The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 107 The Return of the Dark Emperor

Aetheris's bloodshot eyes widened as he suddenly grabbed his left arm with his right, suppressing it with visible effort. He turned his head away, pretending it was nothing.

"What happened, Senior Brother?" Aiden asked calmly.

Aetheris said nothing, only shaking his head, his teeth clenched tightly.

From his core, he summoned the internal energy of the Clear Mind Technique. The unleashed energy surged through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, calming the storm within.

Only then…

Only then could he suppress the left arm once more.

"Nothing… nothing happened," Aetheris muttered, his voice trembling slightly.

"Then leave," Aiden replied, narrowing his eyes.

He had asked three times.

What had happened?

Was it difficult?

What had happened?

That was enough.

"What?" Aetheris asked, his voice laced with frustration.

"You said nothing happened, didn't you? Then leave. Or, if you prefer, we'll go first," Aiden said indifferently.

Turning to Vera, he gestured silently. She nodded, understanding the unspoken command.

As Aiden stepped forward, drawing closer to Aetheris, their paths inevitably crossed.

At that moment, Aiden murmured quietly—his words audible only to Aetheris:

"Don't overreach."

It was genuine advice, not necessarily for the sake of his Senior Brother, but for his disciple.

Eastern Mountain Fiery Blade clan

The branch estate.

The leader of the Main Family, Regis, stood there, observing the activity.

Despite his young age, Alec, the head of the branch family, was managing the household with surprising competence.

"Yes, please move that over there. No, the stones need to go this way. Thank you."

"Wait, didn't you say the other side earlier?"

"Trust the family head's judgment!"

"Ugh, fine!"

Although Regis was the head of the Main Family, the Eastern Mountain Fiery Blade clan operated differently.

The Branch Family did not answer directly to the Main Family—they were equals, simply designated as the first and second families.

But now, things were different.

The Branch Family had lost its leader, and the young Alec, just twenty-two years old, had taken on the mantle of leadership.

Worse yet, Valen, the Supreme Master, had vanished.

And with him, the Light Emperor's Envoy, Byron, had returned to the scene.

According to reports from the Unity, Byron was a notorious figure from The Great War of Light and Shadow fifty years ago.

How had he not aged a single day?

He had undoubtedly used some demonic sorcery.

But something even more terrifying loomed.

If this truly was the same Byron, the Light Emperor's Envoy, then fifty years ago, he was already a Kingdom of Harmony Master.

How much stronger could he have grown since then?

Regis clicked his tongue bitterly at the thought.

The sound caught the attention of Alec, who turned toward him.

"Ah, Uncle, you're here," he greeted, bowing politely.

"You're working hard, Alec. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask the Main Family for help."

"I would rather avoid incurring debts."

"Don't be so stubborn. I'll help as much as I can—it doesn't need to be repaid."

Alec's eyes widened in surprise.

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The Main Family and the Branch Family didn't typically get along well. That's why their martial arts remained distinct.

The Main Family practiced Fiery Blade Spear, a technique rooted in military principles—steady as a mountain, with the destructive force of a landslide when unleashed.

Meanwhile, the Branch Family mastered the Blazing Dragon Sword Technique, a fast and domineering style akin to a dragon's fiery breath, with movements reminiscent of a dragon's path through the heavens.

The two martial arts were entirely different, neither derived from the other.

Their origins lay in the long-standing division between two brothers of Eastern Mountain Fiery Blade clan, but that story belonged to another time.

"…Why would you go this far for us, Uncle?" Alec asked after a moment.

"Because we share the same blood," Regis replied simply.

"The same blood…"

"Even if our martial arts differ, we share the same name and the same bloodline. We live near each other. If we can't help each other, how could we ever claim righteousness or honor?"

It was a basic principle, but one that couldn't be denied.

It was also a call for renewal—a proposal to tear down the old walls of animosity and rebuild.

After some deliberation, Alec nodded.

"Then I will humbly accept your help."

"Good. One day, we may need your help in return. Let's live like that."

Workers continued to rebuild the walls and pillars of the estate.

The Eastern Mountain Fiery Blade clan would rise again.

Restoring its former glory would take time, but it was possible.

The discussions with the Golden Peak Clan had already concluded.

Both families had calculated the risks and agreed they couldn't dominate Eastern Mountain Province alone.

But not everyone agreed with that sentiment.

For among humans, there are always those who wear the face of men but possess the heart of beasts.

Blooming Peak Pavilion, the room for female disciples.

Inside, only two sleeping mats were laid out. The lamp had already been extinguished, and faint breathing echoed softly in the quiet space.

'…Senior Sister Dylan must already be asleep,' Vera thought as she tiptoed into the room.

Carefully, she spread out her sleeping mat and pulled the blanket over herself.

For a time, she had thought she was the only female disciple at Suncrest—that was when she had just arrived.

She gazed quietly out of the wooden window, her eyes fixed on the night sky.

Stars glittered brightly, their light more vivid beneath the waning crescent moon.

The Light Emperor's Envoy of the DEMONIC SECT had resurfaced.

And her sworn enemy, Valen, had followed him.

To seek revenge against her.

Could the DEMONIC SECT know of the cherry Blossom Descent Manual?

No matter how much she pondered, there was no answer.

"…Haah," she sighed, forcing herself to set the thought aside.

It was a matter from centuries ago. Pondering it briefly before sleep would yield no results.

She was just about to close her eyes when…

"…Vera," came Dylan's voice.

Turning her head slightly, she saw her Senior Sister was awake, her eyes open and watching her. She must have heard the sigh.

"Yes, Senior Sister?" Vera replied.

"Is something on your mind?"

Vera hesitated before deciding to share the story of her journey—omitting only the part about her killing Darian. There was no point in keeping it a secret, after all.

The story of Valen, once a Lord of the Five Armies and a prominent figure of the Unity, now following the Light Emperor's Envoy of the DEMONIC SECT…

Within a month, the tale would likely spread across the Central Plains.

As Dylan listened, her expressions shifted—sometimes surprised, sometimes curious, at times swallowing hard.

Eventually, she sat on Vera's sleeping mat, nodding as she processed the story.

"That's… unbelievable," Dylan exclaimed, her eyes wide as she covered her mouth in shock.

"But… wasn't Master Valen known for his unwavering loyalty to the Unity's commands?"

"After his son's death, his heart changed," Vera explained, smiling bitterly.

She knew all too well that she was the cause of that change.

In other words, until his son's death, he hadn't wavered in his actions.

"So, um… did you fight the DEMONIC SECT?"

"Yes, Senior Sister."

"…Were you okay?" Dylan asked cautiously, her gaze searching Vera's face with a mix of fear and concern.

Vera understood what she was truly asking.

Was it about the killing?

"I was fine."

"Weren't you scared?"

"Not as much as I expected," Vera replied evenly.

Dylan lowered her eyes before nodding quietly.

Vera observed her for a moment.

Both Dylan and Jace hadn't come to Suncrest by choice.

They had been "selected" by Aetheris, Magnus, and Gideon, chosen for their talents.

That was why the words often spoken by martial practitioners didn't apply to them.

"All who carry swords must be prepared to kill."

Even in times of peace, the duty of righteous martial artists remained the same:

To strike down the unorthodox and the demonic, and to uphold justice and honor.

These duties were fulfilled through blades and spears, through blood and sweat.

Vera glanced at her Falling Blossom Sword, lying beside her sleeping mat.

Next to Dylan's mat was the sword Vera had given her—its hilt worn from frequent use.

"You can do it too, Senior Sister," Vera said softly, her tone gentle.

She pointed with her chin toward the sword.

Dylan hesitated before picking it up, pulling it close to her chest.

"…You're right. I can do it too," she murmured.

The Light Emperor's Envoy had moved.

Soon, the DEMONIC SECT would act openly.

Even if they didn't, their movements beneath the surface were clear.

This time, they had shown a glimpse of their fins above the water.

Next time, they would bare their jaws.

If dealt with early, perhaps six months would suffice.

If not, chaos could once again engulf the world.

"Senior Brother once said something to me," Vera began.

"What was it?" Dylan asked.

"All who carry swords must be prepared to kill."

Dylan flinched at the words.

Vera let her go, meeting her gaze steadily.

"…You can do it."

"I believe in you."

Under the same sky, at the same time, beneath the same moonlight…

The Master's Hall of the Akrest Clan was in disarray.

It was all because of Ebon Akrest.

"…Valen followed the Light Emperor's Envoy?"

"Yes, it has been confirmed," reported a trembling subordinate kneeling before him.

Despite being an elite of Bloodshadow Pavilion, the man quivered in fear. Such was the fury of Ebon Akrest.

"Has he gone mad with revenge?"

"…Should we pursue him?"

"Pursue him. Without fail!"

The subordinate bowed and quickly left the hall, exhaling a shaky sigh once outside.

Master Ezekiel and Deputy Master Kieran were dead.

Now, only loyalists of Ebon Akrest remained within Bloodshadow Pavilion, and not a single Supreme Master was left among them.

How could they possibly track two Kingdom of Harmony Masters?

Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the man's path.

"…Who's there?"

Who could silently infiltrate the very heart of the clan, the Master's Hall itself?

Only one person.

"I need to know who killed my disciple," the figure said.

A legend from the previous generation.

Though no longer called the Shadow Sovereign, having been overshadowed by the Swordmaster…

He remained the ideal of all assassins.

The former master of Bloodshadow Pavilion.

The Dark Emperor.