A national AAA-rated tourist destination was naturally bustling with visitors throughout the year. However, in a specific scenic area halfway up the mountain known for its serene beauty not a single person was in sight, creating an eerie atmosphere.
No, a better explanation would be that anyone approaching the area would feel a sudden haze cloud their minds, compelling them to leave while erasing their memory of the location entirely.
"A magic barrier, huh..."
At that moment, Blake, dressed in a crisp white summer outfit, sensed the peculiar energy surrounding him and exhaled lightly.
The next instant, he pushed his hand forward slightly, causing ripples to form in the space around him. Moments later, the barrier parted, revealing the scene within.
A gracefully designed wooden gate adorned the entrance to a cave. Standing guard at the gate were a man and a woman dressed in the Silva family's traditional white robes, slender swords hanging from their waists.
"...Young Master Blake?"
The pair froze the moment the mystic barrier was breached. When they turned to see Blake, their expressions shifted to shock as they called out his name in disbelief.
Without further explanation, Blake spoke calmly, exuding an aura that made it hard for anyone to resist him.
Feeling uneasy under the oppressive pressure of his presence, the two gatekeepers replied hesitantly before opening the gate, allowing Blake to step inside.
In an instant, Blake's figure disappeared, and the gate closed once more.
"Young Master Blake seems... different."
After Blake's departure, the male gatekeeper, still uneasy, remarked. Though they were merely gatekeepers of the Silva family, they knew of Blake's status. They had neither shown him disrespect nor sought to curry favor, but at that moment, they had been completely subdued by his presence, obeying without hesitation.
"I feel the same... And I noticed that the energy within Young Master Blake is terrifyingly powerful."
Hearing this, the female gatekeeper replied, her delicate face filled with shock.
"I have a bad feeling about this..."
Exchanging glances, the two gatekeepers left their ominous thoughts unspoken as the atmosphere around them grew heavier.
"Big Brother Blake, this place may be beautiful, but it makes me feel very uneasy."
As Blake walked through the corridors filled with intricate carvings and restrictive barriers, Kanna, residing within his body, voiced her discomfort.
"Mm. We won't be here for long."
Hearing this, Blake's crystal-blue eyes flickered as he replied softly. The numerous restrictions in place were designed to repel outsiders.
Soon, light appeared ahead, and the path opened up.
Before him stretched a scene straight out of paradise a landscape adorned with ancient, elegant buildings, lush fields of rare herbs and flowers, and vibrant, colorful birds soaring across the sky. The air was rich with spiritual energy, invigorating the senses.
For an ordinary person, living in such a place would mean a life free of illness and blessed with longevity.
But for Blake, this idyllic sanctuary was nothing more than a place he detested.
"Young Master Blake...?!"
As Blake surveyed the surroundings with a complex expression, another pair of guards stationed at the inner gate of the large cave entrance were startled to see him.
"Just continue your duties and don't mind me."
Hearing their words, Blake responded indifferently before striding down the main path toward a specific location without hesitation.
"Young Master Blake has returned at a time ... We need to inform the family head immediately."
Watching Blake's retreating figure, the two guards exchanged uneasy glances and quickly relayed the news.
Blake, unfazed by their actions, had already disappeared from sight.
As he walked along, many recognized him some were busy servants, while others were Silva family members with pure bloodlines. The servants mostly gave him strange looks, but the family members openly mocked and pointed fingers at him.
Blake ignored it all, unwilling to waste time on meaningless behavior.
However, there's always a type of person who thrives on provoking others. The more you ignore them, the louder they become.
"Oh? Isn't this our family's freakish eldest young master? You actually came back? I thought you'd spend your life hiding outside, living off Lia's resources in comfort."
A tall man with black hair and eyes, dressed in white robes and exuding an air of false nobility, stepped in front of Blake, smirking mockingly.
Hearing this, Blake's crystal-blue eyes rippled slightly. He frowned, looking coldly at the man blocking his way.
It was Joe Silva, the eldest son of Blake's uncle, Sam Silva. Because Sam had once competed against Silva Jax Blake's father for the position of clan leader and lost, Joe Silva had always taken out his frustration on Blake, bullying him since childhood.
"Two years without seeing your cousin, and you won't even greet me?"
Joe Silva grinned mockingly, clenching his fist as if annoyed by Blake's cold gaze. His expression turned playful.
Though his energy sense told him that Blake seemed much stronger than before, he didn't believe that this once weak cousin could surpass him.
"Some flies just love showing off their supposed superiority. How annoying."
Blake spoke coldly as he drew his sword Frost Whisper.
"Oh? You dare draw your sword against your older cousin? You've grown gutsy, haven't you?"
"Hahaha! Yeah, looks like these two years have made him bolder!"
"Exactly, brother Joe! Teach him what it means to respect his elders!"
The moment Blake spoke, Joe Silva and his followers burst into laughter, taunting him with increasingly rude remarks, showing no consideration for his dignity.
In an instant, the laughter stopped.
Hundreds of sword strikes materialized and shot toward the group, piercing through their bodies. The sound of flesh being cut echoed like a haunting melody, followed by screams that startled nearby spirit birds.
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