Jared was no saint. In this world, the border between good and evil blurred until only friend and foe remained. And, a foe must die.
Ararat understood. With a flick of his sleeve, sword energy shrieked through the dusk. The trembling Holy Light Sect disciples managed a single scream before the blades wrote crimson finality across their throats.
Ararat exhaled the lingering edge from his sword aura. “Mr. Chance, this place is no longer safe. Let’s return to Swordmaster City.”
Jared nodded. Questions thrummed inside him, all of them meant for Ararat. With a soft gesture, Ararat summoned a cushion of gentle force that lifted Jared, Flaxseed, and Corin into the air. The three became streaking starlight, racing toward the distant eastern skyline.
Behind them, the once-glorious Holy Light Sect no longer dwindled in sunset glow. Only ruins left. Jared glanced back, a storm of emotions knotting his chest.
From Venom Valley to the Holy Light Sect, danger had stalked every mile. Without Corin, Flaxseed, and Ararat’s timely arrival, would already be dust on the wind.
Vermilion Demon Lord, where are you?!
Jared cursed the Vermilion Demon Lord. If the Vermilion Demon Lord possessed his body, wouldn’t almost die.
Swordmaster City surfaced through twilight haze. Ararat’s light set the trio down above the Sword Sect compound, rooftops glowing like burnished steel.
The modest courtyard on the eastern edge of the city basked in evening calm, a peace that mocked the fresh memories of slaughter.
“Rest here for now,” Ararat said, dissolving the shield. Soft spiritual energy guided them to solid ground. “I have prepared pills. If you need anything, just call.”
Jared forced himself upright. Pain speared his left arm, but inside his meridians, Ararat’s sword energy had calmed the chaotic spiritual energy.
Flaxseed and Corin bowed, gratitude bright in their weary eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Goizeder.”
“No need for formalities,” Ararat replied, then added with a faint smile, “If anything arises, summon me, Mr. Chance.”
The words had barely faded before Ararat vanished as though the night itself had swallowed him.
After settling his companions, Jared sat alone on a stone bench beneath the open sky.
Moonlight leaked through the tree leaves, painting mottled silver across his shoulders. He activated the Focus Technique. Threads of golden spiritual energy crept along shattered meridians. Every inch repaired felt like hot needles burrowing through flesh.
A hiss escaped him.
The wound across his chest reopened under the surge of spiritual energy, dark blood seeping through torn cloth and glinting black-red in the pale moon.
Jared removed his clothes.
Across his chest, the place where Santino‘s palm had landed was charred ebony. Wisps of marked aura wrestled with threads of dragon essence, twisting and tearing at one another as though each strand were desperate to seize dominion over his flesh.
“That holy light is nothing if not stubborn,” Jared muttered, half in admiration, half in contempt. Frowning, fished a crimson pill from his Storage Ring and popped it onto his tongue.
The moment it touched his palate, it melted into a cool stream that rushed through every vein and meridian. The burning eased, receding like tidewater drawn back to sea.
A ragged cough drifted over the courtyard. Jared turned around. He saw Corin walk over with a disciple supporting him. His pale face had a relieved expression.
“Jared, are you okay?”
“Still breathing, Master, so I’d say l’m fine.” Jared flashed a grin. “You and Mr. Flaxseed should take the time to rest.”
Corin waved the concern aside and shuffled closer, lowering his voice. “Tell me, did Mr. Goizeder swear to serve you?”
Even now, the event at the Holy Light Sect was still unbelievable.
A swordmaster of that caliber bowing to a wandering immortal?
The very notion could snap the jaws of every gossip in the realm. Jared answered with a wry smile. “We crossed paths on the Celestial Stairway, nothing more. l’m not his Master. Ararat has its own peculiarities…”
He left it there. Some bonds were knotted too deeply for daylight. The fewer people who knew, the safer they all remained.
