"Thank you, Senior Brother Hwong," Lordi Payne said, his voice steady. He offered a slight bow, then turned on his heel and strode back toward his courtyard.
Hwong Hyen's sharp eyes tracked Lordi Payne until the younger man vanished through the courtyard gate. Only then did he said to darkness. "Junior Sister Chen, did you hear what he just said?"
From the tangled bushes flanking the path, Chen Mave emerged. The moonlight spilled over her, dappling her cold, beautiful face with silver flecks. "I'll send the Tracer Bee now."
Soon, they retrieved the sachet Lordi Payne had ditched in the bamboo grove.
"We passed through here on our way back today," Chen Mave noted.
Hwong Hyen leaned closer as he examined the sachet. It was unremarkable—a plain mortal trinket, its stitching loose, its contents mundane. "That brat didn't bring a weapon," he muttered. "Seems he really was just chasing this worthless thing. We'll return it tomorrow."
Meanwhile, within Lordi Payne's courtyard suite. Lordi Payne sat on the edge of his bed, his brow creased deep, fingers digging into the blanket as if anchoring himself against a rising tide of dread.
Hwong Hyun showing up wasn't a surprise. He'd laid his plans carefully—scattered trinkets, a mussed bed, the sachet lie—all to test the waters.
Chen Haunt's crew, if they meant him harm, would naturally keep tabs on him.
Lady Willow's silence—that's the real problem.
"Chen Haunt alone could crush me—never mind all five of them ganging up."
"Ask Jarl Drainwood for help? No, that's a fool's hope. He doesn't know me from a stray dog. Without some fat bribe or leverage, he'd sooner sip tea than lift a finger."
"Besides, Chen Haunt picked this region for a reason—they've got every angle covered, Drainwood included."
"What about dropping Fairy Lith's name?" His mind seized the idea, his heartbeat surging with a flicker of wild hope—then crashing just as fast. He shook his head, sweat beading on his brow. "Last resort. Too risky." His stomach churned as he pictured Lady Willow's phantom form—those hollow, unblinking eyes materializing from the shadows. "If she's lurking, watching me flaunt her mistress's name, she'd gut me before I could blink."
He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the erratic thump beneath his ribs as his thoughts raced. Two ways to test if Willow's near:
Skin Chen Mave alive, or master the Blood Lothgar Footwork Art.
His breath caught, a ragged gasp.
"If Willow's gone and I try hurting Chen Mave, I'm finished—five against one, no escape."
"Practice the Footwork Art's safer."
"But not here—not in the city." His heart stuttered, a cold sweat prickling his neck. "If that damned system —awfulOS screwing me mid-step—I'd be a sitting duck."
A disaster waiting to happen. He glanced at the window, the night beyond a void of black, and his resolve hardened. I've got to get outside of the city, practice it with the system where no one can see.
Tomorrow, he decided, "I'll push Chen Haunt to take us out on a task."
"Chen Mave is my lifeline now. I'll stick to her like a shadow. If Chen Haunt tries anything mid-trip, she's my shield—my hostage. And if Willow's out there, this might just drag her into the open."
The decision settled over him like a cloak, heavy but sure. He cast a final glance out the window—the night was a deep, impenetrable sea. Tomorrow loomed too close, and he'd need every shred of sharpness to survive it. With a weary grunt, he collapsed onto the bed, the Blade of Life Hater still tucked beneath his pillow as he forced his racing heart to slow and surrendered to sleep.
The first light of dawn filtered through the windows of Lordi Payne's room, casting a soft glow over the room. He rose from his bed, dressed quickly, and was just about to strap the Blade of Life Hater to his back when a knock sounded at the door.
"Junior Brother Payne, are you up?" Chen Mave's voice called from the other side, sweet and melodic.
Lordi Payne bound the blade over his back and opened the door. There stood Chen Mave, her skirt trailing elegantly behind her, her radiant smile almost blinding. Behind her were Chen Haunt and the rest of the squad members.
The moment their eyes landed on Lordi Payne, they all flashed wide, welcoming smiles. Everything was set. Yesterday, they had laid the child formation rune of the Soul-Devouring Parent-Child Array deep within Lothgar Mountain. Today, their plan was simple: lure Lordi Payne into the array, activate the parent formation rune, and wait for the Summon Soul Banner to complete its gruesome work.
This brat was adorably clueless, still blind to the trap closing in around him. All they had to do was keep up the friendly sect-comrade act, guiding him step-by-step into the child formation of the array. Easy and clean, with their key sacrifice's vitality preserved intact.
Chen Haunt's grin widened as he stepped forward, holding out a small sachet to Lordi Payne. "Junior Brother Payne, today we—"
But before he could finish, Lordi Payne darted past him, wrapping his arms around Chen Mave in a bold, possessive embrace—right in front of her brother.
Chen Haunt's face froze, his smile cracking like thin ice. Chen Mave twitched, her body stiffening as she fought the urge to break free. But she couldn't risk tipping Lordi Payne off, not when they were so close to their goal. Humiliated and furious, she forced herself to stay still, her smile strained.
"Senior Brother Chen," Lordi Payne said, his tone casual, as if he already owned Chen Mave and had become Chen Haunt's brother-in-law, "the city's boring—when do we head out for tasks?"
Chen Haunt's jaw tightened. The purpose of their visit had been to lure Lordi Payne into Lothgar Mountain with some excuse. This brat's eager suggestion to start the tasks was perfect—exactly what they needed. But the way he was shamelessly groping his sister, right in front of him, was beyond outrageous.
Seeing Chen Haunt's darkening expression, Gum Torin quickly sent a transmission voice, his voice calm but urgent in Chen Haunt's mind. "Senior Brother Chen, he's a dead man soon—why fuss over a sacrifice?"
Hwong Hyen chimed in as well. "Yes, Senior Brother Chen, keep calm for the big picture!"
Chen Haunt swallowed his fury, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Since Junior Brother Payne's so eager," he said, his voice tight but controlled, "let's head out now!"
Soon, the group left the bustling streets of Lothgar City behind, venturing into a secluded, quiet area. Chen Haunt turned to Sil Deshah. "The next part's on you, Junior Sister."
Sil Deshah met his gaze, her delicate features softening as she flashed him a tender glance. "No trouble at all, Senior Brother Chen, I'll make it happen for you." With a flick of her wrist, she drew an array compass from her sleeve. Her fingers danced through a series of intricate seals with practiced ease, and she called out in a clear, resonant voice. "Wind, rise!"
A powerful gust erupted from the compass, swirling around the group like a living thing. The wind swept them up, lifting them off the ground and hurtling them toward the rugged expanse of Lothgar Mountain. The landscape blurred beneath them as they soared through the air, the wind howling in their ears.
Caught in the sudden rush of wind, Lordi Payne instinctively clung tighter to Chen Mave. He glanced around, scanning the others for any sudden moves. Seeing no immediate threats, he quietly relaxed, though his mind remained on high alert.
As they flew, Lordi Payne's gaze drifted to the southeast, where a splash of vibrant pink and white stood out against the sea of green—a massive flower forest, its colors vivid and almost otherworldly. He quickly connected the dots. Their three tasks were clear:
Deliver Drainwood's letter (already done),
Kill the flower demon monster,
and take down the sixth-layer Enlightenment stage Purple-Eyed Mink.
Normally, the flower demon monster would be their next target. But their path was veering southwest, toward a dense, lush area with no flowers in sight.
They're not heading for the flower forest, Lordi Payne realized, his pulse quickening as the truth cut in like a blade.
"Chen Haunt's dragging me straight into Lothgar Mountain." His mind raced, piecing together the jagged edges of their plan. "They're setting the stage to strike. I've got to move faster—outpace their trap before it snaps shut."
After a breathless stretch of time, the summoned wind began to wane, its force dissipating as it gently lowered the group to the edge of a dense forest at the base of Lothgar Mountain. The ground beneath their feet was a tapestry of tangled roots and damp earth, the air thick with the resinous scent of pine and the faint, sour rot of fallen leaves.
Sil Deshah stumbled as her boots met the soil, her array compass slipping from trembling fingers to clatter against a root. The spell had taken a heavy toll on. Her face was pale, her breathing labored, and her legs wobbled unsteadily as she struggled to stay upright. She looked as though she could barely speak, let alone stand on her own.
Chen Haunt was at her side in an instant, his voice filled with concern as he inquired about her well-being. "Deshah-chan, are you all right?" he asked, his voice a low murmur of concern, "That spell drained you hard. You'll need to handle the next step, so let Hwong Hyun carry you for now."
Sil Deshah's lips formed a delicate pout, her large, pleading eyes locking onto Chen Haunt's. It was clear she wanted him to carry her, not Hwong Hyun. But Chen Haunt shook his head, his expression firm. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The forest is dangerous. I need to stay at full strength to keep watch. I can't afford to be distracted."
Reluctantly, Sil Deshah nodded, though her disappointment was palpable. She allowed Hwong Hyun to lifted her up, carried her body on his back.
Lordi Payne watched the exchange quietly. Sil Deshah was clearly vital to the squad's plans, and while she was incapacitated, their ability to act was significantly weakened.
Meaning, while she was down, Lordi Payne should be safe!