The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 109 Shadows Beneath the Star

Suncrest was in Silver Crest Province, while Everstone Clan resided in Northern Lakes Province.

Fortunately, the two regions were adjacent.

The Everstone Clan's estate was east of Mount Eternity.

Now, they only needed to circle the mountain, and they would arrive.

"Are you holding up, Vera?"

Aiden glanced back at his disciple, who was trailing behind him.

Though small and frail, Vera trudged forward resolutely, keeping pace with her master.

"…I'm fine, Master," she replied, her voice steady despite the sweat trickling down her brow.

"Alright. But if it becomes too much, don't hesitate to tell me."

Vera nodded silently. She knew her problem lay in her limited stamina.

She wasn't suited for prolonged journeys or extended battles.

Internal energy could enhance physical abilities—superhuman strength, reflexes, and even the ability to unleash Sword energy sharp enough to cut through steel.

But stamina?

That depended entirely on physical conditioning.

The issue was that just a few months ago, Vera had been a mere servant girl.

"...Ugh."

Sweat beaded on her forehead, streaming down her cheeks.

She fanned herself continuously with the cheap folding fan Aiden had purchased for her during their journey, but it offered little relief.

Eventually, Aiden stopped in his tracks.

"I told you to tell me if you were struggling."

"…I didn't want to…"

She trailed off, reluctant to admit it.

She didn't want to be a burden, especially since this trip to the Everstone Clan was partially for her potential induction into the Reverse Heaven Unity.

Their relationship was already more than that of a simple master and disciple—they shared a common enemy.

Joining the Reverse Heaven Unity meant more than fighting alongside her master.

It meant standing as an equal with the other warriors of the Unity, united by a shared ideology.

They sought to liberate the martial world from the iron grip of Swordmaster Zephyrion Akrest, the Martial Unity Leader.

Of course, almost everyone in the Unity, including Vera, bore personal grudges against the Martial Unity.

But they didn't let those grudges define them.

They turned them into fuel—a driving force to spark a revolution.

To stand among such warriors, she couldn't afford to be dead weight.

"Get on my back."

"Huh? But…"

"Vera, you always forget something important."

"…What have I forgotten, Master?"

Her tone turned indignant, almost pouty.

She had never been accused of forgetting a lesson before, and her expression showed her confusion.

Aiden chuckled softly, crouching to meet her gaze.

Then, with narrowed eyes, he explained:

"You're the disciple, and I'm the master."

"…Yes?"

"And you're fourteen years old, Vera. Tell me, why wouldn't a disciple ride on their master's back?"

Her mouth opened slightly before snapping shut again.

She had no response.

A fourteen-year-old disciple being carried by their master wasn't unusual.

If anything, it was far more normal than the reverse.

"I know you've grown much stronger, Vera."

"I'm still lacking."

"And I know you feel that way. But no one can go through life without relying on others."

He plucked the fan from her hand and used it to cool the sweat-drenched nape of her neck.

Her dark, fine hair, which had been plastered to her cheeks, fluttered gently.

"One day, you'll be a burden to someone. Another day, you'll carry someone else's burden. That's life.

If you try to bear everything alone—to take responsibility for everything, to lead everything, to push forward without help…"

With a swift flick, he closed the fan and handed it back to her.

"…You'll end up like the Swordmaster. He tried to do the same."

"…Ah."

Instinctively, Vera recoiled slightly, her brow furrowing deeply.

It was an unconscious reaction—a genuine display of distaste.

Seeing this, Aiden laughed, turning his back to her.

"So, get on."

"…I'm worried I might be too heavy."

"You? Heavy?"

His tone conveyed disbelief.

But Vera, in all seriousness, nodded.

"I'm much heavier than a bag of rice."

"…Most people are heavier than two bags of rice."

"But even a single bag of rice is so heavy…"

"Just get on."

"…Alright."

In the end, Vera hesitated for only a moment before climbing onto her master's back.

Though Aiden wasn't particularly broad-shouldered, he was steady and reliable.

And for Vera, who was small and slight herself, it was enough.

"Comfortable?"

"Honestly… yes."

"Good. Does it feel nice to ride on your master's back?"

"…What?"

Her voice trembled slightly as the playful jab caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily flustered.

She nearly hiccupped from the sudden intake of air.

"Don't take it too seriously—it's just a joke."

"…That was a mean joke."

"You'll get used to it. Your master's always been a little mean-spirited."

As they circled the base of Mount Eternity, a group of warriors dressed in pale uniforms appeared, blocking the path ahead.

Each of them carried a long sword at their waist, their posture disciplined and formal.

"Halt!"

A booming voice rang out.

Among the group, one man with a red lapel stepped forward.

Looking closer, the character "Everstone" was embroidered on the left side of his chest.

All the others had red bands tied around their sleeves.

"Are you warriors of the Everstone Clan?"

Aiden greeted them with a relaxed smile, his tone calm.

"That's correct. Currently, the Everstone Clan is strictly limiting entry to outsiders."

"This doesn't seem to be Everstone Clan's land, though."

His observation was valid. Unless the Everstone Clan had bought all the way to Mount Eternity, they had no right to block passage. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

"There's been an issue, and we've restricted entry for investigative purposes."

"What kind of issue?"

"Before that, may I ask you to identify yourself?"

Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly.

It was obvious they already knew he was from Suncrest Sect. The cherry blossom embroidery on his uniform was a dead giveaway.

This was essentially a polite way of asking him to leave.

If he had any sense of tact, he would turn back.

But Aiden, smiling brightly, ignored the implication entirely.

"I am Aiden, second disciple of Suncrest Sect. I've come to meet the Head of Internal Affairs of the Everstone Clan."

"Lady Aria, you mean?"

"Yes."

The red-lapelled warrior hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply and lowering his voice.

"As you are here to see Lady Aria, I must apologize for not recognizing you earlier. Please forgive my earlier rudeness. However… it's truly a difficult time to admit outsiders right now."

"May I ask what the problem is?"

"…Well, you'll hear about it eventually from Lady Aria, so I suppose there's no harm in telling you."

The warrior stepped closer, lowering his voice further until it was nearly a whisper.

"Currently, the First Young Master and the Second Young Master are competing for the position of successor."

"A common enough occurrence among great clans," Aiden remarked.

"But…"

The warrior swallowed hard, his unease evident.

"Someone killed one of the Second Young Master's warriors… and hung the body from a tree in this area."

Indeed, a gruesome incident.

The corpse lay sprawled on the ground.

Judging by the lack of pain on the face, it was clear the victim hadn't even realized they were about to die.

"Merciful, in a way," Aiden commented.

"…Their methods weren't completely cruel. But…"

"Yes?"

"…It looks like the work of an assassin."

The man with the red lapel, Marco, was the leader of Crimson Sleeve Division, the Everstone Clan's martial force.

Though the Everstone Clan was often considered weaker than the Five Great Clans or the Nine Great Sects, Marco was a master at the peak of Supreme Mastery, having mastered both the Great Celestial Star Art and the Ascending Heavenly Dragon Sword Technique.

Even so, he couldn't kill this man so cleanly.

The blade had pierced the neck, cutting deep and exiting without the slightest deviation.

It was an extraordinary technique.

"…It does seem like the work of an assassin, Master," said Vera.

"You think so too, Vera?"

"Yes."

She had seen it before—when her master defended her against deadly attacks, when Sev struck at her, and even the scar etched into Marcus's chest.

Assassins favored thrusting strikes.

A slash could kill, but it also revealed their position—giving their target time to react.

A thrust, quick and precise, left no room for counterattack.

The One Night Sword of Bloodshadow Pavilion's former leader, Ezekiel, was feared for the same reason—it struck without warning, sound, or trajectory.

Most assassins, however, didn't master such techniques.

They simply stabbed to ensure the kill.

The problem here was the victim.

The deceased was a warrior at the early stage of Supreme Mastery, sober and fully alert.

Moreover, the Everstone Clan's internal arts, the Minor Celestial Star Art and Great Celestial Star Art, heightened their practitioners' sensory awareness, making ambushes nearly impossible.

For someone to bypass those defenses, kill the warrior, and hang the body…

They had to be at least as skilled as the victim—likely even more so.

The lack of any traces on the ground suggested their movement techniques were just as formidable.

"Master Marco."

"You called for me?"

"I have matters to discuss with the Head of Internal Affairs. However… if she permits, I'd like to assist in resolving this issue. Would that be acceptable?"

"If Lady Aria approves, I certainly wouldn't object. It would be greatly appreciated."

With a polite bow, Aiden signaled Vera to follow him as they moved past the group toward the gates of the Everstone Clan.

When they were out of earshot, Aiden glanced at Vera and spoke softly.

"The wound radiated killing intent."

"…I sensed it too."

"It must be that technique."

Soul Slaughter Sword—the lethal martial art of Bloodshadow Pavilion.

A sinister style that left a lingering malice in its cuts, corroding the opponent's energy Channels.

"This won't be easily resolved," Aiden murmured.