a mask of astonishment."You bet I have!" Blood Rakshasa's face lit up with triumph.She had done it, just as the old man had surmised. Amid her swordplay, she felt a dormant core energy within her erupt, catapulting her to the zenith of martial knight at peak mastery stage.Master Howard's words rang in her head. The core energy left in her by a once-mighty warrior was too much to absorb at once. Back in that cave, she only managed a minor mastery in martial knight. However, Howard had predicted further advancements, and he was right."Let's see if you can handle a few more of my strikes!" Blood Rakshasa challenged, her spirit soaring not just from her newfound strength but also from a deeper connection to her swordsmanship."Bring it on!" the old man bellowed, his blade re