Chapter 95 - Beneath Still Waters (Part V) (Patreon)

Lucian left Wei Zhang behind and rushed toward the West Bo Merchant Chamber’s manor. From the moment Prince Xuan discovered him near the marsh, he had known trouble would eventually follow.

Before his slumber, too little time had passed for the major powers to truly understand him. He had been too mysterious, forcing them to be cautious. Honestly, he had wanted to leave Three Feathers City to keep that caution after slaughtering a group of cultivators inside that burned warehouse. Controlling things from afar suited him greatly.

Unfortunately for him, the tides had changed.

Prince Xuan appearing there changed my plans. He should be strong enough to understand I’m a threat. He was bound to make a move after meeting me, Lucian thought.

No matter whether one was a mutant, mage, cultivator, vampire, or magical beast, Lucian believed there came a point where experience and instinct alone were enough to recognize danger. This was the awareness shared by both predator and prey.

Being well fed during the Curse of Sloth made me stronger than I thought, Lucian reflected, approaching the walls of the noble district. I believe I'm a threat to most Qi Condensation cultivators by now.

Even so, he understood that his improved physique was not the true reason behind Prince Xuan's wariness. The most dangerous thing about Lucian was not his cultivation, nor his physical strength, nor even the boons coming from his runes.

It was the Curse of Wrath.

After four months, Lucian could feel the curse had recovered from its previous activation. If his life were genuinely threatened again, it would awaken without his permission.

I cannot allow myself to fall into a true life-and-death battle right now, Lucian thought grimly. Last time, my body was too weak to withstand it. Now, the Curse of Wrath would likely manifest at least a pair of black wings. This city would be doomed, and so would I.

Remembering the overwhelming force and loss of control that accompanied the curse, Lucian gnashed his teeth.

Cultivate. I must cultivate and stop relying on these curses and boons.

When the manor came into view, Lucian accelerated. His figure blurred through the front gates like a black mirage before darting across the gardens and slipping through a window.

No reaction, Lucian noted inwardly. Grandmaster Miao recognized me already. Dangerous as always.

He made a mental note to test later whether the Rune of Sloth still erased all traces of Qi from his body. He didn’t have a clue how to use concealment techniques yet, and obviously didn't want to be an easy target to the mighty figures of Three Feathers City. Nonetheless, he had other concerns at the moment, so he shoved the thought aside and sped through the manor.

The servants only managed to glimpse something akin to a gust of black wind rushing past them before Lucian arrived outside Bo Qing’s office. Stopping by the door, Lucian felt two presences inside and frowned. One belonged to Grandmaster Miao, which was expected, but the other bothered him a bit.

Another ghoul? This one is neither Bo Qing, Wang Chen, nor that random servant, he thought, sliding the paper door aside. Then, he entered the room.

Grandmaster Miao was standing up, ready to receive him, reptilian eyes narrowing coldly.

And beside him stood Courtesan Yuan Yuan.

Her floral robe accentuated her alluring figure, though she kept her head lowered submissively, standing half a step behind Grandmaster Miao like an obedient servant.

While observing them, Lucian noticed that Grandmaster Miao's Qi seemed so concentrated it had taken a liquid state.

He also has Wood Qi and Water Qi inside him, Lucian thought. He also noticed that myriad lines of Qi left Grandmaster Miao body, slightly blurred to his perception.

Then, Lucian felt wave after wave of Qi hitting his body, accompanied by capillary-sized Qi lines that brushed against his Spiritual Root, Meridians, Root Chakra, and Sacral Chakra. He observed, attempting to learn Grandmaster Miao’s method while remaining unconcerned about the scanning. He certainly doubted this was the first time the technique was used on him.

Two seconds later, the Qi lines retracted, and Grandmaster Miao’s Qi appeared to become a haze, the Qi flow and lines becoming much harder to grasp.

“Hello, nephew Bo Xian,” Grandmaster Miao greeted Lucian with a nod, using the fake alias. “Your father is resting, but I’m sure he will be delighted to meet you later.”

Lucian narrowed his eyes.

I can’t sense Bo Qing anywhere in the mansion, he thought, spreading his perception and senses. Even then, he failed to pick up anyone besides the duo in front of him, the servants, and the war prisoners in the basement.

Nonetheless, he nodded to Grandmaster Miao and glanced at Courtesan Yuan Yuan.

“Oh, you must know Chen Yuan,” Grandmaster Miao said. “She is very thankful for you allowing her to become a jiangshi. She was even able to dispose of some trash on the streets and restart her life here, away from the Shadow Alliance.”

Lucian noticed that Courtesan Yuan Yuan, or rather Chen Yuan, didn't react, keeping her head lowered. After glancing at her, he said, “Little Crab was taken, and Wang Chen and Bai Xiaomeng disappeared. You must have been informed.”

Grandmaster Miao nodded slightly, his triangular eyes radiating a cyan light.

Staring at him, Lucian noticed the lack of reaction and pointed out. “I do not believe you found a way out of Bo Qing's predicament. In a decade, he and Chen Yuan will still need me to live normally.”

Chen Yuan flinched slightly, while Grandmaster Miao smiled faintly and said, “I’m aware.”

Narrowing his eyes, Lucian stared directly at Grandmaster Miao. “You know what I'll do next. You must be very confident."

“I’m more curious than confident, to speak the truth,” Grandmaster Miao chuckled darkly.

Believing he understood the meaning behind those words, Lucian’s eyes turned cold. Either Grandmaster Miao wanted to fight him, or wanted to see him fight!

“Tell me exactly where Little Crab and the others are,” Lucian said.

The moment he finished speaking, a servant knocked against the wooden frame of the open paper door and entered, carrying a stack of papers. She placed them on the small desk between them, and left, closing the door on her way out.

Lucian took two steps forward, picked up the documents, and began reading them.

While he did so, Grandmaster Miao said, “Little Crab is aboard the flagship of the Azure Royal Fleet. It's called the Mist Monarch.”

With cold eyes, Lucian glanced at the papers with the drawings of the ship, where it was anchored, who was normally stationed inside, and where.

“Wang Chen was taken by the Tidal Church after they somehow discovered you were behind the massacre they had been framed for,” Grandmaster Miao said with a chuckle. “It is said Elder Black Scale is keeping him hostage while searching for you.”

In the papers, Lucian found reports regarding the Tidal Church branch near the docks, the possible hidden entrances, and a brief explanation of how the Purple Qi functioned.

“And Bai Xiaomeng, well,” Grandmaster Miao frowned. “You should have instructed her better. She attempted to investigate that taboo, so we are not certain whether she is dead or alive. She can only blame her luck.”

Among the scrolls, Lucian found nothing regarding the Sailor School or Bai Xiaomeng. He also did not know what taboo Grandmaster Miao referred to, but he had no intention of asking under the current circumstances.

Safekeeping the papers inside his inner robe, Lucian turned around and left, heading toward the basement. Grandmaster Miao allowed him to leave without another word, but Lucian knew that beneath the old cultivator’s calm demeanor there was bloodlust!

Bo Qing is not here, and it would have been impossible to kidnap those three while they remained under the Merchant Chamber’s protection, Lucian thought, his eyes colder than ever. Judging from the timing, they must have waited for my return before leaking information and permitting the other forces to move.

He was also almost certain of Grandmaster Miao’s goal. 

That one wishes to test me, just like that Vice Lord. He hid Bo Qing because he feared I might do something drastic. Keeping Chen Yuan nearby was a way to provoke me, Lucian shook his head inwardly. He must think that if I lack the strength to save those people, then he can capture me later and forget our agreements entirely. It's a good plan.

Previously, Lucian had expected he would clash with Grandmaster Miao one way or another. He had not anticipated, however, that the cultivator would borrow another’s blade and not confront him directly.

If I had met that Vice-Lord Verdant Creek, she would either have provided the same information or guided me to come to this mansion, Lucian concluded, before arriving at the basement.

Opening the door and seeing more than fifty war prisoners covered in scars and bearing dazed expressions, he sneered inwardly.

To them, I will either fail and become a useful pawn or succeed, prove my worth, and completely turn those forces into my enemies. They must have ways to save me and guarantee my life, binding me to their causes.

With a cold smile, Lucian’s eyes shone crimson. After a wave of his hand, three shackled men exploded into blood. Next, the Rune of Greed manifested on his palm, siphoning their blood away.

Too naive, Lucian thought as his blood boiled. They are far too naive if they believe I cannot deal with the schemes of a few children.

Replenishing Blood Essence, Lucian began adjusting his plans. He was choosing the route that would maximize his gains. After all, saving his three followers was less important than getting benefits through the opportunities their capture created.